5. Sisters

5. Sisters

And so, the meal ended.

From the middle onwards, she fed me without me even having to gesture, so it was clear that Priscilla was simply very shy and hesitant.

How cute. It felt like looking at myself when I first learned that common sense from my sister.

I used to be so shy back then. Looking back now, it was nothing significant. I said to Priscilla, who was walking beside me.

“It was delicious. Wasn’t it?”

“……Yes.”

Priscilla seemed somewhat dazed.

Her bangs were messy, so I instinctively reached out and tidied them with my hand. But Priscilla’s reaction was unusual.

“…???!”

“Huh? Ah, was that rude?”

I often touch my sister’s hair, so my hand moved before I even realized it. It’s a common thing between sisters, but I don’t know if this is an appropriate level of closeness between friends.

“Ah, no… No. It’s, it’s okay.”

“Is that so?”

Then I’m glad.

It seems that women often touch each other’s hair, not just between sisters, but also between friends. Good, I’ll store this firmly in my mind.

I should brag to my sister later. That big sister has learned so much common sense.

My sister will surely be happy too.

“By the way, where are you going?”

“To buy a staff.”

“Why?”

“Because you cut it with your sword!”

“Ah, with my sword?”

Shwing- As I drew my sword from my waist, Priscilla flinched and put distance between us. The sound of the sword being drawn made all the passing students look this way.

“Th-th-that, put it away first!”

“No. Come to think of it, it was my fault. I cut it, so I should pay for it.”

“O-okay, but put it away!!”

The students slowly retreated. By the time I put my sword away as Priscilla said, the surroundings were already empty.

Priscilla, looking somewhat drained, said.

“Do you even have money to pay in the first place?”

“Well, of course…”

I don’t.

I left my wallet in the dormitory. Realizing my financial situation only now, I stopped in my tracks, and Priscilla, as if she knew, continued.

“It’s fine. It’s just a beginner’s staff, so it’s not that expensive anyway.”

“Still.”

It’s not good to owe money between friends. Although it’s a memory from my past life, money matters are probably not that different here.

After thinking carefully, I said to Priscilla.

“No, that won’t do. I’ll go get the money, so wait.”

“No-“

“Come on, let’s go.”

Ignoring Priscilla’s opinion, I scooped her up and ran towards the dormitory at full speed. Feeling the wind rushing past, Priscilla shouted.

“Th-the dormitory is that way!”

“Ah, really?”

——

I may look like this, but I am the daughter of a Grand Duke. I simply forgot to bring it; I had plenty of money from the start.

Priscilla, who had been insisting on refusing, accepted it well when I bought it for her.

“Haa… Haa…”

Perhaps my running speed was too fast. Priscilla was exhausted, clutching her staff tightly. Even her sturdy rolled-up hair had become disheveled and messy.

“Are you okay?”

“Ugh…”

I approached her and asked while stroking her hair. This was something I often did for my sister. Priscilla blushed.

“You’re not okay…?”

“I-I’m fine! I’m fine, so please let go!”

“Is that so?”

Swish, I removed my hand from Priscilla’s hair. As I felt the emptiness of the warmth disappearing, I tried to rub my hands, but Priscilla had already moved far away.

“Calm down, I’m a man…”

“Priscilla?”

“Hiik!”

But even that distance was no different from a single step for me.

As I breathed into Priscilla’s ear, which was muttering something, she startled and flinched.

“Wh-when did…”

She looked just like a very small and cute small animal. Like looking at a trembling hamster. Finding it cute, I reached out my hand towards her without realizing it.

Finally, I felt her soft cheek. The soft texture of her skin, reminiscent of my sister at home, touched my hand. In that state, I gently moved my hand and stroked Priscilla’s cheek.

My sister…

My cute sister, who always clings to me. The image of that small, cute black wolf vividly came to mind. “Big sis,” she said, smiling and hugging me…

Hehe.

Just thinking of my sister brings a smile to my face. A gentle smile, like the morning mist. Priscilla trembled.

“Ugh…”

“Huh?”

“Y-you can smile too, I guess…”

“…? Of course. Am I some kind of expressionless murderer?”

Priscilla, her face flushed red, suddenly muttered something strange. What on earth is she talking about? Who else has as many expressions as I do?

She’s a truly strange friend.

“So, is that all for today?”

“Yes… I suppose so.”

Then we can go back to the dormitory. I made one friend in a single day, so I’m looking forward to how many friends I can make tomorrow.

On the way back, I wrapped my tail around Priscilla. Priscilla looked back at me, asking what I was doing, but I only had one thing to say.

Because we’re friends.

——

“Want to wash together?”

“Ah, no!!!”

I asked Priscilla as I was about to put away my luggage and go into the bathroom, but I was firmly refused again.

Hmm, what a shame.

Even though I wrapped her with my tail, maybe we’re not close enough to wash together yet.

Well, we’ve only known each other for a day at most.

There’s still plenty of time.

Hoohoohoo…

I entered the bathroom with a meaningful smile.

…

“Can you dry my tail?”

“Yes?!”

After drying myself thoroughly, I extended my tail towards Priscilla and asked for a favor.

My wet and shrunken tail rested on Priscilla’s legs, who was sitting on the bed. I handed Priscilla a hairdryer-a magic tool by that name-and continued.

“It’s easy to dry my hair, but my tail is a bit difficult to dry alone. That’s why beastmen often dry each other’s tails.”

“B-beastmen do that?”

“Yes.”

I dry my sister’s tail, and my sister dries my tail. It’s something we always do after washing thoroughly.

Priscilla, flustered by my words, eventually seemed to agree and turned on the hairdryer, starting to dry my tail.

Her hands were clumsy compared to my sister, who was used to touching tails… but what does it matter?

“Th-this is a beastman’s tail…”

As my tail gradually lost its damp thinness and became fluffy and voluminous, I spoke to Priscilla, who was drying it as if mesmerized behind me.

“Speaking of which, Priscilla.”

“Yes?”

“About your sister.”

“Ah, yes…”

Priscilla’s face darkened as soon as her sister was mentioned.

Indeed, the relationship between Priscilla and her sister was clearly not good. Normally, one should brighten up and be happy at the mention of a sister…

“Are you not on good terms?”

“… No, not to that extent… It’s just normal.”

“Normal?”

“Yes.”

That’s impossible.

I heard this in my past life. They said that children who suffer domestic violence from a young age think all families fight like that. Priscilla is no different.

As a friend, I couldn’t just stand by and watch this unfortunate Priscilla. For a healthier sisterly relationship, I should help her a bit.

“Priscilla. That’s not normal.”

“Yes?”

“Normal sisters should always be on good terms.”

“That…”

“They should always smile and hug each other when they see each other, and be so happy together that they don’t know what to do. That’s the normal sisterly relationship.”

“Yes…?”

“They wash together, sometimes feed each other, give head pats, touch hair, sleep hugging each other, kiss on the forehead, massage ears, touch chests, and touch between the legs. That’s what normal sisters do.”

“Yes, yes??! What kind of nonsense are you talking about…”

As expected, Priscilla vehemently denied this fact. Priscilla also didn’t want to believe it. The fact that her sisterly relationship was abnormal.

“It’s true. Priscilla, you only see that you’re not on good terms with your sister, but sisters are often like this. I do this with my sister often too.”

“…”

Priscilla’s face twitched strangely. Her hand stroking my tail had also stopped. Then, she quietly spoke.

“… I knew long ago that my sister and I weren’t on good terms. And that it wasn’t normal. B-but what you said is a bit strange…”

“No, it’s not. This is normal.”

“No…”

“Then are you saying my sister is strange?”

Even if Priscilla is my friend, I can’t tolerate her insulting my precious sister. I frowned and looked down at Priscilla.

“N-no! That’s not it… I mean, I just thought it was a bit strange for sisters to touch each other…”

“Priscilla. You haven’t seen normal sisters, have you?”

“… Yes.”

“That’s why it’s hard to believe. Sisters are all like this.”

Of course, I haven’t seen other sisters either. But my cute sister told me, so how could it be a lie? I stated with conviction to Priscilla.

“Priscilla. It’s normal for normal sisters to be like this.”

“… I understand.”

Mmm-hmm. Good. Priscilla seems to have understood.

“Priscilla. I’ll help you get along better with your sister.”

“Y-yes? No, there’s no need…”

“No need to refuse. We’re friends, aren’t we?”

I said, lightly stroking Priscilla’s cheek. Priscilla blushed and stammered, then slowly nodded as if in agreement.

——

Late at night.

For some reason, I couldn’t sleep, so I woke up and stared at Priscilla in the opposite bed. The red rolled-up hair breathing softly.

Hmm.

“Ah!”

I remembered why I couldn’t sleep.

At home, I used to hug Freya every night before sleeping, but I can’t do that at the Academy. I guess I couldn’t sleep because there was no one to sleep with.

With a clear reason in mind, I jumped out of bed and crawled into Priscilla’s bed. It’s common for girls to sleep together, so it should be fine.

Feeling Priscilla’s warm body, I was finally able to fall asleep soundly.

I’m looking forward to tomorrow.

Hehe.