Ch.103Chapter 16. Worries and Concerns (3)

I couldn’t tell if Kagami’s usual clothing preference was more appropriate.

Judging by how she dresses modestly when meeting me, her more revealing outfits must be for “show.”

Not so much to look pretty, but to appear as “that kind of woman.”

The woman passing before my eyes now—presumably Shii’s mother—was dressed in “that way.”

Though not a miniskirt, her pants were extremely short, and her tank top had a low neckline.

While judging someone by their clothes might be excessive, after what I’d heard earlier, that was the impression I got.

The woman, swinging her elongated bag as she walked, stopped in front of Sasaki and Shii’s house, placed a hand on her chin, and gazed up at it.

Then she smirked.

She resembled Shii and was beautiful, but unlike Kagami, she didn’t look “young.” Age-wise, she seemed similar to Fukuda or Mako’s father. Then again, that’s more normal—it’s Kagami who looks unusually young.

“Kotone?”

“Yeah.”

Fortunately, Shii’s mother didn’t seem to recognize us.

Of course not. She’s someone who never cared about her daughter and only came back to extort money.

Her smirk while looking at the house suggested she planned to either mooch off them or extract money, assuming the two were receiving sufficient support from their father.

Now, what to do?

My plan was simple.

Scare her away.

Actually, my initial “solo” idea involved blood.

Like, slitting my wrist in front of her… you know.

I thought acting like Sasaki’s mentally unstable girlfriend might scare her off. My existence isn’t something the police could do anything about anyway.

Of course, I couldn’t do this in front of Shii or Sasaki. I was planning to stalk that woman and shout something like “STAY AWAY FROM SASAKI!” but…

Now I had Koko beside me.

“Koko.”

“Yes.”

When I called Koko’s name, she nodded.

“Can you make a scary face?”

“A scary face?”

At my words, Koko tilted her head, puffed her cheeks, and glared at me.

No, that’s a cute face.

She must be influenced by the cartoons she watches lately. The cute little girls in weekend morning cartoons make that face when they’re angry.

“No, not like that.”

I thought for a moment before saying:

“Imagine that woman… hit me.”

“…She hit Kotone?”

Koko’s face instantly became expressionless.

Then her hair began to move subtly. At a glance, it looked like static electricity making her hair float slightly, but I could easily imagine how terribly her target would be slaughtered if each strand contained killing intent.

“Yes, that expression.”

I gently stroked Koko’s hair as I spoke. Perhaps not wanting to see me hurt, her hair immediately relaxed back to its original state when I touched it. Well, since it was an imitation to begin with, it’s hard to call it an “original” state.

“And I wasn’t actually hit. We’ve never met her before. But that person… seems to be trying to harass Sasaki’s children.”

“Hmm?”

Kotone tilted her head.

“Koko, what do we need to buy things?”

“Money.”

“Right. And to earn that money?”

“We have to work.”

“Exactly. So how would you feel if someone just took the money you worked hard to earn?”

“Bad.”

Koko’s brow furrowed. Is that how I look when I’m angry? Well, at least I can’t make that murderous expression Koko showed earlier.

“Right, it’s bad. But we can’t just eliminate people.”

“Then?”

“We show them that I have the power to not let my money be taken.”

I peeked around the corner again to look at the woman.

The presumed mother of Shii was still looking up at the building.

“Let’s scare her away.”

Obviously, a temporary solution won’t work. We need something more lasting—to firmly imprint in her mind that there’s someone dangerous she shouldn’t mess with around Shii and Sasaki for at least a few years.

“Make the face you showed me earlier.”

“Like this?”

Koko demonstrated that eerie expression again. I nodded.

“And…”

Looking around the corner again, I saw the woman slowly approaching the door.

Perfect.

“Remember when you came to me with Yuka after the fire?”

“Yes.”

“Let’s do that again. Hold my hand like this.”

I took Koko’s hand.

“Side by side, we’ll suddenly appear in front of that woman. And your expression—”

“Yes!”

Before I could finish, Koko nodded vigorously and immediately moved.

*

To be honest, I don’t know what it feels like to move with Koko.

I’ve only seen her come to me, never traveled with her.

To put it simply, it was a very strange feeling.

You know how they say if a person moves at impossible speeds, they’d catch fire from air friction or be torn apart?

Of course, humans can’t reach such speeds unless falling from outside Earth.

But with Koko, I felt like I was moving at that speed.

My body felt weightless, as if gravity disappeared momentarily, then suddenly dropped somewhere, and when I came to my senses, I was facing Shii’s mother.

The moment was so brief I didn’t even have time to scream.

…My hair was incredibly disheveled. Though the ends were tied, my bangs, which would normally slightly cover my face, were so messy they partially blocked my vision.

“…”

As I stared blankly at the presumed mother of Shii, still processing what happened,

“Eek!?”

The woman let out a delayed shriek and stepped back.

“W-w-what!?”

That’s a normal reaction.

Two girls with hair covering their faces suddenly appearing out of nowhere.

Physically speaking, there should have been a sonic boom or something, but Koko’s movement produced nothing of the sort.

The woman stood frozen, staring at us.

I slowly turned around.

I’d forgotten I was holding Koko’s hand, so I had to let go to turn, but fortunately the woman didn’t laugh at that.

I slowly raised my hand and pressed the doorbell.

Ding-dong.

After a brief wait, the front door opened.

“…Huh?”

Sasaki and Shii must have just returned home. We came almost immediately after school too.

“…”

“…”

What should I say?

I’d expected the woman to run away, so I hadn’t thought about what to say here.

As I remained silent, Sasaki’s gaze shifted to his mother behind us.

Sasaki’s eyes widened.

I turned around too. Koko followed my lead.

While Sasaki’s reaction didn’t matter, our gazes seemed effective.

The woman remained frozen for a while, then quickly turned and left.

Sasaki silently looked back at us.

“…What’s going on?”

His expression was quite serious.

Well, um.

I came to scare away your mother.

I couldn’t say that outright and was hesitating when:

“Brother, who is it?”

From inside, Shii peeked out from behind Sasaki.

“Senior Kotone?”

Shii’s eyes widened when she saw my face.

Hmm.

“Hmm?”

Koko tilted her head and looked at me.

…

“…Just came to visit.”

I made an excuse that barely qualified as one.

*

I acted too hastily.

While I confirmed it was Shii’s mother, I hadn’t thought much about what would happen next.

Initially, I planned to follow her home and then slowly torment her over time.

But somehow…

I just didn’t want to see that person enter Sasaki and Shii’s home.

“…So that’s what you did?”

Sasaki looked at me incredulously, and I had nothing to say.

We must be closer than I thought. Especially Shii, who was already on my list of cherished juniors. Actually, she’s the only junior I have in this world.

“Senior…”

“I’m sorry.”

I quickly apologized when Shii spoke.

I hadn’t wanted to tell anyone.

Especially not Sasaki.

“…No.”

But kind Shii didn’t blame me.

“Thinking about it, my brother should have been the first person I told.”

“Shii?”

Sasaki gave Shii a puzzled look as she spoke with apparent relief.

“…Brother, I actually have something to tell you.”

And finally, Shii spoke up.

“Bad.”

The first to respond was Koko.

Sasaki gave a bitter smile at Koko’s indignant face, then turned to me and said:

“You don’t need to worry too much. We’ll solve our problems. As for money… we have some saved up.”

“…”

I looked at Sasaki.

“You’re planning to give that person money?”

“…I don’t really want to.”

Sasaki thought for a moment before continuing.

“If there’s no way to get rid of her, we might have to. After all… she is our mother.”

“Brother.”

“But if we give her money this time, she’ll come back again. Maybe every time she runs out.”

“That… we can’t help for now.”

Sasaki’s troubled expression suggested he understood the legal issues. If children were left alone without parents, it would certainly be “leverage” from her perspective.

But because of that…

“Next time, she might want this house.”

Both Sasaki and Shii reacted to my words.

Shii, who had been hanging her head, looked up at me sharply, while Sasaki gave me a “what are you talking about” expression.

This house is in Sasaki’s father’s name.

But it’s also where Sasaki lives.

She might not be able to swallow the whole house, but she could certainly try to mooch off them here.

Of course, I didn’t think Sasaki would meekly step aside. No matter how kind-hearted he is, or how much of a pushover light novel protagonists of this era might be, he wouldn’t hand over the place where he lives with his sister to a freeloader mother.

But the problem is that Shii’s custody legally belongs to her mother. And from what I’ve heard, Sasaki’s father doesn’t seem likely to actively protect Shii.

So, they’ll use that as leverage.

“…Ah.”

Shii’s face turned pale upon hearing my explanation. Sasaki’s face reddened with anger.

I could suggest a few solutions here.

The simplest would be for me to hide Shii.

I’ve actually hidden Yamashita before.

The problem is Shii’s situation.

In Yamashita’s case, it wasn’t a big issue because his counterpart had connections with Kagami.

Given the circumstances, Yamashita’s guardian didn’t seem to mind much.

He probably thought Yamashita was safer at our house than somewhere strange.

But with Shii…

If her parents start looking, I’d have to hand her over. Legally, Shii is currently a runaway.

If I try to protect her beyond that, we’d get entangled with the Society or the Yamashita family again.

These temporary solutions won’t work.

So, the next method…

“Shii.”

“Yes, Senior Kotone.”

Shii responded with a dejected expression.

“I have a suggestion.”

“A suggestion?”

I nodded.

“It might take some time, is that okay?”

At my words, the Sasaki siblings looked at each other, but soon turned to me and nodded.

*

We don’t know when Shii’s mother will return. People coming to threaten others don’t usually set appointments.

So naturally, the method is—

“—Wait a minute.”

Nakahara pressed her fingers against her forehead and said:

“So you’re saying you’re going to live here now?”

“…”

That’s right.

Koko and I decided to stay here for a while. The Sasaki siblings agreed.

It might have been different with Nakahara and Hagiwara. Shii didn’t fully trust those two for various reasons.

No, she trusted them as people, but… isn’t that right? They were after her brother’s chastity.

At least she thought I wouldn’t be after Sasaki. And Koko is still too young in many ways to like boys.

But there was something we didn’t anticipate.

This childhood friend character, like Shii’s mother, randomly appears in front of Sasaki’s house.

Today’s concept was “childhood friend bringing over extra side dishes her mother made.”

But they’re not even next-door neighbors.

It’s several subway stops away—isn’t it a bit scary to bring food like this? I would find it scary.

Yandere characters were quite popular in the 2000s too; I hope Nakahara isn’t playing that role.

“What’s the reason?”

“…”

I looked at the Sasaki siblings.

They seemed to have nothing to say, keeping their mouths tightly shut.

Right, they wouldn’t want this kind of story spreading like a rumor. Even between close friends, there are things you don’t want to share.

And honestly, Nakahara doesn’t seem like someone who can keep secrets very well.

…No, I am grateful she hasn’t spread stories about Koko. But this is completely different.

Who would believe stories about Koko anyway?

“Why? Can’t you tell me?”

When Nakahara spoke with a slightly hurt expression, Sasaki looked extremely guilty but still didn’t speak up.

“…We’ll use a different room, so it’s fine.”

“Well, that’s obvious.”

I tried to make an excuse, but it clearly didn’t work.

Of course, staying in Sasaki’s room would be problematic too.

Last time I visited, I slept in Shii’s room because Nakahara and Hagiwara were in the guest room.

This time, Koko and I planned to use the guest room.

“Meow.”

“See, they even brought their cat! There’s even a litter box!”

“…”

Well, yes.

Anyone would think we came prepared for a long stay.

I couldn’t deny this. Koko and I had gone home that day, packed our things, and moved everything early the next morning before going to school with Sasaki and Shii.

Perhaps that’s why Nakahara appeared today. Did she sense something suspicious about us arriving together?

“Meow.”

Kuro placed his paw on Nakahara’s knee as if to comfort her, but:

“T-that won’t make me forgive you! I don’t accept this!”

Almost had her.

I wish Kuro had tried a little harder.

But before Kuro could climb onto Nakahara’s lap, she stood up abruptly.

“So that’s how it’s going to be, huh?”

Nakahara spoke with evident anger.

“…Hmph!”

Making that sound, she turned and stormed out.

At least the door didn’t slam too loudly. She really doesn’t know how to be properly angry.

“…What should we do?”

“No, even if you ask me that…”

When I looked up at Sasaki and asked, he scratched his head and replied.

Hey, this problem exists because you go around charming people.

Though I did create the current situation.

*

Most troublingly, Nakahara returned to Sasaki’s house that night.

With a large backpack on her back.

There was even a thick sleeping bag on top of the backpack. I have no idea why a high school girl would own such a sleeping bag.

“I’m staying too.”

Nakahara stated very firmly.

“…”

When I looked at Nakahara with a slightly sympathetic expression, her face turned extremely red.

“Nanami, even so…”

“They can stay but I can’t?”

“There are circumstances…”

“What circumstances?”

“…”

Seeing Sasaki unable to give a straightforward answer, alarms must have gone off in Nakahara’s head again.

“Anyway, I’m staying too!”

So childish.

“…Sasaki.”

“Oh, yes.”

When I called Sasaki, he turned to me somewhat awkwardly.

“It might be okay.”

“…”

At my words, Sasaki looked at Nakahara with a contemplative expression, then let out a small sigh.

“Alright, come in.”

“…I-I’ll contribute to living expenses.”

As if the thought had just occurred to her, Nakahara said this while quickly entering the house.

No, that’s not the issue.

…Well, having more people around might be useful.