Ch.366IF Side Story: Seems I’ve Arrived a Bit Early (63)

“Kotone.”

“Yeah?”

“Is something wrong?”

Night.

Kagami asked me as I struggled to fall asleep.

I always slept in Kagami’s room. My room belonged to Shii during sleeping hours.

I didn’t mind. In fact, I would gladly lend it as long as nothing unusual happened. Well, anyway, I came to Kagami’s room when it was time to sleep.

Kagami’s room was more decorated than I expected.

Even though others probably wouldn’t come this far into the house, the dressing table, its mirror, and other items showed signs of careful arrangement.

Perhaps this was the first room Kagami ever had to herself. If she decorated it according to her taste, then Kagami seemed to like somewhat flashy things.

“Kotone?”

When I remained lost in thought without answering, Kagami slowly lay down beside me and asked again.

I felt the bed sink slightly under Kagami’s weight.

“Did something happen today?”

She asks this despite following me with Dad and watching from a distance. Well, they wouldn’t have heard our conversations anyway.

“No, nothing happened.”

“Really?”

Kagami asked, sounding a bit doubtful.

I mumbled vaguely and burrowed into Kagami’s embrace.

The weather had gotten a bit colder. Japanese houses don’t seem to be built with “warmth” as a major consideration, so honestly, the nights were getting chilly.

It feels nice lying with Kagami in the soft bed under a warm cotton blanket. Actually, that subtle coldness might make this space feel even cozier.

I wrapped my arms tightly around Kagami’s warm body and buried my face against her, breathing in her scent.

Warm, calming when you breathe it in quietly.

“…”

Kagami didn’t ask anything more. She just gently stroked my hair.

Perhaps she judged that I was deep in thought after seeing Shii. That’s not wrong.

Because I found out about the identity of the Sasaki siblings.

Tokyo Slayers. That was the title, I believe.

I couldn’t remember the story in detail. The ten years in this world had affected me more than I expected. I still dreamed of my family when Kagami wasn’t around, so I hadn’t forgotten their faces, but the contents of a novel I’d read just as a hobby couldn’t remain perfectly intact in my mind for so long.

But a few things were certain: the novel was about hunting yokai.

And the friends I’d made so far hadn’t appeared in it.

…A character named Kotone Kurosawa hadn’t appeared at all either.

I don’t know why.

Maybe I’m just an outsider in the novel’s world. Or perhaps I was a new character who would appear later than the parts I’d read.

But I had a certain “feeling.”

The character Kotone Kurosawa must have appeared in the novel. Otherwise, I wouldn’t be experiencing all this.

So it was a yokai.

That bear that had chased me was such a being.

And Mako’s father is someone who deals with such creatures.

…And Kagami, and the person pursuing Kagami…

“…”

Someday, I’ll eventually need to hear that story.

What kind of being I am. How Kagami gave birth to me. Who Kagami really is.

Kagami wants me to live normally, but if this world is truly the same as the novel—

This world won’t leave me alone.

It hasn’t so far.

Still, I didn’t want to rush Kagami right now.

This ordinary time I’d finally gained after so long.

I wanted this peaceful time just as much as Kagami did.

So much that I wished it would last forever.

I fell into a deep sleep in Kagami’s arms, just like any other night.

*

It took Shii almost a month to fully adjust to our home.

In other words, it took until the middle of winter.

Shii was still a Sasaki, and Kagami didn’t seem interested in changing her surname. Shii was Souta’s family rather than ours.

It wasn’t that we treated her like an outsider, but rather that Kagami didn’t want to take her away. Kagami must have felt the same emotions when looking at me.

Though still a guest, our family treated Shii without formality.

After a month of not being mistreated at all, Shii completely dropped her guard around us. She wasn’t quite at the level of hugging or holding hands, but she could stay close to our family.

We bought winter clothes for Shii. As we went downtown together and ate delicious food, Shii slowly became more talkative.

“Kotone.”

That’s how Shii called me.

There’s nothing strange about it. Everyone in our house calls me that.

…But it’s interesting that she calls your brother “Oraboni” but calls me Kotone. Still, she oddly continues to use polite speech. She probably thinks that’s natural since we’re taking care of her.

The issue with Shii’s school was also resolved.

After spending quite a long time going back and forth between Souta’s father and that woman who was his wife, showing tremendous patience, Kagami and Dad managed to arrange for Shii to attend school.

I suspect Mako’s father’s influence played a part too. That’s probably why we haven’t had any major problems while keeping Shii with us.

I’m not sure what that man wants from me though.

“Which school would Shii-chan like to attend?”

“O-Oraboni.”

When Kagami asked kindly, Shii immediately responded.

“I want to… go to the same school as Oraboni…”

Seeing her adorable expression, Kagami gently patted Shii’s head.

Not in the same way she pats mine. She was still much more careful when dealing with Shii.

As time passed, I occasionally slept in the same room as Shii.

Not in the same bed—I would make a spot for myself on the floor while Shii slept on the bed. I wanted her to learn how to interact with people now that she was beginning to find emotional stability.

…Honestly, it was a bit difficult. I still preferred Kagami’s embrace.

This might be one of my issues that I thought I should try to fix.

Kagami—well, she accepted it. After all, she was the one who originally said I should sleep alone.

Instead, when she saw me in the morning, Kagami would hold me tight.

Much tighter than usual. As if seeking compensation for not feeling my warmth throughout the night.

I loved those hugs. Really.

*

It was nice having people to walk with in the morning.

I used to meet friends on the way to school, but walking together from the start was quite new.

And it wasn’t just Shii. Souta also came to our house early in the morning, thinking of Shii, and walked with her.

Souta’s father seemed to dislike this—but what could he do?

A person who values appearances so much wouldn’t hit his own child.

Besides, Souta wasn’t the type to give in to such pressure.

He’s the protagonist, after all.

The three of us walked side by side, then separated slightly as we approached the school. Shii seemed a bit disappointed about leaving me, but when she saw friends gathering around me, she quickly moved away.

While she had grown close to me, Kagami, and Dad, she still seemed to have difficulty making new friends.

But she doesn’t appear to be bullied. This is something I should observe carefully.

*

Christmas.

Japan doesn’t have a special holiday for Christmas, but since school vacation falls around that time, most students get to rest.

Dad went to work, but Kagami stayed home.

It was Dad’s request. He told her to rest at home for a while. Kagami seemed to feel guilty and insisted on going to work, but she finally agreed when Dad reminded her of our situation.

She’ll rest for a while and go back to work when things settle down a bit more.

…Even though I had a child’s body, sometimes it felt uncomfortable to live solely on others’ help.

Shii looked puzzled from the morning.

There was a Christmas tree in the living room with gift boxes underneath.

Even if Shii had received Christmas presents before, it was probably when she was very young.

“Kotone, Shii. Come on!”

Kagami said with a joyful expression as she pushed gift boxes toward the two of us.

I smiled watching Shii open her box with a confused expression.

Inside was—clothing.

A sweater that looked like Kagami had made it herself.

“I made one for Souta-kun too.”

Kagami said with a truly happy smile.

Shii pulled out the sweater with a somewhat dazed expression.

Actually, compared to other things Kagami had bought for Shii, this wasn’t very expensive. If I had to say, it wasn’t much different from an ordinary gift.

But—well, it’s Christmas.

Shii burst into tears, making Kagami extremely flustered.

I opened my gift box too.

Finding a sweater almost identical to Shii’s, I couldn’t help but laugh.

Crying sounds, laughter, and flustered voices.

Somehow, that bustling atmosphere felt perfect for Christmas.

And so, my 1999 came to an end.

Without world destruction or alien invasions.

This eventful year ended, at least, in an ordinary way.