Ch.45Chapter 7. Chaos (3)

“I see~ So Shii-chan is Souta’s little sister.”

The name on the ‘sister’ side was Hana Hagiwara. As I mentioned, she was a nun of the church in this world, but it seems there aren’t many restrictions on her movements.

I’m not sure how a foreign militia like this could exist in Japan, a country with a functioning autonomous government. If this were a novel, I’d just accept it as the author’s decision, but this world isn’t just a fictional one. The background was exactly as I read in the novel, but for this world to exist, shouldn’t there be some logic to it?

So there must be some political aspect behind it that I’m not aware of. I don’t want to delve too deeply into it right now.

By the way, even though there’s a gap between real people and illustrations, if I had met this person separately for the first time, I wouldn’t have recognized her immediately. She was indeed a striking beauty as described in the novel, but this world is full of “beautiful women and girls.”

…But how did Yuuki recognize her? Especially when she first saw her in casual clothes, not even a school uniform.

Is it just intuition?

“Are you Souta’s friend?”

“…I am currently maid Kotone Kurosawa.”

I deliberately tried to keep some distance by saying that.

Speaking of “sister” though.

Considering my age when I first read light novels, she was definitely a “big sister type” character. Since light novel protagonists are usually high school students, even someone just a year older would be called “sister,” and adult characters were often described as “exuding sensuality.”

Those “sensual” sister characters were often in their early twenties, college students.

…Sister, huh.

By my standards from before reincarnation, they’re still just kids whose heads aren’t even dry yet, but they’re called “sister.”

I feel like I might cry a little inside. Damn it.

“Hmm, a girl dedicated to her job. I like kids like that.”

She seems to empathize, perhaps because she’s also a cosplay character.

Come to think of it, she was really embarrassed when she first showed her nun outfit to the protagonist.

“S-Shii, have you been working in a place like this?”

The childhood friend who spoke with a somewhat shocked expression was named Nanami Nakahara.

She had an energetic personality but good grades, and was a bit strict—the dictionary definition of a childhood friend. She was the type of character that frequently appeared in light novels of that era, who would come to wake up the protagonist in the morning or discover adult magazines under his bed—or at least she should have been.

I say “should have been” because the one who woke up Souta Sasaki in the morning was Shii, and the one who cleaned his messy room was also Shii.

Because of his too-perfect little sister, this girl couldn’t fulfill her duties as a childhood friend.

But that didn’t mean she was giving up on the protagonist either.

“It’s just a part-time job, miss,” I politely replied on Shii’s behalf.

“Oh! I-I’m sorry!”

“Come on, Nakahara-san. It’s just a job. All she does is serve coffee, she just happens to wear a maid uniform. It’s wrong to judge like that. Besides, isn’t Souta’s sister here too?”

Hagiwara said in a somewhat leisurely voice, but with a sharp edge.

“I-I didn’t mean it that way!”

She totally did.

Being a maid café doesn’t mean we’re doing anything extraordinary. This applies to other maid cafés that became popular later too—usually it’s just taking photos together, singing songs, or drawing pictures with ketchup on omurice.

If they actually provided “services,” the rather strict Japanese government regarding adult entertainment wouldn’t leave them alone.

“Yes, yes. It’s wrong to discriminate against people based on what they wear.”

Hagiwara muttered in a voice that seemed to come from deep within her heart.

Well, technically both Shii and I are working illegally, but there’s no need to point that out. It’s not like we’ve ever been caught.

“By the way, I was really surprised when I found out Shii was working here.”

Perhaps trying to change the subject as Nakahara started glaring at Hagiwara, Sasaki spoke to me.

But.

“…What would you like to order? Master, and ladies?”

I completely ignored his comment and asked that instead.

If I’m not in the middle of a harem, I have no intention of handling someone else’s mess.

Besides, Shii didn’t call me to solve this anyway.

After looking back and forth between Shii, who was smiling next to me, and myself, Sasaki soon realized I had no intention of getting involved between these two people. With a slightly deflated expression, he ordered coffee.

The childhood friend Nakahara ordered a café latte and shortcake. And the senior Hagiwara ordered just coffee, like Sasaki.

Nakahara seemed a bit shocked that she was the only one who ordered dessert. And she was the only one with a café latte too.

Well, it’s not that strange.

I bowed politely again and returned to the counter with the order.

“Senior, senior.”

“…Yes.”

“How did they look? The two of them don’t seem to be that close to my brother yet, right?”

“…Yes.”

I nodded as I answered.

Seeing me like that, Shii’s expression darkened a little.

“Oh… did I cause trouble? By calling the three of them here…”

“…No.”

I don’t think so.

Although the café was tucked away in a secluded spot, it had gained a good reputation by word of mouth and quite a few customers visited.

In fact, I met Sasaki and Shii again when they happened to visit this café together.

Someday, if Sasaki gets a girlfriend, he might bring her here too.

It was a bit annoying, though.

“It’s fine. They’re just customers.”

“R-right?”

Shii’s expression brightened again.

If only my sister had been like this, how nice it would have been.

…

No, that’s not right. If my sister had suddenly become like this, it would have been truly terrifying. She wouldn’t have any reason to act so cautiously unless she had broken my computer or pushed over my figurine display case.

Well, now I can’t hear that chattering voice anymore anyway.

“…Are you satisfied?”

“Oh, yes. But I should keep watching a little longer…”

“That’s fine then.”

I nodded and went back to work.

Shii quickly followed and started helping me.

…Meanwhile, the other two maids working with us were whispering while looking at Sasaki’s table with two girls and one boy, but since those three probably couldn’t hear them anyway, I guess it doesn’t matter.

Actually, the “sister” Hagiwara might have heard, but since she’s pretending not to notice, I decided to leave it alone.

*

Shii and I work exactly three hours on weekdays. Our shift ends just after eight o’clock.

Sasaki was waiting outside for Shii until then.

The childhood friend and the sister on either side of him were a bonus.

“Shii, let’s go together.”

“Ah…”

Shii looked in my direction.

Usually on workdays, Shii returns home with me. I usually treat her to ramen for dinner. Usually the cheapest menu item, though.

Of course, Shii is considerate enough not to always let me pay.

I always refuse when Shii offers to pay first, but these days we more often each pay for what we eat.

Not going back with me meant giving up that time together.

“I’m fine.”

“Oh, do you two usually…?”

I nodded at Sasaki’s question.

“Um… would you like to come with us?”

The childhood friend and the sister looked at me simultaneously.

There doesn’t seem to be any wariness… Both of them are fundamentally good people. The childhood friend goes without saying, and the sister, though a bit mischievous, was on the side of keeping peace.

But you know, I didn’t want to be stuck between harem members.

If my body had been male, I might have considered it. None of those girls would have liked me romantically, but at least I wouldn’t have been treated as “part of the harem” either.

When I shook my head, Shii bowed deeply as if truly sorry.

“I actually have somewhere I need to stop by.”

That’s what I said.

“Really?”

Of course it’s a lie.

“Yes.”

But I answered with conviction.

Even after hearing that answer, Shii still looked a bit uneasy, so I waved my hand and left first.

Well, I’m used to walking alone anyway. It’s Japan, right? One of the countries with the best public safety in the world, not just in East Asia, so there’s no need to worry that much.

…Though I have been targeted by a stalker before. Well, that was just bad luck at the time.

After walking a few steps like that.

I heard the sound of running behind me, tap tap tap, and someone touched my back.

“Hey.”

When I turned around, there stood the sister… no, Hagiwara.

“No matter what, it’s dangerous for a girl to be alone on a night street like this. Let me go with you to wherever you’re going.”

“…”

I stared up at her face.

And I also looked at Shii.

Shii was looking at me pitifully.

I let out a light sigh between my lips.

*

Since we were on our way home, Sasaki suggested we have a light meal before going back.

Hagiwara and Nakahara agreed, so the five of us ended up having dinner together.

The menu was tonkatsu, different from usual.

It was the tonkatsu restaurant where Sasaki had treated me last time.

There was still about an hour left until closing time. Perhaps they were targeting Akihabara employees getting off work?

“You’ve become good friends with Shii.”

Sasaki said, looking at Shii who was sitting next to me.

I nodded.

We see each other 4 days a week, and on Saturdays and Sundays we see each other almost all day, so conversation was inevitable.

Of course, neither of us talked about ourselves in detail. There were too many awkward stories for that.

“Aren’t you friends with Souta?”

Nakahara asked.

“We’re in different classes.”

“Oh… I see?”

And Nanami Nakahara was also in a different class. After they met again, she often lingered in front of his classroom to meet Sasaki… according to the light novel.

“How do you two know each other if you don’t meet that often?”

Hagiwara Hana asked.

“…We met by chance.”

I answered briefly. There was no other way to describe it anyway.

The questions from the two continued, subtly seeming to check me out but also not. In a way, Sasaki probably learned more facts about me from this exchange than he had known until now.

“Hmm.”

Hagiwara tilted her head and looked at me. Her well-maintained hair slid off her shoulder smoothly, like a shampoo commercial model’s. I was honestly a bit impressed. I have long hair too, but I could never manage it like that. Even if I knew how, I probably couldn’t stand the process.

As I stared at Hagiwara, who was looking at me and tilting her head,

“Hey, could you possibly—”

She started to ask something, then quickly shut her mouth.

All the kids sitting at the table turned their attention to Hagiwara.

…Did she notice something?

I thought maybe as a monster hunter from an ancient religious organization, she might have noticed something, but I quickly dismissed the thought.

Even Yuuki didn’t recognize me when she first saw me, so how could this person?

“Oh, no, nothing.”

No, what is it?

But it probably wouldn’t be good to hear, so I just ate my tonkatsu without responding.

It was delicious, as expected.

How could meat and fried food together not be delicious?

…If only I didn’t have to worry about tuition, I’d eat this every day.

I let out a small sigh and focused on my meal.

Seeing the atmosphere, no one asked me any more strange questions.

*

The next day, during lunch time.

The sky was quite clear today. The rainy season wasn’t over yet, but it seemed the period of heavy rain was coming to an end.

Should I go wait in the literature club room, or should I go up to the roof?

After serious consideration, I took out my phone.

[I’ll be on the roof today]

After sending the email, I soon received a reply: [Got it]

…

Hmm, come to think of it, I really am getting bread for free every day.

It’s not like I’m extorting bread from her. If anything, it’s closer to Yuuki giving charity.

After getting bread for almost an entire semester, it’s not really the right thing to say, but shouldn’t I start paying for my own food?

But if I suddenly say “I’ll pay for my own food from tomorrow,” the rather sensitive Yuuki might get hurt.

Maybe I should test the waters.

Thinking that, I put my phone in my pocket and headed for the roof.

The first-year classrooms in this school are on the first floor. The third-year classrooms are the same. The new building is quite wide, so there’s not much lack of space.

Of course, you can’t fit all classrooms from first to third year on the first floor, so the second-year classrooms are on the second floor.

To get to the roof, I naturally had to pass through the corridor where the second-year classrooms were concentrated. It wasn’t particularly time-consuming, though.

I wasn’t trying hard to get up quickly, just leisurely climbing to the roof with relaxed legs.

The weather was still heading toward midsummer, and if I used up energy I didn’t have, I might collapse before reaching the top.

With my arms hanging down and my back slightly hunched, I was sluggishly climbing up when—

“Hey!”

Someone called me.

As I was passing near the second-floor corridor.

“…”

I turned around to see who had called me.

It was Hagiwara, whom I had met yesterday.

Seeing me standing on the stairs going from the second to the third floor, Hagiwara looked a bit surprised.

Why?

I tilted my head.

“Do you have business on the upper floor?”

Hagiwara asked.

I shook my head.

“No.”

“I… see?”

Her eyes kept going back and forth between me and the stairs.

No, so why?

“Could you tell me where you were going?”

“…”

I thought for a moment.

I didn’t want to say the roof. That would lead to the question “why?” and the only answer would be “to eat lunch on the roof.”

And that was… a bit… awkward.

As an adult, eating alone never bothered me, but as a teenager, not having friends wasn’t something to be proud of. There were hardly any students standing alone in the school cafeteria. Unlike workplaces or universities, making friends in high school wasn’t that difficult.

While I wasn’t eating in the bathroom or anything, it still felt like an awkward answer.

I was fine with it, but the concern that would follow made me uncomfortable.

“Why?”

So I asked back.

“Huh?”

“Why do I need to tell you where I’m going?”

At my words, Hagiwara showed an uncharacteristically flustered expression.

In the light novel, she had a “relaxed big sister” position, but in reality, she was still a teenager. Her life experience was limited to school life, and for some kids, part-time jobs.

“…”

Seeing that Hagiwara had forgotten what to say, I silently turned around and continued up the stairs.

Getting involved would be extremely tiring.

It would be better to leave Hagiwara for Sasaki, and I could live my own life—

“Excuse me.”

Is this person always this persistent?

I turned around again.

From the third floor up, there were other classrooms needed for school lessons: music room, audiovisual room, computer room, science lab, cooking room… In short, hardly anyone was there during lunch time.

Hagiwara’s voice echoed slightly in the corridor.

“Perhaps.”

After starting to speak, Hagiwara thought for a moment, then looked at me with a determined face and said,

“Perhaps, were you the girl who went to the infirmary with blood flowing from your head, supported by another girl?”

“…”

Ah.

Now I understand.

This person had also heard the rumors.

But those rumors were already several weeks old. At first, there was a bit of commotion and eyes turned toward me, but it didn’t take long for it to die down.

Unless there was something wrong with my head. Otherwise, the only conclusion would be “maybe they saw wrong” or “the rumors must have been exaggerated.”

The first-year students who see me almost every day would certainly have lost interest, but second-year students don’t often see me. They probably just heard that there was such a girl in the first year.

How should I answer?

“It’s you, isn’t it?”

Seeing that I wasn’t answering, Hagiwara seemed even more convinced.

At this point, denying it would only raise more suspicion.

“I slipped in the bathroom.”

I answered.

“…I see?”

Hagiwara replied, then looked at the stairs I was about to climb again.

“But why are you going to the roof?”

“…”

How did she know… though it was obvious since the only place to go via these stairs was the roof. There was no reason to go to other classrooms.

Hagiwara was staring at me.

Wait, no.

Hold on.

Could it be that this person thinks I’m going to end my life?

“…”

Judging by her serious expression, that’s definitely what she thinks.

“It’s not like that.”

I reflexively said so, but my denial seemed to deepen Hagiwara’s suspicion.

What should I say here? Should I make a logical rebuttal? That it happened weeks ago and I’m suddenly thinking of suicide because of that?

But that would be digging my own grave in a different way.

As I was struggling with these thoughts,

“…What are you two doing?”

I heard Yuuki’s voice coming up the stairs.

Hagiwara and I looked at the stairs simultaneously.

Yuuki was holding a piece of bread in each hand, looking back and forth between me and Hagiwara.

…

This conversation seems like it’s going to get complicated.