Without my partner’s power, Matsuri and the others… Well, lately, we have gotten really close. Matsuri and Saika even went swimsuit shopping with me. But still, we’re not at the point where they’d happily strip naked for me.
“Haah… What kind of dream was that…?”
I was all hyped up in the dream, but now that I’m awake, I feel this weird guilt. Even if it was just a dream, I did see all their private parts up close, groped them… and even did way worse stuff.
“…Hm?”
As I reminisced (with perfect clarity) about the dream, I heard what sounded like a giant’s footsteps outside my room… No way.
THUD. THUD.
The footsteps stopped outside my door, and without even knocking—the door swung open. Standing there was a tiny demon queen.
“Eeek?!”
“Hey, you… You’re way too loud in the morning.”
My sister’s voice dripped with menace as she strode into my room, looming over me—her eyes faintly glowing red.
“U-Uh… Sis?”
Crack. Crack. She cracked her knuckles, standing right in front of me.
Even though she’s so small you’d mistake her for a middle schooler, I’ve never been able to imagine myself beating her.
(But now… I have my partner! If I can just grab my phone—it’s over!)
In that instant, I reached for my phone—certain I’d won.
But reality is always cruel.
“What do you think you’re doing?”
“…Huh?”
I swear I moved fast enough to leave her in the dust.
Yet there she stood, right in front of me. No matter how many times I say it—my sister is a petite woman, smaller than me. So why does she seem so massive?
“You can’t beat your big sister, you know. Just give up, Kai—accept your punishment for making such a ruckus since morning.”
“…So it’s hopeless?”
“Totally~ hopeless♪”
After that, my sister made sure I understood the insurmountable gap between us.
“You two really get along well, don’t you?”
“We’re siblings—of course we do.”
“Miyako’s always looked out for Kai… It’s such a relief.”
“Leave it to me, Dad.”
…One day, I’ll definitely win.
As I ate, watching my sister’s infuriatingly smug face, I made that vow in my heart—for who-knows-how-many times.
“Off we go~!”
“See you later.”
Soon after, I left the house with my sister.
Even though we’d just had that exchange in the morning, it was still rare for us to leave together like this.
“It’s gotten pretty hot lately.”
“Summer’s almost here.”
“Hehe, I’m actually looking forward to it, you know? Taking Matsuri-chan and Saika-chan to the pool and all.”
“That excited, huh?”
When I asked, she nodded as if it were obvious.
“Well, part of it is that they’re girls you’ve gotten close to, but they’re also just really great. I’d love to get to know them even better.”
“I think you’re already plenty close.”
When Matsuri and the others came over, and even when they went shopping for swimsuits, my sister was right there with them—they’ve definitely gotten close. They even bring her up in conversation and say they want to see her again.
“Girls you’ve gotten close to, huh…? Actually, would you be surprised if I said there’s one more?”
“You say something?”
“Nah.”
Well, I’ll probably end up telling her eventually.
“Alright, this is where we split. Do your best at school.”
“You too, Sis.”
“Mhm.”
After parting ways with my sister, I walked to school alone.
“…It’s quiet.”
Of course, being alone means silence, but it still felt a little lonely.
Maybe it was because it had been a while since I walked to school with my sister… Not that I’d ever admit something that embarrassing—heck, I don’t even want to admit it.
“…Sigh.”
“The hell’re you sighing for?”
“You’re being gloomy as hell.”
Right after I heard hurried footsteps, those voices reached me, followed by a sharp slap on my back.
“Didn’t mean to be gloomy… Hey, guys.”
“Yo.”
“Mornin’.”
Falling into step with my friends—Akira and Shougo—the path that had felt a little lonely just moments ago quickly became lively.
“Akira, how’s soccer been lately?”
“No injuries, and I’ve been training hard as hell.”
“Shougo, how’s the otaku life?”
“Going great… though I kinda blew my allowance on a pricey figure, so I’m broke now.”
Seemed like neither of them had anything bad going on.
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“If you two are fine, then that’s good.”
“Well, I’ll take the compliment, but…”
“Lately, Kai’s been real thoughtful, huh?”
Probably because I can’t help but worry if something bad’s happened to people I care about.
Matsuri, Saika, Emu—of course—but my friends here matter just as much to me.
“What about you, Kai? Anything bothering you?”
“Nah, not really.”
“Seriously? Sounds like we’re the ones without problems.”
“Isn’t that a good thing?”
“I guess so.”
Grinning, the three of us laughed and kept walking.
Even after arriving at school and reaching the classroom, our conversation continued—but Akira and Shougo had been holding it in since the walk, so they soon dashed out.
“Why the hell were you holding it in?”
“Holding what in?”
“Wh—!?”
Thud! I jerked back in surprise.
The moment I muttered that complaint about my friends, an entirely different voice suddenly spoke right by my ear—what the—!?
“Whoa!?”
“Ah, careful!”
I must’ve leaned back too hard because my chair tilted dangerously, and I let out a pathetic yelp—only for my face to be engulfed in something soft and plush.
“Mmph!?”
I knew exactly what it was—this was a chest. Her chest.
“Phew… That was close… Ah.”
The person who’d caught me seemed to realize the situation too.
The arms wrapped around my head slowly loosened, and the softness pressing against my face gradually pulled away… When I looked up, Matsuri stood there, her cheeks faintly pink.
“M-Matsuri… thanks.”
“U-Um! Glad you didn’t fall!”
She smiled shyly as she said it.
But for me, looking at her like this just made me remember all the things we’d done in that dream, and my face burned instantly.
“What’s wrong?”
“Nah… nothing.”
“Mmm~ suspicious. Oh well, I’ll just sit here instead♪”
Borrowing the seat in front of me, Matsuri sat down.
Leaning her cheek on her hand, she looked at me with a cheerful expression… but I wondered if something had happened.
“Hey, Matsuri.”
“Hmm?”
“You’re in a really good mood today, aren’t you?”
“…!!”
The moment I asked, Matsuri’s face turned bright red.
If this were a manga, steam would’ve been shooting from her head.
“I mean… you don’t have to talk about it if you don’t want to.”
“U-Um… sorry? It’s just… kinda embarrassing.”
This… this is definitely a lunchtime “partner” case.
I smirked to myself—this was downright devilish. Listen, Matsuri, I’ll make sure you understand—you can’t keep secrets from me!
“……………”
“…Huh?”
“…!”
Even when I looked away, I could feel her staring.
Of course, it was Matsuri—but every time our eyes met, she’d quickly look away.
Wait, what’s with this sweet-but-awkward reaction? I’m dying to know!?
“I-I’m gonna go back to my friends now!”
“O-Oh, sure…”
She dashed off, but not without glancing back at me a few times—yeah, something’s definitely up…!
(Could it be… did something else happen to Matsuri?)
That worry crossed my mind, but if it were something bad, she wouldn’t have reacted like that. Besides, we talked normally yesterday, so this sudden shift was baffling.
“…Well, maybe I’ll find out at lunch.”
I wished lunch would hurry up, but as much as I could manipulate people, I couldn’t control time—how frustrating.
“Guess I’ll hit the bathroom too.”
Akira and Shougo had returned, so I left the classroom in their place.
After finishing up, I spotted Saika walking down the hallway on my way back.
“…Ah, good morning, Kai-kun.”
“Morning, Saika.”
Exchanging morning greetings like this was normal, but today, just like with Matsuri, I couldn’t look at her straight because of that dream—which only proved just how wild the things we’d done in it were.
“…Haaah.”
A quick breath to steady myself… alright!
“Uh, sorry, Saika. It’s not like there’s any—”
“S-Sorry…!”
“…Huh?”
She quickly averted her gaze and hurried into the classroom.
Just like Matsuri, the moment our eyes met, Saika’s face turned red—what the hell is going on?
Her reaction didn’t seem like she was avoiding me, and we talked normally yesterday too… Agh, I don’t get it at all!!
“Wait… if it’s not just Matsuri and Saika, does that mean Emu’s the same?”
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They saw everything didn’t they, with enthusiasm.
Nah, Saika will approach you witb so much vigor.