“Come to think of it, this might be the first time I’ve seen her this relaxed. Well, she is asleep, so it’s not like she’s consciously letting her guard down… Maybe Matsuri’s lap pillow is just that comforting?”
“If that’s true, I’m happy. I really want to get closer to Onee-chan.”
Matsuri… She’s such a good kid.
Wanting to befriend Onee-chan wasn’t unique to Matsuri—Saika and Emu seemed to feel the same.
“Me too… I want to be closer to Onee-chan.”
“Same here. I want to know more about her.”
Man… They’re all head over heels for her.
As I watched the heartwarming sight of Matsuri and the others peering at Onee-chan’s sleeping face, my thoughts drifted back to something Onee-chan had told me earlier.
(A girlfriend… huh.)
Yeah, that question about who I’d make my girlfriend.
As a high school guy, I do have that longing—I’d love to get a girlfriend before graduation… And if it were someone like Matsuri or the others, my remaining school life would be amazing.
(Honestly… and I mean honestly, I don’t think the possibility is zero. We get along well, right? We’ve been through stuff together…? And we’ve had plenty of physical contact!?)
Even accounting for recent events, our bond is close.
So… If I confessed, maybe it’d work? But part of me is scared things might turn awkward. Plus, if I keep using my partner’s power, who knows what’ll happen.
“Kai-kun.”
“Huh…? What?”
Matsuri’s voice pulled me out of my thoughts.
She was still giving Onee-chan a lap pillow, but her gaze was locked onto me, unwavering.
“…Not just today, but every day with you is fun. Ever since we started spending time together, I don’t think there’s been a single day I haven’t felt that way.”
“O-Oh…”
“If I had to say… Days without you are kinda boring.”
“R-Really…?”
Wh-What’s with this sudden—!?
Today, Matsuri’s words and gestures keep making me hyperaware… I wanted to look away out of embarrassment, but I couldn’t—her eyes were too serious.
“No matter the moment, I love the days I spend with you… I want to cherish this time with all my heart—I want to be with you even more.”
It was almost like a soliloquy.
Matsuri’s expression didn’t change as she finished, but I could feel my face burning up from having her say all that directly… But she wasn’t the only one with sweet words for me.
“I feel the same. Meeting you changed everything for me.”
“S-Saika too…?”
“I didn’t want to let Matsuri have all the fun… But it’s pretty incredible, right? Not long ago, I could barely even speak properly, and now I can say things like this.”
“Well… I guess so.”
“I want to treasure this bond… the days I spend with you even more. I want to be with you… That’s all I’ve been thinking about lately.”
Saika wasn’t the gloomy girl she used to be anymore.
I’d known that for a while, but hearing her say it so earnestly still made me embarrassed—what kind of torture is this!?
More than happy, I was mortified, my head practically boiling over.
“Uh… Wait, is this the moment…?”
“Yes. That just leaves me.”
I KNEW ITTTTTT!
Not that I’m not happy! Of course I am! But if they keep saying stuff like this, I’m gonna lose it!
Not that they could read my mind—Emu began speaking just like Saika had.
“Meeting you changed me too, Kai-senpai. I might still have that strict image in class, but my friends say I smile more now, that my whole vibe’s different.”
“The ‘Ice Queen’ title’s long gone, huh?”
“I’d gladly give that nickname back. Seriously, who even came up with it? I’d love to give them a piece of my mind.”
Emu’s sharp glare made it clear just how much she loathed whoever started that.
“…A-Anyway, that’s not important. The point is, meeting you definitely changed me. And like Matsuri-senpai and Saika-senpai said… I want to spend even more time with you—with all of you.”
After saying that, Emu immediately looked away.
But I’d already noticed her ears turning red. Her sincerity was unmistakable—and because I realized that, my face burned even hotter than before.
“Ghh…”
Hot—my cheeks, my entire face, my whole body felt scorching.
Matsuri, who’d spoken first, Saika, who followed, and even Emu—now all three were staring at me… Their combined gazes made the tension unbearable.
But beyond the heat, I also felt something like moved emotion.
(This… It’s just like that time.)
There was one thing all three had in common—the words “I want to be with you.” It reminded me of what they’d said back then, under hypnosis.
(They said it back then… and now they’re saying it again… That makes me insanely happy.)
In situations like these, the old me would either run away or try to dodge the issue.
But when someone gives me words that make me this happy… not responding would be downright unmanly. So I opened my mouth to answer her honestly.
“Me too… I’ve gotten closer to Matsuri, Saika and Emu through different circumstances, and we’ve been spending more time together. Like going out today, and recently, I’ve had a lot of moments with everyone.”
After-school dates with Matsuri, visiting Saika and Emu’s place… Lately, it was almost like they’d coordinated it—so much time spent with all three of them.
“……………”
And then there were moments like today, where we were pressed close together, yet instead of pulling away, they even smiled at me… After experiencing how warm and uplifting it feels to have them by my side, it’s only natural I wouldn’t want to let that go.
“I want to stay close with all of you… forever. That’s how I feel. Because I really love the time we spend together like this!”
Of course, part of me also wants to use my partner’s power to get away with whatever I want.
I might’ve spoken a little too loudly, but my sister didn’t wake up, and nobody around us seemed to pay any attention… And waiting for me after those words were three smiling faces.
READ THE ORIGINAL TRANSLATION AT GADGETIZEDPANDA.COM
▼▽
“Whew, we had fun today, didn’t we?”
“Yeah… we really did.”
My sister walked ahead of me, looking more satisfied than I’d ever seen her before.
As her little brother, I was glad, of course—and Matsuri and the others kept saying how much they’d enjoyed today, too.
(What a really good day.)
I couldn’t help but think it.
But all good things must come to an end… and ours was no exception. The girls we’d just been with had already gone their separate ways, and the lively noise of their presence had faded.
“Still, you’ve got some moves, huh?”
“Huh?”
My sister, who’d been walking ahead, suddenly turned back to face me.
She was grinning—clearly up to no good… What now?
“Actually, I was awake.”
“Awake…!?”
“I heard everything. When those girls told you they wanted to stay with you… and how you answered them.”
“Wha—!?!”
She heard ALL of that?!
Stunned, I stared at my sister, who stood right in front of me, not even trying to hide her smug smirk.
In ridiculously good spirits, she sidled up beside me, nudging me with her elbow as she continued.
“‘I want to be with all three of you’… huh? Not bad. Well, you don’t have to rush into giving them a final answer or anything.”
“Sis…”
“Straightforward feelings deserve straightforward honesty… Faking it and hurting someone would be the worst thing you could do.”
“…Yeah, I know.”
I nodded, and in my mind, Matsuri and the others’ smiles flashed again.
Their feelings were definitely real… and pretending not to see them would be scummy. But the truth is, I still don’t know exactly how to face them.
Still, if they were that happy… if they nodded along with my words, then I should trust that my answer wasn’t wrong.
“Still, who knew my little brother would be such a ladies’ man? As your sister, I couldn’t be prouder.”
“…You’re praising me a lot today.”
“Well, of course I am! And honestly? I really like those girls… So personally, I’m looking forward to spending more time with them.”
“Matsuri and Saika said it too—even Emu, who just met you today. They said they want to get closer to you, that you’re an amazing person.”
“That’s sweet of them. But they already told me all that themselves. Man, I’ve got those girls wrapped around my finger~”
Ah, so they really did tell her directly.
Humming cheerfully, my sister strode ahead.
“C’mon, let’s hurry home~!”
“Right behind you!”
As I moved to follow, I glanced at my phone.
I activated my partner and pulled up the relationship chart—the black threads were still there, but the pink ones had grown thicker and more vivid than ever before.
“…Damn, they’re way thicker now.”
Is this because of what happened today…?
“……………”
“Hey! Hurry up already!”
My sister was already pretty far ahead.
If I kept her waiting any longer, her good mood would be ruined, so I quickly ran to catch up.
(Hey, partner… I said something to you before, didn’t I? That maybe you were only setting me up with problematic girls.)
I asked the question silently in my head.
Back then, I complained about it a lot… but now, all I feel is gratitude. I never could’ve imagined that getting you would lead to such wonderful encounters.
“Sorry, Sis! Got lost in thought for a sec.”
“Slowpoke! C’mon, let’s go.”
“Yessir~”
But… if I really think about it—Matsuri and the others in their normal state versus their hypnotized state.
Does that mean I’m building good relationships with six girls? That’s not quite right, but… the thought still makes my heart skip a little. I chuckled to myself.
READ THE ORIGINAL TRANSLATION AT GADGETIZEDPANDA.COM
TLNOTE: yes, the raw said six girls
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