「 Michi-chan won’t be coming tonight. Her mother has recovered consciousness at the hospital, but her brother, Haruka-san, and Kudou-san will join in later, and they’ll have a family meeting 」
Katsuko-nee tells me on our way back to the mansion in the minivan.
Edie’s in the passenger seat.
Luna and I are on the second row.
Mana and Megu take the back row seat.
As usual, Megu’s depressed.
「 Kouzuki-sama has returned home. Therefore, Reika-oneesama’s coming over for our security. She’ll be switching with Kudou-san 」
Then, Kudou-papa’s going to his ex-wife in the hospital with his son and daughter?
「 At first, Haruka-san was being emotional and is making a lot of noise, but Michi-chan’s brother seems to be a reliable man. He scolded Haruka-san and made her quiet. Nei-chan said 」
Oh right, Nei went with Michi to the hospital.
「 Then, as she felt that the family needed some time alone, Nei-chan went with Kinoshita home first 」
Thus, she’s with Margo-san in the Maserati earlier.
「 Haruka-san’s scouting seems to have gone well 」
Oh, it’s about Kudou Haruka appearing in the martial arts tournament Margo-san sponsors.
「 It seems that when she’s at her most emotional state, she’s committed on tit for tat by participating the contest 」
Oh, I can imagine that.
Nei teasing Haruka by saying, “What, scared? Are you that embarrassed that the world may find out that you’re weak?”
Haruka then would say “I’m not scared at all! Bring it on!”
「 Margo-san and I want to create a team based on their standing techniques, and so it would be helpful if Haruka, who does Karate, joins in 」
Edie said.
「 Standing techniques? 」
「 That’s right. Naturally, we also know both the pinning and locking techniques. Although, we hardly use them 」
Edie said.
「 You know, in martial arts, it’s always 1v1, but in our fights, most of it is 1v3 or even 4 people, right? 」
Edie’s skills are specialized in assassination.
Margo-san has refined her skills to be the bouncer in the mansion, than being a bodyguard.
「 If you have to fight multiple people, once you pin one, the others will kill you. Therefore, we always use one-shot-kill attacks while standing so we could act quickly anytime 」
If they’re standing, they can immediately attack the next enemy, and they could even escape.
If they used pinning techniques, that wouldn’t happen.
「 But, in matches, it’s one-on-one, and so there’s no need to mind that, is there? 」
Mana asks.
「 It’s not a problem of the rules. It’s just that out style won’t be that popular among the viewers. We can’t hide our origin if we do 」
Selling the team.
「 Margo and I have no track record as martial artists. We’ve got no history like being in a well-known dojo, or participating in official tournaments for years 」
That’s true.
The two of them were residents of the other side, not martial artists on the surface.
「 Therefore, they’ll only call us street fighters or something 」
Edie laughs.
「 Margo-san was a street fighter and been hired as a bouncer, that would be her history. As for me, I’m also a street fighter. We’ll push that kind of image. And that’s why our main style is using standing techniques 」
I see. We can’t announce Kuromori to the public after all.
「 Furthermore, if people believe that’s our history, then they might misunderstand that we’re weak against pinning techniques. That’s a big thing 」
Actually, Margo-san and Edie know about pinning techniques well.
If they can give the opponents a false preconception, then that certainly would be effective.
「 And with that team, the third member also needs to be based on standing techniques, which is Haruka. With that, others will think that we’re a team specialized in fighting without pinning techniques 」
I guess the information war has already started.
「 Also, you know that Margo and I are absurdly strong. It needs to have one weak girl on the team, or the team would be unbalanced 」
You mean?
「 If we’re too strong, then we won’t have that many opponents. We’ve got to make our name famous first before Margo-san’s final goal of fighting the grappling champion in Las Vegas 」
Famous.
「 Nobody will pay attention to us if we’re no-names, will they? Therefore, we’ve got to have some titles in martial arts from the Japanese women champions first. Margo and I will take them 」
Without any titles, nobody will pay attention, even if they fight a male world champion with Kyouko-san and Miss Cordelia’s support.
「 Haruka’s title as the Japanese schoolgirl karate champion is enough. That title will be popular even if it’s not that strong. For the pro players, the weaker the title, the more popular it becomes 」
「 I guess you’re really thinking of business 」
I tell Edie.
「 Naturally, if we don’t sell, then it’s meaningless. You’ve got to think of the tickets to the match and the broadcasting rights. It’s better if we make a lot of money for the family, right? 」
Edie replied.
「 Besides, one of the purpose Margo invited me to this one is to launder my history 」
Launder, what?
「 If I become famous as a martial artist together with Margo, then I’ll become someone who can’t become an assassin. A woman known by the people isn’t suited to become an assassin. You’ll attract attention no matter where you go 」
I-I see.
「 And the assassination cult won’t be able to call me back anymore. The other underground organizations who know my abilities won’t scout me either 」
Once she becomes a celebrity, Edie will be free from the organizations on this side.
「 Kyouko-san and Cordelia are trying to negotiate with the assassination cult and the other organizations. Even so, I’d prefer to be unqualified as an assassin in the first place. Furthermore, I’ll become a famous martial artist while at it. Then, I can have people from the backside supporting me, isn’t that just perfect? 」
Nobody would want to hire a famous martial artist supported by a lot of fans back to the underground society again.
「 Therefore, I’ve got to work hard on it too 」
Edie said and smiled.
「 That’s nice, Edie has a purpose 」
Megu mutters.
「 I don’t know what I should do 」
Megu.
「 You’ve got to find it out yourself! 」
Mana said.
「 As for me, I’ll become a supermodel. I’ll become beautiful. But that is because I want Onii-chan to say that I’m beautiful! I’ll become the best beauty in this world if it can make Onii-chan happy! If that’s what I need to do, then I’ll become a supermodel 」
「 Amazing 」
Luna looked at Mana and said.
「 What should I do? 」
Luna sighed.
「 Tsukiko-oneesama will inherit the Takakura shrine, what should I do then? 」
Then,
「 Luna-chan, Megu-chan, you don’t need to hurry and find your life goals. You two are still young, take it easy and find what road you want to take 」
Katsuko-nee speaks in a cheerful tone from the driver seat.
「 You two can freely decide your future 」
Then, she looked at Megu through the rear mirror.
「 When I was at Megu-chan’s age, I don’t even know what my future could become as someone deprived it away from me. I couldn’t even imagine a bright future ahead of me 」
Shirasaka Sousuke kidnapped Katsuko-nee during her first year in high school.
Turned her to a prostitute.
Unable to go home, she was locked up in the brothel.
「 Thinking about that time, my present is a paradise. Aren’t you the same Megu-chan? Did you forget how you lived until four months ago? 」
Megu was scheduled to become a prostitute once Golden Week was over.
Shirasaka Sousuke, Megu’s father, told her.
「 People are so hopeless. They forget about their hardships from the past right away. Even though they’re happier now compared to back then, they’re not satisfied with the present and want to be happier. It’s blasphemy. Even though one has to thank God for being alive even now 」
Lots of prostitutes Shirasaka Sousuke kidnapped had their mind and body decayed, and died.
Katsuko-nee survived that living hell.
「 I’m sorry 」
Luna looks at me.
「 Thanks to Nii-san, we were saved from the fate of the shrine maidens earlier, and yet I didn’t believe that I’ll have a bright future. I’m sorry 」
I…
「 You don’t have to apologize. Now that you’re free from your destiny, it’s natural to feel uneasy about something again. I’ve experienced that 」
「 Nii-san? 」
I recall the past four months.
I took lessons on making bread from Katsuko-nee.
I had a busy summer vacation.
I have sex with multiple women every day in rotation.
Then, last month, I started trying to sell the pastries I made.
「 Really, I was a fool for not noticing. They’re all making me busy just so my heart won’t break 」
They keep me busy and give me something to learn.
I didn’t have the time to worry.
No.
If I had the time to think alone,
Then I may have panicked, and things may get messed up.
「 The events from the May holidays were too heavy after all 」
I raped Yukino and lost my virginity.
I became a member of a crime organization.
Then I’ve obtained family to love one after another.
I fought an international criminal, and I shot him.
Then, I.
I severed my connections to the parents who brought me to this world.
I completely changed in just a few days.
And I thought,
I must protect this new family I got.
With my own hands.
I wanted everyone in the family to need me.
But.
「 Luna. You don’t have to push yourself to the limit. You should do only what you can 」
「 Nii-san 」
Luna comes close to me.
「 I was trying to do more than what I could do. I’ve been impatient at myself, thinking that I must do this, do that. I shouldn’t have done that. I’ve got to understand what I can do, what I can’t do 」
I feel Megu’s presence in the back seat.
「 If you can’t do it, then you can’t. If that’s the case, leave it to someone else. To our family. Trust in them, and in exchange, do the best that you can. That’s good enough 」
「 You got it now? 」
Katsuko-nee smiled at me.
「 Yeah, sorry. I made you all worry 」
Minaho-neesan, Katsuko-nee, and all the other seniors were trying to hide as much as possible from me for the past few days.
I worry about things, got lost, suffered,
Then, until I learn that I can’t solve everything on my own,
They didn’t help me out.
「 It can’t be helped. This is your first time interacting with your family 」
Katsuko-nee said.
「 First time? 」
「 Yes. You didn’t have a proper relationship with your parents. Your grandmother died when you were still small, and so you only know the sense of protection your grandmother gave you 」
Grandma died when I was still in early elementary school.
I do have memories of Grandma raising me, but,
I’ve got no recollection of giving something to Grandma as family.
「 This is your first time having relationships as a family. Therefore, you’re bad at depending on them. You always try to sacrifice yourself for the sake of the family, you think that you mustn’t rely on the family. That otherwise, the family will hate you 」
Katsuko-nee’s right.
「 I won’t hate you, Onii-chan 」
Mana shouts.
「 I also love Nii-san 」
Luna clings to me.
「 Seriously, you’re overthinking things, Darling. And the fact that you don’t depend on us makes us really sad. 」
Edie said kindly.
「 Sorry, I really am. I didn’t understand the sense of distance when it comes to family 」
Therefore.
If I’m left alone, I might’ve flown away somewhere.
Everyone in the family was desperate in keeping me on hold.
for the past four months.
「 We’ve got more experience with family more than you 」
Katsuko-nee said.
She had her life with her family before she was kidnapped.
Mana may have a dry relationship with the Shirasaka house, but she’s lived a recuperation life in her relative’s house in Shizuoka.
Megu lived with her adoptive parents.
「 This isn’t something you can show and tell. You’ve got to fail, get hurt, and learn by yourself in your daily life 」
That’s right.
I’ve got to understand how to perceive the real sense of distance with my family.
It’s not taught.
They can’t help me, either.
「 Therefore, I won’t help you either Megumi-chan 」
Katsuko-nee?
「 Me too! 」
Mana?
「 It’s inevitable to make a mistake or fail. But that’s not a sin. The sin is to not stand up and stay depressed if you make a mistake or fail 」
「 Yeah, people like those are just a hindrance! They’re not needed in the family 」
Mana said. Megu trembles.
「 No, that’s not it. Mana-chan 」
Katsuko-nee speaks.
「 We are your family, and so it’s not painful that you’re causing trouble. No matter how much trouble she causes, all you’ve got to do is laugh at it, saying “it can’t be helped,” and follow up with her. You can cause as much trouble as you want! 」
She’s also telling me that.
「 Therefore, don’t be afraid to bother us and act as you think. Stand up as much as you want. Thinking that you don’t want to trouble everyone is the most troublesome of them all 」
「 That’s right 」
Edie agrees.
I…
「 Luna, can I hug you? 」
I tell Luna sitting next to me.
「 I want to hug someone right now 」
From the turmoil in May, and these past four months.
Then, everything that happened for the past few days.
They’re all rushing in my head all at once.
I feel sad.
I yearn for warmth.
Therefore.
「 Ah, then Mana will give you a hug! 」
Mana says form the back seat.
「 Don’t move from your seat while driving. Luna’s next to Darling right now so leave it to her 」
Edie said.
「 Luna, give me a hug 」
Then, Luna;
「 Okay, I’ll hug Nii-san 」
She said then hugs my body.
「 Geez, it’s the opposite. You don’t want to hug, but you want to be hugged, right? Nii-san made a mistake 」
Luna reads my mind.
She sees my heart more than I could.
「 Sorry that my chest is still small 」
Luna’s pressing her 12-year-old chest against my cheeks.
「 Don’t mind it, it feels warm and pleasant 」
「 Nii-san loves breasts after all! 」
I finally feel relieved as Luna surrounds me with her vitality.
「 Thank you for today, Nii-san 」
「 I should be the one thanking you 」
Megu’s watching us hug each other.
I feel Megu’s gaze.
「 What should I do? 」
I can hear her mutter.
◇ ◇ ◇
「 Welcome back, Onii-sama 」
When the car arrived at the mansion,
Everyone greeted us.
Ruriko and Agnes.
Yukino and Yoshiko-san.
Tsukiko and Yomiko.
Rei-chan’s already here, then, that means that Kudou-papa’s heading to Michi in the hospital.
Misuzu, Nagisa, and Mao-chan aren’t here, they must be in the kitchen.
Then.
「 You’re late Papa!!! 」
Agnes shouts.
「 And you only took Luna with you! It’s unfair! Unfair! Unfair! 」
Oh, it’s about Luna.
She’s taken a liking to Luna as they’re of the same age.
「 Agnes also wants to play with Luna! Papa!! 」
「 Yeah, why don’t you two play a lot after eating dinner? 」
I said. Then Agnes;
「 Papa, you had sex with Luna? 」
Huh?
「 You had sex with Luna while Agnes doesn’t know about it? 」
「 No, not with Luna though 」
I had sex with Mana and Kana-senpai. I also had it inside Megu.
「 Luna’s not used to sex yet. Therefore Agnes has to watch over her! 」
Agnes says while showing the face of a senior.
「 It’s okay, we didn’t do it 」
Luna reports to Agnes with a smile.
「 Really? 」
「 Really, I guarantee you that 」
Edie squatted and looked at Agnes in the eyes.
「 I’m glad. Then, let’s do it later, Luna! 」
「 No, let her take a rest today, Agnes, 」
Luna seems tired.
She’s still 12, and she just lost her virginity yesterday.
「 I’m okay now, Nii-san 」
Luna smiled.
「 Agnes-chan, teach me more about sex later 」
「 Okay! Desuno! 」
Agnes responds in a good mood.
Still.
How about me?
I promised Edie that I’ll have sex with her.
Besides, who’s turn is it today?
「 Onii-sama. Minaho-oneesama and Shou-oneesama are still not done with their work in Kouzuki SS 」
Ruriko tells me.
Oh, the one where they check the movement of the Kansai Yakuza and planning the future operations.
The two of them.
「 Yeah. Yuzuki’s not here. Misuzu’s not here. Nei’s not here. Then, now’s the chance 」
Yukino?
Even now Yukino still calls Minaho-neesan Yuzuki.
She introduced herself as Yuzuki Minaho, our class teacher. It can’t be helped.
「 Megumi, do you have time? I mean, I want to ask others as well, but 」
Yukino calls Megu in front of everyone.
「 W-What?! 」
Megu didn’t look at Yukino and replied in a depressed and small voice.
「 How should I say it, I want to talk about something 」
「 I’ve got nothing to talk about with Yukino 」
Yukino.
「 Sorry, I didn’t think I said that right 」
Then, she kneels on the floor.
「 Megumi, Megumi-san, I’ve done a lot of bad things to you so far. I don’t think that you’ll forgive me after all this time, but still, sorry. My bad. I’m really sorry 」
Yukino prostrates herself and apologizes to Megu.
「 S-Stop that 」
Megu’s confused.
「 Of course, I know that this won’t sweep everything under the rug, I know that you’ll hate me for the rest of your life. But, there’s something I need to ask from Megumi 」
「 S-Stop! 」
「 I won’t stop! 」
Yukino places both her hands on the carpet on the entrance, looked at Megu, and said.
「 Megumi-san, please allow me to live in this house, I beg you 」
「 Yukino?! 」
「 I want to bear and raise the child here. I want my child to grow with her father and mother together 」
Megu.
「 That’s unfair coming from you 」
「 I know, sorry. But I’ve got no choice. The child in my stomach is his child! I want to make sure that this child is born safely 」
Yukino touches her lower belly.
「 That’s unfair of you! You always try to take away what’s most important to me 」
Megu said.
「 You want to take away Yoshi-kun from me now! 」
She’s calling me Yoshinobu-san earlier, and yet,
Megu throws off her emotions to Yukino.
「 Hmm, I think that’s a bit different? 」
Yukino replies with a straight face.
「 He doesn’t even belong to you, Megumi. Naturally, he’s not mine either 」
Hearing that, Megu’s dumbfounded.
「 W-What do you mean?! 」
「 He doesn’t belong to you, and so I’m not taking him away either. I mean, I’ve got no intention of it at all. I mean, look at him 」
Yukino points at me.
「 He’s the one who loves me, and these girls, I mean, that includes me as well, but we don’t mind being with him. That’s the relationship, right? Isn’t that a 50-50 relationship? 」
「 I-I’ve decided to become his sex slave just earlier! I now belong to him! 」
Megu shouts.
「 Well, I don’t care whatever kind of perverted sex you want to have. Either way, the reasoning isn’t strange. If you own him, then I get the talk about stealing away or something, but if you belong to him, then you’ve got no qualifications to say that, right? Or does the slave bind the master in your world? 」
「 I don’t know that either!!! 」
Yukino and Megu continue their ridiculous dialogue.
「 Anyway, I’ll stay here. I think Megumi may not like it, but you’ve got to live with it, okay? 」
「 There’s no way I would live with it! Why does Yukino have to stay here!! 」
「 I’ve got no choice. I like him! 」
Yukino.
「 Ugh, I’ve had enough. I don’t care anymore. I don’t care whatever you think so let me say it clearly 」
W-What?
「 I don’t know why myself but I like him! He’s the man who raped me and made me experience all the horrible things and even got me pregnant, but I can’t hate him! I don’t know why, but I like him! 」
「 W-What are you talking about Yukino?! 」
「 I don’t know it myself either. But, that’s how it is! I love this stupid man! This stupid! Stupid dummy fool! I love this man who’s incompetent at everything but sex! Geez! Dummy! 」
Err.
「 I don’t know why but I’m looking forward to giving birth to the child of this stupid man! I feel at ease with him! That means I love him! That stupid! 」
Megu’s dumbfounded.
「 Therefore, I know that Megumi will harass me a lot, but I still want to live here, I want to be near him! Geez! Why is this happening! So stupid!! 」