Everybody, please check the FAQ first before asking me questions.
If it’s not on there, please feel free and ask. I only get annoyed at questions when the same one has been asked 10+ times, and by then I’ll have updated the FAQ. Thank you for your consideration, guys!

---

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---

Mao-chan had been hesitant but Okaasama had half forced her to accept, so in the end Mao-chan turned into her dress-up doll.

“Sorry, Mao-chan…” I apologised as Okaasama was happily choosing dresses.

I was used to it, but I’ll bet Mao-chan wasn’t.

“No, I’m fine with it, but is it really okay to buy me something? I’m starting to feel really shameless… Okaasama might get angry at me…”

“No, that is not something you need to be worried about. In fact I should be apologising for forcing you to go along with my mother’s fun. I will make sure to speak to your parents, do not worry. And perhaps you should try to at least let her know which you like. If not, she will choose everything on her own.”

“Okay.”

Mao-chan was still a little hesitant at first, but before long she was happily trying on this and that for Okaasama. As I watched I started to want to choose clothes for her too, and in the end I joined in. Could you blame me? Mao-chan was just so cute that everything looked good on her!

The one that they settled on was a cute lemon yellow party dress, with a wide, light skirt.

“Cute! It suits you so well, Mao-chan!” I clapped, causing Mao-chan to thank me shyly.

What I had picked for her was a white flower-patterned summer dress. It was maidenly and very cute too!

Mao-chan wore the white dress out of the store. Okaasama looked a little dissatisfied about that but the party dress was too fancy to walk about in, so there wasn’t any choice. But Mao-chan’s next words cheered her up right.

“Do you think it would be okay if I wore that dress to the summer party this year?”

Sorry that you had to worry about her feelings, Mao-chan.

Then Okaasama brought her to a hair salon and curled her hair. Uwaahh!

She had turned into me in miniature. The two of us stood in front of the mirror like sisters with perfect curls.

I was genuinely apologising to her in my mind but…

“It’s like I’m a princess!”

Mao-chan seemed overjoyed.

“I’ve always adored your hair, Reika-oneesama. I thought you looked just like a princess from a fairy tale,” she said as she happily touched her own hair.

Mao-chan kept glancing back to her reflection in the mirror. Eh? She actually thought that?

Apparently I had gained a successor to the Rococo Queen throne.

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After a visit to a tea shop and then some more shopping and whatnot we returned home to find Otousama coming back with a cake. The tanuki had literally no other ideas for gifts to women except sweets. It was no wonder he was tubby if food was all he could think of.

I was a little worried because Mao-chan was on a diet but she was kind so she thanked him with a smile. What a good kid…

After an enjoyable dinner where we asked Mao-chan about her school life, the two of us returned to my room and relaxed.

Mao-chan seemed interested in my needle felting things, so I told her about what I was making for the school festival and then showed her the photos and the sketchbook.

“Waah! These are so good! Did you draw these, Reika-oneesama.”

“No, it was my Oniisama that drew these.”

“Your Oniisama is amazing at drawing. Ah! This one is wonderful too. Waah… Hm? Huh? What’s this one…?”

What? Ahh! That was the one that I drew!

“Ummm, what is this…?” she asked me awkwardly.

“Ah, that was the one that I tried using my left hand to draw. I wanted to see how well I could do it.”

“Wow, is that what this was!? No wonder it looked so strange. But if you drew this with your left hand then aren’t you pretty talented?”

“My, hohoho…”

Can I cry?

I hurriedly put the sketchbook away and decided to help Mao-chan with her summer homework instead.

“The truth is I haven’t done it at all…”

“Truly? Then shall we work hard at it together?”

“Yes!”

Teaching Mao-chan how to do her homework. The ‘oneesan feeling’ I got was amazing. She was so cute. If only she really was my little sister.

A while later Oniisama came back from work and popped into my room.

“Good evening, Mao-chan. I’m Reika’s brother, Kisshouin Takateru. It’s nice to meet you.”

“My name is Sawarabi Mao! I’ll be intruding tonight!” she replied with a bow.

I always wondered this but even though Oniisama always worked so late, how come Otousama could always came home early? Wasn’t he pushing all the work onto Oniisama?

Oniisama spent a bit of time in my room, kindly helping Mao-chan with her homework before heading back to his own room.

After some more homework the night was getting late so I thought it would be good to prepare for bed. Mao-chan was really excited to try the canopy bed. I was fine as long as she was happy, but if you slept in one each day it took surprisingly little time to get bored of it. It got dusty too, you know?

The two of us climbed in next to each other.

“Sorry for treating you like a doll today, Mao-chan. It must have been tiring.”

“No. I had a really good time.”

I had planned to played more with her, but the unexpected Okaasama attack threw the schedule off course. Honestly!

But Mao-chan said that she had fun. I asked a little more and found out that her grandparents and relatives had come over again this summer. They had only paid her brother heed again and she was feeling a little lonely because of it.

So that’s how it was. They might have been annoying, and swarmed her with attention, but I suppose my parents were of at least a little use. I guess it was okay then.

But I went to sleep next to her with thoughts of tomorrow on my mind. Tomorrow was going to be mine turn to play with her.

*

*

──At least that’s what should have happened but there was another assault in the form of Ririna. For whatever reason she came to visit the following day.

“Reika-san! Good news! I’ve come over to play!”

Uh, nobody asked you to. Look. Mao-chan has no idea why you’re here.

“Oh? Who’s this girl?”

Ririna stared without restraint at Mao-chan who was doing needle felting next to me.

“Her name is Sawarabi Mao-chan, and is something like a cute little sister to me,” I said to look out for her, “She goes to Zui’ran in the primary section. Mao-chan, sorry for surprising you. This girl is Kotou Ririna, my younger cousin.”

“Sister…?”

Ririna’s eyebrow twitched.

“Sister…”

Ririna looked back and forth between us unhappily, and Mao-chan seemed frightened of her. It was situations like this that I had to tell her off!

“Ririna.”

“Mao!”

I was about to chide her when she suddenly stepped forward, pushed me aside, and put her hands on her hips.

“Y-Yes…?”

“So your name is Mao. Very well! From today onwards you have the privilege of being my little sister!” Ririna announced.

“Eh!?” Mao-chan exclaimed.

“Haaah!?” I blurted.

It was so shocking that I couldn’t help myself. Making Mao-chan her little sister!? What the hell was she on about!?

“Ummm…”

“If you’re Reika-san’s sister, then you’re as good as mine. Call me Ririna-oneesama from today onwards!”

“Eh… Ririna… oneesama…?”

Ririna gave her a contented nod.

“Wai-, Ririna…”

“So you’re from our primary section, Mao. I see, and you’ve come over today to play? Wai-, you’re staying over!? Then I’ll stay over too.”

I called out to stop her but the conversation was progressing quickly without me. Before I knew it, the two of them were really getting along. Wai-, and it was settled that Ririna would be staying over too!?

Just like I had yesterday, Ririna was enjoying the feeling of being an oneesan. She told Mao-chan that she would teach her, and then began helping her with homework. I was about to stop her but Ririna was surprisingly good at teaching. And she was smart, too. I casually asked Ririna how she was doing in her exams only to find out to my shocking truth that she ranked 20th in her last one!

“Wahh! You’re so smart, Ririna-oneesama!”

“20th place isn’t much. I actually dropped ranks compared to my mid-terms.”

I had lost… Mao-chan’s eyes were filled with complete respect for Ririna. I quietly left the room.

“Oh? What’s up, Reika? Where’s Mao-chan?” asked Oniisama.

Today was his day off, so he had just been leaving his room in preparation to go out. I answered him with a glum face.

“Ririna came over…”

“Ririna?”

After a quick peek into my room he muttered “I see.”

Even from outside, I could hear their excitedly voices.

“So Ririna stole Mao-chan from you.”

“Yes…”

“Well, just try to have fun, the three of you. When I’m back I’ll join in.”

“Truly!?”

Oniisama was going to come home early then. I saw Oniisama out and then headed back to the storehouse by myself.

The other day I discovered something terrifying when I came in here to store my hula hoop. There was a large wooden box in the back of the room. Out of curiosity I opened it up,

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Inside was a bobcut Japanese doll in a red Kimono.

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“Gyaaaaaahhh!” I had screamed.

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I hated dolls. Worse yet, it turned out to be one of those mechanical chahakobi dolls that could walk and carry tea. Despite knowing better, I wound up the spring and it began walking my way with clattering noises. Scaaary! Dolls were scary already, but dolls that could move on their own were too much!

Behind me was an antique hinamatsuri doll whose hair grew. In front of me was a creepy chahakobi doll who could move. Had that happened at night my hair would have turned white from the fright.

I had quickly returned the doll into its box and then made my escape from the storehouse. All while trembling at the worry of those dolls visiting me in the night…

*

Now was the time to reawaken her.

I took the chahakobi doll out of the storeroom and began winding up the spring. When it was ready, I put it down in the gap between my opened door and the doorframe.

It didn’t take long before the whole house heard the screams of Ririna and Mao-chan. Uhehehehe. This was punishment for taking away my position as oneesan~

Afterwards, Ririna furiously demanded to know what the hell I thought I was doing, and I ended up apologising over and over as Mao-chan was half in tears.

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Later at night when Oniisama was back, the four of us played games like cards and jenga. It was nice having the numbers for things like these.

My bed wasn’t huge so I told Ririna so many times to go sleep in the guest room, but she wouldn’t budge and kept saying that she was going to sleep with us as well. In the end the three of us ended up glued to each other in bed. Cramped…

When Ririna heard about Mao-chan’s family situation she was infuriated.

“What’s wrong with them! That’s so exasperating! You should have just come clear and given them a good telling off!”

“But…”

“Ririna, Mao-chan is not like you. She is a gentle girl,” I objected.

“Hmph. Then if she isn’t going to tell them off she should just snatch the heirship off her brother. Show everyone just how much better she is. Huhuhu, fool brother. You’ll rue the day you made an enemy of us.”

“Eh… Umm, I don’t hate my little brother or anything… And I don’t really want the heirship either.”

“Really?” asked Ririna.

“Yes,” replied Mao-chan.

That’s right. That’s because Mao-chan was the successor to the Rococo throne instead.

“Huh. Then all you have to do is start laying the groundwork so that you can marry the man you want when the time comes.”

“Where did marriage come from.” I commented.

The conversation was making so many leaps that I couldn’t keep up.

“Obviously because if we don’t pay attention we’ll end up in some political marriage chosen by our parents. If she already has somebody she likes then she has to start planning now.”

“Hahh… You are still just a child and you already think about these things?”

“Of course I’m thinking about these things. I’m an only child so I have to get married. You’re being too carefree, Reika-san. You never think about anything, do you.”

“…Sorry.”

That night I realised that for all that she acted spoilt, Ririna had a serious side to her that was already prepared to take a husband.

I only ever thought about how I would live my life after my family fell to ruin, but if I continued on the way I was would I eventually end up in an arranged marriage as well…?

No, no, I had to marry for love. Ririna was right, I had to start preparing! Not that I had a partner in mind, though!

While I was muttering to myself, Ririna and Mao-chan had fallen fast asleep,

I had once heard that sleeping in a symmetrical pose made you more prone to sleep paralysis. As Ririna slept soundly, I gently moved her arms and legs so that they matched.

---

A chahakobi doll is a traditional mechanical doll powered by varying mechanisms, designed to carry tea to somebody, stop, and then turn around and leave, a prestigious luxury toy for its high complexity.

Read more here: http://www.karakuri.info/zashiki/

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Everybody, please check the FAQ first before asking me questions.
If it’s not on there, please feel free and ask. I only get annoyed at questions when the same one has been asked 10+ times, and by then I’ll have updated the FAQ. Thank you for your consideration, guys!

---

Join the Evil God Army on discord!
https://discord.gg/0uufyDAsTZXQaMz1

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I was already having trouble.

With reference to designs for a dog in a needle felting book, I was trying to come up with a design for Beatrice. Holy hell, though, did I have no artistic talent.

I had been given art lessons before, back as a child when we wanted to guarantee my entrance into Zui’ran, but apparently none of that had stuck at all…

I mean, the body was fine since I could just follow the book, but I couldn’t decide on how I wanted the face. The face was the most important part for dolls!

After discarding design after design, by now I was fully aware of how little artistic merit I had, so in the end I enlarged a photo of her instead. Knowing when to give up was an important skill for a person.

But wow was realism hard. Maybe it would be better to practice a few times? Come to think of it, what was actually hard was my choice in a model! Was it actually a huge mistake to choose a long-haired breed!?

When I went cram school, Umewaka-kun unknowingly applied pressure to me.

“How’s the Bea-tan doll coming along?”

It just made it really hard to say ‘I think I can’t do it after all’. The expectations were heavy. What was I to do? I had overestimated my own ability. Was I really going to get this done in time!?

Umewaka-kun gave me a photo of Bea-tan’s head peeking out from the carry bag I gifted them, so I came up with the idea of just buying another bag and only doing the head… How little time would it take to realise that it was just a cop-out…?

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Since I had needle felting stuff everywhere I was finding it really hard to study without distraction. And I had so much homework too…

Speaking of which, I made quite a lot of progress studying in the library hadn’t I? That was it. I could go to the library.

I was worried that a small library wouldn’t have any seats so I went to a large one instead. It was busy, true, but there were free seats here and there so I took one of the closer ones. I was taking my stationery out when I caught sight of the person sitting opposite me. A shock ran through my body.

Naru-kun!?

The person studying in front of me looked just like the cousin I had in my previous life, Naruhito-kun.

It was Naru-kun. Naru-kun.

My cousin Naru-kun was older than me and always looked after me whenever we met. He was my first crush.

Incidentally, Naruhito(成人)-kun’s name came from his birthday. He was born on the 15th of January, so his parents had simply named him after the Coming of Age Day(成人の日). Who would have known that the government would invalidate the whole thing by changing it to the 2nd Monday of the year instead.

“The origin of my name…” mourned poor Naru-kun.

It was a nostalgic memory.

“It’s okay, Naru-kun. I’ll always remember your birthday, okay?” I remember trying to cheer him up.

Naru-kun who was kind to me, and who had a habit of sometimes playing dumb.

The boy in front of me was the spitting image of Naru-kun back in his high school days.

No… To be honest I couldn’t tell if he really did look identical. Although I thought about them on occasion, I was starting to forget the faces of my old family.

Even so, I was sure that this boy resembled him. He had been a kind person that Mozart’s Twinkle Twinkle Little Star would have suited.

I ended up pretty much ignoring my homework beginning to end, in favour of observing Naru-kun as my heart pounded.

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After dinner I complained to Oniisama about my lack of progress.

“I couldn’t even draw the design properly so it has been all failures since the beginning. I thought to use the photos instead, but even that has been difficult…”

“Hmmmm, could I see those photos and the design you drew?”

I went to my room to fetch them.

“Here.”

“…I see.”

Oniisama looked over my sketchbook and the the many photos. Waaah! My shame was on display for Oniisama to see! I’ve changed my mind, please don’t look!

I tried to get it back from him, but Oniisama was quicker than I was and began sketching Beatrice in it. And he was so skilled!

“Oniisama, you know how to sketch!?”

“Not really? I just gave it a shot. Here,” he said, holding out a realistic drawing to me. You’re so good, Oniisama!

Since he was so good I tried asking him to draw me a design to, and in no time he had drawn things exactly as I wanted. Heavens! To think that the Messiah was living with me all along!

But we were related, so how come there was such a difference in talent… I was just a tiny bit jealous.

“There truly is not a thing you can’t do, Oniisama!”

“Now that’s not true. You just need to know the trick to it.”

“I had no clue there was even some trick to it…”

Oniisama smiled helplessly at me.

“By the way, I hear a little friend of yours is coming over to stay?”

“Yes. Sawarabi Mao-chan is attending the primary section of Zui’ran. She is the most adorable thing!”

Mao-chan’s parents had already approved of her coming over to play, and we got permission from her to sleep over as well. She was ecstatic about it.

“I see. You must be looking forward to it. If I remember correctly, she’s the niece of the Ichinokura family’s Haruto-san?”

“She is. It seems you know of Ichinokura-sama as well, Oniisama.”

“Mmn. I’ve met him a few times, you know? He thanked me because you looked after Mao-chan at a party.”

“I see~ The one being looked after was actually me, though. Remember those times he took me out to eat?”

“Ahh, come to think of it he did.”

“I actually have a request for you, Oniisama. Remember how you promised to take me to the aquarium? I was thinking that since Mao-chan was coming over, we might as well do then. Would that be a problem?”

“I’m fine with it. Then we’ll go on the day that Mao-chan comes over. Since we’re bringing her along, would somewhere closer-by be okay?”

“Yes! Mao-chan will love it!”

Uhuhu, I couldn’t wait. I think I’d keep this a secret from her until the day.

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I decided that I was going to skip cram school on the day Mao-chan came over, Naturally I would be skipping my morning jog that day too.

Lately I was jogging every morning at the park with Mihara-san. I could run a little smoother and a little longer now. I had asked him not to keep shouting my name, but he still shouting “Ojousama!” which was making me rather conspicuous. Sometimes while I was running, people I didn’t recognise at all would shout “Do your best, Ojousama!” and cheer me on. I was getting the strange feeling that I had turned into some kind of attraction for this park…

“You’ve gotten a lot more comfortable with running, Ojousama! Let’s aim for the Imperial Palace before your summer break ends!”

“Ehh!? The Imperial Palace!? Impossible! That is impossible for me!”

Weren’t all the people running there pretty much athletes? Whoa, whoa, I ran slower than people walked. If I went there I would stand out like a sore thumb.

“Ojousama, you must set your goals high. Don’t worry, a lap around the Palace is only 5 kilometres. We’ll begin training you for it now!”

“Ehh!? Now!? You are going to suddenly add 2 kilometres to my run!?”

“You can do it, Ojousama. We’ll train every day, and next year we’ll go to Honolulu!”

“Ehhhhhhh? Honolulu!?”

That was actually impossible now! Just how many kilometres would I have to run in the Hononlulu Marathons!?

“Don’t give up before you run!” he cheered.

“Show me the hard work you need to defeat the weakness of your self!” he cheered.

Trying to persuade Mihara-san was actually even harder than running.

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Mao-chan and her Okaasama appeared on my doorstep with her luggage.

“Gokigen’yoh, Reika-oneesama! Please look after me today.”

Mao-chan gave a slightly nervous but happy bow.

“Welcome, Mao-chan. I will be in your care as well.”

“Reika-san, my daughter will be in your care.”

“I am afraid we do not have much to offer her here, but I will definitely look after her so please be at ease.”

That was when Okaasama came along to greet them as well.

“My, Sawarabi-sama, Gokigen’yoh. It seems that your daughter will be staying with us tonight.”

“Gokigen’yoh, Kisshouin-sama. My daughter will be troubling you tonight. Please take care of her.”

“Please take care of me,” bowed Mao-chan.

“My, what a cute daughter you have.”

It seems that Okaasama had already taken to her. After we all chatted for a bit, Mao-chan’s Okaasama went home so I led Mao-chan to my room.

“Mao-chan, will you be lonely without your Okaasama?”

“I’ll be fine. Waaah! Your room is so cute, Reika-oneesama!”

Mao-chan eyed my canopied bed with sparkling eyes. She began a happy exploration of my room.
I had already stored the weird stuff like my hula hoop or my stepping machine in the storehouse so I was okay wherever she looked.

I hoped this was going to be a fun stay over.

Mao-chan, let’s make some nice memories this summer!

*

Okaasama began to talk about wanting to bring Mao-chan shopping. She had found a new dress-up doll…

Okaasama, please spare her hair at least! Ruuuuuun, Mao-chaaaaan!

---

<Previous Chapter | Imouto | Next Chapter>

Everybody, please check the FAQ first before asking me questions.
If it’s not on there, please feel free and ask. I only get annoyed at questions when the same one has been asked 10+ times, and by then I’ll have updated the FAQ. Thank you for your consideration, guys!

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Join the Evil God Army on discord!
https://discord.gg/0uufyDAsTZXQaMz1

---

On that day that we were meeting Beatrice, the lot of us met up in front of the station closest to the dog park. I was the only one who turned up with an umbrella so everyone started saying stuff like “That’s an ojousama for you,” but Okaasama would get angry if I tanned so I really had no choice here.

Still, I was out here to play with a dog so for once I was wearing something pretty casual; just a tunic and leggings.

“Heeey!”

Umewaka-kun appeared from the ticket gates. In his hands was a large carry bag.

“Kept you guys waiting! I’ve brought Beatrice!”

When he gently unzipped the bag, a brown dog’s head suddenly popped out.

“Cute!”

She had adorable round eyes and was so many times cuter in person!

“She’s so cute~”

“Beatrice~”

we said as we surrounded her bag.

“They think you’re cute. Isn’t that great, Bea-tan~?” Umewaka-kun asked her. Already we could see some of his dog lover side.

It was going to get warm if we stayed there any longer, so all of us headed for the dog park as we chatted.

“So you can even bring dogs onto the train then.”

“Yep. As long as you’ve got a carry bag and pay for their ticket.”

Perhaps she was curious, because Bea-tan’s head turned this way and that as it poked out of the bag. Sooo cutee~ Umewaka-kun was petting her head even as he spoke to us.

He had a tote bag with him as well, so he was actually carrying quite a lot. Apparently he had Beatrice’s brush and water inside.

The dog park was only a few minutes walk from the station. When we got there we told the receptionist that we had a reservation .

I wanted to be able to take pictures and measure her without getting in anybody else’s way, which is why I reserved an area for us in advance.

Once we went inside, Umewaka-kun opened the bag entirely and Beatrice leapt right out.

“Woof!”

Full of energy, she began to run circles around Umewaka-kun.

“Bea-taaan~! It must have been sooo cramped in there! You’ve been such a good girl!”

Umewaka-kun knelt down and rubbed his cheek against Beatrice, who whined happily.

They were in their own lovey dovey world.

“They’re even more affectionate than I expected,” said Kitazawa-kun as he watched them. Kitazawa-kun was the one with the brown hair.

Although, as somebody who had received the Bea-tan emails, I could tell this was only just the beginning.

“Okay, Bea-tan! Today you’re going to be the model for your friend Reika-tan~ Let’s doll you up so that you’re as cute as you can be~”

Umewaka-kun pulled out a brush from the tote bag and began carefully brushing her hair. Her fluffy, glossy brown hair was probably thanks to Umewaka-kun’s daily care. She was wearing pink hair accessories on both ears that were designed after flowers.

“Look~ You’re so beautiful now! Bea-tan, say hello to Reika-tan and the others!”

“Reika-tan…?” asked Moriyama-san with a stiff expression.

Uh oh. Um, my being ‘Reika-tan’ was actually because I was Bea-tan’s confidante.

I was about to explain to her when Bea-tan suddenly leapt at me.

“Wahh!”

I fell onto my butt because of it, and Bea-tan began climbing up my body and chewing on my hair.

“Uwahhh! What!? What’s happening!?”

She was worked up into a frenzy, and wouldn’t let go of it. Help! Somebody help! Owner! Where’s the owner!?

The others weren’t sure what to do and alternated between reaching out and hesitating.

“Oi, Umewaka!” called Kitazawa-kun.

“Look how happy to meet Reika-tan she is~ Are you trying to help groom Reika-tan? You’re so kind, Bea-tan~”

Gnawing and pulling at my hair is supposed to be grooming!?

You really can’t do this, Bea-tan! My hair is treated with chemicals, you’ll fall ill! Stop licking it! Aahh, my hair was getting soaked with drool…

Dog Lover, come do something!

“Bea-tan is really happy to meet somebody with curly hair like hers. It’s the joy of meeting a comrade.”

“Uh, Umewaka, Kisshouin-san seems like she’s hitting her limit… You’d better go help.”

“Really? Kisshouin-san, are you at your limit?”

I nodded with all my might.

“I see. Then Bea-tan, come here~”

Finally, Dog Lover-kun came and picked Beatrice up from behind. Even so, she seemed intent on biting my hair until the end.

“Kisshouin-san, are you okay!?” exclaimed Moriyama-san, as she and the others helped me up.

Thank goodness I wore leggings today…

“…Yes, I am. I was simply a little surprised…”

“Your hair is a mess though… Maybe it would be better for you to take a trip to the bathroom…”

Yes, I think I will…

I staggered to the bathroom. Using the tap I washed the drool off my hair, and then the brown hair off my face…

When I left the bathroom after somehow fixing myself up, Umewaka-kun apologised to me. Since he seemed to have come back to his senses I told him it was fine.

Now then, it was time for the present. In the end I had decided on a cute carry-bag for Beatrice. It was blue with a sunflower pattern on it. On the side it even had a little name tag that said in English, ‘Asuka&Beatrice’.

My original idea had been to get them a matching necklace and choker pair. After some thought though, Beatrice might have been one thing, but giving Umewaka-kun an accessory as a present would probably turn Moriyama-san suspicious again. So I went with something else.

“Uwahhh! So cute! Can I really have this? Thanks, Kisshouin-san!” exclaimed an overjoyed Umewaka-kun.

I was glad that he liked it.

“Look, Bea-tan,” he said to her, “Reika-tan got a cute bag for you! Wah! And it has Aa-tan and Bea-tan’s names on it too! Aren’t you happy?”

Bea-tan was chewing on the bag. What mattered was that she seemed to like it.

After a short break, I began the photography session. Apparently he had taken her to a salon to get her hair trimmed. She was as good looking as she would get. I pulled out my digital camera and began taking photos of her whole body, as well as each part. Between shots I took measurements as well.

“Oh, would it be better if she changed ribbons? I brought a whole bunch.”

“Uwah… You’ve even got a crown!?” exclaimed one of the boys.

“Of course,” he replied, “Bea-san is a princess. How could she not have a tiara? Right, Bea-tan?”

Bored of the photographs, Bea-tan began to run around the place.

“Waaait~!” chased Umewaka-kun. “Gotcha!”

“Woof woof!”

“Bea-tan, you coy little thing~!”

Everybody seemed taken aback. He was even more of a dog lover than they expected. They looked a little creeped out.

Later on in the day we had some tea at the dog park’s café together, before going on a walk.

Umewaka-kun was glued to Bea-tan the whole time.

“Umewaka was this kind of guy…?” I heard Moriyama-san mutter.

Oh? Was Moriyama-san going to be joining my Forever Alone Village?

While Sakaki-san cheered her up, Umewaka-kun was showering his lover with kisses.

Since he knew that I was making a doll, Umewaka-kun was thoughtful enough to keep a lock of hair from Bea-tan’s visit to the salon, which he handed to me in a ziplock bag.

Now I knew what colour to use. Umewaka-kun might have been a handful, but he was a good person.

I didn’t waste any time before heading to a handicrafts store to buy the right coloured wool. I’d be working hard from tonight onwards!

“Bea-tan was super happy to meet you, Reika-tan! Please make Bea-tan’s doll beautiful.”

Leave it to me.

---

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Everybody, please check the FAQ first before asking me questions.
If it’s not on there, please feel free and ask. I only get annoyed at questions when the same one has been asked 10+ times, and by then I’ll have updated the FAQ. Thank you for your consideration, guys!

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The Tale of Genji – Chapter 25 (Fireflies) – Summary & Analysis
There are several men making advances to Tamakazura, but Genji keeps them away from this child in his care. Genji is eager to marry the girl to someone worthwhile, so he arranges for Prince Hotaru to visit her. Then, when the prince is visiting, Genji carefully orchestrates a way for Prince Hotaru to actually see Tamakazura in the light of fireflies. Of course, Genji’s ploy works and Hotaru is taken with the beautiful woman. Unfortunately, it also throws Tamakazura into even more confusion.

---

On the second day of our detox course, I followed Okaasama around. We went to a beauty salon, and then a ganbanyoku “stone spa” where we lay on heated stones. At the yoga studio I was ecstatic when the instructor said I was good at it.

Outside of our meals I never saw Maihama-san so things were more or less peaceful.

That night, Madam Kaburagi appeared to have dinner together with us.

I realised while I was eating that although brown rice and other cereals weren’t bad once in a while, eating this every day was a little much. I was thinking about the food when Madam Kaburagi changed seats to talk to me. Uu…

“Reika-san, how are you finding the current course?”

“The course let me grow familiar with natural foods. It has been a very worthwhile two days.”

“I’m very happy to hear you say that. You’re skinny after all, so you don’t need to diet, after all?”

“Goodness, that is not true.”

Thank you for the flattery at least. I know better than anybody what the state of my body is. It was so obviously flattery though that I couldn’t even feel good about it.

I gave her a polite smile.

“How are you planning to spend your summer break, Reika-san?”

“A summer study course at cram school, lessons as usual, meeting up with some friends. Just a few things. Oh, and going on a trip with my family, I suppose.”

“My, that sounds fun. Where are you going this year?”

“My mother is thinking of Austria. She wants to see an opera on the water.”

Okaasama enjoys things like ballet and opera because she loves being immersed in worlds that are beautiful and fantastical. As to be expected from the woman who tried turning her daughter into a bisque doll.

“My, what a wonderful time that would be! I’ve been to see the Seebühne as well, before! It had incredible impact. Do you like opera as well, Reika-san?”

“Whenever we were in Europe, my mother would take us to the theatre if anything she liked was playing. I am ashamed to say that although I enjoyed myself each time I am not very familiar with opera in and of itself. I do understand that I would enjoy it more if I had a deeper understanding, but…”

“Well that’s not true! I think simply opening your heart and enjoying it the way you do is much better than going in there to analyse and evaluate it. Which operas do you like?”

“Although this is quite a mainstream answer, I like The Magic Flute and Lohengrin.”

“You like Lohengrin? Then what about Tristan and Isolde from Wagner as well?”

“It was very passionate.”

“My!” she smiled.

We continued to talk about opera for a while when she clapped her hands together.

“Oh, that’s right! I’m organising a firefly catching event. Please do come! I know you like fantasy worlds so I think you would definitely enjoy it!”

“Eh…”

That was a bit… If possible, I wanted to completely refuse. Even now I was only here because Okaasama had half threatened me into it.

I spent some time thinking about how to refuse when Mrs. Kaburagi called out to Okaasama sitting next to me and sealed the deal. Ugh!

“Firefly catching! That sounds wonderful. Isn’t that great, Reika-san? You liked the Tale of Genji, didn’t you?”

“Oh, Reika-san likes the Tale of Genji? Then it sounds like you must become the Tamakazura of the night.”

“My, hohoho,” laughed Okaasama, “Then who would Prince Hotaru be?”

“How about my Masaya?”

“My, Reika-san! How about it? Isn’t that great?”

Without any input from me, the two of them had begun getting excited all on their own. Please give me a break…

And to begin with, Okaasama, when did I say I liked the Tale of Genji? Why did the husband and wife of the Kisshouin family have a habit of suddenly making up lies.

Maihama-san’s eyes were something to behold as she listened to our conversation.

*

*

After finishing the 3 day 2 night detox course, we were finally going home today.

Okaasama had been in a terrific mood ever since I received the invitation last night. When we were back in our room she kept whispering,

“Masaya-san’s Okaasama seems to like you, so this is your chance to get close to him.”

like some sort of brainwashing tape, which was scary so I went to sleep with my futon covering my head.

We were gathered in the meeting room to listen to the staff recap the course when Madam Kaburagi appeared, along with her son.

The ladies around me squealed in excitement at Kaburagi Masaya’s sudden appearance.

“Everybody, thank you for the last two days. Today I’m here with my son Masaya.”

“Goodness! We’re overjoyed to meet with Masaya-san!”

The madams began to surround him like housewives swarming a popular Enka singer. Wow, so this was strength of Obasama Power. Even Maihama-san was overpowered by it, meandering here and there outside of the ring of madams. My own Okaasama wasn’t amongst them though. Thank goodness…

Anyway, apparently Kaburagi had been brought here as a reward for them. He was standing there congratulating each one on a job well done.

Hmm. Kaburagi might not have had a shred of courtesy while we were at school, but apparently he behaved like a proper heir outside.

Over the last two days, Akimi-san and I had become really friendly, so the two of us exchanged our email addresses.

Finally freed from the madams, Kaburagi came this way.

“Huh, you’re here too?”

“Gokigen’yoh, Kaburagi-sama.”

“Just so you know, this course isn’t going to lose you any weight. Exercise.”

Wow, flat-out denying the effectiveness of your own hotel’s course?

“I was simply here to accompany my mother… I was not here hoping to lose weight, you know?”

It was embarrassing so I pushed the blame onto Okaasama. And it was true, anyhow.

“Hmmm. Well whatever.”

If you don’t care, then don’t say it.

“But man, must be rough going on some diet course with your mum even though it’s summer break.”

“It was technically a detox course, though. And did your mother not make you do the same thing, today? It does not seem all that different.”

“Guess so.”

Maihama-san ran over and shot in from the side.

“Masaya-sama! I’m so glad that I could meet you today! We didn’t get to speak much at the last party. Do you have any plans after this? How about having some tea with me in the loungeroom downstairs?”

“Sorry, I’ve already got plans,” he said disinterestedly.

Despite that, Maihama-san continued to cling to him. Insistent, wasn’t she.

“See ya,” he said before turning around and leaving, all while still trying to get rid of Maihama-san.

Naturally, Maihama-san ran after him. She did remember to stop and glare at me though.

“Yesterday, Reika-san stepped on my foot~” she tattled to Kaburagi/

“Uh huh,” he replied without much thought.

I felt exhausted…

*

*

*

When I arrived at cram school, Umewaka-kun and I immediately discussed when to meet. It was going to be warm, so in consideration of Beatrice we decided on a place with an indoor dog park. We might have just meeting up because I wanted to meet Beatrice, but if we met up alone I was liable to be considered an enemy by Moriyama-san again. That’s why I suggested inviting everyone else along.

Moriyama-san was obviously fine with that. Everyone else seemed like they could come too, which was great. Umewaka-kun began passionately telling everybody about how much he loved his cute dog.

I got the feeling that recently I was hanging around a lot of passionate people… Well, by lots I just meant Mihara-san and Umewaka-kun, of course.

At night I received more lovey-dovey pictures of him and Beatrice, along with an email.

“I’m going to dress up in my favourite ribbon when we meet! How exciting! Do you have any clothes you want me to wear? Bea-tan, is really excited to meet you, Reika-tan!”

Yep, yep, I’m looking forward to meeting you too.

If partially because I want to see this trainwreck couple in person…

---

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Everybody, please check the FAQ first before asking me questions.
If it’s not on there, please feel free and ask. I only get annoyed at questions when the same one has been asked 10+ times, and by then I’ll have updated the FAQ. Thank you for your consideration, guys!

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We all sat down and welcomed Madam Kaburagi.

“Thank you all for participating today! This detox plan is the course that our hotel has the most confidence in, and we recommend it one hundred percent.”

With that, she came around and greeted each guest with a fabulous smile on her face. Maihama-san had chosen her seat to make sure Mrs. Kaburagi would notice her. She was really too easy to read.

The hotel staff came out to explain the details of the course to us. Besides the difference of eating macrobiotic foods, the itinerary was more-or-less the same as the fasting course. Basically a lot of visits to the beauty salon, and some elegant exercising at the gym.

I thought it was a waste to be spending time here instead of on my summer cram school course but Okaasama’s orders were absolute. I resolved to study while we weren’t doing anything.

After the explanations we had some free time so Maihama-san immediately sidled up to Madam Kaburagi. Sales time, huh.

As for me, since Okaasama was chatting to some women I assumed were her friends, I went to chat with Akimi-san instead.

“We’re together again, Reika-sama. I’m really glad that I have somebody my age to talk to.”

“I feel the same way. And we will be eating this year, so I feel a little more hopeful this time.”

“Huhu.”

We chatted peacefully for a while when Madam Kaburagi came over with Maihama-san in tow.

“Reika-san! And Akimi-san too! Thank you for coming! I’m glad to see the two of you here today. And you in particular, Reika-san. You wouldn’t come to any of our parties so I’ve missed you.”

“Gokigen’yoh. I will be in your care today,” I said after standing up.

“It has been a while, Kaburagi-sama,” followed Akimi-san.

“Reika-san, how has school been? That boy Masaya won’t tell me a thing. Please tell me all about it instead.”

“Well… Nothing truly comes to mind but… Masaya-sama constantly tops the exam scores, and seems to have fun each day with his friends.”

“Really? We’re talking about that unsociable boy of mine, aren’t we? Are you sure he hasn’t caused you some kind of trouble? If he does something brusque be sure to tell me.”

“Masaya-sama being brusque is unthinkable. Why, the other day when it rained he played Chopin’s Raindrop…”

“My! That boy did something like that!?” she laughed happily.

Maihama-san glared at me venomously while I spoke about a side of Kaburagi that she didn’t know about. Don’t hurt yourself over there.
While I was talking one of the staff members came looking for Mrs. Kaburagi.

“I’ll be having dinner with you all later. We can continue this then.”

“I understand. I will be looking forward to it.”

When Mrs. Kaburagi left, Maihama-san spat out a parting line before leaving herself.

“You’d better not get too full of yourself just because Masaya-sama’s Okaasama likes you a little bit, okay!?”

Akimi-san looked a little frightened.

“…Um, is that okay, Reika-san? You’re being glared at quite a bit…”

“Nothing at all to worry about. For some reason that girl seems to have arbitrarily designated me her rival.”

Akimi-san looked at me with sympathy.

“I see… It must be rough…”

It wasn’t though. If she wanted to squawk at me whenever we met it was no skin off my back. Of course, if we went to the same school this would be an entirely different matter.

Since Okaasama was heading back to our room now, Akimi-san and I promised to talk more later, before I followed after her.

They told us that before dinner we were free to go on a walk or exercise, so I made for the gym. It wasn’t really in my nature to sit there, impassively forging my muscles with the gym equipment, so there wasn’t much of that going on. Still, I decided to at least try the exercise bike for today.

I was just heading towards it when Maihama-san came along. Eh-, this girl was going to do it too? She noticed me too, and frowned.

Ah well, I thought, nothing to do with me. Following the instructor’s advice I set the weight and then started biking. Oh! This was kinda fun!

On the bike next to mine, Maihama-san started pedalling faster than I did. She glanced at me and then shot me a victorious sneer. Annoying.

I began pedalling faster than she did. This is my win!

But then Maihama-san increased her speed again. Grrr! I won’t lose to you!

The two of us started crazy pedalling like real athletes.

I could hear Coach Mihara in my mind.

“Don’t lose to yourself!”

Yes, Coach!

“You can do it!”

Yes, Coach!

The two of us kept our pace. We ignored the instructor’s calls for us to stop and continued pedalling away. Uryyyaaahhh!

But for some reason Maihama-san suddenly stopped and got off the bike.

“Aren’t you taking this a bit too seriously, Reika-san? Your hair is a mess. It’s unsightly. I don’t know why you’ve one-sidedly decided this was some competition but I’m not going to play along.”

Haahh!? The one who started this competition was her! And she was soaked in sweat herself! Coach! This girl ran away because she was about to lose to herself!

“Wooow, look at how hard you’re breathing. That’s just sad.”

She was putting up a tough act as she mocked me but she was breathing harder than I was. It was rare to meet a woman who so perfectly fit the word ‘boomerang’.

Since the instructor was looking pretty nervous, I decided to take my leave.

“You seem like the one who has been pushing herself,” I began, “There are bags under your eyes, you know? Oh wait, my mistake. Excuse me for my impertinence, Maihama-san, but would it not be better to invest in some waterproof mascara?”

“Eh!?”

While Maihama-san was taking out her mirror in a panic I used that opening to escape the gym. Hoooohohohohohohohoho! Relying on mascara even though you’re just a high school student? You only have yourself to blame, fool. Now then, Ms. Instructor, please show me to the next machine!

At dinner Maihama-san had lost the mascara and was using fake eyelashes instead. I see. So her weak point was her eyes. If she caused too much trouble I’d rip those stupid eyelashes off.

I turned to her and fluttered my naturally long lashes. How’s that? Jealous?

*

*

Before we began eating, there was a lecture on macrobiotic theory. Lots of foods were forbidden, and following the theory closely would be too hard on a white rice lover like me. I loved it. I loved it so much that I had considered buying a rice cooker to keep in my room. Yamagata Dashi on white rice…

I wanted some of that now. Pickled food was amazing.

The madams around me seemed pretty impressed with it all but high society was filled with gourmands. It was impossible for them to change to a macrobiotic diet. Surprisingly though, the shy Akimi-san was listening passionately and even asking questions.

When the lecture was done we changed venues for dinner. I had come in expecting something like the vegetarian meal I had during the middle school trip, but it was actually really delicious. I suppose I should have expected this from a hotel owned by the Kaburagi. High standards in all things, huh. The madams seemed to be enjoying themselves as well.

Since we weren’t just starving ourselves on drinks, this time the conversation was a lot more lively too. Even I was talking a little.

Akimi-san was trying one dish after another, and sometimes even asking the chef questions about it. Who knew she was actually interested in this stuff.

Even after we were done eating she kept asking questions and taking notes with a pen in hand. Mrs. Kaburagi who had planned this course, seemed quite pleased that she was interested, and ended up joining in on the discussion.

When it seemed to be finished, I called out to her.

“Akimi-san.”

“Ah-, Reika-san. What’s wrong?”

“You were quite passionate just now. Did you have an interest in macrobiotic foods?”

“Yes. I got to learn about some very interesting things. I’m glad that I came today.”

Huh! Last year she was so unenthusiastic that she was hiding and eating snacks. She had come a long way.

“Akimi-san, shall we have some tea? If possible I would like to hear about this too.”

“It would be my pleasure, if you’re fine with me.”

The two of us moved to the hotel’s tea room.

“Actually, the truth is that I’m interested in cooking.”

“Truly?”

“Yes. My major in university was in that field too, and I planned to become a chef of some sort…”

“My.”

I was a little surprised that somebody shy like Akimi-san had such clear ideas of what she wanted in life. Plenty of rich girls just prepared to get married.

“Do you mean to open your own restaurant?”

“No, I’m nowhere near that talented… I just think it would be nice if I could teach at a cooking school one day…”

Akimi-san gave an embarrassed smile.

I see.

“That’s why I’m trying to learn as much about cooking as I can. This macrobiotic cuisine was just some of it. I’m actually enrolled in a few cooking schools, you know?”

“Truly!”

She began to happily tell me about the different kinds of flavourings and broths used around the world. Apparently she was also a collector of soy sauce and ponzu.

“It’s because I’m like this that I’m fat, isn’t it…”

“Please do not think that way. I myself would love to try your food one day.”

“Really? I’ve still got a long way to go though, okay?”

I was glad to have somebody so responsive to talk to this time. I wish she had opened up to me a bit sooner. Maybe I would have enjoyed last year too. Then again, it would have been some new form of torture to talk about food during a fasting course.

*

*

When I returned to my room, I realised that Umewaka-kun had sent me an email.

“Everyone wishes you were here doing the summer course with us. Beatrice is more or less back to her ideal figure, so let’s decide when to meet next week.”

Attached was a picture of Beatrice kissing him on the cheek.

I decided to give my all too. I wouldn’t lose to Beatrice.

*

The next day during the stroll and yoga sessions, I was swamped by housewives asking about Kaburagi. Come to think of it, this happened last year too, didn’t it~ These aunties loved hearing stories about youths.

“Reika-san, are you close with Masaya-san?”

“No, not particularly.”

“My. But that’s not what the rumours say. I’ve heard that you two are quite close.”

“Masaya-san sounds so dreamy~ If only I were a bit younger.”

“Goodness! You’re scandalous. But me too.”

“I know, right! Uhuhu, it seems like we’re all fans of Masaya-sama.”

“You are too, aren’t you, Reika-san?”

They still hadn’t run out of energy yet.

As for Maihama-san, apparently she was jealous when some of the madams joked about my being perfect for Kaburagi.

At some point she tried to trip me, but I jumped over it without a word.

Zui’ran or Yurinomiya, small fry were all the same.

---

One person’s recipe for Yamagata Dashi

http://hiro-shio.blogspot.com.au/2013/07/yamagatas-dashi.html

---

<Previous Chapter | Imouto | Next Chapter>

Everybody, please check the FAQ first before asking me questions.
If it’s not on there, please feel free and ask. I only get annoyed at questions when the same one has been asked 10+ times, and by then I’ll have updated the FAQ. Thank you for your consideration, guys!

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My first time jogging was one early morning, where the sun had only just appeared. Even though it was so early in the morning, my bodyguard, Mihara-san, was already greeting me with a lively smile.

“Good morning, Reika-ojousama! Come! We’ll do our best, starting today!”

“Good morning… I will be in your capable care.”

After doing some leg stretches in the garden, we began slowly running around my neighbourhood.

Mihara-san had suggested 3 kilometres for our first day. I told him that I had never run for 3 kilometres before but he told me that I had to run at least 3 kilometres for it to have any point, so in the end I had no choice but to bear with it.

“We aren’t worrying about your time today, so just go at your own pace!”

“I understand.”

Under his encouragement my running was energetic at first, but before long my feet were leaden. My lungs hurt too.

“Eh-! Reika-ojousama, what’s the matter!?”

“…It hurts.”

“We’ve only just run 500 metres, you know?!”

Like I care. I don’t think I can run 3 kilometres unless we drop the pace more.

The hot-blooded exercise enthusiast Mihara-san was having none of it though.

“Reika-ojousama! You’re running slower than you walk, you know!? Come on!”

Impossible. It hurts. I want to give up…

I was already heaving before we reached the 1 kilometre mark. I was slumped over as I ran, and my arms looked more like I was dog-paddling than I was running. And my lungs… my lungs… were burning… I swear I could taste blood…

“Reika-ojousama! Swing your arms more! Come one! One! Two! One! Two!”

Mihara-san began to count out a rhythm to encourage me as he ran beside me.

“Don’t give in to yourself, Reika-ojousama!”

“Reika-ojousama! We haven’t even reached the halfway point! Give it some oomph!”

“Keep your head up and keep at it! Go! Go! Go!”

Mihara-san’s voice rang out through the affluent neighbourhood.

Pain… Why had I ever thought this would be a good idea… When were the endorphins going to come… I kept waiting, but the runner’s high never came for me… Pain… Painnnnn…

In the end, it came down to him pushing me from behind, but I somehow managed the 3 kilometres back to the house.

With shaking legs, I collapsed onto the garden without a care. The grass was sharp and prickly but I couldn’t bring myself to bother.

“Reika-ojousama! After the jog we still have your stretches!”

Impossible… I didn’t have the energy to get up anymore… My heart was pounding dangerously in my chest.

A wide-eyed Oniisama discovered me laying around in the garden.

“Reika, you okay…?”

I tried to speak but only strange wheezing noises came out, so I shook my head instead.

“Mihara-san, how far did she run?”

“Roughly 3 kilometres.”

“Hmmmm, this bad after just 3 kilometres…?” said Oniisama, sounding troubled.

Sorry for being useless, you two.

“But no need to worry! With daily running she’ll have the stamina in no time!”

Eh-!? I’m going to be doing this daily!?

I wanted to reply but it hurt too much to. Please no, just today was enough already… Please, no more running…

But Mihara-san had been hired specifically to guard me during my jogs. Hiring him based on a whim, and then quitting after one day? I couldn’t bring myself to be so selfish… But I hated this…

The sunlight was getting stronger now so if I lay there I would tan. Somehow gathering the strength to get up, Mihara-san and Oniisama supported me as I headed indoors. Inside I lay down again.

Thanks to Mihara-san’s hot-blooded pep talk the whole neighbourhood was aware of what a sorry sight I was. And given how much Okaasama cared about face, she was absolutely livid about it. Things were just horrible…

Starting from the next day we were driven to a nearby park to do the jogging.

But Okaasama was still in a bad mood. Things were just horrible…

The only spot of encouragement came from Beatrice’s emails.

“Today I ran 5 kilometres!”

“Today I ran in the evening too!”

Thank god I wasn’t alone──

*

*

*

I had no choice but to agree to the detox thing to cheer Okaasama up.

I still didn’t wanna go… But if I said that now Okaasama would finally throw a fit for real. This was my punishment for shaming her in public.

But at least it was just a detox course. It couldn’t be as bad as last year’s fasting…

I arrived with Okaasama at the Kaburagi group’s hotel. The hotel porter helped us with our luggage and we were guided into a room where acquaintances of my mother were waiting. They were older women from the upper class, and after looking around, many of them had been at the fasting last year. I supposed that a few of them were into dieting fads, and had invited all the rest along. What a pain…

That was when I noticed Maihama-san present, who was for some reason looking dressed up. She noticed me too, and came over.

“Goodness, you came too, Reika-san?” she said with a challenging look.

“Yes. You too, it seems, Maihama-san,” I replied with a smile.

“Fasting last year, and now a detox this year? You sure are working hard. You must really be desperate for her approval. Masaya-sama’s Okaasama, I mean.”

Haah?

“You seem to be misunderstanding, but I am simply here to accompany my mother. The shocking addition here is you. For all that you mocked it last year, you seem to be standing right here. How the direction of the wind changes. They say that to slay the general you must first begin with the horse, but just because you yourself are in that position is no reason to project onto me. It is offensive.”

“What was that!?”

Hmph. She could glare all she wanted, it wouldn’t make her scarier. And once again, her curls were half-baked today.

I bade her gokigen’yoh with a smile and then left.

This trip was already turning into something annoying though…

Oh! Akimi-san! Hiiiii!

I could feel Maihama-san glaring from behind but I ignored it.

When everybody was here, Kaburagi’s Okaasama appeared on scene with a bang.

---

<Previous Chapter | Imouto | Next Chapter>

Everybody, please check the FAQ first before asking me questions.
If it’s not on there, please feel free and ask. I only get annoyed at questions when the same one has been asked 10+ times, and by then I’ll have updated the FAQ. Thank you for your consideration, guys!

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https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Translation:The_Restaurant_With_Many_Orders

---

The summer holidays were right around the corner. It was a lot of fun last year when I went to Karuizawa with Serika-chan and the others. I wondered if anybody wanted to go this year too.

When I asked them I was filled with hope but the responses weren’t good. Our schedules wouldn’t line up, myself included. Thanks to that we just couldn’t find a time. That was a shame. We didn’t even have to stay anywhere. I would have just been happy meeting up and going somewhere to play. Come on, guys~

Speaking of my group, it had gotten pretty big by now. Thanks to that it actually comprised smaller groups of closer friends. For example, my group was the one with Serika-chan, Kikuno-chan, Ayame-chan, Ru’ne-chan etc.

Anyway, on a more hopeful note, bringing that up had stirred the enthusiasm in my friends, so we decided to see about rearranging our schedules. Hooray!

It’d be nice if I could see Sakura-chan and Aoi-chan too.

*

Still feeling excited, I headed to the Handicrafts Club to find everybody there. Apparently each year they all gathered to discuss the wedding dress for the school festival. I was only a provisional member last year so I wasn’t called. I obviously did this year. I was totally useless with the sewing machine and embroidery so they couldn’t count on me. I attended though. If I didn’t I would shame my position as an official member of the club. I could help clean up the scraps of cloth and thread that fell around when they were creating the dress. While I wasn’t cleaning I could focus on my own exhibition instead. I took Minami-kun’s advice and decided to create as large a doll with needle felting as I could. With my meagre skills I needed to start now or I’d have no chance of finishing it in time. That meant I had to decide on what I wanted to make, and quickly.

At first I thought about making a teddy bear, but there was already a girl planning on making plush doll teddy bears. She was so much better than me that I chickened out. Still, a cute animal would be nice~ Maybe rabbits, or dogs, or cats~? Hmm, but it wouldn’t be very impressive if they were too small either… Oh, something perfect came to mind.

It was my confidante, Beatrice.

*

*

The first thing I did at cram school was ask Umewaka-kun if I could use Beatrice as my model. He happily agreed.

“A doll of Beatrice… What a wonderful idea, Kisshouin-san!”

“You think?”

“Yeah! I understand, Kisshouin-san. By doing this, we can immortalise Beatrice’s cuteness forever. Bea-tan is the cutest in the world, isn’t she! Ah, but what if more Bea-tan fans appear in Zui’ran because of this!?”

Umewaka-kun was uncontrollable. I really should have just asked somebody else or gone to the zoo… If by some chance I made her ugly I could see a huge mess coming from this. Better make her 30% cuter than she is.

“And so, Umewaka-kun, I would like to have her measurements, as well as photos of both her entire body and individual body parts. Could you prepare these for me before we meet next time?”

“Size? Beatrice is 32 centimetres long. Her weight is… No, no! She’s a girl so I can’t tell you! Bea-tan would get angry if I did!”

“I see…”

He began to happily speak nonsense so I ignored him. 32 centimetres though. She was surprisingly small. Wait, so maybe I could make her life-sized then!?

“The weight is fine, but if possible could I have her girth and other size measurements? If possible I would like to create something life-sized.”

“Eh!? Really!? A life-sized Bea-tan doll… She’ll be so cute once you’re done… Oh! Then what if you measured her directly? Wouldn’t it be easier to measure what you want yourself then? And I think it would be easier for you to picture her after you’ve really met her.”

“May I truly!?”

“Yeah. We can meet at a park sometime. Is that okay?”

“Most definitely!”

This would make my life so much easier! I could even take photos of all her parts now!

“Then when shall we do it? I will be happy to do this whenever is convenient for you. Please let me know when and where.”

“Hmmm… Oh! But you need to wait a little! Right now Bea-tan is in the middle of exercising and dieting. She ate a little too much and hadn’t been exercising properly so she’s gotten a little fat. Please just give us a bit more time!”

Oh my god!

I feel you so bad, Bea-taaaaan!

Are you actually my doppelganger!?

“…Of course! A girl must be at her best for these things. I will wait. To do otherwise would only be humiliating for her!”

“Thanks, Kisshouin-san! We’ll definitely make the cutest Bea-tan possible!”

The two of us exchanged a firm handshake.

Oh. Dog Lover-kun’s silver ring was actually designed after a dog’s footprint.

Maybe I could thank him with a matching necklace and collar.

I got another email from Bea-tan.

“I’m so happy that you chose me as a model! I’ll do my best with Aa-tan to diet, so just you wait! Bea-tan won’t lose to an empty stomach!”

*

*

Since the other me, Beatrice, was giving her all, I had to be doing the same. After some thought, the way I spent lazing around each day was making me slack, both in body and mind.

So to counteract that my first idea was running. It was inexpensive too, since I only needed my body. It was summer though. Since getting a heatstroke would be pretty scary, maybe I could run around the neighbourhood in the early morning or maybe in the evening instead?

At dinner I brought the topic up with my family, and somehow ended up with a dedicated bodyguard for when I went jogging. Was it that big of a deal…?

It was just going to be around the neighbourhood, so I told them so many times that it would be fine, but every single one of them told me it was too dangerous to go by myself and rejected the idea. Ehhhhhh. If they got me a bodyguard just for jogging then wouldn’t that make it really hard to give up…? I knew myself really well, so I could already see what was going to happen. What was I going to do… Take back what I said…? Yeah, that sounded good.

Or so I thought, but they had immediately prepared the bodyguard for me so I had no path of retreat…

Mmmmm… It was going to be really warm… I was thinking of changing to doing radio callisthenics instead~

Haha, no good…?

When they introduced me to my bodyguard he was a tanned, muscular ojisama.

“Reika-ojousama! I had track experience back when I was a student, so I can guide you on your running form as well! Please don’t worry about a thing! Let’s try our best together to improve your records! Today we’ll start with a light 3 kilometre run! Let’s begin!”

Just how enthusiastic was he about athletics… Oh dear…

“Perhaps instead of jogging, we could do radio callisthenics,” I tried, but…

“I understand! Let’s add radio callisthenics on top of the jogging then!”

What was I going to do. I was filled with anxiety now. I couldn’t even run 500 metres, you know!?

*

*

Okaasama took me to the beauty parlour, maybe in preparation for the detox course or something.

They oiled up the fat I had gained from eating these last few months and then began massaging it mercilessly.

I suddenly remembered The Restaurant With Many Orders.

Were they rubbing the flavouring into me to make a French tart or something…?

Aahh… And so my 2nd year summer holidays began.

---

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Everybody, please check the FAQ first before asking me questions.
If it’s not on there, please feel free and ask. I only get annoyed at questions when the same one has been asked 10+ times, and by then I’ll have updated the FAQ. Thank you for your consideration, guys!

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It took no time at all after that for Mao-chan and Yuuri-kun to make up. By now they were back to their lovey-dovey selves. How envious. I hope she spends her whole life away from the Forever Alone Village.

Thanks to us sharing both a mutual enemy and a mutual problem, the bonds between Mao-chan and I rapidly deepened.

Mao-chan told me, “I’m not going eating with Haruto-niisama anymore!” which was a sentiment that I shared. It wouldn’t be nice to Erika-san after all.

“Besides,” she said, “If Haruto-niisama likes trying restaurants so much then he has Erika-san. She’s his girlfriend after all, so she should go. And then, all we have to do is wait for her to get fat… Ku ku ku ku ku!”

Nooooo! Stop ittt! Stop using your adorable face to laugh like a villaaain! Go back to being the innocent Mao-chaaan!

But right after that her expression turned a little anxious.

“Even if I don’t have Haruto-niisama, you’ll still go out with me, right, Reika-oneesama?”

It was so cute that I hugged her just on instinct. What a cute little sister I have!

Unable to bear her cuteness, I invited her to come over and play during the summer. We were going to have a lot of fun, the two of us. Oh, and Yuuri-kun too, of course.

As for Ichinokura-san, apparently he had received quite a shock from being suddenly hated by his beloved niece. I got a panicked phone call from him.

“Mao-chan is angry at me, and says she won’t come eat with me anymore…”

“Oh my.”

“What should I do, Reika-san? Can’t you talk to her somehow?”

“I apologise, Ichinokura-sama, but Mao-chan is more important to me than you are, so I am on her side in this.”

“Reika-san…”

“You need not worry. Once she calms down a little I am sure she will forgive you. Mao-chan loves you very much, Ichinokura-sama.”

“I hope so… The other day when I met her, she told me that since I was her mother’s brother she would call me Ojisan from now on. It was quite a shock…”

I could hear the emotional damage even over the phone. It must have been rough for a man of only 26 to be called an ojisan. But the punishment for hurting a maiden’s feelings was severe. Ukekekeke!

*

*

Today, Mao-chan told me she wanted to try visiting the salon of the Pivoine proper, so I brought her and Yuuri-kun with me. On the way though, she started to get cold feet.

“Maybe I shouldn’t after all… I wouldn’t want to bother anyone.”

“No need to worry,” I reassured her, “We are all members of the Pivoine, after all. And did you not visit once before?”

“I guess…”

I remembered her coming all the way to the salon to invite me to her birthday party. Nobody had any problems back then either, so there was no need to worry at all.

Sure enough, the adorable couple were welcomed the moment we arrived.

“My! How cute! These two are from the Petite, aren’t they? I am Okishima Fuyuko, the current President of the Pivoine, and I’m very pleased to meet you.”

“Yes! I hope we’ll get along!”

“They really are so cute.”

Since the President was fond of them they could expect smooth sailing at school.

We were entertaining my tiny guests when Enjou and Kaburagi came along. The two of them looked confused about the two kids in the room. Mao-chan on the other hand had lost her cool because the famous Emperor and his friend appeared.

Enjou must have noticed because he put on a kind smile and spoke to her.

“Hello. Might you two be from the Petite Pivoine?”

“Yes!”

“Do you know my brother then? His name is Enjou Yukino.”

“Yes! I talk to him quite a lot in the salon!”

“I see. Thanks for getting along with him. You’ll keep looking after him, won’t you?”

“Yes, I will!”

“So what’s he like in the Petite Pivoine?”

“Ummm…”

Enjou’s charming smile was causing her to flush.

“Huh. Friends of Yukino, then?” asked Kaburagi in a rare show of friendliness.

He tapped her on the shoulder lightly.

“If Yukino causes you any trouble, lemme know,” he said.

By now, Mao-chan had turned as red as beetroot. I was just waiting for the steam to start shooting from her ears.

Yuuri-kun on the other hand looked a little sullen. So cuuuuuute!

Oblivious to his mood, the blushing Mao-chan began telling Enjou all about how Yukino gave it his all at school.

Kaburagi on the other hand did notice.

“You’re jealous?” he asked.

Yuuri-kun looked startled. Kaburagi! Don’t you have any delicacy!?

“Get your act together, man! Are you going to let Shuusuke of all people take her from you!” he joked before mussing Yuuri-kun’s hair.

“That isn’t it at all!”

“In that case tell me all about it. C’mon, let’s hear your love troubles,” he said before dragging Yuuri-kun over to a sofa in the corner.

What the-! Kaburagi! Nobody asked for your indoctrination! And to begin with, Mao-chan likes him back so Yuuri-kun is already in another realm compared to you! You should be asking him for advice! You haven’t made any progress with Wakaba-chan at all, have you! What’s the meaning of that!

Anyhow, I was worried so I tried to listen in on their conversation. Not that I was expecting differently, but Kaburagi was totally useless at romance so it took no time at all for them to start talking about soccer instead. Thank goodness… It would have been terrible if Kaburagi had influenced him badly.

Mao-chan, finally noticing that Yuuri-kun was gone, rushed over to him in a panic. Maybe she was feeling worried.

Kaburagi seemed to find the little couple amusing, and went over to play the Minute Waltz on the piano.

Mao-chan ended up entranced and excited again, and Yuuri-kun ended up pouting──

That day, Kaburagi took every one of Mao-chan’s requests, and pretty much had his own little piano recital. Thanks to that, all the female Pivoine members begged her to come again.

On the way back, Mao-chan placed her hands on her chest and muttered,

“That was so dreamy…”

but for never lying to her, and always being by her side to protect her, I thought Yuuri-kun was a much more wonderful man.

Still though, the power of music was incredible~ Not that I’d ever heard any rumours of Dite being popular.

The next day, Enjou would tell me with a beaten smile that when Yukino-kun heard that we had gone to the Pivoine proper, he ended up sulking a little. I’m sorry, Yukino-kun!

*

*

When I came home, Oniisama suddenly asked me,

“Would you prefer the aquarium or the zoo?”

I had no idea what was going on, but it was summer so I told him the aquarium.

“The damage didn’t seem too bad this time, so maybe just a one day trip…?”

Seriously, what was he muttering about?

Still, did this mean Oniisama was going to take time out of his busy schedule to take me to the aquarium? I’d be so happy if it were true! Oh, I know! I could invite Mao-chan! If the position of Oniisama was taken from him, I could already see Ichinokura-san taking another blow. Ukekekeke.

---

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Everybody, please check the FAQ first before asking me questions.
If it’s not on there, please feel free and ask. I only get annoyed at questions when the same one has been asked 10+ times, and by then I’ll have updated the FAQ. Thank you for your consideration, guys!

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Woke up a bit early to do this so likely to have mistakes though, so if you see one please comment. Actually, please check the comments before you comment. No matter how many times you guys notify me, I can only fix the chapter once after all.

---

──It appears that for a moment I may have lost myself…
How scary. I hope that was not possession.
Thank goodness I regained my sanity before delving into the world of onmyou and dark magic.

*

*

Now then. If I wanted to look reality in the eyes, then I needed a suitable advisor.
When I left the room for some reason Otousama was standing silently right outside my door. Scary! What was he trying to accomplish by standing outside his daughter’s room like this.

“Did you need something, Otousama?”

“…Reika-chan, did something happen? You can talk to Otousama about it. Otousama would do anything for you, you know? Come! Voice your worries to me!”

“Hah?”

What was all this, all of a sudden? Was he in shock because I rejected those cakes?
I didn’t quite understand but right now I was busy, so sorry, but I rejected him and headed for the living room. The tanuki called “Reika~ Reika~” from behind me. Ugh, that was actually really scary… Wasn’t Otousama the one with worries here?

Okaasama was drinking tea in the living room.

“Reika-san, please be quiet indoors. I heard something like a wild animal.”

“Ah, my apologies.”

So they heard the scream of my soul.

Is that why Otousama was trying to peep on me? In that case sorry. Don’t worry. I just accidentally tapped into my demonic side for a bit.

I sat down besides Okaasama.

“Say, Okaasama. Have I gotten fatter?”

Having thought about it for a while, I realised the only person I could ask in this household was Okaasama. Otousama was sweet on me and he was tubby himself, so no way would he call me fat. Oniisama on the other hand was a gentleman, so he definitely wouldn’t be clear with me either. In the end I could only ask a fellow woman like Okaasama if I wanted it to be given to me straight.

When Okaasama heard my words, her eyes widened. Then after a moment, she nodded quietly. I knew it!

“So you’ve noticed as well, Reika-san…”

“Okaasama! Why did you not tell me earlier!”

Isn’t a parent supposed to be strict sometimes for their children’s sake!?

“I’m sorry. Okaasama just couldn’t say it…”

“Okaasama…”

I suppose as the mother to a girl at a delicate age, there were just some things hard to say.

“When did you notice, Okaasama?”

“Let’s see. I suppose for one or two months now…”

“I see…”

The other day we went to a hotel lunch buffet at Mao-chan’s request too. I shouldn’t have done something stupid like trying to conquer all of the desserts…

“But you know, Reika-san, I have some terrific news for you!”

Suddenly Okaasama looked really happy as she handed me an envelope.

I looked inside and there was a pamphlet for a detox course, run by the Kaburagi Group’s hotel.

“This is…”

“Remember that fasting course we went on last year? They invited us this year too. But it’s a detox instead this time. Apparently we’ll go to health salons, eat macrobiotic foods, and exercise. So, Reika-san, come with Okaasama?”

“Okaasama…”

…Okaasama, this was premeditated wasn’t it?
While I was getting fat, the reason you didn’t say anything was because you wanted me to go on this course with you, wasn’t it? It’s because you didn’t want to go by yourself, Okaasama!
You fiend! There was a real fiend in this room!

“To be blunt, I do not think I could burn off my fat with such a mild course.”

I was annoyed at Okaasama, so I refused. For her own purposes, she sat by and watched her daughter grow fat.
Okaasama begged me in panic.

“Reika-san! Please, come with me? If you hadn’t been there last year Okaasama wouldn’t have been able to bear it. Please? Please, Reika-san!”

“No.”

I turned my head away.

“Mrs. Kaburagi said she wanted you to come too. She told me during that last party. You’ll come, won’t you, Reika-san?”

“Ehhh~”

Now that she had brought up Kaburagi’s mum there was even more reason to refuse. Okaasama started pointing out stuff in the brochures like ‘developing a body that gains less fat’ and ‘natural-style cooking’ and stuff but I was having none of it.
Irritated by my complete refusal, Okaasama changed her tune.

“Then are you saying you want to be this fat forever, Reika-san! It’s summer! The season where you wear less clothing! Are you going to pass summer with that thick waist of yours!”

“Oww! Okaasama, that hurts!”

Okaasama was pulling at my midsection with both hands. Oww!

“You must come, Reika-san! I won’t accept a refusal!”

She was getting angry at me now!? The victim!? People often said that guilty people would try to hide their sins with anger. Okaasama was the very picture of that.

Having lost to her intensity, I trudged back to my room. I didn’t wanna go…

The spirit of my hatred was still lying around in my room, so I gave it a small pyre as a funeral.

*

*

On Monday morning I was putting my shoes away at school when Ririna came up to me and pointed right at my face.

“Reika-san, you’ve gotten fat!”

A moment later, Minami-kun and companions had taken her away. That idiot came up to me first thing in the morning to say that?

Should I punch her…?

*

The summer holiday was coming soon, so Class Rep and I were collecting the printouts for that. When we headed to the Student Council room, Fellow Stalking Horse was there.

Come to think of it, the summer break would be when the Student Council members passed their roles over, wouldn’t it. I guess that made Fellow Stalking Horse the next President after all.

“Kisshouin-san, could you take this half?”

“Okaaay.”

He may have said ‘half’, but the ratio was actually 3 to 2 his way. He might have been a maiden at heart, but that didn’t mean he wasn’t also a gentleman.
After we made sure we had them all, the two of us were about to leave when Stalking Horse called out to stop me.

“Did you need something?” I asked.

“…I’m sorry for the bias I showed you back then.”

“Pardon?”

What was this?

“Tomoe-senpai also told me off for having preconceived notions of you.”

“Eh-, Tomoe-senpai did!?”

What’s this? What’s this about Tomoe-senpai now!? I want to hear it! Tell me about Tomoe-senpai!

“The other day I met with him, and you came up in conversation. That was when he scolded me…”

Ehhh~!? Stalking Horse met with Tomoe-senpai!? Sneaky! I wanted to meet him too!

“If you have any complaints about what I’ve done, I’m willing to hear them.”

“I have no complaints against you in particular, Mizusaki-kun.”

Mm. I just wanted to know how Tomoe-senpai was doing. I have nothing to say to you, Comrade. I suppose if I really had to say something, I’d be telling you to actually do your job as the village vice-chief. Don’t think you can graduate from this village before I do!

Obviously I couldn’t actually say this, so I left the room even as he looked dissatisfied.

“Kisshouin-san, did something happen between you two?”

“Who knows. I cannot say I quite understand it myself… Nothing bad happened though, so pay no mind.”

“That makes sense.”

After that he talked about his love life until we reached the classroom.

“Apparently Honda-san is going to be doing the summer vacation remedials, so I’m thinking about doing them too.”

I was listening to him talk when a while later Iwamuro-kun came down in the other direction.

“Master! Let me carry those!”

And so even though we were in different classes, he ended up carrying them for me.

“Also, I have something I want your advice on, Master…”

Advice for Iwamuro-kun… I bet it was about avoiding tanning for the summer.

In the hallway with our classrooms I saw Miharu-chan and Nonose-san talking merrily to each other. When Class Rep saw them, he turned into a maiden.

I think the two of them liked the fantasy genre. I overheard them speaking about it a lot. By “mercenary” did that mean they were reading a war novel at the moment?

---

“I just accidentally tapped into my demonic side for a bit.”
Originally actually referenced https://theatrenohgaku.wordpress.com/2014/08/23/kanawa-%E9%89%84%E8%BC%AA/

---

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Everybody, please check the FAQ first before asking me questions.
If it’s not on there, please feel free and ask. I only get annoyed at questions when the same one has been asked 10+ times, and by then I’ll have updated the FAQ. Thank you for your consideration, guys!

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“She was my classmate in university. This is Yumiyama Erika-san.”

“Hello.”

Smiling besides Ichinokura-san, Yumiyama Erika-san was slender like a model. Actually not ‘like’. I had seen her in fashion magazines before. She was literally a model.

“What are you having, Erika?”

“I’ll just go with a salad. I have a photo shoot soon.”

Mao-chan and I had arrived earlier and already ordered, so sitting in front of us now were countless plates.

Mao-chan looked at her own orders, and then looked at Erika-san’s salad.

We couldn’t exactly waste food that we ordered either, so in front of Erika-san and her tiny salad, Mao-chan and I were forced to awkwardly eat our usual fill of calories.

“I’ve heard so much about you two from Haruto,” she smiled. “He’s always talking about how cute his niece and her friend are. And gosh was he right! You really are as cute as a doll~!”

She clapped her hands together in happiness.

“Didn’t I tell you? Mao and Reika-san are like adorable little sisters. Just going out to eat with them is enough to do away with all my stress.”

Ichinokura-san flashed a smile beside her.

“You’re such a gourmand, Haruto~” she replied. “Actually, I’ve known about Mao for quite a while now, but recently he began telling me about you as well, Reika-san, and I just had to meet you.”

I was startled.

“Umm, I apologise for always going out to eat with him. I had no idea he was taken, and did not mean anything by it… If I upset you in any way, I will make up for it.”

Uh oh. Don’t tell me she had to meet me to stop taking her boyfriend out to play?!

We weren’t playing though. We were eating.

Ah! Didn’t we go to Taiwan the other day!? Although to be honest it was a one-day trip so you couldn’t really call it going on vacation with somebody.

But still! Don’t tell me I was in the position of some housewrecker!? Aahh! Reika! Didn’t you learn anything after that time with Kasumi-sama!?

‘Adultery’…

‘Demanding reparations’…

“No! I didn’t mean it like that! You didn’t do anything to upset me at all!” she exclaimed as she waved her hands in denial. “Actually, I’m really happy that he finally has somebody to eat with, you know?”

…Really?

“You know how much Haruto loves food, don’t you? I’ve been trying to eat out with him as much as I can, but I just can’t. But then recently I heard that you and Mao were going places with him and I was just so relieved. Haruto always tells me how much he enjoys his meals with you two, you know?”

I put on a smile and nodded along.

“You’re just a small eater, Erika,” said Ichinokura-san, “You don’t have to force yourself to come with me. And Reika-san, when I first met you you wouldn’t even touch the food. I was really worried, you know? But thankfully when we met again at Mao’s birthday I found you happily eating away. Erika has never eaten much, and now her job needs it too, but you two are still growing so you need to eat. Oh, what should we get for dessert?”

With that, Ichinokura-san showed the dessert menu to the two of us, even after all of the food──

*

*

*

We talked about how they first met, or about Erika-san’s modelling job, and to be honest it was a nice enough lunch. And there had been no need for me to worry about Taiwan either, because Erika-san had said to me with a smile, “It must have been tiring going to Taiwan. I’m glad the xiaolongbao were good. I’ve been drinking the tea Haruto got me every day.”

Ichinokura-san spoke.

“Now then, what shall we do? Erika wanted to go with you wherever you two wanted.”

“Yes. How about shopping? I could get you two clothes that would look good on you. Oh, or did you want to go eat something else?”

Mao-chan and I made eye contact.

“No, I am afraid I must be excusing myself. I would not want to disturb you on your date.”

“Me too! I’m full so I’m going to go home now!”

“Eh? You don’t have to worry about that,” said Ichinokura-san.

“Yeah! We only just met too, and you’re leaving already?” agreed Erika-san.

“I simply cannot accept disturbing you two further,” I said cheerfully.

“You’re right, Reika-oneesama. Haruto-niisama, you’re the one who shouldn’t be holding back. Go enjoy your date!” smiled Mao-chan.

The two of them gave slightly troubled smiles at our teasing.

“Then at least let us send you off,” he said.

“No need. My family will send a car. Please, go on.”

“Reika-oneesama, in that case could you drop me off too?”

“Of course, Mao-chan.”

“Hmm… Is this really okay?” he asked.

‘It is, it is’ the two of us cheerfully reassured him.

“We’ll definitely meet again right?” asked Erika-san, “Mao-chan, I’d be really happy if you called me ‘oneesan’ too.”

Mao smiled at her bashfully.

And so the two of us saw the couple off with a smile before silently walking in the other direction.

“…Mao-chan, shall we go somewhere?”

“…Yes”

The two of us entered a nearby café and ordered something sweet to drink.

“What the heck was that! Haruto-niisama’s girlfriend was exactly skin and bones!” exploded Mao-chan.

“She was a model after all…”

“Unbelievable! He kept saying over and over that plump girls were better than skinny ones and then he chooses a skinny model!? What’s wrong with him!”

Mao-chan was clenching her fists in rage.

I thought it was unbelievable too. Erika-san’s legs were as skinny as my upper arm. Were her legs too skinny, or were my arms too thick…

“She truly ate nothing but salad, it seems.”

Even though Ichinokura-san had completely denounced diets to the two of us…

“Right!? We ate so much but she was the only one eating just a salad! It was like she was laughing at us for eating so much!”

Mm…

“I was sure that the person Haruto-niisama chose would be a plump girl who loved food and was good at cooking. But instead she was a dieter who ate nothing but salad!”

Mao-chan’s cheeks were turning red from rage.

I silently drank my banana au lait.

Mao-chan was hanging her head when she muttered.

“…I’ve gotten fat.”

“Eh!?”

“You and Haruto-niisama said I wasn’t but I’ve been thinking about what Yuuri-kun said… I got on the scales and they said I was fatter. But Okaasama said I didn’t look fat at all, so I thought that maybe I was still okay…”

Are you actually me, Mao-chan?

“Yuuri-kun was right… Haruto-niisama is a big fat liar!”

Mao-chan looked bitter and frustrated.

“I see… I guess I got fat too…”

“Reika-oneesama!”

Mao-chan looked at me in shock.

“I have somewhat noticed it as well. That my weight has increased recently. But I turned away from reality.”

“No, Oneesama! You don’t look fat at all, Oneesama!”

“No. I look like a pear under this…”

“…!”

Mao-chan and I held each others’ hands tightly.

Looking around, all of the girlfriends in the café had tiny cakes, and they used forks to make even tinier bites to eat from. Every one of them without exception was cute and skinny. Nobody ate more than two or three bites.

I was fooled by Alice’s owner’s sweet words, and before I knew it I had transformed into Humpty Dumpty…

*

*

When I got home, a happy tanuki came over.

“Reika! Otousama bought you your favourite cakes, so come eat with me!”

I glared at him and returned to my room.

Hate…! I hated all the men in this world…! Liars! Liars! Liars!

They spouted lies about men liking plumper girls but in the end they always chose the skinny ones! What they said and what they thought were complete opposites!

They said they liked girls who could eat a lot but in their hearts they were laughing at us! That was the truth!

“Nuoooooohhhhhh!!!”

I vented all of my hatred and frustration into my needle felt. Stab! Stab stab stab!

Elohim, Essaim! Elohim, Essaim!

“Uohhhhhhh!!!”

My roar filled the Kisshouin house.

A pox on all the lying men in the world!

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