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!

---

This is my Christmas present to you, and I’d be really glad if you gifted me back with a review on novelupdates!
Incidentally, Reika graduates from primary school soon, so let’s have one chapter every 15 minutes until she does.

---

Lately, things between Serika-chan and Kikuno-chan have become strained.
The cause was Kikuno-chan being in the same class as Kaburagi.

When we realised it after the class announcements, Kikuno-chan was dancing for joy.
Since then, every day, it’s been talk about Kaburagi.
Stuff like “When he was reading the passage out during Japanese class, it was so dreamy.” or “After Kaburagi-sama used the piece of chalk, I ended up using it too”.
From my perspective it’s just idle gossip, but apparently that wasn’t the case with Serika-chan.

“Reika-sama, don’t you think that Kikuno-san been getting ahead of herself lately? Just because she’s in the same class as Kaburagi-sama, every single day she does nothing but boast about it. What on earth is with her!”

Oh my my~
Even though Serika-chan and Kikuno-chan are like a duo, now that one side’s been stealing a march on the other, cracks are appearing in their relationship.

“Aren’t you frustrated, Reika-sama? Kikuno-san is acting as though she’s closer to Kaburagi-sama than you are! So arrogant!”

I’m not frustrated at all, but…?
I mean, I don’t particularly like him after all.
Only, considering how many fans those two have in school, there’s no reason for me to stir up trouble by admitting that. So thus far I’ve just been randomly following along with everybody and saying stuff like “How wonderful.” when appropriate.

“She says things like how Enjou-sama occasionally comes to visit her class! And lately, that girl hasn’t even been spending lunch time with you, Reika-sama! She’s betraying us!”

Uwahh~ She’s getting all heated up.
I wonder what I should do.

“Perhaps Kikuno-san is merely doing so because she felt that you would be happy to hear such stories. I do not think that she means ill, you know?”

“…I can’t imagine that she doesn’t, but…”

Her expression clearly says that she doesn’t believe me. But well, I also think that Kikuno-chan was just happily bragging.

“After all, Kikuno-san seems to think dearly of you, Serika-san. A while back when she was ill and you waited with her in the infirmary, she told me that she was very grateful to you. She even said that when push comes to shove, you were the one that could be relied on, you know?”

“Eh-…”

This is half truth and half lie.
It’s true that she was grateful about Serika-chan accompanying her in the infirmary.
As for the stuff about being reliable, I said “Serika-san is reliable, isn’t she.” and Kikuno-chan just replied “Yes”.

“Kikuno-san said…”

“I think that Kikuno-san is just ecstatic about joining the class of the one she admires. I am sure that she will calm down, given just a little time. To begin with, Kaburagi-sama is more or less indifferent towards girls, after all. In the end, rather than the far-away Kaburagi-sama, it will be you that she values more.”

“That’s true…”

Oooh, she bit!
In that case…

“Serika-san, please take this.”

“Eh-, a macaron?”

I had given Serika-chan a pink macaron.

“It is a limited time cherry-flavoured macaron. Kaburagi-sama’s favourite.”

“EH-!? Kaburagi-sama’s!?”

“Yes. Earlier when I went to the Pivoine salon, Kaburagi-sama was eating them. I helped myself to one as well, but brought it here without eating it. You should eat it, Serika-san. Keep this a secret from Kikuno-san, all right?”

“Goodness…”

Serika-chan happily accepted the macaron with two hands.

“It isn’t often that you get to see Kaburagi-sama eating sweets, is it.”

“My. That is not the case at all. He has quite the sweet tooth, you know?”

He eats sweets in the salon a lot, and he was a sweet tooth in Kimidol as well.
For a while when he was in Kyoto, he was totally in love with this old tea shop’s matcha chocolate after all.
I don’t think he’s hiding the fact or anything, but to begin with we aren’t allowed to bring sweets to school, so the only chance of seeing him eating them is in the salon I guess.

Since Serika-chan is in a good mood again, I guess that’s good enough for now.

“Umm… Reika-sama. What I said earlier…”

“Of course, I did not hear a thing. After all, it was not how you truly felt, was it.”

“No. Thank you very much, Reika-sama.”

No, no. You’re welcome.

*imouto*

*imouto*

“Reika-sama, what do you think of Serika-san’s attitude lately? She’s jealous because I’m in the same class as Kaburagi-sama!”

This time Kikuno-chan timed it so that Serika-chan wasn’t there, before coming to talk to me.

“If she’s envious, then she should just say so. Even though I went out of my way to tell her stories about Kaburagi-sama, all she does is glare at me. Don’t you think her personality is terrible?”

Oh my, oh my~
That’s quite an arrogant attitude, huh~
I think both of you were in the wrong.

“Serika-san was sulking because all you spoke of was Kaburagi-sama.”

“Sulking?”

“Please keep this a secret, but, Serika-san was complaining to me about how Kaburagi-sama is more important to you than she is. ‘Even though I’m closer to her’, she said. I think that she might be lonely.”

“Eh-…”

“Serika-san likes you very much, after all. But lately all you speak of is Kaburagi-sama. Wouldn’t you feel ignored? Don’t you think that perhaps her jealousy is directed at Kaburagi-sama instead?”

Now this is a total lie.

“But you must not go to Serika-san to confirm this. Serika-san is quite the stubborn one, so if you knew how she really felt, she would likely sulk even more, you see.”

“To think Serika-san said…”

“In this case… What if you act like the mature one, and take the first step? I am certain that if you do so, Serika-san will immediately feel better. She likes you a lot. The two of you are best friends, after all.”

“Best friends… You’re right. We’re best friends, aren’t we.”

It looks like she’s a little happy about the specialness of ‘best friends’.
And it seems like her anger has subsided too.

“Reika-sama, what I said earlier…”

“Of course, I did not hear a thing. After all, it was not how you truly felt, was it.”

“No. Thank you very much, Reika-sama.”

No, no. You two are quite similar, you know.

*imouto*

After that, they immediately made up.
And it looks like my lies weren’t exposed. The two of them are lovey-lovey and following each other everywhere again.
I’m a coward, so absolutely ‘no thank you’ to trouble. It’s scary.
I mean, you never know when you’ll get wrapped up in it, after all.
Peace is definitely the best.

*imouto*

Speaking of which, in 『you are my dolce』, didn’t Kisshouin Reika feed Emperor with lies about the protagonist, that led to a falling out scene…?

 

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<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!

---

Kisshouin Takateru/Momozono Imari

Apparently my sister has begun dieting.
It looks like she’s doing stretches in the living room.
She doesn’t look particularly fat though, you know? Rather, isn’t she a bit too skinny?
When I told her not to overdo things, she smiled happily at me.
Simple-minded as usual.
And I also know the truth about the weird yells coming from my sister’s room.
I didn’t hear what words she was actually saying, but I’m worried now that she’s shouting strange things again.

“I can hear your shouts from outside your room, you know?” I casually told her, and in response she replied “Eh-, you heard me? Oh gosh, I need to be careful.” in shock.
Yeah, I heard you, alright. And not just your yells. I heard your weird moans too, and it’s scary.
I managed to solve another one of the problems caused by my sister’s weird behaviour.
I am technically taking my university exams this year, so I’d appreciate it if she behaved.

*imouto*

*imouto*

One day, my sister brought me some zousui rice soup in the name of a late-night snack.
It hadn’t been too long since dinner, so I honestly wasn’t hungry at all.
It’s not like I had been planning on studying all night, and I had planned to sleep an hour later.
So if I ate it, it would probably be bad for my body instead…

But my sister looked my way expectantly, wanting me to hurry and eat.
I’m troubled…
This pot is big enough for two people’s worth, isn’t it.
My sister’s eyes were completely glittering.
Can’t be helped…

Preparing myself for the worst, I opened the lid, and found a steaming egg zousui with spring onions spread about.
I scooped some into a bowl, and with a soup spoon, I brought some to my mouth.

…Salty.

You’ve put way too much salt, my little sister!
My tongue is tingling from it. I want some water, now.
Ah crap, there’s no water.
All she gave me was hot tea. Hot food, and hot drinks. …Little sister.

I hurriedly pulled out some cold water from a small fridge in my room and gulped it down.
Thank goodness for putting a refrigerator here.
I bought it in the past. It’s so that if I want a drink, I don’t have to risk heading outside and encountering some of my sister’s weird behaviours.

“How was it, Oniisama?”

It was salty. You put in too much salt. Did you even taste-test this?

“…It was delicious.”

When she looked at me with those round eyes, I couldn’t tell the truth.
Honestly, how troubling. Rather than tasteless chocolate, the hurdle is higher for salty zousui.
I don’t have the confidence to finish the stuff I ladled into the bowl.
But…

My sister simply believed me, and smiled happily.
Can’t be helped…
I guess I’ll try my best to at least finish the stuff in the bowl.

Without letting it show, I desperately ate. The 500ml bottle was gone in an instant.
I immediately opened another bottle.
As you’d expect, I couldn’t finish the stuff left in the pot, so I apologised and told her that I wasn’t so hungry at night.
Saying something like “Maybe I should have some too…”, she took a spoon to her mouth.

“Hmm? I wonder if it’s a little salty.”

So you’ve noticed, little sister!?
But this isn’t at the level where you’d call it ‘a little’, you know.
Even so, my sister continued eating with an unconcerned expression.
My sister’s sense of taste is wayy too rough.
And what about her diet? Carbohydrates before bed are scarier than monsters, you know.

In the end, my sister finished all of the leftovers.
At this rate, I might have to continue to suffer this hell of supper attacks. What do I do.

“Reika, thanks for making me a snack tonight. But eating makes me sleepy, so you don’t have to worry about it from now on. I won’t be studying too late either.”

“Is that so?”

“Yeah. I’m happy with just your feelings. And also, I might get fat eating before sleep, right?”

“Ah-, that is true!”

Looks like it had quite an effect on my dieting sister.
Thank goodness…
After seeing out my sister with the pot, my stomach was bloated from all the water, and I was exhausted.

I feel sick from all the water…
Maybe it might feel better if I just throw it up.
But she did try her very best making that, so I’d feel sorry for her if I went and did that.
And so that night, I fought with my nausea until I somehow managed to digest it.

As for the tasteless, yearly Valentine’s Chocolates, I discussed it with Minadzuki-san, who I went to an amusement park with last year.

“My sister’s handmade chocolates are too flavourless, so I was wondering what I could do about it. I feel bad for her when she tries so hard to make them, so I’m sorry about this, but could I perhaps get you to casually teach her how to make them, Minadzuki-san?”

When I asked her this, although she asked “flavourless chocolates?” confusedly, she happily agreed, and some time later they made chocolates together at our home.

A few days later, the chocolates that my sister gave me were sweet like they were supposed to be.

Just what kind of magic did Minadzuki-san use, to make that girl’s chocolates actually taste sweet.
When I asked her this she replied, “I don’t know for sure what the reason was, but she heated the chocolate in water for too long, which dispersed it, and well, just a whole bunch of other mistakes. But it’s fine now. Reika-san seems to know what to do, and what not to do in making chocolates now, so from next year the chocolates should be delicious as they should be.”
I was relieved.

Should I get Minadzuki-san to help this time as well?
But my little sister really looks up to her. If she shows her mistakes in front of her adored senpai, she might get depressed.
For the sake of her future as well, perhaps I should casually recommend cooking classes to her.

*imouto*

*imouto*

In public, my sister does quite a good job in playing the ojousama.
Like somebody truly befitting the name of the Kisshouin family’s daughter. My parents haven’t noticed either that she’s actually rather disappointing(pitiful) on the inside.
Anyhow, as time goes on, her mask comes off more and more when she’s in front of me, and the stupidity and silliness on the inside is really starting to show.
She’s probably just that trusting of me, but if she does something too weird it’ll scare me, so I wish she would stop.

And little sister, don’t try and do chin-ups inside your closet. It’s scary.

♦♢♦♢♦

My friend, Kisshouin Takateru, is a pretty splendid guy.
To begin with, he rarely gets angry.
I’ve almost never seen him get emotional, and he basically treats everybody politely.
In the archery club he’s captain too, and all the underclassmen rely on him.
His results are always in the high ranks, but he’s never shown off about this.

He almost seems like a human with no flaws, but he’s actually pretty black-hearted, and he uses his gentle-looking smile to get people to do what he wants.
At a glance he looks like a kind person who’ll accept everyone, but the number of people he actually let’s down his guard around are pretty few.
But at heart, he’s a straight-forward guy. Somehow or other, he’s just good at taking care of others. For people he considers friends, he definitely won’t ever betray them. It’s these parts of him that I like.

*imouto*

Anyhow, that Takateru has a little sister.

She’s a cute girl, who looks like a well-made western doll.
When she’s quiet, she looks just like one, but when she smiles her dimples come out, and it’s cute.
Whenever I bring Imouto-chan a present, she always seems to smile happily from the bottom of her heart.
Unlike her brother, she doesn’t have a hidden side to her.
Sometimes the three of us chat together, and she happily eats the sweets I bring her. I guess she likes sweets, huh.
A while back when I went with her to an amusement park, her eyes shot between this stall and that stall, and when I bought her sweets that I thought she would like, she was so grateful to me that it was shocking.
Just a few hundred Yen’s worth of food is enough to get her eyes sparkling and saying “Thank you very much, Imari-sama!” so it made me want to tell her that I’d buy her any food she wanted.
It felt like feeding a bird chick.

Imouto-chan always happily listens to my stories about Takateru. She really loves him.
I could totally feel her feelings towards her “beloved Oniisama”.

*imouto*

And as for Takateru, he totally dotes on her.
Takateru is a guy who hates people who stick to him without a sense of distance.
But apparently it’s a different story when it comes to his own sister.
Imouto-chan is adorable. She really thinks that Takateru is a gentle, wonderful Oniisama.
She doesn’t notice that he occasionally plays with her reactions. She just dances on his palms as much as he wants.

Apparently Takateru doesn’t think of himself as a siscon, but from my eyes, he’s plenty siscon enough.
When they’re sitting on the couch in the living room, he always has her sit next to him. Never, ever next to me.
When he listens to her talk, it’s not some statue’s archaic smile, but an actual smile that he has.
When Imouto-chan gets her head patted by Takateru she smiles happily in response.
These siblings really do get along.
All I have is a cocky little brother, so sometimes I get jealous of him when I wonder how things would be if I had a cute little sister attached to me too.

One day in the Pivoine salon, I heard Takateru discussing “handmade chocolates” with Aira-chan.
When I asked him about that, he told me “I asked her to teach my sister how to make handmade chocolates for Valentine’s”.
Valentine’s huh.
Apparently he gets handmade chocolates from Imouto-chan each year.
When I said “I wonder if this year I’ll get some from Imouto-chan too~”, he just stared blankly at me and asked back “Why does my sister have to give a Valentine’s chocolate to you?”.
Damn siscon…

Once when I thought about teasing this siscon and joked with a smile, “If Imouto-chan and I got married, you’d end up as my Oniichan as well, huh~ What should I do?”, I ended up eating a strong hook to the solar plexus.
…Sorry, I won’t say it again.

They’re a funny pair of siblings.
Rather, when Imouto-chan gets involved, Takateru immediately becomes funnier.
Today as well, I’m heading to the Kisshouin house with sweets in hand.

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<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!

---

Yurukyara or yuru-chara are mascot characters of sorts, and like, different prefectures have their own mascots and stuff.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yuru-chara

Also, I use the term ‘tiny’ to describe a girl, but it could very well (and probably does) refer to her posture and bearing as well (and not just her physique).

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Lately in my science and social science cram classes, I’ve spotted this girl I’ve really got my eye on.
She’s a tiny and docile looking girl, and she occasionally sits next to me you see, and so one day I spotted a certain keychain on her bag that I just couldn’t take my eyes off of.

A “Tarow the Taro” plush toy keychain!

“Tarow the Taro” is just as you’d expect, a taro yuruchara mascot character.
He’s a mascot created for a town that produces taros, but even if he’s a yuruchara (relaxed/lenient character), what’s really too yurui(relaxed/lenient) is the quality of his conception!
He looks exactly like a taro with eyes, a nose and a mouth stuck on. And what’s more, his face is pathetic looking. His eyebrows slant downwards pitifully, after all.
Perhaps the person(mascot?) himself is painfully aware of how pathetic his looks and popularity are, because during yuruchara events, he always stays in a small corner to avoid getting in the way of the stars.
He’s a complete extra.

And as for me, I actually really love this weird little yuruchara!

He kinda makes you wonder if they couldn’t do a little more for him.
At festivals, he’s overwhelmed by the star yurucharas, and has really little presence.
But because of the occasion, he wears a little tie to make himself a bit more presentable, and you’re just left with this odd sense of melancholy.

The first time I saw him, I thought, ‘Whoa, definitely not popular. He’s so plain, and his face isn’t even cute.’ but after seeing him a few times I started feeling sorry for him, and before long I was starting to think that maybe his lazily created face was kind of cute too.
Even though he was a mascot character created to revitalise the town, he doesn’t have any self-assertion at all.
‘But that timidity and cowardliness, I totally get it too. I have a Tarow in me as well! If I don’t cheer for him, who will!’
Or so I thought as maternal instincts started firing up inside me.

And that’s who Tarow the Taro is. And a girl with his goods hanging from her bag is sitting right besides me.
I wanna be friends!

It’s not often that you’d find a girl who likes such a plain and inconspicuous yuruchara.
I wanna talk to my heart’s content about Tarow.
Or rather, I had no idea they even made Tarow merchandise!

But I haven’t been able to find a good way of becoming friends with her.
If I suddenly went “Please become my friend.” I’d seem way too suspicious.
How are you supposed to break the ice again?
At school, it’s always people around me that approach me first, so I’ve never had to make the first move.
Uwah~ Just how useless am I.
Anyway, I’ll just speak to her casually.
Right! Think back to Akizawa-kun’s friendliness. First is the greeting…

But even if I had decided that I wanted to call out to her, Tiny-san didn’t show any signs of looking my way at all.
It’s like the mood is some kind of wall around her.
No, no, this is where you need courage!

“Umm, your bag…”

“Eh-!?”

The girl turned my way, looking at me tensely.

“Ah-, it was getting in your way, wasn’t it. Sorry, I’ll move it right now!”

“No, ummm…”

“I’m really sorry!”

She hastily moved the bag with the keychain to the other side of her desk, and distanced her body a little while she was at it.
Doesn’t she seem kinda, scared of me?
Could it be that I’m actually scary?
This time she really has created a total wall of rejection, so I couldn’t find the courage to speak to her anymore.
Ehhhh~!? Why!?

But I won’t give up.
Each time, I sat next to her again, or sometimes even closer, and I desperately tried to give off an ‘I’m not scary at all, you know~?’ aura, and whenever our eyes met I gave my best smile.
Maybe she noticed that I was totally staring at her, but she almost never looked at me herself.

Aren’t I like, totally the same as Stalker Kaburagi right now?

*imouto*

*imouto*

“Hmmm…”

I stared at myself in the mirror.

“Hmmmmm…”

“Reika, what are you moaning about in front of the mirror for?”

While I was thinking by myself in the living room, Oniisama came along.
Perfect timing. I’ll try asking Oniisama.

“Oniisama, do I have a scary face?”

“Hah?”

My face isn’t that mean looking, right?
It’s true that I don’t think I have a particularly approachable face either.
Well, I think I look like I don’t have many openings.

Because of Okaasama’s taste, my hair is curled neatly, and everything I wear is brand-name clothing.
Since it’s all children’s wear, the moment I grow a little all this clothing will just go to waste, but well, as the young lady of the Kisshouin family, I don’t suppose wearing fast fashion would do.
Since I have so many clothes, maybe I’ve never worn the same thing to cram school before.

So it was that after all, huh?
My lack of openings might be the reason people are scared of me.
Or rather, is it because I have intensity?
It’d be nice if it wasn’t because I have a mean-looking face, wouldn’t it…
My eyes aren’t sharp-looking, right?

“Who told you that you had a scary face?”

“No, nothing like that happened.”

I looked at Oniisama’s face.
Maybe Oniisama’s inner-self projected from his face or something, because although it wasn’t too sweet-looking, you could feel the kindness from it.
Whenever I talk to Oniisama, the corners of his mouth curve up a little, and I think that’s part of why he feels so easy to get along with.

“So it’s not just eyes. The mouth is important too.”

I looked at the mirror and smiled.
Yeah. Suspicious-looking.

“I don’t think your face is particularly scary. Although you standing here changing expressions in the mirror is. Anyway, why are you so worried all of a sudden?”

“…There is a girl I would like to get along with, but I get the feeling that she is frightened of me.”

“Hmm~ Is this a girl from school?”

“No, a girl from cram school. I have been trying my best to appear friendly, but the more I try, the more frightened she becomes. I wonder why. Is it because my appearance truly is scary?”

“What kind of girl is she? Depending on what she’s like, your approach should change, right?”

What type?

“Docile, and somewhat ‘small’. But cute like a small animal.”

“Quite different from the girls normally around you, isn’t she. In that case, if you’re too assertive about it, it’s true that she might get scared, huh. How about thinking about if you were in her position?”

If I was in her position?
That girl isn’t plain, but she seems the docile type, so she probably wouldn’t be in the centre of her class.
I get the feeling that the old me would’ve gotten along with her without a problem.
I wasn’t docile, but I had friends like her around me.
In that case, could the old me have become friends with a girl like Kisshouin Reika…?
…No way, huh.
I mean, I doubt our conversation would mesh, and it’d probably get troublesome if an intense ojousama like Reika got angry at me.
Aahh, I guess it’s true that if I didn’t want to become friends with her but Reika continued to forcefully approach me, it would be kind of scary.
Just like how I’m afraid when Stalker Kaburagi approaches me to make me a spy, huh?
But I never went and ambushed her, did I~

“If I cut my hair and wore cheaper clothing, I wonder if she would be less vigilant.”

“I don’t think our parents would ever let you though.”

Yeah~
Okaasama wants me to act like an ojousama from a proper family.
I’m sure she has her own ideas of what I should be like.
But her taste… like this curled hair for example, her taste is pretty classical, huh?
Could it be that she really wants me to become like the Rococo Queen?

“Then whatever should I do?”

“Let’s see. I guess there isn’t any other way except diligently have her understand you, huh? Because you’re an honest, and good girl.”

Oniisama!!

“I understand! I shall do my best!”

“Yeah. You really are honest, aren’t you.”

For the first time in a while, Oniisama rubbed my head.
My mood is on the rise.

I’m impatient to talk to her about Tarow the Taro, but just like Oniisama said, it might be better if I slowly get closer to her.
I’ll learn from Kaburagi’s bad example, and try my very best!

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<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!

---

よいっしょ（yoissho）
(int, vs)(expression of) effort of strain; Yo-heave-ho!

---

“YOISSHOOOOO!”

Lately I’ve been getting the feeling that I’m getting a little chubby, so I decided to exercise each night.
It’s a routine of push-ups, sit-ups, and squats.
And at present, I’m currently tackling a 50-continuous-squats challenge.

“YOISHOOOOOO!”

It’s pretty tough.
I folded my arms behind my head and tried following the diagram, but my legs started shaking in no time.
But this is all a matter of spirit.
Just a little more.

“YOISHOOOOOO!”

You can’t become beautiful overnight.
It’s important that you build up your hard work every day.
Now then, just three more!

“YOISHOOOOOO!”

*imouto*

Phew, I sure worked up a sweat.
I got out of the bath just a while ago, but I’ll probably have a quick shower now too.
Just as I left my room, I bumped into Oniisama.

“Oh my, whatever is the matter, Oniisama?”

For some reason his expression seemed perplexed.

“Well, I think I heard some weird sounds just now.”

“Sounds?”

I didn’t hear a thing though.
Ha-! Could it be a thief? It can’t be a ghost, right?

“Is this house haunted by a ghost?”

Oh gosh, so scary. Even though I’m terrible with ghost stories!

“What should we do, Oniisama? I wanted to go take a shower too. I hear that ghosts always appear in bathrooms.”

Even in horror films, it’s always in the shower room that serial killers attack.
What do I do. Should I just bear with it and go without a shower tonight?”

“I don’t think so. I’ve never heard about a ghost in this house after all. Just relax and have your shower.”

“But~”

“I think the weird sounds were just my imagination. Sorry for scaring you.”

“Truly? If you say so, then I shall believe you.”

“Mn.”

Oniisama gave me a reassuring smile, so I’ll trust him for now.

But maybe Oniisama is tired from all the exam preparation.
His complexion seemed a bit pale.
As his cute little sister, would it be better if I made a midnight snack for him?
I’ve never done any cooking outside of home ec class at school though.
Well, I suppose things like this are more about the feelings of the cook. I’m sure Oniisama will be delighted.
And as for midnight snacks, they’re generally onigiri or ramen?
No, no, that’s too ill-matched with this family.
But something too heavy at night is, you know~?
Should I challenge myself to make zousui rice soup?

Yeah, tomorrow I’ll make sure to talk to our maid about it.

As you’d expect, I was still pretty scared, so I slept with the light on that night.
There weren’t any strange sounds.

*imouto*

*imouto*

*imouto*

We go on excursions every May. This year we’re going to an animal farm.
Before I left, Okaasama warned me to properly cover myself with and reapply sunscreen as she handed it over.
As for the farm, we’re going to be experiencing things like milking cows, or riding a horse, or rafting.

When we arrived, it was a place filled with nature, and the air was clean and fresh!
I found myself taking in large breaths of it.
Occasionally there was the stink of poop though.
When it came to the milking, the sheltered Ojousamas were afraid of the cow’s size, but I excitedly went first.

UOHHHH~ It’s warm!

When I finished, they even said stuff like “Reika-sama is so daring and brave.” and praised me. It’s fun, you know?
There were also goats and sheep and rabbits, and was really peaceful.
I decided I was going to try out every bit of it.

R-, Rabbits are so cute. I wanna keep one!

The rabbits are tempting me with their round eyes, and I seriously wanna take them home with me.

While I fed the carefree goats with feed, I heard cheers from afar.
Wondering what was happening, I looked over to see the dashing figures of Kaburagi and Enjou on horseback.

Perhaps they had experience because both of them were bold and undaunted.
They truly looked like princes on white horses. (The horses weren’t white though.)
The girls made a huge fuss.
It seemed like a number of other students had horseback experience as well, but unfortunately they were completely overshadowed.

“Kaburagi-sama, so dreamy…”

“Like a real prince.”

“Kyaa! Enjou-sama looked this way!”

There were even girls waving at them.
Of course they didn’t wave back though.
Even so, seeing these new sides of them, all the fan girls were in really good moods.
Even the normally poker-faced Kaburagi would occasionally talk to the horse with a smile.
To my great shame, even I felt my heart skip a beat when I saw that.
No good, no good. Animal Magic, how fearsome.

Because everybody spent the morning frolicking with the animals, when meat was brought out for lunch, everybody had difficult expressions.
The cold milk that we squeezed was yummy though.

After that, we spent the afternoon rafting and hiking, and thanks to moving about the whole day, everybody was fast asleep on the bus back.
Because of the spray from the river, my trademark curls are a little frazzled.

I can’t get up anymore…
I just pray that I don’t drool.

*imouto*

*imouto*

But still, that Kaburagi kid and Enjou sure looked cool on horseback.
I’ve also had some experience sitting on a horse as it was pulled along, but I’ll bet riding by yourself like that is much more fun.
When I asked, I found out that Oniisama used to learn horseback riding as well.
Because he’s in the kyudo club, apparently he also did horseback archery.
What the heck! I had no idea!
Even though I’d definitely love to see his gallant horseback archery!

As I was thinking how great it’d be if I could learn too, I tried asking Okaasama, but she said that it would be terrible if girls hurt themselves, and refused.
Hm~mm, what a shame.
I’ve even heard that horse riding was good for dieting.

 

---

<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!

---

Spring came, and I entered Year 5.
In 5th Grade, our classes change around.
Perhaps my desperate prayers worked because I avoided the Kaburagi-Enjou duo again.
My own luckiness terrifies me.
Given that we change class two times, I thought that I would end up in one of their classes at least once. There are only four classes each time after all.
But despite that, I won with a powerful draw!
Aahh, with this, I’ll be able to spend my time peacefully until I graduate from primary.

*imouto*

Now that I was in Year 5, the number of my underclassmen continued to grow, and the number of Enjou and Kaburagi fans grew as well.
As for the girls in our grade, my two followers glare at the younger girls and say stuff like “I would really appreciate it if younger students knew their place, and stopped acting so friendly with Kaburagi-sama and Enjou-sama.”.
Not only that, girls in the same classes as those two had their guards particularly high. Even when some brave underclassman gains the courage to stand outside their class to watch, those girls never let them close. Truly an impenetrable defence.
When I watch all those girls, I start to want to scream ‘Don’t be fooled by their appearances!’.

*imouto*

*imouto*

Fukioka-san started attending cram school.
Even though Akizawa-kun was supposed to have fully explained things, as I thought, she still hadn’t cleared all her misgivings about me.
The girl her self is from an all-girl’s school, so I suppose it can’t be helped that she worries about Akizawa-kun going to a co-ed. It would be better if he was at least in an all-boy’s school, huh?

“Sakurako. Kisshouin-san is the one that suggested you come to cram school, okay? Get along with her.”

“…Good afternoon. Um, thank you for inviting me.”

While quietly holding onto Akizawa-kun’s sleeve, she greeted me.
Mmmmmn. A Japanese-style bishoujo. And with a cuteness that makes you want to protect her, I see.

“Thank you for coming. Isn’t it wonderful that you can spend more time with your beloved Akizawa-kun?”

“Eh-?”

“Hey-, Kisshouin-san!”

Fujioka-san flushed red at my words, but Akizawa-kun flew into a panic.

Give it up already, Akizawa-kun. Being a kind person like you, it’s already impossible for you to escape from her.
If your cute Childhood Friend-chan starts crying in front of you, I doubt you’d be able to leave her.
To begin with, as a fellow girl, it seems to be as though the types that boys like to protect are actually the most stubborn and firm ones, aren’t they.
Although almost none of the boys ever realise it, huh?
Just how many times in my old life had I been used and betrayed by those types…?
No, it’s not like I’m saying Fukioka-san is like that, okay?

*imouto*

*imouto*

Ever since that first greeting on the first day, Akizawa-kun and Fukioka-san have been sitting together, and I’ve been by myself.
Being the kind person that he is, Akizawa-kun invited me to sit with them, but Fukioka-san looked unhappy about that, so I decided to pass on it. I don’t have a hobby of interfering with other people’s romances, okay?
And so, for the first time in a while, I went to the convenience store.
There were new sweets out, so I bought them to try. And while I was at it, I wanted the taste of the plebs, so I bought a nattou roll as well.
Quite a good haul.

It was about time to head back to class, so I had decided to go to the bathroom when I suddenly heard the sounds of girls gossipping.

“Drill Hair got her boyfriend stolen by the new girl, didn’t she?”

“Yeah, yeah. She got dumped, and now she’s all alone.”

“The poor thing~ Isn’t it tough to go to the same class as your ex and his new girlfriend?”

“Right?”

“She’s probably too proud to quit.”

“Well yeah, Drill Hair looks like the proud type.”

“She’s a Zui’ran kid after all~ And she’s even got drill hair, so.”

*imouto*

──What the!?

It looks like that’s how everybody else interpreted what happened.
What completely off-base accusations.

And what’s more, they actually all call me ‘Drill Hair’…?
‘Drill Hair’… At least call me Rococo or Antoinette or something.
Doesn’t ‘drill hair'(JP: vertical roll) sound like the name of some sort of bread?
Uwahh, I’m getting depressed.
I’m not a proud type, you know? I do have drill hair though…

If we’re talking about the Kisshouin Reika in the manga, then she absolutely wouldn’t allow such a rumour, but I don’t have any of the courage needed to march up to them and complain, so I just walked right past the bathroom and went back to class.
When I got home, I binged in stress.

*imouto*

*imouto*

There’s one other thing I should mention about cram school.
Up until now, I’ve only been attending classes for Japanese and maths.
But my grades in science and social studies are starting to become dangerous, so this year I’m attending those classes for cram school as well.
The truth is, I’ve actually been suspicious about these last few years of science and social studies.
When I’m in class, the content makes me wonder if I really actually did this stuff in primary school. Well, of course I probably did. I guess I just totally forgot.
Basically the only thing I remember about science in primary was playing around with magnets and iron sand. Even Orion is basically the only constellation I remember.

Useless…

As for social studies, the merging of cities and towns has been really intense, and the names that come up are all places I’ve never heard of. I don’t know much about the regional specialties of Japan either. Far from it, I don’t even know what prefectures are in the San’in region.
I have nooo idea about the names of rivers. I can’ttt remember the names of fields.
I have no advantage at all over the other kids.

I’ve completely lost all academic advantage from my previous life…

Useless… Old Me, you’re useless!
It’s because you did nothing but relax with sweets everyday as you giggled to yourself reading shoujo manga, you brain-rotten idiot!
Even though you remember all this useless stuff, you forgot everything you learnt at school!
If that brain of yours is only going to remember fujoshi crap like how Tokugawa Iemitsu was a h＊mo, then just have some dignity and forget everything to begin with!

So far I’ve somehow managed by studying by myself and getting Oniisama to tutor me, but the classes are getting harder, and Oniisama is busy with his own studies, which is why I decided to go to cram school for those subjects too.
In my new science and social studies classes, there were a few boys from Zui’ran. But none of them spoke to me like Akizawa-kun did.
Although they seem to be glancing my way for some reason.
Hmph. I bet they’re afraid of my drill hair.

Thinking about it like this, Akizawa-kun was pretty precious.
I only realise it now that I’ve lost him. How blessed I was to have him.
That feels nostalgic to me now.

I’ve been feeling a little sentimental these days.

*imouto*

*imouto*

*imouto*

*imouto*

*imouto*

---

Her final line is written in a style that Japanese diary entries often end with.

---

<Previous Chapter | Imouto | Next Chapter>

The next week at cram school, I asked Akizawa-kun about how Fukioka-san was after that.

“Mmmm, for some reason she seemed awfully conscious of you.”

“I thought so.”

In her position, I’d be interrogating him to the end.

“I think she had some weird misunderstanding about you.”

“A weird misunderstanding? Specifically?”

“She kept asking if I liked you, or if you liked me instead. Ah-! Of course, I denied it, okay!? Because I definitely don’t think that you like me in that way! Sorry if I made you feel bad.”

“No, it is fine.”

I’m not angry. It’s quite often that that’s how it is, after all.

“It looks like Fukioka-san likes you, Akizawa-kun.”

I decided to say it with conviction.

“Ueeeh-!? What the heck are you saying so suddenly. Eh? Eh?”

“Now now, calm down. Well? How about it? Have you noticed her feelings?”

“Feelings? I mean, we’re like siblings…”

“What on earth are you doing saying such tepid things. The fact that Fukioka-san is in love with you is as clear as day. Well, how about it? Are you saying that you have not noticed her feelings?”

Akizawa-kun went silent.

“Even if you fall silent, you shall not escape me.”

“Uu… Aren’t you acting a little differently than usual? Aahh, as for Sakurako liking me, I’m not really sure. I know that she’s fond of me, but it might just be as childhood friends, right? Ah, but in kindergarten she said… Umm, she said that she wanted to marry me, so,”

Cliche.

“And so since then, she has been giving you Valentines chocolate each year. After all, you two are always visiting each other’s homes, correct?”

“Eh-, you could tell?”

“Of course I could tell.”

I’ve seen through it all.

“I suppose that given that your families are close as well, since little, they have been saying things such as ‘It’d be great if these two got married, huh~’ or ‘I wonder if Sakurako-chan would be willing to join our family as a bride~’ ‘My! Please do take her.’ as well?”

“How come you know!? That’s exactly right.”

Of course, of course.

“I can see your future, Akizawa-kun.”

“Eh-, what the heck?”

“In the future, if you marry anybody other than Fukioka-san, the relationship between your Okaasama and your wife will be strained.”

“How come?”

“Your Okaasama has been thinking all these years that it would be good if you married Fukioka-san, whom she dotes on. And Fukioka-san desires this as well. But then, if you brought along some other woman, naturally they would feel unpleased. If Fukioka-san cried in secret, things would be terrible. Your Okaasama would hate your wife.”

“Mum wouldn’t…”

In my past life, on the Thursday night drama I watched, it was terrifying when the guy married a woman his mother didn’t like.

“And so, Akizawa-kun, you must be prepared to choose.”

“Prepared?”

Akizawa-kun turned a little pale.

“In the case that you choose to accept Fukioka-san’s feelings, you must be prepared to eventually marry her someday. At the end of the day, you two are family friends. If the two of you break up midway, things will become extremely awkward. If in the case that you choose not to accept her feelings, then it would be better to say so as soon as possible. If you continue to drag this out, one day…”

“One day?”

“One day it will be a bloodbath.”

Since the teacher arrived, class began.
Akizawa-kun was pale and couldn’t concentrate on class, but I said what I needed to, so I was feeling refreshed now.

It’s definitely not because I’m jealous of his cliched protagonist position, and felt like bullying him a little.

*imouto*

*imouto*

Since then, for some reason Akizawa-kun started consulting me about Fukioka-san.

When they were in kindergarten, his childhood friend Fukioka Sakurako failed the Zui’ran entrance on purpose, and decided to commute to a Catholic-style ojousama school.
Since their families lived nearby, they’ve been close since they were born, and it was the same even in kindergarten, so she wanted to go to the same school as Akizawa-kun, but because Fukioka-san’s okaasama is an alumni of Yurinomiya Girls School, she wanted her daughter to go to the same school no matter what, and so Fukioka-san tearfully gave up on Zui’ran.
But lately, that Fukioka-san has been talking about wanting to join Zui’ran again.
Nine cases out of ten, it’s because of me.
When I met her the other day I thought that she was a graceful and proper Japanese-styled beauty, but when it comes to romance, she seems to be the reckless type.
A female mini-Kaburagi, I guess?

“What am I supposed to do.”

“Let us see…”

Honestly speaking, I have absolutely no experience outside of reading shoujo manga in my past life.
I’m not the type of person who should be giving out romantic advice to others.
Now then, what to do.

“For now, Fukioka-san’s greatest worry would be myself, correct? In that case, what if Fukioka-san attended this cram school as well? After all, the two of us rarely interact at school.”

To be honest, this seems like it’d be even more bothersome, so I actually don’t want her coming here.
But it’s for Akizawa-kun’s sake. Can’t be helped.
So well, I guess if she sees for herself that ‘I’m not a rival, you know~ I’m just a normal friend to him, you know~’ then it’s all good.

*imouto*

Akizawa-kun immediately suggested this to Fukioka-san, and apparently she would be attending come Spring, when we enter 5th grade.
And to Akizawa-kun who hadn’t quite made up his mind, the fact that her Valentines chocolate was even grander this year, was a little scary to him.

As for me, I guess as usual, I was just pulling the noose around my own neck.

 

---

<Previous Chapter | Imouto | Next Chapter>

A stalking-horse character is, in romance stories, the rival used to urge the main characters into a relationship. Or into a deeper relationship. Basically they had no chance to begin with, and were only introduced into the story to push the main couple along. Like um, what was his name? The werewolf dude from Twilight. He had a team, and… Was it Team… Jacob?

Also, sliding dogeza at 5s

---

An ojousama has her own ojousama’s circle of acquaintances.

Myself included, an ojousama has lots of different lessons to go to. And those lessons often have showcases or recitals.
Honestly speaking, I can’t imagine that anybody outside of family would want to watch a bunch of kids dance or perform. But with just family alone, the seats wouldn’t fill up and it wouldn’t look very good, so those in high society often go to each other’s events, which also serve as chances to socialise.
And so, today I went to a violin recital because of that.

Okaasama came with me to the recital, and apparently she hadn’t given up on her dreams of me learning the violin yet, because she asked me stuff like ‘How about you use this opportunity to start learning yourself?’.
No thank you.
At my mother’s strong insistence, I went to a trial classroom once, but the finger that held down the string hurt. There was so much friction that it felt like my fingerprint would burn off. That day I decided that I was a bit too squishy for violin.
Likewise, at my mother’s recommendation, I tried the flute as well, but I still have nightmares about my last life when during the recorder recital I could only blow this pathetic and ridiculous ‘puupiiii~‘ sound from beginning to end and ruined it for everyone, so I’ve got a bit of a trauma about wind instruments now.
When everybody returned to class afterwards and yelled “Who the hell made that sound!?” and began searching for the culprit, I was seriously terrified.
I joined in and made this ‘Ehh~ I don’t know either~’ face, but inside, my heart was pounding. The fact that the kids who sat next to me were tightlipped was the only reason I barely escaped my death.
So when it comes to music, please just give me a break, and let me stay with just piano.

*imouto*

When the recital was over, we headed out to the lobby to hand out bouquets.
While I was waiting, I looked about randomly and spotted somebody surprising.

“Akizawa-kun?”

Just like us, Akizawa-kun was standing there a little distance away with a bouquet in hand.
I told Okaasama that I had a friend here, so I left her and headed over to him.

“Akizawa-kun? Whatever are you doing in a place like this?”

“Eh-, Kisshouin-san!?”

When he turned around, Akizawa-kun was shocked to see me too.

“Why are you here, Kisshouin-san? Umm, today my childhood friend was in the recital, so I came to watch, but what about you?”

“Something similar as well. A friend was performing.”

While we were talking, Okaasama, and a person who seemed to be Akizawa-kun’s okaasama came over.

“Reika-san, who might this gentleman be?”

“Ah-, Okaasama. This is Akizawa-kun. He is in my grade in Zui’ran, and we attend the same cram school, you know.”

“It’s nice to meet you. I’m Akizawa Takumi.”

When Okaasama found out that he was a student at Zui’ran, she smiled happily.
I greeted Akizawa-kun’s okaasama as well.
While our mothers were exchanging greetings, we went back to our own conversation from before.

“By ‘childhood friend’, do you perhaps mean the one that gave you chocolates on Valentines?’

“Ah, that’s the one. To think you’d remember that. She lives in my neighbourhood, so our families have been close since we were little. She’s in the same grade as us, but she’s like a little sister to me.”

“A little sister?”

“Yeah, since we were small she’s always been following me around, and we went to the same kindergarten. When we had to go to different schools, she started bawling. It was terrible, you know. For today too, she told me that I absolutely had to come.”

Akizawa-kun, you…

At that moment, the performers and their families started to enter the lobby.

“Takumi!”

A Japanese-styled beauty with long black hair called out his name, as she trotted over to him.

“Ahh, Sakurako, good job! Your performance was great.”

Akizawa-kun met her with a smile.
When the girl heard his praise, she smiled happily with a flushed face, but the moment she saw me standing next to him, her expression turned bewildered.

“Takumi, who’s this person?”

“Ahh, this is Kisshouin-san. She’s in my cohort at Zui’ran, and we’re in the same class for cram school. Our classes at school are different though.”

‘Right?’ he asked me with an innocent smile.
Seeing that, Childhood Friend-chan started to look sullen.

“And this is the childhood friend I mentioned, Fukioka Sakurako.”

“I am Kisshouin Reika. It is a pleasure.”

“…Fukioka Sakurako.”

Her face clearly says that she isn’t happy to see me.
Aahh, this settles it.

“Takumi, it can’t be that you came with her, right?”

“Nuh uh. Apparently Kisshouin-san’s friend was in the recital as well. We met by chance a little while ago. Right, Kisshouin-san?”

Once again, he smiled at me, at which point Fukioka-san’s expression grew more and more severe.
Ah-, she’s glaring.

“I never heard about any of your friends being female, Takumi. Even though when you talk about them, only male names come up…”

“Really? Well, we basically only ever talk at cram school, so,”

“Are you… close?”

“Ehh~ I wonder about that. We don’t hate each other, right?”

“Eh-? Y-, Yes. That is true.”

Fukioka-san looked sadly at Akizawa-kun.

*imouto*

Oh my god.
I made light of this guy. Even though I thought he was just a loveless, normal primary schooler like me…
To think that he was holding the hidden trump card of all romantic cliches, ‘a sizzling love with a childhood friend’!!
Akizawa-kun who I thought was my comrade in no-romances was actually in a completely different realm to me to begin with.
I should have realised the moment he mentioned the yearly chocolates from her. It wasn’t courtesy chocolates, nor was it friendship chocolates, it was the real damn thing chocolates.
To think that I grouped myself together with a guy who had such a powerful romance card. I want to apologise to Akizawa-kun with a sliding dogeza now.

Apparently Akizawa-kun had no idea why Fukioka-san was upset, and carelessly asked “What’s wrong?”.
Cliche. It’s so cliche. The “romantically slow childhood friend” cliche.
Akizawa-kun, it feels like you’re so far away now…

To Fukioka-san, Akizawa-kun is the childhood friend that she loves, and who has always been by her side, so I guess that makes me the suddenly-appearing villainess rival character.
Even though Kimidol’s protagonist hasn’t even appeared yet, why the heck do I have to be the stalking horse in some random other place?
A sordid love triangle even in primary school? No thank you.

My ojousama companions who invited me appeared in the lobby, so I gratefully used them to retreat.

“Okaasama, Emiri-sama is here. We must hand her the flowers.”

“My, so she has. Well then, Akizawa-sama, I look forward to our next meeting. Well then, please excuse us. We shall be leaving first.”

“Please excuse us, and gokigen’yoh, Akizawa-kun, Fukioka-san.”

“See you at cram school, Kisshouin-san.”

“…Gokigen’yoh.”

I could feel Fukioka-san’s gaze stabbing painfully into my back.

*imouto*

*imouto*

*imouto*

When I left the venue later, it was snowing.
No wonder I felt so cold.

*imouto*

*imouto*

*imouto*

*imouto*

*imouto*

*imouto*

*imouto*

*imouto*

---

<Previous Chapter | Imouto | Next Chapter>

I return from Ze Tian Ji and A Mistaken Marriage Match with more Reika.

Just a note, but strictly speaking, if you’re being polite in Japanese, you refer to a person’s siblings etc. by honorific terms,
e.g. oneesan, imouto-san, otousan, otouto-san etc.

---

The day of the school’s founding anniversary was met with clear blue skies. Perfect for a day at the amusement park.
Being surrounded by three people who each sparkled in their own way, my mood was as good as it gets.

I wanted to get on as many rides as possible, so we arrived just before it opened.
The first rides were naturally the famous rollercoasters. You have to get on the most popular ones before the place gets packed, right?
Apparently some rich kids will hire somebody to stand in line for them, but we lined up ourselves.
Getting somebody to line up for you feels kind of unfair, and it would make all the other visitors unhappy, right?
It was tiring standing there the whole time, but if you spend the time chatting, it’s fun too, isn’t it!

Both the middle schoolers and high schoolers at Zui’ran share the same Pivoine, so although they weren’t particularly close, apparently the three of them had spoken a few times before.
Aira-sama was happily listening to Imari-sama talk about high school.
Thank goodness. Since she didn’t know them very well, I was worried about whether Aira-sama would be bored.
If she’s having fun, then I’m happy too.

The other guests lined up occasionally glance our way.
Aahh, I see. They can’t help themselves because these three are so sparkly, right? I know how they feel.
The three being looked at didn’t seem to enjoy it very much. Please just think of it as providing entertainment for everybody else bored in the line, and allow it.
Having a look around, I found that it was mostly groups of friends, but there was the occasional couple too.
From an objective point of view, do we look kind of like a double date?
When Imari-sama and Aira-sama stand next to each other, they look like an attractive couple. Mn mn.
Then what about Oniisama?
A pitiful person who had no girl to bring to the double date, and so brought along his little sister instead?
Oh no! My Oniisama looks like a hopeless case to people!?
My Oniisama is really popular too, okay!? On Valentines Day he got heaps of chocolates too!
He’s not some sad case who has nobody to invite but his sister, okay!

“Reika, are you thinking about something weird again?”

Oniisama looked my way suspiciously.
What on earth could you be speaking of?

I got on the ride together with Aira-sama.
I mean, it’s common sense that the escort for the Rococo Queen has to be a knight, right!
Imari-sama seemed to have complicated feelings about riding together with a guy, but this is natural.
Also, I need to protect Aira-sama from Imari-sama’s charm!
Hm? Am I being a third wheel?

After having a try at all of the rollercoasters, it was about time to head to the less extreme rides, or so I was thinking when shockingly Imari-sama bought us churros!
Food tasting!
I’ve always wanted to go food tasting!

Happy! Yummy!
Tasting foods from stalls and the like would normally be absolutely forbidden as the young lady of the Kisshouin family.
But it’s okay today! Amazing! I’m so glad I came!
Thanks for buying this, Imari-sama.
As expected of a lady killer who understands what a girl wants! An enemy of womankind! It feels like I might accidentally fall for him.

Aahh, I’m so happy. As I was walking about, nomming with a smile, a group of girls called out to Oniisama and Imari-sama.
Apparently they were high school girls from Zui’ran. Since it’s Zui’ran’s founding anniversary, they probably came to play just like us.

“To think that we would meet Momozono-sama and Kisshouin-sama here at the park!”

“Honestly, Imari-sama, you’re here even though you turned us down when we invited you.”

“You know, I saw Kisshouin-sama when I went to watch the match at the kyudo dojo. He was sooo wonderful.”

“My! I saw it too.”

Amazing. It’s like watching fans who have spotted an idol.
They’re making such a big deal of it.
Aira-sama and I were quietly eating our churros a distance away, while watching to see how things played out.
Could it be that one of these girls was one of the ones who gave Oniisama a Valentines chocolate?
Including courtesy chocolates, each year Oniisama brings back 20~30 of them.
Ah, there are girls whose hearts are captured by Oniisama among them as well.

Alright. Sister-in-law Switch, ON!

“Momozono-sama, Kisshouin-sama, is it just the two of you today?”

“No way. We’re here with Takateru’s imouto-chan and her senpai.”

“His, imouto-sama?”

You notice now, after all this time?

“Gokigen’yoh. I am Kisshouin Takateru’s younger sister, Reika.”

“I’m a second year in the middle school, Minazuki Aira. Please take care of us, Senpais.”

I probably don’t look too great with a churro in one hand, but I greeted them with a smile.

“Goodness! Kisshouin-sama’s imouto-sama!? It is a pleasure to meet you!”

They each began to introduce themselves too.
But although they smiled at me just fine since I was Oniisama’s sister and a primary schooler, the looks they gave Aira-sama were a little harsh.
Did they recognise her as a rival?
But Aira-sama’s enemies are my enemies!
My Sister-in-Law Radar is beeping, you know.
Besides, Aira-sama was introduced as my senpai, so aren’t their judging gazes pretty rude? Well, being a beauty with a dignified bearing, it looks like they’re faltering a little though.
It’s wonderful how Aira-sama isn’t perturbed by anything.
Oh? There are also a few oneesamas who are blushing at Aira-sama. So these are my rivals!?

“Heyy, Momozono-sama, isn’t it fine if you come hang with us a little?”

“Well, I mean we did meet up here after all. Right, Momozono-sama? Kisshouin-sama?”

“Kisshouin-sama really is kind, spending a holiday on an outing with his sister.”

“Kisshouin-sama, have you eaten? Should it please you, we would very much like you to join us.”

“Imari-sama.”

*imouto*

“Sorry, but,”

Oniisama gave a gentle smile,

“I promised that I would spend the day with my sister and her friend Aira-san. I apologise, but could we perhaps do this some other time?”

“Eh-, but…”

“I don’t want my sister to hate me for neglecting her. Sorry about this.”

said Oniisama, with a troubled smile.
It seems that when they saw his face, they couldn’t say anything forceful anymore.

“I don’t want Imouto-chan to hate me either~ Sorry. Cya tomorrow at school.”

“…I understand. It is a shame, though.”

Imari-sama took advantage of Oniisama’s response. I don’t doubt Oniisama’s love for me, but didn’t Imari-sama totally use me as an excuse?
Well, since he treated me to churros, I’ll forgive him I guess.
I thought that the girls might secretly follow us anyway, but it looks like they properly observed etiquette.
And so we went back to enjoying the amusement park.

*imouto*

*imouto*

Since there was a middle schooler and primary schooler in our group, we decided to head back home before it got too dark.
We each had our own cars coming to pick us up, so we said our goodbyes right there.
Oniisama and I both got onto our Kisshouin family’s car.

“Reika, since we’re already outside, do you want to eat out?”

“EHHH!?”

Dinner with just Oniisama!
I definitely wanna go!

“I do!”

“Mn. Then is there anything you want to eat?”

Something I want to eat?
Hm~mm. Since we may as well, I want to eat something simple and plebby. My tongue is starving for the taste of commoner food.
Since it’s Oniisama, he might let me.
Curry rice, pork fried with ginger, grilled fish set meal, ramen…

“Omurice!”

The omurice of a good set-meal shop is yummy.
I’ve had the Kisshouin chef make it a few times, but a normal shop’s omurice is just different, you know?

“Omurice, huh. Got it.”

And then the place I was taken to was the Marunouchi commercial district, and a high class restaurant with a nightview far from anything you’d see in a set-meal shop.
The place was dark, with a weak spot-light for each table, so it was crazy atmospheric.
Huh? This is kind of different from what I was thinking.
The price next to the omurice on the menu was something unimaginable for a former commoner like myself.
S-, So expensive… Even though this was supposed to be a commoner dish.
When they brought in the omurice, the golden egg and demi-glace sauce glittered in the spot lighting. I unconsciously wanted to use honorifics with it.
The flavour was absolutely not plebeian, but it tasted incredible, so I guess this is fine too.

“Speaking of which, you and Imari-sama were quite popular today, weren’t you.”

When I said that, Oniisama looked a little unhappy.

“Leaving you aside, Oniisama, would Imari-sama not have preferred playing with those girls over children like Aira-sama and I?”

“…It’s because Imari has a girlfriend.”

“EEEH!?”

That’s the first I’ve heard of it!

“This is the first time I have heard of it!”

“Well that’s because I didn’t say.”

“Then all the more reason. Would it not have been better to spend the holiday with his girlfriend instead?”

“She goes to a different school, so.”

Oh my god!
To think that Imari-sama had a girlfriend! But well, given how cool and kind he is, it’s not really that surprising I guess.
Aira-sama seemed to be getting along with Imari-sama today, but she definitely hasn’t fallen for him, right?

On the car home, I immediately texted Aira-sama to thank her for today.
And while I was at it, before she could say anything, I made sure to write, “Just now Oniisama told me that Imari-sama has a girlfriend. I was so shocked! I wonder what kind of person she is. Ah, please keep this as a secret between just the two of us, okay? Aira-sama”.
I don’t think it would happen, but if on the off chance that Aira-sama fell for Imari-sama and she confessed to me “The truth is I love Imari-sama” or something, I’d be really troubled.
I love Aira-sama, so I’d hate for things to become awkward between us more than anything.

The reply that came later said, “I heard about this from Imari-sama today, you know? I heard about how their relationship began as well, but would you like to know?” so it turns out I was just totally worrying for nothing.
What the heck am I even doing.

＊いもうと＊

＊いもうと＊

---

“Set-Meal Shop”
Basically a restaurant that specialises in set meals. In most Shokugeki no Souma translations, it’s translated as ‘Special-of-the-Day Shop’ but considering what it is, I decided to go with what I did.

“Marunouchi”

What PIN spot lighting looks like。

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<Previous Chapter | Imouto | Next Chapter>

After I retired from spying, I had almost no contact with those two, and spent my days in peace.
The fact that I was turned into a gopher wasn’t revealed either, and I managed to escape the downfall in hierarchy that I had dreaded.
Actually far from it, there’s this misunderstanding now that “Reika-sama is close enough to that Kaburagi-sama that he would personally rely on her” and I’m even the target off some weird envy.
No, no, we’re not close, I said.
Since then, we’ve almost never spoken, so please don’t look at me with those expectant eyes.

*imouto*

As for Aira-sama, since then we’ve continued to message each other once in a while. What an extravagant mail buddy!
Aside from advice with studying and talks about her middle school life, she also tells me about how Kaburagi and Yurie-sama are doing.

It was also though Aira-sama that I heard about the success of the letter strategy.
With a letter written with all of Kaburagi’s heart, and a cute bouquet arriving every day, Yurie-sama folded pretty  quickly.
Apparently Aira-sama didn’t get to actually read it, but the envelope and writing paper that Yurie-sama showed here were all different varieties, and had cute flowers and animals drawn on them.
It looks like he properly followed my advice.
Since letters about how lonely he was and how hard it was by himself came every day on that cute kind of paper, given that Yurie-sama thought of him as a cute little brother to begin with, apparently her maternal instincts and guilt shook her resolve.

Persuasion by sob story, huh. I’m sure it was Enjou’s idea.

Cunningly, he even wrote about how he wanted to dance with her at this year’s summer party and got a promise from her.
As expected of Enjou. Turning even bad luck into opportunity.

And truly, when it came to the summer party, maybe he was hiding his shyness because his face looked unhappy and he was all red and stuff, but he really did end up dancing with Yurie-sama.
Could it be that he saw my waltz with Oniisama and longed for the same thing?
That he hoped that he could do it one day as well?
Even now, Kaburagi is a little shorter than Yurie-sama, but the difference in their height has shrunk since my dance with Oniisama, so maybe he’s been biding his time.
As for the waltz itself, even if he’s like that he’s still Kaburagi, so he lead Yurie-sama even though he’s just a little primary schooler.
All the Ojousamas were entranced by it.
I just wanted to snort, and chewed on some roast beef instead.

Also, apparently he really did reflect, because Kaburagi’s stalker attitude calmed down as well.
It seems like he’s training himself each day to become more suitable for the older Yurie.
At school, he’s got the same cool poker face as usual, and the girls all squeal and make a fuss, but now that I know his true face, I can’t help but want to tell somebody.
But if I did that, it’d set me straight on the path to destruction, so when I get home I sink my face into my pillow and scream “HE’S ACTUALLY AN IDIOT YOU KNOWWWW!” “AND HE’S ALSO A STALKER YOU KNOWWWW!” “DON’T BE FOOLEDDDD!” to relieve my stress.

*imouto*

And so as days like that passed, one day I suddenly received an email from my (in my mind, at least) mail buddy Aira-sama, inviting me to go out during the school anniversary.

A DATE WITH A KNIGHT!!

Of course I’ll go! No matter what, I’ll go!
Aahh, oh my goodness!
The role of princess is always played by her best friend  Yurie-sama, but for just today I’ll get to be the princess that she protects!?

The maid helped me curl my hair into the usual hairstyle that my mother likes.
She even added a ribbon to the back of my head, and I looked like a fake Rococo Queen. [←Mary Antoinette]
But with this Fake Rococo Queen Hair, isn’t it kind of like that manga I read in my past life? The one about the French revolution, with the beautiful cross dressing female knight, and the tragic queen that she protected?
UKYAAAAAAH!

When I quickly went to brag to Oniisama about my outing with Aira-sama, he said that it was dangerous for just two girls, so he and his friend Imari-sama would be coming along as well.

Aahh, oh my goodness!
Not just Aira-sama, but Oniisama and Imari-sama as well!
Aira-sama in my right and, Imari-sama in my left, and Oniisama at my back! Hah-!? Could this be that situation that’s all the rage in shoujo manga? The so-called reverse harem situation!?
Aahh, my spring has finally…

Momozono Imari-sama has been Oniisama’s friend since primary, and is a splendid person that I’ve had the pleasure of meeting a few times.
The truth is, Imari-sama is actually the one who gave me the idea for the small bouquets.
When Imari-sama comes over to play, he always gives me (his friend’s little sister) a small and cute bouquet, and a few sweets and the like.
As for the sweets, they’re things like honey in a beautiful jar, or a box of assorted flower-shaped chocolates; just things that a girl would very likely appreciate.
Even though he shouldn’t have any sisters, at 11th grade he’s already splendid at dealing with girls, and really seems like the type that trouble will follow.
But he always gives me lots of stuff.
Of course, I do like Imari-sama who’s both kind and somewhat dangerous, you know? Women prefer men with a little danger over a plainly kind and no-risk guy. That’s why I think that in the future, Imari-sama will become an enemy of womankind, and honestly I’m quite looking forw-, …quite worried about him.

Anyway, Imari-sama is a different kind of ikemen to Oniisama.
It’s the same with Enjou and Kaburagi too, but why do hot guys always seem to be friends with other hot guys?
Speaking of which, I wonder who Akizawa-kun is good friends with…
………………
…I think I’d better stop playing innocent while thinking about these no-good ideas.
I mean, Akizawa-kun has big round eyes, and is cute in his own way too, isn’t he.
I love your friendly face, Akizawa-kun!

*imouto*

When I asked Aira-sama whether it was okay for the two of them to come, she happily agreed.
The place we’re going is the most popular amusement park in Japan.
I wonder if everybody will be willing to wear animal-ear headbands with me.
Oniisama seems like he’d definitely hate it.
We’re going on a weekday, but it’ll probably be really packed, huhh… I’d better eat and sleep well so I’m in peak condition for the day.
Just a little bit longer until my bewitching reverse-harem date!

*imouto*

*imouto*

By the way, according to my Aira-sama Intelligence, Kaburagi and Yurie-sama’s school anniversary date (at least that’s what he thinks of it) went splendidly without a hitch.
They went to a museum.
I wouldn’t expect any less.

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<Previous Chapter | Imouto | Next Chapter>

Just as expected, the moment that the hour-long class ended, people began to swarm around my desk.

“What on earth was that, Reika-sama!?”

The first shot was fired by my classmate since year 1 and Follower #1, Serika-chan.

“You’ve never told us that you were close to Kaburagi-sama, you know?”

This too was a classmate since first grade, Follower #2, Kikuno-chan.
Amongst all my followers, these two are the ones known as the closest to me, and at times like these, they’re the first to speak up.

“Please calm down, everybody. Kaburagi-sama and I are not particularly close.”

“But for Kaburagi-sama to go out of his way to meet with a girl is,”

“The truth is, I have been entrusted with a certain matter, and we were simply discussing it, all right?”

“A certain matter? What kind of matter?”

“That is, something I do not have the right to talk about…”

At that moment, a sudden chorus of squeals came from around the door to our classroom.

“Kisshouin-san, are you in?”

“ENJOU-SAMAAA!”

The girls around me began kicking up a fuss about him.

What the heck is this guy here for…

“Ah, there you are, Kisshouin-san. About our conversation with Masaya from earlier, when you’re finished with lunch, come to the Pivoine salon, okay?”

That line just caused a bigger fuss.
Aahh, my days of peace are…

“U-, Umm, Enjou-sama? Is it true that Reika-sama has been entrusted something by Kaburagi-sama?”

“Aah, mn. That’s right.”

Again with the squeals and cheers.

“What is it that she’s been entrusted with?”

“Sorry, but I can’t really say. If you girls pry too much, Masaya will get angry, you know? Won’t that be bad? Kisshouin-san is keeping quiet too, see?”

“Indeed.”

“See you later then,” smiled Enjou, before leaving the classroom.
Although the girls were still excited from Enjou’s sudden visit, his mention that Kaburagi Masaya would get angry at their prying stopped them from doing anything more, even though they would have happily hounded me otherwise.

Did that guy come to visit me during our short period-break just to tell me to come to the salon?
Hm~mm. Could it be that he knew that people would hound me about my relationship with Kaburagi, and came here to cover for me?
Hmm, is he really nice enough to do that?
But in the manga, he always casually covered for the protagonist, didn’t he. I guess that means he has it in him.

Hmmmmm…

Well, either way it’s fine.
With this, perhaps even the girls who heard me become a gopher will keep quiet too.
To begin with, those guys began all this, so covering for me this much is a given!

*imouto*

*imouto*

At lunch break, I was too afraid of what might happen if I didn’t go, so although I was reluctant from the depths of my heart, I headed to the salon.

Emperor was sitting cockily on his special seat as usual.
Isn’t he pretty energetic compared to last week?
Even though it would have been great if he just stayed a husk like that…

“Too slow!”

Honestly, I’m just not going to comment anymore…

“Kisshouin-san, how about you sit down for now?”

“Enjou-sama, thank you very much for following up earlier.”

Hearing my words, Enjou replied with a smile.
Hm~mm, so that really was his aim.
Not that I’m really grateful though.

“Oi, what are you guys on about?”

“Nothing. More importantly, aren’t we here to discuss what you’re gunna do?”

“Oh yeah! What do I do to convince Yurie that I’ve reflected?”

You’re seriously relying on others for this?

“How about you start with what you think, Masaya?”

“I think that in order to convey my feelings to Yurie, I should visit her each day to apologise!”

A STALKER’S IDEA!!
This guy hasn’t reflected at all, has he?

“Masaya, I think that would have the opposite effect.”

“WHY!?”

He’s so stupid that it’s almost refreshing.

“Then what do you think I should do!?”

“Don’t contact her at all until it all dies down, and then quietly wait for forgiveness.”

“VETOED!”

Well, it’s true that Stalker-kun here wouldn’t be able to handle it.

“Alright then. Spy! What do you think?”

Honestly, please just stop with that name already.

“Kaburagi-sama, my name is Kisshouin Reika. Please desist with the ‘spy’.”

It would be the absolute worst if he called me that in public.

“That’s right, Masaya. She’s helping you with advice, so at least use her name properly.”

“Hmph.”

He suuure has a crappy attitude.
Well, I already know he was this type of person though.

“Well? Do you have a good idea or not?”

He flicked his chin to prompt me.
Tsk…

“I suggest that you write a letter each day.”

“Letter?”

Right, a letter.
Although I think that Enjou’s idea of behaving quietly for a while is best, this ‘earnest guy’ (read: stalker) wouldn’t be able to bear it.

“How much you have reflected for example, or what you think of the situation and the like. Well, what they call a reflection essay, I suppose. I believe that a message through your phone would feel too impersonal, and would not convey your feelings as well. For that reason, a handwritten letter would be best. Write a letter that conveys your feelings to Yurie-sama. Since ancient times, Japan has always had the tradition of romances that begin with a love letter.”

“Is that true!?”

Well, who knows.

“Please write it carefully and wholeheartedly. Choose paper and an envelope that you think Yurie-sama would like. Doing things this way will also serve as a way to show that you are thinking of her feelings without impressing your own on her. Perhaps a small bouquet from time to time would also be appropriate. And never, ever send a large one.”

“Why? If I’m going to show my feelings for her, bigger would be better, right?”

“That would be too pushy. A smaller bouquet is a way of expressing your first love as a junior. Appeal to Yurie-sama’s feelings.”

“F-, First love!?”

“What are you saying after all this time? The entire school is aware. More importantly, once school ends today, please immediately go shopping for a letter-writing set.”

Kaburagi turned red and sputtered for a moment at the words ‘first love’, but he eventually pulled himself back together and said,

“Alright! I’ll use your suggestion! After school we’re going shopping for a letter set! You two know your jobs, right!”

Eh-, what the heck is he on about?

“I will not be going.”

“Hah? Why?”

That’s what I should be asking. Why the heck do I have to go?

“I have lessons after school. And in addition, Kaburagi-sama? I believe it was written in my report earlier. “He will swear not to get other people wrapped up for Yurie-sama’s sake.” If you involve me in this matter, Yurie-sama will become angry again.”

After falling silent for a while, Kaburagi replied,

“…Got it. Good work.”

“Yes. Well then, I take my leave. Gokigen’yoh.”

I flashed a smile, and left the salon.

*imouto*

*imouto*

*imouto*

Afterwards, the letter strategy was a success, and feeling moved, Yurie-sama apparently forgave him.

The strategy succeeded without a hitch.
In the end I retired from my life as a spy, and returned to being just a normal girl.
Please don’t look for me.

*imouto*

*imouto*

*imouto*

 

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