/
Chapter 123
Chapter 4 — Sleep, until your life is over • Episode 4–1 — Succubus ③
Translated by KaiesV
Edited by KaiesV
After lunch and some time had passed, Futaba started talking about going to the elementary school as I had expected. She’ll drop me off and pick me up for a while or something, I’m not a preschooler.
As is the case every time, attending elementary school wasn’t even an option for me, so I simply said yes and let it go. I don’t remember asking for any particular delivery, but someone took advantage of the opportunity to break off the conversation and start pressing the intercom button. I don’t know who you are, but for once I’ll forgive you for soliciting or whatever. Of course, I’m not going to take you seriously.
With this in mind, I turned my gaze to the video and saw Elephant-san.
「E—— no, not that.」
For a moment I almost said out loud, Elephant-san, but Futaba is here too. I don’t think that a former Magical Girl, even if she’s a former Magical Girl, can get out of the effects of cognitive blockage just by hearing her name, but there is no need to take unnecessary risks.
「Chisaki-san, what’s going on?」
『Ehehe, I came.』
I asked her in a slightly hushed voice, partly because I had been thinking about the incident earlier, to which she replied shyly. She’s cute.
Wait, that’s not it, I’m sure that there was no notice that she was coming to visit me today, but I wonder if she meant that she came without an appointment. I don’t mind at all if I’m dealing with Chisaki-san, but today’s a bit…
「Please wait there.」
『Okay.』
I turned off the intercom and wondered what I should do. It’s out of the question to let “Chisaki-san” go home, but there is a guest in front of me. Should I send Futaba away? No, it’s a little depressing in some ways that she talks about school endlessly, but that’s just because she’s thinking of me. It hurts my conscience to send her home to get rid of her.
「Umumu…」
「What’s up, Ryō-chan? You have a visitor?」
「Ah, no, my friend was here.」
「Oh, is that so? Then we’ll have to let them in quickly. Mmph, I could have bought you some tea cakes or something if you had told me ahead of time.」
I didn’t know Chisaki-san was coming today either, and Futaba was heading for the entrance faster than I could defend myself. No, why is Futaba trying to go out!? When asked, I answered honestly that I had friends over, but that’s my role, even if I just invite them in, you know!?
I hurriedly followed Futaba and found that she and Chisaki had already started some kind of conversation at the entrance.
「Welcome. Huh, I think, you’re from the last time…」
「Errm, you’re Ryō-chan’s li—— aunt, Futaba-san, am I right? Nice to meet you, I am Kisayama Chisaki, a friend of Ryō-chan. I’m sorry for suddenly coming to visit.」
「Don’t worry about it at all. I’m rather happy to see Ryō-chan’s friend. Come on, head in.」
「Excuse me. I know this is small, but please eat it with Ryō-chan if you like.」
「Not at all, you don’t have to worry about that. I’m sorry I wasn’t prepared for your hospitality.」
How is the conversation is going on in a crazy smooth and harmonious way!?
Ehh, you two have never met before, you’ve just seen each other a little before, right? What am I, the one who was worried that it would be awkward for my family and friends to run into each other? Is this what usually happens when friends come over to your house for a visit…?
「Oh, Ryō-chan, I’m sorry I came out of nowhere. I hope I didn’t bother you.」
「No, don’t worry, you’re not a nuisance, not at all…」
Normally, I would’ve responded emphatically, “That’s nothing to worry about, please come by anytime.” However, since the incident the other day, I’ve been feeling a little awkward and cannot look “Chisaki-san” directly in the eye. Perhaps because of this, my words were halting, and I could only answer as I looked away.
So I led Chisaki-san to the living room, and while Futaba was preparing tea and tea cakes in the kitchen, I was alone with Chisaki-san for a little while. Come to think of it, this is the first time since that day that we are alone together like this, and I am even more aware of it. So I noticed it a little later than usual, but when I suddenly felt uncomfortable and took a closer look at Chisaki-san’s attire, I noticed a different atmosphere than usual.
「…Hmm? Chisaki-san, are you feeling somewhat different from usual today?」
「Ah, you noticed. I’m glad. I’m learning a little bit about makeup and fashion from Press.」
She described a neat and tidy coordinating white lace shirt with a cream knit vest over it and a chocolate-colored, checked long skirt, pale peach lips and white gradient nails, but I had no idea what she’s talking about. Is it a spell? But I don’t understand it.
「Umm, it suits you very well. I think it’s cute.」
「～! Thanks, Ryō-chan! Even you, Ryō-chan～! You’re also cute!」
「W–We’re too attached! Please move away!」
「Eh, Ryō-chan’s a bummer～ A little bit is just alright.」
As if moved to tears, Chisaki-san hugged me and began to touch my body, saying that she liked me in the confusion. I’m not alright when Chisaki-san does that, since I just thought that I couldn’t respond to her feelings, I should not this in a casual way.
When I managed to pull it off, Chisaki’s cheeks puffed up and she let out a protest.
「You two are so close. Here you go. Chisaki-san brought these macaroons, so thank her, Ryō-chan!」
「Thank you for everything. You don’t have to go out of your way to come to my house and bring me a gift, do you?」
「I’m bringing it because I like it, so you don’t have to worry about it, Ryō-chan. Thank you, Futaba-san. I’m sorry I didn’t even help you.」
「I can’t let a visitor help me. You’re a good and caring girl, Chisaki-chan. I feel a bit relieved that Ryō-chan has a friend like Chisaki-chan.」
I really wish you wouldn’t do that. Chisaki-san knows that Futaba is my sister. What a shameful play this is, to be made to look like a younger sister by my younger sister in front of such a person. And Futaba, what are you doing coming into the conversation so naturally? I thought that you had brought Chisaki-san home, which means that Futaba was going home, but what are you doing? No, I’m grateful for that, because that would be awkward if I were alone with Chisaki, but… what should I do…
I mean, I was so swept up in the hectic developments that I forgot to ask, but what did she come to my house for today? It’s perfectly fine for her to come visit me suddenly, but she seems to have a little more baggage than usual.
「Ah, I didn’t mention that. I thought Ryō-chan will let me enjoy dressing her up today, mine and Pr—— Nhhn, I brought some of my friend’s clothes from when she was little that she no longer needed, and a few other things.」
When Chisaki-san noticed my gaze, she was about to mention Press-san’s name as she explained, but then she realized Futaba was there and coughed once before rephrasing her statement. Wait, I’m going to dress up…?
「No, I’m——」
「Chisaki-san, that’s a nice idea. Ryō-chan, you didn’t even use the nail polish I gave you last time, did you? It’s a great opportunity, why don’t you give it a try? It will be fun if you try it!」
「Futaba-san has now approved this, and I’d like to dress up and see you become even prettier, Ryō-chan. Is it not possible?」
Aside from Futaba, who interrupted me and was mysteriously getting more animated, there was no way I could refuse Chisaki-san’s request with such an anxious look on her face. I don’t like the idea at all, but if Chisaki-san is happy with it, I’ll put up with it for a little bit.
.
At first, Chisaki-san led me in a navy off-the-shoulder style top and white shorts, with my hair tied back in a bun for a cool and clean look. The nail polish that looked like a toy could not reproduce it perfectly, but it was a nail polish with a white gradation toward the tip of the nail, just like Chisaki-san’s.
「You’re so cute, Ryō-chan! Look over here!」
「I think this is too cute, too dangerous, and a little too revealing.」
The second time, Futaba, made me wear a knee-length white long knit one-piece, pale peach knee-high socks, and my hair was tied into two pigtails and hung down in the front. She decided not to play with my nails any more, lest she damage them.
「Super cute, Ryō-chan! Smile, smile!」
「Hmmm, but it seems a little too childish for the more mature Ryō-chan.」
It seemed that Chisaki-san was in charge again this time, made me wear a gray flared long skirt and a pastel green knit, with my hair down, in a chic dress pattern.
「It looks good on cool Ryō-chan! Turn your eyes toward me～!」
「It’s consistent with her hair color, but I think… it’s too tall, no matter how mature Ryō-chan is.」
As if it was her turn, Futaba chose a frilly chocolate-colored top and a gray-checked flared mini-skirt, a cute girly dress pattern.
「Ryō-chan, you look like a model! You look good in anything you wear!」
「I should have brought a hair iron and other accessories. Ryō-chan’s potential is not yet like this.」
After that, the two of them continued to get excited, as if they were leaving me behind, who had turned into a dress-up doll with a pouty expression on my face. It’s a complicated feeling, but I’d rather they hit it off with each other than have things turn sour. I thought so and held back for a while, but when they put me in a light blue apron dress and what looked like a maid’s outfit, I reached my limit.
「This is not dressup, it’s cosplay! Please stop being so evil!」
「Ah, s–sorry, Ryō-chan. I didn’t mean to offend you, but everything we dress you is really cute, so we just went for it.」
「Yes, Futaba-san is right! Ryō-chan’s cuteness is a crime of the highest order!」
「…At least, Chisaki-san also brought it herself, so you were planning to have her cosplay from the beginning, right?」
「T–T–T–That’s not true! It’s just a coincidence that it got mixed up.」
「Ah, I’m going to go clean up the dishes.」
She’s in a mess, her eyes are swimming, and there’s no way she could have mixed up such a perfect size outfit by accident. It was too much of an unreasonable excuse. Then Futaba sensed my moodiness and ran away.
「Anyway, that’s enough. Please feel the same way about the person who is being made into a dress-up doll.」
「Oh, wait a second, Ryō-chan. Can you try this one last thing?」
「Eh, wai——」
Before I could argue with her, she came up to me and gently grabbed my chin with her index finger and thumb and made me turn my head up. It was something that wasn’t at all forceful, something that I could resist if I tried, but the fact that my face and Chisaki-san’s face were so close together made me freeze involuntarily, and then she smeared something on my lips. It felt soooo good.
「…The lip balm, you say.」
「Yes, yes, the same colored lip I’m wearing. Look? Aren’t you pretty now?」
When I was handed a mirror, I could understand that my lips were a glossy pale peach color. However, I had no room at all to make any kind of impression on them.
「N–Now, you’re i–i–indirect…」
「We’re just a couple of girls. She won’t care, she won’t care about us.」
「Urk～! I do mind it, I am,」
「Shh—」
I was about to say so impulsively, because I am a man, when Chisaki-san’s index finger was placed on my mouth and I stopped myself.
「It’s a secret, okay? Just the two of us, get it?」
Chisaki smiled mischievously and said that fairies don’t count.
I shouldn’t be able to respond to the feelings, but I had to say no, and one day we would have to be apart, but my heart was beating strangely and violently like that day, and I couldn’t say it out on this day.