'You'd better really just be joking.'
Kaito sighed and gave her a helpless look but didn't say more. He turned back and continued walking.
Getting away with it again, Anon let out a breath, raised a smug little smile, and lightly followed behind, stepping on his shadow with the tips of her toes.
It was a childish game, but she never got tired of it.
Until this long yet short journey was about to end, the outline of a familiar building could already be seen in the distance.
The girl stopped and looked up at the twinkling stars in the sky.
It was a beautiful night, the stars shone brightly, and even the moonlight was gentle.
It made people want to say things that had been buried in their hearts for a long time.
"Kaito, have you read Night on the Galactic Railroad?", she asked.
Night on the Galactic Railroad was a national-level work in Japan. The author, Kenji Miyazawa, was known as the "Andersen of Japan." Though it was a fairytale, many famous game developers and literary writers had been deeply influenced by it. Kaito nodded. [T/N: It's a real book and below statements are facts, not made up by the author.]
"In the story, there are two boys named Giovanni and Campanella. They boarded the galactic train trying to reach a place called Southern Cross constellation. It's said to be the only way to get to Heaven."
The summer night breeze brushed gently like a mother's soft caress. Anon clasped her hands behind her back, stepped ahead of his shadow, and her little leather shoes kicked pebbles by the roadside, the sound scattered in the wind.
"They chatted together, looked at the scenery outside the window, told the story of the 'Scorpion Fire.' Even when the train was arriving at the station, they were reluctant to say goodbye."
"But in the end, they still got off at Southern Cross Station, because only from there could they go to Heaven, where their mom and dad were."
As if sensing something. Kaito remained silent for a while. He didn't interrupt. He just quietly listened to the girl tell a story whose ending he already knew.
"I really liked the theme song from the movie version. That song was called One Night, but I didn't get the chance to sing it earlier," She gently hummed the melody.
"()()()
Just want to deliver the moment the melody plays
()()()()
Like gently wrapping a small hand
()()?
If you're by my side, will the wind keep blowing?"
The girl stopped, looked back, and stuck out her tongue playfully,
"I haven't sung that in so long,how was it? I didn't go off-key, right?"
Kaito paused for a moment, then said, "You pronounced three English words wrong."
"This isn't the time to be that picky!", Anon pretended to stomp on his shoes but ended up bursting out laughing.
She walked along the white road edge, like a lively little deer stepping across moonlit piano keys.
"Kaito, did you know?", The girl stood gracefully, her hair and skirt fluttering together in the wind like a blooming flower.
"There's a galactic train in my heart too, and you are the only Southern Cross Station."
At the moment she suddenly turned around, countless fireflies rose from her eyes, reflecting a dazzling and bright smile, her cute little canine tooth peeking out.
'So only by staying beside you, can it be called Heaven.'
[ Shoutout to Adbiel, Marcus & Karn for joining patreon. Thank you very much.]
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Chapter 250: The Moon is Very Bright, But It's Useless, Yet Still Bright
"Kaito, I like you."
Turns out, saying these four words was even easier than imagined.
No blushing or racing heartbeat, no hesitation or wavering, the girl was simply stating a fact. I said it, and you heard it, that's enough. Straightforward, like a nail being driven into wood.
Kaito was silent for a moment.
Anon's confession was completely outside his expectations. Perhaps it was because the atmosphere earlier had been just right, or perhaps because of that one-minute-long kiss.
In any case, the friendship that the pink-haired girl had for him seemed to have undergone a subtle transformation.
Just like a certain Miss Kita who didn't want her name revealed, and a certain great angel of Shimokitazawa who followed her example.
Every time this happened, Kaito couldn't help but miss a certain blue-haired friend from the past.
'I miss you, Trash Ryou.'
Only good at sweet talk, but her body was more honest than anyone's. She had been the last barrier of the Sesshoku Band, and even after so long, she had never made a move on him. Greatness needs no explanation.
But there was no time to reminisce about Trash Ryou now. The pressing issue was how to deal with Anon's confession.
As the old saying goes: too much debt and you stop worrying.
Emotional debts are debts too.
The first time friendship turned into something else, his mindset was still stuck in that complicated feeling of "I saw you as a friend, but you want to sleep with me?"
But this was already the third time.
Kita, Nijika, and now, the Anon standing in front of him.
From surprise, to helplessness, to getting used to it.
While he couldn't say he was fully experienced, Kaito was no longer a greenhorn. What kind of scene hadn't he seen?
He didn't dislike Anon. Otherwise, he wouldn't have done that kind of intimate gesture, one that only happens between couples, in the karaoke room.
But Anon didn't really understand him. If they were just friends, that'd be one thing. But now that their relationship was about to change, the girl had the right to know certain facts.
He opened his mouth, about to say something, but was stopped by a slender finger pressing against his lips.
"This isn't a confession. I just wanted to say,".The girl in front of him stared at him intently, word by word, "There's a girl named Chihaya Anon who likes you, who wants to be with you forever. That's all."
"So," she actually smiled lightly, "No matter what your answer is, she will continue to like you, to chase you, until she's with you."
If a boy were to say these words, it would undoubtedly be the ultimate stalker declaration.
But from her mouth, it only felt pure and passionate.
The night breeze lifted the girl's cherry-pink long hair. Her gray eyes under the streetlamp were both stubborn and bright.
Then, she turned around, waved, and walked away without hesitation.
"Good night. Also, see you tomorrow."
Moonlight adorned the path before her. The girl's light skirt fluttered in the wind.
Love is a matter for two people, but liking someone can be a matter of one.
Just like tonight's moon, bright but useless, useless yet still bright.
Just like I like you, useless, but I still like you.
The night was thick like ink.
Sitting on the last train home, Kaito lowered his head, quietly reading the messages on his phone.
[Chihaya Anon: I'm home already!]
[Chihaya Anon: Today was really fun. Even though I already said it once, I still want to say, thank you for coming with me.]
[Chihaya Anon: Kaito, love~]
Though she had said similar things jokingly before, his mindset then was completely different from now.
All he could say was, after confessing, this girl wasn't even pretending anymore.
Kaito sighed.
First time unfamiliar, second time familiar, he didn't feel anything extra, just a bit dumbfounded.
Anon chose the same tactic as Kita, a one-sided confession, not waiting for his reply, then freely walking away.
Only, she was bolder and braver than Kita.
That confession, rather than a confession, it was more like a declaration of war.
This war called "love" had been started by her own hands, destined to end with one side's surrender.
[Thirty Minutes Later]
"Onii-chan, you're so late today! You're a full fourteen minutes and twenty-seven seconds past the promised time!"
Back home, just stepping into the living room, Mortis, who was curled up on the sofa watching TV, flew into his arms, cheeks puffed like an angry matcha kitten.
"Sorry, something unexpected came up," Kaito wasn't surprised. He peeled the clinging little girl off him and casually smoothed her hair, "Next time I won't be late, I promise."
"Fine, then I'll reluctantly forgive you," Mortis rubbed into his chest again. Her pert little nose twitched suddenly, smelling a faint cherry blossom scent.
The smell was unfamiliar, not the refreshing scent from Soyo, nor the lily-of-the-valley scent from herself or Mutsumi, and definitely not the gardenia fragrance from Sakiko's favorite body wash.
Cheating Cat Radar went full alert, screaming inside her head.
Mortis narrowed her eyes cautiously, "Onii-chan, today were you with a strange girl?"
'You can guess that?'
Kaito was surprised, but didn't think much, "I already told you and Mutsumi yesterday, I had things to do today. What's the problem?"
'Of course there's a problem!'
She had thought her brother's "things to do" meant exorcism requests or other proper business.
Who knew it was going on a date with a cheating cat outside.
For the scent to stick, she didn't even want to imagine how close they must have been.
Mortis was heartbroken, "Abandoning two helpless sisters at home to go on a date with some wicked woman! Are me and Mutsumi not enough for you?"
"Stupid Onii-chan! Bottom-feeder! Bottom-feeder!"
Kaito: ""
'Who is this goblin girl? Where is my sweet and well-behaved sister?'
He glanced at Mutsumi, who was quietly watching their antics from the side.
'Alright, the well-behaved sister is here.'
As for this one, who had no respect for her brother
"Have I been too gentle in the past, or have you hit your rebellious phase, Mortis?"
"Is Onii-chan going to punish me?"
Mortis puffed out her chest and said righteously, "Even if you spank me over your lap, you can't change the fact you abandoned your sisters for an outside woman!"
Kaito: ""
'Before saying something like that, can you at least hide the anticipation in your eyes?'
Punishment only means something when one party is unwilling. If it's exactly what the other person wants, that's not punishment, that's a reward.
He had no interest in playing this game of admiration-based punishment.
So
"Recently, Mizuho-san and I have been discussing the matter of enrolling you in school."
Kaito said blandly, "I originally planned to let you adapt to modern life a little longer, but seeing how energetic you are, I think you're ready to start a new chapter."
Mortis turned pale.
For most kids, school was definitely one of the top three most hated things, especially for playful ones.
She had just recently gotten a body. Every day was full of sleeping, playing, and cuddling with her brother, it was paradise. Only a lunatic would want to go to school now.
"I'm sorry, I was too loud just now," The goblin girl disappeared in an instant, replaced by the soft and docile Mortis, lowering her head and admitting fault without a shred of backbone.
Anyway, she was going to be her brother's future wife. Bowing to her husband didn't count as bowing, that was what you called a Yamato Nadeshiko.
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Chapter 251: Understanding and Considerate Mortis
In the previous second, she was still arrogantly calling him "trash fish onii-chan," and in the next second, she immediately shifted on rails at light speed, there wasn't even a need for a transition.
Kaito looked at the heroic cucumber Mortis in front of him, the corner of his mouth imperceptibly hooked up, "I still prefer the rebellious look you had just now. Can you go back to that?"
"No way~",.The green-haired girl flatteringly leaned forward to massage his shoulders, all the while pledging loyalty with utmost sincerity, "There is no second sun in the sky; in my heart, there is forever only one sun, Onii-chan!"
Ten jade-like slender, nimble fingers kneaded his shoulders back and forth, soft and gentle, unfortunately the strength was too little. It felt more like she was just scratching an itch.
"That's enough," Kaito didn't allow her to continue touching him. After briefly experiencing the massage service from his little sister, he slapped her hands away, "I've been outside for a while today. I'm a bit tired. I'll go take a bath first."
'There's a benefit like that?'
Mortis's golden eyes spun around, then she raised her hand seriously, "Just so happens, I also exercised all day and sweated a lot. Let's bathe together! I can also help you scrub your back!"
"You're too noisy, no," Kaito ruthlessly rejected her suggestion. For him, taking a bath was a way to mentally relax. But if he added a restless Mortis into the mix, it would become torture. If it were the quieter Mutsumi, it might barely be acceptable.
'How hateful!'
"In what way am I noisy?", Mortis puffed up angrily at him. When this girl got angry, she looked like a puffed-up pufferfish, her fair little face puffed like a bun, making people really want to reach out and poke it.
One could only say that Mutsumi's body appearance was really top-model level. Even the little Mortis who shared that face was extremely cute. Kaito couldn't resist rubbing her little cheeks and subconsciously used the same petting-cat technique he used on Kirara.
"Then let me put it another way, you're too lively."
Mortis was originally quite unhappy. If the one standing here had been Soyo and she had made the same suggestion to bathe together, she definitely wouldn't have been rejected by Onii-chan. The scariest thing is comparison, both had two arms and two legs. If Soyo could do it, why couldn't she? Where exactly was she inferior to Soyo?
'Stupid onii-chan even guards against his little sister! Truly outrageous! Obviously the brother-sister pairing is the best one to ship. People who don't read siscon doujins when reading doujins, and don't pick the little sister route when playing galgames, are like people who read the Harry Potter but skip Goblet of Fire, they forget the beginning, forget the middle, forget the end, and are destined to live a failed life.
But
All of the girl's grumbling resentment disappeared entirely under her brother's skilled petting technique. Feeling the warmth on her cheeks, Mortis's little face uncontrollably turned red. Her heart thumped wildly, but she still tried to maintain her aura and keep herself from melting into this warmth.
