Chapter 457
Graduation Ceremony
Author’s Note: I’m veeery sorry for the long wit! The update is resuming from today. Please enjoy this last arc!
The back of his eyelids was red. His consciousness was hazy, even so he understood that his body was stiff with sweat covering it.
His body wouldn’t move like he wanted it.
A strange sense of uneasiness was whirling inside his chest. While his consciousness was approaching wakefulness, he finally could even feel the pain of his neck, a vital spot getting pierced──
「……tsu!?」
Hajime sprang up in a flash. He looked around while breathing slightly roughly.
*Slid* From his neck──Yue slid down. From Hajime’s chest until his stomach. She sensually licked off the blood at the corner of her peach colored lips.
In addition, when he looked at his left arm that he couldn’t move, there was Shia hugging it tightly, while his right hand was completely buried into Tio’s twin mountains.
*Chirp chirp* The energetic sparrow’s chirping was mixed with the sunlight that was shining in from the gap of the opaque curtain.
It seemed that the weather today was really good.
「I see.」
Hajime’s shoulders dropped as he reached an understanding.
No wonder that his body couldn’t move. He should be sleeping alone last night, but apparently these three then slept together with him and held him tightly in place without him realizing it.
The redness of his eyelids were because the sunlight unluckily shined down directly on his face. And there was no need to mention about the pain in his neck. It was from Yue’s half-asleep neck sucking.
「She had a great d.a.m.n time chewing there.」
Most likely she was sleeping face down on top of Hajime while clinging on his neck. It made him wanted to say to her 「It’s absolutely hard to sleep in that posture isn’t it?」 in exasperation.
Yue who was puckering her lips looked truly happy. It seemed that she really had her fill of the taste of Hajime’s blood.
He nonchalantly dropped Tio outside the bed and freed his right arm. He completely ignored the strange scream 「Dabadah!?」 and flicked Yue’s forehead with his finger.
「……Nnu……?」
She fretted like a baby while her hands wandered around……
「Ou!? Wait d.a.m.n you!」
She unconsciously grabbed a certain rod that was right nearby in a tight hold. Then her mouth opened wide Aa~~~~ in preparation to suck once more.
This was really bad. Extremely terrifying. It was only at this time that Yue’s protruding tooth stopped being her charm point and transformed into a wicked weapon.
Hajime freed his left arm too from Shia forcefully in panic. He ignored the 「Fugya!?」 scream and held up Yue with both his hands. Just a moment later Yue’s protruding teeth snapped close on empty air.
「T-that was closeee……my blood flow is rushing back the first thing in the morning.」
「Nna? ……Nnu, Hajimee? Morniiing」
As expected Yue-san seemed to wake up from all the movement. She smiled sleepily. She had not the slightest idea of the fiendish deed that she was just about to commit a moment ago as she radiated such angelic loveliness.
Hajime sighed. He smiled wryly at Yue who was tilting her head 「Nn?」 in puzzlement while greeting her back 「Good morning」. Then Hajime moved his gaze to the calendar inside his room.
「Sheesh. What a way to start the day, even though this day is an important turning point in a way.」
There was a red circle drawn on the calendar. That red circle was surrounding the words “graduation day”.
Yes, it was several months after the shocking incident that revolved around the “Dragon” and onmyouji.
Today was the day of high school graduation ceremony.
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「Geez! Really papa, you were doing perverted thing even in this kind of day nano!?」
「I didn’t. Or rather, I don’t want to get asked something like that by my daughter.」
Hajime already changed into his uniform and finished his preparation to go to school, but his expression was becoming really awkward while he was sitting beside the dining table.
Myuu was in bad temper. She was sitting at the opposite side of the table while crossing her arms and glaring sharply at him like a parent who was going to give a lecture.
「Why didn’t you call Myuu and mama too nano!」
「You’re angry for completely the wrong point there. Also, I didn’t call for them. They just trespa.s.sed as they pleased.」
「There was no way papa didn’t notice them coming in nano. In other words, this is the so called tacit understanding nano! And yet papa called it them doing as they pleased, horrible! Man is always like that! What do you think girl is nano!」
「Remiaaa! Myuu has learned some strange words again!」
「M-my my……those words shouldn’t come from soap opera you know? After all I only watched them when Myuu wasn’t home. I’m not lying. It’s true.」
Remia who was helping with breakfast preparation looked out to the dining room and denied any involvement. Though it was a bit suspicious with the way she was insisting it like that……
Also, it seemed that Remia-san was recording the show while Myuu was home. Then she would watch it secretly at midnight. Sometimes there would be excited voice 「Oh my oh my!」 from her room.
Recently her room was even starting to get filled with Blu-ray collection. All of them were famous works……it seemed. Though it was with the prerequisite that it was the opinion of sordid love drama fans. (by Sumire News)
「Or rather, you’re at grade school already……rather shouldn’t you be at that age where you’ll hate it to sleep together with your dad? Tomoichi-san also said it. The moment Kaori got into grade school, Kaori stopped sleeping together with him, and she also disliked to bath together with him anymore. He reminisced with sake in one hand while crying, saying something like 『Girl grow up really fast. You should resolve yourself too Hajime-kun』.」
「That is that. This is this.」
「Kuh, you’re all talk……no, you aren’t just all talk, but you definitely have gotten d.a.m.n better at talking.」
「Muu……does papa hate it to be together with Myuu nano? Hvae Myuu, done something wrong?」
Myuu instantly made a sad look even though she was in a huff just now. It seemed that she had gotten a bit lonely because there was almost no chance for her to sleep together with him lately.
「Well, I was busy with a lot of things recently that even our sleeping time didn’t match. If Myuu want to do that then I don’t mind……rather I’m really happy as a father.」
Tomoichi-san also told him. When Kaori hesitantly told him 『Getting my laundry mixed with Otou-san’s laundry is a bit……』 and refused for their laundry to be done together anymore, his memory for around one week before and after that was blown away from his brain. When Hajime heard that, he made a very conflicted look thinking that certainly, at least his memory would also get blown away if he heard Myuu telling him something like that.
And then, at that moment,
「Hajime-kun, it feels like recently you’re often talking with Tomoichi-kun huh. Why didn’t you call Tou-san too?」
The father──Shuu was sitting on sofa while drinking tea and watching morning news. His hair was still messy from waking up. He looked back across his shoulder and asked that question with a very discontent look.
Hajime was busy talking with his daughter right now so he only smiled at him before proceeding to ignore him. The uncle ran to his tea to drown his sadness. He got his tongue burned.
「Then, papa!」
「How-e-ver! There’s condition.」
「Condition!? There’s a condition just for a daughter to sleep together with her papa nano!?」
I never heard anything about that nano! Myuu’s eyes widened from half in shock and half in discontent.
However, this was a point that he couldn’t surrender as a papa. He wasn’t lying that he was busy recently and because of that his sleeping time got mismatched with his daughter Myuu, but there was one more reason. As a father who thought about his daughter, there was a harsh but honest advice that he had to bring up in consideration of Myuu’s recent behavior.
Yue, Shia, and Tio who had just finished their preparation around that time were entering the living room and watching the scene with widened eyes wondering what was going on.
Shuu whose eyes were tearing up from the pain in his tongue had Yue applied regeneration magic on him while briefly explaining the situation.
Everyone’s expression was turning into a warm smile seeing the negotiation that already broke out right from the morning between the father and daughter. They sat around the dining table and took the observing stance like usual.
「First」
「First!? It’s not just one!?」
「Don’t take off your clothes.」
「Even though Yue-oneechan always did it too!」
「……Nn!? Myu, Myuu!? Always is a bit of……faulty statement……」
「Second, don’t try kiss excessively.」
「Even though Yue-oneechan also like to ignore “tei pee o(TPO)” when kissing!」 (TN: TPO=Time Place Occasion)
「……Fuguh. I’m sorry for not reading the room.」
「Third, don’t use precocious words excessi──no, that’s troublesome. Just keep those two rules in mind. ──Don’t imitate Yue!」
「Hajime!?」
Yue’s gaze snapped toward Hajime. However, Hajime papa who was serious about his daughter’s education didn’t even look at her. Shock. It was as though she was treated like a harmful book for youth protection.
「Uu, b-but papa……Myuu is papa’s daughter but……Myuu also want to be papa’s wife……」
「Kuh, Tomoichi-san, will even a good girl like Myuu enter rebellious age later on? Will I be able to endure it when that time come?」
That sentence was definitely among the top three sentences that any father would be happy to hear from their daughter. Hajime was so greatly moved that he closed his eyes. But, at the same time, Hajime recalled the figure of Tomoichi who was drowning himself in the sake that he brought to him as souvenir while reminiscing about Kaori’s childhood. He was trembling in fear when thinking that he would also have to walk through that path someday.
In any case, he had to properly face his daughter here as a father. Hajime’s expression turned tense and grave.
「Papa want, Myuu to grow up to be a wholesome girl.」
「……Hey, Hajime. Does that mean that I’m not wholesome? Hey, Hajime, Hey, heyyyy」
That was exactly what he meant, Shia and Tio thought. Far from wholesome, she was the embodiment of eros, they thought.
Myuu glanced at Yue who kept tugging on Hajime’s sleeve. Then she pouted.
「It’s unfair that papa only focused on Yue-oneechan and others nano……」
Even yesterday, even though papa said that he would sleep alone, in the end the others invaded into his room. Myuu was sulking really childishly.
Conversely Hajime felt relieved seeing her showing such childish side of her. He was feeling warm and fluffy inside.
Since they moved back to earth, a lot of things that were far from normal kept happening. Experience made children grew up regardless whether they wanted it or not. Myuu was already mentally more grown up than the girls her age even before that, so he welcomed time like this when she was being selfish. It didn’t matter even if it made him became called as stupid parent.
Yue and others must also felt the same.
「……I’m sorry Myuu. Your big sisters were unfair.」
「I’m sorry Myuu-chan. But, we also have a reason for doing that you know? It seems that Hajime-san’s sleep is shallow recently. And it looks like that he can sleep deeply when there’s someone beside him desu.」
「Goshujin-sama seems to frequently awoke at night.」
「Eh……is that true nano, papa?」
Actually it was true. He often woke up at night or at dawn since a short while ago. Though of course, it wasn’t something that serious and there were also days where he could sleep soundly until morning, so he wasn’t really lacking sleep or anything.
「Aa, actually that’s true.」
「I-is papa alright nano?」
Myuu leaned forward worriedly. Hajime lightly patted her head while showing her a cheerful smile.
「Ou, there isn’t any problem at all. It might be the influence of the King Tree’s revival to the world. I’m still bracing myself to it unconsciously. After all even though I have grasped the willpower, we don’t know when and where some kind of incident might occur again……」
Although it was necessary in order to prevent the destruction of fairy world, as expected even Hajime couldn’t stay leisurely to deal with the various incidents that happened from the aftereffect of the King Tree’s revival.
Especially the incident where Kousuke ran into Fujiwara Hinata, this generation’s strongest girl onmyouji──at the end of it the shocking fact that “j.a.pan itself was the dragon apparition” came to light. That incident could lead not only to j.a.pan’s destruction, but even the world’s collapse.
The world right now was starting to notice the existence of such supernatural power and phenomenon. This situation truly ought to be called as the transition period.
Several months had pa.s.sed since then.
It was absurd to expect that the situation had calmed down. Rather many countries and civilians were making the firework growing bigger below the surface as time pa.s.sed.
It was only natural because even though Hajime had grasped the power of the planet, he couldn’t go as far as managing the individual’s awakening to power.
Hajime himself was burdened with endless tasks like monitoring the impact to the world and dealing with the consequence, investigating or protecting various power spots especially the dragon’s vine and dragon’s den, investigation of legends all over the world that might get awakened, adjusting the “miniature garden” that was going through rapid growth, etc.
And above all else, the awakening of the “Dragon” was the one thing that had to be avoided no matter how unlikely it was. It was necessary for Hajime to tighten his control and grasp over the willpower.
Of course, his reliable comrades and friendly foreign organizations were also giving their cooperation but……at the current time, his dizzyingly busy schedule was still continuing.
「f.u.kube-san and others are also really busy aren’t they?」
Shuu seemed to have sensed that the breakfast would be finished soon and moved to the dining table too. It was just like he said.
「Yeah. j.a.pan, China, along with Britain and Vatican that has close relationship with us are a step ahead in responding against the supernatural phenomenon, But other countries are also becoming earnest in creating their own organization to deal with this.」
They were more or less in a cooperative relationship with “Shadow Monk” the sorcery group of the mainland China, but even that relationship was based on the premise that it benefitted their national interest. That relationship wasn’t as intimate and trustworthy compared to their relationship with Britain or Vatican. The type of that relationship would depend on the diplomacy in the future.
Also, it wasn’t hard to imagine just how anxious the other countries were for having allowing these four countries to obtain overwhelming advantage in the field of dealing against supernatural phenomenon over the rest of them.
Although diplomacy was a domain that ought to be left to the government, f.u.kube and his men had to deal with the other countries that were extending their hand this way from the underworld.
Right now f.u.kube-san’s stomach medicine drinking speed was at the level of gunman from western movie. The quant.i.ty was comparable to gatling gun. According to Kousuke, before long his speed might leave behind the speed of sound or something.
Hajime who couldn’t bear to watch that recently started to regularly deliver other world’s stomach medicine that was created under the supervision of Emily to the returnee response department.
When f.u.kube-san first received it from Kousuke, he said 「We are, drug comrade aren’t we?」 with the atmosphere of someone who saw Buddha in h.e.l.l. He laughed extremely happily with a weary expression.
It felt like he would be able to hit it off with Aularodde.
Getting back on topic.
「This, art already that correct? The returnee response department too art now just a type of cover. Its true form art the secret section that was created internally at the same time……the “Response Room For Supernatural Case” was it? It’s that one correct?」
「It’s the section of Tsuchimikado people──the onmyoujis isn’t it?」
「……Nn. Though it seems everyone ignored its official name and called it as the “Onmyouryou (Bureau of Onmyou)” though.」
「Hina-chan also seems busy nano. Even though we managed to become friend, she doesn’t really have time to play nano.」
Myuu looked dejected. There was also how it was the first friend she made since coming to earth whose age was close to her and also aware of the hidden world. Myuu and Hinata had completely hit it off with each other but……
It seemed this generation’s strongest girl onmyouji had no free time. Not to mention that she could even teleport on her own through Inari Shrine though it was limited within j.a.pan only. The girl herself had the personality that was overflowing with sense of duty, so since coming to play to “miniature garden”, the two of them had never met directly and played together anymore until now.
Myuu looked dejected from her loneliness of unable to meet her friend and her worry to her papa’s condition. Shuu gave a sidelong glance at her and vigorously drank from his teacup before asking a question to change the atmosphere.
「The graduation party, you said that it’ll be held at Son.o.be-san’s place right?」
「Yeah. It’ll be fine even if Tou-san and the others also come though.」
「Graduation party should be just for the graduated students. The guardians also coming is just out of the question.」
「……Fufu, Otou-sama(father-in-law). Usually it should be the child who said that line shouldn’t it?」
「I’m really an understanding father right, Yue-chan. Even though there’s a dad so great this close by, my son went to other family’s dad to consult about his daughter. Don’t you think that it’s horrible?」
「Don’t hold a grudge just for that kind of thing……」
After the graduation ceremony, Hajime and co planned to gather in “Wisteria”, the restaurant and also the house of Yuuka for graduation party.
Although the partic.i.p.ants would only be the graduated students just like Shuu said……that wasn’t the case. Naturally Myuu, Remia, and Tio would also partic.i.p.ate. Hinata and Rana and some other people who they weren’t unfamiliar with were also being invited through Kousuke.
The guardians would also attend the graduation ceremony today, but the parents would have their own gathering after that in Yaegashi residence where they would hold a banquet.
During the time their children were missing, they cooperated with each other through the “family a.s.sociation” that they started up in order to search for their children. They were people who had supported each other through tough time. Shuu and Sumire and the others must wanted to rejoice with the other parents too that their children were able to graduate safely.
「Well, anyway, Myuu.I’m fine, and you’ll be able to meet with Hinata today after so long, so don’t worry about it and have fun okay?」
「Yes papa. Myuu’s sorry for being selfish even though papa is so busy.」
「I’m telling you don’t worry about it. It’s papa who’s bad because I’ve certainly made you felt lonely lately. Sorry. Let’s sleep together today.」
「Is it okay nano?」
「Ou. As long as you don’t imitate Yue.」
「Myuu won’t copy Yue-oneechan! From now on Myuu will make Hina-chan as Myuu’s model nano! Hina-chan was really cute when she said 『I’m going to polish myself for now, so I will be able to make him turn his eyes toward me one day』 nano. Target, Yamato Nadeshiko! Nano!」
This time Myuu’s expression brightened up radiantly. Yue was reaching her hand toward her saying 「Hey, Myuu. Yue-oneechan isn’t your model anymore? Am I fired? Am I fired as a model nano? Hey, hey Myuu」, but Shia who was reading the mood tightly grabbed that hand from moving further with a kind expression.
「Papa. Mama too!」
「Aa~, well, if Remia is okay with that.」
Remia was coincidentally coming out from the kitchen at that timing holding a tray that had the tea for everyone on it. Their eyes met. She must have heard. She nodded with a soft and warm smile. The tips of her ears were just a bit red.
Somehow, it felt like compared to when Remia had just first arrived to j.a.pan, her conduct and atmosphere toward Hajime had also changed just like Myuu. The way her true feeling was hard to understand with the way she went 「My my ufufu」 with the composure of an adult from before had ceased considerably. Now she could be seen showing her happiness and anxiety and embarra.s.sment honestly.
Remia was the one who had interacted with Hajime the shortest compared to the others in Tortus, but now she had also gotten used to living in a different world, and she had also obtained a job as clothes designer that she felt was worth doing. And on top of that her living together with everyone like this might have brought a lot of change to her on an emotional level.
「Yes yes, Remia-chan. Don’t keep flirting and bring the foods to the table. The breakfast will get cold.」
「My my, forgive me, Okaa-san(mother-in-law).」
「Ah, I’ll also help out too~」
「Myuu will h.e.l.l out too~」
Freshly cooked white rice, grilled salmon with crispy skin, rolled egg, salad, and then miso soup. Sumire was setting the foods on the table with her slippers making sounds from her brisk steps.
Those were breakfast that clearly looked delicious and carefully made from a glance despite being orthodox menu. With Shia and Myuu helping out too, the dining table became quickly enveloped in appetizing aroma.
「Thanks, Kaa-san. Remia too. Or rather, it’s unusual that Kaa-san is the one making the breakfast.」
「Well, today is a special day after all.」
Sumire was completely a night owl who was weak in the morning. Normally she entrusted the breakfast preparation to Shia or Remia, but as expected she couldn’t just laze around when it was the day of graduation ceremony for her son and the others.
「……Fufu, thank you very much, Okaa-sama(mother-in-law).」
「Mine grat.i.tude, Kaa-sama(mother-in-law)!」
「Your welcome. Even so, it will be my last day being able to see Yue-chan and Shia-chan in uniform. Too bad……no, they can just normally cosplay later can’t they?」
「That’s right Sumire. We were also like that.」
「Stop that! I don’t wanna hear my parents’ abnormal nostalgia right from the morning!」
「Okaa-sama(mother-in-law), please tell me about that in detail.」
「Don’t ask! This is why you got fired as Myuu’s model you know, Yue!」
「!!?」
Nagumo family was lively like usual even in this special day of graduation ceremony.
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「KyYYYAAaAAAAAAAAAAAA–」
At the alma mater of Hajime and co, in this auspicious day, there was a scream that clearly denoted an incident echoing through the whole building.
It was a scream like the scream of a maiden who had just found a scene of ma.s.sacre. No, perhaps it should be called as the shriek of a demon who was crawling out from h.e.l.l instead. Everyone reflexively paid attention toward the direction the voice came from while wondering what was happening.
But, they immediately averted their gaze with a wry smile.
It was only natural. Putting aside the urgency that could be felt from the scream, it was a common scene in a graduation ceremony──perhaps, maybe……no, perhaps it was something a bit too excessive or exaggerated but……anyway, it was a common scene.
「ONEEEEEE-SAMAAAAAAAAA-, I’M BEGGING YOU PLEASE REPEAT A YEARRRRRRRRRR!!」
「Just what is this child saying.」
The girl’s twintail was bouncing up and down unrulily. Her face was messed up from tears and snots. She was unashamedly displaying a face that no high school girl should ever make while clinging on the pretty leg of her beloved Onee-sama.
Scary. She was looking so despairing that anyone wouldn’t be able to deny it even if the girl got mistaken as an apparition.
It went without saying that the girl was an “Onee-sama Freak” who was especially standing out above the rest even among the Soul Sisters──it was Kouhai-chan.
She was tightly clinging on Shizuku as though to say that she wouldn’t let go even if she died unless Shizuku repeated a year. Sometimes she would also rub her body on Shizuku’s foot with very natural movement. Shizuku-oneesama looked like she had a terrible headache.
Right now the graduation ceremony had safely finished and it was time for active students and graduated students, and guardians and teachers to chat and reminisce outside the auditorium.
A wall of people was formed around Shizuku by a great number of active students (all of them were girl) even though they were looking slightly put off by Kouha-chan’s unruliness.
Shuuzou and Kirino and Koichi also came, but they couldn’t get closer with how popular their daughter was. However they didn’t look troubled. Rather they were watching while looking somewhat happy.
「No, don’t just watch and save me……」
Seeing no other way, Shizuku searched for Kaori. It was hard to see because of the throng around her but by searching for her presence……found her.
「UOOOOOOOHN, KAORIII! C-CONGRATULATIONS FOR-, GRDUATING SAFELYYYYYY!! AND THEN CONGRATULATIONSSSSSS!! OTOU-SAN IS-, OTOU-SAN ISSSSS-」
「Geez, stop it Otou-san! You’re exaggerating! You’re embarra.s.sing me!」
She had gotten caught by the unruly Tomoichi-otousan. The surrounding looked put off with how he was bawling so excessively. The active students who looked like they wanted to talk to Kaori were smiling wryly while watching from afar.
It seemed that she couldn’t expect any help from her best friend.
Ai-chan-sensei were talking with other students and parents. Yuuka and other cla.s.smates were also busy taking photo with their respective friends or making their last memory in school.
「Just what is the point of staying in the school that doesn’t has Onee-sama in it!? What should I do from now onnn!!」
「No, just go to school normally and graduate.」
「Onee-sama is telling me to quietly spend a year of darkness? That’s too much!!」
「It’s your words that are too much. Look, the sad face of your homeroom teacher. Your cla.s.smates are also looking a bit conflicted.」
No, we are fine. We are used to this already. Kouhai-chan’s cla.s.smates were waving around their hands as though to say that. Kouhai-chan wasn’t hated or even shunned by her cla.s.smates even though she was like this, so perhaps she actually had amazing communication ability.
Well, from the way none of them approached to stop her, perhaps she was simply treated like “Dangerous to touch! Watching from some distance is best!!”.
It was then, around ten female students performed a heroic act of cutting through the throng of Soul Sisters.
「Yargashi-senpai sorry! We’ll take away this idiot right away!」
「She has been a real bother to you! Also once more──」
「「「「「Congratulations for graduating!!」」」」」
They were her juniors in the kendo club. The girls who were led by the next captain. They were also Soul Sisters, but they were the ones who had overcome fierce compet.i.tion and made the membership of kendo club as their own. Their conduct was at different level. Their common sense too.
Shizuku too couldn’t help but feel happy and relieved seeing their beautiful salute and their firm tone. She naturally let out a smile,
「Thank you. Do your best in the club activity okay? If you need it then I’ll come to help out anytime.」
「「「「「Tsu, thank you very much!!」」」」」
A percentage of the throng got knocked out and collapsed from Onee-sama’s pure smile. Meanwhile the girls of kendo club turned red, even so they saluted while their happiness exploded inside.
And then they wrapped the raging Kouhai-chan in a bamboo mat, put blindfold and gag on her, lifted her up above their heads, then walked away while yelling one two one two. They were very skillful with the process. To a degree that a kidnapping organization might come to scout them.
「Now then, with this I can talk with Otou-san and others──」
「Onee-sama! Please give me your second b.u.t.ton-」
「I’m aware how selfish I’m being! But please, bless me with that ribbon!」
「If it’s something that Onee-sama is wearing then anything is fine!」
「Then what about panty! Rather I want the panty!」
「Wai-!? You girls, please calm do──」
Shizuku’s voice that called for them to stop got swallowed by their shrilly voices . Her figure also got swallowed and vanished behind the throngs of Soul Sisters.
It seemed that it would still take some time until everyone’s Onee-sama would be able to talk with her friends and family.
「She won’t be able to meet up with us for a while like that.」
「I really underestimated Shizuku-chan’s popularity. Well, Yue-chan and Shia-chan are also amazing though.」
「Are you fine with that, Hajime? There’re also a lot of boys over there y’know?」
Nagumo family was watching that going on from some distance. Shuu and Sumire turned their gaze where Yue and Shia were at. There they were surrounded not only by active students, but also by graduated students from other cla.s.s.
The crowd was composed with half girls and half boys.
There was n.o.body who didn’t know Yue because of her beautiful look. When Hajime wasn’t nearby, her elegance as a former royalty would even drift off around her, so she was considered by the undercla.s.smen as an existence to idolize.
Shia often helped out in clubs as helper, and coupled with her natural innocent atmosphere made a lot of people adored her.
「No, I’m not that kind of restrictive man who’ll meddle just because they give greeting to others.」
In fact, just from brief observation there were some of them who might try a sink or swim approach……well, Hajime was on standby nearby while holding a smartphone in one hand. Those people kept sending glances at him, but it wasn’t to a degree that he would need to go out of his way to threaten them.
「Besides, it might be their last chance. It’ll be fine as long as they aren’t persistent.」
「Well, connection from your high school day that will continue to last even after you become adult is actually not that many after all.」
「Is it something that Hajime won’t be able to experience with how busy you are? That’ll be unfortunate on its own way.」
By the way, not a single active student came to talk to Hajime……was not the case.
Should it be said that it was unexpected? It seemed that the boy undercla.s.smen were secretly harboring reverential feelings toward him as a real harem man.
「Ossu, Anikii!! Congratulations for your graduationnn!!」Male undercla.s.smen who were giving that kind of greeting while bowing like people from self-employed profession that was started with the letters “ya” kept approaching Hajime.
They were asking him things like wanting to learn the path of man from him even after graduation or something. Male undercla.s.smen who was hoping to exchange contact number with Hajime was making an orderly line. In its own way that sight was just as bizarre as the throngs of Soul Sisters.
It was troublesome so of course Hajime didn’t tell them his contact number.
Though he irresponsibly told them that if they had something that they really wanted to discuss no matter what then go rely on Aiko-sense……
The secretly whispered rumor that “Perhaps Aiko-sense has also gotten seduced by him?” sounded more credible because of that. It made the male undercla.s.smen to go 「Serious respect. We just can’t stop feeling in awe-ssu, senpai-」. Their respect toward Hajime became unnecessarily even higher.
It went without saying that after that, those undercla.s.smen would give a deep salute to Aiko each time they pa.s.sed her as though she was a madam of an organization of self-employed profession that started with the letters “ya”, which made her bewildered.
It was then, Hajime found the person that he had been looking for.
「Tou-san, Kaa-san. I’m going over there for a bit.」
He walked to the completely opposite direction of Yue and others. Shuu and Sumire watched with puzzlement at Hajime who was walking back to the auditorium where the graduation ceremony was held just now.
「Hm? Where’re you going? I thought that you already greeted Ai-chan and the other parents.」
「You already took photo too right? You still haven’t taken one with Shizuku-chan and Kaori-chan but……look, Yuuka-chan kept glancing this way. She had taken photo with you before this, so perhaps she want to join up with you soon? 」
Also, Yuuka-chan had shrewdly obtained a photo of her alone with Hajime. Of course, it was the fruit of Nana and Taeko’s cooperation. Right after the graduation ceremony finished and they exited the auditorium, the wave of Soul Sisters a.s.saulted Shizuku, while the active students crowded around Yue and others. The three of them then swiftly took advantage of that chaos.
Although, Yuuka wasn’t just merely getting instigated by those two.
──N-Nagumo! It’s a special day……want to take photo together? It-is-just! For commemoration!
Yuuka said that with a bright red face while looking aside, but she was unusually showing her honest side. Though naturally after taking the photo, she vented her anger to Nana and Taeko who teased her by jeering 「「Oo~」」 and clapping their hands.
Even so perhaps Nana and Taeko would tattle on Kaori later. After all Yuuka would look cute when she desperately made excuse while Kaori interrogated her with a nice smile.
Friendship banzai.
「No, there’s still a teacher who I haven’t greeted. He arrived really late but, well, that person is just like that. He must have read the mood considering the impression that it would give to a student like me.」
「? There’s that kind of teacher……」
「Aa, I see.」
Shuu and Sumire were slightly surprised from the not a small amount of grat.i.tude and respect that they felt from Hajime’s words, but their expression turned understanding when they saw the person who was standing beside the auditorium’s entrance without them noticing it while quietly watching the graduating students. Shuu and Sumire nodded to each other, then they followed slightly behind Hajime.
That person saw Hajime approaching and his expression became particularly sullen.
「Do you have a business with me, Nagumo-kun.」
「I just wish to give a greeting──vice princ.i.p.al.」
Yes, it was the vice princ.i.p.al whose unnaturally gorgeous black hair(wig) was his trademark.
The vice princ.i.p.al looked slightly taken aback seeing Hajime’s wry smile as he said those words, even so his expression immediately defaulted to his perpetually sullen look.
「That’s polite of you. I would be able to have a slightly easier time if you could also add some restrain to that. You are the student who gave me the most stomachache throughout my whole career as teacher.」
His tone that was full of sarcasm was also going strong. It went around a full circle and amus.e.m.e.nt welled up inside Hajime. That must be because he could think of this att.i.tude as this teacher’s individuality.
And, he was able to think like that because……
「I’m sorry for all the troubles that I had caused.」
「Hmph. That’s simply my job as teacher, Nagumo-kun. I don’t need any apology. ……Besides, I don’t know what kind of circ.u.mstance all of you had or perhaps still have even now, but you would be able to take care of it somehow even without us doing anything right?」
「Why do you think so?」
「I know from looking at your face everyday. Even though there was that kind of incident, all of you were still able to smile so joyfully. That was the proof that all of you can go on with your life without fear even without relying on teacher.」
「I see……」
「Although, your cla.s.s was carrying on by using you as their mental pillar. From today all of you will go on your separate way and won’t be able to see each other everyday. ……Do be careful. There’s a part of you that is slightly dry when it come to human relationship but, never abandon the friends who are relying on you!」
This. Even though he was full of sarcasm, all his words contained certain “teaching” that was said based on understanding his students. Even though he was the teacher who was the easiest to hate in the school, from his every words it could be seen how much he had been watching after his students.
That was why, Hajime wanted to give him a proper greeting at the end.
「Vice princ.i.p.al──thank you very much.」
「……」
Hajime could feel the slight surprise from vice princ.i.p.al when he bowed deeply toward him.
「I’ve really put you through a lot of worry by forcing you to deal with things that have no precedent at all. Certainly, we might be able to manage somehow with just ourselves. But, it is a fact that we were able to return to school and continue until now because of vice princ.i.p.al taking command to deal with everything this whole time. It’s also a fact that it was thanks to that we were able to spend a proper school life. That’s why──」
──I’m truly thankful from the bottom of my heart.
Hajime once more expressed his thanks along with a beautiful bow. Those words were filled with strong emotion that truly conveyed his earnestness.
For a short while, there was silence that could be felt as though time had been cut off just in that spot.
「……Raise your head.」
Hajime stopped bowing. He stared straight from the front at the vice princ.i.p.al who was frowning as usual but……
「I’m looking forward to your cla.s.s’s achievement in the future, Nagumo-kun. ──Congratulations for graduating.」
The vice princ.i.p.al’s expression loosened up kindly just for the brief moment when he spoke those words.
Shuu and Sumire followed next and spoke their greeting and grat.i.tude. After that Nagumo Family walked away with the vice princ.i.p.al seeing off their backs.
「And, do you have business with me, Hatayama-sensei?」
Actually Aiko saw Hajime and the vice princ.i.p.al conversing and approached them somehow. It was then the vice princ.i.p.al suddenly addressed her.
Aiko felt like she was criticized for peeking and her body jerked.
But, although the vice princ.i.p.al’s scowl had returned, it felt like he had the air of someone who had put down the heavy burden on his shoulder. It felt like he was far easier to talk with than usual. And so Aiko unconsciously talked to him in a more informal way than usual.
「No, I don’t have any business here. But, the soft expression just now, it make me think for a bit that vice princ.i.p.al won’t get misunderstood too much by the students if you look like that more often.」
「There’s no misunderstanding at all. I’m a sanctimonious, gloomy, and irritating teacher.」
「Ee? You’re aware of that yourself!?」
「I shouldn’t be the one saying this but……you have gotten really talkative haven’t you, Hatayama-sensei. Should I say that your nerve has gotten thicker compared to before……」
「I-I’m sorry. But but, I think if vice princ.i.p.al at least just soften your expression a little, then even the students will look up more to you……」
「I’m not asking for something like that. Bad memory has easier time than good memory to remain inside human. If the students can look back at their past and think, come to think of it, that teacher was really annoying, he preached only that kind of thing──it will be enough for me if they can remember like that. And if after that they can think, but well, that was an important talk, I would feel like that I have fulfilled my role as a teacher.」
「Hm~m……but, if it’s going to be that way then won’t “memory with good teacher” be better? Or rather I think that kind of memory is needed!」
「Just what are you saying?」
The vice princ.i.p.al was gazing at the graduating students, parents, and active students who were having pleasant chat with each other. He looked deeply emotional. And then he finally moved his gaze toward Aiko.
「That is the role of a teacher like you.」
「Eh?」
「The students all have their own ideas and tastes. In that case, the teachers too have also to be like that.」
Aiko’s mouth hanged wide open. The vice princ.i.p.al snorted seeing that stupid expression and turned on his heel. He must be leaving to take care of his remaining work.
「What are you doing? You’re going to partic.i.p.ate in the students’ graduation party anyway later on right? Finish the works that you have to do quickly. It won’t be my fault if you don’t make it in time.」
Aiko didn’t remember ever saying about her plan, but as expected the vice princ.i.p.al had seen through her.
The vice princ.i.p.al had been admonishing her since some time ago that Hatayama-sensei is too close with the students, but with Hajime and co graduating safely, perhaps he had recognized her a little as a teacher, including Aiko’s stance as a teacher.
Aiko mended her expression and slapped her cheeks with both hands several times. Even with Hajime and co graduating, Aiko’s teacher life would still continue. She would receive a new cla.s.s next year. She couldn’t continue feeling lonely forever. She had to switch her mood, she told herself.
And then, staring once more at the back of “the great senior of a teacher” who had supported the student life of Hajime and co that could be called as turbulent without any exaggeration, Aiko spontaneously yelled.
「Katsuura-sensei!」
「Who’re you calling Katsura! My name is Kazuura!! Is that intentional!? Is that name intentional!?」(TN: Katsura=wig)
「Sorry, I stuttered! More importantly!」
「More importantly!?」
「I respect you vice princ.i.p.al! Please keep on instructing me harshly from now on too!! I’ll keep watching sensei forever!!」
「Nnnn-, y-you’re saying that kind of thing again.」
The impossible misunderstanding──Am I being targeted (deep meaning) by Hatayama-sensei? ──that was born from numerous conversations that missed the mark was still not resolved yet.
For some reason, that was the only truth that the vice princ.i.p.al was unable to see through. Meanwhile Hatayama-sensei didn’t even notice about the existence of that misunderstanding. Their misunderstanding would surely, perhaps……
「It will keep continuing even from here on huh.」
Hajime chuckled from hearing Aiko’s voice behind him.
「Then you should just tell him the truth.」
「You are really stupid dear. It’s outrageous that you want to solve this kind of miraculous misunderstanding. I need to ask Ai-chan about it every time she come playing. This is priceless material!」
「I see. Certainly.」
If they heard this exchange between Nagumo couple, someone like Tomoichi-san might yell angrily 「Weren’t you feeling grateful to the vice princ.i.p.al!? This is why Nagumo family is just-」.
「Now then, it’ll be time for lunch soon. I think it’ll be fine even if finish up here and go to the restaurant but……」
Hajime said while running his gaze at the cla.s.smates. It was then.
「Oi, Nagumo! You still aren’t going huh!」
「We’re going ahead there!」
「Ah?」
Suddenly there were two voices that were filled with irritation. When Hajime looked back, there were Shinji and Yoshiki there. They were looking annoyed.
「Yeah, I’m also just thinking of going there. But, you won’t be able to go in even if you go ahead y’know? Son.o.be’s parents will head straight at Yaegashi residence. The restaurant’s key is with Son.o.be.」
「s.h.i.t, so you’re telling us to keep staying in this h.e.l.l」
「Just what’s with you guys? Those aren’t words fitting for graduation ceremony huh?」
「Shaddup! Look at me!」
Shinji pointed angrily at himself. More accurately at the position of his uniform’s second b.u.t.ton. The b.u.t.ton was still affixed there properly.
「There ain’t any girl undercla.s.sman who actually have been watching me secretly from the shadow all this time, or even a cla.s.smate who actually have been secretly having feeling for me!! Even though I already prepared the spare of the spare of the spare of the spare for my spare second b.u.t.ton!」
「No, that can’t be called second b.u.t.ton anymore──」
「Getting asked for your second b.u.t.ton is just a dream……something like that only exist in the world of manga! Dammit all!!」
「Y-you two really never strayed huh……」
Also, the parents of Nakano family and Saito family had greeted Shuu, Sumire, and Hajime some time ago before departing ahead to Yaegashi residence. Perhaps they were unable to bear it anymore to watch their sons who were desperately looking for “the dream girl who would ask for their second b.u.t.ton”. After all their gaze looked distant when talking with Hajime and his parents.
There, Shinji’s eyes coincidentally saw the place where Hajime’s second b.u.t.ton should be at.
It was there.
Instantly the love hungry monster made a joyful evil smile.
「H-hee? What the h.e.l.l Nagumo. You said this and that but in the end n.o.body──」
「Oi senpai! I heard! Apparently it was you senpai who sent the kendo club members at me! To dare to get in the way of my important time with Onee-sama, unforgivable!」
Kouhai-chan came running with her cheeks puffed up like squirrel. Shinji and Yoshiki’s expressions turned dejected seeing her.
「What, you got released? Even though I told them to lock you in gym storage or somewhere until we go home.」
「Hahn. Do you think that this me who have fought evenly matched battles with Nagumo-senpai day by day wouldn’t be able to slip out of that level of imprisonment at this point?」
「No, even from afar I thought that their binding over you was perfect though……」
「I can slip out, like *slurt* from something like that instantly even in my sleep.」
「Isn’t it strange to use that sound effect there? You, are you really human?」
「Senpai is the only one who I don’t want to hear that from.」
They were having such normal exchange like usual that would anyone who heard it wouldn’t be able to imagine that today was actually the graduation. However, Kouhai-chan who was relatively courteous to everyone other than Hajime and Shizuku gave a proper greeting with a bow to Shuu and Sumire.
In that Christmas incident──a somewhat blasphemous incident that dragged her along with bus guide-san and rabbit eared maid-senpai──she visited Nagumo residence and became acquainted with them there.
But, Shuu and Sumire were looking at Kouhai-chan with gentle eyes that were more than expected for just an acquaintance. Or rather, their eyes were warm.
Perhaps that was why?
「Sorry that our son is always like this. Please keep playing with him even after graduation okay?」
「N-no, we aren’t playing……」
「It’s fine even if you come playing to our home without reservation even after graduation.」
「U-umm, that’s why I’m saying that we aren’t playing here, this is an out of norm battle with Onee-sama on the line……」
「「Yep yep, if you say so.」」
「……」
Kouhai-chan was looking terribly awkward despite dealing with the parents of the hateful senpai. *Fidget fidget, squirm squirm*
At the corner of her eyes, there were Shinji and Yoshimi looking fixedly at such Kouhai-chan with blank expression. They looked very eerie. As expected even Kouhai-chan whose nerve had thickness like a log became concerned when their figures entered her sight.
「U-umm, senpai. Those two……」
「Don’t mind them. They are sad beasts who harbored illusion about second b.u.t.ton.」
Shinji and Yoshiki’s eyes snapped widely open. Kouhai-chan jerked. But, she showed no sign of running away and muttered 「Second b.u.t.ton……」 while nonchalantly turning her gaze to Hajime’s uniform.
「H-hee. So there isn’t any girl who want to get senpai’s second b.u.t.ton. Well, that’s natural! There’s no way anyone will idolize this kind of brutish senpai!」
「No, this b.u.t.ton is hot item but all of them are boys. As expected that doesn’t feel right.」
「I-I see……」
Hajime made an expression of not knowing what to say. Seeing that Kouhai-chan also made an expression of not knowing what to say ──but right after that, she started fidgeting for some reason. She played with her trademark twintail with her fingertip.
Shinji and Yoshiki’s eyes were becoming similar to that of murderer. Meanwhile Shuu and Sumire’s gazes were becoming warmer in inverse proportion to them.
「Good grief, it really can’t be helped. Yes, yes. Actually I really don’t want it. But even if it’s just for this moment senpai is still Shizuku-oneesama’s lover. If senpai of all people is in this state then Onee-sama’s reputation will also suffer. Yes, that’s why it can’t be helped, I’m actually really reluctant but……I-I can take that second b.u.t.ton for you senpai.」
「No, I’m not gonna give it to you though?」
「……」
Air that felt like *Su-un* was flowing. Kouhai-chan never even thought that she would actually be denied and stared fixedly at Hajime while blinking her eyes repeatedly.
「……Fufu, sttrangee~. Senpai, are you feeling shyy? Even though I myself aren’t feeling anything about it. Look, just hand it to me already. This is an embarra.s.sing to do as a Soul Sister but, I’m bearing with it for your sake. This is my mercy so that senpai won’t go through a lonely graduation ceremony you know? Now, sob with grat.i.tude while presenting that──」
「No, I’m telling you I’m not going to.」
「……」
The time stopped once more. Kouhai-chan and Hajime’s eyes were locked with each other. What Hajime-san was doing wasn’t a type of teasing. It seemed that he seriously didn’t plan to hand the b.u.t.ton.
A second pa.s.sed.
「Tsu, –, whhhhyyyyyyyyyyyy!!!」
「You’re loud ──wait stop it stupid. Don’t grab it」
「Senpai is the stupid one! You don’t have anyone to give it to anyway right!? Even though I’m telling you that I’ll take it for your sake why’re you refusing it then! Don’t screw with meee!!」
「No but……you, you’re one incomprehensible fellow who got your hand on something like aphrodisiac because of going with the flow……sending curse using someone’s second b.u.t.ton as medium feels like something you might be able to do……」
「What do you mean by curse!?」
She was an adventurer type high school girl who would run into random incident or commotion routinely. In this world where things like onmyouji or curse had became real, it felt like she could possibly run into a chain of events that would end up with her learning curse technique. It was a scary thought. Even more so because she was someone who wouldn’t hesitate at the slightest to attack only toward Hajime.
「Eeii, senpai is prattling incomprehensible things like curse or whatever! Enough excuse just hand over your b.u.t.tonnnnnn-」
「What do you mean hand it over. Your condescending att.i.tude is instantly collapsing y’know.」
「My pride can’t endure getting refused by senpai-」
「That’s not my business.」
Hajime and Kouhai-chan got into grappling posture like in pro-wrestling where their hands held and pushed each other beside their head. Then Kouhai-chan untangled her hands slipperily.
「Bunny-senpai’s taught technique, Screw *ite!!!」
She unleashed a technique from a certain American Football manga. It was that technique where the player rotated while stealing the opponent’s ball. It was the signature move of the superhuman rabbit eared maid who was working in Akiba’s maid café.
「I said stop」
「AH」
She was stopped with an eagle grip on the face. The fingertips of Kouhai-chan’s extended hand disappointingly only grazed Hajime’s second b.u.t.ton. She was really desperate for someone who was condescendingly said that she would receive it for his sake.
Seeing that exchange of offense and defense between Hajime and Kouhai-chan──
「「……」」
「Ah, youth.」
「Nice, really nice! As expected that girl is really a source of material!」
Shinji and Yoshiki were staring with eyes that were gradually changing into something blasphemous that was hard to describe. The eyes of the Nagumo husband and wife were sparkling as though they were watching a youth movie. Or rather, Sumire-sensei was starting to use her smartphone’s video recording function to make record for her story material.
「Uuu, uuuuuu!!」
「Why are you looking a little like you want to huh. ……Haa, I get it.」
「U?」
Hajime tossed away Kouhai-chan and tore off his second b.u.t.ton to hand to Kouhai-chan before she completely forgot human language.
「A……」
Kouhai-chan reflexively caught it and stared on the b.u.t.ton on her hand in a daze.
Before they knew it, Yue and others had finished up making memory and talking with undercla.s.smen and were gathering at a slight distance away. Hajime started walking toward them while,
「It’s not like our bond will get cut off after this. Even without that, you kouhai will be my kouhai forever.」
Smiling wryly. Kouhai-chan instantly returned to her senses and glared angrily at Hajime.
「……I-it’s not like I want this because of that kind of reason! Please don’t be so conceited! This is purely me receiving it for my pitiful senpai’s sake, that’s all! Where is your thanks! Come on say ittt-」
「Yes yes, thanks. Don’t use it for mischief or anything else okay?」
「Hmph, now that it’s in my hand I’m fre to do anything with it~~~!」
It seemed that Kouhai-chan too had realized the situation around them. Especially the warm gazes of the Soul Sisters and her own cla.s.smates.
The tip of her ears reddened faintly and she ran away to escape like usual. But, Kouhai-chan stopped running a bit ahead and turned around.
「Congratulations for the graduationn!!」
She properly gave such befitting words as an undercla.s.sman like that. However, she did it while pulling her eyelid down and sticking out her tongue.
Kouhai-chan who was boisterous but also the one who gave the most fun time to their cla.s.s that held a unique circ.u.mstance. She always came charging into their cla.s.s without any reservation.
Her figure that was boisterous till the end made all the cla.s.smates, not just Hajime unable to stop themselves from letting out a wide smile on their face.
However,
「Heey, Nagumo. Is it fun thrusting reality right on our face? Don’t you have a human heart inside that chest?」
「Shinji, if it’s like this then let’s put gum or something into his food in the party later.」
The two monsters who hungered for romance were the exception.
.
.
Author’s Note: First, my heartfelt grat.i.tude for everyone who are still kindly reading this story. Thank you very much. My apologies for making everyone waiting for so long.
After my plot collapsed, I tried remaking it but it didn’t go well and my heart broke. Then I temporarily distanced myself from writing. While doing things like making avatar to enroll into magic academy or doing calamity move with Hylian, my desire was revived so, I haven’t finished creating the plot, but I want to write anyway.
In the first place this After was written with the stance of scribbling off what I wanted to write without caring about the timeline, so surely this time too I’ll manage somehow after I start writing……I hope, just do it me. That’s my mentality.
Forgive this Shirakome who is like this till the end, but I’ll be happy if everyone can enjoy this last arc of Arifureta together with me.
Please, best regards!