Ore no Kanojo to Osananajimi ga Shuraba Sugiru

Although it was Sunday, my mood was pretty bad.

I stayed in the library throughout the entire morning, but I failed to concentrate no matter what. I went through quite a bit to borrow the reference book[1] from Mogami, but I can’t memorize anything, and my hand wouldn’t move.

There was no visible improvement after noon, so I decided to change places.

The weather was good, so taking a walk might lift my mood.

I left the library, and walked towards the back of the station that I rarely go to. Going to the café that I frequented with Masuzu is quite uncomfortable; I will just find a new café.

Once I walked past the bicycle parking lot and entered the park, I saw an old building in the middle of a bunch of leafless ginkgo trees.

Hanenoyama Marine Island.

The name is quite foreign[2], but it is an aquarium.

How nostalgic.

Didn’t I go there on our field trip during my first year of grade school?

Chiwa said “how scary” and cried while watching the sea lion show. Which part of it is scary? Till this date, I still don’t know.

Since my legs moved towards it by themselves, I decided to take a look.

I ignored the dolphin area and the great white shark full scale model, and looked for the huge fish tank. When I see the tunas swimming around happily, I just feel happy—but they say tuna will die if they don’t swim. If that’s the case, are they swimming not because they want to, but because they need to?

“Me too, if I don’t get hugged I will die, so hug me tightly?”

“Yeah, if I don’t hug you tightly…….it’s a matter of life and death!?”

I turned around and saw Hime standing there.

She was wearing a pink beanie and a pure white duffle coat. Hime-chan’s plain clothes make her look too much like a big cute angel. She was holding her sketchbook under her arm.

“Hi Hime, what are you doing at such a place?”

“Hug march.[3]”

“……what?”

“This is a state where I am waiting for Eita to hug me.”

I thought she would come up with some fantastical setting, but it is just that simple.

“Then, what is the truth?”

“Pilgrimage[4].”

“Your religion is……?”

This is the first time I heard of an aquarium being a religious facility.

Just as I was wondering what kind of setting this is, a voice called out to Hime.

“Sha—sha—sha—sha[5]. Hey Hime! This is the place where the first kiss between the prince and Nero-sama took place, right? This fish tank looks like the one in the background of that very scene, no? Sha—sha—sha!”

The lady laughing was standing in front of the ocean sunfish tank.

“He was going prpr, prpr[6], while hugging Neo-sama tightly with tears in his eyes! That teary face really made me lose control. Onee-san almost drooled~a prince definitely needs to be a pathetic seme, the one who can revert between seme and uke in the second version should reflect on his mistakes in the depths of h.e.l.l sha—sha—sha!”

The blonde stood like how a model would pose.

She wore a bright red down, under the miniskirt were a pair of cool legs.

However, the words that came out of her mouth reeked of rottenness.

“……what are you doing? Mana.”

The “Sha—sha—sha—sha” laughter stopped.

“Wha—!? W—wh—why are you here you disgusting otaku!”

She trembled until her twintails became messy, and her body tilted backwards.

No matter how you see it, that should be my line, but let’s put that aside for now.

“What’s that, Hime, you came along with Mana?”

“Positive. This is a pilgrimage for the best game of the century “My Dolphin and His Whale”.

“This century still has more than eighty years to go…...”

“Pilgrimage” means “visiting the places that appeared in the work” in anime and gaming culture.

“In that short period of time where we didn’t see each other, Mana was poisoned by BL?”

Was it because she bought doujinshi together with Hime during the summer holidays? Was that the start?

“Th—that’s not it……I’m just here because Hime asked me to accompany her!”

“What you said just now can’t be learnt in a day.”

“I told you, that’s not the case!”

The prpr teary-eyed Mana-san is super cute.

“Last time, you told me ‘otakus are really disgusting’ right? Is that the case[7]?”

“Ye—yeah? Because it’s really disgusting! Don’t come near me don’t touch me I’ll get polluted and rotten!”

“So, how do you feel after becoming the otaku that you hate? Disgusted? Have you looked at yourself in the mirror? Hmm?”

I poked her shoulder, and she made a “mgg, ohh—!” voice, and twisted herself with a face blushing harder than red; it was rather black. Although this would seem immature, but to make this conceited middle school girl bow before me is just too blissful, in fact, it makes me happy!

“Lllllet’s talk about something else, I heard you broke up with Suzu! What actually happened!?”

“Hmm, that’s quite a long story…”

For quite some time, the security guard for the aquarium has been coughing on purpose from time to time, which is quite reasonable; we have been making quite a ruckus after all “Eita, do you want to go for some tea?”

Hime tugged my arm.

“To be able to meet each other here is probably what the hyperdemensional thought ent.i.ty had in mind for us, it’s a mission for me to cheer Eita up.”

“……actually, I’m—”

“—quite happy”, was what I wanted to say, but I can’t do that.

Because Hime was staring at me, I can’t lie.

“……okay.”

I took Hime’s hand and smiled back at her.

“I have a lot to tell you.”

♦

We went to the café inside of the aquarium.

Lunch time just ended, so we got a seat as soon as we got there. From our seat we could see the dolphin section from the window.

I told the two of them what happened recently with Chiwa.

I told them I have no idea why I can’t understand her feelings anymore.

“—I can slightly understand how Eita feels.

After listening, Hime looked at her tea that turned cold and said.

“I also feel like Chihuahua changed recently. It feels like Chihuahua changed into someone else, it’s kind of lonely.”

“But, isn’t this a good thing?”

Mana stirred the ice in her iced coffee and spoke up.

“Anyhow, this means that the Chihuahua grew up, right? You and Hime are both used to the old her, so I can understand if you feel down. But people change, isn’t this normal?”

“I guess so, there’s this originally heteros.e.xual middle school girl who suddenly awakened.”

“……ah?”

Mana stared at me with scary eyes, I moved my eyes away from her and started thinking.

Chiwa knows how to cook now.

Chiwa knows how to study now.

These are definitely good things.

But even if that’s the case, why am I not happy for her?

“Hey, Eita.”

When I recovered, I only realized Hime was looking at me worriedly.

“Actually, I have been hiding something from everyone. Originally, I wanted to wait until it was completed—but I’ll say it now.”

Hime glanced at the angry Mana and continued.

“Mana and me, we are drawing a manga.”

“Manga?”

“It’s a doujinshi, for the game that we talked about just now.”

“So, that’s why you’ve been drawing in the clubroom recently?”

Hime blushed, embarra.s.sed, and nodded.

“Today I came here to collect some data, I wanted to look at the real thing before drawing.”

“Well, I am not really interested in it? I have no choice because Hime wanted me to think up of the script? If I am going to do it anyway I hate doing it half-a.s.sedly?”

Although adding a “?” to every sentence is annoying, Mana seemed to be enjoying herself.

“But, why did you think of making a doujinshi?”

“I was really happy during the recent school festival, doing something together with everyone is really great. I hoped the school festival can continue forever, forever. But this is impossible in real life. That is why I wanted to create a world with my own hands.”

“……Hime……”

Using her own hands to create a world—what’s with that.

Totally like the lines of a chuunibyou patient, it’s the usual Hime.

Then, why does she look so cool?

Why does she look so energetic and dazzling?

“Honestly, this is hard on me who got dragged into this.”

Mana said as if she hated it, but she looked really happy.

“If this goes on, I should be going to Hane-kou in the future. I originally thought I would never go to the same school Suzu went to.

“Doesn’t your middle school allow you to enter their affiliated high school unconditionally?”

“……E-even I have my own reasons.”

Mana blushed. It’s quite rare for her to be so unclear with her words.

“If Mana comes to our school, we can have our discussions daily; you’re welcome anytime.

Hug! Hime embraced Mana.

Mana spit out a “tch” as if she’s troubled, but she was grinning herself. Looks like she’s quite fond of Hime, how easy.

“Eita, do you agree with us drawing the doujinshi?”

“Of course, because it’s what Hime wants to do—”

After saying that, I feel like I’m contradicting myself.

I can be happy for Hime for her growth.

But why can’t I be happy for Chiwa? Why can’t I just silently watch over her?

“You’re overthinking it.”

After being told that by Mana, I thought that may be the case.

I hope Hime keeps on being Hime, moving forward along with her chuunibyou.

Isn’t Chiwa still Chiwa?

At least it’s not like someone replaced the original Chiwa.

“Thank you, both of you.”

I lowered my head at the two of them.

The cloud that has been blocking my heart seems to have faded away.

♦

Hime said she wanted to collect more data, so I decided to go home after parting ways with her.

But before that, I had something to confirm.

I left Hime, who was silently sketching a shark specimen, and talked to Mana.

“Hey, how has Masuzu been lately?”

“I don’t—know, I haven’t seen her in a while.”

Mana’s reply was cold and curt.

“Suzu is still living alone in her apartment, I stay in the main residence—we are always separated.”

Mana stared at me.

“Let’s change the subject…who suggested breaking up first?”

“It was Masuzu, it felt like I got dumped.”

“Hmm~?”

Mana peered at my eyes, with a look of disbelief.

“From what you said, it feels like it is because you had an affair with your childhood friend.”

“Well, that’s not exactly what happened.”

My reply was ambiguous because that’s not that far off from the truth.

Chiwa had something to do with the removal of our fake relationship.

But, I can’t get any information from Masuzu, who closed her heart.

“So how do you feel about Suzu now? Do you hate her?”

“That’s not it.”

I shook my head.

“But, I don’t understand what Masuzu is thinking. I don’t understand her anymore.”

“Hmm…”

Mana puffed her cheeks.

“Then, why don’t you go out with that Chihuahua?”

“Huh?”

“I want you to stop holding hopes towards Suzu. If she has lingering affections for you, isn’t that painful?”

“……”

I wanted to say “You’re just meddling too much”, but—

“You rea---lly! Like your sister don’t you!”

“Hu—uuhhhhhh!? How did the subject turn to me! Do you understand j.a.panese? Do you understand j.a.panese!? [8]”

Ohh, such fluent English, as expected of a blonde.

I hurriedly escaped the angry Mana, and started thinking.

Me and Chiwa going out—is it possible?

Will such a day come?

♦

When I left the aquarium, the Sun was already setting.

I wasted all my time, I should go back home and collect the washed clothes, then start studying.

When I decided to walk towards the station, a black wall suddenly appeared from the side and blocked my way.

It’s Mana’s bodyguard-c.u.m-driver—Yasuoka-san.

“How do you do? Highschool boy.

“I-I’m doing well.”

My voice cracked. Can you not appear suddenly, it’s startling!

“Mana-ojousama, is she still inside?”

“She says she still need a bit more time.”

Yasuoka-san nodded and muttered “Is that so,” in a low voice.

“Then, let me send you home.”

“N-No-No thanks, I’m fine with taking the train.”

I remember his careless driving the last time I rode in his car. I still get the chills when I think about it.

“You should accept the goodwill of the boss.[9]”

Yasuoka-san walked away without waiting for my reply.

The black limousine was parked at the rotary in front of the aquarium.

The backdoor opened, and a man in a suit walked out.

“Hi, nice to meet you.”

I was greeted by an unknown adult.

He looks like a successful person, that’s the first impression he gave me. He had a calm smile, giving off an honest vibe. He looks 35 years old or so, but sounded quite commanding, so he’s probably older than that. He wore an expensive-looking suit, probably a president or director.

No, hold on.

He was in Yasuoka-san’s car, that means he’s a member of the Natsukawa family.

Adding that to “president or director”, that means—

“Nice to meet you, I’m Masuzu’s father.”

As if he’s trying to confirm my thoughts, he handed me a business card.

“If it’s possible, can you spend some time with me? I won’t waste too much of your time.”

I swallowed my saliva.

I puffed out my chest, and took a step forward.

“You came at the right time, I have something to ask you too.”

I can’t run from this.

I need to get all the answers from this father who is torturing Masuzu.

Light CruiserKidou

I’m the bookworm cla.s.s light cruiser, Eita.

Ah? War? Just leave those things to the girls.

I am working hard for my goal of being remodeled into a hospital ship.

Light CarrierNatsukawa•Kou

I’m the second vessel of the Natsukawa cla.s.s.

Let me show you a beauty that is incomparable to a standard aircraft carrier.

By the way, do you know where Hime is?

Heavy CruiserAsoi

I’m Asoi.

Not conflicting with the other ships is my principle.

……are you that intrigued about my armor?