788. Nei and sigh.
「 I’ve learned from today.. 」
Margo-san told me.
Margo-san, Minaho-neesan, and I are sitting on the table in the dining room.
「 People don’t often notice the desires in their innermost part of their heart 」
The deepest part.
「 Yeah, in reality, people’s desires sink down to the deepest part, but it guides them to satisfy that, but for some reason, they make a reason to put it aside and think “it can’t be helped” 」
Margo-san smiled.
「 For example, Misuzu-chan’s got that strong desire to dominate… It’s like a hot magma inside her. She’s got Kouzuki-san’s blood in her after all. Their desire to make people obey them should be strong 」
Yeah, Misuzu had that kind of desire.
「 But the person herself doesn’t want to admit that emotion, and so she changes the story. It’s not her desire, but instead, Yoshin.o.bu-kun wants to embrace some cute girls, and thus, they pick the girls they like and offer them to you 」
It’s hard for them to face their hearts, so they convince themselves that it’s for my sake.
「 Tonight, Misuzu-chan managed to admit that it’s her desires, in the end, that’s great. We dealt with it before it became a big problem 」
They’ve acc.u.mulated a lot of conspiracies with the thought of surprising me.
Misuzu’s preference won’t change, but tying her down with a promise that she’ll discuss anything beforehand is for the better.
She’s accepted that Tsukiko will inspect as well.
We’ll be able to check for the signs before Misuzu acts rashly.
「 Well, putting Misuzu-chan aside, the saying “One man’s fault is another man’s lesson” is in effect, isn’t it, Minaho? 」
Margo-san said. Minaho-neesan smiled wryly.
「 I know. I understand that I also have some desires that sunk on the bottom of my heart and it makes me act without knowing it 」
Minaho-neesan too?
「 I realized it earlier when we were in the bathroom earlier 」
Minaho-neesan sighed.
「 I’m a woman who wants to become the “Onee-san” 」
When everyone’s in the bath earlier…
Agnes and the young girls talked to her.
The weight in Minaho-neesan’s heart lightens up. I saw that.
「 Taking over the management of the brothel, accepting Margo and Nei, accepting you all last May and going through with it, my heart says “I want to become an elder sister for someone” 」
Minaho-neesan lost her little sister.
Shirasaka Sousuke killed her.
The little sister got pregnant, and Shirasaka Sousuke hired a suspicious man to operate the abortion.
Minaho-neesan went through a cruel surgery at the same time.
Her body’s unable to bear a child again.
「 And that thought saved a lot of us, Minaho-neesan. All these people laughing around right now were all thanks to you, Minaho-neesan. We’re grateful to you, Minaho-neesan 」
This family has come to existence because Minaho-neesan made a place for us.
「 I’m happy that you say that, but, in the end, my desires were purely personal. I’m doing this to satisfy myself. And if I don’t understand it, then I might lose my way 」
Minaho-neesan said.
「 But, you now understand it, don’t you? 」
I asked.
「 Yes, just now 」
「 Then it’s okay 」
「 But, Yoshin.o.bu 」
Minaho-neesan looked at me, embarra.s.sed.
「 I’m scared. I’ve just discovered that I’m a woman who moves according to my sentiment. I thought of being calm, appropriate for my age, judging anything with a composed mind, but, it’s nothing like that at all 」
Minaho-neesan always prepares elaborate traps with composure.
She’s got that impression that she’ll keep her poker face and use her trump card skillfully.
But, she’s right. She always holds some violent emotion inside here.
「 I knew that since before 」
Margo-san laughed.
「 Sure, Minaho’s calm whenever making conspiracies, but, Besides, I don’t think you can make conspiracies unless you’ve got that strong emotion inside you 」
The revenge on Shirasaka Sousuke is born from Minaho-neesan’s acc.u.mulated emotions.
「 I’ll always be grateful for the golden week. Grateful to Margo, to you, Yoshin.o.bu 」
Minaho-neesan?
「 You helped me out adjusting my thoughts, and that’s why I didn’t fall to the abyss of revenge 」
Minaho-neesan’s initial plan was…
It was to commit suicide right after fulfilling her revenge.
Yukino and Mana were to die with their father.
「 All I did was follow Kyouko-san’s instructions. It was Kyouko-san who wanted to check Minaho’s mental condition, to make sure that you’re not in danger 」
Margo-san said.
「 But, it was Margo who was with me back then 」
「 That’s because Minaho gets tensed when Kyouko-san’s present, right? That’s why. The original plan is that I was the one to go to Australia 」
Kyouko-san kidnapped and confined Shirasaka Sousuke in Australia and smuggled him into j.a.pan.
「 But, I can’t do small tricks like smiling as I kidnap someone to make sure that Minaho won’t heat up 」
Margo-san’s a serious person to the root.
She doesn’t turn everything to a gag like Kyouko-san.
Although, I know now that it’s just Kyouko-san’s style to make jokes to lighten up the mood.
Kyouko-san’s a kind person.
「 You should praise Yoshin.o.bu-kun 」
Margo-san looked at me.
「 No, all I did was be in a daze about everything 」
All I did was to let the situation flow.
I struggled to keep up.
I wasn’t useful to Minaho-neesan.
「 Your hardworking att.i.tude was good enough. You did your best to understand Minaho and us, and tried to become our strength 」
「 That’s right. You were too hardworking. Yoshin.o.bu stirred up the emotions inside of me. Therefore, I didn’t end up committing suicide 」
Minaho-neesan said.
「 It’s also true for this occasion. Yoshin.o.bu’s so hardworking that it surpa.s.ses my expectations 」
「 S-Sorry 」
「 Stupid. I’m praising you. Things end up better than expected because of you 」
Better than expected?
You mean?
「 My relationship with Kouzuki-sama and Kouzuki SS becomes stronger, and Tsukiko-san and the two were entrusted to us 」
「 But, Kouzuki house is still in dispute with the Kansai Yakuza, right? 」
This will be a long fight between them.
「 That’s Kouzuki-sama’s decision, that’s not for me to worry about. We’re partners with Kouzuki-sama, and so we’ll be at the line of battle. But, that’s all 」
「 But 」
「 There are multiple factors, and so it can’t be helped. If we notice a better solution later, we still can’t do anything about it. Kouzuki-san thinks that he makes the best choice after all 」
Margo-san said.
Ending the rampage of Kiyomi-san’s rampage with her Miko power with death.
Jii-chan couldn’t do anything else.
「 Yoshin.o.bu-kun. Think that we returned safely first. Then, Tsukiko-san, Yomiko-san, and Luna-san will continue to live with a smile on their faces. That two result is a matter of celebration already. Don’t wish for anything more than that 」
Margo-san’s right.
We couldn’t do anything to save Kiyomi-san.
Jii-chan’s punishment on the Kansai Yakuza is their just deserts.
「 Indeed. We need to think of the future instead 」
Let’s face forward.
We don’t have time to think of what’s over.
We still have a lot we need to do.
「 Also, for Yukino-san and Megumi’s matter, we can conclude that it’s going well for now 」
Minaho-neesan said.
The two of them entered Tsukiko’s group.
「 It’s much easier for those two to follow Tsukiko-san, a straightforward person. Megumi-san and Yukino-san aren’t two-faced. They speak out whatever they think. They’re not girls who are unfair and express themselves without words or gestures 」
Oh, Tsukiko…
Her Miko power can read minds, and so talking to her makes you honest.
Everyone knows that Tsukiko can read minds, and so…
Careful to not create any strange relationship with the other girls…
She speaks honestly what she sees and what she understands.
She intends to gain trust by doing that.
「 And Yomiko-san’s the type that’s always honest among the three. Luna-san’s a slight introvert, but, Agnes-chan is pulling her out of the comfort zone 」
Margo-san said.
Agnes approaches Luna without embarra.s.sment…
And so, Luna’s opening up her heart.
「 She’s really the exact opposite of Misuzu-chan. That girl can smile, but the thoughts inside her head are something different, Megumi-chan has bad compatibility with her 」
Misuzu’s personality is of a lady born from a wealthy house.
People look at her with envy and jealousy.
Thus, she smiles all the time to not create enemies.
She can’t expose what’s in her mind.
「 If we’re talking about results, I think that this is for the better? She can speak out her complains to Yukino-san and Yomiko-san and the group, and Tsukiko-san would look after her to make sure that she doesn’t derail 」
「 The wife of Yamamine-san was like her, don’t you think? 」
Minaho-neesan?
You mean, Megu’s foster mother?
「 Do you remember? Megumi’s good girl manners were originally… 」
Right.
Back in April…
Megu had the good girl image as the cla.s.s president.
「 Yamamine house strictly disciplined Megumi. They gave Megumi love and kindness so she won’t feel uneasy because she’s a foster daughter 」
Her life in the Yamamine household was painful.
Her foster parents were earning a living together.
Shirasaka house forced Megu in their family as their daughter.
Shirasaka clan always bullies Yamamine house and Megu whenever they have a family gathering.
Furthermore, they made sure that Megu doesn’t grow out of her timid character.
She lived in a cold life…
「 Yamamine-san gave Megumi plenty of love, but, they were strict on her. Therefore, Megumi back in May was lawful 」
Minaho-neesan said.
「 Even when Shirasaka Sousuke told her that she’ll become a prost.i.tute by the end of Golden Week, Megumi still did her best in club activities until the end 」
Right.
Back then, Megu…
「 Therefore, it was my fault that Megumi loosened up too much. I was spoiling her in this mansion. That’s why she became useless 」
「 It’s not Minaho’s fault. Megumi-chan was feeling the inferiority from her foster parent’s house. She didn’t think that it was her own house 」
I recall the life Megu had in the Yamamine house.
Megu acts modest to her foster parents and only ask for the bare minimum.
Her room didn’t look like a girlish room for a 16-year-old.
「 And since living with us, Megumi-chan burst open. That’s what I think 」
Margo-san and Minaho-neesan said.
「 That is why I had to lead Megumi loosely. I’m her elder sister after all 」
Minaho-neesan’s repenting.
「 Really? I think that there’s a lot in being an elder sister 」
I said.
「 Minaho-neesan, do you see Megu as an ordinary little sister? 」
「 What do you mean? 」
「 I mean, you know Megu since she was a baby 」
Megu’s a daughter of a prost.i.tute who lived in this mansion.
Minaho-neesan’s already confined in this mansion back then.
Keiko-san, Megu’s mother was a kind person, they said.
Therefore, Minaho-neesan…
She knows Megu since her birth.
On top of that, the child in Minaho-neesan’s stomach died.
I think that the image of her late daughter overlaps with Minaho-neesan’s treatment of Megu as her little sister.
「 Minaho-neesan can’t help but be kind and loose with Megu 」
I said.
「 Katsuko-nee and Nagisa, they weren’t able to attend school because they were kidnapped during their first year, and so they want to watch Megu, and I have fun in school 」
Therefore, the two aren’t so strict with Megu, either.
「 And I’m not good with it either 」
Margo-san smiles wryly.
「 You know, my hair and eye color have always been out of place ever since I was a child in the Indian reserve. In that community, I never experienced strict yet loving guidance from the elders 」
Margo-san’s received injustice due to her blonde hair and blue eyes.
In the end, she was gang-raped at age 12.
Margo-san’s father was among them.
Margo-san killed her father, left the settlement, and entered an asylum.
「 Well, lots of problem-children are gathered in the inst.i.tute, and so most of them are either timid or rebellious. Human relationship is a hard one. Thanks to my meeting with Minaho and Kyouko-san that I’m now carefree, and can look after others 」
「 I haven’t done anything 」
Minaho-neesan said. Margo-san…
「 That’s not true. It’s all thanks to Minaho’s kindness. Minaho saved me. I thank you, you’re definitely my precious elder sister 」
「 Margo 」
「 Minaho, weren’t you an elder sister to Naomi-san? 」
It’s the name of Minaho-neesan’s late little sister.
「 You wanted a little sister. But, you had experience looking after a little sister, Minaho… You’re doing well as an elder sister 」
「 I wonder? 」
「 That’s true. Having that kind of experience, especially from childhood, has a significant meaning. Minaho, you’ve yearned for the freedom of the prost.i.tutes from the brothel, that’s because you have experience as an elder sister, I think 」
I see.
Minaho-neesan’s early years had an influence on her life.
「 Minaho, you said earlier that you have the desire to become an elder sister, but, I don’t think that’s the accurate answer 」
Margo-san?
「 Minaho, you don’t want to be an elder sister, you already were from the start. You looked after your two years younger sister in your fatherless family. Therefore, Minaho’s been an elder sister since you were at the age of discretion. Your mindset belongs to an elder sister 」
She’s lived as an elder sister.
「 Therefore, you fell in panic when your little sister, Naomi-san, died. If you don’t have siblings, then you can’t be an elder sister. And thus, you place the prost.i.tutes of the brothel, Nei and, I as your elder sisters, you looked after us 」
Minaho-neesan’s existence is of an elder sister.
「 Humans draw out their personalities from the environment they were raised in. When your consciousness starts to sprout, you’ll recognize, “The world I live in is like this,” and that impression will last 」
Margo-san said.
「 Therefore, Minaho will always be an elder sister! 」
Minaho-neesan.
「 Indeed. Margo’s right. I’ve always been an elder sister since Naomi was born. At age two, I’m already aware of my surroundings, and Naomi’s by my side, I’ve been her elder sister ever since 」
「 Yeah. That’s important. That’s why Minaho’s a good elder sister who leads us 」
「 But I don’t intend to be that bossy 」
「 Really? I think that being bossy is just a part of being an elder sister 」
Margo-san laughs.
Then.
「 But you know, in Nei’s case 」
Nei?
「 Nei’s also an elder sister, but… 」
Nei came out first among the twins.
「 Her twin was a brother. She’s named the elder sister, but, it’s actually Kei-kun who always helps Nei 」
「 Even when Cesario Viola took them, it’s the little brother who protects Nei 」
After the American criminals kill their parents and kidnap them…
Nei and Kei-san were brought inside the criminal group and left alive.
And it was Kei-san who protected Nei by keeping Viola, who was a h.o.m.os.e.xual, a company.
「 She’s an elder sister, yet her brother’s life saved her. Nei’s mental trauma is that she wasn’t able to save her brother 」
Kei-san covered for Nei and died together with Viola’s sister.
「 In short, Nei’s an elder sister in the paper, but she’s never lived as one 」
Margo-san, you mean?
「 That was our miscalculation. We thought of letting Nei lead the young group. Nei’s smart, and she knows the methods of Kuromori 」
She joins Margo-san in the monkey business.
「 She was an elder sister, and so we thought that she’ll understand the young ones
But.
「 Nei isn’t cut for that role 」
Minaho-neesan said.
「 That’s right…And that’s why Nei wasn’t able to control Megumi 」
「 She’s just like us. Nei only speaks kindly, and she wasn’t able to guide Megumi with strict mind 」
Though she’s an elder sister on paper, Nei couldn’t act elder-sister-like towards Kei-san.
Naturally, she’s not experienced as an elder sister.
「 However, Nei, Nei’s pain is that she wants to become an elder sister 」
I said.
Her emotions towards her late brother are strong.
Therefore, I…
I took over Kei-san’s ident.i.ty on paper.
I’ve become Nei’s real brother.
「 I know. Nei should be aware of that now 」
Margo-san said.
「 And, she must be thinking that she’s miserable as she wasn’t able to fulfill her role towards Megumi-chan 」
Haa.
「 Then that means I have to do something about it 」
It’s my role to heal Nei from feeling down.