"......"
"He-Hey... what are you so deep in thought about?"
"Ah, no..."
A whirlpool of thoughts spun through my head. I must have fallen silent while processing them, as Natsukawa peered at me with an anxious expression. When I let go of Airi-chan, she stepped closer and gently shook my shoulder. That small contact was the final straw; the complex threads of my logic became hopelessly tangled and finally snapped.
My mind went completely blank.
"W-Wait a second... say something!"
"Ah... well... I..."
My mouth opened, but no sound came out. I had no idea what to say. This wasn't like me at all. Normally, a fountain of idiotic ideas would be gushing forth. If only I could summon that same energy at a time like this...
"Don't ignore her!"
"Whoa!?"
Airi-chan lunged at me, slicing right through the awkward atmosphere. I had been propped up on my elbows while lying face down, but she shoved me from the side, sending me rolling onto my back.
"Don't bully my sister...!"
"I-I'm not bullying her! I promise!"
With a face that looked ready to burst into tears, Airi-chan started patting me with her small hands. I couldn't handle it if she actually started crying, so I hurriedly tried to defend myself. I was hit by a sense of desperation I had never experienced before, leaving me clueless as to how to handle the situation.
When I looked at Natsukawa, she was staring at Airi-chan with a bewildered expression. It might have been my imagination, but her eyes looked a bit moist as well—wait, wait, wait, wait!!
"I-I'll go over to your place next time! If it's okay with you, I mean! Is it really okay?! Are you sure?! Final answer?!"
I shouted the words while my head was still a muddle. I honestly thought it would be better for us to keep our distance in the classroom, but... well, what's said is said.
The reason my rhythm was so out of whack was that Natsukawa wasn't acting like her "usual" self. In fact, she had been different from the moment we left school. That was exactly why I needed to bring things back to our normal vibe.
"I might get all weirdly overfamiliar again, you know? I might say something strange out of habit. If you're okay with that, I'll go."
It wasn't like it was actually okay; she was supposed to hate it if I approached her with "that intention." Even if there was a sense of camaraderie now, it had to be disgusting to have a guy you didn't even like as a man look at you that way. I had been directing that exact brand of repulsiveness toward Natsukawa for a long time. Blinded by love, I never was very good at being subtle.
Just as it had become a habit for me, Natsukawa probably had a habit of reflexively pushing me away. And then she would remember—the clown who followed her like a stalker no matter how many times he was driven off—
".........Promise, okay?"
"......"
...
...What just happened? Am I dreaming?
She was gently pinching my sleeve. I didn't know what her reason was, but I knew, at the very least, that it wasn't a rejection.
Could something this sweet and painful really happen to me? Was this a setup?
It wasn't just bittersweet; it was too sweet. Once I’d had a taste, I’d never be able to forget it. This was already a poison. A "captivating moment" like this makes the victim lose themselves. It might feel like a happy time, but it’s a potent drug that can turn into torture at the whim of the one administering it.
"Ah..."
I gently pulled my arm away, escaping that overly sweet restraint. An intense wave of sadness surged in my chest at the loss of contact, but I gritted my teeth and forcibly suppressed it.
Calm down, Sajou Wataru. This isn't "that kind of" situation. Don't let yourself be possessed. Look back at your past behavior. Look at it objectively. Let it be a warning.
".........Leave it to me."
"W-What's with that tone..."
"What's with that!"
When I answered solemnly, Natsukawa let out a little laugh, her face clouding with exasperation. Putting on a super serious face seemed to have done the trick. Reassured by the change in mood, Airi-chan mimicked Natsukawa in a loud voice. Hey, stop patting my stomach. Hey, wait—
"Heeere we gooo!"
"Fuwaaa...!"
I stood up, cutting through the last of the strange tension. As I rose, I scooped Airi-chan up with all my momentum. Once the "Dynamic Hug" was complete, Airi-chan began to giggle, clearly loving the thrill of it. Phew... man, she's cute.
"Hey, don't be so rough!"
"It's fine, I'll never let her get hurt."
"Honestly..."
Horse, master, protect.
Still, I didn't want her to grow up to be a rough child. The Dynamic Hug was supposed to be a light punishment of sorts... at least that was the idea. If she kept hitting people constantly, everyone would end up disliking her. More than anything, that would make Natsukawa sad, so as the older brother figure here, I decided to do my part.
"See, if you hit people, your big sister will get mad."
"No."
"I don't like it either. So no hitting."
"Yeah, okay, Sajoo."
"It's 'Big Brother'."
"Sajoo."
"......"
...Well, as long as she understands. Come to think of it, I've rarely ever been in a position of authority. It made me a little happy to think that even someone like me could teach her something. I hope she grows up healthy and becomes as gifted and beautiful as Natsukawa—owowowow, why are you pulling my hair...!
"Hey, don't pull my hair!"
"Au."
I shifted her in my arms, using the movement to pull my hair out of her reach. Perhaps she finally understood that it was bad, because Airi-chan didn't do anything rough after that. Since Natsukawa was watching with a worried expression, I handed Airi-chan back to her.
"Phew... she's got a lot of energy."
"She does... she's not even this active with the kids at kindergarten. Maybe you're just easy to bully."
"If that's true, it sounds like you're describing my fundamental nature, so could you please stop?"
Easy to bully... is it even fair to be born under such a cursed star? No! That's not it! My opponent is just a child! I'm sure even I have qualities that make me more likable than some random handsome guy! Like my sense of humor! But let me ask just in case!
"Airi-chan, who is more handsome, me or Takaa-ki?"
"What are you even asking..."
"Ikemen~?"
"It seems she's receiving a wonderful education."
"There's no way I'd teach her words like that this early."
Those aren't words you learn by being taught... Once you step outside, it's a world of noise. In a secular society where countless bits of trivia lie about, it's normally impossible to weed out the unnecessary information. Yet, Miss Airi here claimed not to know an unnecessary word that she would likely hear at least three times a day. What a gifted girl! My own sister, for instance—though she's surrounded by handsome guys now—has been obsessed with them since she was a brat!
"Who's cooler, me or Takaa-ki?"
"You just don't give up, do you?"
"Takaa-ki!"
"We need to study more, okay?"
"I'm going to hit you."
Sorry, I couldn't help it.
The atmosphere had turned strange for a bit, but I think it was back to normal now. I didn't think there was anything to be gained by her hearing my pathetic inner thoughts anyway. As I thought, this distance was a bit too close. If she stared straight at me with that serious gaze, I’d dissolve like a slug in salt. My brain was already starting to feel like mush.
I noticed that the light streaming through the window was turning a deep crimson. When I checked the clock, I realized how much time had passed; I had forgotten how long the sun stayed up this time of year.
"──Muuu~..."
"Heh... still naive."
"What are you talking about..."
Airi-chan looked frustrated in Natsukawa's arms. She was completely exhausted from frolicking around with me and was currently fighting a losing battle against the sandman. When I’d provocatively asked her earlier if she was already tired, the way she got all worked up was quite adorable. There isn't a five-year-old alive who can keep up with the stamina of a high school boy! Fuhahahaha!
"You had the same mental age as her halfway through..."
"That suits my nature better. Doing the 'Big Brother' act like Sasaki is impossible for me."
"You say that, but you look exhausted..."
It had all started when our playing turned into something like collision practice. According to Natsukawa, it was rare for Airi-chan to crash into someone with all her might like that. Apparently, her father got knocked over too easily... I mean, why was this kid trying to beat me with raw power anyway?
For my part, it was nerve-wracking. Even though the floor was covered in mats, danger is always a factor. Catching her while making sure she didn't get hurt was physically and mentally draining. Fathers of the world...! You need to work harder!
"...It's getting late, so I should probably head out soon."
"Ah... r-right."
"Wait, did you just look like you were going to say 'it's a shame to say goodbye'?"
"I-I did not...!"
I figured. Sulk.
As Ashida had pointed out, Natsukawa really did seem to be seeking some kind of connection. Otherwise, she never would have invited me over. I wondered what to do... Why had things turned out this way now? Especially when it was almost impossible for me to see Natsukawa as anything other than a romantic interest...
Looking back on the day I spent with her, I felt a bit troubled. Perhaps it showed on my face, as she gave me a puzzled look, but I just scratched my head—the classic way to brush things off. Natsukawa was cute, and Airi-chan was cute; I didn't feel like I had any mental fortitude left to be worn down.
"............Sajoo........."
"Hmm...?"
"Sajoo... one more time."
"Oh, okay."
It seemed Airi-chan had taken a real liking to my ultimate technique—the Dynamic Hug. Between that and the tackle practice, this kid apparently loved thrills. She’s definitely going to be a roller coaster fan... Grow up big soon, okay?