Older Sister EP.33

Something's been off lately.

 

 

 

 

Well, things have always been a little weird, but lately, it's been even weirder.

 

 

 

"Seriously, what is everyone doing...?"

 

 

 

Ever since we went to the Black Market, everyone's been acting strange.

 

 

 

"Um..."

 

 

 

"Uh, hehe? So-Sora-chan?!"

 

 

 

"What are you doing here? Aren't you supposed to be napping?"

 

 

 

"Ah, it's nothing! I wasn't doing anything!"

 

 

 

"Oh... okay..."

 

 

 

If I talk to them, they suddenly get flustered and start making excuses.

 

 

 

"Shiroko?"

 

 

 

"Yeah?"

 

 

 

"...What are you doing?"

 

 

 

"Nothing."

 

 

 

"No, this isn't nothing... at all..."

 

 

 

"....."

 

 

 

"Yeah, right..."

 

 

 

She suddenly sticks close to me and starts measuring my body length.

 

 

 

"Sora-chan! Let's go shopping together!"

 

 

 

"Ah, no, I..."

 

 

 

"Come on, hurry!"

 

 

 

"Wait, Nonomi?!"

 

 

 

She kidnaps me out of the blue and drags me shopping against my will.

 

 

 

Something's definitely up with everyone.

 

 

 

Honestly, Nonomi being like this is somewhat normal, but the other two, especially...

 

 

 

"...Are they hiding something from me?"

 

 

 

What could it be?

 

 

 

What kind of thing could they possibly be doing secretly in the Abydos desert?

 

 

 

"...Should I try to find out?"

 

 

 

You never know.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Maybe it's a dangerous weapon they can't show me.

 

 

 

 

I, Takanashi Sora of the Abydos Countermeasures Committee,

 

 

 

Lost my halo at the end of the Countermeasures Committee story,

 

 

 

And as a result, I became unable to walk until the mystery that left my body returns, whenever that may be.

 

 

 

But just for a moment,

 

 

 

I suddenly appeared in the Abydos High School Countermeasures Committee meeting room and announced,

 

 

 

"Behold, I have arrived!"

 

 

 

As if my inability to walk was a lie, I declared energetically,

 

 

 

"Yes! It's the sickly and fragile beautiful girl Sora-chan!"

 

 

 

Words I would never normally say, I uttered with confidence,

 

 

 

'....This is so embarrassing...!!!'

 

 

 

Inside, I was utterly mortified.

 

 

 

Now, if you're wondering why I did such a thing,

 

 

 

We have to rewind time a bit, back to when I was trying to consult Sensei about my worries.

 

 

 

.

 

 

 

..

 

 

 

...

 

 

 

"...Actually, I have a problem..."

 

 

 

"A problem?"

 

 

 

"...Yeah, actually... Huh? What's with the grin?"

 

 

 

I finally mustered the courage to consult him, and as soon as I started talking, Sensei began to smile.

 

 

 

"Sorry, sorry. I'm just happy that Sora is consulting me."

 

 

 

"....Sigh."

 

 

 

'When you put it like that, I can't say anything...'

 

 

 

"Anyway, I wanted to talk about Hoshino-san."

 

 

 

"I think Hoshino-san is feeling unnecessarily guilty..."

 

 

 

I told Sensei about Hoshino, who blames herself for my current condition.

 

 

 

"Honestly, I don't think she needs to feel that way..."

 

 

 

"You don't know what to say to Hoshino?"

 

 

 

"...Yeah."

 

 

 

Even if I tell her it's okay, it's different this time, so I don't know what to say.

 

 

 

Hearing this, Sensei looked at me with a somewhat proud expression and asked,

 

 

 

"So, what do you think, Sora?"

 

 

 

"...About what?"

 

 

 

"About your current situation. Do you think Hoshino is the cause?"

 

 

 

"...Of course not."

 

 

 

There's no way, not even remotely.

 

 

 

"The reason I'm like this is entirely my own fault..."

 

 

 

"...Right."

 

 

 

Scratch scratch

 

 

 

"Then, maybe you should try showing her that you're doing well?"

 

 

 

"Show her I'm doing well...?"

 

 

 

"Yeah."

 

 

 

"If you show her that you're okay and she doesn't need to worry, maybe Hoshino's worries will ease a little?"

 

 

 

"...Do you really think that will work...?"

 

 

 

'Every time I tell her I'm fine, she doesn't believe me...'

 

 

 

"Well, I think it's worth a try."

 

 

 

"...."

 

 

 

'...Okay, I don't know if it'll work, but it's worth a shot.'

 

 

 

"Thanks, Sensei. You've been helpful."

 

 

 

I smiled and thanked him.

 

 

 

Even I'm not so rude as to receive help and not express gratitude.

 

 

 

"It's nothing. Of course, I should listen to my students' problems."

 

 

 

"...Haha."

 

 

 

'That's a good mindset.'

 

 

 

"...But."

 

 

 

Pat!

 

 

 

"Didn't I tell you not to pat my head?"

 

 

 

This Sensei keeps doing it.

 

 

 

Even if I've become smaller due to the aftereffects, I wish he'd stop treating me like a child.

 

 

 

...Seriously.

 

 

 

"...Too bad."

 

 

 

Hearing me, Sensei rubbed his hand and expressed his disappointment.

 

 

 

"...Sigh..."

 

 

 

Honestly, talking to Sensei is exhausting.

 

 

 

...But now I have an idea of what to do.

 

 

 

So, partly for revenge, I used the cheerful expression Sensei suggested and said,

 

 

 

"Then, Sensei? I need your help for a bit."

 

 

 

"Uh, huh?"

 

 

 

"Oh? What's with that face? Are you going to refuse your student's request for help?"

 

 

 

Sensei looked flustered and said,

 

 

 

"N-no, of course, I'll help... I-is it dangerous? Or a crime...?"

 

 

 

"Huh? Don't worry, it's not a difficult request."

 

 

 

"You just need to be my legs for a day."

 

 

 

.

 

 

 

..

 

 

 

 

...

 

 

 

And so, I appeared in the wheelchair Sensei pushed, swallowing my embarrassment and saying those lines.

 

 

 

By the way, I borrowed those lines from a certain someone everyone knows.

 

 

 

But apparently, this method was flawed.

 

 

 

"S-Sora-chan, are you okay?"

 

 

 

Seriously flawed...

 

 

 

"Sora-chan... you're okay, right...?"

 

 

 

"Yeah, she doesn't look okay at all."

 

 

 

"...D-did the loss of her halo affect Sora-senpai's head somehow?"

 

 

 

"W-what should we do...?"

 

 

 

"...."

 

 

 

The Countermeasures Committee members heard my entrance line and began to genuinely wonder if something had happened to my head.

 

 

 

'No, well... isn't everyone being a bit harsh?'

 

 

 

Without even considering my feelings...

 

 

 

Of course, my entrance was different from my usual self... but even I'm hurt by this reaction.

 

 

 

"...Sensei, what are you going to do about this?"

 

 

 

I glared at Sensei, who was pushing my wheelchair, and spoke quietly.

 

 

 

"Ahaha..."

 

 

 

Of course, Sensei just gave an awkward laugh.

 

 

 

"...Sigh."

 

 

 

'There's no other choice.'

 

 

 

I have to keep going.

 

 

 

Honestly, the others' reactions are hurtful, but this is all my fault, and it's for easing Hoshino's guilt, so I'll endure and continue this charade.

 

 

 

'I still have a secret weapon, after all.'

 

 

 

"Anyway, since that's settled, from now on, call me the sickly and fragile beautiful girl Sora-chan!"

 

 

 

"What?! What are you talking about, Sora-senpai!"

 

 

 

"Ahem! I said, call me the sickly and fragile beautiful girl!"

 

 

 

"Uh, heh, So-Sora-chan..."

 

 

 

"Sickly and fragile beautiful girl!"

 

 

 

"Uh, uh... Sickly and fragile beautiful girl Sora-chan..."

 

 

 

"....Why?"

 

 

 

"W-why are you suddenly acting like this? It's not like the usual Sora-chan..."

 

 

 

"...."

 

 

 

I know. I know better than anyone.

 

 

 

I'm so embarrassed I could cry.

 

 

 

But if it's for easing Hoshino's worries, I have to endure this much.

 

 

 

"I think everyone's worrying unnecessarily, so I decided to change my job."

 

 

 

"Change your job...?"

 

 

 

"Yes!"

 

 

 

I placed my hands on my hips, puffed out my chest, and declared proudly,

 

 

 

"From the simple Takanashi Sora to the sickly and fragile beautiful girl Sora-chan!"

 

 

 

"So, stop worrying now. I'm not sick, I've just changed my job to one with the 'sickly' trait!"

 

 

 

"Got it?"

 

 

 

 

"Hoshino-san. No.... B-big sis!"