Chapter 21: What Can You Do to Restore a Broken Brain? A Certain Talking Bun Can Be Restored With Orange Juice, Right? That's What It Comes Down to, My Childhood Friend's Brain Is A Bun

What Can You Do to Restore a Broken Brain? A Certain Talking Bun Can Be Restored With Orange Juice, Right? That's What It Comes Down to, My Childhood Friend's Brain Is A Bun

Mama is worried about me, my little sister is worried about me, and even Daddy has told me to be careful. Everyone really loves Hikari. Sorry for worrying you all, Hikari loves you all too.

In stark contrast to the neighbor house, this is a lovely, kind dinner. The whole family is together, caring for each other. It's a common, yet undeniably wonderful scene.

By the way, the neighbors are probably having a mini-meeting right now, finding out that their only son, who is clearly unwell, refuses to say anything, and even threw up in the hallway. 

Don't worry, I'll solve your worries tomorrow.

...Huh? You think Tomohiro-kun will become mentally ill and cause trouble for me?

No, I fully understand his tolerance level, and I've left plenty of room for error.

Certainly, this was unexpected, but in factory production terms, it exceeded the control limits. It's within spec, so we'll make adjustments and there won't be any problems.

I'm diligent about quality assurance, so it's highly unlikely that anything would exceed my expectations. Even if it did, Tomohiro-kun would probably check with me before solidifying his own understanding. Even if I had killed his mom and it was caught on camera, he probably wouldn't accept it until I admit it to him directly.

That's pretty serious, blind devotion. But that level of devotion is actually easier and more convenient to deal with.

I spend happy family time like this, taking it easy, and leisurely finishing my homework to rest my hands, tired from woodworking for two days in a row. I also help my little sister with her studies while I'm at it.

Once I'm done with my tasks, I leisurely search for talents, and by chance I find the account of a boy who received a wooden carved face and glasses from his crush.  

He followed me and send me a message saying "I'm watching," but the fact that he's tweeting normally like this means he's either not trying to hide or it's a trap, and either way, it wouldn't be any fun to respond to him normally here, so I'll ignore it.

It's funny to see the replies  like, "There's no way someone that crazy exists!"

Excuse me, but yes, there is, a crazy TS beauty like that here.

Thinking about this, I put an end to my search, which hasn't turned up anything significant.

The internet is always the same, and it's kind of lonely.

I wish something interesting would happen soon. Even if it's the same, the reality is that there are interesting toys, and that's about all I can be reasonably satisfied with.

When I think about it, Tomohiro-kun's reactions towards me are amazing. It's mostly thanks to this guy that I'm not bored, so maybe I should give him a little care. Regular maintenance extends the lifespan of toys, after all. I should do that to make sure they last longer.

If that's the case, tomorrow, instead of just clearing up the misunderstanding, I should do something a little more.  

Something that would convey that I truly care about Tomohiro-kun. 

Hmm, I've already given him homemade gifts several times, so it's a little late to be making sweets. I could probably make something from woodworking, but that would contradict the suggestive attitude I had shown when I gave Satoshi-kun his gift.

It's quite a challenge. Something that meets all of my requirements, but doesn't directly determine my relationship with Tomohiro-kun.

...What the heck is that? Does such a thing really exist?

However, it would be a disgrace for a TS reincarnated person to give up just because I can't think of something.

Squeezing all my pink brain cells into an idea, I came to the conclusion that holding hands would be enough as a reward for Tomohiro-kun.

He's that simple to coax. Tomohiro-kun's brain will recover when I hold his hand. I wonder just how convenient he is for me.

So, with that plan decided, the next morning I reassured my worried Mama, who was trying to send me off, that I'm completely fine, and headed to the house next door.  

I wasn't lying when I said I had gotten better.

I'm definitely no longer in the state where I needed support or something to hold on to when standing up like yesterday.

Well, Hikari, it's because you're worrying your Mama yesterday. Reflect on your actions!

My bad! Truly sorry!

I thought to myself as I rang the doorbell next door. The neighbor mother told me that Tomohiro-kun didn't seem to be feeling well and asked if I knew anything about it.

"Yes! Hikari knows! Hiro-chan's brain is a mess right now!"

I couldn't bring myself to say that, so I told her I didn't know and that I was worried, so I'd keep a close eye on him today.

I apologetically said that I had a few things to do until yesterday and couldn't keep an eye on Hiro-chan, and the neighbor mother always apologized, looking even more apologetic than I was. She looked more apologetic than the original cause, which shows she really is a wonderful parent. But of course, my Mama comes first! 

A little while later, when I saw Tomohiro-kun coming downstairs, he looked so gaunt I wondered if he'd been fasting for two days.

Come to think of it, neighbor mom said he had no appetite yesterday morning and didn't eat anything at dinner, and he even threw up the stew he had for school lunch.

I don't think he'd be able to eat dinner properly in that state, so it's probably safe to assume he's skipped a whole day. ...I'm glad he seems willing to go to school today as well. It might have been a bit dangerous if I hadn't given him a push.

As Tomohiro-kun said he had no appetite again this morning, I finished up a conversation with the neighbor mom through eye contact, and prepared some rice balls for him while he brushed his teeth and got changed.

How fortunate for Tomohiro-kun to be able to eat homemade rice balls made by his beautiful childhood friend in the morning!

However, I don't think he'd be able to eat them if I'd just made them for him, so it's my job to make sure he eats them.

Before he returned, I slipped them into his bag along with a bottle of water, and left the neighbor's house with him when he returned.

I walk, slightly protecting my leg, and Tomohiro-kun's brain damage accelerates as he sees this.

It's about time we get him better, otherwise his sexual fetish will suffer permanent damage, so we'd better hurry. Or maybe a little mo–

No, Hikari! You bad girl! No matter how much you want to enjoy it until the very end, don't get involved in this chicken game! If Tomohiro-kun's sexual fetish suffers permanent damage, it will be irreversible!

Hehehe, isn't it exactly because it's irreversible that it's so exciting? You want to experience this once-in-a-lifetime moment right in front of you, right?

I listen to the angel and devil arguing in my head, waiting for Tomohiro-kun to make his move. It would be easy for me to say that nothing happened yesterday, but doing so would inevitably seem unnatural. Tomohiro-kun asks, and I answer. That's how it should be.

"...What were you doing yesterday? Why are you walking so strange?"

Tomohiro-kun asks quietly, his face down, in a muttered, almost reproaching tone.

Finally, I've been waiting for that question! His way of asking is a little moist, thick, and feels good. It's great, I love that kind of thing.

"Yesterday? Ah, sorry I couldn't go home with you yesterday. I had promise with Satoshi-kun. I got a little excited and fell over, and actually bruised my thigh."

If I say anything that deny him or distances myself at this point, Tomohiro-kun will break down, so if you're the type who wants to enjoy your snacks for a long time, you should refrain from doing so.

I too, resist the urge to whine and say, "That's none of your business, Hiro-chan!" and continue to talk to Tomohiro-kun to clear up his misunderstanding.

I was able to hold back because I'm the eldest daughter, but it might have been impossible if I were the second daughter.

Picking the edge of his skirt, I asked him seductively, "There's a small bruise. Would you like to see it?"

The innocent boy blushed a little and looked away. Tomohiro-kun is the best, as always, as he gives the reaction you'd expect.

"...Um, what was this promise? What were you doing when I wasn't around?"

What Tomohiro-kun wants to know most is whether I was raped. But logically, there's no way he could honestly ask his beloved childhood friend, "Did he do it to you?" He can't ask directly, so he's asking indirectly like this.

I understand that and will deliberately avoid the answer. What a mean personality you have there, Hikari.

"All I can say about the promise is that it's not strange. Or does Hiro-chan want me to be a terrible person who can't even keep a secret?"

Tomohiro-kun looks sour-faced.

It's wonderful how easy it is to understand everything. I answer a few more questions and clears up all the misunderstandings except for my first time.

As I do so, the humidity and viscosity decrease. People who prefer lighter, more refreshing stories might prefer this, but I find it a little lacking.

Well, now the misunderstanding is cleared up and everyone is happy!

I can't believe you had such a misunderstanding about me. Hiro-chan is so mean. Hikari will be careful not to make the same mistake again.

We could just end it at that, but Tomohiro-kun has a reason he just can't let it end.

Yes, it's about my first time.

Thanks to my training, he probably hasn't turned into a unicorn, but he can't help but worry about the chastity of the girl he loves.

As the misunderstanding is cleared up, that worry grows, and that's just the way a boy should be.

I'm interested in Mama's chastity too. I'm sure Mama is protecting her virginity.

Eh, Daddy? Who are you talking about? Mama gave birth to us as a virgin. That's why we're just like clones of Mama!

You see, my little sister and I were born of asexual reproduction.

"...By the way, is it okay that you said it was your first time? Was something terrible done to you after all?"

Just as I was about to deny half the blood flowing through my body, Tomohiro-kun, who had finally mustered up the courage, asked me something that had been bothering him for a while.

I replied, "...Where did you hear that?", creating a tense atmosphere.

Well, that's only natural.

Tomohiro-kun, who wasn't even there, knows the words I only said when I was called in with letter, and Satoshi-kun and I's conversation in front of the house.

I know he knew, but he didn't. It would be an invasion of privacy. Either way, it was eavesdropping. Tomohiro-kun! You're out!

In a panic, Tomohiro-kun explains that he accidentally overheard it when he was about to leave the house to go out. Judging from his expression, he doesn't seem to be lying. So that means that yesterday's coincidence was brought about by Tomohiro-kun's shopping.

That's not fate anymore, lol! You were meant to be like this after all!

I understood that he was trying to hide the fact that he had eavesdropped on the call by letter thing, but I couldn't bring myself to mention it, so I just forgot about it.

Alright, 1, 2, and poof, I was dumbfounded! Hikari had forgotten something unimportant. And she didn't remember anything!

"...My first time, it's just a gift, it isn't as weird as you might think, Hiro-chan. It's just that Satoshi-kun found out about my secret hobby, so to keep him quiet, I made something I'd never given to anyone before."

"What I gave him is a secret, even to Hiro-chan, but! If Hiro-chan notices, I'll give you the same thing then."

With that, Tomohiro-kun's shoulders slumped as if he'd finally let go of all his tension.

Were you really that nervous? Also, I know you seem to be hoping that it's my secret, but even if you find my account, all I'll give you is a 1/5 scale version of your head. Do you really want it that badly?

By the way, if you say it like that, if I was posting erotic videos online as a hobby, then that means I was giving Satoshi-kun what Tomohiro-kun was imagining. And since I didn't directly deny it, even if that were the case, I still managed to fool Tomohiro-kun.

Hikari, you've learned a good lesson!

After feeling relieved, Tomohiro-kun said he was hungry, so I gave him some homemade rice balls and some water.

Is the water tasty? It's delicious?

Good for you. Now that I've done some maintenance, he'll be well enough to be played by me again.

"Hiro-chan, as punishment for thinking such a strange thing, you'll be my cane for the rest of the day. Actually, as you can see, it still hurts a little when I walk... I guess?"

With that, I grabbed Tomohiro-kun's hand tightly, and the boy's brain began to recover.

That's good for you. Let me play with you again.