Sitting on a bench near the main gate of Trinity Academy, I was chatting with Urawa Hanako about the Supplementary Classes Department.
Suddenly, two lovely girls approached from a distance, walking leisurely. The moment I saw them, my hand naturally shot up toward the sky.
“Haruna! Noa~!”
Waving my hand energetically, I caught a glimpse of my two sisters’ eyes widening in surprise. Their steps quickened as they neared.
Hmm, I wish they’d ease up on running in heels… Though I can’t really complain since I do it often myself.
“Oh my, could it really be Misono Mika? This is beyond a delicacy…!”
“Hehe. They say that baby animals have particularly tender meat, right, Haruna-chan?”
“Wait a minute. Noa, isn’t that a bit of a dangerous statement…?”
“Yes, indeed. Describing a younger Mika-chan as a delicacy while drooling over her is pretty risky, to say the least.”
“Ah, come on! You know that’s not what I meant… But speaking of Mika-chan, can I maybe just take a tiny bite of those marshmallow-like cheeks? Just once…!”
“Well, it seems there’s really no denying the risk♪”
As Haruna approached, her eyes shimmering, her fingers wriggled in excitement. Behind her, Noa flashed a content smile while observing us.
…But really, judging by what Noa had said, this felt like a dangerous gaze, didn’t it?
“If it’s Luna, it’s fine… Right? But you have to be gentle so it doesn’t hurt…?”
If it’s Haruna, or rather, if it’s Luna, I’d even welcome that. A beauty on the level of Misono Mika can be forgiven for just about anything. Yes.
“Ugh… Noa, it seems like I need you to prepare my gravestone today. In this case, what would cause of death be…? Homicide?”
“Well, thinking it through, it would probably be more accurate to label it as natural causes. By the way, Mika-chan, could you tell us a bit about how this situation came to be? Since even in Millennium, we haven’t been able to achieve any technology that makes people younger… This is definitely curiosity calling.”
“Yeah… This is the effect of a potion made in the Sanhaegyeong’s Danbang. It’s temporary, so I’ll be back to normal by tomorrow. I’ll explain more on the way!”
“I see… That makes sense, considering Danbang has a pretty solid reputation in that field. I’ve heard that one of the six prisoners was a former head of that Danbang.”
Hmm. Every time I hear that “six prisoners” term, it gives me a strange feeling…
I was originally supposed to be in a group of seven but ended up at six, and complicated circumstances brought me to the point where I have to take care of someone.
Anyway, I felt like I needed to move to a different spot… My attention was being drawn to Luna and Noa. For various reasons, but primarily because they’re idols. It was time to find some privacy.
“Ah, right. Luna, this is your first time seeing me, right? This is Urawa Hanako, the same age as Noa…”
“I’m Misono Mika’s lifetime secretary, Urawa Hanako~ and I’m the sixth.”
“…Hehe. Mika, it seems like since March, it’s been one new addition each month, hasn’t it?”
…Hmm. Now that you mention it, it feels a bit uncanny. Noa in March, Wakamo in April, Hanako in May…?
“Oh wow, that’s really true! At this rate, I feel like Mika-chan will end up with twelve by the end of this year.”
“…Hehe. Am I too pretty for my own good?”
“I have a few things I’d like to say about that, but shall we save them for later? For now, I just want to make sure to remember this moment as vividly as possible… Hehe.”
At that point, the three of us exchanged subtle glances, and suddenly, Hanako turned around with a beaming smile and hugged me from behind.
“Mika-senpai, I’ll be heading back first. I’ll handle any complaints from Nagisa-senpai, so why don’t you take the time to show these two around Trinity Academy?”
“Sis… are you sure it’s okay? I feel like I should take responsibility…”
“Senpai… I boldly assert that the things I can do for you far outweigh the things I can’t. I have that much confidence. So please, don’t worry about me and go have fun.”
“Ugh. Really, really thank you, Hanako.”
“Uhuhuh, don’t mention it.”
Hanako placed a kiss on my hand and gave me her characteristic sly smile.
“Oh, and Noa? Under Mika-senpai’s desk in the office is my spot. So please use another place next time♡”
The words that slipped out of her mouth completely shattered the tingly feelings I had just moments ago.
Noa blinked in confusion, and Luna tilted her head, not quite grasping the situation. Meanwhile, Hanako left us three behind as she walked away.
After a brief moment of stillness, Noa put her hand on her cheek with a troubled expression, breaking into an awkward smile.
“Mika-chan, you should really manage your expressions better.”
“What happened between you two…?”
Huh…? Is it too much for me to be blamed here…? Thankfully, I didn’t tell Luna about that embarrassing day, so at least there’s that.
But now it seems like it’s all going to come out, so perhaps saying I’m grateful is a bit much!
“Is it my fault…?”
“Oh dear. I didn’t see that reaction coming… Hmm.”
“I told you to drop it multiple times… So it’s my fault for getting caught, huh… Ugh. Got it…”
“Noa…? I think we need a little clarification here.”
It took ten seconds for Noa’s troubled smile to turn into a genuine one full of distress.
Hmph, now you see who’s in charge, right? The only one who could compete with me in this younger state is Hanako, Noa.
Just as I was about to turn my gaze towards Noa with a slightly mischievous smile, she giggled and said,
“Haruna-chan. Speaking of which, looking at Mika-chan like this…”
…That sounded like a blatant shift in the topic.
“It feels like seeing the daughter of the future… don’t you think?”
“…Oh dear.”
But this blatant deflection totally worked in this situation…?
“Indeed. Hehe, hehe. Hey, Mika… Can you call me ‘Mommy’… or ‘Mama’ just once?”
“…Eh?”
No, no, Luna! How can you fall for such a blatant trick…!
*
“Mika…?”
“Yeah, Luna.”
“Are you really not going to call me that?”
“Yeah, Luna.”
“Could you please just do it once for me, Mika?”
“…No.”
I thought about it repeatedly. This is just wrong no matter how you look at it.
“Mika-chan~?”
“Noa, shh.”
“No, Mika-chan. It’s not ‘sister’ but ‘mama’. Try saying it once♪”
…Seriously. There’s no way I’d call anyone that, let alone with Noa right here, who can vividly remember this for life. That’s just absurd.
“Now, welcome to the headquarters of the Justice Realization Department—”
“Mika, no matter how hard you try to introduce us to where Trinity is, we really have no interest in it. Although, if you call me that just once… I might change my mind.”
“…Luna, if you say that one more time, I’m going to tighten my grip.”
“Hehe, do you really think Mika would say those words to me? Please don’t say such insincere things.”
“Hmph. You think I can’t do it?”
“Of course not. Mika-chan cherishes Haruna-chan too much for that, right?”
“…Ugh, so annoying.”
“Another insincere statement. You’ll eventually say it anyway, so why not just admit it?”
“Fine, but I won’t say it!”
Starting from the main gate, the two sisters held onto my hands tightly, not allowing a moment’s peace as they walked along.
Why do they want to be called that? I really can’t understand, honestly.
“Hey… Haruna-chan. I have a great idea.”
“What is it, Noa?”
“Here’s the deal…”
“Hey, what does it change for you to be having a tactical meeting right in front of us?”
“Hehe. That’s true, but I don’t think it really matters to say it openly. Mika-chan, when you went to enjoy White Night last time… You put on a little show for the other two, right?”
Huh? Why is that story coming up now?
“How about we make a little promise, Haruna-chan?”
“Are you perhaps thinking what I think you are…?”
“Yes, that’s the one♪”
“…”
The moment Luna fell silent, I too had a feeling I was catching on to what that promise meant. So, are we just going to resolve this with cosplay?
…Is it really worth taking it that far?
“Hehe. Not too much, just one carefully selected outfit?”
“Sure. If Mika’s okay with it, then let’s make it happen.”
“Mika-chan agrees. So how will you respond?”
“…Hmph. But I still won’t do it. Even without any conditions, you’ll do it if you ask, right? Yes, isn’t that so?”
“Hmm. That’s hard to deny… Huh. You’re a tough opponent, Haruna-chan. What can we do to overcome this cute creature?”
Hah, heh heh. Yes, Noa, you simply give up. I won’t let you take away my remaining dignity!
“It looks like this isn’t going to work… I thought for sure I could count on you. Sigh.”
“Yeah… I had a firm belief too, but here we are.”
“…”
Ugh, come on. This tactic to provoke sympathy is going too far. Is this really how it’s going to go? Why am I being toyed with by these two just because I got younger?!
“Really, just once is fine, right? Please?”
“…Yes, please!”
“Hehe, it’s recorded. Perfect♪”
Ugh, what’s with this recording? Noa covering her mouth while smiling mischievously is really annoying.
But if I say I won’t do it, Luna’s disappointment will flash before my eyes…
While pondering how to get back at Noa, a brilliant idea suddenly struck me like lightning.
“Hey, Noa.”
“Yes, Mika-chan?”
I gently pulled my hand away from Luna’s grasp and threw myself into Noa’s arms.
With what I could muster as my brightest smile.
“I love you, Mama!”
“…?!”
“Like, really, really! I love you as much as the sky and the stars!”
“…”
Ushio Noa, down for the count.
Looking at Noa’s frozen face, I felt my cheeks burning.
I guess the attempt to deliver a blow backfire was more like self-detonation in the end.
