"Kaito, I like you."
Turns out, saying these four words was even easier than imagined.
No blushing or racing heartbeat, no hesitation or wavering, the girl was simply stating a fact. I said it, and you heard it, that's enough. Straightforward, like a nail being driven into wood.
Kaito was silent for a moment.
Anon's confession was completely outside his expectations. Perhaps it was because the atmosphere earlier had been just right, or perhaps because of that one-minute-long kiss.
In any case, the friendship that the pink-haired girl had for him seemed to have undergone a subtle transformation.
Just like a certain Miss Kita who didn't want her name revealed, and a certain great angel of Shimokitazawa who followed her example.
Every time this happened, Kaito couldn't help but miss a certain blue-haired friend from the past.
'I miss you, Trash Ryou.'
Only good at sweet talk, but her body was more honest than anyone's. She had been the last barrier of the Sesshoku Band, and even after so long, she had never made a move on him. Greatness needs no explanation.
But there was no time to reminisce about Trash Ryou now. The pressing issue was how to deal with Anon's confession.
As the old saying goes: too much debt and you stop worrying.
Emotional debts are debts too.
The first time friendship turned into something else, his mindset was still stuck in that complicated feeling of "I saw you as a friend, but you want to sleep with me?"
But this was already the third time.
Kita, Nijika, and now, the Anon standing in front of him.
From surprise, to helplessness, to getting used to it.
While he couldn't say he was fully experienced, Kaito was no longer a greenhorn. What kind of scene hadn't he seen?
He didn't dislike Anon. Otherwise, he wouldn't have done that kind of intimate gesture, one that only happens between couples, in the karaoke room.
But Anon didn't really understand him. If they were just friends, that'd be one thing. But now that their relationship was about to change, the girl had the right to know certain facts.
He opened his mouth, about to say something, but was stopped by a slender finger pressing against his lips.
"This isn't a confession. I just wanted to say,".The girl in front of him stared at him intently, word by word, "There's a girl named Chihaya Anon who likes you, who wants to be with you forever. That's all."
"So," she actually smiled lightly, "No matter what your answer is, she will continue to like you, to chase you, until she's with you."
If a boy were to say these words, it would undoubtedly be the ultimate stalker declaration.
But from her mouth, it only felt pure and passionate.
The night breeze lifted the girl's cherry-pink long hair. Her gray eyes under the streetlamp were both stubborn and bright.
Then, she turned around, waved, and walked away without hesitation.
"Good night. Also, see you tomorrow."
Moonlight adorned the path before her. The girl's light skirt fluttered in the wind.
Love is a matter for two people, but liking someone can be a matter of one.
Just like tonight's moon, bright but useless, useless yet still bright.
Just like I like you, useless, but I still like you.
———
The night was thick like ink.
Sitting on the last train home, Kaito lowered his head, quietly reading the messages on his phone.
[Chihaya Anon: I'm home already!]
[Chihaya Anon: Today was really fun. Even though I already said it once, I still want to say, thank you for coming with me.]
[Chihaya Anon: Kaito, love~]
Though she had said similar things jokingly before, his mindset then was completely different from now.
All he could say was, after confessing, this girl wasn't even pretending anymore.
Kaito sighed.
First time unfamiliar, second time familiar, he didn't feel anything extra, just a bit dumbfounded.
Anon chose the same tactic as Kita, a one-sided confession, not waiting for his reply, then freely walking away.
Only, she was bolder and braver than Kita.
That confession, rather than a confession, it was more like a declaration of war.
This war called "love" had been started by her own hands, destined to end with one side's surrender.
———
[Thirty Minutes Later]
"Onii-chan, you're so late today! You're a full fourteen minutes and twenty-seven seconds past the promised time!"
Back home, just stepping into the living room, Mortis, who was curled up on the sofa watching TV, flew into his arms, cheeks puffed like an angry matcha kitten.
"Sorry, something unexpected came up," Kaito wasn't surprised. He peeled the clinging little girl off him and casually smoothed her hair, "Next time I won't be late, I promise."
"…Fine, then I'll reluctantly forgive you," Mortis rubbed into his chest again. Her pert little nose twitched suddenly, smelling a faint cherry blossom scent.
The smell was unfamiliar, not the refreshing scent from Soyo, nor the lily-of-the-valley scent from herself or Mutsumi, and definitely not the gardenia fragrance from Sakiko's favorite body wash.
Cheating Cat Radar went full alert, screaming inside her head.
Mortis narrowed her eyes cautiously, "Onii-chan, today… were you with a strange girl?"
'You can guess that?'
Kaito was surprised, but didn't think much, "I already told you and Mutsumi yesterday, I had things to do today. What's the problem?"
'Of course there's a problem!'
She had thought her brother's "things to do" meant exorcism requests or other proper business.
Who knew it was going on a date with a cheating cat outside.
For the scent to stick, she didn't even want to imagine how close they must have been.
Mortis was heartbroken, "Abandoning two helpless sisters at home to go on a date with some wicked woman! Are me and Mutsumi not enough for you?"
"Stupid Onii-chan! Bottom-feeder! Bottom-feeder!"
Kaito: "…"
'Who is this goblin girl? Where is my sweet and well-behaved sister?'
He glanced at Mutsumi, who was quietly watching their antics from the side.
'Alright, the well-behaved sister is here.'
As for this one, who had no respect for her brother…
"Have I been too gentle in the past, or have you hit your rebellious phase, Mortis?"
"Is Onii-chan going to punish me?"
Mortis puffed out her chest and said righteously, "Even if you spank me over your lap, you can't change the fact you abandoned your sisters for an outside woman!"
Kaito: "…"
'Before saying something like that, can you at least hide the anticipation in your eyes?'
Punishment only means something when one party is unwilling. If it's exactly what the other person wants, that's not punishment, that's a reward.
He had no interest in playing this game of admiration-based punishment.
So—
"Recently, Mizuho-san and I have been discussing the matter of enrolling you in school."
Kaito said blandly, "I originally planned to let you adapt to modern life a little longer, but seeing how energetic you are, I think you're ready to start a new chapter."
Mortis turned pale.
For most kids, school was definitely one of the top three most hated things, especially for playful ones.
She had just recently gotten a body. Every day was full of sleeping, playing, and cuddling with her brother, it was paradise. Only a lunatic would want to go to school now.
"I'm sorry, I was too loud just now," The goblin girl disappeared in an instant, replaced by the soft and docile Mortis, lowering her head and admitting fault without a shred of backbone.
Anyway, she was going to be her brother's future wife. Bowing to her husband didn't count as bowing, that was what you called a Yamato Nadeshiko.
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