Chapter 28The Goddess' Conflict
My classmates were at my house. Airi was happy because the atmosphere suddenly became lively, and when she was hugged by each of them, she suddenly smiled. Seeing my little sis feel like that made me smile too. And I think it's good to let them come.
"Airi-chan, I'm Takaaki. Ta-ka-a-ki."
"Takaki-!"
"Ahaha! She said you were Takaki! Hey, Takaki-kun~!"
"The right one is Takaaki!"
Everyone tried to hold Airi and make her remember their names.
Since they rarely saw each other... ...they would be very happy if they happened to meet her outside and found out that she still remembered their names.
"So cute~, I'll take it home, is it okay?"
"Huh? N-No!"
"Is it okay to take Aichi home?!"
"What are you talking about, Kei...!?"
Kei approached me while twisting her body and I tried to stop her with both of my hands. I pressed her cheeks as she tried to get closer to me. Her mouth stuck out slightly and her cute face looked like an octopus. Seeing that, I couldn't help but laugh a little.
"Ta-ka-a-ki!"
"Ta-Ta-Takaaki!"
"Yeah! Takaaki!"
"Takaaki!"
"Oh! Finally, she can remember everyone!"
"Wow, wow!"
Airi finally remembered everyone's name including Sakaki-kun's. She was praised and petted by everyone. While looking at the place where she was happy, Airi saw the face of Okamoto-san who was on good terms with Shirai-san, and smiled.
Oh, I see... ...I'm sure she has forgotten her name.
"...Phew?"
"Airi, come here."
"..."
The moment I called her name, Airi ran towards me. I held her and stroked her head. After that, she squinted as if she was comfortable.
Yeah, she is cute. This girl, I will protect her no matter what.
"Hey, hey, we all said our names at once, so of course Airi-chan got confused!"
"Let's stop right nowー."
"That anxious face is also cute..."
"Hey!"
I guess, she doesn't remember anymore... ...Even excluding Kei, there are four people. I mean, even myself, when so many people suddenly tell her their names, she can't remember them all right away. When Kei and I met, at that time, I was being talked to by a group of girls who were in Volleyball Club, but she was able to remember their names right away because she was the first person to tell her their names. It was also the same when she first came to my house... ...Kei is probably an expert in that kind of thing.
"You have remembered a lot. You did your best, Airi."
"Yeah...!"
"Uhrha..."
Okamoto-san collapsed when she saw Airi laughing. She did cry while saying, 'Airi is a good girl.' or 'You did your best'. But she was bitterly laughed at by Shirai-san. Actually, I also had the same experience when I saw Airi's smile that looked like an angel.
"...Oh..."
The weight on my arm increasing, Kei looked at Airi while making a low voice.
Oh, you're sleepy, aren't you? ...Yeah, you've been playing a lot today so I can understand if you're tired earlier than usual.
I put Airi in a safe place and closed this visit. After that I went to the front door with everyone and escorted them outside.
"Thank you for today, Natsukawa."
"That Airi-chan is much cuter than in the photo!"
"Fufufu, isn't she?"
"Aichi is cute too!"
"I'm tired of hearing that already."
Everyone gave their impressions. Clearly, they could not help but love Airi after seeing her in person.
If there was someone who tried to hold back their feelings when seeing Airi, that person must be an idiot...
Yeah, I will continue to see Airi's sleeping face...!
"Oh, but it might be difficult to get other people to come to your house for a while."
"...Huh?"
"I mean, we've already filled her brain just by remembering our names."
"For now, there are already four peopleー. Well, even if Natsukawa-san says it's okay to come to her house, Airi-chan probably won't be able to handle it."
That's true... ...I mean Shirai-san went to great lengths to get Airi to remember her name after she first introduced herself. If I invite someone else to my house again this way too, Airi's head might explode. I think everyone thinks well of Airi...
"...Tha-"
"Hmm...?"
"...Thank you..."
"A~~! Aichi~!!!"
"Kya... ...H-Hey!"
When was the last time I was able to say thank you to people who weren't family members like this...?
While feeling embarrassed, I managed to say so, but Kei with a big smile hugged me from the front.
"Cute...! Aichi, you're so cute...!"
"K-Kei...?!"
"...Whoa..."
"Hey, don't! Sasaki-kun, don't look! Don't look at anything!"
"What do you mean by anything?!"
Okamoto-san and the others tried to close Sasaki-kun's eyes as I was about to untangle myself from Kei. Apparently, when viewed from the side, we looked rather 'strange'. Knowing that, I forcibly detached myself from Kei.
"H-Hey...! What the heck are you suddenly doing!?"
"I, I'm sorry... ...I can't control it anymore..."
"What?!"
"M-My libido."
"What is that...?"
I'm grateful, but that doesn't mean you can do anything to me! Seriously... ...Wh-Where did you try to put your face just now!?
As I was talking at the front door, the sky was already red. It was the beginning of summer. So, based on the position of the sun. it seemed like a good time to go home.
"Airi likes environment where the atmosphere is lively. Maybe Airi wants to see you guys again, so until then."
"Yeah! I can see her again!"
"So, this is a sign that we're booked for next time, right?"
"Huh?"
Everyone do talk about Airi. But that's not a bad thing... ...Even I, who was easily angered, was able to look at the scene with delicate feelings.
However, my feelings were blown away in an instant by Airi who suddenly woke up.
"─Mmm~ ...Takaaki..."
"!"
"Huh...? Airi-chan?"
Airi, who came out through the open door, held on to the leg of Sasaki, who was about to go home. Like a little sis who loves her big bro very much...
"Ahaha... ...By the way, Sasaki-kun, you're a real big bro, aren't you?"
"Won't your little sis get jealous if she sees this?"
"Yuki will also have fun..."
"Oh! You're the worst! You should have said, 'She's still cute even now'! I feel sorry for your little sis!"
Sasaki-kun gently stroked Airi's head as if he was her big bro. Airi accepted it with a face that felt happy and was about to sleep as if it was so.
"...Hey, Airi."
"Hmm...? Big Sis...?"
When I called out to Airi, she walked towards me with a sleepy face. I carried her like that. Then Airi relinquished her body to me and went back to sleep again.
Yeah, children do like to sleep early...
This strange feeling subsided somewhat when I saw Airi completely relinquish herself to me.
"...Aichi?"
"...She's already asleep, huh? Sasaki-kun, I'm sorry about Airi, okay."
"No, it's okay, though. It reminds me of when my little sis was little too... ...It's really nostalgic..."
(TL Note: You and your little sis are only 1 year apart, how come?)
"I see..."
With that, my classmates' visit to my house finally ended. Everyone smiled, waved goodbye, and went home. After I waved back slightly at them, I turned my white eyes to the side.
"...Don't you want to go home?"
"Ehehe... ...Aichi, can I stay at your house too──?"
"Go home."
"Tskー."
She was still as skillful as ever, and never missed an opportunity.
She's still in uniform and she didn't bring a change of clothes. It's not impossible that I should lend her some, but the size... ...If a tall, athletic girl tells me that my clothes are too big or loose, I'll start fasting! At the first place, she wasn't planning to stay over, was she?
After looking at Kei, I went back inside, it wasn't dinner time yet, so I couldn't let Airi fall asleep.
As I gently put her onto the sofa in the living room, Airi opened her eyes.
"Mmmー...?"
"Hey, Airi."
"Gosh, have your classmates gone home?"
"Yeah."
Mom, who was cooking in the kitchen, looked at me with a smile. She seemed very happy that I didn't often invite my classmates over. Those warm eyes were more on me than Airi.
Ugh, for some reason, I felt embarrassed...
While I was feeling very uncomfortable, Airi mysteriously asked me.
"...What about Takaaki...?"
"Airi."
"Phew!"
For some reason, I said so with a rather cold tone. I don't even know why. Maybe it sounded like I was angry at Airi, so she looked at me with an agitated expression.
Hurriedly, I sat beside her and hugged Airi tightly as if nothing had happened.
Perhaps Airi thought that I was not angry, she looked at me with a smile and let her body rest on me.
"Airi, did you enjoy it yourself?"
"Yeah, it was fun...!"
"I see, huh? That's good, then."
Maybe Airi was really woken up by me putting her on my lap and putting her down, and her voice sounded energetic again.
I knew it, children do get tired quickly and recover quickly, huh. Will she be able to sleep well tonight?
"Airi. Do you remember all their names?"
"Yeah! I remember them!"
"I see, huh? ...Who do you remember the most?"
"Takaaki!"
"Yeah, you know, dear...?"
You know? What? What did I just say?
Isn't that okay? Sasaki is a real big bro who has a little sis. He was very kind to Airi. That's why she missed Sasaki-kun so much that she hugged Sasaki-kun's legs to such an extent. There's nothing strange about that...
'You've remembered a lot. You did your best, Airi.'
'For now, there are already four people-.'
'I mean, we've filled her brain just by remembering our names─.'
"..."
Airi herself enjoyed it and did her best to remember everyone's names. I think it's a new experience for her... ...and will be an important memory that will last for years to come... ...Being loved by kind big sissies and a kind big bro... ...I think it will be a very happy memory and will only have a positive impact on Airi.
But... ...why?
Why am I feeling upset... and somewhat annoyed... ...deep down inside?
"Airi."
"What's wrong, Big Sis?"
"It's okay, though... ...just don't be willing to be hugged by others just like that, okay."
"Okay."
I think I said this with a smile and a gentle voice. Honestly, I don't think I need to say this. But if I don't say it, I can't feel satisfied later.
"Airi, you know..."
"Hmmー?"
What am I thinking, huh? It's strange... ...It's not like my usual self. I mean, I've always hated it. Of course, I won't let any bad influence get close to Airi. And I should intend to do it too in the future, but─.
"─There's one more... ...Can you remember one more name?"
"Ehー?"
Author's Note:
Sasaki Yuki: "Big Bro...?" 😡
TL: Reeze27
ED: Reeze27
PR: Reeze27
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