Chapter 18Elite Trainers
Lately, I've been having trouble sleeping. I wake up early in the morning even though I can't sleep right away. Maybe it's because I'm not exercising as much as before. I feel like I've been using a lot of physical strength to move around, when I was still chasing after Natsukawa every day.
The fact that I rarely use the blanket these days, isn't because I'm lacking exercise, but rather it's evidence that it's getting close to summer. If I used the blanket while sleeping, the next morning it would somehow be far away from my body.
But still, what was this phenomenon that I couldn't stop eating hot toast in the morning?
I took one slice of the five pieces of white bread from the freezer and put it in the toaster. Then, I saw the smooth skin that was burnt by the red heat periodically. Somehow this became a habit without me realizing it.
While enjoying the crispy buttered toast, Big Sis, who had one side of her hair, came down from the second floor to the extent that I could imagine the way she slept. That's the new asymmetry.
Big Sis said something to me, who was eating toast.
"...Maybe that much bread is just right."
"Don't make weird comments while looking at people's faces."
My rude Big Sis did have a high awareness of boys, but I had never heard a romance story from her. I've been her little bro for many years, but Big Sis is too picky when it comes to choosing boys. That's why she's never had a boyfriend before. Although she might become popular if she stays quiet, seriously, it's really embarrassing.
"I praise you, you know. Even if you're in a group full of good-looking boys, the girls around you will get angry." (*Sarcastic tone.)
"I think you've experienced that kind of situation..."
"..."
"...?"
Hmm? For some reason, Big Sis has an unexpected reaction? Is it possible that... ...spring is coming for her who has had a hard time up to this point?
However, that face... ...That is the face of someone who is being reminded of something very unpleasant. Hmm, is it possible that Big Sis failed hard by making a half-hearted approach to a handsome boy? Well, then, it's time for me, as her little bro, to make her feel better.
"Do you finally understand... ...the splendor of a boy that I am?"
"Huh? Don't get carried away, you're a boy with 49 points."
"At least... ...at least give me one more point, okay...!"
It was a verbal attack that accurately pierced my heart. If she treats someone who is proud to be a normal boy, as someone who is below the normal line, that boy will be hurt by those words! Look, I'm trying hard to face reality and continue to do so, proud to be a normal boy, so can't you at least watch your mouth!?
If I continued this conversation any longer, it would only backfire on me in the end. I stuffed the excess bread into my mouth with tears and tried to plead with her not to say anything about her physical appearance. Big Sis did mutter, "What are you doing...?" with a look like she looked stupid in front of her. However, I think this was the moment where I saw her for the longest time in recent days.
"You little, if you keep this up, you won't be popular with girls, you know?!"
"Huh? What were you talking about just now?"
"You little..."
Big Sis, who had treated me as an unpopular boy, said something like that. She unintentionally threw out harsh pathetic words. She turned to me, seemingly wanting to say something, but in the end, she didn't say anything else.
I decided to leave home as quickly as possible yesterday. But around this time, I would be leaving at the same time as Natsukawa, so I did feel a bit awkward when I met her, but I didn't think I would see her all the time. Anyway, I carried my school bag and headed to the front door.
"Hey, Wataru, wait for me."
"...Huh?"
♦
"???"
I was told, "I want to go as well." by Big Sis, she made me wait for some reason. I couldn't hide my confusion from her who was seeking more attention than before. ...Impossible! Is it possible that all this time, Big Sis... ...likes her own little bro!?
'Huh? ...Ew, that's disgusting.' (*3 times.)
Yeah, that's impossible. It's impossible for an arrogant Big Sis to like her own little bro. Unconsciously, I could imagine Big Sis cursing me while pulling my head... ...Teacher, I don't feel like going to school again today.
While I was still confused, I put on my shoes at the same time as Big Sis. I also don't understand why the situation turned out like this. Wasn't this the first time we went together since I was in middle school? I don't like the feeling of being in the same high school as Big Sis, it just makes me feel that I'm really the younger child.
"I'm off!"
"...We're off."
Usually Big Sis doesn't bother to say that, so when I say that, she says the same words in a small voice. She's much better behaved nowadays. When she had just enrolled high school, in the era called her Gyaru Era, it was much worse than right now.
"...So? Why did you suddenly say that you want to go together?"
"Huh? I'm just saying that I want to go as well."
"What difference does it make...?"
A mysterious being called "woman" is here. If this "woman" was indeed a girl close to me, I would be happy to think that she might just be a 'tsundere', but that "woman" is my own big sis.... Even the reason why Big Sis made me wait was too mysterious to scare me.
As I followed after Big Sis without knowing what she wanted, Big Sis, who was walking slowly in front suddenly stopped.
"Hey, what's wrong, Big Sis?"
"...That girl."
Big Sis pointed forward with her chin. Wait, why did she use her chin?
Looking in the direction she was pointing, I found the back of a girl I knew standing at the end of the road leading to school. Instead of waiting for something, it seemed that she was looking at something from the end of the street. She was squatting and wearing a miniskirt, so just a little more... ...Oh, Natsukawa-sama, thank you very much.
"..."
"..."
"Hey, you know her, don't you? If that's the case, since we're going there, say hello to her."
"Hey, don't keep looking at me..."
Big Sis, who noticed my gaze, said so while touching my shoulder with the back of her hand. Obviously, greeting Natsukawa, who was in such a position and state, seemed to be a bad idea and she would probably hate it. Honestly, I didn't want to go there, even if it meant taking a detour. But behind me, an Overlord (Big Sis) kept staring at me. So I have no other choice, right?
"...Natsukawa."
"Hya...!?"
What... ...did she just say?
My heart suddenly went 'Hya'. That small, high-pitched voice that wasn't like the usual Natsukawa was so cute that I felt like I could explode at any moment now. Oh, 'Last Explosion!'.
[TL Note: 'Last Explosion', Do you know what reference this is from? ...Yeah, that's right, it's from Dragon Ball.]
"W-Wataru...!?"
"Good morning, what are you doing right here...?"
Hmm...? Just now, did she just call me by my nickname? Normally, she always calls me by my family name, right...? Hmm? What does Natsukawa usually say to call me?
"Look, there's some weird boys...! What the heck is that!?"
Natsukawa gripped my arm, this quick intimacy! My true intentions did come out of my mouth, but somehow I almost held it in (*late). When I came back to myself again and remembered Natsukawa's words, I realized that she said something that was quite alarming.
"That, look at that...!"
"Hmm...?"
Just like Natsukawa, I quietly looked out the end. Looking outside, I found four boys in the same high school uniforms as us standing in front of both sides of the fence. It's a bit like Victory Road before challenging the Elite Four, who looked like they would start a battle just by looking into their eyes.
[TL Note: 'Victory Road', do you know what this reference is?... Yeah, right, it's from Pokemon.]
"Even so, they are all elite trainers..."
"What are you talking about...?"
"Hey, how long are you planning to keep doing that?"
"Eh... ...Oh!? Wataru's Big Sis...!?"
While I was swearing, 'Handsome boys should just die!', in my mind, Big Sis (*Level 63.), who was already waiting for me, approached me in a low voice asking me to do it faster, of course, I couldn't win.
Wait a moment. Natsukawa, became weak as she looked at one of her friend's big sis, it seemed that she had just taken heavy damage from the 'Hyper Beam' attack. D*mn it, I can't lose here! Wataru was going to use 'Splash'! But nothing has happened!
[TL Note: Do you know what this is a reference to...? Yeah, that's right, another one from Pokemon.]
"You guys, what did you see just... ...then!?"
"...Big Sis?"
'Oh! Isn't that Kaede!?'
"Huh?"
No kidding, my danger sensors were already sounding the alarm. The elite trainers who were standing waiting at the end of the turn ran towards us, calling out Big Sis' name. I wanted to run away with all my might, but I couldn't move because Big Sis was hiding behind me and holding my arm from behind.
"Hey, Kaede! Who the heck is that boy!? Why are you doing something like that to hide from us!?"
"How annoying! Why are you all ambushing me! That's disgusting, you know!"
"Mega**um! I've chosen you!"
[TL Note: It's Meganium... but yeah, I think we need to censor its name.]
"Hey, you guys, can you read the atmosphere for a second..."
Natsukawa, who seemed to be in a panic, grabbed my uniform and desperately pulled it on. I couldn't be happier than this, and right now it seems that everyone decided to drop everything and run into the high school quickly... ...which is exactly what I expected to happen... ...What? It's not allowed, right?
Author's Note: Of course it's not!
TL: Reeze27
ED: Reeze27
PR: Reeze27
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