| Author: Hidsuki Shihou | Original Source: Syosetu | Word Count: 3270 characters |
| Translator: PunishedLyly | English Source: Re:Library | Word Count: 1468 words |
| Editor(s): Fire | ||
I’m weak against unexpected situations. I cannot think and adjust quickly enough to adapt to any situation like Mister does. That’s why I also forgot one important thing. You can say it’s only natural since I share the same blood as that mother of mine, but…
I’m absolutely terrible at acting.
“Areyouwantforsomething?“
“Why are you talking like that?”
Sitting down next to me, Kaori looked at my face and was taken aback. Yup, I realize it as well. Both my voice and my face are completely stiff and awkward. I probably have a considerable weird face right now.
“Is the heat getting to you?”
“Amfine.”
This is quite awful acting, if I say so myself. However, impersonating Mister is very difficult. I always see things from a first-person perspective, so I never knew the sort of expressions she makes. I can somewhat discern how she feels, but I am unable to see my own face.
“Hmmm?”
“What?”
“This is out of character for you. You sound a bit distant, and Kotone always becomes more amiable when soaking in a tub.”
She’s definitely suspicious of me. Still, I have no idea how to even explain the situation. Kaori knows about Mister, but she has never been told about me. And if she realizes that it’s not Mister, it might cause her to worry. However, I recognize that it’s impossible for me to continue hiding it.
“Are you the real Kotone?”
“Why do you know!?”
“Isami told me about you before the trip.”
Does everyone in the rogue’s den have some sort of unusual ability? I have no clue how Isami even knew of my existence. I don’t recall Mister telling her about me either.
“Mister is alright, so please don’t be worried.”
“Mister, huh. It feels really weird hearing that with your voice. Actually, why did you two switch?”
“She fell asleep while bathing, so it was a necessary measure.”
“Oh Kotone…”
Kaori was flabbergasted, but I’m personally more surprised by her lack of reaction to me suddenly taking control. Couldn’t she show some sort of response? She’s so casual about this.
“How… how can you accept it like this is just commonplace?”
“After being with Kotone this long, I’ve somehow gotten used to things. Well, I guess that happens is my default reaction now.”
“I see.”
“You being convinced by this reason isn’t any less weird, you know?”
It’s Mister, after all. Associating with someone who keeps diving face first or getting involved into absurd situations will surely grant one an unshakeable heart. Looking back on Mister’s actions up to this point, it’s easy to accept.
“Nevertheless, hmmm, so you’re the original Kotone.”
“Please don’t stare so much.”
“Oh, sorry. I was caught up with how different you are. The way you’re so bashful feels so novel.”
As we are both naked, it’s hard for me to endure my embarrassment. Since only Kaori is around, I can still manage. If there were other people, I’d probably be as flustered as Mister was earlier.
“Still, I’m not as uneasy as I thought I would be. When I talked with Isami, the thought of Kotone disappearing scared me so much, and this situation right now was something I didn’t even want to imagine.”
“Please don’t worry. This is only a temporary measure. Once mister wakes up, I will once again retreat into the deep subconscious. Besides, she is very precious to me. Even if I vanish, I’ll make absolutely sure that she remains.”
“Ah, I see. So that’s how it is.”
“Is there something wrong?”
“I was just thinking how even I can feel just how precious Kotone is to you.”
While it might sound exaggerated to say that she changed my life, Mister taught me how to enjoy the little things in life. Up until we met, I simply lived life for my father and the family, so Mister —a stranger who made an effort to find fun things for a random runaway to do— became someone I admired.
“While it was only a single day, the time I spent playing with Mister was truly enjoyable.”
“Say, did you love Kotone—… No, Souji?”
“That, I don’t know. After all, I had no understanding of what romantic love was back then.”
I am aware that I had love for Mister back then. However, it’s not like a romantic love for the opposite sex. I find it difficult to explain, but at the very least, I felt happy when I was with him. Besides, our current relationship has become rather unique.
“It feels really weird seeing a ladylike Kotone.”
“Ummm, both of us are actual ladies, you know?”
“I mean, the Kotone I know is frank and easygoing, right? And she doesn’t care about being feminine at all.”
I’m actually concerned about that as well. Mister should focus on dressing up more. The fact that she only chooses simple clothes proves that she is not attentive of her appearance. She should show off more femininity. But I know she wouldn’t listen if I told her anyway.
“Kaori. Can you please somehow help mister change her way of thinking?”
“Man, from the way you’re saying it, it sounds like you’re asking me to make a man behave more womanly.”
Even if you say that, I don’t plan on changing how I call Mister at all. Like… I feel that something weird might happen if I suddenly call her Souji after all this time. I will absolutely not fall in love with myself!
“But you know what? Mister does look surprisingly good in women’s clothing.”
“Uwaa, I seriously want to hear more details.”
“It’s top secret. If you want further details, feel free to contact the rogue’s den folk. That way, her anger will be completely redirected to them.”
“Which means there’ll be a price to pay for asking. Yup, got it. I changed my mind; I won’t ask about it.”
It’s a wise choice. Considering the risk of being engulfed into a battle between Mister and the rogue’s den people, withdrawing is the correct choice. I only saw Mister’s cross-dressed reflection from peering into pre-Kotone memories. As long as I don’t tell anyone the details, I won’t suffer any consequences.
“I want to learn about Souji’s past now.”
“You’ll get to hear an awful lot of amusing stories. However, it will inevitably result in increased interactions with the rogue’s den folk.”
“Well, that’s a predicament.”
I do feel like she would be able to deal with them. After all, she has kept up with Mister for such a long time. Someone without prior exposure should avoid encountering those people. They’ll absolutely get confused.
“Still, I can talk to you the way I usually do, huh. I guess it’s because you have the same face.”
“I already know you through mister, so it doesn’t feel like our first meeting either.”
“And yet earlier you tried to play it off with that terrible acting.”
“It was a conditioned reflex. But I’m not as good as Mister in terms of ad-lib, you see.”
“I really found that weird.”
Looking at Mister’s past, I know that her ability to organize plans quickly was tempered by her experiences during high school. Being a part of a class that would cause ridiculous uproars, your only choice would be to adapt or withdraw.
“Hmmm, but what should I do now? Actually, there was something I wanted to discuss with Kotone, you see?”
“If it isn’t anything urgent, I can relay the message.”
“No, now that I think about it, this concerns you as well. It shouldn’t make that much difference then.”
Something that concerns me? I can’t quite imagine what it could be. Kaori shouldn’t have any knowledge of our relationship, so she shouldn’t be aware that we’re in the process of assimilation.
“I’ll get straight to the point. Would you work with me at the cafe in the future?”
“Most certainly!”
I tightly held her hands while replying instantly. There’s no need to muse over it. This choice is something that both Mister and I have been eagerly wishing for. After all, with this, we can now forge a path of escape from the slowly encroaching future of being a full-time singer.
“I didn’t expect the immediate yes. Still, don’t you think we look weird from an outsider’s perspective?”
“Awawa!?”
Two naked girls holding hands and staring eye-to-eye. Someone who doesn’t know the context is sure to reach strange conclusions. And I’ve also completely forgotten that I was naked. My brain cannot keep up with all the twists and turns.
Also, I feel like Kaori has grown too bold due to Mister’s influence.
