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“Couldn’t you shake her off with your usual erratic randomness?”
“I used it too much; she figured out my patterns. Recently she even came to visit from the second floor window, using a ladder she brought.”
“She really has some screws loose.”

Why is a member of the twelve family throwing her common sense so easily? Maybe she’s just gotten too used to Hiiragi’s nonsense and adapted? Still, in that case, Hiiragi might be done for. In the sense of having no ways left to escape.

“Then why not normally go through the front door instead?”
“She has people on standby. With my physical ability, I can’t win against or outrun them. More so since the neck injury has decreased my mobility.”
“Rather, what is she even coming for?”
“Probably some clinical trials under the pretext of treating my neck. Man, I just hope that it’s applicable with my medical insurance.”

I can’t figure out what’s going on between them. Is Yayoi’s treatment of Hiiragi’s injury partly an act of good faith? Or is she purely trying to exploit her? Ane only encountered Yayoi one or two times, so she doesn’t know her personality either. Moreover, they haven’t even talked to each other.

“Running away is impossible. Even I don’t stand a chance against a member of the twelve families.”
“Can’t we convince her that you can’t go with her today because I’m with you?”
“You should know better to expect something like that to work against her.”

I can just imagine a future where Hiiragi is forcefully snatched away. Which is frankly kidnapping. Whether I’m present or not, Hiiragi’s future remains the same. It’ll be alright. It’s been alright up until now, so it’ll surely stay alright in the future.

“With that, negotiation time is over. Give me the photo.”
“In that case, I’m dragging you down with me!”
“You fools always rope unrelated people into your troubles!”

Why are the rogues den people always adamant about not being sacrificed alone? They have a tendency of dragging the most people they can down with them whenever they’re in a pickle. Like, why do they always aim to make the sacrifices reach double digits?

“Just give it to me already!”
“Can you go full power against an injured person?”
“Like I’d ever hold back against you!”

Instead of trying to snatch the photo, I attack Hiiragi’s weak point. While pretending to aim for the photo, I grabbed Hiiragi’s head and shook it left and right, causing her pain to dull her movements. With the resulting opening, I snatched the picture, and all’s well. It’ll be a bummer if I had torn or wrinkled it.

“Do you have a picture frame around?”
“After attacking me mercilessly, you then ask for a frame? As expected of Souji’s spiritual successor. Absolute savagery.”
“Eh?”
“Something wrong?”

Her recovery from pain is fast as always. No, that’s not it. Why did she use spiritual successor right there? That felt out of place for me. I still haven’t told anyone from the rogues den that Ani is gone now.

“How did you know?”
“Know what?”
“That I’m not the same me as I was before.”
“I don’t understand what you’re saying, but this means I’m probably right. I know both of them, so I can feel it somehow. The current you is a half-and-half of Souji and Kotone.”
“So it wasn’t that I made an error, huh.”
“I know it’s unwarranted advice, but you don’t need to act like Souji at all. It’s alright for you to stay true to yourself and walk your own way. The same way we go our own way.”

If not for her last sentence, I would’ve genuinely accepted her words. No, I don’t want to be some brakeless car like you guys. Though since I have inherited aspects of Ani, I know there’s a possibility of that happening.

“Thanks, I’ll keep that in mind. Still, I don’t have any idea what being myself is yet. I was just born today.”
“I think you’re doing well. You have both the characteristics of Souji and Kotone, so I don’t think you need to be too concerned about it.”
“I’m impressed you can keep up the conversation. It was pretty random and illogical.”
“That’s just the usual affair for the rogues den.”

That’s true. Having conversations with topics that don’t connect at all is nothing new, I suppose. They just listen to the topic that catches their interest and ignore the rest. I’m impressed that they can keep the conversations like that.

“Still, how do I handle Yayoi, then? I definitely can’t win in terms of physicality.”
“Sorry, got a call.”

Hiiragi tilts her head in contemplation and scowls as she is reminded of the pain in her neck. I’m pretty sure she has no way out. More importantly, I got a call to answer. Looking at my phone screen, it’s Ane’s mother. Is something going on at the Kisaragi residence?

“What is it?”
‘The patriarch wants to see you.’
“Hm~m.”
“Uwaa, that’s an evil smile if I’ve ever seen one.”

While mom responded in a monotonously brief way, the expression on my face made Hiiragi reel backwards. Both Ani and Ane have lost interest in father, so I don’t have any particular sentiments either. Still, I have no idea what he’s scheming, but I’m roaring to knock him down.

“Perfect timing. I was just thinking of visiting today.”
‘We’ll be waiting.’

Despite the brief reply, I can feel her concern beyond the phone. That ended the call, and now I’m also done with my business with Hiiragi. I can’t help with her request, so let’s just forget about it.

“Well, since I’m done with my business, I’ll excuse myself.”
“Alright, I’m coming too.”
“No, just don’t.”
“I’m going to follow on my own, so don’t mind me.”

She’s definitely going to tail me. Being able to hide her own presence, there are times when it’s difficult to know if Hiiragi’s following you. In that case, it might be better for my mental health to keep her right next to me.

“No choice, then. However, don’t expect me to help if we bump into Yayoi on the way.”
“I’ll just accept it as bad luck on my end.”

Now then, how do I hand her over? I don’t plan on taking her home.

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