{
  "volume_order": 1,
  "volume_title": "Volume 1 ( Volume 1 PDF )",
  "chapter_count": 8,
  "chapters": [
    {
      "chapter_order": 1,
      "chapter_title": "Prologue: Prologo",
      "chars": 2151,
      "words": 377,
      "_stripped_leading_credit_lines": 0,
      "text": "New series, new\n\nproject page\n\n! We have a very short prologue for today, but we have a whole chapter on the way. Look forward to it!\n\nAlso, please give a warm welcome to our new editor:\n\nLHI\n\n.\n\nTranslator: Junnynam\n\nEditor: LHI\n\nPlease enjoy~\n\n____________________\n\n\"Hey, where do babies come from?\"\n\nKazuki Ootaki, who was in his second year of primary school, asked his parents while they were on their way back from the sports festival.\n\n“Oh? What’s this Kazuki, you want a younger sibling?”\n\n“Yep, I want a younger sibling.”\n\n“Well, would you prefer a little brother or a little sister?”\n\n“A little sister of course! When I get a little sister, wouldn’t she call me her Onii-chan\n\n[1]\n\n?\n\n”\n\n“That’s true. If she really likes Kazuki, she might call you that.”\n\n“When I get a sister, I’ll be sure to dote on her. I’ll make sure that she calls me her Onii-chan! But, where do little sisters come from?”\n\nKazuki didn’t know where babies came from. In fact, he didn’t know how babies were made yet because it was too soon for him. When parents are normally asked this question, they usually reply, “babies are delivered by storks” or “they are a proof of daddy and mommy’s love for each other.” They would normally tell them something that would nurture the child’s imagination.\n\nHowever, his parents were different.\n\n“Babies are sent by god; through the post, in a paper box.”\n\nThey threw a curve ball at him.\n\nKazuki squinted, his eyes becoming small dots.\n\n“Eh!? T-then, I was delivered as well!?”\n\n“Of course~, when you arrived, you were delivered frozen by the Kuroneko Ya●to\n\n[2]\n\n~.”\n\nHis mother hit the ball back.\n\n“Ehh!? I was frozen!?”\n\nWith his eyes glistening on the verge of tears, Kazuki looked at his parents. After seeing his face, the two of them began laughing like there was no tomorrow.\n\nThis may have been the first time ever Kazuki was fooled by his parents.\n\nBut for Kazuki, it was a valuable memory.\n\nHe never would’ve imagined that his parents’ words would come true one day in the future.\n\n1.\n\nOnii-chan:\n\nAffectionate form of \"older brother\" in Japanese.\n\n↩\n\n2.\n\nKuroneko Yamato Transport:\n\nA delivery service in Japan.\n\n↩"
    },
    {
      "chapter_order": 2,
      "chapter_title": "Chapter 1: Sabrina",
      "chars": 36138,
      "words": 6508,
      "_stripped_leading_credit_lines": 0,
      "text": "The first chapter\n\nof Famima\n\n! Let the new imouto legend begin!\n\nTranslator: Junnynam\n\nEditor: LHI\n\nPlease enjoy~\n\n____________________\n\n1\n\nIt was a warm Sunday morning in late April,\n\nand the sunlight was shining down. The quiet neighborhood and scent of the\n\nmorning dew were refreshing.\n\nKazuki’s house was an average residential\n\nhouse in a corner of the neighborhood.\n\n「\n\nLast night, one of the greatest godfathers of\n\nthe largest mafia in Italy passed away. The whole of Italy is in fear,\n\npredicting a fight for power between the mafia gangs. We would like to warn\n\nthose who were planning to go to Italy to be very careful.\n\n」\n\nWhile watching the morning news, Kazuki Ootaki\n\ntook a bite of his toast.\n\n\"Looks like the world is in turmoil—\"\n\nWhile saying that, he continued to consume\n\nhis toast with indifference. Kazuki was just an average second year middle\n\nschool student, who looked at the TV monitor thinking It had nothing to do with\n\nhim at all.\n\nBut that wasn’t all.\n\n「\n\nAnd now, here is the weather for today.\n\n」\n\n\"It’s going to pour today! Lightning\n\nwhen the sky is this clear? If you think about it logically, that can’t happen.\n\nI just hope that the weather doesn’t change until this evening, I’ve got a ton\n\nof laundry to do.\"\n\nHe was even more worried about the weather.\n\n\"Thanks for the food.\"\n\nFinished with his breakfast, Kazuki gathered\n\nhis hands with a ‘\n\nClap\n\n!’ sound in\n\nthanks.\n\nBecause of his parents' jobs, Kazuki had been\n\nliving by himself for nearly a year. However, he didn’t really mind because he\n\nhas been living like this ever since he was young.\n\n「\n\nIt’s time for Today’s Horoscopes Ranking~\n\n」\n\n\"Ah, it’s starting.\"\n\nWhile Kazuki was washing the plates and mug\n\nhe used for breakfast, a cheerful voice rang out from the TV in the lounge.\n\nPatting his hands dry, he rushed towards the\n\nlounge.\n\n「\n\nToday’s Horoscopes Ranking\n\n」\n\n, as its name suggested, was a segment on the\n\nshow that\n\nranked the horoscopes by their\n\namount of luck for that day.\n\n\"Yes, it’s 6\n\nth\n\nplace! That’s\n\nthe best!\"\n\nOf course, 6\n\nth\n\nplace wasn’t on top\n\nof the ranks, there was a 1\n\nst\n\nplace. However, Kazuki had his own\n\nreasons for being happy with 6\n\nth\n\nplace.\n\nActually, Kazuki was just an average second year\n\nmiddle school student who had a motto of not causing any troubles. In other\n\nwords, the 6\n\nth\n\nplace that wasn’t great or bad was the best spot for\n\na guy like him.\n\n\"Your lucky item is a ‘\n\nlittle sister\n\n’? That’s not good, I don’t have a\n\nlittle sister\n\n. Maybe I should give out candies and use one\n\nof the neighborhood kids as a substitute.… Wait, is a little\n\nsister\n\neven an item?\"\n\nDing dong.\n\nWhile Kazuki was on the second floor veranda\n\nhanging up the laundry, the doorbell suddenly rang.\n\n\"Hmm? Who would it be on a morning like\n\nthis? Yes yes\n\n~.\n\n\"\n\nDing dong.\n\nThe doorbell rang again while he was headed\n\ndownstairs.\n\n\"Yesss~.\"\n\nDing dong,\n\nding dong.\n\n\"Is it something important? Yes, I’m\n\ncoming. Please wait for a bit~.\"\n\nDing dong.\n\nDing dong. Diiiiiing dong.\n\nThe doorbell started to ring even more.\n\nKazuki hurried towards the front door.\n\n\"Wait\n\n–\n\nI’m opening the door!\"\n\nWhen Kazuki touched the door handle, the\n\ndoorbell stopped ringing. He heard the sound of footsteps and someone running away,\n\nfollowed by the sound of a car engine as it drove away.\n\n\"Huh? No-one’s here, I guess they drove\n\noff?\"\n\nKazuki looked around after opening the door,\n\nbut no one was there.\n\n\"And I thought that someone was visi\n\n–\n\nhah?\"\n\nThere was a giant cardboard box laying at his\n\nfeet.\n\nNext to it was a Boston bag and a briefcase.\n\n\"Ehh? What’s this?\"\n\nThinking that the person who rang the bell\n\nleft it behind, Kazuki walked out to the road to check again.\n\nSince no one was there, he crossed his arms\n\nand tilted his head in thought.\n\n\"So the person just before left it\n\nbehind… I guess.\"\n\nEven though he didn’t quite get what was\n\ngoing on, he couldn’t leave the stuff outside. So Kazuki decided to bring the\n\nstuff in first.\n\nThe cardboard box was quite heavy.\n\n\"Hm\n\n–\n\nmp\"\n\nHe sighed after carrying all of the stuff\n\ninside. Glancing at the cardboard box, he noticed the postal tag on it.\n\n\"Oh, so it was just a delivery. The\n\nsenders are Hideki and Marina… dad and mom?\"\n\nThe receiver was recorded as Kazuki.\n\n\"And the content is—‘a doll’.\"\n\nA doll?\n\nHe was puzzled.\n\nWhy would they send a doll to their middle\n\nschool son, even if they were his parents?\n\nIt wasn’t his birthday or anything…\n\nHe wasn’t even aware that he was receiving a\n\nparcel from them in the first place. More than that, he hasn’t been in contact\n\nwith his parents for a while.\n\n\"Well,\n\nI can’t even begin to understand their behavior though.\"\n\nKazuki decided to stop thinking about it and\n\njust open the box.\n\nHe dug through the packaging in the box.\n\n\"This is…\"\n\nKazuki widened his eyes.\n\nIn the box was a bubble wrapped doll about\n\nthe size of a girl.\n\n\"Life sized!? Could this doll be… a doll\n\nfor adults!? What do they want me to do with it!?\"\n\n– Do your best.\n\n\"What the hell!?\"\n\nKazuki imagined his parents and retorted\n\nthem. His parents would certainly say that to him and it was quite a bother.\n\nMore importantly, the doll had sparkling\n\nblond twin tails and had its eyes closed as if it was asleep. It was hugging\n\nits knees in the box and its almost transparent white shoulders and knees were\n\nblinding when seen through the bubble wrap.\n\n\"Uuu... even if it’s a doll, I don’t\n\nknow where to look…. They should’ve wrapped it up in some cloth or something.\"\n\nThe doll was wonderfully made.\n\nIt could be mistaken for a real girl.\n\n\"It looks like it’s actually alive.\"\n\nKazuki tried not to stare too much at the\n\ndoll and touched one of the twin tails with his hand. It was as smooth as silk\n\nand felt great on his hand. He let the golden hair flow through his fingers.\n\n\"Huh?\"\n\nFor a moment, it felt like the atmosphere\n\njust changed.\n\nHe looked towards the doll to check, but\n\nthere was no difference.\n\n\"… I guess it’s just my imagination.\"\n\nSlap slap.\n\nSince he couldn’t touch the doll below its\n\nneck, he touched the cheeks this time. They were as soft as marshmallows.\n\nSquish\n\nsquish.\n\n\"…. Hmm.\"\n\n–\n\n!?\n\nThis time, it looked like the doll just\n\nsquinted.\n\nAnd he heard a voice as well…\n\n\"Ha ha, no way.\"\n\nKazuki thought that he was seeing things, so\n\nhe pinched himself and looked again.\n\nAnd he saw\n\n–\n\nNo changes.\n\n\"A doll is just a doll after all. Think\n\nabout it, a doll won’t be able to move\n\n–\n\n\"\n\nBut that wasn’t the case.\n\nBlink.\n\nThe doll opened its eyes.\n\nIt opened them.\n\nThose eyes were a beautiful blue that matched\n\nthe doll's blond hair and pale skin perfectly.\n\n\"….\n\n(Stare)\n\n.\"\n\nIt was looking at him.\n\n\"….\n\n(Stare)\n\n.\"\n\nIt’s looking, it’s looking. It was almost\n\ndrilling a hole just by staring.\n\nKazuki who nearly lost his mind for a moment\n\ncame back to his senses and jumped back in surprise.\n\n\"W-\n\nwha, what the hell…!?\"\n\nReally!?\n\nI- I’m glad that I didn’t touch its breasts….\n\nWait, that’s not it!\n\nIt’s probably… a doll… right?\n\nKazuki was in a state of panic during the\n\nunexpected event, but the doll looked very calm. It looked at Kazuki in a\n\ncurious manner and tilted her head.\n\nAh, it was pretty.\n\nNo no! That’s not it!\n\n\"…. Onii… chan?\"\n\nAt that moment, the doll talked with a bell\n\nlike cute voice.\n\n\"Onii-chan!\"\n\n\"Wai\n\n–\n\n.\"\n\nThe doll\n\n,\n\nstill wrapped in bubble wrap, leapt out from the box and put its arms\n\naround Kazuki’s head in a hug.\n\nKazuki, who was still slow because of what\n\nwas happening to him, couldn’t resist her and fell backwards.\n\n\"Ouch.\"\n\nHis head slammed into the floor. A wave of\n\npain hit him and hurt so much that he thought he had broken his skull.\n\nThe small, but existent breasts were pressed\n\nonto Kazuki’s body.\n\nHer back was an elegant arc, her butt was\n\nlike a ripened white peach, her slim and slender thighs, and from there… well,\n\nlet’s just say that there was a lot to look at.\n\nThe pain from his head would’ve been enough\n\nto send him flying to the other side of the universe.\n\nWwaaiit! Hold on!\n\nWhat is this, what the hell’s going on!?\n\nCccaalm down! Calm down! This is just a\n\ndream! It’s only a fantasy!\n\nOne of the common symptoms of puberty is wild\n\ndelusions. What am I thinking so early in the morning?\n\nDisappear wild delusions! You are banished\n\nfrom my head!\n\n\"I wanted to meet you,\n\nOnii-chan\n\n.\"\n\nSqueeze.\n\n\"Gyaa!\"\n\nThe doll pressed on to his arm and because of\n\nthat, the body parts that he was seeing were twisting and turning before his\n\neyes.\n\nIt was certainly reality.\n\n\"Eh?\n\nHuh? Onii-chan!? Before that, you’re not a doll!? You're a real person!?\"\n\n\"Si\n\n[1]\n\n.\"\n\nThe girl nodded her head.\n\n\"You’re\n\na person!? But why were you inside a box!\n\n?\n\n\"\n\nThe girl looked away to try to think of\n\nsomething and gathered her hands with a ‘Pon’ sound.\n\n\"Si, I am a real\n\nboxed girl\n\n[2]\n\n!\"\n\n\"No,\n\nno. Don’t joke around like that!\"\n\n2\n\nThey were now in the kitchen.\n\n「\n\nThe number that you’ve tried to call is\n\ncurrently turned off or un–\n\n」\n\n\"\n\nOh, man!\n\n\"\n\nKazuki hung up the phone grumbling. He has\n\ntried to call his parents’ mobile a few times, but the call wouldn’t connect.\n\nReally, just what where they doing, those\n\nparents of mine.\n\nHe has been ticked off about his parents’\n\nabsence before, but it was never as bad as it was today.\n\nKazuki’s parents called themselves treasure\n\nhunters and made a living out of travelling around the world to dig up hidden\n\ntreasures. But whenever they came back, they would bring back enormous troubles\n\nand irritate Kazuki all the time.\n\nLast year, they brought back a beautiful\n\nsapphire as a present but it turned out to be a cursed star sapphire that was\n\nhidden deep inside the jungles that would kill its owners. Moreover, Kazuki\n\ncame down with a mysterious flu that actually killed him (his fever went down\n\nafterwards, but the sapphire was nowhere to be found).\n\nThat wasn’t the only time his parents brought\n\nback trouble into the house. It was just the tip of the iceberg.\n\nAnyway, it was impossible to know what his\n\nparents would do next.\n\nKazuki’s parents had a large influence over\n\nKazuki’s life and inspired his motto of living a ‘normal’ life was inspired by them.\n\nPutting that aside, just who was this girl?\n\nEven so, his father and mother wouldn’t just\n\nsay 'We found a cute girl while travelling so we’ve packed her into a box and\n\nsent it to you!' ...probably.\n\n…\n\n……\n\n……. Right?\n\nI don’t think they did… but it’s no good. His\n\nparents may have actually done that.\n\nAnyway, should I listen to her story first?\n\nIf my parents did kidnap her, then I should\n\ntell them how harsh the consequences will be.\n\nNo, I should gladly report them to the\n\npolice!\n\nClic\n\nk.\n\nAs Kazuki was thinking that, the door to the\n\nlounge opened. In the doorway was the doll, no, the girl from just now.\n\nThis time, she wasn’t naked. She was wearing\n\na black one piece with a cardigan that was laced around the edges. The clothes\n\nwere probably in that Boston bag that came with the box.\n\nIn her hands, she was holding the brief case.\n\nIt didn’t suit a cute girl like her.\n\nSince the girl looked emotionless, she really\n\nlooked like a well made doll.\n\n\"\n\nI’m sorry about before… I forgot that I was\n\nnaked… I was just happy…\n\n\"\n\nIt didn’t show on her face, but she must’ve\n\nbeen embarrassed because her voice trailed off.\n\n\"\n\nBecause I met you, Onii-chan.\n\n\"\n\nOnii-chan? Are you talking about me? I’m not\n\ntoo sure about it though.\n\n\"\n\nSi. Now then.\n\n\"\n\nHeh, I see. Well then let’s get an explana—\n\n\"\n\nSqueeze.\n\nThe girl hugged him again.\n\n\"\n\nNo no, that’s not it! Why are you hugging\n\nme!?\n\n\"\n\nKazuki pushed the girl away. When he did, she\n\nlooked at him with an expression that said that she didn’t understand.\n\n\"\n\nWho are you? And why are you calling me your\n\nOnii-chan?\n\n\"\n\nSi.\n\n\"\n\nThe girl stood up straight.\n\n\"\n\nBuon\n\ng\n\niorno\n\n[3]\n\n, Onii-chan. My name is Sabrina. I’m\n\nyour\n\nlittle\n\nsister\n\nstarting today.\n\n\"\n\nAnd she bowed her head.\n\nKazuki wasn’t able to understand what the\n\ngirl, who identified herself as Sabrina, just said.\n\nSabrina spoke in Japanese, so it wasn’t that\n\nhe didn’t understand the language.\n\nKazuki tried to slowly gather his thoughts.\n\nLittle sister\n\n… Onii-chan …\n\nThe girl whose name was Sabrina, a\n\nlittle sister\n\n.\n\nMe, an Onii-chan.\n\nA younger sister\n\n: a female younger sibling born from the same\n\nparents, little\n\nbrother\n\n’s wife’s\n\nsister\n\n, or a\n\nyounger sister\n\nof the husband or the wife (defined from the\n\nFujita Japanese Dictionary).\n\nThis girl called me an Onii-chan.\n\nBut if my memory serves me correctly, I’m\n\nan only child\n\n.\n\nBut a\n\nlittle sister\n\nand me, an Onii-chan?\n\nSo that means…\n\n\"\n\nWell?\n\n\"\n\nHe didn’t understand at all.\n\n\"\n\nWell then.\n\n\"\n\nSqueeze.\n\nSabrina hugged him as if she’s done what she\n\nneeded to do. She probably wanted to hug Kazuki to death.\n\n\"\n\nPlease wait for a moment, Sabrina-san.\n\n\"\n\nNo\n\n[4]\n\n, it’s Sabrina. Since Onii-chan is my Onii-chan,\n\nplease call me ‘Sabrina’.\n\n\"\n\nShe looked up while she said that. Kazuki\n\nthought, 'what kind of a situation was this?' But if he gave up now, then he\n\nwouldn’t be able to hear the full story. He decided to call\n\nher 'Sabrina,' like she wanted him to.\n\n\"\n\nUh, so… Sabrina.\n\n\"\n\nSi.\n\n\"\n\nSabrina must’ve been happy because she buried\n\nher head into Kazuki’s chest. It looked like ‘Si’ was yes and ‘No’ meant no.\n\n\"\n\nHey Sabrina, I haven’t got a clue as to\n\nwhat’s going on. Have you heard anything from my parents?\n\n\"\n\nNo. Haven’t you seen them Onii-chan? It was\n\nHideki and Marina who dropped me off here.\n\n\"\n\nNo, I haven’t seen them… Ah.\n\n\"\n\nThe doorbell that continued to ring. The\n\nsound of the car engine as they drove off. The box that had the girl inside.\n\nAnd the parents that couldn’t be contacted.\n\nFrom that, Kazuki was able to come to the\n\nonly logical conclusion.\n\n\"\n\nThe two of them… they ran off after dumping\n\nit all on me.\n\n\"\n\nThat was right, Kazuki’s parents had come\n\nback, and after leaving Sabrina behind in a box, they decided to flee.\n\nAfter inspecting the sticker on the box, he\n\nnoticed that the address wasn’t written on it. If it was the shipping service,\n\nthey wouldn’t have been able to deliver it.\n\n\"\n\nWithout any explanations…. This is something\n\nthat shouldn’t occur in real life. What should I do.\n\n\"\n\nActually, there was something that they\n\nwanted me to give to you, Onii-chan.\n\n\"\n\nHuh? There was!? Thank god.\n\n\"\n\nIt would’ve been better if his parents gave\n\nit to him in person. No, it would’ve been better if they actually sat down and\n\ntalked to him. But Kazuki hasn’t realized yet, that was why he was always\n\nfooled by his parents.\n\n\"\n\nThis must be a Blu-ray disk. Now that I\n\nmention it, I think there's a Blu-ray player here…\n\n\"\n\nKazuki sat down and played the disk\n\nimmediately. Meanwhile, Sabrina was using Kazuki’s shoulder as a pillow and was\n\nresting there with her eyes closed.\n\n「\n\nAhh, can you hear this?\n\n」\n\n「\n\nHi Kazuki~\n\n」\n\nEven though his parents recorded this on Blu-ray,\n\nthere were no visuals. Only their voices came out from the pitch black TV. Those\n\nlaid back voices were his parents for sure.\n\n「\n\nYou mentioned that you wanted to have a\n\nyounger sister\n\nbefore didn’t you? It looks like god\n\nmade a mistake and took his time. It’s quite\n\nlate, but he sent it via the post.\n\n」\n\nThe contents were a headache straight from\n\nthe start.\n\nKazuki did remember that he wanted a\n\nlittle sister\n\nwhen he was younger. He also remembered his\n\nparents lying to him, saying that babies were delivered via the post. He was\n\nslightly traumatized because he was made fun of in his morals class when he told\n\nthem about it.\n\n「\n\nHow is it~? Wasn’t that funny~. We name it\n\nthe ‘Boxed Girl’. Also, your father worked very hard~.\n\n」\n\n「\n\nKazuki, you can look up to me!\n\n」\n\n\"\n\nAs if I would!\n\n\"\n\nHe shouted at the TV, even though he knew\n\nthat it was useless to do so.\n\nIt really felt like the 'Boxed Girl' thing\n\nwas planned by his parents. He was worried about what they were going to say\n\nnext, but he couldn’t stop it because they haven’t mentioned Sabrina.\n\n「\n\nSo anyway, she’s your\n\nlittle sister\n\nfrom now on.\n\n」\n\nSaid his father.\n\n「\n\nShe’s your\n\nlittle sister\n\nfrom now on~.\n\n」\n\nFollowed by his mother. The two of them\n\ncontinue in unison,\n\n「「\n\nThat’s all!\n\n」」\n\nHe was clearly trolled.\n\n\"That's\n\nit!?\n\n\"\n\nKazuki yelled again. There were no\n\nexplanations.\n\n「\n\nWell, you don’t need to treat her like a\n\nlittle sister\n\n. You could always take her as your wife. Regardless,\n\nshe’s a girl so it doesn’t really matter.\n\n」\n\n「\n\nNo~, really now Kazuki’s dad~. However,\n\nthey’re by themselves~. Kazuki, we’ll be expecting a grandchild soon~.\n\n」\n\n\"\n\n… Wife.\n\n\"\n\nSabrina\n\nabruptly\n\nstood up.\n\n\"\n\nDon’t react to that! No, no! Don’t take it\n\nseriously!\n\n\"\n\nSabrina didn’t even blink but was blushing\n\nand Kazuki tried to justify himself furiously. From the TV, the devilish\n\nlaughter from his parents continued to pour out.\n\n\"\n\nKuh, those people…\n\n\"\n\nVeins popped out from his temple and his\n\neyebrows twitched.\n\nKazuki was reaching the heights of his\n\npatience. He was trying with all his strength not to snap the disk in half.\n\n「\n\nWe should get to the point since Kazuki might\n\nbe reaching his limits~. Our son is probably trying his best not to snap the\n\ndisk in half with his veins popping out from his temples.\n\n」\n\n「\n\nYes, I suppose we should. I wanted to tease\n\nhim a bit more, but I guess it can’t be helped…. To tell the truth, Kazuki.\n\n」\n\nHis father changed his speech so quickly he\n\nwas almost able to hear a skidding sound.\n\nHe wished his father spoke that way from the\n\nbeginning.\n\n「\n\nActually, someone who we've been indebted to for\n\na long time has passed away.\n\n」\n\n\"\n\nEhh?\n\n\"\n\nKazuki was taken aback by the unexpected\n\nseriousness.\n\n「\n\nSabrina is that person’s daughter.\n\n」\n\n「\n\nThat person wrote in his will, 'If something should\n\nhappen to me, please adopt Sabrina as your child~.'\n\n」\n\n「\n\nSabrina’s mother is no longer here, so we\n\nthought that it would be best if we take her into our household.\n\n」\n\n「\n\nWe’re sorry we just dumped it all on you\n\nKazuki~. But we didn’t have enough time to explain~.\n\n」\n\n\"\n\nThat’s…\n\n\"\n\nAs Kazuki put on a troubled face, there was\n\nan explosion noise from the TV speakers. The noise continued to ring out.\n\n\"\n\nEh–.\n\n\"\n\nAs he reacted to the noise, Kazuki’s view\n\nsuddenly flipped to face the ceiling.\n\nIt was Sabrina who had pushed him down.\n\n\"\n\nUu—pp\n\n\"\n\nHer small breasts pressed down on Kazuki’s\n\nface.\n\nWithout him noticing, Sabrina took an object\n\nout and aimed it at the TV.\n\nBang bang\n\nbang.\n\nA similar noise was heard ringing out from\n\nthe TV.\n\nThis time, from the top of Kazuki’s head.\n\n\"\n\nW-What!? What’s going on!?\n\n\"\n\nNo\n\nOnii-chan,\n\nit’s ticklish.\n\n\"\n\nKazuki crawled out from Sabrina’s protection\n\nand looked around him.\n\nHe felt a sense of danger.\n\nAnd it was crystal clear where the feeling\n\ncame from.\n\n\"\n\nThe TV…\n\n\"\n\nThere were mysterious smoking holes in the TV\n\nmonitor. Enough to match the number of times he heard the noise above his head.\n\nAnd there was Sabrina, shivering. Kazuki\n\npointed at the object she was holding in her hands.\n\n\"\n\nS-Sabrina, that’s…\n\n\"\n\nAlthough he's never seen one in real life, he\n\nrecognized it from movies and animes.\n\nIt was shiny and black in color, its body\n\nshaped like\n\nan L\n\nand had a\n\nsmall hole at the tip.\n\n\"\n\nSo, it’s an average pistol.\n\n\"\n\nFrom that point on, understood the situation.\n\nWith that, all color drained from Kazuki’s face.\n\n\"\n\nAh!\n\n\"\n\nSabrina let out a short gasp.\n\n\"\n\nI shot back by reflex. I’m sorry, Onii-chan.\n\n\"\n\nShot back!? Moreover, what’s that!\n\n\"\n\nThis is a Beretta Px4, a pistol.\n\n\"\n\nNo, I didn’t ask for the gun name! I’m\n\nasking why you have something like that.\n\n\"\n\nKazuki’s sight fell on the brief case that\n\nSabrina had and saw that it was opened. Inside, there was a\n\ngun magazine and a silencer in its slots.\n\n\"\n\nSi, this is the portable 'toolbox'.\n\n\"\n\nToolbox!? W-What the hell are you!?\n\n\"\n\nAs he yelled out, the TV sounded broken.\n\n「\n\n... anyway… didn’t expect them to find us…\n\n」\n\n「\n\nThey attacked us so suddenly… got sweaty…\n\nright~.\n\n」\n\nIt sounded like they were fine. Well they dropped\n\nSabrina off, so his parents had to be fine.\n\nWhen Kazuki’s mother mentioned that there was\n\nno time, she was probably referring to this. As the disk’s content was about to\n\nfinish, his mother spoke with a voice that sounded like she just remembered to\n\nsay something.\n\nHer voice sounded like it was about to cut\n\noff, but Kazuki was able to hear it quite clearly.\n\n「\n\nAh, that’s right. Sabrina is the estranged\n\ndaughter of a mafia boss, so she’s an amateur assassin you see~. That~ is~\n\nwhy~, you need to treat her well, got it?\n\n」\n\nBoom.\n\nWith a large puff of smoke, the TV turned\n\noff.\n\nThe lounge became dead silent.\n\nKazuki stiffly turned his head to the broken\n\nTV and then to Sabrina.\n\n\"\n\nYou’re the hidden child of a mafia boss?\n\n\"\n\nSi.\n\n\"\n\nAn\n\nd an\n\namateur\n\nassassin?\n\n\"\n\nSi.\n\n\"\n\nSqueeze.\n\nSabrina clung to him.\n\n\"\n\nAnd I'm your\n\nlittle sister\n\n.\n\n\"\n\nKazuki was too surprised to talk. He could\n\nonly open and close his mouth like a fish.\n\nThe lucky item today was a '\n\nlittle sister\n\n.'\n\nKazuki would never believe that horoscope\n\nshow again.\n\n3\n\nWhile Kazuki was\n\ncleaning a room out for Sabrina, it was already getting dark outside.\n\n–Those parents of\n\nmine.\n\nKazuki thought to\n\nhimself as he was doing the dishes after having dinner.\n\nWhat do they mean\n\nlittle sister?\n\nWe’re around the same\n\nage and moreover, she’s a girl. There’s no way I would be able to accept that\n\nso quickly.\n\nI don’t know if they\n\nwere lying or not, but a mafia boss’s hidden child and an amateur assassin…\n\nWell, accepting her\n\nas my little sister isn’t the problem right now. It would be cruel of me to\n\nthrow her out, so I guess I'll have to judge the situation for a few days.\n\n\"What should I\n\ndo…\"\n\nKazuki sighed quite\n\nloudly.\n\nWhen he finished the\n\ndishes and walked into the lounge, Sabrina walked in the front door.\n\n\"Oh, did you go\n\noutside?\"\n\n\"Si. I wondered\n\nwhat I could do to help, so I finished it since you didn’t seem to have it set\n\nup.\"\n\n\"Finish what up?\"\n\n\"The traps for\n\nintruders.\"\n\n\"Eh?\"\n\nAt Sabrina’s words,\n\nhe froze.\n\n\"When you say\n\ntraps for intruders, you mean like traps to prevent break-ins…?\"\n\n\"Si. Even a rat\n\nneeds to be eliminated if it sneaks in.\"\n\n\"T-that’s not\n\ngood!\"\n\nKazuki reached out to\n\nthe front door.\n\n\"No. You can’t.\"\n\n\"Eh–.\"\n\nSabrina tried to stop\n\nhim. But it was too late and Kazuki touched the front door.\n\nAt that moment, a\n\nstrong current of electricity ran through his body.\n\n\"Wwwoooaaahhh!\n\nWhy did you set it up inside as wellll!\"\n\nKazuki who just got\n\nelectrified opened the door as he fell down.\n\nStumbling through the\n\ndoor, he took a step outside when his leg was caught by a piano string and he\n\nwas pulled upwards.\n\n\"Woahahahahah–ah!\"\n\nThe force threw him\n\nstraight into the yard in an arc and he slammed down on his back.\n\n\"It hurts. Ugh…\n\nhow did I get caught up in this…!?\"\n\n\"Onii-chan, it’s\n\ndangerous to stay there.\"\n\n\"Huh?\"\n\nHe turned his face\n\nupwards.\n\nWhoosh!\n\nAn arrow landed right\n\nin the spot where his head was before.\n\nThe second and the\n\nthird arrows followed, aimed at Kazuki who jumped backwards in shock.\n\n\"Give it a rest\n\nalre–.\"\n\nClick.\n\nKazuki’s hand touched\n\nsomething behind him.\n\n\"Don’t tell me…\"\n\nKazuki remembered a\n\nmovie that had a detective that never died.\n\nHe got up and swiftly\n\ndived forward like he was performing a header\n\n[5]\n\n. Simultaneously, something\n\nbehind him exploded.\n\n\"So I was right–\n\nack.\"\n\nWith a movie-like\n\nexplosion as his backdrop, Kazuki flew off and landed, no, fell in front\n\nof\n\nhis home's front door.\n\n\"Urrrp.\"\n\nSabrina squatted down\n\nand looked at the sprawled out Kazuki.\n\n\"You shouldn’t worry too much about it,\n\nOnii-chan. There are no holes in the traps, so you don’t need to try them out\n\nfor yourself. Well then, I’ll set up the traps again.\"\n\nUrrrp\n\nMustering all of his\n\nstrength, Kazuki grabbed onto Sabrina’s one piece as she stood up.\n\n4\n\nThe clock was already\n\npointing to 12 when they came back inside. Kazuki had told Sabrina, who had a\n\nsurprised look on her face, to remove all the traps. Meanwhile, he cleaned up\n\nthe yard and went around the neighborhood apologizing for the ruckus the two\n\ncaused.\n\nAnd today was a\n\nSunday as well…\n\nKazuki collapsed out\n\nonto his desk.\n\nI-I’m… tired.\n\nMaybe it was too much\n\nof a stretch to say that I was playing around with some fireworks.\n\nThe way that our next\n\ndoor neighbors, the Inoues, looked at me… the relationships with my neighbors\n\nthat I worked so hard on…\n\nLeaving that aside,\n\nthat girl.\n\nShe shot (death by a\n\nbullet), set up traps (death by explosion, death by piercing) and came inside a\n\nbox (death by eroticness?) how many times did she nearly kill me today?\n\nIf I don’t do\n\nsomething about it, I'll die soon.\n\nI should try my best\n\nto not get involved with her!\n\nKnock knock\n\n\"Whoa!\"\n\nKazuki who was\n\nthinking to himself jumped in surprise at the sudden knocking.\n\nHe looked towards the\n\ndoor to see if someone knocked, but it didn’t seem like it.\n\n\"Huh?\"\n\nThe knocking sounds\n\nactually turned out to be the rain drops hitting his window.\n\n\"Rain? That’s right; the weather\n\nmentioned that today.\"\n\nThe sound of the\n\nraindrops grew louder. And with a sound that was like a beast’s howl, the rainy\n\nsky flashed for a moment.\n\n\"So there’s\n\nlighting and thunder as well…\"\n\nSince Kazuki wasn’t\n\nscared of bad weather, he wasn’t greatly concerned by it.\n\nBut then the sky lit\n\nup again.\n\nA thundering sound\n\nran out shortly afterwards.\n\n\"Wow that was\n\nquite loud. It must’ve hit nearby.\"\n\nWhile he was still\n\ndazed by the loud shockwave, he heard a knock on the door.\n\n\"Eh!?\"\n\nHe felt almost as shocked\n\nas if he had been struck by the lightning outside.\n\nRight now, there were\n\nonly two people in the house. If it wasn’t him who knocked then it was\n\nobviously Sabrina.\n\nWhat did she want so\n\nlate at night?\n\nKazuki fell deep into\n\nthought while he reached out for the handle.\n\nHe thought of all the\n\nthings that happened to him that day and imagined what would happen in the\n\nfuture.\n\nGulp.\n\nHe didn’t want to\n\nopen the door at all.\n\nHe wanted to pretend\n\nthat he was asleep.\n\nBut since the light\n\nleaked out between the door’s hinges, he wouldn’t be able to pull that off.\n\nKazuki could only\n\nrespond.\n\n\"Ah, yeah. Come\n\nin.\"\n\nAt his door was\n\nobviously Sabrina. She was in some simple patterned pajamas.\n\n\"I’m glad that\n\nyou weren’t asleep Onii-chan.\"\n\n\"No, I was just about to go to sleep.\"\n\nHe lightly brushed\n\nher off.\n\n\"I see….\"\n\nSabrina looked down.\n\nKazuki felt a sense of guilt in his heart.\n\nHe didn’t want to be\n\ninvolved with her for any longer. He didn’t want any more trouble.\n\n\"Umm… Onii-chan, could you do me a favor…\"\n\nShe asked him to do\n\nsomething for her!\n\nWhile Sabrina was\n\ntrailing her words, Kazuki had a bad feeling.\n\n\"Well~ I really want to help you out, but\n\nit’s late. So why don’t you ask me tomorrow? I’m a bit tired, so I want to\n\nsleep soon.\"\n\nFeeling guilty about\n\nit, Kazuki gently turned her down.\n\nBut what he said\n\nworsened the situation.\n\n\"Si. If you’re\n\ngoing to sleep now, then it’s great for me. Actually… please let me sleep in\n\nyour room as well Onii-chan.\"\n\nIs that how you’re\n\ngoing to play!\n\nKazuki’s mind\n\nascended to the heavens. He dug his own grave with the excuse that he told her,\n\nthinking he would get away it.\n\nLooking at Sabrina\n\ncarefully, she was holding her pillow behind her back.\n\nDo you really want to\n\nsleep with me!?\n\nHow much more are you\n\ngoing to bother me?\n\nWhile Kazuki was\n\nracking his brain trying to think of a good excuse, Sabrina softly spoke.\n\n\"Actually, I’m still scared of thunder…\"\n\nThe sound of thunder\n\nstill rang out outside.\n\nEach time there was a\n\ncrack of thunder, Sabrina flinched.\n\n\"Sabrina…\"\n\n\"… And I had a\n\nscary dream just now.\"\n\nSabrina who had a\n\nbold face before now looked uneasy.\n\nBut that was to be\n\nexpected.\n\nSabrina had just lost\n\nher father.\n\nShe didn’t have a mother,\n\nso she had no-one to rely on.\n\nEven under those\n\ncircumstances, she left her motherland and came to this foreign country.\n\nShe would obviously\n\nbe scared.\n\nBefore he even\n\nnoticed it, Kazuki no longer felt like avoiding Sabrina.\n\nIf she could be relaxed\n\njust by being near a guy like me…\n\nNow, all that\n\nremained in Kazuki’s heart was an answer.\n\n\"… Ok. Let’s sleep together.\"\n\n...Or so he said.\n\nBut isn't this\n\ndangerous on many different levels…?\n\nThey were only\n\nsleeping in the same bed with the lights off, but Kazuki realized how\n\nembarrassing the situation was.\n\nSabrina seemed like a\n\nneat girl. But that same girl was in her pajamas next to Kazuki.\n\nTrying his hardest to\n\nkeep his mind off the situation, he kept his back turned against her.\n\nSqueeze.\n\nHowever, Sabrina was\n\ntightly hugging Kazuki’s arm, so his movements were limited.\n\nThe feeling of the\n\ngirl’s soft skin could be felt on his arm.\n\nThe sweet scent\n\ntickled his nose.\n\nBecause of his\n\nembarrassment and a slight sense of selfishness, Kazuki was regretting letting\n\nher sleep with him.\n\n\"Isn't a single\n\nbed too small for two people? I’ve got quilts, so I can sleep on the floor\n\ninstead.\"\n\nKazuki tried to\n\npersuade Sabrina till the end, however...\n\n\"No, I like it.\n\nI feel reassured when we're sleeping together like this.\"\n\nHe was shot down\n\ninstantly.\n\nIt can’t be helped.\n\nI’ll try to clear my head.\n\nThat’s right, there isn't\n\nanyone next to me.\n\nSo, I can’t feel\n\nanything.\n\nAll I have to do is\n\nto close my eyes and go to sleep, like I always do.\n\nIt’s not hard at all…\n\nAs Kazuki was\n\npurifying his mind, the sky flashed and the light came through the curtains.\n\n\"– Eeep.\"\n\n\"Kyaa.\"\n\nSabrina shrank down\n\nand hugged even tighter.\n\nShe wasn’t just\n\nhugging his arm, but his back as well- increasing the surface of contact. Her \"that\n\npart\" was rubbing against Kazuki’s leg.\n\nEmergency!!\n\nInside Kazuki’s head,\n\nthe sirens went off to warn him of the emergency.\n\n\"S-Sabrina! This\n\nis dangerous! Stay back a little!\"\n\n\"N, no…!!\"\n\nWhaaaaaa.\n\nSave me father,\n\nmother.\n\nPlease give me wisdom\n\nto escape this situation!\n\n「\n\nWell, you don’t need to treat her like a\n\nlittle sister\n\n. You could always take her as your wife.\n\nRegardless, she’s a girl so it doesn’t really matter.\n\n」\n\n「\n\nNo~, really now Kazuki’s dad~. However,\n\nthey’re by themselves~. Kazuki, we’ll be expecting a grandchild soon~.\n\n」\n\nIn his head, his\n\nparents’ words and their devilish laugher resounded.\n\nI was an idiot for\n\nrelying on my parents!\n\nWait! T-this is no\n\njoke! It’s dangerous, dangerous, dangerous, dangerous!\n\nIf I don’t do\n\nsomething about this situation, I might actually do something really bad!\n\nWhile he was\n\npartially in a state of panic, the sky lit up once more, as if it was\n\ndelivering the final blow.\n\n\"– Eeep.\"\n\n\"Waaa.\"\n\nSpin spin spin spin.\n\nHis eyes began to spin,\n\nhe wasn’t able to focus his eyesight.\n\nIt was pointless to\n\nempty his head.\n\nFor a while now, it’s\n\nbecome almost a bother to resist that voice in his head, whispering \"Haven’t\n\nyou resisted for long enough?\" (The voice sounded like his parents for\n\nsome reason).\n\nAs Kazuki was about\n\nto let go of his morals,\n\n\"Onii-chan…\"\n\nHearing Sabrina’s\n\nvoice, Kazuki came back to his senses.\n\nShe was curled up in\n\na ball.\n\nShe was probably\n\nreally scared of the stormy weather.\n\nScary, scary, scary,\n\nshe repeated to herself.\n\nWhat was I about to\n\ndo to a scared girl like her?\n\nHe no longer felt the\n\nsame way as before.\n\nInstead, he felt that\n\nhe should protect her.\n\nThe sky lit up.\n\n\"– Eeep.\"\n\nKazuki gently hugged\n\nSabrina who was scared stiff.\n\n\"… One, two,\n\nthree.\"\n\nAnd he started to\n\ncount so that he could help Sabrina feel at ease.\n\n\"… Onii-chan?\"\n\n\"It’s something\n\nthat I learned from my father. He said that if you count to three after\n\nlightning strikes and hear no thunder, it means that it’s gone somewhere far\n\naway.\"\n\nHe smiled to Sabrina\n\nwho was still trembling.\n\n\"Just now, there\n\nwas a lightning strike but no sounds. So it’s ok, just think that the thunder\n\nhas gone somewhere far away. It’s not that scary.\"\n\n\"… Onii-chan.\"\n\nSabrina dug into\n\nKazuki’s chest as if she was rubbing her nose on him.\n\n\"Onii-chan is\n\nreally like the brother that I imagined you would be.\"\n\nGreat, she looked\n\nbetter than before.\n\nNow that I've changed\n\nthe topic, will she be able to fall asleep?\n\n\"That’s that,\n\nbut Sabrina, I was wondering when I met you earlier today, did you know about\n\nme before?\"\n\n\"… Si. I met you\n\nonce when we were younger.\"\n\n\"Really!? I-I’m\n\nsorry, umm, I can’t really remember…\"\n\n\"Si. It’s\n\nunderstandable if you don’t remember me. We only briefly met after all, and I\n\nonly found out afterwards that it was you, Onii-chan.\"\n\nThe thunderstorm passed\n\nand the sound of the falling rain surrounded them.\n\n\"… But it was\n\none of my most valuable memories.\"\n\nKazuki silently\n\nlooked at Sabrina’s face..\n\nAnd Sabrina started\n\nto talk about herself.\n\n\"I am the\n\ndaughter of the godfather of a powerful Italian mafia, the 'Jevini Family'.\n\nHowever, my mother passed away when I was very young.\n\n\"Why?\"\n\n\"I don’t know.\n\nNo-one ever told me before…. So I was moved to a cottage and started living\n\nthere. My father visited the cottage a few times a year, but he always wore a\n\nstern face so I didn’t know how he was feeling. So when I heard that my father\n\nhad passed away, I didn’t know if I honestly felt saddened or not.\"\n\nSabrina looked\n\nunconcerned. Her face was expressionless.\n\n\"So that's why I\n\nhad been living inside a cottage while being trained to become an assassin.\"\n\n\"… But that’s\n\ntoo harsh.\"\n\n\"Harsh, is it?\"\n\nSabrina blinked her\n\neyes to show that she found it strange. For Sabrina who had no-one to compare\n\nher life to, she didn’t think of it as abnormal.\n\n\"I don’t know\n\nabout it being harsh, but they were the boring days. However, Hideki and Marina\n\nvisited me sometimes and talked about you Onii-chan. I liked hearing about you.\n\nSo whenever I had the time, I would always imagine you and hope that I would\n\nmeet you one day. And after all this time, I was finally able to meet you.\"\n\nShe had no memories\n\nof her mother.\n\nShe had no memories\n\nof her father either.\n\nKazuki was the only\n\nperson Sabrina was able to relate to.\n\nSomeone that she\n\nthought of from a place far away.\n\nSo that must've been\n\nwhy she was so friendly to Kazuki when she met him properly for the first time.\n\nSabrina’s cheeks\n\nbecame slightly pink.\n\n\"I-I’m sorry for\n\nonly talking about myself. I studied Japanese so that I could meet Onii-chan,\n\nbut is my Japanese strange?\"\n\n\"Ah, I see. So\n\nthat’s why you were able to speak so fluently. Its fine, it’s not strange at\n\nall.\"\n\nAfter listening to Sabrina,\n\nKazuki started to think.\n\nI misunderstood...\n\nSabrina really was\n\nthe daughter of a mafia boss and a trained assassin.\n\nHowever, the Sabrina\n\nbefore him was just a girl afraid of thunderstorms, a girl who was unable to\n\nsleep alone because of a nightmare. She was slightly unusual, but she was just\n\na normal girl.\n\nIt wouldn’t be bad to\n\nlet Sabrina stay in our house for a while.\n\nKazuki gently stroked\n\nSabrina’s hair.\n\n\"Well, the storm\n\nhas already passed and it’s a bit late now, so shall we sleep? You are also\n\ntired from your long trip, right?\"\n\n\"Si. Then let’s\n\nsleep.\"\n\nAfter saying that,\n\nSabrina slowly took something out from the pillow that she’d brought.\n\nThunk\n\n.\n\nWith a heavy sound, an\n\nL shaped black object was laid under her pillow.\n\n\"… What’s that?\"\n\n\"This? It’s the\n\nBeretta Px4 that I explained befo–\"\n\n\"I’m not asking for the gun name! Why are\n\nyou placing such a dangerous object like that under your pillow!?\"\n\n\"If I don't, I can’t fall asleep. Isn’t\n\nit normal to put a gun within your reach to sleep peacefully?\"\n\n\"Not at all!!!!\"\n\nI take back what I said\n\nbefore, she definitely isn’t a normal girl.\n\nOnce again, Kazuki\n\nhad regained his old views on Sabrina.\n\nAnd so, Kazuki’s long\n\nday finally came to an end.\n\nObviously, Kazuki\n\nwasn’t able to sleep a wink that night.\n\n1.\n\nSi\n\n-\n\nYes in Italian.\n\n↩\n\n2.\n\nSheltered princesses are called boxed girls.\n\n↩\n\n3.\n\nGood morning in Italian.\n\n↩\n\n4.\n\nNo in Italian is 'No.' She said the entire sentence in Japanese, except 'No,' which was in Italian\n\n.\n\n↩\n\n5\n\n.\n\nHeader as in the soccer pass/shot method\n\n.\n\n↩"
    },
    {
      "chapter_order": 3,
      "chapter_title": "Chapter 2: A Threatened Everyday life!",
      "chars": 51818,
      "words": 8942,
      "_stripped_leading_credit_lines": 0,
      "text": "A wholesome rival appears!\n\nTranslator: Junnynam\n\nEditor: LHI\n\nPlease enjoy~\n\n___________________\n\n_\n\n1\n\nThe next day was a clear spring morning.\n\nKazuki opened his eyes to the bright morning sun.\n\n\"–Uhh.\"\n\nHis little sister, who abruptly appeared\n\nyesterday, was mounting him.\n\nThe mount position: A position highly regarded\n\nin mixed martial arts as a position that was very advantageous and simple to\n\nexecute.\n\n\"...\"\n\nSabrina looked down on Kazuki wordlessly. Her\n\nexpression was as cold as ice.\n\nThere wasn't an ounce of sleepiness left in\n\nKazuki.\n\nWaiiiiiiit!\n\nWait wait wait!\n\nWhy was I in this situation again?\n\nWhy does Sabrina look angry?\n\nDid I do something while she was asleep!?\n\nDid I snore? Do I grind my teeth? Do I have any bad\n\nsleeping habits?\n\nAh, don't tell me I touched Sabrina's breast or\n\nsomething while she was sleeping!?\n\nSince the bed was small, it's not out of the\n\nquestion - ack.\n\n\"I'm sorry.\"\n\nIt looked like the situation would get worse if\n\nhe kept silent, so he apologized just in case. However, Sabrina looked at him\n\nwith a blank expression and tilted her head.\n\n\"Isn't the morning greeting usually 'Good\n\nmorning'?\"\n\n\"No, I just thought that I did something that\n\nmade you angry.\"\n\n\"No.\"\n\nLooking amused, Sabrina tilted her head the\n\nother way. Thankfully, it looks like he hadn't done anything wrong.\n\nHe sighed in relief.\n\n\"So... why are we in this situation?\"\n\nAll males have \"that\" first thing the\n\nmorning, and Sabrina happened to be mounting his waist. He tried to think of a\n\nway to keep her from finding out.\n\n\"Si. When I woke up, Onii-chan was still\n\nasleep. While I was looking at your sleeping face, you turned around and I\n\ncouldn't see it anymore. So I moved you here. If you're here, then I can see\n\nyou clearly.\"\n\n\"Ah... ha ha... is that right.\"\n\nAlthough he laughed bitterly, Sabrina looked\n\nquite proud of herself, so he didn't tell her to get off.\n\nWhile still in that position, Kazuki searched\n\nfor the alarm clock with his hands. Since the clock was in its usual position,\n\nit was quite easy to find without looking.\n\n\"Hmm? What's this?\"\n\nWhat Kazuki picked up was definitely his alarm\n\nclock. Although, it was now unusable because of a hole in the middle.\n\nPieces of metal and plastic fell out of the\n\ndestroyed alarm clock.\n\n\"Si. It was making a ruckus and disturbing\n\nyour sleep, so I eliminated it.\"\n\nHer expression hasn't changed, but she said 'Eh\n\nheh' and somehow looked proud of her achievement.\n\n\"Eliminate!? But that's what an alarm clock\n\ndoes! Wait, then that means that the alarm went off. What time is it?\"\n\nKazuki looked at the clock on the wall. Its\n\nhands were pointing to 7:45.\n\n\"Whoa! Not good! I'm going to be late!\"\n\n\"... Uuu.\"\n\nKazuki kicked off his blanket as he got up.\n\nSabrina, who was on top of him, was now covered by the blanket and rolled\n\nbackwards.\n\n\"Ah, sorry about that Sabrina.\"\n\nLike a hamster looking out from its home,\n\nSabrina peeked out from the blanket.\n\n\"Why are you in such a hurry, Onii-chan?\"\n\n\"I'm going to be late for school at this\n\nrate.\"\n\n\"School?\"\n\n\"Yep. Don't you know what school is,\n\nSabrina?\"\n\n\"Si.\"\n\nSince Sabrina wasn't allowed to leave her\n\ncottage, it seems like she didn't know much about schools. It was going to be\n\ndifficult to explain schools to her, so he rushed his explanation.\n\n\"Hmm... school is a place where children in\n\nthe same age group study together.\"\n\n\"Why do they have to study together?\"\n\n\"Mh–mm, because it's compulsory education,\n\nbut you wouldn't understand would you...? To put it simply, it's like work for\n\nthe children.\"\n\n\"Work...? Is it painful to do?\"\n\n\"It is~. Since it starts in the morning and\n\ncontinues until the afternoon.\"\n\nAlthough he said that, Kazuki had friends at\n\nschool and he fit in with the other students. He was enjoying his likeable\n\nschool life. But since there were no students who actually enjoyed studying, he\n\ncould only explain it like that.\n\n\"Ah! Now that I think about it, I didn't\n\nhave a bath yesterday since it was so hectic. The bath should be heated up; I\n\nguess I'll take a bath before I go.\"\n\n\"Bath...\"\n\nSabrina, who looked like she had something to\n\nsay, bobbed her twin tails.\n\n\"You haven't had a shower yet, have you?\n\nSorry, do you mind if I take one first? I think I'll be late if I don't take one\n\nnow. That is, unless you don't want to go in after me?\"\n\n\"No, I don't mind. I need to prepare a few\n\nthings before I go in the bath, so please go in first.\"\n\nKazuki thought she meant that girls had to\n\nprepare things that boys didn't know about and said:\n\n\"Thanks, then I'll do what you say and take\n\na bath first.\"\n\n\"Si. See you later.\"\n\nNot deeply thinking about what Sabrina said, he\n\nheaded to the bathroom.\n\nKazuki's bathroom was larger than a normal\n\nhousehold's. This was because his parents liked to rest after their travels and\n\nso they choose a bathroom that suited their preference.\n\nOf course, Kazuki really liked it as well.\n\nWhew, it feels good.\n\nSince yesterday was quite tiring, his body was\n\nstiffer than he thought.\n\nWhew, this is heavenly. Didn't a famous person\n\nonce say, \"Baths are the essence of humanity?\"\n\n... I might be wrong, but who cares.\n\nWith a viva nonno\n\n[1]\n\nlike feeling, he placed a\n\nbath towel on his head and stretched out his legs in the large bathtub. Even\n\nthough he didn't have the time, he was submerging himself happily.\n\nKazuki's face relaxed and anyone would've been\n\nable to see how happy he was.\n\nKnock knock.\n\nJust when Kazuki was getting relaxed, someone\n\nknocked on the frosted glass door.\n\n\"Onii-chan, may I?\"\n\n\"Yes, what is it?\"\n\nIt was Sabrina. Pondering what she wanted from\n\nhim, Kazuki lazily replied.\n\nSubsequently, the door opened with some\n\nunexpected words from her.\n\n\"Thanks for waiting.\"\n\n\"-Eeh?\"\n\nSurprisingly, Sabrina walked in.\n\nShe only had a bath towel around her. It was too\n\nshort, so that place was nearly visible.\n\nRealizing\n\nwhat was going on, Kazuki jumped up from the bathtub purely by reflex.\n\nKazuki was obviously naked, his towel was on his\n\nhead. Getting up like this meant...\n\n\"Ah-.\"\n\n\"...\"\n\nSabrina looked at Kazuki with a blank face. She\n\nlooked down slightly, but quickly blushed and turned her face away.\n\n\"Whoaaaaaa!\"\n\nHe hurriedly wrapped the bath towel that was on\n\nhis head around his waist, and rushed away from her to widen their distance.\n\n\"Wwwwwhat is it!? Why did you come in,\n\nSabrina!?\"\n\nHer twin tails were gone and her straight hair\n\nflowed down her back. Her white skin looked like it would be melted away by the\n\nhot air. He was able to tell by looking at her small but puffy breasts, her\n\nslim waist, and her small but firm butt, that her body was clearly superb.\n\nHe was amazed by her body as much as when she\n\nwas in the box, but this look was just as appealing.\n\nHe was unable to tell what she was thinking by\n\nher expression, but she was slightly wobbly and her face was dyed bright red.\n\n\"I- I read that Japanese family members\n\nwash each others' back while in the bath. I-I'm really embarrassed, but there\n\nis the saying 'When in Rome, do as the Romans do,' and since we're siblings...\n\nplease look after me.\"\n\n\"What?! What are you going to do?\"\n\nStep.\n\nSabrina took her first step towards the\n\nbathtub.\n\n\"Whooaa, no, Sabrina! You can't come in!\"\n\n\"No, we're brother and sister. I will wash\n\nyour back.\"\n\n\"Heeeeeeeeek.\"\n\nFor some reason, he yelled out loud.\n\nWith an overwhelming spirit, Sabrina shortened\n\nthe distance step by step.\n\nShe was right in front of hi-.\n\nAt that moment, Sabrina slipped on the wet tiles\n\nand lost her balance. The bath towel slipped off her.\n\n\"Watch out!\"\n\nKazuki reached out to Sabrina by reflex. He\n\nended up holding her tight in a hug.\n\nThey came into contact, and Sabrina's breasts\n\nwere touching Kazuki.\n\n\"... Onii-chan.\"\n\n\"Whoaa. I'm sorry Sabrina. It wasn't on\n\npurpose!\"\n\nHe hurriedly backed off from Sabrina who hung\n\nher head low in embarrassment.\n\nHe couldn't look at her, so he covered his eyes\n\nwith a hand and stretched out the other one in an apologetic pose.\n\n\"W-wait! Wait for a second, just calm down!\n\nAnd about what you just said, Sabrina, the thing about family members washing\n\neach others' backs! It's not true at all!\"\n\n\"Not true?\"\n\nSabrina, who had covered herself with the bath\n\ntowel, widened her eyes in surprise.\n\n\"That's right, it's not true!\"\n\n\"Then, what about entering baths together?\"\n\n\"They don't.\"\n\n\"What about washing other people's backs?\"\n\n\"They don't do that either.\"\n\n\"Washing other people's backs?\"\n\n\"They don't! Why are you asking twice!?\"\n\nAfter a long silence, Sabrina opened her mouth.\n\n\"... Si. So I was mistaken, but it's a bit\n\ndisappointing -achoo.\"\n\nWhile she was talking, Sabrina cutely sneezed.\n\nEven though it was spring, being in a single bath towel wasn't enough.\n\n\"W-why don't you take a bath now Sabrina. Y-y-you\n\nmight catch a cold like this.\"\n\nStill shaken up by the experience, Kazuki stuttered.\n\n\"But Onii-chan will...\"\n\n\"I'm fine. I needed to get out anyway. So\n\ncome in, warm yourself up in the bath.\"\n\nKazuki who wanted to escape as soon as possible\n\nfled from the bathroom as he said that.\n\n\"Why did such a troublesome thing happen so\n\nearly in the morning!? A-achoo!\"\n\nKazuki's loud sneeze echoed through his house.\n\nHe cooled down his body that got hot in many\n\ndifferent ways. He dried his hair with a hairdryer and changed into his school\n\nuniform. Kazuki then grabbed the bag hanging from his desk, and ran down the\n\nstairs.\n\n\"Ah, I should probably tell Sabrina before\n\nI go to school.\"\n\nHe was going to head out the door, but Kazuki\n\nturned around and went to the bathroom.\n\nThere was only a door between Sabrina and him.\n\nKnowing that made his heart beat faster, but he tried to keep a straight face\n\nand talked to the frosted glass door.\n\n\"Sabrina, have you warmed yourself up?\"\n\n\"Si.\"\n\n\"Good, then I'm off to school now.\"\n\n\"Umm, what about me...?\"\n\nSabrina's voice clearly had a sense of\n\nperplexity mixed in.\n\nThat's right, Kazuki knew nothing about what\n\nSabrina was supposed to do from now on. He hadn't thought about it either.\n\n\"I see, I guess you'll be uncomfortable if\n\nyou're in a situation like this. Sorry, Sabrina. Umm, so... why don't you look\n\nafter the house today? I'll ask my parents what you should do from now on.\"\n\n\"... Si. Umm, Onii-chan... what time will\n\nyou be coming back?\"\n\n\"Some time in the afternoon, I think. I'll\n\ncome back as soon as I can when school finishes.\"\n\nAfter telling her that, Kazuki left his house\n\nand started to run.\n\n2\n\nDing dong dang dong\n\n.\n\nThe morning bell at Ouba Middle School, the\n\nschool that Kazuki attended, rang.\n\nKazuki made it just in time, and slumped down\n\ninto his seat.\n\n\"Hey. That was quite a close one today,\n\neven though you normally arrive pretty early.\"\n\nKazuki was still out of breath. When he looked\n\nup, he saw Ryouta Miyamoto - his childhood friend, whom he's known since\n\nprimary school, standing there.\n\n\"...Oh, it's only you Ryouta. Something\n\nhappened at my home this morning... so I barely made it.\"\n\n\"Something happened? It sounds like quite a\n\nscandal, what happened?\"\n\n\"You see, today-\"\n\nWhen he woke up, his little sister was mounting him\n\nand examining his face.\n\nWhile he was taking a bath, his little sister\n\ntried to wash his back wearing only a bath towel.\n\n\"...Nothing, really.\"\n\nHe couldn't say either of them.\n\n\"Tell me. Please? I said tell me!\"\n\n\"It's really nothing. Ah, don't bother me\n\nlike that.\"\n\nRyouta clung to him like a leech. While Kazuki\n\ntried to think of something to say, a girl walked towards him.\n\n\"Hello, Ootaki-kun.\"\n\nThe girl had brown hair held in place by a\n\nhairpin. She had round, cute eyes and always wore her characteristic smile that\n\nwarmed peoples' hearts.\n\nShe was Saki Kinoshita, starting this year, she\n\nwas Kazuki's classmate.\n\n\"H-h-hey!\"\n\n\"Ouch.\"\n\nHe bit his tongue trying to answer quickly.\n\nKazuki flung Ryouta off him and sat up straight, pretending that nothing\n\nhappened.\n\nSaki only blinked at Ryouta, who fell on the\n\nfloor brilliantly.\n\n\"H-hey Kinoshita! The weather is nice\n\ntoday!\"\n\n\"Y-yeah, it is. But is he alright? I don't\n\nthink Miyamoto-kun is moving...\"\n\n\"It's ok, it's ok! Ryouta is like that\n\nsometimes. He said he's entering the 'Nirvana' state, or something. So you don't\n\nneed to worry about him.\"\n\n\"Hu hu, how unique. But Ootaki-kun, you\n\nwere late to school today. I thought you were going to be absent since you\n\nusually arrive early.\n\nHer gentle smile was really charming.\n\nHe just realized something.\n\nKazuki and Saki had never talked like this\n\nbefore. In fact, it's the first time he's had a proper conversation with her. However,\n\nwhat surprised him the most was that she knew that Kazuki always came to school\n\nearly.\n\nWhy did she?\n\nWas she always looking at me...? Well, that's\n\nnot likely.\n\nKazuki shook his head to shake off his\n\ndelusional thoughts.\n\nIt was probably because she was the class\n\npresident. She must've known about the individuals in the class. Even though he\n\nknew that there was no special meaning behind it, he felt slightly happy\n\nknowing that someone cared about him.\n\n\"Did something happen?\"\n\n\"A few things got messy yesterday, so it\n\nwas problematic.\"\n\n\"Are you having trouble? Are you ok? If you're\n\nok with me, why don't you tell me about it?\"\n\n\"N-no, it's alright. It's not a big deal\n\nanyway.\"\n\nHe was happy that Saki offered to listen to him,\n\nbut he couldn't just shout out \"Somehow, I've got a little sister!\"\n\nFurthermore, he couldn't say that his new little sister happened to be \"the\n\nhidden child of a mafia's boss who is also an amateur assassin,\" even if\n\nhis life depended on it.\n\n\"I see. Well, that's fine then. If there's\n\nanything that I can do, just ask me. Let's try our best this week!\"\n\nBeing called over by her friend, Saki said \"see\n\nyou,\" and went to her group of friends while waving her hand at him.\n\nKazuki was looking at her in a trance when\n\nRyouta who has revived put him in a headlock.\n\n\"Who's going to Nirvana? Why you!\"\n\n\"Whoa, Ryouta. I didn't say that!\"\n\n\"Anyways, I was trying to take a peek at\n\nKinoshita's panties while she was distracted, but I failed.\"\n\n\"If you try something like that, Kinoshita\n\nreally will send you to Nirvana.\"\n\n\"I'm only kidding. But give it up, she's\n\nway out of your league.\"\n\nFlinch.\n\nKazuki's body stiffened.\n\n\"W-what are you saying?\"\n\n\"I'm talking about Kinoshita. I've known\n\nyou for a long time, so I can read you like a book.\"\n\nRyouta poked out his mouth and puffed his chest\n\nout. Kazuki who was completely defeated couldn't even make an excuse.\n\n\"Saki Kinoshita... her father works at the\n\ncity council and her mother teaches gardening. Her hobby is gardening thanks to\n\nher mother's influence. Her grades are above average and she's a friendly\n\nperson who cares deeply about other people. She doesn't discriminate between\n\nmales and females, so she is ranked first or second within our grade.\"\n\n\"...Why do you know so much about her?\"\n\n\"Heh, what a foolish question. I am the\n\nschool's information broker. For your information, the number of boys who asked\n\nher out last year is 36, and everyone was shot down. The rumors say that the\n\nformer captain of the soccer club Wakabiyashi-senpai was one of them.\"\n\n\"Really!? You mean the same Wakabiyashi-senpai\n\nwho's famous for being popular!? The guy who receives enough chocolates on\n\nValentine's Day to count to three digits? He actually liked someone!? ...What's\n\nwith your hand?\"\n\n\"It's obvious, pay me. Information isn't\n\nfree. I can look into it for you.\"\n\n\"You're charging me!? We're friends!\"\n\n\"So we need to get this over and done with.\"\n\n\"I see... I have helped you countless times\n\nduring tests, but we should get that over and done with. Do your best in your\n\nstudies while you're gathering your information.\"\n\nThe two of them looked at each other. They were\n\nabout to go at each other, but their homegroup teacher walked in.\n\n\"Aren't you the lively one?\"\n\n\"I should be saying that to you, Ryouta.\"\n\nThe two of them glared at each other, but since\n\nhomeroom had started, they snorted at each other and Ryouta returned to his\n\nseat.\n\nKazuki softened his expression as he saw his\n\nfriend's back.\n\nTheir usual dialogue.\n\nThe everyday life that he had lost yesterday\n\ncould be found here.\n\nHe looked outside the window.\n\n\"How peaceful.\"\n\nThe sky was cloudless outside.\n\n◊\n\nUnder that cloudless blue sky, a blond girl was\n\non the streets, holding onto a briefcase which did not suit her.\n\n\"...Where is this school place?\"\n\nThis girl was Sabrina. Although she was on her\n\nway to Kazuki's school, she didn't know where it was and has subsequently\n\ngotten lost.\n\nGrumble.\n\nFrom her back, she heard a loud noise.\n\nSabrina looked back and saw a collapsed woman\n\ndressed in nun's robes.\n\nThe woman looked to be approximately 20 years\n\nold. While she was still lying on the ground, she looked up and started to talk\n\nwhile grinding her teeth at the same time.\n\n\"My dear lamb's meat... no, my dear lamb...\n\nWhat's the matter? Why do you seem so lost...?\"\n\nGruummmble.\n\nThe grumbling sound was heard again. The nun's\n\nstomach seemed to be the source of the noise.\n\n\"Who are you?\"\n\n\"My lost lamb, you have been wandering\n\naround for a while. Are you looking for something?\"\n\n\"Si. I am looking for the school my brother\n\nattends.\"\n\n\"School? There are a lot of different ones,\n\nbut the closest would be Ouba Middle School over there.\"\n\nThe nun pointed off in the distance. On top of the\n\nhill that she was pointing at, a building was visible.\n\n\"So that's the school.... Si. Thank you.\"\n\n\"No no, it was nothing. Eh, what? I don't\n\nneed to be compensated, but if you want to pay me back somehow, why don't you\n\ngive me some foo- huh, what?\"\n\nFinding out where she had to go, Sabrina left\n\nthe nun who was still talking and started walking towards the school to see her\n\ndear brother.\n\n◊\n\nKazuki's class had a PE for the second lesson.\n\nThe boys were playing soft ball in the middle of the field, while the girls\n\nwere doing long distance running at the nearby tracks.\n\nThe refreshing sound of a metal bat hitting the\n\nball echoed through the field.\n\nRyouta, who was the pitcher, yelled out:\n\n\"Right! Kazuki!\"\n\n\"Alright!\"\n\nIt was a strong hit. However, Kazuki leapt up\n\nand caught the ball.\n\n\"Nice catch. You're in a good form today.\"\n\n\"Well, of course~.\"\n\nHe threw the ball back to Ryouta.\n\nThat's right. This was his usual life.\n\nKazuki felt a brief sense of peace, being free\n\nof Sabrina.\n\nHe glanced at the tracks. Over there, he spotted\n\nSaki amongst the girls who were running at their own pace.\n\n\"Ha... Kinoshita is pretty even when she's\n\nrunning.\"\n\n\"Kazuki, another one!\"\n\nHearing Ryouta's voice, he turned around. This\n\ntime, it was a high right flyer. It would be quite easy to catch the ball as it\n\nwas falling.\n\nIt was alright, he could catch this normally.\n\nHe placed his glove beneath the falling ball.\n\nRight at that moment, he spotted someone out of the corner of his eye.\n\nHis eyes widened in surprise.\n\n\"Sabri- kuh.\"\n\nAs he was about to say her name, the ball landed\n\non Kazuki's head.\n\nDong.\n\nWith a sound of a giant bell, the impact sent a\n\nshockwave through Kazuki's body.\n\nWhile he was still uneasy on his feet, he looked\n\ntowards the school gates where he spotted Sabrina.\n\n\"Why is Sabrina here...?\"\n\nHe wasn't delusional.\n\nStanding at the school gates was Sabrina, who\n\nshould've been looking after the house.\n\nShe was holding the briefcase, also known as the\n\n\"toolbox,\" in her hands.\n\nSabrina must've noticed Kazuki as well, because\n\nshe headed straight towards him.\n\nStep step step.\n\nWithout any hesitation, she walked through the\n\nschool gates and inside the school. A few students noticed her as well.\n\nBut the PE teacher Kitajawa stood in her path.\n\nKitajawa was a very muscular teacher, to the\n\npoint where some people thought that his brain was muscular as well. He\n\npracticed judo moves on the male students and touched female students in\n\ninappropriate ways in the name of education.\n\nWow, it just had to be Mr. Kitajawa!\n\n\"Sabrina, please don't do anything stupid-\"\n\nHowever, a man's dream is fragile.\n\nAs soon as Mr. Kitajawa tried to stop Sabrina,\n\nthe 2 meter tall man was sent flying by a girl almost half his size.\n\nDrop.\n\nA puff of dust rose up from the ground.\n\nShe... she's done it now...\n\nKitajawa didn't even move after being thrown on\n\nthe ground.\n\nThe blond girl was even more expressionless than\n\nbefore after taking down a fully grown man.\n\nThe students froze after witnessing the\n\nsituation.\n\nIn an instant, the school yard which was so\n\npeaceful before became a battlefield.\n\n\"Sa...brina?\"\n\nKazuki slowly walked towards her. As he did,\n\nSabrina's Noh\n\n[2]\n\nmask-like face softened. She started running towards Kazuki.\n\n\"Onii-chan.\"\n\nSqueeze.\n\nShe hugged him.\n\n\"Her brother...?\"\n\n\"Ootaki-kun knows that girl?\"\n\n\"How can she be his little sister when she's\n\nclearly not Japanese?\"\n\nAs if they were seeing a rare sight, everyone's\n\neyes fell on Kazuki. So this was how it felt to be in the hot seat. Kazuki\n\nfound out for the first time in his life how hurtful peoples' stares were.\n\nHow did this happen?\n\nAh, if my life was a game, I would restart it\n\nfrom this morning.\n\nShould I have said yesterday morning? Then I\n\nwouldn't have opened that box.\n\nNo, if he hadn't been born to those parents of\n\nhis in the first place–.\n\n\"Do you know that girl, Ootaki-kun?\"\n\nThe one representing the class in finding out\n\nwho the girl was was Saki. Kazuki, who was half denying the reality of her\n\nquestion, came back to his senses.\n\n\"Huh? Yeah. It's like this, something\n\nhappened to her family, so my parents decided to look after her and let her\n\nstay at our house. Ah ha ha ha...\"\n\n\"Ehh!? But that means that you guys are\n\nliving together? But, weren't your parents away from home all the time Ootaki-kun?\"\n\n\"No that's... huh? How did you know that my\n\nparents were always out of the house?\"\n\n\"Ah! T-that's uh, I overheard it somewhere,\n\nand I remembered because I thought that it was really amazing of you. Anyway...\n\ndoes that mean that you guys are living by yourselves?\"\n\n\"Si. It is exactly as you've said. In\n\nJapanese, it was... 'sharing beds'?\"\n\n\"Sharing beds!?\"\n\n\"Sabrina! You mean sharing houses! No, that's\n\nwrong as well! Kinoshita, we are living under the same roof... but it's\n\ndifferent! Sabrina is just my little sister, so nothing weird will happen!\"\n\n\"But this girl might not think of it like\n\nthat... no, wait... Hold on Saki... it's too early to think of it like th...\"\n\nSaki started talking to herself, so what Kazuki\n\nwas saying didn't reach her ears.\n\n\"Umm, Kinoshita?\"\n\n\"Huh? Ah, sorry.\"\n\nSaki came back to her senses.\n\nSabrina, who was still hugging Kazuki, abruptly\n\nremoved a gun from her sleeves. She aimed at Saki, and pulled the trigger.\n\n\"Wh–oa\"\n\nKazuki was able to push the gun far enough away\n\nfor the bullet to miss Saki by a hairs' breadth.\n\n\"W-wha-wha-wha-what are you doing, Sabrina!?\"\n\n\"My intuition told me to assassinate this\n\nwoman. This woman is dangerous.\"\n\n\"You're a lot more dangerous than her!\"\n\nSta–re.\n\nSabrina looked up at him.\n\n\"You've been acting funny towards this\n\ngirl, Onii-chan.\"\n\n\"Ugh....\"\n\nFlinch.\n\nShe was quite sharp.\n\n\"Who is this woman to you, Onii-chan?\"\n\n\"I-I don't know what you mean, Sabrina.\"\n\n\"Don't tell me... even though you have me.\n\nOnii-chan... me or that woman, which one of us do you consider your little\n\nsister?\"\n\n\"What's with the 2 choices!?\"\n\nWhile Kazuki was being asked the puzzling\n\nquestion by Sabrina; Saki, who was previously frozen solid, finally talked.\n\nAfter all, Saki had been shot at by Sabrina just moments before.\n\n\"Huh? Huh? Hold on! That thing that she's\n\nholding is-\"\n\n\"I-it's just a toy! Sabrina likes these\n\nkinds of things, you see!\"\n\n\"But the noise was...\"\n\n\"I-it's just blanks! It was made overseas,\n\nso it's quite detailed!\"\n\n\"But, I think something flew past my\n\nface...\"\n\n\"You're imagining things! Ah ha... ha ha ha...\n\nha.\"\n\nSaki didn't look convinced, but Kazuki forced\n\nhimself to laugh it off.\n\nAnyway, that was settled. Well, let's just say\n\nit was.\n\nKazuki faced Sabrina and started to talk about\n\nthe main issue.\n\n\"Anyway, why are you at school Sabrina?\"\n\n\"Si. I didn't know the way and got lost,\n\nbut someone told me the way to get here.\"\n\n\"Ah, so you got lost. Sorry, I guess I didn't\n\ntell you where the school was. You did well coming here by yourself- is not it!\n\nI didn't ask how you got here, I told you to look after the house didn't I?\"\n\n\"... Si.\"\n\n\"So why did you come?\"\n\nKazuki changed his voice to a slightly\n\nintimidating tone. Sabrina looked down to the ground. As if mimicking her\n\nheart, her twin tails drooped as well.\n\n\"You not talking is troublesome as we-\"\n\n\"I wanted... to help you with your work,\n\nOnii-chan.\"\n\nWith a voice that felt like that was about to\n\ndisappear, Sabrina stuttered her words silently.\n\n\"This morning, you said that... there was\n\npainful work for you at school. I know that you told me to stay at home, but I\n\ncan't sit around comfortably when you are working so hard at school.... So, I\n\ncame to help you even if it was only slightly.\"\n\n\"Sabrina...\"\n\n\"I'm sorry for going against our promise.\"\n\nSabrina's shoulders were slightly trembling. She\n\nmust've thought that she was going to be punished since she went against their\n\npromise.\n\nShe came here for my sake.\n\nI couldn't get angry at Sabrina.\n\n\"...The one who should be apologizing\n\nis me. I didn't explain it well enough and\n\ncaused the misunderstanding. I have to go to school, but it's not a painful\n\nplace to be. Thanks for worrying about me.\n\n\"\n\nHe patted her head\n\ninstead.\n\n\"... Onii-chan?\"\n\nSabrina looked up as if\n\nshe wanted to check Kazuki's expression. When he smiled, Sabrina hugged him\n\nwith a satisfied look.\n\n\"Kinoshita.\"\n\n\"Huh? Ah, yes?\"\n\nSaki answered in\n\nsurprise because she had been looking at Kazuki and Sabrina with a stern face.\n\n\"I'm sorry for\n\ntroubling you today, but I can't just leave Sabrina here, so I think I'll need\n\nto take the day off. I'm sorry, but could you let me go for today?\"\n\n\"Huh? Ehh!? That's\n\nok, but...\"\n\n\"Hold it right\n\nthere!\"\n\nRyouta suddenly popped\n\nin.\n\n\"Your cute little\n\nsister came all the way here for you. So we'll look after her today in our\n\nclass. What do you guys think!\"\n\n「\n\nYeah!\n\n」\n\nEveryone in the class\n\nagreed.\n\nKazuki's class was quite\n\nquick to adapt to good or bad circumstances. Everyone was welcoming.\n\n\"Looks like you don't\n\nhave to take the day off, boss.\"\n\n\"Who're you calling\n\nboss.\"\n\nHe shook off Ryouta's\n\nhand on his shoulder.\n\n\"But it's too\n\nsudden to look after Sabrina in our class, and it's impossible. Right,\n\nKinoshita?\"\n\n\"Hmm, you're right.\n\nIt's a bit...\"\n\n\"I guess you can go\n\nba\n\n–... sharing beds.\n\n\"\n\n\"Al\n\nright, why don't we ask the teacher!?\n\n\"\n\n\"Huh!? Kinoshita!?\"\n\nFor some reason, Saki\n\ndecided to go along with Ryouta's idea.\n\n\"Is that really ok?\"\n\n\"Sure. Since\n\nSabrina is cute, she's very welcome. ... And there are a few things that I want\n\nto hear about.\"\n\nWith a clenched fist,\n\nSaki looked at Sabrina with a serious expression.\n\nAt that moment, the\n\nschool bells rang.\n\nEveryone in his class\n\nand Sabrina walked off the field.\n\nAnd Kitajawa who was\n\nstill not moving had been left behind.\n\n3\n\nNext break, a crowd of\n\npeople stormed Kazuki's class - second year class six. In the middle of this\n\ncrowd sat Kazuki, and next to him was Sabrina.\n\nEveryone in his\n\nclassroom asked their homeroom teacher for permission, and the teacher allowed\n\nthem straight away.\n\nSabrina was now\n\nsurrounded by a bunch of people like she was holding a press conference.\n\n\"What are your\n\nhobbies?\" \"Do you have a boyfriend?\" \"Is naporitan called\n\nnaporitan because it was made in Naples\n\n[3]\n\n?\"\n\nIt looked like Sabrina\n\nwouldn't speak to anyone but Kazuki.\n\nSabrina's sleepy face\n\nwhile leaning on Kazuki's shoulder was quite cute, but Kazuki couldn't answer\n\nall the questions by himself. And for the record, naporitans actually\n\noriginated in Japan.\n\n\"Sorry, Sabrina\n\nhasn't been in Japan long, so she doesn't know Japanese very well.\"\n\nHis classmates'\n\nexcitement wouldn't die out no matter what Kazuki said. The festival like\n\nexcitement continued.\n\n\"She's like a doll.\"\n\n\"She's so cute.\" \"Moe~.\" \"Sabrina's my wife.\"\n\nThe last comment was\n\ncompletely random.\n\n\"Everyone calm\n\ndown. If you make a ruckus like this, then Sabrina will be scared.\"\n\nSaki stepped in to take\n\ncontrol of the situation. It was difficult for Kazuki to silence the class by\n\nhimself, but thanks to Saki, the crowd started to settle down.\n\n\"Thanks Kinoshita.\"\n\n\"No, don't mind it.\n\nThis is a class president's duty as well. Anyway, just ask me when you need\n\nsomething.\"\n\nSaki didn't look grumpy\n\nat all. In fact, she was actually worried about Kazuki.\n\nKinoshita is really nice...\n\nIt was troublesome that\n\nSabrina came to school, but I'm really glad that I'm able to talk to Kinoshita\n\nlike this.\n\nThis must be what they\n\ncall a \"blessing in disguise.\"\n\nMaybe it wasn't so bad\n\nto live with Sabrina after all.\n\nSaki smiled at Kazuki\n\nand turned her focus to Sabrina.\n\n\"Hello, Sabrina, my\n\nname is Saki Kinoshita. Nice to meet you.\"\n\nShe\n\nextended her hand towards Sabrina for a\n\nhandshake.\n\nHmm, what awonderful\n\nsight.\n\nKinoshita might make a\n\ngood older sister for Sabrina.\n\nIf the two of them were\n\non friendlier terms, would I be able to invite Kinoshita to my house?\n\nIf I do, I'll be able to\n\ntalk to Kinoshita naturally.\n\nThat might be nice,\n\nalmost like a bonus.\n\nBite.\n\nWithout warning, Sabrina\n\nbit Saki's hand.\n\n\"Kyaa? Ouch! That\n\nhurt!\"\n\n\"Whoo- ah. What are\n\nyou doing Sabrina!?\"\n\nKazuki quickly separated\n\nthe two of them.\n\n\"The only one who\n\ncan stand behind me is Onii-chan.\"\n\n\"Why are you\n\ntalking like an assassin from somewhere!? Also, what you said was wrong! She\n\nwasn't even behind your back!\"\n\nSaki, who had just been\n\nbitten, crouched in a corner of the classroom trembling and holding her hand.\n\n\"K-Kinoshita, are\n\nyou alright!?\"\n\n\"As I expected, she\n\ndeclared war... If she's going to play like that, then I'll...\"\n\nJust like before, Saki\n\nseemed to be deep in thought again. Kazuki's voice didn't reach her .\n\n\"Uuu... if it's\n\nlike this, not only will my school life be affected, but Kinoshita might hate\n\nme...\"\n\nSomehow, they made it to\n\nthe end of the fourth lesson.\n\nSabrina has been sitting\n\nfairly quietly next to Kazuki (as long as Saki didn't approach her). Although,\n\nwhen Kazuki was going to the bathroom during the break, Sabrina followed him to\n\nthe boys' toilets. Even so, it was nothing compared to what Sabrina did before.\n\nSince he didn't know\n\nwhat Sabrina might do, Kazuki has been on the edge of his seat.\n\n\"Uuu, somehow, my\n\nhead is hurting...\"\n\nAfter the fourth lesson,\n\nit was lunch time. Some students from other classes came into the classroom to\n\neat with friends, or join tables together to form a larger table for\n\nthemselves. The class was starting to get noisy again.\n\n\"Onii-chan, is\n\nsomething starting?\"\n\n\"Ah, it's just\n\nlunch time. We didn't bring our lunch, so we'll get something from the canteen.\"\n\n\"Si. I understand.\"\n\nWhile the two of them\n\nwere about to exit the classroom, Saki (who was near the door) called out to\n\nthem.\n\n\"H-huh? Ootaki-kun,\n\ny-you didn't bring any lunch today, right?\"\n\nFor some reason, Saki's\n\nvoice sounded unnatural, like a robot.\n\n\"Yeah, I didn't\n\nbring any since I was busy with this and that yesterday.\"\n\n\"I-I see...\"\n\nWhen Kazuki replied like\n\nthat, Saki was squirming, as if she wanted to say something to him.\n\n\"Umm, well... then.\"\n\nSss.\n\nShe hesitantly took out\n\nsomething from a pouch\n\n[4]\n\nwith cute patterns on it.\n\n\"T-this is the\n\nlunch that I packed..\"\n\n\"Hmm, so you can\n\ncook as well Kinoshita. That's amazing.\"\n\n\"...Y-yeah. I'm not\n\ngreat, but I can.\"\n\n\"I usually bring\n\nfrozen food or leftovers from dinn-\"\n\nWait, hold on!\n\nKazuki gulped.\n\nHuh? What's this\n\natmosphere?\n\nWhy is Kinoshita giving\n\nher lunch to me?\n\nCould this be, could it,\n\ncould it...\n\nIt's only a possibility,\n\nbut am I about to receive a hand made lunch from Kinoshita!?\n\nKazuki started to\n\nimagine all of the possibilities.\n\nKinoshita opened her\n\nmouth to talk.\n\n\"You know, I don't\n\nhave much of an appetite today, so if you're ok with it, you can have min-\"\n\nThis!?\n\n\"Ootaki-kun can—.\"\n\nI can!?\n\n\"Eat it-.\"\n\nEat it-!?\n\nBite.\n\nBite!? ... Huh?\n\n\"Kyaa! S-S-Sabrina!?\n\nIt hurts!?\"\n\n\"Ahh-ah! Wait\n\nSabrina, what are you doing!?\"\n\n\"I bit her.\"\n\n\"I can see that!\n\nYou don't need to tell me! Sorry Kinoshita, are you alright?\"\n\n\"... Y-yeah, I'm\n\nfine. You don't need to worry about me. Moreover, you can take th... huh?\"\n\nSaki checked her hands\n\nfor the pouch she was holding moments before, but it was gone.\n\n\"Heh? What's this?\"\n\nThere was a voice coming\n\nfrom the corridor. Just outside the door, there was a very fat boy holding Saki's\n\npouch.\n\nIt looks like the pouch\n\nflew outside when Sabrina bit Saki's hand.\n\n\"Ah! That guy is\n\nFutomaru Oujeki-kun, who's infamous for his appetite!\"\n\n\"A flying lunch.\n\nYes, thanks for the food.\"\n\n\"Kyaa- ah. W-wait!\n\nThat's my lunch!\"\n\nAs her face glistened\n\nwith tears, Saki chased after the boy who ran away with a speed that didn't\n\nmatch his size.\n\n\"What was that just\n\nnow...\"\n\nKazuki muttered to\n\nhimself, as he looked blankly at them.\n\nWhen the siblings headed\n\nto the canteen, it was overflowing with students who were also there for lunch.\n\nTo make it even worse,\n\nall of the students here were in middle school. They all had a large appetite.\n\nWhen they were hungry, no-one could stop or calm the students down.\n\nThe canteen resembled a\n\nbattlefield.\n\n\"Hmm, we're too\n\nlate.... Sorry Sabrina, I wanted to buy lunch here, but it looks like it'll be\n\na challenge.\"\n\nKazuki didn't have a\n\nsolution. Next to him, Sabrina looked at the crowd of people expressionlessly.\n\n\"Ha, this isn't\n\ngood. I think I might die from hunger...\"\n\nHearing Kazuki's\n\ncomplaint, Sabrina twitched her eyebrow.\n\n\"Onii-chan... will\n\ndie?\"\n\n\"Yeah, I haven't\n\neaten anything since this morning, so I think it's over for me.\"\n\n\"Leave it to me. I'll\n\ntake care of the crowd of people.\"\n\nSabrina slowly opened\n\nher \"toolbox,\" and tried to remove a small pineapple shaped object,\n\nmost likely a grenade.\n\n\"Whoa- ah.\"\n\nKazuki quickly closed\n\nthe case. He looked around him, thankfully it seemed like the other students\n\nwere so busy getting food that they didn't notice the contents of the\n\nbriefcase.\n\n\"What are you\n\ntrying to do out of the blue!?\"\n\n\"It was an\n\nemergency, I will remove all obstacles.\"\n\n\"What do you mean,\n\nremove...? Anyway, weapons are not allowed!\"\n\n\"Si. Then I will go\n\nunarmed.\"\n\nAfter saying that,\n\nSabrina stood up and silently tried to launch an attack against a male student\n\nwho was struggling in the crowd of people.\n\n\"Wait—!\"\n\nBefore she was able to\n\nexecute her attack, Kazuki picked up Sabrina from behind her.\n\nThat was close...\n\nIt was really close.\n\nSince Kazuki picked Sabrina up, the karate chop didn't come into contact with\n\nthe male student's head. Instead, it cut through the air, barely missing him.\n\nIt still managed to rip the collar of the male student's uniform.\n\nHieeeeeee.\n\nWhat monstrous strength.\n\nIf someone was hit with a chop like that, then it would have ended in tragedy.\n\n\"... Onii-chan.\"\n\nSabrina, who was in a\n\nhug, blushed with embarrassment. She then turned around to hug him back.\n\n\"...\"\n\nKazuki didn't have the strength\n\nleft to say anything in response. Anyway, he was now able to let go of Sabrina\n\nand put some distance between them and the crowd of people. Sabrina was still\n\ndangling from his neck.\n\n\"Hey Sabrina, it\n\ndoesn't matter if you're attacking with or without a weapon. The point is, you\n\nshouldn't attack anyone in the first place.\"\n\n\"Why is that?\"\n\n\"You're asking me\n\nwhy!?\"\n\n\"Si. I really don't\n\nknow.\"\n\n\"Huh?\"\n\n\"I was taught to\n\nremove anyone who was in my way. So in order to secure your lunch, I tried to\n\ndo my job and remove all obstacles.\"\n\n\"When you say\n\nremove-\"\n\n\"...?\"\n\nSabrina tilted her head\n\nin confusion.\n\nIt looked like she\n\nreally didn't understand.\n\nIt was quite worrying\n\nhow little common sense she had.\n\nBut Kazuki could\n\nsomewhat understand her. When Sabrina was back in Italy, she never set foot\n\noutside her home, and was taught how to become an assassin.\n\nThe girl who was even\n\nyounger than him only knew how to kill and didn't question it.\n\nKazuki felt saddened by\n\nthe truth and it hit him deep in his heart.\n\n... Also, Sabrina didn't\n\ntry to harm others for herself.\n\nShe tried to harm other\n\npeople to get food for me when I said that I was hungry.\n\nShe had a kind heart.\n\nWhen he stopped thinking\n\nabout it:\n\n\"Hey Sabrina,\"\n\nKazuki slowly opened his\n\nmouth to talk.\n\n\"I hate fighting\n\nand I try my best to live a peaceful life. When people fight, they can get\n\nhurt. The injured person will obviously feel saddened, and the one who caused\n\nthe injury will be also saddened in the end.\"\n\nKazuki suddenly\n\nremembered what happened at the sports carnival during his second year of\n\nprimary school when he had a fight with a senior.\n\n\"Well, sometimes a\n\nfight is unavoidable. But even then, you need to do your best to avoid it.\"\n\nBecause he only met her\n\nyesterday, talking to her like this might be presumptuous. But what Kazuki was\n\nsaying was from his heart.\n\n\"Will you be sad\n\nwhen I hurt a person, Onii-chan?\"\n\n\"Yes, I'll be sad.\"\n\n\"Even if f\n\nI use a weapon?\"\n\n\"Yes.\"\n\n\"Unarmed as well?\"\n\n\"Yes.\"\n\n\"Si. Then I will\n\nstop. I will also stop trying to become a full fledged assassin.\"\n\n\"It can't be\n\nhelped, I knew that it would be hard for you to give it up so easily when all\n\nyou have learned in your life was killing. But do you think you can change a\n\nlittle bit at a time? I'll be cheering for you as we- ehh!?\"\n\nKazuki was actually\n\nresponding to what he expected to hear from Sabrina, but when he realized what\n\nshe actually said, it was like he was making fun of her.\n\n\"Are... you really\n\ngoing to give it up?\"\n\n\"Si. I don't want\n\nto make you sad, Onii-chan.\"\n\nSabrina nodded her head.\n\nIt seemed like Kazuki didn't misunderstand her.\n\n\"If you do that,\n\nthen I'll be really thankful... but will you be ok? Deciding it so easily.\"\n\nThinking that things\n\nwill turn out ok somhow, Kazuki happily gave Sabrina's head a pat. As he did,\n\nSabrina smiled gently and put on a dazzling expression.\n\n\"Then, it's a\n\npromise?\"\n\n\"Promise...? So it's\n\nan 'Omertà'.\"\n\n\"Omertà?\"\n\n\"Omertà is the\n\nmafia's code of silence. If you break it, then you will be severely punished.\"\n\n\"Severely\n\npunished!? Uuu, it sounds dangerous. But Omertà huh... Well then, this will be\n\nour Omertà Sabrina. But without the punishment.\"\n\n\"An Omertà with\n\nOnii-chan...\"\n\nSabrina repeated the\n\nword Omertà again happily.\n\nIt looked like she\n\nreally was determined to give up on being an assassin. So now, there shouldn't\n\nbe any need for the contents of her \"toolbox.\"\n\nNow he was able to\n\nreturn to his everyday life. Now things were looking up for Kazuki, or so he\n\nthought:\n\n\"Yes, then I will\n\nuse non-lethal attacks. I will also use non-lethal ammunition as well.\"\n\nHis hopes were dashed.\n\n\"Huh? T-that's not\n\nwhat I meant at all!\"\n\n\"The effectiveness\n\nwill be significantly reduced, but it'll be ok. I will definitely remove them\n\nall.\"\n\n\"Remove what!?\"\n\n\"The obstacles, of\n\ncourse. Now then.\"\n\nSabrina escaped Kazuki's\n\ngrasp with a jolt. Kazuki quickly set out to stop Sabrina attacking the\n\nstudents.\n\n\"She doesn't'\n\nunderstand at all!\"\n\n4\n\nIn the end, they didn't\n\nget any lunch. Afterwards they were able to finish their classes without any\n\ntrouble.\n\nIt was now after school.\n\nSince Kazuki wasn't involved in any club activities, he decided to go home with\n\nSabrina.\n\nTa da da da da.\n\nAs he was about to leave\n\nthrough the main gates, he heard someone's footsteps behind him.\n\nSkid—\n\nAnd the person stopped\n\nright before the two of them.\n\n\"What a\n\ncoincidence, Ootaki-kun!\"\n\n\"It wasn't a\n\ncoincidence. You followed us on purpose.\"\n\n\"Ugh.\"\n\nSabrina curtly cut Saki\n\noff, as she came waving to them.\n\n\"Stop that Sabrina.\n\nSo, what's up Kinoshita? What's the rush?\"\n\n\"I-I wasn't\n\nrushing. I wasn't rushing at all. I saw you by chance and by chance alone. My\n\nmother gave me some chores to do at the cathedral today, so I have to head over\n\nthere. I remembered that your house was near the cathedral, Ootaki-kun! S-So,\n\num, why don't we- why don't we walk together? How about it?\"\n\n...\n\n......\n\nA long silence fell.\n\n\"What... did...\n\nyou.\"\n\nKazuki was stuttering as\n\nhe tried to ask.\n\n\"Huh? S-since it's\n\non the way, I thought we might be able to walk together...\"\n\nSaki anxiously repeated\n\nherself as Kazuki stood there in shock.\n\nWalking home together\n\nwith a girl. It was a great privilege for a middle school boy like himself. And\n\nif the girl happened to be a girl that he had a crush on, it was an even\n\ngreater privilege.\n\nWhat happened? Kinoshita\n\nwasn't acting like herself today.\n\nHe was so happy, but he\n\nwas getting too lucky.\n\nWas he being repaid for\n\nall the trouble he went through with Sabrina and his parents?\n\nOr was he about to use\n\nup all of his luck and die the day after?\n\nWhile Kazuki was deep in\n\nthought, Saki nervously asked.\n\n\"Could it be... a\n\nbother for you?\"\n\n\"Not at all!\"\n\nHe objected at the speed\n\nof sound.\n\n\"It's not a bother\n\nat all. Alright, since you helped me a lot today with Sabrina, I'll even help\n\nyou out with your work at the cathedral.\"\n\n\"Wow, thanks so\n\nmuch. It might require a lot of strength, will you be ok with that?\"\n\n\"Sure, I'll be\n\nfine. Right Sabrina?\"\n\n\"No, it's such a\n\nbother that it can't get any worse.\"\n\n\"\"Ehh?\"\"\n\nWithout a second\n\nthought, Sabrina rejected the idea completely.\n\nKazuki and Saki voiced\n\ntheir grumble at the same time.\n\n\"I reject helping\n\nyou out with the chore, and walking home as well. Let's go, Onii-chan.\"\n\nShe tugged at Kazuki's\n\narm and tried to go.\n\n\"Huh? Huh? Wait,\n\nSabrina.\"\n\n\"S-Sabrina, wait.\"\n\n\"I don't want to\n\nreturn home with this woman.\"\n\nSabrina tugged at Kazuki's\n\narm even harder than before. It really looked like Sabrina disliked Saki.\n\n\"Why do you keep\n\nsaying that? Why don't you get along with her?\"\n\n\"That's right, that's\n\nright. Let's get along, Sabrina.\"\n\nSaki smiled brightly at\n\nher. Seeing that, Sabrina tried to drill a hole in Saki with her defiant stare.\n\n\"Si.\"\n\nAnd she nodded her head.\n\nSo she finally accepted\n\nSaki.\n\n\"I will take her\n\ndown.\"\n\n\"What does that\n\nmean!?\"\n\nHe couldn't understand\n\nher.\n\n\"I-I won't lose\n\neither.\"\n\n\"Kinoshita as well?\"\n\nAnd consequently, the\n\nthree of them walked together with troubled hearts.\n\nThe three of them were\n\nwalking along side by side. Sabrina was walking between Kazuki and Saki while\n\nclinging to Kazuki's arm.\n\n\"...\"\n\nThe atmosphere got even\n\nheavier.\n\nThere were\n\nconversations, but they didn't last long enough to brighten up the mood.\n\n...So what was with the\n\nmood?\n\nKazuki was feeling\n\nnervous for reasons he didn't understand. The inside of his mouth felt dry, he\n\nwas sweating endlessly and his stomach started to ache.\n\nKazuki looked at\n\nSabrina. Her expression had softened compared to before.\n\nHe looked at Saki. Her\n\nstriking smile greeted him\n\nThere wasn't anything\n\nparticularly strange.\n\nKazuki frowned and\n\nclosed his eyes to think.\n\nAt that point, Sabrina\n\nand Saki's eyes met and sparks flew between them.\n\nThey were like a tiger\n\nand dragon.\n\nShiver.\n\n\"Whoa.\"\n\nKazuki, who just felt a\n\nchill down his spine checked his surroundings.\n\nHe didn't sense anything\n\nunusual.\n\nSince the two girls were\n\nnow facing away from each other, Kazuki didn't realize what was going on.\n\nHm, hmm.\n\nDid I catch a cold\n\nbecause I had a bath before coming to school?\n\nI don't think it's a\n\ncold because I don't have a fever.\n\nRing, ring.\n\nA bicycle approached them from the front.\n\nSaki stepped back to let\n\nthe bicycle pass and walked over to the other side of the street (where Sabrina\n\nwasn't standing).\n\nAfter the bike passed,\n\nSabrina stepped with perfect timing between Saki and Kazuki.\n\n\"...\"\n\nShiver shiver. Kazuki\n\nfelt the same chill running through his entire body.\n\nSomething wasn't right.\n\nBut Kazuki didn't understand what.\n\n\"Hu\n\nhu... Sabrina really likes to follow Ootaki-kun around.\"\n\n\"Si. It's obvious,\n\nbecause I love my brother.\"\n\n\"Wow, it's quite\n\nbold of you to say love. But I guess it doesn't matter, because you guys are\n\njust siblings~. Si-bl-ings.\"\n\n\"...\"\n\nA smiling and\n\ninexpressive face. The two of them exchanged glares with each other.\n\nShiver shiver shiver.\n\nKazuki has never felt as chilly as he did today.\n\nBefore Kazuki's mind got\n\nbroken, the three of them arrived at the cathedral.\n\n\"Uhh, so we finally\n\narrived... but huh? If my memory serves me right, isn't this cathedral\n\nempty...?\"\n\n\"Yeah, but recently\n\na nun was stationed here. She apparently asked for my mother's help when they\n\nmet yesterday.\"\n\nThey walked through the\n\nmain doors of the cathedral. Sabrina appeared to be dissatisfied, but she\n\nwordlessly followed Kazuki.\n\nWhen the trio walked in\n\nthe cathedral, they saw something they weren't expecting.\n\n\"Kyaa!\"\n\nSaki yelled out first.\n\nTo their surprise, near\n\nthe entrance of the cathedral there was a collapsed woman in nun clothes.\n\nThis person must be the\n\nnun that moved in.\n\n\"A-are you\n\nalright!?\"\n\nKazuki called out to\n\nher, but there was no response.\n\n\"Don't tell me she's\n\ndea-\"\n\nTwitch.\n\nAt that moment, before\n\nSaki could finish her sentence, the nun grabbed Saki's ankle and slowly raised\n\nher pale face. In some ways, she was more like a ghost under the willow tree\n\n[5]\n\ninstead\n\nof a nun.\n\n\"K-kyaa! It's a\n\nghost-!\"\n\nSaki started stomping on\n\nthe nun's head in a state of panic.\n\n\"Not bad, her kicks\n\nare suitable.\"\n\n\"Don't praise her\n\nSabrina! Kinoshita! Look carefully, she's alive.\"\n\n\"Heh?\"\n\nWith tears glistening in\n\nher eyes, Saki stopped her foot. With a barely audible voice, the nun spoke.\n\n\"I... I'm... so\n\nhungry.\"\n\nGrooowl.\n\nThe sound of the nun's\n\nstomach rumbling echoed loudly.\n\n\"Whew— I'm alive!\"\n\nThe nun instantly\n\ndevoured a heap of food that Kazuki bought from a local convenience store. They\n\ndidn't know about Sabrina, but Kazuki and Saki were stunned at the speed the\n\nfood was eaten.\n\nThe nun's face regained\n\nits color and returned to a healthy pink tone. Her previous expression was\n\nnowhere to be found (including the marks from Saki's kicks).\n\nNow she beamed with a\n\nsmile and patted her full stomach.\n\n\"Ha\n\n-, thank you. Thanks to you, I feel alive again. I moved in just fine, but\n\nafterwards I was broke. I haven't eaten anything for a week.\n\n\"\n\n\"For a week!?\"\n\n\"\n\nIt's because of the bad economy\n\n. Ah ha ha, even the cathedrals have been affected.\"\n\nThe nun just laughed it off.\n\n\"That's right, I haven't introduced myself\n\nyet. My name is Izuna Tachibana and I have moved in to this cathedral. Please\n\ncall me Izuna. Why are you visiting the cathedral?\"\n\n\"That's—. \"\n\n\"Ah, wait! I know even if you don't tell\n\nme!\"\n\nIzuna interrupted Saki who was about to talk and\n\npointed her finger at Kazuki.\n\n\"You brought two girls with you! Hence, you're\n\nhere to confess your bigamy!\"\n\n\"That's not it!\"\n\nKazuki rejected her.\n\n\"It's alright. I'm in a good mood since I'm\n\nfull, so I'll forgive you in the Lord's name!\"\n\n\"No, it shouldn't be forgiven, right!?\"\n\nA sense of déjà vu hit him.\n\nThe nun was very similar to his parents in how\n\nshe refused to listen to what he was saying. He realized that the nun wasn't\n\nsomeone he should get acquainted with.\n\nSaki took out a small envelope from her bag.\n\n\"My mother told me to deliver this to you.\"\n\n\"To me? ... Is this from Kinoshita-san?\"\n\n\"Yes, I'm her daughter Saki.\"\n\n\"Heh, so she had a cute daughter like this.\n\nYou see, I met your mother yesterday and she said she would give me some seeds\n\nif I wanted to do some gardening.\"\n\nInside the envelope were some seeds. Kazuki\n\nrecalled what he heard from Ryouta, about Saki's mother being a gardening\n\nteacher.\n\n\"A flower filled cathedral does sound\n\nreally ni-\"\n\n\"With this, I can save on food costs!\"\n\nIzuna swallowed her saliva and completely\n\nignored Kazuki.\n\nLooking at the seeds carefully, he saw that they\n\nwere all just vegetable or fruit seeds.\n\n\"Umm... Izuna-san, I'm sorry for stomping\n\non you before.\"\n\n\"It's alright, it's alright! If you're a\n\ngirl, you need to be at least that strong. And nice white!\"\n\nIzuna gave Saki a thumbs up. As soon as Izuna\n\nsaid that, Saki blushed frantically and held down her skirt. It seems like\n\nIzuna caught a glimpse of her panties while Saki was stepping on her.\n\nSaki was being conscious of Kazuki behind her,\n\nand when their eyes met, Kazuki ended up blushing as well.\n\n\"Onii-chan.\"\n\nKazuki turned his head towards Sabrina.\n\n\"I'm embarrassed, but if you want to see...\"\n\n\"It's ok!\"\n\nHe hastily stopped Sabrina's hand which was\n\nabout to lift up her skirt.\n\n\"Huh? Aren't you the little girl who was\n\nlost this morning?\"\n\n\"Do you know Izuna-san, Sabrina?\"\n\n\"Si. She told me the way to school.\"\n\n\"Ah, so that's what happened. Thank you for\n\nthat Izuna-san.\"\n\n\"Heh, so you must be Kazuki-kun. Hmm, ho-ho...\"\n\n\"Huh? How do you know my na-\"\n\n\"Eh-it\n\n☆\n\n\"\n\nHug.\n\nIzuna suddenly pulled Kazuki into her chest.\n\nKazuki's face was buried in her voluptuous\n\nvalleys.\n\n\"... Uhp.\"\n\n\"Kyaaa!!\"\n\nBoth Sabrina and Saki were petrified at the\n\nsight before their eyes.\n\nW-wait. What just happened!?\n\nThey were soft... and warm...\n\n-But he couldn't breathe.\n\nPhew.\n\nKazuki escaped from Izuna's breasts while\n\ngasping for air. He was breathing heavily now and his face was dyed bright red\n\nwith embarrassment.\n\n\"What are you doing, Izuna-san!?\"\n\n\"No-, I just like you so...\"\n\n\"What do you mean 'so'!? What are you\n\nsaying!?\"\n\n\"Then it's like this. Hmm, that... thing\n\nthat they do in cathedrals... 'Baptism' was it?\"\n\n\"It's completely different! And why are you\n\ntalking in a questioning tone!?\"\n\nWhile Kazuki was complaining to Izuna, he heard\n\na low muttering voice from behind him.\n\n\"I see.... So a new rival has arrived. Is\n\nthat what an adults' charm is...? How terrifying.... I can't believe two\n\ndifferent rivals - Sabrina and Izuna-san, appeared on the same day... I can't\n\nlet my guard down from now on.\"\n\n\"Wait Kinoshita. What are you saying? Huh?\"\n\nSaki didn't even notice Kazuki waving his hand\n\nin front of her face. While he was looking at Saki with a strange expression,\n\nSabrina pulled Kazuki's head towards her chest.\n\n\"No. You can't, Onii-chan. Onii-chan's are\n\nover here.\"\n\n\"What are you saying!?\"\n\nKazuki told Sabrina off. Izuna who had been\n\nlooking at them cracked up.\n\n\"... Pft, pha ha ha. You guys are quite\n\nfunny. I like you guys. We live close to each other, so look after me from now\n\non.\"\n\nIzuna took Kazuki's hand and shook it by force.\n\n\"... In terms of food.\"\n\nIzuna's eyes lit up and she poked her tongue out\n\nlike a snake. It really seemed like she just wanted to leech off them.\n\nBirds of a feather flock together, was it? It\n\nseemed like another troublesome person has joined Kazuki's side.\n\nAnd so, Kazuki was sucked into the swamp of\n\nanomalies again.\n\n_____________________________________________________________________\n\nReference\n\n1.\n\nViva Nonno - \"Viva nonno\" means \"Long live the grandfather.\" This phrase was used in a song by a Japanese band called \"The Drifters.\" The song, called <いい湯だな>, translated to \"what a good bath.\" Since then, some people have used \"Viva Nonno\" as a phrase that they say when entering a bath.\n\n↩\n\n2.\n\nNoh-mask - A Noh mask is a mask used in traditional Japanese plays. They appear to be crying and smiling at the same time.\n\n↩\n\n3.\n\nNaporitan - A Japanese noodle dish, named after Naples, Italy (hence \"napoli\"). It's called \"Naporitan\" instead \"Napolitan\" because phonetically, the Japanese language writes \"R\" for both R and L sounds.\n\n↩\n\n4.\n\nIn Japan, students bring their lunch (bentos) in pouches. They are also called bento-bags and bento-pouches.\n\n↩\n\n5.\n\nGhost under the willow tree - In Japanese mythology, the willow is associated with ghosts. It's said that a ghost will appear where a willow grows.\n\n↩"
    },
    {
      "chapter_order": 4,
      "chapter_title": "Chapter 3: A Visitor From Italy",
      "chars": 35758,
      "words": 6083,
      "_stripped_leading_credit_lines": 0,
      "text": "A fearsome anego appears!\n\nNote from LHI, the editor:\n\nThis is the last chapter you'll see until after May the 7th, as I have finals starting this week. After finals are over, I'm on a semester break, so you can expect to see the rest of volume 1 much quicker.\n\nAlso, while I'm waiting on volume 2 to be translated, I will sit down and read volume 1 from start to finish. I hope to go back through and edit out any mistakes I may have made.\n\nTranslator: Junnynam\n\nEditor: LHI\n\nPlease enjoy~\n\n___________________\n\n_\n\n1\n\nDuring lesson 1.\n\n「\n\nSecond year class 6 Kazuki Outaki-kun. Please come to the student guidance room.\n\n」\n\nDuring lesson 2\n\n「\n\nSecond year class 6 Kazuki Outaki-kun. Please come to the student guidance room\n\nimmediately.\n\n」\n\nDuring lesson 3.\n\n「\n\nSecond year class 6 Kazuki Outaki-kun. Please come to the student guidance room\n\nas soon as you can.\n\n」\n\nDuring lesson 4.\n\n「\n\nSecond year class 6 Kazuki Outaki-kun. Please come to the student guidance room\n\nat the speed of ligh– kyaaaa.\n\n」\n\n–––.\n\n–––––––.\n\nAnd now, it was after school.\n\n\"I'm sorry for the trouble.\"\n\nKazuki bowed his head and closed the students guidance\n\nroom's door,\n\n\"Ha...\"\n\nHe sighed so deeply it felt like ectoplasm would leak\n\nout of his body.\n\nTug tug.\n\nThere was someone tugging at Kazuki's uniform sleeve.\n\n\"Onii-chan, what's the matter?\"\n\nShe had clear white skin with blond twin tails.\n\n\"If something is troubling you, then I will help.\"\n\nThe girl who was wearing the same school uniform as\n\nKazuki was holding a briefcase that didn't suit her.\n\nShe was the source of his troubles: Sabrina.\n\n\"...?\"\n\nIt looked like she couldn't understand that she\n\nwas\n\nthe source. She looked back at\n\nKazuki's pleading facial expression, puzzled.\n\nHe thought it would only be for a day; however, thanks\n\nto his parents, Sabrina had already been enrolled in the school and was now in\n\nattendance.\n\nSabrina, who just entered first year, attracted a lot\n\nof the boys' attention and hearts with her cute appearance. She was even well\n\nreceived by the girls for defeating the PE teacher Kitajawa. Obviously, she\n\ndidn't care at all about the attention. She acted just like before; not paying\n\nattention to anyone but Kazuki.\n\nEven though Sabrina was warmly received by the\n\nstudents, due to her severe lack of common sense, she was continuously in\n\ntrouble. Sabrina wasn't an easy student for the teachers to deal with.\n\nThe school had taken emergency measures and placed\n\nSabrina in Kazuki's class for self-studies, because she would only listen to\n\nhim. She was so behind on her Japanese, English, and mathematics that she was\n\ngiven worksheets to do.\n\nHowever, she wasn't completely quiet. She caused all\n\nsorts of trouble, like throwing balls like a cannon in PE class, throwing a\n\nknife at a classmate who approached her from behind during cooking class, and\n\nbiting Saki's hand while she was trying to teach her.\n\nBecause of her behavior, Kazuki and Sabrina have\n\nbecome regulars at the Student Guidance Room.\n\nEven today, the two of them were lectured until school\n\nclosed (Sabrina was expressionless as usual, so she didn't seem to mind).\n\n\"They called us here again. But I didn't want to\n\ntrouble you...\"\n\nSabrina looked down as she weakly grabbed Kazuki's\n\nsleeve. She usually didn't care what other people thought of her, but it looked\n\nlike she didn't want Kazuki to dislike her.\n\nPrior to living in Kazuki's house, Sabrina was\n\ntraining to become an assassin, and was forbidden from leaving.\n\nIt wasn't surprising to see her struggling to adapt to\n\nher new environment. Sabrina was doing her best, so it was impossible for\n\nKazuki to be angry at her.\n\n\"It's ok, you can adapt bit by bit.\"\n\nWhen he patted her head, her expression lit up\n\nslightly. Sabrina was able to understand if Kazuki explained it properly.\n\nSabrina would be able to fit in and get accustomed to her life here someday.\n\nHowever;\n\n\"Si, today I learned that you are not allowed to\n\nmake a dry ice bomb in the school's home economics room.\"\n\n\"Uuu... I see. You'll get used to it.\"\n\nBut that \"someday\" seemed so far away.\n\n2\n\nOn their way back from school, the siblings headed\n\ntowards the shopping district.\n\nSince it was nearly dinner time, a lot of people were\n\non the streets. The street was rowdy with shopkeepers doing cooking\n\ndemonstrations and holding various other events to attract customers. The smell\n\nof delicious food was in the air.\n\n\"Sabrina.\"\n\n\"Si?\"\n\nWhen Kazuki\n\nsaid her name, Sabrina who was standing still turned around.\n\n\"Are you alright? Did anything happen? You seem\n\nto be really out of it today.\"\n\n\"No.\"\n\n\"Then is there anything that you want to eat? I'm\n\nstill undecided on what to have for dinner.\"\n\n\"I don't mind what we have, as long as I'm with\n\nyou, Onii-chan.\"\n\n\"I'm really happy to hear that, but.... I wonder\n\nwhat we should have for dinner.\"\n\nSaying \"hmm,\" Kazuki thought about what he\n\nshould cook.\n\n\"He–y, Kazuki.\"\n\nSomeone called out to Kazuki. Across the road at a\n\ndifferent shop, Kazuki's classmate Ryouta poked his head out.\n\n\"Oh, it's you Ryouta. Looking after the shop?\"\n\n\"Something like that. They caught me, on my day\n\noff from my clubs, too.\"\n\nThe shop\n\n「\n\nMiyamoto Butchers\n\n」\n\nwas run by Ryouta's parents. They were famous for\n\ntheir cheap and delicious meat.\n\n\"I'm bored, so just buy something from us.\"\n\n\"Wait, that's completely unrelated. But hmm, meat\n\nhuh...\"\n\n\"Take a look, this is a really good cut of meat.\n\nRight now...\"\n\nPeek. From behind Kazuki's back, Sabrina peeked out.\n\nRyouta, who was just about to say the price, had a weak spot for cute girls and\n\nquickly turned his eyes away.\n\n\"–It's free! Take it, you thieves!\"\n\n\"Free!? But this looks pretty expensive, is this\n\nokay?\"\n\n\"Don't sweat the small stuff, it's alright.\n\nAnyways, these expensive cuts don't get sold unless it's a special occasion.\n\nMoreover, my dad only displayed these for his own satisfaction. Also, the meat\n\nprobably wants to be eaten by Sabrina. Think of this as my present to Sabrina.\n\nPlease accept it.\"\n\nSabrina's eyes lit up with a shine.\n\nRyouta was beaming at Sabrina when suddenly; a thick\n\nand hairy arm appeared behind him and held him in a headlock.\n\n\"Kugh, father! Ahhhhhhh.\"\n\nAnd just like a vise, Ryouta's head started to get\n\ncrushed.\n\nRyouta's face changed colors like the traffic lights.\n\nKazuki quickly realized what was going on.\n\n\"Ah, hello Mr. Miyamoto.\"\n\nHe had forgotten to greet the shop owner when he first\n\ncame in. Ryouta's father raised his hand in a \"hey\" gesture.\n\n\"That's not what you should be saying! Save– ughh.\"\n\nRyouta's father held his son in a headlock and started\n\nto tighten it mercilessly.\n\n\"Uh, I'm sorry about that. I wasn't thinking of\n\ntaking it for free anyway...\"\n\nKazuki gently tried to refuse, but Ryouta's father\n\ntold him \"no\" with his hands. With a series of elaborate gestures,\n\nRyouta's father said a man does not go back on his word.\n\nKazuki refused again and again, but in the end he wasn't\n\nable to win against Ryouta's father.\n\nAfter being pressured, Kazuki took the high class\n\nmeat.\n\n\"Then I'll gratefully take this, thank you very\n\nmuch. Sabrina, you should say thank you as well.\"\n\nWhen Kazuki urged her, Sabrina also bowed her head in\n\nthanks.\n\n\"Eh heh heh. It's alright. Anyway, come visit us\n\nagain. Next time we'll give you even more service than today. But father, why\n\nare you dragging me inside the shop... whoa–aaaaaa.\"\n\nThe desperate cry for help from his friend could be\n\nheard even outside the shop, but Kazuki decided it was just his imagination.\n\nSabrina walked around Kazuki and stood in front of\n\nhim.\n\n\"Onii-chan, who was that person? He seems to know\n\nme.\"\n\n\"...\"\n\nRyouta... you're such a pitiful guy.\n\nWith that thought, he and Sabrina left the Miyamoto\n\nButchers.\n\n\"Hey Sabrina, what should I cook with this meat?\"\n\n\"Yakiniku\n\n[1]\n\nof course! We've done it\n\ndaddy! It's a homerun for tonight!\"\n\nSomeone jumped on his back from behind. Something bouncy\n\nand soft wrapped around his head. Kazuki jumped forward to see who it was.\n\n\"I-Izuna-san!?\"\n\nThe thing wrapped around his head were a pair of\n\nbreasts. When he realized this, Kazuki blushed furiously.\n\n\"Hey Kazuki-kun. Ah, by the way Sabrina, when I\n\nsay ‘It's a homerun for tonight'....\"\n\n\"Who–ah. Don't teach her anything funny please!\"\n\nKazuki spoke loudly enough to cancel out Izuna's\n\nvoice.\n\nIzuna was a poor nun who put on an innocent face while\n\nhugging Kazuki or while committing sexual harassment (physically or mentally).\n\nShe had moved into a cathedral near Kazuki's house and\n\nvisited his house frequently for food.\n\n\"Hello.\"\n\nFrom behind Izuna's back, a girl wearing the same\n\nschool uniform as Kazuki appeared shyly.\n\nIt was Saki Kinoshita - Kazuki's classmate, who was\n\npopular because of her passion for looking after people and because she didn't\n\ndiscriminate between males and females.\n\nKazuki\n\nactually had feelings for her.\n\n\"You're coming back from school quite late today.\n\n...Oh, were you grocery shopping?\"\n\n\"Y-yeah. I was...\"\n\nAh... Kinoshita was really pretty.\n\nWhile the two of them were talking about dinner,\n\nKazuki imagined Saki in an apron. It really suited her.\n\nIt looked too good... if only he could see it in real\n\nlife.\n\nBut what if Kinoshita's cooking didn't taste good? No,\n\nthere's no way that's possible.\n\nFor some reason, he accepted it to some extent.\n\nWhenever Saki was near him, Kazuki always got nervous.\n\nTo avoid being found out, he started a conversation.\n\n\"W-what are you doing here Kinoshita, Izuna-san?\n\nI-it's a strange pair. Did you have something to do?\"\n\n\"Yeah. I went to Izuna-san's cathedral and helped\n\nher plant the seeds. I've been visiting a lot these days to nurture them.\"\n\nSaying \"Take a look,\" Saki showed him the\n\nbucket that she held in her hands.\n\nInside, there were a pair of work gloves, various\n\nshovels, a plant nutrient package and various other things.\n\nGardening was Saki's hobby, which she inherited from\n\nher mother (who is a gardening teacher).\n\n\"I-I see. It must be hard work.\"\n\n\"Not at all. The cathedral has a large yard, so\n\nit's rewarding to work with it. It's quite fun.\"\n\nFrom Saki's face, a smile bloomed.\n\nKazuki was able to talk to Saki because he stayed after\n\nschool thanks to Sabrina. With that, it felt like he had been repaid for his\n\neffort and the trouble he went through today.\n\n\"Did the seeds you planted sprout already?\"\n\n\"They did sprout... but before they grew any\n\nlarger, Izuna-san ate them.\"\n\n\"Nya ha ha. I was hungry, you see.\"\n\n\"Are you a wild beast that attacks agriculture?!\"\n\nKazuki yelled at Izuna who was scratching her head in\n\nembarrassment.\n\n\"Even if you're hungry, you shouldn't eat\n\nseedlings! You didn't need to eat them anyway! What happened to\n\nthat\n\n?\"\n\n\"That?\"\n\n\"You won the raffle at the store three days ago.\"\n\nActually, while he was passing through the shopping\n\ndistrict a few days ago, Kazuki saw Izuna winning the third prize - 10kg of\n\nrice. Kazuki remembered it clearly because Izuna started squealing and jumped\n\non Kazuki out of excitement.\n\n\"Ah- you mean\n\nthat\n\n.\n\nI ate it all bit by bit... in 1 day.\"\n\n\"No, that can't be right, how much do you eat in\n\none day!? You're a religious leader, right? Have some self-control!\"\n\nIt seemed like poverty made her stomach grow to suit\n\nher irregular lifestyle.\n\nShiver.\n\nWhile he was occupied with Izuna, Kazuki noticed an\n\nunusual atmosphere. It was coming from Sabrina and Saki who were looking... no,\n\nto be precise, who were glaring at each other.\n\nSparks flew between them, but Kazuki only felt the\n\nchilly atmosphere, not the reason for it.\n\n\"Uuu...\"\n\n\"...\n\n(Stare)\n\n.\"\n\n\"Did something happen between you two?\"\n\n\"Uuu– oh, it's nothing Outaki-kun.\"\n\n\"Si. No problem.\"\n\nSquish.\n\nSabrina's breasts pressed onto him.\n\n\"Ah!\"\n\nSaki widened her eyes with and let out a small yelp.\n\n\"W-what? What did I do?\"\n\n\"N- no, it's not like that. It's nothing.\n\nAnyways, Outaki-kun and Sabrina are always together, aren't you?\"\n\n\"Si. Of course.\"\n\n\"Since you're just siblings.\"\n\n\"...\"\n\nAs if she was trying to cut off Sabrina, Saki smiled\n\nbrightly at her. However, Sabrina wasn't intimidated. Although she was\n\nexpressionless, her eyes gave off a sense of leisure.\n\n\"Si. We're just siblings. Non blood-related\n\nsiblings, at that.\"\n\n\"Eeep.\"\n\nBeing countered by Sabrina, Saki was taken aback so\n\nmuch that her eyes started tearing up.\n\n\"We sometimes sleep together.\"\n\nSabrina subtly added something that was a huge deal.\n\n\"Ehh-!?\"\n\n\"Wait– Sabrina.\"\n\nThe\n\nOmertà that he formed with\n\nSabrina had extended into their everyday life. The 7th rule was:\n\n「\n\nSabrina can sleep with Kazuki when there is a thunderstorm or when she has\n\na nightmare and can't sleep by herself.\n\n」\n\n\"You're... lying!?\"\n\nSaki lost the strength in her legs and kneeled.\n\n\"K-Kinoshita, i-it's not like that! We did sleep\n\ntogether, but there was a good reason for it. And like I said before, she's\n\njust my sister, so I wouldn't do anything strange to her!\"\n\n\"...I can't believe... that the two of you have\n\ndeveloped your relationship like this... at this rate... no, I can't give up....\n\nNo, Saki! Your cousin Hiroyuki-kun's manga had that line ‘It's game over the\n\ninstant you give up.'\"\n\n\"So just listen to me–\"\n\nSaki was in a monologue with herself, so Kazuki's\n\nwords didn't reach her.\n\nIzuna crouched down and gently wrapped her hands\n\naround Saki and Kazuki's shoulders.\n\n\"You two, in the bible, there is this saying... ‘be\n\nfruitful and multiply.' I'm sure bigamy is allowed.\"\n\n\"Izuna-san should quit being a nun!\"\n\nShe held her thumb up, but she held it in a different\n\nway. It was slightly indecent.\n\nAfter separating from Saki and Izuna, the siblings left\n\nthe shopping district and were walking home. It was just over 6 o'clock and\n\nthere was no-one on the streets. The evenly spaced out street lamps were\n\nuseless, but they lit up the path. Every now and then, the street lamps\n\nflickered, adding to the gloominess of the lonely street.\n\n\"Ha... I really need to clear up the\n\nmisunderstanding sometime.\"\n\nBeing misunderstood by the girl he liked was so cruel.\n\nKazuki was still shocked and he was wobbling as he walked, but abruptly Sabrina\n\nstopped walking.\n\nShe stood under the street lamp.\n\n\"... What's wrong?\"\n\n\"What do you want from us?\"\n\n\"Eh? What do y–\"\n\nSabrina was looking at Kazuki... no, she wasn't\n\nlooking at him, she was speaking to what looked like an empty space.\n\nHer voice sounded stiff and nervous.\n\nNow that he thought about, Sabrina had been acting\n\nstrange; looking behind her once in a while and not paying attention to Kazuki.\n\nKazuki looked around him, but he couldn't spot anyone.\n\n\"Sabrina, what's going on–\"\n\nThe flickering street lamp turned off.\n\nPush.\n\nSabrina gently pushed Kazuki. He was pushed back about\n\nthe distance of a single footstep.\n\nThen a shadow passed between them, followed by the\n\nsound of something hard breaking.\n\n\"Huh?\"\n\nKazuki was puzzled. He looked down at his feet.\n\nThe asphalt was cracked, and next to the crack there\n\nwas a shadow from a kneeling human.\n\nIt was this person who made the crack in the street.\n\nThe shadow threw a punch straight away.\n\nIt was fast.\n\nKazuki couldn't respond to the punch at all.\n\n\"Ugh!\"\n\nHe didn't even have a chance to blink.\n\nSlowly, as if he was watching in slow motion, the\n\npunch headed straight towards Kazuki.\n\nHowever.\n\nBefore the punch came into contact with him, Sabrina\n\nswung her briefcase, or her ‘toolbox', at the shadow.\n\n\"––!\"\n\nThe shadow leapt backwards. But as it did, it threw\n\nsomething at them.\n\nWhatever it was flashed before Kazuki's eyes.\n\nAt the same time, his view was covered by something.\n\nIt was Sabrina who swung her briefcase in front of his\n\nface.\n\nWith the sound of a metal clashing, a slim knife fell\n\nto the ground.\n\nWhile Sabrina was blocking the knife, the shadow leapt\n\nup and prepared its next attack.\n\nThe shadow was only aiming for Kazuki.\n\nShortening the distance, the shadow launched a spin\n\nkick at him.\n\nSabrina blocked the kick and countered by swinging her\n\nbriefcase.\n\nClang.\n\nThe sound of metal on metal rang out again while\n\nsparks flew. The shadow must have installed metal plates on its shoes.\n\nSabrina and her opponent's strength were almost equal...\n\nno, the opponent was slightly stronger.\n\nSabrina was flung and lost her balance slightly.\n\nThe shadow didn't miss the opportunity, and swung its\n\nfist once more at Kazuki.\n\nSabrina let go of her briefcase (which was the reason\n\nfor her imbalance) and pushed Kazuki away from the punch.\n\nWhoosh!\n\nThe punch nearly scratched Kazuki's cheek.\n\nWith her free hand, Sabrina launched a backhand at the\n\nshadow.\n\n\"Tsk.\"\n\nThe shadow clicked its tongue and crouched down. At\n\nthe same time, it performed a low kick which was like the scythe of a grim\n\nreaper at Sabrina.\n\nPredicting the low kick, Sabrina jumped about 20cms\n\noff the ground.\n\nThe kick cut through the empty space.\n\nBoth their attack and defense were flawless.\n\nStepping away from the shadow, Sabrina prepared\n\nherself and launched a chop at the shadow. The shadow arched its back to avoid\n\nit. It grabbed Sabrina's hand that was attacking and threw her away.\n\nAs Sabrina was sent flying, she spun in midair and\n\nlanded closer to the shadow than she was before.\n\nThe shadow responded to that.\n\n\"... Uuu.\"\n\n\"Ha!\"\n\nFlash.\n\nThey passed each other. But neither of them received\n\nany damage.\n\nTurning back, both Sabrina and the shadow removed a\n\npistol from their sleeves, instantly taking aim at each other.\n\nThe guns were aimed at each other simultaneously.\n\nThe two of them stopped moving.\n\n\"...\"\n\nThe atmosphere froze with the pair eyeing each other.\n\nFinally, Kazuki had a chance to come back to his\n\nsenses.\n\nHuh? Huh? What the hell's going on?\n\nWas it aiming for me!?\n\nI haven't got a clue as to what's going on!\n\nWhile Kazuki was trying to comprehend the situation,\n\nthe street lamp turned back on. The identity of the shadow was revealed by its\n\nlight.\n\nShe was wearing a tight black suit that blended into\n\ndarkness. She had semi-long silver hair that reflected the lamp's light and a\n\npair of bright grey eyes that looked cool.\n\nShe was wearing adult like clothes, but she barely\n\nlooked over 20 years old.\n\n\"What are you doing Sofia\n\n[2]\n\n?\"\n\n\"Sofia...? Sabrina, do you know her?\"\n\n\"Si. She was in charge of my education back in\n\nItaly.\"\n\nSabrina's education?\n\nAs Sabrina looked at Sofia, Kazuki could see the pain\n\non her face. It was an expression he had never seen her make before.\n\n\"That's what I should be asking you, Sabrina.\"\n\nSofia spoke with an elegant voice. She stopped\n\npointing the gun and glared at Kazuki.\n\n\"I was just trying to remove the evil person who's\n\nseducing you.\"\n\n\"Seduce!? I seduced Sabrina!? What are you\n\nsaying!?\"\n\n\"Silence, you dirty person. You don't have the\n\nright to retort. How dare you kidnap my lovely Sabrina?\"\n\n\"Kidnap!? It's a misunderstanding!\"\n\nWhile Kazuki was getting grilled by Sofia, whose eyes\n\nwere threatening enough to kill, Sabrina extended her help.\n\n\"No. I wasn't kidnapped.\"\n\nSofia, who had been interrogating Kazuki at a\n\nfrightening speed, stopped talking upon hearing her words.\n\n\"If you didn't get kidnapped... you were\n\nabducted?\"\n\n\"No.\"\n\n\"Were you taken by force?\"\n\n\"No.\"\n\n\"Did they lure you with candy?\"\n\n\"No.\"\n\n\"You're just asking if she was kidnapped!\"\n\n\"You shut up. Then Sabrina, are you telling the truth?\"\n\n\"Si.\"\n\nSofia crossed her arms and thought for a bit.\n\n\"...Why don't you tell me in detail.\"\n\n3\n\nThe group was now in the living room of Kazuki's\n\nhouse. Kazuki and Sabrina sat on one side of the table, while Sofia sat on the\n\nother. Sabrina was clinging to Kazuki as usual.\n\nKazuki explained to Sofia how Sabrina came to his\n\nhousehold. Sofia continuously checked with Sabrina for confirmation.\n\n\"So, you really didn't get kidnapped?\"\n\n\"No.\"\n\nAfter repeating the question multiple times, Sofia\n\nbelieved them for now.\n\n\"...I heard that Sabrina was abducted, but it\n\nseems like the information was wrong. If Sabrina hadn't been there, I would've\n\nkilled you for no reason.\"\n\n\"No, no! I don't want to be killed for no reason!\"\n\n\"Do you have a complaint?\"\n\nFlinch.\n\n\"No, I'm glad that the misunderstanding was\n\ncleared up...\"\n\nHe stood up to complain, but when Sofia glared at him,\n\nhe quietly sat back down.\n\nSofia drank the coffee that Kazuki brought out.\n\n\"So, how is it?\"\n\nShe asked while biting onto the cup.\n\n\"Eh?\"\n\nKazuki didn't know what she meant. Sofia quietly asked\n\nthe puzzled Kazuki.\n\n\"I understand that you didn't kidnap her, but I\n\nwant to complain about you stealing my one and only Sabrina, who is only mine, and\n\ndoing indecent things to her. \"\n\n\"What? Indecent acts—!? I-I-I-I don't! Moreover,\n\nit's been bothering me for a while that you've been saying 'my lovely' and 'only\n\nmine' while talking about Sabrina!\"\n\n\"Oh, so what? My Japanese is perfect. I was speaking\n\nmy thoughts honestly.\"\n\n\"But, both of you are females...\"\n\n\"Gender does not matter when it comes to love. My\n\nlove for her is genuine and platonic.\"\n\nWhile saying that, with a fluid motion, she ran her\n\nfingers through her hair.\n\n\"As an educator, Sofia is slightly obsessed with\n\nher duties.\"\n\nKazuki thought that was an understatement, but didn't\n\nsay anything to Sabrina. In this world, some things are better left unsaid.\n\n\"Anyway, did you really not do anything indecent\n\nto Sabrina?\"\n\n\"I won't forgive you if you lie,\" was the\n\nexpression Sofia had on her face.\n\n\"I-I haven't!\"\n\nSofia narrowed her eyes and glared at Kazuki.\n\n\"Like looking at her naked body?\"\n\n\"... Ha ha, ha.\"\n\n\"Or going in the bath together?\"\n\n\"... N-no way.\"\n\n\"Or maybe sleeping under the same quilt?\"\n\n\"...\"\n\n\"Or stealing Sabrina's underwear?\"\n\n\"I didn't go that far! ...Ah.\"\n\nHe dug his own grave. Kazuki started sweating like a\n\nwaterfall.\n\n\"...\"\n\nKa chunk.\n\n\"Whoa—! Please don't pull out your gun like it's\n\nnothing!\"\n\n\"... Underwear. Umm, Onii-chan, if you're\n\ninterested... I wouldn't really min— upp.\"\n\n\"Just be quiet and don't make the situation\n\nworse!\"\n\nKazuki hurriedly blocked Sabrina's mouth with his\n\nhand.\n\n\"I understand. As expected, you used this\n\nsituation to your advantage and did such things to Sabrina... and to release\n\nyour lust, you went to Sabrina every night and— pfft.\"\n\nSofia started to get a nose bleed. She held a\n\nhandkerchief in her hand and tried to stop it.\n\n\"... I got too excited thinking about it.\"\n\nWhat happened to her pure and platonic love?\n\n\"Got any complaints?\"\n\n\"... No.\"\n\nFacing Sofia's menacing glare, Kazuki looked away.\n\n\"A-anyhow, those things happened, but they couldn't\n\nbe helped! What Sofia-san is imagining didn't happen at all, so please don't be\n\nso concerned!\"\n\nSofia looked at Kazuki like a predator looking at\n\nprey, but she then sighed loudly.\n\n\"Well, I guess it'll be fine. My introduction is\n\na little bit late, but my name is Sofia Olivia. I am the capo\n\n[3]\n\nof\n\nthe soldiers in the Jevini Family, and I'm in charge of Sabrina's education and\n\ntraining.\"\n\n\"Soldiers? Capo?\"\n\n\"Don't you know anything about the mafia?\"\n\nShe scrunched her eyebrows at Kazuki, who had a\n\nquestion mark hovering above his head.\n\n\"Listen carefully. The mafia has the following\n\nhierarchy in descending order: the boss, underboss, consigliere and the solder.\n\nMafia is a word to describe this group and other secret organizations that\n\nfollow a similar rank pyramid. Mafia groups are referred to as a 'Family'. Each\n\nFamily has their own unique 'Code of Submission' and 'Code of Silence'\n\n(Omertà), and that's what keeps the mafia families so closely bonded to each\n\nother.\"\n\n\"Right... I see. So there are a lot of different\n\ntypes of mafia. Since Sofia-san is a soldier in the hierarchy...\"\n\n\"Got something to say about that?\"\n\nSofia pointed the gun at him.\n\n\"I don't! I told you to put that away!\"\n\n\"Hmph, I'll move up soon. I can't stay still in\n\nmy current ranking for long.\"\n\nShe muttered to herself and placed her gun back.\n\n\"Ah, my name is—\"\n\n\"I know, you're Kazuki Outaki.\"\n\n\"Eh? How did you know?\"\n\n\"I looked into it. Well, as expected, there wasn't\n\nthat much information.\"\n\nSofia cleared her throat in dissatisfaction.\n\nShe looked into it? As expected? Kazuki wanted to\n\nknow.\n\n\"Thank you again, for looking after Sabrina. Son\n\nof the 'Happy Crown'.\"\n\n\"Pardon? Happy... what?\"\n\n\"'The One who Ridicules Death'. I'm talking about\n\nyour parents. They're quite famous in the underworld.\"\n\n\"Famous!? My parents are!?\"\n\n\"There isn't a single person in our world that\n\ndoesn't fear the name 'Happy Crown'. They are famous for destroying a gang just\n\nfor bumping into them on the street, or for making the boss of a Family kneel\n\nto them while skydiving 2000 meters off the ground, or even for making every\n\nsingle cat in Italy follow them.\"\n\n\"Wait, what was the last one just now!?\"\n\n\"Well, I wouldn't want to go against them either.\"\n\nHe was completely ignored.\n\nHow saddening... but before that, his parents.\n\nKazuki has always thought it was very suspicious for\n\nhis parents to be treasure hunters, but it seemed like his parents were big\n\nshots in the underworld. The couple spreads trouble, not only for their son,\n\nbut across the globe as well.\n\nKazuki felt like he should apologize for his parents'\n\nactions.\n\n\"But aren't you the successor of your parents and\n\nthe mafia? How come you don't know anything about them?\"\n\n\"I'm just a normal civilian!\"\n\nAt Kazuki's outburst, Sofia hung her mouth wide open.\n\n\"You're joking?\"\n\n\"I'm serious!\"\n\nKazuki yelled out.\n\n\"Do you even know how much I prepared when I\n\nheard that Sabrina was kidnapped?!\"\n\n\"Unfortunately, I'm just a normal person. I don't\n\nintend to succeed them.\"\n\nKazuki curtly replied. Sofia could only look at Kazuki\n\nblankly.\n\n\"Right, just a civilian...\"\n\nSofia raised her shoulders like she just lost interest\n\nand turned her gaze back to Sabrina.\n\n\"Sabrina, pack your bags. We're going back to\n\nItaly.\"\n\n\"Huh, what are you...\"\n\nGoing back to Italy?\n\nEven though she just said something very important,\n\nSofia put on a relaxed face. As Kazuki sat there astonished, Sabrina asked:\n\n\"What's going on?\"\n\n\"The boss's will has been found. To summarize, he\n\nwrote that he's giving 'everything' to you.\"\n\n\"Everything...? Does he mean his wealth?\"\n\nNot understanding just how much 'everything' was,\n\nKazuki asked.\n\n\"That's not all. As I said, he's giving her 'everything'.\n\nTo be precise, Sabrina is now the boss of the Jevini Family.\"\n\n\"Boss!? Sabrina is!?\"\n\n\"Sabrina is a hidden child that only a few people\n\nknow about even in the family, so some of the members won't accept that she's\n\nbecoming the boss. Without a boss, other mafia families will attack us, so our\n\nunderboss has been working hard to protect Sabrina. Now, he sent me over to\n\ncollect Sabrina.\"\n\nAfter saying that, she smiled at Sabrina.\n\nAs if she was looking at her lovable little sister.\n\n\"Sabrina, you've always been treated as an outcast\n\nand hidden child, but now, you're the boss of the Jevini Family. So, you don't\n\nneed to stay here any longer.\"\n\nSofia looked happy, like it was her own business.\n\nSabrina looked at her wordlessly.\n\nKazuki thought about it...\n\nSabrina will receive 'everything' from the dead boss.\n\nHowever, Sabrina's life will be in danger because of\n\nthe current family members and the other families.\n\nBut was there a way for Sabrina not to go back to\n\nItaly...?\n\n— That's' right.\n\nHe reflected on the past few days.\n\nThis situation couldn't last forever, but for it to\n\nend so abruptly...\n\nBut this couldn't... be... helped... right?\n\nI had to let her go.\n\nI had to, but...\n\nInside Kazuki's mind, there were fog like thoughts deterring\n\nhis natural thought process.\n\n\"Pack your bags right now. Your stuff is upstai...\"\n\n\"No.\"\n\nSabrina briskly cut Sofia off.\n\nHer answer was negative.\n\n\"Sabrina?\"\n\nSabrina pulled Kazuki's sleeve.\n\n\"I won't go back.\"\n\nShe curtly replied.\n\n\"Wha—\"\n\nSofia covered her mouth in shock.\n\n\"Sabrina? Do you even know what you're saying?\"\n\nShe couldn't hide her shock. It wasn't surprising,\n\nbecause Kazuki was in the same.\n\n\"Si. I don't need something like inheritance. I'm\n\nnot interested in becoming the boss, either. Please follow the will for everything\n\nelse.\"\n\n\"... Sabrina, it's not something that can be\n\ndecided so simply. It doesn't work like that.\"\n\n\"No, I won't go back. I'm staying here.\"\n\n\"Why are you so attached to a place like this\n\nwhen you could go anywhere you wanted, and hold the entire world in your hands?\"\n\n\"I don't need anything.\"\n\n\"Are you serious?\"\n\n\"Si.\"\n\nShe wasn't kidding, she really planned to remain here.\n\nSofia looked at Sabrina's hand that was holding onto Kazuki's sleeves. She looked\n\nup to glare at Kazuki. Kazuki felt a chill run through his entire body.\n\nWithout even trying to hide her rage, Sofia asked\n\nSabrina.\n\n\"What do you plan to do with the family members?\n\nThey're all waiting for you.\"\n\n\"I don't really care. It's bothersome for me to\n\neven have them.\"\n\nThe atmosphere became colder as Sofia got angrier.\n\nSofia lowered her tone.\n\n\"Even when this boy will be in danger if you stay\n\nany longer?\"\n\n\"... Si. I'll protect him then.\"\n\n\"Sabrina!\"\n\nSofia raised her voice. Sabrina didn't even flinch at\n\nher. But she held Kazuki's sleeves even tighter.\n\n\"U-umm—.\"\n\nSofia fiercely looked at Kazuki as he interrupted\n\ntheir talk. Kazuki shrank like a frog being glared at by a snake.\n\n\"... Let's go back together.\"\n\n\"No.\"\n\n\"I see... you don't want to go back. Then, I've\n\ngot my own methods as well.\"\n\nSabrina and Sofia took out their guns. The situation\n\nwas about to explode.\n\nDing\n\ndong.\n\nAt that moment, the doorbell rang.\n\n\"...\"\n\nSofia sighed and the heavy atmosphere in the room\n\nlifted.\n\nKazuki realized that he forgot to breathe.\n\n\"... We were interrupted, so I'll leave for\n\ntoday. Sabrina, think hard about who and what you are.\"\n\nSabrina didn't reply. Without moving, she was on her\n\nguard against Sofia.\n\nKazuki went to see Sofia off. She appeared to be\n\nslightly lonely.\n\nWhen he opened the door, there was Saki and Izuna on\n\nthe porch. They must have been the ones that rang the door bell just now.\n\n\"I've felt this for a while... but now, I'm\n\ncertain.\"\n\nAs Sofia put on her shoes, she looked at Kazuki.\n\n\"I don't like you.\"\n\n\"Ehh?\"\n\nSofia said something like that as if it were nothing,\n\nagain.\n\n\"It means that I want to strangle you to death.\"\n\n\"Isn't that even worse than before!?\"\n\n\"Oh, you heard that earlier? You are really fast\n\nwitted.\"\n\n\"Now what are you saying...\"\n\nHe really couldn't think of anything else to say.\n\nSofia pointed her finger at Kazuki.\n\nAnd she declared.\n\n\"You're taking advantage of my Sabrina! That's\n\nwhy you're the enemy!\"\n\n\"Uuu... why is it like that...\"\n\n\"Well, watch your back at night.\"\n\nSofia smiled evilly. She didn't appear to be joking.\n\n\"And one more thing...\"\n\nShe leaned towards Kazuki's ear.\n\nHe felt her breath on his skin. His heart started to\n\nbeat faster, thinking that she was about to kiss him.\n\nWhooo.\n\nHer fresh breath that smelled like Eau de Cologne tickled his nose.\n\n\"You and Sabrina live in different worlds. It won't\n\nturn out well in the end.\"\n\nSofia whispered that in his ear.\n\nIn a cold and frightening voice.\n\nShe turned away and passed Saki and Izuna while saying\n\n\"excuse me.\"\n\nSofia didn't do anything to Kazuki; however, he felt\n\nas if Sofia had been gripping his heart. That feeling wouldn't stop as he\n\nclenched his chest with his sweaty hand.\n\n\"Oh, there was a guest? Did we disturb you?\"\n\n\"No.... Not really... did you need something?\"\n\n\"I thought Kazuki-kun might be troubled. So I\n\ncame here to counsel you.\"\n\n\"Huh?\"\n\nIzuna said something completely unexpected.\n\nCould she have overheard his conversation with Sofia?\n\nKazuki thought that discussing his situation with\n\nIzuna might be helpful.\n\nHowever, his expectations went up in flames.\n\n\"'Cause you know, you have so much meat, you two can't\n\npossibly eat it all. So, I came here to help you out.\"\n\nIzuna took out a pair of chopsticks and a bowl from\n\nthe sleeves of her habit\n\n[4]\n\n.\n\nHe completely misunderstood.\n\nSaki was in shock, she didn't know what to do as she\n\nstood next to the smiling nun.\n\n\"W-wait Izuna-san! You told me that Kazuki-kun\n\ninvited you! \"\n\n\"I said that it would be nice IF he invited me,\n\nbut Saki agreed to it immediately. I couldn't bear to tell you after seeing you\n\nget excited like that. Te-hee\n\n☆\n\n\"\n\n\"Ehh—hh!?\"\n\nSaki crouched down with her hands covering her ears\n\nand screamed. Kazuki noticed that Saki wasn't in her school uniform like the\n\ntime he met her at the shopping district. She was wearing a casual blouse with\n\na tiered skirt, which went well with her gentle personality. This was his first\n\ntime seeing her in casual clothes and it was spectacular. Without thinking,\n\nKazuki thanked the gods for this opportunity.\n\n\"It's ok Saki. There's this saying in the bible. 'There\n\nis nothing to be afraid of. Just have faith.'\"\n\n\"This isn't the time for that! We just came here\n\nuninvited! Sorry, Outaki-kun. I'll go back home—.\"\n\n\"No!\"\n\nKazuki hurriedly stopped Saki as she was about to\n\nleave. Although the extra baggage was there, this was a once in a life time\n\nopportunity for him. He couldn't let this go.\n\n\"Well, it's a bit messy, but come in— huh, what!\"\n\nWhile he was ushering them in, he saw Sabrina, who\n\nshould've been in the living room, standing there.\n\nSabrina didn't give off the same tense atmosphere she\n\ndid when Sofia was here.\n\n... In fact, it was worse.\n\n\"Onii-chan, why are we having dinner with those\n\ntwo?\"\n\n\"Well, Izuna barged into our house.\"\n\n\"But I just saw you welcoming them in.\"\n\n\"Umm... well we can't eat all that meat by ourselves.\n\nAfter all, we only got it thanks to Ryouta's sacri... no, his generosity. So,\n\nlet's share some with these two as well. Ok?\"\n\n\"...\"\n\n\"Food tastes better when eaten with friends,\n\nright?\"\n\n\"...\"\n\n\"I like little sisters who have a big and kind\n\nheart.\"\n\n\"...Uuu.\"\n\nHug.\n\nSabrina hugged him.\n\n\"Sabrina?\"\n\n\"Si. I want to be a little sister who lives up to\n\nyour expectations. So the four of us can eat together. I received a mental\n\nshock from it just now; so, I want to recover from the shock. Please give me\n\nsome time.\"\n\n\"J- just for reference, how long do you need?\"\n\n\"I need about 3 hours.\"\n\n\"That's too long! Dinner time will be over by\n\nthen!\"\n\nIn the end, the four of them had dinner together. With\n\nthe meat, Kazuki granted Izuna's wish and cooked yakiniku. With Sabrina\n\nrecovering from her shock while holding on to Kazuki, he brought the hot plate\n\nout from the kitchen.\n\nWhen he placed the slices of meat on the heated plate,\n\nthe appetizing sound and the smell of meat filled the room. This meat really was\n\nworthy of being called the best cut by the butchers.\n\n\"Deli—cious. It's gotta be yakiniku! Oh, I found\n\na nice piece of cooked meat!\"\n\n\"... Uuu, Izuna, that's a piece that I cooked so\n\nI can give it to my brother. Return it right now.\"\n\n\"Sabrina, I don't mind. Whoa, please don't open\n\nyour mouth while you're chewing Izuna-san!\"\n\n\"Uh- umm, Outaki-kun, if you want, you can have\n\nthis pie— ouch.\"\n\n\"Whoa—. What are you doing Sabrina!\"\n\n\"Si. I just saw some delicious wings.\"\n\n\"There were none! You shouldn't bite other people!\"\n\n\"Ah, this meat's mine as well!\"\n\n\"Kyaa, Izuna-san, that was mine!\"\n\nThe kitchen table was noisy. Sabrina didn't get angry\n\nas much as usual, and Saki and Izuna looked happy.\n\nKazuki was laughing as well.\n\n— You and Sabrina live in different worlds. It won't\n\nturn out well in the end.\n\nBut the words Sofia spoke to him before she left were\n\ncirculating in Kazuki's head.\n\n_____________________________________________________________________\n\nReference\n\n1.\n\nYakiniku - Literally \"grilled meat.\"\n\n↩\n\n2.\n\nSofia - The name \"Sofia\" is the Italian equivalent of Sophia.\n\n↩\n\n3.\n\nCapo - A captain in the Mafia. Usually one of several Caporegime, they lead a group of soldiers.\n\n↩\n\n4.\n\nHabit - The robes nuns wear, including the nifty nun hat.\n\n↩"
    },
    {
      "chapter_order": 5,
      "chapter_title": "Chapter 4: Reality",
      "chars": 35589,
      "words": 6081,
      "_stripped_leading_credit_lines": 0,
      "text": "More little sister goodness/chaos!\n\nTranslator: Junnynam\n\nEditor: LHI\n\nPlease enjoy~\n\n____________________\n\n1\n\nSofia firmly stood on a long and silky\n\ncarpet.\n\nIt was a newly built hotel, one bus stop\n\naway from the Kazuki household. She was in the suite on the highest floor.\n\nIn front of her was a man sitting on a\n\nluxurious sofa. He appeared to be in his late 20s, but had all white hair and\n\nwas wearing a white suit.\n\nHe was the second in command of the Jevini\n\nFamily - Juan the underboss.\n\nSofia had been reporting Sabrina's case to\n\nhim; however, it was impossible to tell if Juan was listening to her while he\n\nfiled his nails.\n\nAfter filing his pinkie, he blew at it and\n\nfinally opened his mouth to talk.\n\n\"So, you couldn't bring Sabrina back?\"\n\n\"No, to be precise, I didn't bring her\n\nback. There was an error in the information that I received. Sabrina hadn't\n\nbeen forcefully taken away, she was there under her own will. She even said\n\nwith her own mouth that she wanted to remain there.\"\n\n\"So?\"\n\n\"I've returned to hear your opinion on\n\nthe matter, underboss.\"\n\nJuan glared at Sofia like a predator eyeing\n\nhis prey, until he returned his gaze back to his nails.\n\n\"I ordered you to bring back Sabrina, but\n\nyou couldn't. You've failed your mission.\"\n\n\"That's... true.\"\n\nWhen you look at the outcome, Sofia failed.\n\nShe didn't have anything to say for herself.\n\n\"... But please give me some time. I\n\nwill persuade her for sure.\"\n\nSofia strongly looked at the sofa. In\n\nresponse, Juan flexed his shoulders.\n\n\"It seems like Sabrina doesn't want to\n\nreturn. She is staying in the 'Happy Crown' household, isn't she? If it were\n\nme, I wouldn't stay there even if I was asked. Isn't it possible that the boy\n\nis blackmailing Sabrina? They might even be doing drugs.\"\n\nSofia was surprised. Noticing that, Juan\n\nstopped filing his nails.\n\n\"The boy is the son of 'Happy Crown,'\n\nisn't he? It's quite possible. Drugs, blackmail, brainwashing... the body as\n\nwell as the mind, you see.\"\n\nHe smiled slightly.\n\nThis person was rotten to the core. He\n\nenjoyed watching other people in distress; watching them with glee and a shady\n\nlook.\n\nHe saw things... he wasn't supposed to see.\n\nBut what Juan said was certainly\n\nconvincing.\n\nSabrina was never a girl who expressed\n\nherself honestly...\n\nBut to think she actually spoke her mind.\n\nSofia was hesitant. What did she need to\n\ndo?\n\nThen Juan spoke to her as if to give her\n\none last push.\n\n\"Well, we don't have time to leisurely\n\ntalk it over with her. At this rate, not only will the family fall into\n\ntrouble, she will as well. It wouldn't be strange if an organization attacks us\n\nnow. I will give you one more chance, you must bring back Sabrina this time.\"\n\n\"But...\"\n\n\"What is it? I think I just gave you\n\nan order, though?\"\n\nIn the mafia world, refusing an order from\n\na senior was not permitted.\n\nSofia could only shut her mouth in\n\nresponse.\n\nShe bowed her head and exited the room.\n\nAfter leaving the suite, Sofia stiffly walked\n\nalong the luxurious hallway. She entered the elevator to get to the floor her\n\nroom was on.\n\nThere were no other people in the elevator.\n\nThe door slowly shut and the number\n\nindicating the current floor descended one by one.\n\nSlam!\n\nSofia slammed her fist on the wall. Her\n\neyes were filled with rage.\n\n\"That parachute\n\n[1]\n\nbastard. I'll rip out\n\nhis precious nails and pour molten steel on them.\"\n\nHer anger erupted.\n\nWas she angry because of how cocky Juan was\n\nacting now that the boss was gone?\n\nWas she angry at the boy named Kazuki who\n\nwas with Sabrina?\n\nOr was she angry at the fact that Sabrina\n\nrejected her for the first time?\n\nSofia didn't know where her anger came from.\n\n— \"The boy is the son of 'Happy Crown,'\n\nisn't he? It's quite possible. Drugs, blackmail, brainwashing... the body as\n\nwell as the mind, you see.\"\n\nSlam!\n\nRemembering what Juan had said to her,\n\nSofia slammed her fist against the wall again.\n\nThere were a few things that Sofia couldn't\n\naccept; however, Sofia understood that she had to bring back Sabrina at all\n\ncosts.\n\nShe remembered what Sabrina said.\n\n— \"I won't go back.\"\n\nShe had never seen Sabrina behave like\n\nthat.\n\nSabrina...\n\nThe boss gave you everything.\n\nYou're no longer a \"hidden child.\"\n\nYou don't have to live like that anymore.\n\nWhy won't you come back?\n\nIs it because you want to stay with that\n\nboy?\n\nSofia didn't know much... but.\n\n\"I have to carry out my mission... for\n\nthe family, for myself, and for Sabrina as well. I will make you return with me...\n\neven if I have to get violent.\"\n\nAs soon as she finished thinking, the\n\nelevator door opened.\n\n2\n\nToday's lesson had just finished.\n\n\"Oh, a text.\"\n\nAs Kazuki headed towards the shoe lockers, the\n\nphone inside his pocket vibrated. Sabrina sent him the text.\n\n\"I'll be waiting for you at the front\n\ngate,\" was the short message from her.\n\n\"I'm coming now.\"\n\nAs Kazuki sent his reply, someone tapped on\n\nhis shoulder from behind.\n\n\"See you later Kazuki.\"\n\n\"Huh? You're going home early today,\n\nRyouta. You usually stay behind and play after school. Have you finally realized\n\nthat your grades are in danger?\"\n\nThe students in his school were now\n\npreparing for their midterm exams.\n\nDuring preparation, all extracurricular\n\nactivities (like clubs) were on break.\n\nHowever; just because the clubs were on\n\nbreak, didn't mean the students actually studied.\n\n\"Are you an idiot? The clubs are on\n\nbreak, so why would we waste our time studying? I'm going out to play with my fellow\n\nbaseball club members.\"\n\nThere were students like Ryouta who\n\npreferred to mess around.\n\n\"Anyways, most of the teachers are at\n\na teachers' conference, so the school closes at 5 o'clock.\"\n\n\"Ah, they mentioned that in the\n\nhomeroom today.\"\n\n\"There aren't many teachers around, so\n\nnow is the time to run amok! Tonight is karaoke! I'll sing my heart out~.\"\n\n\"...That's great and all, but will you\n\nbe ok with the tests next week?\"\n\n\"I'm living in the moment! I won't\n\nregret anything!\"\n\nHowever, Kazuki knew that Ryouta would\n\nregret it on test day. He had seen it happen countless times.\n\nSince the two of them were in the same\n\nclass, they walked to the shoe lockers together. Kazuki could only look at his\n\ncarefree friend Ryouta's back as he walked away.\n\nKazuki reached into his shoe rack.\n\n\"Huh?\"\n\nWhen he reached into his assigned shoe\n\nlocker as usual, something was on top of his shoes.\n\n\"... What's this?\"\n\nPaper?\n\nIt was a pink piece of paper, slightly bigger\n\nthan the size of his hand.\n\nAn envelope?\n\nKazuki didn't know who could've sent him a\n\nletter.\n\n\"—Hmmm?\"\n\nWhat's this?\n\nWhen Kazuki flipped it over without thinking\n\nabout it too much, he was stunned.\n\n\"... C-could this beeee!?\"\n\nA cute illustration of a bubbly animal...\n\nRound female-like handwriting...\n\nAnd the heading \"To Kazuki Ootaki-kun...\"\n\n\"T-this is... don't tell me... no...\n\nit can't be...\"\n\nHe looked around him in shock. It could've\n\nbeen a prank.\n\nBut the only person capable of pulling this\n\nprank was Ryouta, and he had already left. The possibility was low.\n\nKazuki looked around once more just to be\n\nsure, but there wasn't anyone looking at him.\n\nIt doesn't seem to be a prank.\n\nWith trembling hands, Kazuki opened the\n\nenvelope and held out the twice folded letter.\n\n\"I am sorry for suddenly sending you\n\nthis letter. There is something that I really want to say, so please come alone\n\nto second year class six today at half past five. I'll be waiting for you....\"\n\nHe calmly closed the letter and placed it\n\nback in the envelope. Kazuki looked cold on the outside.\n\nHowever...\n\nT-t-this is!\n\nIn his heart a wave of emotions were\n\nclashing within him. The only reason why he appeared to be calm was because he\n\nwas paralyzed with shock.\n\nWhen Kazuki's brain recovered from the\n\nshock, it quickly sent out an emergency notice to his body.\n\nThis was most likely a \"love letter!?\"\n\nFrom who!?\n\nFor what!?\n\nNo no, I shouldn't be asking \"for what,\"\n\nif it was a love letter.\n\n\"Huh? There's no name on it.\"\n\nKazuki checked the envelope and letter, but\n\nsender's name was nowhere to be found.\n\n... I'm so happy.\n\nI've never received a love letter in my\n\nlife, so I'm very happy.\n\nAhh, what should I do? I have Kinoshita in\n\nmy heart...\n\nNo no, we're not dating, and there's no way\n\nKinoshita likes me!\n\nAh, I feel like crying just thinking about\n\nit.\n\nWhy do I feel so sad when I just received a\n\nlove letter?\n\n\"A-anyways, let's calm down. Deep\n\nbreaths...\"\n\nKazuki took a deep breath and quietly exhaled.\n\nFor some reason, he felt slightly better.\n\nOnce again.\n\nHe took a deep breath and tried to calm dow—.\n\n\"Onii-chan.\"\n\n\"Pffttt.\"\n\nSomeone behind him suddenly talked.\n\nWhat a surprise!\n\nKazuki thought his heart was going to jump\n\nout of his chest.\n\nCoughing loudly, Kazuki turned around and\n\nsaw a girl holding a briefcase that didn't match her small body and twin tails -\n\nSabrina.\n\nKazuki quickly hid the love letter.\n\nHe knew that Sabrina couldn't find out\n\nabout the letter.\n\n\"S-Sabrina. W-what's up?\"\n\n\"I came to find you since you didn't\n\ncome after so long. Did something happen?\"\n\n\"No! No no. Nothing at all! There's no\n\nproblem!\"\n\n\"Why are you denying it so much?\"\n\n\"Uuu...\"\n\nKazuki denied it repeatedly so that Sabrina\n\nwouldn't be suspicious of him, but it appeared to have backfired.\n\n\"...Are you really ok?\"\n\nSabrina asked once more with an\n\nexpressionless face.\n\nAlthough Sabrina didn't have any particular\n\nexpression, Kazuki has started noticing subtle differences lately.\n\nKazuki took control of his expressions\n\nknowing that he couldn't afford to be any more conspicuous.\n\nHe tried to talk.\n\n\"It's alright. There's noting rong.”\n\n[2]\n\nHe sounded painfully obvious.\n\n\"...\"\n\nSabrina stared at him coolly.\n\nKazuki knew what she was going to say.\n\nHer gaze was extremely painful.\n\nKazuki was able to talk his way out of it\n\nsomehow, and since there was some time left until the meeting time he decided\n\nto leave school with Sabrina. They stopped by the shopping district and bought\n\nsome groceries.\n\nFidget fidget. Doki doki. Heh Heh.\n\nNoticing what he was doing, he quickly\n\nreturned to his normal facial expression...\n\nBut he couldn't keep a straight face and\n\nwent back to fidgeting....\n\nKazuki repeated this cycle over and over\n\nagain.\n\nFlip.\n\nIt hasn't even been a minute since he last\n\nchecked his phone, but he opened his (flip style) phone to check the time.\n\nStep step. Fidget fidget. Flip.\n\nStep step. Doki doki. Flip.\n\nStep step. Heh heh. Flip\n\nAnyone could tell that he was insane.\n\nSince Sabrina wasn't the type to start a\n\nconversation, she was pretty quiet if Kazuki was.\n\nNot noticing this, Kazuki checked the time\n\non his phone again.\n\n...It was 15 past 5.\n\nIf he didn't head back now, he would be\n\nlate.\n\nI better take action now....\n\nRight, let's do this! Yeah, I can do it!\n\nI've been running it over in my head, and\n\nif I stay calm, I can succeed!\n\nKazuki made up his mind and started taking\n\naction.\n\n\"Ah— not good—. I left something behind\n\nat school. I would be in trouble without it—. I need to go back and get it even\n\nthough it's troublesome—. Sorry Sabrina, but do you want to go back first—?\"\n\nMaintaining his calmness and a straight\n\nface, he said the lines that he practiced in his head.\n\nGreat, it was perfect.\n\nKazuki wore an unnatural smile.\n\nWith this, Sabrina should—.\n\n\"...... (Sta——re).\"\n\nShe's suspecting me——!?\n\nBut being suspect didn't really matter, she\n\nhasn't noticed it yet.\n\nThis is the turning point.\n\n... I can't look away, I'll get killed!\n\nKazuki felt the chilly air blowing behind\n\nhim and kept the smile on his face.\n\n\"........ Si. I understand.\"\n\nAfter what felt like 10 minutes, Sabrina\n\nanswered Kazuki.\n\nKazuki felt like he just won the greatest battle\n\nin all his life.\n\n\"Really?! Alright!\"\n\n\"Alright?\"\n\n\"N-no, I meant 'Alright, time to get\n\nthe things even though it's troublesome'.\"\n\n\"... It's really suspicious.\"\n\n\"What?\"\n\n\"No. It's nothing. Then, I'll carry\n\nthe groceries home.\"\n\n\"Ah, yeah. Sorry about that. I'll come\n\nback as soon as possible, so bye!\"\n\nKazuki turned around and rushed to the\n\nschool.\n\nThank god it worked out somehow... although,\n\nI do feel sorry for Sabrina.\n\nKazuki reached the school gates. Since he\n\nran to school and sweat a lot, he tried to dry himself and checked his phone\n\nfor the time.\n\n\"I've got 5 minutes. Good.\"\n\nSince the front gates were shut, he had to head\n\ntowards the back entrance. Even though the back entrance was also shut, he was\n\nable to get in through a hole in the fence.\n\nAt Kazuki's school, the school building\n\nsurrounded the field and was divided into the east and west buildings. The second\n\nand third years used the east building while the first years and the\n\nmiscellaneous classrooms were in the west building. He was able to get in the east\n\nbuilding via the emergency exit (the door is broken).\n\nDid she call him out because she knew that\n\nthere were no teachers in school today?\n\nThinking about who the girl might be,\n\nKazuki made his way up to the sixth class of the second year.\n\nHe walked up the dim stairs and passed the\n\nsilent corridor.\n\nHe reached the rendezvous.\n\n\"Ah...\"\n\nThere was light coming from the classroom.\n\nThe person who sent him the letter should\n\nbe waiting in that room.\n\nKazuki swallowed nervously.\n\nWith his trembling hand, he slowly opened\n\nthe cracked door.\n\nThe girl inside was looking out the window.\n\nHer face wasn't visible to Kazuki yet.\n\nAh, don't tell me...\n\nThe girl's back was...\n\nThe girl had her brown hair held in place\n\nwith hairpins.\n\nDon't tell me, it can't be—.\n\nKazuki had seen the girl's back before. No,\n\nhe had been looking at it all the time.\n\nThe girl turned around.\n\n\"Ootaki-kun?\"\n\nSurprisingly, the girl was Saki Kinoshita.\n\nHence, the person who sent him the love\n\nletter was Saki as well.\n\nKazuki has a crush on Kinoshita...\n\nBut he always thought that his feelings\n\nwere unrequited - he thought it was impossible for him.\n\nIf Kinoshita sent a love letter to me...\n\nIt's not a dream... right...?\n\nKazuki couldn't believe the situation.\n\nStep by step, Saki walked closer to him.\n\n\"Eh, t-that's...\"\n\nKazuki couldn't speak.\n\n\"Ootaki-kun...\"\n\nUnconsciously, he stopped moving. Saki drew\n\neven closer to him.\n\nWhoaaa!\n\nAm I finally getting confessed to!? And by\n\nKinoshita who I have a crush on!? Was this really happening?\n\n\"Umm...\"\n\nC-could we go to school and eat lunch\n\ntogether from now on?\n\nAnd do some gardening together on the\n\nweekends... wow. What is this!? I'm so happy!\n\n\"Um...\"\n\nKinoshita was already blushing.\n\nNo, I should think about those events later\n\non.\n\nI need to think about my answer to\n\nKinoshita's confession.\n\nStep by step, the distance between them\n\nshortened.\n\nAs the distance shortened, Kazuki's\n\nheartbeat increased proportionally.\n\n\"So, umm...\"\n\nSaki, who was standing before him, shyly opened\n\nher mouth to talk.\n\nThat's it!\n\nAt that moment, Kazuki had a brilliant\n\nidea.\n\nI like Kinoshita as well.\n\nThat means that I shouldn't make Kinoshita\n\nconfess right now.\n\nKnowing her feelings, Kazuki didn't need to\n\nhesitate any longer.\n\nThis is something that the guy should shout\n\nout!\n\nAlright!\n\nKazuki firmly decided to say it himself.\n\n\"Kinoshita! All this time, I've—.\"\n\n\"W-what did you want to say to me?\"\n\n\"Liked shellfishes as well!\"\n\nAfter hearing Saki's unexpected question,\n\nKazuki quickly changed what he was about to say.\n\n\"Shellfishes? Me?\"\n\n\"T-that's right! Ah ha ha ha ha ha. I\n\nalways thought that you might like roasted shellfishes!\"\n\n\"Huh? .... F- food that I like? Hmm, I\n\nlike fried shrimps, though...\"\n\n\"I see! Fried shrimps are great! They\n\ntaste the best when they're fried! Ah ha ha ha ha ha....\"\n\nIt was anguishing. However, Kazuki could\n\nonly laugh like that.\n\n\"S-so, what Ootaki-kun wanted to say...\n\nwas that?\"\n\nSaki somehow appeared let down.\n\nHuh?\n\nSomething didn't sound right to Kazuki.\n\n\"Wait, what do you mean what I wanted\n\nto say?\"\n\n\"Y-yeah, didn't Ootaki-kun call me out\n\nto tell me something?\"\n\nIn an instant, Kazuki's head went blank.\n\nHe couldn't understand what Saki just said.\n\nHmm, what happened?\n\nI had something to say to Kinoshita?\n\nThen the confession—.\n\n\"T-that's right! What about the\n\nconfession?\"\n\nBy mistake, he thought out loud.\n\n\"Huh!? C-c-c-confession!? Tha- w-what!?\n\nOotaki wasn't going to!? Ah!\"\n\nSaki closed her mouth with her cheeks\n\nbright red.\n\nHe felt a sense of incongruity.\n\nFor some reason, their stories didn't match\n\nup. Kazuki removed the love letter he found in his shoe locker from his pocket.\n\n\"I found this letter in my shoe\n\nlocker, but Kinoshita didn't send it to me?\"\n\nShe also pulled an envelope out of her\n\npocket.\n\n\"Huh? But I got one in my locker as\n\nwell?\"\n\nIt seemed like someone called both of them\n\nout using the letters.\n\nThen who on earth did it? And why?\n\nCreak.\n\nSuddenly, the cleaning closet door opened.\n\nRoll.\n\nFrom the closet, Sabrina rolled out.\n\n\"... I made a mistake.\"\n\n\"\"Sabrina!?\"\"\n\n\"How strange. Why is there a\n\nbroomstick here?\"\n\n\"No no! It's normal for there to be a\n\nbroom stick inside a cleaning closet! What's strange is you being inside the\n\ncloset! Why are you here!?\"\n\nSabrina picked the cleaning equipment up and\n\nshowed Kazuki a letter she removed from her pocket.\n\n\"Your brother is going to flirt with a\n\ngirl afterschool. Heh heh heh... what the hell!? Why is Sabrina's letter\n\nwritten like this?\"\n\n\"I trusted you Onii-chan, but as you\n\nreturned to school, I arrived here first and waited for you in the closet.\"\n\nSabrina let out a threatening aura.\n\n\"What were you going to talk about\n\nwith this woman?\"\n\n\"N-no, I'm not too sure either...\"\n\nSabrina turned away from the muttering\n\nKazuki and faced Saki.\n\n\"Saki Kinoshita. You've got guts to\n\ntoy with my brother.\"\n\n\"Eh? N-no! You're wrong, w-wait,\n\nSabrina. Kyaa!\"\n\nBite.\n\nSabrina started to bite Saki's hand\n\nmercilessly.\n\n\"If movbess.\"\n\n\"I don't know what you're saying,\n\nSabrina!\"\n\n\"Sabrina, talk or bite - not both!\"\n\nSabrina let go of Saki's hand.\n\n\"Si. I said 'It's useless.' Now then—!\"\n\nShe resumed biting.\n\n\"Kyaaa—ah. Don't biteee!\"\n\n\"Ahhh, Sabrina, you shouldn't bite—!\"\n\nKazuki hugged Sabrina from behind and\n\nseparated her from Saki. Saki's eyes were teary and she was blowing on the hand\n\nSabrina had bitten.\n\nPress.\n\nSabrina turned around and hugged Kazuki.\n\n\"Sabrina?\"\n\n\"... Like this.\"\n\nIt looked like she was trying to suck up his\n\nenergy like she did when they had sukiyaki. Sabrina clung to him like a leech\n\nfor a while.\n\nKazuki was surprised, but he still gave\n\nSabrina's head a pat.\n\nThen Kazuki realized something.\n\n\"...Then who called us out?\"\n\nHe muttered softly.\n\nDing dong ding dong.\n\nSuddenly the notification sound rang out\n\nfrom the speaker.\n\nEven though there shouldn't be anyone else\n\nin the school...\n\n「\n\nLooks like everyone is here.\n\n」\n\nA clear voice spoke through the speaker.\n\nKazuki has heard that voice before.\n\nIt was Sofia, a solider of the Jevini\n\nFamily and Sabrina's teacher in the art of assassination.\n\nKazuki tensed up. Sabrina must've tensed up\n\nas well, because she gripped Kazuki's arm tighter.\n\n\"Hey - why is Sofia-san here?\"\n\nKazuki almost moaned. Saki didn't seem to\n\nunderstand and stood there blankly.\n\n「\n\nHu hu, you must be surprised. Well, it's not a surprise. There are\n\ncameras installed in the classroom, so I can see your movements.\n\n」\n\nKazuki looked around but couldn't see the\n\ncameras.\n\n\"Were you the one who set this up,\n\nSofia?\"\n\nSabrina cautiously stepped in front of\n\nKazuki and Saki.\n\n「\n\nI don't like meaningless questions. Didn't I tell you that? ...\n\nSabrina.\n\n」\n\n\"What are you trying to do?\"\n\n「\n\nIt would be faster to show you instead of explaining it. Look under\n\nthe lectern.\n\n」\n\nBeing the closest one to the lectern,\n\nSabrina looked under it reluctantly.\n\nSabrina's eyes lit up with agitation after\n\nseeing what was there.\n\n\"Oh, it's just an alarm clock?\"\n\nSaki blinked her eyes as she saw the\n\nobject.\n\n\"... Both of you, please step back.\n\nThis is a bomb.\"\n\n\"Wha—.\"\n\nA bomb!?\n\nKazuki didn't believe his ears. However...\n\nSabrina wasn't the type to joke or pull a prank. He was able to see from her\n\nfrozen facial expression that she was serious.\n\n\"Kinoshita, take cover at the back of\n\nthe class!\"\n\nPushing the tables aside, they all backed\n\nup to the rear of the room.\n\n「\n\nIt's futile. I've installed bombs all over the school and can set\n\nthem all off with the push of a button.\n\n」\n\nIf those bombs explode... Kazuki's legs\n\nstarted wobbling.\n\nAssuming what she had said was true, running\n\naway from the classroom wouldn't be enough to evade the explosion. They were\n\ncompletely trapped.\n\n\"Ootaki-kun, is that really a bomb?\"\n\nSaki asked nervously, being the only one\n\nwho didn't understand the situation.\n\nKazuki heavily nodded his head.\n\n\"W-who is this Sofia-san? What's going\n\non?\"\n\n\"She's after me.\"\n\n\"... Sabrina?\"\n\n\"Kinoshita, this might be hard to\n\nbelieve, but Sabrina has her personal circumstances and became a mafia boss. The\n\nperson on the speakers is trying to take Sabrina back to the mafia organization.\"\n\n\"Huh? Why would she do all this just\n\nto bring Sabrina back?\"\n\n\"That's probably because...\"\n\nKazuki trailed off. However, the reason was\n\nunderstood without Kazuki needing to explain.\n\nSofia spoke to Sabrina:\n\n「\n\nSabrina, stop behaving so spoiled and return. If you come back\n\nobediently, no-one needs to get hurt.\n\n」\n\n\"...\"\n\n「\n\nYou said it before, didn't you? You said you would protect those close\n\nto you when they're in danger.\n\n」\n\nSofia paused for her previous statement to hit\n\nhome with Sabrina.\n\n「\n\nLook at the situation; Instead of protecting them, you're in danger\n\nas well. How can you say that you'll protect others, when you can't even\n\nprotect yourself?\n\n」\n\n\"... Uuu.\"\n\nSabrina was at a loss for words. It seemed\n\nlike she was unable to retort.\n\nMaybe it was because of her anger towards\n\nSofia, or because she was blaming herself, but Sabrina's shoulders were\n\ntrembling.\n\n「\n\nBoy.\n\n」\n\nKazuki was surprised.\n\n「\n\nIt must've been hard on you as well. Let's be honest here, it was a\n\nbother right? We're talking about Sabrina after all.\n\n」\n\nAfter hearing Sofia's words, Sabrina was\n\nvisibly upset.\n\nSabrina's usual expressionless face was\n\ngone and she looked terrified... as if something she's been fearing was happening.\n\nIt's a bother to have Sabrina around...?\n\nMy usual quiet and average everyday life\n\ndid disappear when Sabrina arrived...\n\nAnd there has been times when Sabrina\n\ncaused a lot of trouble...\n\nBut Sabrina always tried her best.\n\nShe really was a good girl.\n\nSo... but...\n\nDid I think of Sabrina as a bother?\n\nHe couldn't think of an answer no matter\n\nhow hard he thought.\n\nSabrina, Sofia and even Saki all looked at\n\nKazuki for his answer.\n\nKazuki started to feel anxious knowing that\n\nhe had to say something.\n\n\"I...\"\n\n\"No. I won't go back.\"\n\n\"Sabrina...\"\n\nNothing could be heard from the speakers.\n\nAfter a short silence, Sofia asked for\n\nconfirmation.\n\n「\n\nHey, do you even know what you're saying?\n\n」\n\n\"I do. But... but I...\"\n\n「\n\nSo it's ok if I detonate this?\n\n」\n\n\"That's—\"\n\n「\n\nThen come back.\n\n」\n\n\"...\"\n\nSabrina knew that there were no other\n\nchoices left.\n\nBut.\n\n\"... No.\"\n\nShe refused once more.\n\nSaki held Sabrina's hand tightly and nodded\n\nwithout completely understanding what was going on.\n\n「\n\nI see...\n\n」\n\nSofia let out a short sigh.\n\nIn the next instant the classroom flashed\n\nwhite with a \"paa\" sound.\n\nThe powerful tremor slammed against their\n\neardrums. The shockwave pushed the three of them out of the classroom.\n\nThe bomb exploded.\n\n3\n\nMeanwhile, in the broadcasting room in the western building.\n\n\"Why...\"\n\nSofia's pale face looked at the detonator in the hand\n\nthat held it.\n\nShe wasn't the one who pressed it.\n\nDesperately suppressing her anger, she questioned the\n\nman behind her.\n\n\"Why did you press the detonator, underboss?!\"\n\n\"Ah ha ha ha— that bomb was surprisingly\n\npowerful.\"\n\nJuan looked out the window at the school building with\n\ngreat interest.\n\nIn his hand, he held the detonator.\n\n\"I thought we had an agreement to use this as a\n\nthreat... no, to keep them in check.\"\n\n\"Ah ha ha ha ha ha—ah?\"\n\nJuan gazed over at Sofia. His expression changed to a\n\nbaffled one.\n\n\"But she didn't agree... You said that Sabrina would\n\ncome back if we threaten her friends, but it didn't work.\"\n\n\"That's—\"\n\n\"So plan A failed at that point, so we had to\n\nswitch to plan B. Well, I didn't tell you about it though. Ku ku ku. Do you have\n\nany complaints? You, a soldier who always fails.\"\n\n\"...!\"\n\n\"Well, this is a great opportunity. With this,\n\nSabrina won't be behaving so spoiled. It'll be a great experience for her.\"\n\n\"What if something happened to Sabrina!? And that\n\nplace also had civilians!\"\n\n\"Sabrina has received special training. So she\n\nshouldn't have died. As for the others... well, they were just unlucky.\"\n\n\"Y- you—!\"\n\nFor an instant, Sofia's vision went completely white with\n\nrage. She tried to attack Juan; however, due to her anger, Sofia was full of\n\nopenings.\n\n\"Ughh.\"\n\nUnfortunately, one of Juan's men punched her stomach\n\nas she charged at Juan. She couldn't resist the pain and kneeled. The rest of\n\nthe men pointed guns at her.\n\n\"Hey hey, how scary.\"\n\nJuan held up his hand to stop his men, and started to\n\nfiling his nails with a gleeful smile.\n\nResisting the pain in her stomach, Sofia stood up. She\n\ntried to leave the room.\n\n\"... What are you trying to do?\"\n\n\"I'll go and save her.\"\n\n\"You mean Sabrina?\"\n\nSofia chose not to reply to his question. The sound of\n\nJuan purposefully sighing on could be heard behind her.\n\n\"I'm disappointed in you. I was going to be nice\n\nto you, since the boss favored you, but I'll remember your actions.\"\n\n\"... Yes.\"\n\nTurning her back to Juan, Sofia hurried to the eastern\n\nside of the school.\n\n4\n\nKazuki shuddered just thinking about the bomb that had\n\nexploded.\n\nKazuki didn't suffer much damage from being slammed into\n\nthe wall by the explosion. He didn't even want to think about what would've\n\nhappened if the chairs and the desks had slammed into him.\n\nHe crawled out from under the pile of chairs and the\n\ndesks, and eventually managed to somehow make it out of the classroom.\n\n\"This is—.\"\n\nKazuki stopped breathing at the sight of the corridor.\n\nThe bombs weren't just a threat. The corridor's roof\n\nhad collapsed and parts of the upper floor were visible. This floor had a big\n\nhole and the walls between the classrooms and corridors were all destroyed.\n\nDue to the burning black smoke, the fire alarms were\n\nscreeching. Some of the sprinklers were spraying water everywhere, but they weren't\n\nable to battle the flames.\n\nThis place wasn't the school that Kazuki once knew.\n\nIt was almost like a nightmare.\n\nThe only way he was able to tell that this wasn't a\n\nnightmare were his five senses.\n\nThe school building has been badly damaged; however,\n\nthe classroom that Kazuki and the two others were in had not been as badly\n\ndamaged - as if the bombs took it easy on them.\n\n\"Are the two of you safe!? I'll secure an escape\n\npath, so stay where you are!\"\n\nSabrina's voice rang out through the commotion.\n\nThank god, she's safe. Thinking that, something about\n\nthe usual cold Sabrina didn't sit right with Kazuki.\n\nHe was stunned. His legs were shivering, and he found\n\nit hard to move properly.\n\nHowever, he didn't cry, because Saki was there.\n\nKazuki lived with Sabrina so he knew her\n\ncircumstances. That was how he was swept up into this mess, but Saki had\n\nnothing to do with it. She was just an innocent bystander.\n\n\"Kinoshita! Where are you Kinoshita!?\"\n\n\"Over here—.\"\n\nSaki escaped the pile of tables and walked through the\n\ncorridor.\n\n\"Kinoshita, are you hurt anywhere!?\"\n\n\"Ah, yeah. I'm fine.\"\n\nSaki's hand was shaking as she escaped the tables.\n\nI see, so the tables served as a protective barrier.\n\nKazuki felt relived as he pulled Saki towards him.\n\nAll that was on his mind was returning Kinoshita to safety.\n\nHaving stood up, Saki dusted off her school uniform.\n\n\"... It turned out to be a catastrophe. Cough,\n\ncough.\"\n\nShe wasn't panicking, even in a situation like this.\n\nShe was being her usual self - acting brightly.\n\nHer expression dug into Kazuki's heart.\n\n\"I'm sorry Kinoshita! I'm really sorry! Sorry for\n\ndragging you into this situation!\"\n\n\"Why are you apologizing, Ootaki-kun?\"\n\n\"But...\"\n\n\"Ootaki-kun isn't at fault.\"\n\n\"Huh?\"\n\nSaki's words were warm and it melted him.\n\n\"Sabrina either.\"\n\nSaki's facial expression looked slightly forced, but\n\nshe was still trying her best to smile.\n\n\"I'm fine. I'm not hurt either. Please go to\n\nSabrina first, I think she might blame herself for this.\"\n\nShe was caught up in the explosion even though she\n\nwasn't involved with the situation.\n\nEven though she should be complaining, Saki wasn't\n\ncrying at all.\n\nFurthermore, she was actually concerned about Sabrina.\n\nShe was even smiling to assure Kazuki.\n\n\"How can you...\"\n\n\"Ootaki-kun! Look out!\"\n\nSaki pushed Kazuki aside. Falling rubble hit her head\n\nas it fell.\n\nSaki collapsed on the floor.\n\n\"Kinoshita, Kinoshita!?\"\n\nDrip.\n\nWhen he picked Saki up, he felt a sticky substance on\n\nhis hands.\n\nHe looked at his hands while trembling. His hands were\n\ncovered in a sticky red substance.\n\nHis hair stood up on end.\n\nBlood—.\n\nIt was red.\n\nThe color of death.\n\nThe color of despair.\n\nSomething inside Kazuki audibly broke. It felt like he\n\nwas paralyzed and unable to move at all.\n\nAt that moment. Sabrina returned after securing an\n\nescape path.\n\n\"Saki! Onii-chan, what happened?\"\n\n\"...Kinoshita... she protected me...\"\n\nSabrina removed a knife from her toolbox and tore her\n\nskirt.\n\nRip.\n\nHer pale thigh was visible. She removed a handkerchief\n\nfrom her pocket, and using the torn skirt, she wrapped it around Saki's head as\n\nfirst-aid.\n\n\"It's probably just a small cut. She should be ok\n\nwith this. I'll take Saki, so please get up Onii-chan.\"\n\nSeeing Sabrina acting swiftly, Kazuki froze with his\n\neyes wide open.\n\n\"...\"\n\n\"Onii-chan.\"\n\n\"...It's impossible.\"\n\n\"What are you saying? If we don't hurry—\"\n\n\"I said it's impossible!\"\n\nKazuki yelled out.\n\nSabrina shrank back in surprise.\n\n\"... Onii... chan?\"\n\n\"This isn't normal... the school blew up and hurt\n\nan innocent bystander! This isn't normal!\"\n\nThe situation was urgent.\n\nHe knew that Sabrina was doing the right thing in this\n\nsituation.\n\nHe knew that she was right, but he couldn't accept it.\n\n—\n\nYou and Sabrina\n\nlive in different worlds. It won't turn out well in the end.\n\nKazuki finally understood what Sofia meant.\n\nIt wasn't just Sabrina... I took it the situation too\n\nlightly.\n\nA lot of things happened while Sabrina was around, but\n\nI've always thought it would work out in the end somehow. But I never have\n\nexpected the school to be blown up like this and Kinoshita to get hurt this\n\nbadly.\n\nIt was impossible from the start.\n\nIt was impossible for a civilian and a member of the mafia\n\nto live together.\n\nRumble.\n\nAt that\n\ninstant, a giant concrete post started falling towards Kazuki.\n\n\"Whoa...\"\n\n\"Onii-chan! Watch out!\"\n\nKazuki wasn't able to use any strength in his body. He\n\nwas unable to move.\n\nSabrina tried to drag Kazuki (who was still in his immobilized\n\nstate) to safety, but she couldn't budge him at all.\n\nKazuki stared at the falling post in wonder.\n\nAt this rate, I'll be crushed.\n\n... But I can't move.\n\n\"... Uuu.\"\n\nSabrina stood between the falling post and Kazuki.\n\nAnyone could see that it was pointless, but she used her body to cover Kazuki.\n\n\"Sabri—.\"\n\n\"Sabrina! Get down!\"\n\nThere was a voice that overpowered Kazuki's own.\n\nIt was Sofia who appeared in a flash.\n\nBang Bang Bang Bang.\n\nShe fired her assault rifle.\n\nThe bullets hit the base of another post opposite to\n\nthe one that was actually falling.\n\nShe missed?\n\nSofia opened the coat she was wearing. In it was a\n\nvariety of hidden weapons.\n\nAmong them was a grenade. Sofia quickly threw it at\n\nthe post she just shot.\n\nShe shot at the grenade, causing it to explode\n\nmid-air.\n\nThe post, weakened by previous bullets, broke and hit\n\nthe falling post - knocking it away from Kazuki and Sabrina.\n\nRumble—.\n\nWith a dull thud, the post fell - barely missing\n\nKazuki and Sabrina. They were able to avoid being crushed.\n\nKazuki looked up at Sofia. She looked like she was\n\nabout to cry, and her face was in anguish.\n\n\"... Uhh.\"\n\nSaki regained consciousness in his arms.\n\n\"Kinoshita!\"\n\n\"Huh... I...\"\n\n\"Don't move! Show me your wound!\"\n\nSofia gently picked Saki up and checked the first aid\n\nthat Sabrina had performed. Her expression was now back to normal.\n\nWhy did Sofia come to save them if she was the one who\n\nset off the bomb?\n\nKazuki was confused.\n\n\"The injury isn't serious. It looks like she bled\n\na lot because one of her larger blood vessels was damaged. She should be fine\n\nwith this, so let's head outside quickly. It's dangerous to remain inside.\"\n\nAfter saying that, Sofia picked Saki up and led Kazuki\n\nand Sabrina outside. Since Sabrina secured a safe escape route, they were able\n\nto escape relatively quickly.\n\nAfter leaning Saki against the fence, Sofia deeply sighed\n\nand turned towards Sabrina. Kazuki silently watched the two.\n\n\"...Sofia.\"\n\n\"Sabrina, you can blame me for all this, but I\n\njust want you to know this: you weren't able to protect those two.\"\n\nSofia coldly stated the facts.\n\n\"The world that you live in is too different. You're\n\na mafia boss, whether you like it... or not.\"\n\nSabrina didn't say anything in response. She just\n\nsilently looked down.\n\n\"From now on, a lot of different people will be\n\nafter your life - regardless of if they're enemies or allies. If you were by\n\nyourself, you might be able to handle it somehow. But the ones who're after you\n\nwon't be playing fair - they'll attack your weak spots mercilessly.\"\n\nSofia whispered to Sabrina. Kazuki wasn't able to hear\n\nwhat they were talking about.\n\nSabrina shrank.\n\n\"Onii-chan...\"\n\nShe looked back at him.\n\nShe extended her hand to him, as if she were calling\n\nfor help.\n\nHer small and slender hand.\n\nAlthough Kazuki could've touched that hand if he\n\nextended his own, Kazuki only looked at her hand.\n\nSabrina's hand.\n\nBut it was also the hand of a member of the mafia.\n\nA hand that clung to me for some reason...\n\nBut a hand that brought fights and bloodshed.\n\n— \"Onii-chan is really like the brother that I\n\nimagined you to be.\"\n\nNo... that's not it.\n\nYou expected too much from me.\n\nI'm not the brother that you imagined me to be.\n\nKazuki recalled the warmth of Saki's blood that he\n\nfelt on his hand.\n\nHer expectations of me are... it's too much.\n\nIt was overwhelming.\n\nSo.\n\nKazuki couldn't...\n\n...\n\n......\n\n......... He couldn't grab Sabrina's hand at all.\n\nSuddenly, Sabrina lost the light in her eyes.\n\nHer eyes were now a cold blue.\n\nHer expressionless face didn't change, but now Sabrina\n\nappeared to be a completely different person.\n\n\"Arrivederla\n\n[3]\n\n...\"\n\nSabrina turned and walked away from Kazuki.\n\nSabrina was walking towards a man in a suit.\n\nSofia, who tried to follow Sabrina, stopped and bowed\n\nher head slightly at Kazuki.\n\nEven though she succeeded in bringing Sabrina back,\n\nSofia had a bitter expression on her face.\n\n\"You guys better leave now before it gets any worse.\"\n\nShe left them with those words and ran after Sabrina.\n\n\"Sabrina...\"\n\nKazuki called out her name, but she had already\n\ndisappeared.\n\nIt probably wasn't too late to follow her now.\n\nHowever...\n\nKazuki didn't pursue her.\n\n_____________________________________________________________________\n\nReference\n\n1. Parachute - Slang meaning that one uses the influence of his/her parents to obtain influence or preferential treatment.\n\n↩\n\n2. The spelling mistakes in this sentence were intentional and in the original text.\n\n↩\n\n3. Arrivederla - polite way of saying \"good bye\" in Italian.\n\n↩"
    },
    {
      "chapter_order": 6,
      "chapter_title": "Chapter 5: Shower and The Distant Thunder",
      "chars": 32604,
      "words": 5683,
      "_stripped_leading_credit_lines": 0,
      "text": "Off-topic: Although pse\n\nudo-incest will never have that genuine forbidden taste, its the psychological quandary of the 'siblings' that makes it worthwhile. The revelation, or betrayal, may render the incest moot, but their struggle and love for each other remain true. So, at the least, we have a happy ending for the 'couple'.\n\nTranslator: Junnynam\n\nEditor: LHI\n\nPlease enjoy~\n\n____________________\n\n1\n\n\"Sabrina,\n\nI'm coming in.\"\n\nWhen Sofia\n\nknocked on the door and went inside, Sabrina was sitting in a chair near the\n\nwindow. She was still in her school uniform, while the new clothes provided for\n\nher were still sitting on the hangers.\n\nShe\n\nprobably didn't sleep since the bed was still made.\n\n\"I see\n\nthat you haven't eaten again.\"\n\n\"...\"\n\n\"You\n\nhaven't eaten anything since yesterday. Just have some yogurt at least.\"\n\n\"...\n\nNo.\"\n\nSofia\n\nsighed and lifted up the plates to take them away.\n\nBefore she\n\nleft the room, she looked at Sabrina once more.\n\nAll she was\n\ndoing was looking out the window.\n\nSofia\n\nquietly closed the door.\n\n\"How\n\nchilling. I can't tell if she's alive or not. She's almost like a doll.\"\n\nAs she left\n\nthe room, Sofia saw the one person she didn't want to see, who was wearing a\n\nsinister smile.\n\nSofia\n\nsuppressed her feelings and replied.\n\n\"Underboss,\n\nmy apologies, but let me tell you something. Sabrina is not a doll.\"\n\nWhew.\n\nJuan\n\nwhistled and flexed his shoulders. Sofia ignored him and placed the dishes on\n\nthe cart.\n\nShe then\n\nsimply walked away from him.\n\nThere was\n\nno-one else in the corridor. It wasn't surprising, because the Jevini Family\n\nbooked the entire level on the hotel's highest floor.\n\nSofia\n\nturned the corner.\n\nBam.\n\nSofia\n\nweakly punched the wall in the tight hallway.\n\nWhat is\n\nthis feeling?\n\nWhy do I\n\nfeel like this?\n\nSabrina...\n\nIt was all\n\nfor that child.\n\nUnexpected\n\nthings had happened, but she should be happier here.\n\nBut why...?\n\nWhy did\n\nSabrina look like she was in such pain?\n\nI've done\n\nthe right thing.\n\nI should be\n\nable to say that with pride... but looking at Sabrina now, I'm not even sure\n\nanymore.\n\nSabrina was\n\nlike this back in Italy as well.\n\nShe was\n\nalmost like a doll.\n\nNow that I\n\nthink about it...\n\nSabrina was\n\ngenerally passive in her studies... except Japanese, which she was particularly\n\nstudious in learning.\n\nWas it for\n\nthat boy named Kazuki Ootaki?\n\nBecause she\n\nmight see him one day, even though it's unlikely.\n\nSo that she'll\n\nbe able to speak with that boy if they were eventually able to meet.\n\nSabrina\n\nstudied extremely hard.\n\nIn other\n\nwords\n\n—\n\n.\n\nShe was\n\nhappy... just being... by that boy's side...?\n\nHer true\n\nhappiness...\n\n\"Am I\n\nfine with this...?\"\n\nSofia\n\nmuttered to herself.\n\nShe couldn't\n\ngive an answer, because the question evaporated under the gloomy lights.\n\n2\n\nHe was\n\ndreaming.\n\nIt was\n\nquite an old dream.\n\nKazuki was\n\nwalking at a fast pace among a crowd of people.\n\n\"Well\n\ndone.\" \"Heh heh heh.\" \"It's all on camera~.\"\n\nCheerful\n\ndialogue could be overheard and there were a bunch of parents and children sitting\n\naround their colorful lunches.\n\n\"Daddy,\n\ndo your best in the parents relay.\" \"Leave it to me. We practiced\n\ntogether for the event, after all!\" \"But dear, you need to be careful\n\nso that you don't hurt your back.\"\n\nHe was\n\ntrembling as he walked.\n\n\"Why...\"\n\nHe spoke in\n\na discontent manner as he walked.\n\nWhy is\n\neveryone so happy?\n\nThey're all\n\nlaughing and smiling.\n\nI want to...\n\n—\n\n「\n\nListen up, Kazuki.\n\nYou must eat all the bread in the bread eating race! If you do, you won't lose!\n\nDaddy and mommy will be watching you, so do your best!\n\n」\n\n—\n\n「\n\nWe'll film you and\n\nsend it to Hollywood so that they make an amazing SFX movie.\n\n」\n\nHe\n\nremembered what his parents told him.\n\nKazuki's\n\nparents were so busy with work, they usually didn't return home. So he'd never\n\nseen his parents participate in these events before.\n\nSo Kazuki\n\nused to hate these festivals so much.\n\nBut today\n\nwas different.\n\nSurprisingly,\n\nhis parents called him and said that they would actually visit the sports\n\nfestival.\n\nHe was\n\nreally, really excited about it. Thanks to that, he wasn't able to sleep a wink\n\nthe night before.\n\nHowever.\n\n\"...\n\nLiars.\"\n\nKazuki's\n\nparents didn't show up.\n\nRight now\n\nwas lunch time of the sports festival. This time was meant to be special. It\n\nwas a time where he could be loved by his parents.\n\nKazuki\n\nspent this time alone.\n\nWhat\n\nhappened to mom and dad?\n\nOther\n\nparents came, why didn't my parents?\n\n... Do they\n\nhate me?\n\nNo, that\n\ncan't be it.\n\nThey must've\n\nslept in.\n\nThey will\n\ncome... for sure.\n\n\"Kyaa.\"\n\n\"Huh?\"\n\nAs Kazuki\n\nwas trying to get away from the crowded field, he heard a scream from behind the\n\nschool. Looking at the source of the scream, there were three male students\n\nsurrounding a female student.\n\nSince today\n\nwas the school sports festival, all students were wearing a colored tag to\n\nindicate their year. The male students were 3rd years while the female student\n\nwas a 2nd year - same as Kazuki.\n\n\"Ei!\"\n\n\"Kyaa.\"\n\nThe biggest\n\nof the three boys pushed the girl down and she landed on her butt.\n\nThe three\n\nseniors were bullying a single girl.\n\nThe first\n\nthing Kazuki felt when he saw the situation was fear.\n\nHe didn't\n\nwant to let them off the hook for bullying a girl. He wanted to go and help her;\n\nhowever, the bullies were older than him. If he joined in, he might get bullied\n\nas well.\n\n\"I\n\nneed to get a teacher first...\"\n\n\"You're\n\njust an abandoned child.\"\n\n\"What?\"\n\nAfter\n\nhearing the comment said to the girl, Kazuki stopped looking for a teacher.\n\nAn\n\nabandoned child... what do they mean?\n\n\"Your\n\nmom and dad just threw you away.\"\n\n\"No,\n\nthat's not it.\"\n\n\"Then\n\nwhy aren't your mom and dad here to see you in the sports festival? They're not\n\nhere because they don' t like you. You're just an abandoned child!\"\n\nFlinch.\n\nThe words said\n\nto the girl actually affected Kazuki as well.\n\nThe bullies\n\naren't even talking about me, why does my heart hurt so much...?\n\n\"If\n\nyou're not abandoned, then why aren't your parents here to watch you?\"\n\nFlinch.\n\n\"See,\n\nyou really were abandoned by your parents!\"\n\nFlinch.\n\nThe boys\n\nteased the girl as they giggled.\n\nThe girl\n\nwasn't saying anything and kept her head bowed.\n\nThat girl,\n\nis she being bullied because her parents aren't here?\n\nTo say that\n\nyou're hated by your own parents... or that you're an abandoned child...\n\nThat's...\n\nKazuki was\n\nbecoming furious.\n\nThe older\n\nkids started to say even meaner things.\n\n\"It's\n\ndecided that you've been abandoned~.\"\n\n\"N- no...\"\n\nThe brown\n\nhaired girl had tears in her eyes.\n\n\"You're\n\na hated child.\"\n\nShe tried\n\nto stop herself, but.\n\n\"Needless\n\nchild!\"\n\nShe started\n\nto cry.\n\n\"Stop\n\nit!\"\n\nKazuki\n\ncouldn't take it any longer.... Moreover, when he realized what he was doing,\n\nhe was already standing in front of the seniors.\n\nThe bullies\n\nsurrounding the crouched girl looked at Kazuki.\n\nAlthough\n\nthey were surprised by the yell, they quickly relaxed after spotting Kazuki's\n\ntag.\n\n\"What,\n\nit's just a 2nd year. What do you want?\"\n\n\"What's\n\nwrong with parents not being here!? It's not like we're hated just because they\n\ndidn't come! Apologize!\"\n\n\"What?\n\nThis doesn't involve you!\"\n\n\"It\n\ndoes!\"\n\n\"You\n\nact pretty cocky for a kid. What are you going to do about it? Huh?\"\n\nSlap.\n\nThe tallest\n\none of the seniors slapped Kazuki's face. It hurt a lot. Kazuki thought he was\n\ngoing to cry from the pain.\n\nBut he didn't\n\ncry.\n\nIf he\n\ncried, then it would be the same as accepting what the seniors were saying as\n\nthe truth.\n\n\"I'll\n\nmake you apologize!\"\n\nKazuki\n\nrebelled against them. Not knowing what to do, he charged in with a head butt.\n\nLuckily, Kazuki head butted the senior who just hit him right in the chin.\n\n\"Ughh.\"\n\nThe senior\n\nfell backwards.\n\n\"Hey,\n\nare you alright?\"\n\n\"Uuu...waaa...\"\n\nThe senior\n\nstarted to cry.\n\n\"Ah\n\n—.\n\n\"\n\nWhen Kazuki\n\nsaw that, his heart started to hurt even more than his slapped cheek or his\n\nhead.\n\n\"I won't\n\nforgive you even if you cry! I told you to apologize!\"\n\n\"Eh?\n\nAh, whooaa.\"\n\nThe\n\nremaining two charged at same time. Kazuki couldn't protect himself and was\n\ninstantly knocked over.\n\nBut Kazuki\n\ndidn't give up.\n\nWhile still\n\non the ground, Kazuki grabbed one of the senior's leg.\n\n\"Hold\n\nit. I said, apologize... for what you've said before. About the abandoned\n\nchild. Apologize for everything you said!\"\n\n\"What\n\nthe hell man! Hey, let's go.\"\n\nThe older\n\nstudents must've been put off by Kazuki's persistence, because they left the\n\nplace after shaking Kazuki's hand off.\n\n\"Damn...\n\nI guess it's too hard to win against someone older than me in my first fight.\"\n\nKazuki was\n\nshaking as he lifted himself off the ground. As he did, the girl who was\n\ngetting bullied came up to him.\n\n\"T-thanks\n\nfor helping me, I...\"\n\n\"...\n\nYou don't need to thank me. I just couldn't forgive those guys... and I think\n\nyou were in the wrong as well.\"\n\n\"Huh?\"\n\n\"They\n\nnormally come don't they? Your mom and dad.\"\n\n\"Yes.\"\n\n\"Then\n\nyou should've boldly told them.\"\n\n\"But...\n\nbut they haven't arrived even though it's lunch time. What if they really hate\n\nme...\"\n\n\"Family\n\nmembers wouldn't hate each other!\"\n\n\"Kyaa...\"\n\nKazuki\n\nyelled at the girl without meaning to, but he quickly regained his senses and\n\nturned his head.\n\n\"...\n\nFamily members wouldn't hate each other.\"\n\nHe said\n\nthat to the girl.\n\nBut he also\n\nsaid it for himself.\n\nAt that\n\nmoment.\n\n\"Sa-chan!\"\n\nThere was a\n\nvoice. The girl turned around by reflex.\n\n\"Mom!\n\nDad!\"\n\nShe ran\n\ntowards her parents' arms.\n\n\"You're\n\nlate! What were you doing!?\"\n\n\"Sorry,\n\nsorry. We couldn't find the camera, so we spent a long time searching for it.\"\n\n\"Geez!\n\nI was really, really lonely.\"\n\n\"Sorry\n\nSa-chan. Are you hungry? We packed some lunches, so let's eat. There are some\n\nof those fried shrimp that Sa-chan loves so much.\"\n\n\"Uuu...\n\nI won't forgive you with just that.\"\n\n\"There\n\nare a lot. You can have them all Sa-chan.\"\n\n\"Huh?\n\nReally? All of them? ...Then I'll forgive you, heh heh heh.\"\n\nThe parents\n\ngently patted the teary eyed girl's head.\n\n\"...\n\nSee, it all worked out somehow.\"\n\nKazuki\n\nmuttered to himself while watching the girl with her parents in the distance.\n\n「\n\nPlease be aware that the afternoon portion of the sports festival will begin\n\nsoon.\n\n」\n\nThe\n\nannouncement echoed out from the speakers.\n\n\"Ah,\n\nnot good. I better buy some lunch.\"\n\nKazuki\n\npicked up the white and red hat that flew off during the fight, and passed the\n\ngirl and her parents.\n\n\"Ah\n\n—.\n\n\"\n\nThe girl\n\ntried to say something, but Kazuki pretended not to notice and ran away.\n\nKazuki\n\npulled down on his hat.\n\nAnd\n\nsprinted towards the convenience shop.\n\n* * *\n\n\"...\n\nThat dream again.\"\n\nThe light\n\nseeping through the curtains shone upon Kazuki's face. He peeked at the clock\n\nand saw its hand pointing to 9 o'clock.\n\nYesterday,\n\nbefore a crowd of people formed, Kazuki and Saki ran away from the school. They\n\nsoon parted ways afterwards, but before they did, Saki promised him that she\n\nwouldn't speak of this incident to anyone.\n\nAfter\n\nseparating from Saki, Kazuki waited in his living room hoping that Sabrina\n\nmight return. However, she didn't come back no matter how long he waited.\n\nNot knowing\n\nwhen he fell asleep, Kazuki picked himself up.\n\nHe even\n\nforgot about getting changed, so his uniform was crumpled and his joints hurt\n\nbecause he slept on the floor.\n\nKazuki\n\nlooked around the living room with half open eyes.\n\nIt was\n\nquite empty.\n\nOnly\n\nsilence filled the space.\n\n\"Ah\n\nha, ha ha... that's right. This house was this large, wasn't it...\"\n\nKazuki\n\nstood up.\n\n\"Ah\n\n—.\n\n\"\n\nYesterday,\n\nhe and Sabrina were running late so they had some breakfast and left for school\n\nwithout cleaning up afterwards. On the table, two sets of mugs and plates\n\nremained the way they were the day before.\n\n\"...\n\nSabrina.\"\n\nHe spoke to\n\nhimself.\n\nI've been\n\nlonely by myself.\n\nEver since\n\nSabrina arrived here, I'd forgotten that.\n\nEven though\n\nshe was a bother and such, the one getting saved was me.\n\nBut Sabrina\n\nhas already...\n\n—\n\nArrivederla... (Good\n\nBye)\n\nKazuki couldn't get\n\nthe image of Sabrina's expression from last night out of his head.\n\nI deeply hurt that\n\ngirl.\n\nBut I am a civilian\n\nwhile she is a member of the mafia. This was going to happen sooner or later\n\nanyway.\n\nHe didn't think that\n\nit was going to last for a long time.\n\nSo now, his life was\n\nback to normal.\n\nHis life was back to\n\nnormal, just like it was before Sabrina arrived.\n\nNothing has changed...\n\nAs Kazuki stood there\n\nblankly, the doorbell rang.\n\nSabrina!?\n\nHe ran towards the\n\nfront door.\n\n\"He—.\"\n\nKazuki was taken aback\n\nat the sight of the visitor.\n\n\"Sofia...\"\n\nKazuki backed away\n\nslowly.\n\nThe one who called out\n\nKazuki, Saki and Sabrina to the school and caused the explosions was standing\n\nbefore him.\n\nHis body started to\n\nshake just by remembering yesterdays event.\n\n\"What? Is that\n\nhow you should react after seeing a girl? You're really an insensitive boy.\"\n\n\"I- I'm sorry...\"\n\n\"Hmm.\"\n\nSofia turned her head\n\naway, but she was still looking at him from the corners of her eyes.\n\n\"... You're not\n\nhurt?\"\n\n\"Pardon?\"\n\n\"Nothing.\"\n\nThe silence continued.\n\n\"So... what\n\nbrings you here today?\"\n\n\"I just came to\n\ncheck out what expression you have - now that Sabrina is going back. What a\n\ndevastated face.\"\n\nA cold smile appeared\n\non her face.\n\n\"Sabrina is quite\n\nhappy. Now that she's finally returning.\"\n\nHer words cut deep\n\ninto Kazuki's already hurt feelings.\n\n\"Is... that so...\"\n\nHe bowed his head.\n\nWhen he avoided her gaze, Kazuki saw Sofia's hand reaching out to his chest.\n\nShe grabbed him by the\n\ncollar.\n\n\"What do you mean\n\n'is that so!?'\"\n\nShe glared at Kazuki.\n\nHer cold smile that\n\nwas present before was now deformed painfully and pitifully.\n\n\"Sofia-san?\"\n\n\"...\"\n\n\"Ughh.\"\n\nWhen Sofia let go of\n\nher tight grip, Kazuki fell down in the entrance.\n\n\"... I was a fool\n\nfor coming to see you.\"\n\nShe looked away from\n\nhim.\n\n\"Kazuki-ku...\n\nwhoa!\"\n\nJust in that short\n\namount of time, Saki and Izuna arrived at his house.\n\nSofia sneaked away\n\nfrom the two guests.\n\n\"Are you ok!?\"\n\nSaki ran towards Kazuki\n\nwhile still keeping an eye on Sofia.\n\n\"That was Sofia-san\n\njust now wasn't it? Did she do something again?\"\n\n\"No, it's\n\nnothing. I'm fine.\"\n\nKazuki tried to smile\n\nso that he didn't worry Saki, but he couldn't smile properly at all.\n\n\"So, what's up?\"\n\n\"Hmm, I - I just\n\ncame by to pass a notice on to everyone. Since I'm the class president, I have\n\nto make sure everyone received the message, but I heard no-one passed the\n\nmessage on to Ootaki-kun... so I came to visit... because I was worried. I just\n\nhappened to meet Izuna-san on the way.\"\n\n\"I see...\"\n\nSaki's head was\n\nwrapped in bandages that appeared to be very painful. She noticed Kazuki\n\nlooking at her head with concern and smiled awkwardly.\n\n\"Ah, this isn't\n\nanything threatening. My mom and dad were freaked out though.\"\n\nShe mimicked herself\n\nwrapping the bandages around her head.\n\nSilence set in again.\n\nSaki peeked at Kazuki as if she had something to say.\n\n\"Ah that's right.\n\nAbout the notice, school will be on break from today on for a while. All the\n\nteachers are really worried about what happened yesterday. It was all over the\n\nnews this morning, but it seems like they don't know exactly what happened.\"\n\n\"...I see.\"\n\nSo it was on TV as\n\nwell.\n\nWell, that's not\n\nunexpected. It was a big deal, after all...\n\nThe two of them closed\n\ntheir mouths again.\n\nWhen the silence\n\ncontinued, Saki asked him while mumbling.\n\n\"S... so what\n\nhappened to Sabrina?\"\n\n\"... She's not\n\nhere. I waited for her all night, but she didn't return.\"\n\n\"Hasn't she\n\ncontacted you yet?\"\n\n\"I think her\n\nphone is turned off, so I don't even know where she is.\"\n\nKazuki hunched his\n\nshoulders.\n\n\"Umm.\"\n\nIzuna cut in.\n\n\"I don't know\n\nwhat's going on, but has Sabrina gone missing? That girl dropped this just now\n\nso maybe this is where Sabrina is?\"\n\nIzuna handed a page\n\ntorn from a memo pad to Kazuki.\n\nSabrina's name as well\n\nas the address of a hotel and a room number was written on it.\n\n3\n\nKazuki looked up at the newly built hotel which was placed only a station\n\naway from his house.\n\nIf the memo Izuna found was correct, then Sabrina should be on the top\n\nfloor of this hotel in a suite.\n\nSaki and Izuna didn't come with him. Although they offered, Kazuki turned\n\nthem away because of the possible danger.\n\nWhen he entered the building via the revolving door, he walked into the\n\nlobby. The fancy decorations in the lobby intimidated Kazuki - he thought this\n\nwasn't a place he should be.\n\nEven though he felt nervous, he asked the front desk attendants to call the\n\nroom number on the memo. Surprisingly, Kazuki was allowed to visit the room, so\n\nhe got on the elevator and took it to the highest floor.\n\nHe stopped in front of the room.\n\n\"So Sabrina is here...\"\n\nI've arrived...\n\nBut what am I going to do when I meet Sabrina?\n\nI don't think she would want to go back together. After all, Sabrina is\n\nmafia.\n\nSabrina and I live in two different worlds.\n\nSo what am I going to do when I meet her?\n\nI don't know... but I don't want to separate from her like this.\n\nI want to talk to her once more before she leaves.\n\nWhat does Sabrina think about this?\n\nNo matter how much Kazuki thought, he couldn't give himself a clear answer.\n\nKazuki took a deep breath and pressed the bell.\n\nImmediately, the door opened and there stood a slim man dressed in a white\n\nsuit.\n\n\"Hey, I've been waiting for you.\"\n\nThe man lead Kazuki into the room with fluent Japanese.\n\nIt was probably because of the design that the room appeared to be larger\n\nthan it actually was. The furniture and various parts of the room were made of matching\n\nwood – producing a simple but elegant atmosphere.\n\nThe white suited man came and sat down on the impossibly soft sofa, which\n\nKazuki was sitting on as well.\n\n\"You did well finding this place.\"\n\n\"Pardon? Um, that's...\"\n\n\"As expected of the child of the 'Happy Crown.'\"\n\n\"Ah, thank you.... Ah ha ha.\"\n\nWhen Kazuki stuttered, it seemed like the man misunderstood Kazuki\n\ncompletely.\n\n\"My name is Juan. And you are? Or maybe you won't tell me, since you're\n\ntheir son. \"\n\n\"No, no, that's not it. My name is Kazuki Ootaki.\"\n\n\"Kazuki. That's a good name. So Sabrina was indebted to you, wasn't\n\nshe? You have my thanks. Hey, get something to drink for Kazuki.\"\n\nJuan ordered a lackey standing behind him.\n\n\"Umm, you don't need to worry about me.\"\n\n\"Oh, I know what that is. It's that thing where you say something\n\nopposite to what you really want to say. 'Tsundere,' was it? Kazuki must be\n\nreally thirsty... hey, bring twice as much.\"\n\n\"N-no!\"\n\nThe lackey, who was ordered to fetch the drinks, brought back a bucket\n\nsized cup of coke. It was almost like a\n\nswamp of coal tar.\n\nWhile leaning against the back of the sofa, Juan looked out the window.\n\n\"Japan is nice. Animes, mangas and maid-cafes. It's really\n\ninteresting.\"\n\nAlthough the man was quite biased, it seemed like he had a slight understanding\n\nof Japanese culture. That was probably why he was able to speak Japanese.\n\n\"So, why did you come here today?\"\n\n\"Umm, where is Sabrina? I came here to talk to her.\"\n\nJuan's expression darkened. He looked over his shoulder at the door behind\n\nhim and shook his head.\n\n\"Sabrina isn't in a state where she can see anyone. Sorry.\"\n\n\"That's... was it because of what happened yest\n\n—\n\n\"\n\n\"That's not it. She's just not feeling well.\"\n\n\"It's ok if it's only for a moment. Could you let me see her please?\"\n\n\"Sorry.\"\n\nJuan looked away from Kazuki and he started filing his nails to show he\n\nwasn't interested.\n\nThe atmosphere had changed.\n\nThe lackeys who were near the walls appeared to be nervous and anxious.\n\nKazuki suddenly thought Juan wasn't lying when he said Sabrina wasn't\n\nfeeling well, and that Kazuki was an uninvited guest.\n\nHowever, he couldn't give up.\n\nHe had to talk to Sabrina.\n\nKazuki didn't have a clue as to what he wanted to hear from Sabrina.\n\nBut he just wanted to hear Sabrina's voice.\n\n\"Kazuki!?\"\n\nHe freed himself from Juan's intense atmosphere and reached out for the\n\ndoor where Sabrina was. But the door was locked.\n\n\"Sabrina! You're here aren't you!? Open the door!\"\n\nHe desperately banged on the door. But there was no response.\n\n\"Sabrina!\"\n\nJuan twisted Kazuki's arm around to stop him from banging on the door\n\nanymore.\n\n\"Ughhh.\"\n\n\"Calm down. I don't like people who don't listen.\"\n\n\"Just for a bit... Please let me talk to her for just a bit!\"\n\nKazuki asked Juan once more.\n\nJuan started twisting his arm even more and his joints started to scream in\n\npain.\n\n\"I want you to scram. Otherwise\n\n—\n\n\"\n\nJuan was still smiling, but his words were cold.\n\nThe lackeys in the room all took aim at Kazuki with their guns.\n\nThe sight of the guns sent chills down his spine.\n\nThat's right. This was that kind of a world.\n\nJust when Kazuki's arm felt like it would break if Juan twisted any\n\nfurther, the door opened from the inside.\n\n\"Stop it.\"\n\nIt was Sabrina.\n\nJuan let go of Kazuki's arm while saying \"Tsk.\"\n\n\"S-Sabrina...\"\n\nAlthough only a day had passed since the last time he saw Sabrina, it felt\n\nlike a long time.\n\nKazuki walked towards Sabrina.\n\nBut when he saw her face, he stopped breathing.\n\nIt was the same as yesterday.\n\nSabrina looked at Kazuki with cold eyes that froze him in his steps.\n\n\"Please go away.\n\nKazuki Ootaki-san.\n\n\"\n\n\"Ehh\n\n—.\n\n\"\n\nSabrina just called Kazuki \"Kazuki Ootaki-san\" instead of her\n\nusual \"Onii-chan.\"\n\n\"What's going on Sabrina? I- It's me.\"\n\n\"Please don't say my name so easily. You and I no longer have any\n\nrelation to each other. Sorry for 'bothering' you to come all the way here.\"\n\nSabrina spoke to Kazuki coldly and turned her back to him as she walked\n\nback into her room.\n\n\"Sabari\n\n—.\n\n\"\n\nHe tried to follow, but Juan placed his hand on Kazuki's shoulder.\n\n\"Well, there you go.\"\n\nHe started gripping Kazuki's shoulder harder.\n\n\"It hurts...\"\n\nJuan was smiling at Kazuki, but his eyes weren't smiling at all.\n\nSabrina closed the door slowly.\n\nWhile Kazuki could only look at it as it closed.\n\nClick.\n\nThe door closed.\n\nJuan smirked at Kazuki and let go of his shoulder.\n\n\"Kazuki, thanks for understanding. This is my farewell present, treat\n\nyourself with it.\"\n\nSaying that, Juan took a stack of notes and shoved it in Kazuki's shirt\n\npocket.\n\nSince Kazuki wasn't expecting it, he could only take the money and get\n\nkicked out of the hotel.\n\nOn his way home, Kazuki walked aimlessly without knowing what he should do.\n\nHe felt something on his nose.\n\n\"Rain...?\"\n\nWhen he noticed, the rain started pouring.\n\nSince Kazuki didn't bring an umbrella, he was drenched by the shower.\n\nBut as for Kazuki, he didn't mind at all.\n\nThe sky lit up and shortly after, a loud noise echoed.\n\nIt was thunder.\n\nHe suddenly thought of Sabrina who was scared of thunderstorms.\n\nThe thunder sounded like it was telling Kazuki off.\n\nHe couldn't stop his tears.\n\nIn his tightly clenched fist, his fingernails dug into his palm and he\n\nstarted to bleed, but he could put up with it.\n\nWhat he couldn't put up with was his sadness, anger and embarrassment.\n\n* * *\n\nAfter Kazuki left, Sabrina looked out her window at the pouring rain.\n\n\"... He probably didn't bring an umbrella.\"\n\nThen suddenly, Juan walked in.\n\n\"Kazuki left.\"\n\n\"Si.\"\n\n\"His eyes were bloodshot before he left, so maybe he's crying right\n\nnow. Ku ku ku.\"\n\nSabrina, who was sitting on the sofa, flinched.\n\n\"... But it turned out well.\"\n\nHowever, she maintained her cold attitude.\n\n\"I'm sorry, I want to be left alone. It looks like I'm really feeling\n\nunwell.\"\n\n\"Oh, are you ok? We can leave tomorrow if you like. Since we rented\n\nthe place, we can leave anytime you want.\"\n\n\"No. I want to return as soon as possible.\"\n\n\"Really? Well then, take a rest for now.\"\n\nJuan left the room as he said \"take care of yourself.\"\n\nClick.\n\nThe door closed.\n\nBeing left alone, Sabrina muttered to herself.\n\n\"Even if I'm here, if I can't be with Onii-chan, it's pointless...\"\n\nWhen Onii-chan came, I was actually happy.\n\nI wanted to run up and hug him.\n\nBut I can't do that at all.\n\nI remembered what Sofia told me at the school.\n\n—\n\nIf you really care about that boy, you must leave his side. If you don't,\n\nyou might lose him.\n\nThat's right, I'm a mafia boss now.\n\nIf someone like me stays by Onii-chan's side, then it would trouble him.\n\nNot only that, I'll be putting him in danger.\n\nI can't let that happen.\n\nSo, I can't live together with Onii-chan.\n\nSabrina felt a tight sensation in her chest. Without realizing, she had to\n\nuse her hand to support herself on the bed.\n\nDroplets of liquid fell onto her hand.\n\n\"What are... these?\"\n\nThey were tear drops.\n\n\"Why... am I crying?\"\n\nShe really didn't know the reason why she was crying.\n\n\"Onii-chan\n\n—\n\n.\"\n\nOutside the window, thunder echoed as if it were trying to cancel her voice\n\nout.\n\n\"...Uuu.\"\n\nSabrina shrank.\n\nShe grabbed the quilts and threw them over herself.\n\nSabrina had to fight her sadness and fear of storms by herself.\n\n4\n\nThe rain just now must've only been a shower, because the weather cleared\n\nup fairly quickly after it poured for a while.\n\n\"...Hmm?\"\n\nWhen Kazuki returned home drenched, Saki and Izuna were still by the front\n\ndoor. It looks like they stayed there the entire time.\n\nSeeing Kazuki walk towards the door, Saki ran towards him. Kazuki quickly\n\nturned his eyes away from her. He didn't want Saki and Izuna to find out he'd\n\nbeen crying.\n\n\"Where's Sabrina?\"\n\nIt looks like she was quite worried about Sabrina. Saki asked as she ran up\n\nto him.\n\n\"Yeah. She's going back to Italy... so they say.\"\n\n\"... That can't be!\"\n\nSaki's eyes opened wide.\n\n\"Did you really meet her? Did she really say that!? Did Sabrina really\n\nsay that?\"\n\nSaki asked question after question.\n\n\"Yeah, I met her... but I was chased out for being a bother. Ah ha ha\n\nha...\"\n\nKazuki could only put on a bitter smile.\n\nHe felt so frustrated at himself, he couldn't face it.\n\n\"But it's alright... I understand now. Sabrina herself said that she'll\n\ngo back to Italy. So there's nothing I can do about it.\"\n\n\"Ootaki-kun...\"\n\n\"And I think Sabrina is starting to hate me as wel\n\n—.\n\n\"\n\n\"Ootaki-kun!\"\n\nSaki swung her right hand at him.\n\nIt came in contact with him.\n\nKazuki closed his eyes and clenched his teeth to prepare himself for the\n\nhit with an accepting heart.\n\nBut it didn't hurt at all.\n\nInstead, Saki placed her hands on Kazuki's cheeks warmly.\n\n\"Kino\n\n-shita...?\n\n\"\n\n\"... It's not like you.\"\n\n\"This isn't like you at all, Ootaki-kun!\"\n\n\"Even if you say that\n\n—.\n\n\"\n\n\"To speak like that about your own family, it's not like Ootaki-kun at\n\nall!\"\n\nSaki cut Kazuki off mid-sentence.\n\n\"During the sports festival in our second year in primary school...\n\nOotaki-kun might not remember, but you told me that '\n\nFamily members wouldn't hate each other!'\"\n\n\"H-how do you... know...\"\n\nKazuki still remembered that day very clearly.\n\nBecause that was a very memorable day for Kazuki as well.\n\nBut he said that sentence to a girl who was being bullied at lunch time.\n\nHow did Saki know what he said?\n\n\"Ah\n\n—.\n\n\"\n\nKazuki finally realized... the girl's parents called her \"Sa-chan\".\n\n\"It can't be...\"\n\n\"That's right. That day, Ootaki-kun saved me from bullies. I didn't\n\nhave a chance to properly thank you, but I've have always been looking at you\n\nsince then Ootaki-kun. So I believe that Ootaki-kun values his family members\n\ndearly!\"\n\n\"But, but... I heard it from Sabrina herself.\"\n\n\"Do you really think she was telling the truth? Sabrina really likes\n\nOotaki-kun! And Sabrina is Ootaki-kun's family right? Isn't she your sister?\"\n\n\"Even I... even I think of Sabrina as my little sister!\"\n\n\"Then\n\n—.\n\n\"\n\n\"But it's impossible! I'm just a civilian and Sabrina is a member of\n\nthe mafia. Our worlds are too different!\"\n\n\"Ootaki-kun...\"\n\nA heavy atmosphere settled in between the two.\n\nThen Izuna, who had been leaning against the wall watching the two, spoke.\n\n\"I heard about it from Saki. Although she promised you she would stay\n\nquiet, don't get mad at her for telling me. I made her tell me anyway.\"\n\nIzuna walked towards Kazuki.\n\n\"You're a spineless guy aren't you, Kazuki?\"\n\nShe pointed a finger at him.\n\nHowever, Kazuki already knew that... it was what he didn't want to hear the\n\nmost.\n\n\"I- I'm not spineless! I'm just a civilian! Just a normal person! How\n\ncan I go against the mafia!?\"\n\n\"Hmmm... a civilian and a\n\nnormal person, huh.\"\n\n\"Then I guess a\n\nnormal\n\nbrother would just sit back and watch his little sister get taken away by the\n\nmafia.\"\n\n\"Ah\n\n—.\n\n\"\n\n\"And what do you mean your worlds are different? The world is all\n\nconnected, that's why we all breathe the same air and stand on the same ground.\n\nIf there's a difference, then it's something you created yourself.\"\n\n\"... Uuu.\"\n\nKazuki had nothing to say in response.\n\nEverything Izuna said was true.\n\nIzuna spoke softly this time.\n\n\"Even if families are far apart, they've got one heart and one mind no\n\nmatter what they're doing, right? Your parents might not be here because they're\n\ndoing a special job that's slightly different from your average adult, but you don't\n\nthink of them as being in a different world, do you?\"\n\nKazuki shook his head in denial.\n\n\"You want to be by their side at all times. Even if you're not by\n\ntheir side, your heart is always with them. Isn't that what being family is all\n\nabout? It's exactly as you said to Saki.\"\n\n\"I...\"\n\nKazuki was trying to avoid a lot of things... and he has been depressed\n\never since Saki got hurt in the classroom explosion.\n\nHe had fooled himself into believing that he was normal and lived in a\n\ndifferent world from Sabrina.\n\n\"I\n\n—.\"\n\nHe has been forgetting the most important thing.\n\nHe had forgotten what it means to be normal after trying so hard to make\n\nhimself seem normal.\n\nNot wanting to be rejected and being self conscious of other people's view\n\nof him.\n\nThe fear of meaningless violence.\n\nThe feeling of regret - thinking that it was too late.\n\nKazuki threw all those feelings away and focused on one thing only.\n\n\"I want to live with Sabrina.\"\n\nThis was what Kazuki wanted.\n\nHearing Kazuki declare that, Izuna put on a bright smile. Saki, who was\n\nwatching him nervously, smiled warmly as well.\n\n\"... Maybe I'm not too late?\"\n\nKazuki asked hesitantly.\n\n\"Of course you're not. There are no 'it's too late' in this world!\"\n\n\"No, no, Saki. This world is full of things that are impossible to do.\n\nIf not, the cathedral would be doing wel—.\"\n\n\"Gee—! This isn't the time for that!\"\n\nSaki hit Izuna who just ruined the mood.\n\n\"Ah ha... ha.\"\n\nSeeing the two girls, Kazuki unknowingly laughed.\n\n\"Thanks, both of you.\"\n\nKazuki raised his head.\n\nHis eyes no longer showed any doubt.\n\n\"...During that sports festival, your parents were amazing Ootaki-kun.\"\n\n\"Ah ha ha, that was just embarrassing.\"\n\nWhen the teacher and parents relay race was about to begin, Kazuki's\n\nparents showed up. The couple suddenly participated in the relay and won with\n\nan overwhelming speed (a speed that normal humans shouldn't be able to pull\n\noff). Afterwards, when their win was contested, they complained to the PE teacher\n\nand performed a brain buster\n\n[1]\n\non him. Thanks to that, Kazuki got an earful from\n\nthe teachers afterwards.\n\n\"But, you looked happy, Ootaki-kun.\"\n\n\"... Yeah.\"\n\n\"Please go.\"\n\n\"Yeah!\"\n\nKazuki set off running.\n\nWith a determination to bring Sabrina back this time.\n\n* * *\n\nSeeing Kazuki leave, Saki hunched down.\n\n\"Ahh... why did I just help out my opponent.... It's ok... I can't\n\naccept it if Sabrina leaves like this anyway. That's right! You've actually\n\ndone the right thing Saki! ...Ah - but maybe I'm going to lose against Sabrina...\n\nI guess I sort of regret it.\"\n\nWhile Saki was deeply engrossed in her monologue, Izuna patted her head\n\ngently.\n\n\"You did the right thing Saki. There aren't many people who are\n\ncapable of saying what you said.\"\n\n\"Izuna-san...\"\n\n\"If you're ok with me, I can council you.\"\n\nRrrrumble.\n\nA large rumbling sound came from Izuna's stomach.\n\n\"Now then, we should go somewhere else if I'm going to council you.\n\nShould we go to a shop or something? Ah, I have no money, by the way.\"\n\n\"So that's what it's about.... Well that's ok, suit yourself. Should\n\nwe go to a family restaurant or a cafe?\"\n\n\"Hmmm~, I don't want to give up either of them, so why don't we go\n\nsomewhere far away? I know a good place.\"\n\n\"Hmmm. Well, it's up to you.\"\n\n\"Before we leave, do you have a first aid kit, Saki?\"\n\n\"A first aid kit? What for?\"\n\n\"Just something ☆\"\n\nIzuna put on a mysterious smile and winked at Saki.\n\n_____________________________________________________________________\n\nReference\n\n1.\n\nBrain buster - a pro wrestling move. Also known as a suplex.\n\n↩"
    },
    {
      "chapter_order": 7,
      "chapter_title": "Chapter 6: Legame -The Bond-",
      "chars": 19417,
      "words": 3337,
      "_stripped_leading_credit_lines": 0,
      "text": "*Aussie accent* Boom, headshot.\n\nTranslator: Junnynam\n\nEditor: LHI\n\nPlease enjoy~\n\n____________________\n\n1\n\nSabrina was\n\ngetting ready to check out from the hotel.\n\nShe was\n\nfeeling better than before...\n\nBut only\n\nbecause she realized that she wouldn't be in pain if she didn't think about,\n\ncare about, or hope for anything - just like before.\n\n\"Did\n\nyou leave anything behind?\"\n\n\"...\"\n\n\"Hey\n\nnow, Sabrina. You're the boss of the Jevini family, you know? Get your act\n\ntogether.\"\n\n\"...\"\n\nSabrina\n\ndidn't respond to Juan at all.\n\nJuan\n\nappeared to be bored and flexed his shoulders. As he did, one of his lackeys approached\n\nand whispered something in his ear.\n\n\"Is\n\nthat so?\"\n\nHis lips\n\nformed a small smile and he looked at Sabrina.\n\n\"What\n\na bother. Well, it doesn't matter. I'll take care of it myself.\"\n\nHis words\n\ndidn't match his expression at all, he wore a crooked smile.\n\n\"But,\n\nI want you to do something for me.\"\n\nAt Juan's\n\norders, the lackeys left the room immediately.\n\n\"Now\n\nthen.\"\n\nHe smiled\n\nand showed a change of mood.\n\n\"Sabrina,\n\nsomething has come up. Do you mind waiting in the lobby for me?\"\n\n\"...\n\nPlease make it short.\"\n\n\"Of\n\ncourse. It's something really pointless that won't take long. I'll take care of\n\nit quickly\"\n\nSaying that,\n\nJuan left and only Sabrina remained in the room.\n\nSomething\n\nthat doesn't require much of his time?\n\nSabrina\n\nthought about what Juan just said, but she quickly stopped thinking and headed\n\ntowards the lobby.\n\nShe won't\n\nthink about, care about, or hope for anything.\n\nShe entered\n\nan empty state.\n\n* * *\n\nSofia, who\n\nwas still feeling depressed after talking to Kazuki, returned to the room\n\nprovided for her by Juan after she wandered the streets aimlessly. Unlike the\n\nsuite room, hers was a small room.\n\nShe tried\n\nto gather her thoughts as she sat down on the bed.\n\nSabrina's\n\nhappiness.\n\nA mafia\n\nmember's duty...\n\nWhat was I\n\nexpecting when I went to see that boy?\n\nNo, I think\n\nI already know... but I might have been afraid of acknowledging the fact.\n\nBoss...\n\nwhat should I do?\n\nWhat do you\n\nwant Sabrina to do... boss?\n\nWhy did you\n\ngive everything to Sabrina?\n\nBecause you\n\ndid that, Sabrina and the boy are...\n\nSofia threw\n\nherself on the bed.\n\nRustle.\n\nShe felt\n\nsomething touching her face.\n\n\"An\n\nenvelope...?\"\n\nThere wasn't\n\nan envelope here when she left. She opened it and looked inside... it contained\n\na few documents.\n\n\"Charted\n\nflights... making it appear as an accident... assassination of Sabrina? This is\n\n—.\n\n\"\n\nAs she read\n\nmore of the documents, Sofia nearly stopped breathing.\n\nIn that same\n\ninstant, the door to her room violently flew open.\n\nA few girls\n\ndressed in black suits were standing outside the room. In their hands, they\n\neach held a submachine gun.\n\nAll of the\n\ngirls aimed at Sofia.\n\n\"Kuh.\"\n\nAnd Sofia\n\nleapt from the bed.\n\n2\n\nYet again,\n\nKazuki was standing in front of the hotel where Sabrina was staying.\n\nWhen he\n\ninquired at the reception desk, he was told that Sabrina's party was about to\n\ncheck out from the hotel.\n\nHe was also\n\ntold to go to the underground parking area if he had something to say.\n\nSo, he\n\ncaught an elevator and headed to the parking lot as he was told.\n\n\"But\n\nwhy the parking lot? Ah, they must be going to the airport by car. I better\n\nhurry or I'll miss them.\"\n\nWhen he\n\narrived in the underground parking lot, he didn't feel anyone's presence.\n\nThe\n\natmosphere was heavy, the artificial light and concrete supports caused an\n\nunpleasant feeling.\n\nSuddenly he\n\nheard footsteps in the distance.\n\nThose\n\nsounds were getting closer.\n\n\"Sabrina.\"\n\nKazuki\n\nshouted out, but the one who appeared was none other than Juan.\n\nHe was\n\nalone.\n\n\"Well\n\nKazuki, what's the matter? Did you leave something behind?\"\n\n\"That's\n\nright.\"\n\n\"Strange,\n\nthe rooms were checked before checking out, but I suppose I'll get someone to\n\ncheck again. If what you've left behind is found, I'll make sure to punish the\n\none who checked the rooms the first time.\"\n\nJuan was\n\nsmiling as he said that, but Kazuki wasn't smiling at all.\n\n\"It's\n\nnot an object that I forgot.\"\n\n\"It's\n\nnot? What kind of a puzzle is this? Hmm, if you lost something, but it's not an\n\nobject\n\n—.\n\n\"\n\n\"It's\n\nSabrina.\"\n\n\"What?\"\n\nFor an\n\ninstant, a sinister expression was visible behind his smile.\n\n\"I can't\n\nsay that I like those types of jokes, Kazuki. Also, I'm sure you heard from\n\nSabrina before that you're a bother to her.\"\n\n\"You're\n\nright, but there's something I must make sure of. Let me meet with Sabrina one\n\nmore time.\"\n\n\"Why\n\nare you so obsessed with Sabrina? I'm sure I told you that we'll be taking care\n\nof her from now on. Oh, I understand now!\"\n\nJuan\n\nclapped his hands as if he suddenly understood something.\n\n\"I see,\n\nso it's the sum. I guess the money wasn't enough for you. You're quite greedy,\n\nKazuki.\"\n\n\"That's\n\nnot it!\"\n\nKazuki\n\nexclaimed to Juan, who was removing bills from his wallet.\n\n\"I don't\n\nneed it! Or this!\"\n\nKazuki\n\nthrew the bundle of bills that he received earlier. The bundle scattered like\n\nfalling leaves on the ground.\n\nJuan's eyes\n\ngrew cold and were glaring at Kazuki.\n\n\"She's\n\nno longer the same Sabrina you once knew. She's the boss of a mafia family now.\"\n\n\"I\n\nknow that.\"\n\n\"No,\n\nyou don't know at all.\"\n\nHe flexed\n\nhis shoulders backwards.\n\nAnd he removed\n\na handgun from his sleeve like it was nothing.\n\nBang.\n\nA dry sound\n\nechoed through the car park.\n\n\"Huh?\"\n\nKazuki unconsciously\n\nkneeled.\n\nHis thigh\n\nfelt like it was on fire.\n\nRed\n\nblotches started becoming visible through his school uniform pants.\n\n\"Aaarrrrggghhhh!\"\n\nKazuki's\n\npainful howl rang out. Juan had just shot him.\n\n\"Hey,\n\nhey, don't overreact.\"\n\nJuan\n\nhappily watched Kazuki writhing in pain. Kazuki desperately tried to resist the\n\npain in his leg and glared at Juan.\n\n\"Mafia\n\nmy ass. I can't leave Sabrina to you people. Return... Sabrina\"\n\nJuan\n\nwordlessly pulled the trigger.\n\nKazuki felt\n\na huge impact in his shoulder.\n\nThis time\n\nhe wasn't even able to scream. He started losing consciousness from the pain.\n\n\"Huu...\n\nkuh, kuh...\"\n\nWhile Kazuki\n\nsuffered, Juan pulled him up by his hair.\n\n\"Excellent...\n\nit seems like you're special to Sabrina. If you tell her what you've just told\n\nme, she might actually remain in Japan. It would mess up my plans.\"\n\n\"Your\n\nplans...?\"\n\nJuan\n\ncovered his mouth instantly, but he leisurely smiled again.\n\n\"W-What\n\nare you planning on doing to Sabrina...!?\"\n\n\"Someone\n\nwho's about to die doesn't need to know, does he? Well, I guess it doesn't\n\nreally matter. You'll be separated for now, but\n\nshe'll see you soon.\"\n\n\"D-Don't\n\ntell me, you're going to\n\n—. Sabrina is\n\nthe boss of the Jevini family! Why would you do that!?\n\n\"\n\n\"I'm\n\ndoing this because she is the boss.\"\n\n\"Da...mn.\"\n\nThen from\n\nthe beginning, he was just using Sabrina...!\n\nUnforgivable!\n\nI won't let\n\nhim!\n\n\"Ouaaaaaa!\"\n\nKazuki head\n\nbutted Juan in the nose after struggling free of his grip.\n\n\"Kuh.\"\n\nJuan let\n\nout a surprised yell.\n\nThe two of\n\nthem fell down. Exploiting the opportunity, Kazuki mounted Juan and swung his\n\nnon-injured (right) fist at him.\n\nBut before\n\nhis fist came into contact, Juan struggled and hit Kazuki in the temple with\n\nthe gun.\n\n\"Ughh.\"\n\nHis sight\n\nbecame blurry and Kazuki stumbled.\n\nWhile\n\npinning Kazuki to the floor, Juan got in a better position. His once pure white\n\nsuit was now covered in a large amount of blood from his nose.\n\n\"My\n\nnails...!?\"\n\nJuan looked\n\nat his fingernails while shaking. It seems like his precious nails broke in the\n\nstruggle.\n\n\"This\n\nrunt!\"\n\nHe kicked\n\nKazuki, who was still on the floor, in the stomach.\n\n\"Urrp.\"\n\nBile from\n\nKazuki's stomach filled his throat.\n\nHis stomach\n\nwas kicked over and over again.\n\nAfter kicking\n\nKazuki repeatedly, Juan was gasping for breath and held the gun under Kazuki's\n\nchin.\n\n\"Die.\"\n\nThe finger\n\nhovered over the trigger.\n\nI need to\n\ndo something... anything....\n\nBut his\n\nbody wouldn't listen and his head was going blank.\n\nI guess it's\n\nover for me...\n\nI need to at\n\nleast tell Sabrina... about Juan's plans.\n\nNeed to\n\ntell Sabrina\n\n—.\n\nAt that moment, there\n\nwas an ear shattering noise.\n\nClang. Clang.\n\nAfter the\n\nnoise, two bullets flew towards Kazuki.\n\nKazuki's\n\neyes traced the sound to the source of the bullets.\n\nAt the\n\nsource of the bullets stood a young girl.\n\nKazuki was\n\nbarely able to murmur the girl's name.\n\n\"Sa...brina.\"\n\n* * *\n\n\"Are\n\nyou Sabrina-san?\"\n\nWhile she\n\nwas waiting for Juan in the lobby, someone walked up and spoke. Sabrina\n\nwordlessly looked at the speaker, who was a hotel employee with a cap covering\n\nhis eyes.\n\n\"Your\n\ncompanion told me to pass along a message. The car to the airport couldn't be\n\narranged, so he would like you to come to the underground parking lot.\"\n\nCompanion? ...Juan\n\nor Sofia?\n\n\"Si.\"\n\nShe curtly\n\nnodded and walked away.\n\nGrruumbble.\n\nSabrina\n\nheard a noise she was familiar with and looked behind her... but there were only\n\nmembers of the hotel staff present.\n\nSo Sabrina\n\ndecided to ignore it and head to the parking lot.\n\nAnd now\n\n—.\n\nThere was an\n\nunbelievable sight before her eyes.\n\nJuan was holding a gun\n\nand pointing it at a battered Kazuki.\n\nSabrina\n\ndropped her briefcase unknowingly. It hit the ground and the contents spilled.\n\n\"...\n\nWhat are you doing?\"\n\nSabrina was\n\nbarely able to say it. Juan let go of Kazuki's hair.\n\n\"Kazuki\n\ncame all the way here to see you Sabrina. I tried to talk to him about it, but\n\nhe suddenly rebelled. Look at my nose and my broken nails. Isn't that too much?\"\n\nWith Kazuki\n\nlaying motionlessly on the ground, Juan opened his arms wide in an innocent\n\nmanner.\n\n\"...\"\n\nSabrina\n\ndidn't respond.\n\n\"Don't\n\nworry. I only punished him slightly. It's not like I was going to kill hi...\"\n\n\"Shut\n\nup.\"\n\nShe coldly\n\ncut him off.\n\n\"I\n\nwasn't talking to scum like you, and no matter how much you try to make up\n\nexcuses for yourself\n\n—.\n\n\"\n\nA cold aura\n\nappeared around Sabrina.\n\n\"I\n\nwill kill you.\"\n\nIn an\n\ninstant, at a speed impossible to follow with the naked eye, Sabrina removed\n\nher gun and shot.\n\nThe bullet knocked\n\nJuan's gun out of his hand and sent it flying.\n\n\"Kuh.\"\n\nHe reached\n\ntowards Kazuki to use him as a hostage, but it was too late.\n\nSabrina\n\nrapidly shot until her magazine ran out.\n\n\"Garrhh!\"\n\nJuan fell\n\nbackwards as if someone just pushed him over.\n\nAlthough\n\nSabrina shot at him until she ran out of ammo, the gun contained rubber\n\nbullets. It obviously wouldn't cause any fatal injuries.\n\nNevertheless,\n\nit dealt a fair amount of damage. The areas hit should be useless.\n\n\"I- I\n\nwill... k-kill you. I'll kill you and your precious Kazuki... urpp\"\n\nWith his\n\nhands and feet immobilized, Juan could only lift his head up and curse at her.\n\nSabrina\n\nlooked down at him and shifted her gaze to the two bullets lying on the ground\n\nnear Kazuki.\n\nOne was a\n\nreal bullet.\n\nThe other\n\nwas a rubber bullet.\n\n—Understand, Sabrina?\n\nOur number 1 Omertà is\n\n「\n\nDo not hurt\n\nanyone. There are exceptions, but still, killing is not allowed.\n\n」\n\nGot it?\n\nShe remembered what\n\nKazuki told her before.\n\nOmertà...\n\nIt... doesn't matter.\n\nBecause I'm no longer\n\nrelated to that person.\n\nSabrina picked up a\n\nbullet. She loaded it into her gun and took aim at Juan's head.\n\n\"Heeek! Stop it...\n\ndon't!\"\n\nJuan was begging for\n\nhis life.\n\nWithout hesitation, Sabrina pulled the trigger.\n\nWhen the bullet hit\n\nJuan in the forehead, it send him flying like someone was dragging him head\n\nfirst from behind.\n\nHe slowly collapsed\n\nonto his side.\n\nSeeing Juan in that\n\nstate, Sabrina audibly sighed.\n\nShe heard a voice\n\nbehind her.\n\n\"Sabrina, you...\n\nkept your promise... our Omertà.\"\n\nIt was Kazuki. He was\n\ndragging his feet as he slowly made his way to Sabrina.\n\n\"Uuu...\"\n\nAt that moment, Juan\n\ngroaned.\n\nThat's right. The bullet\n\nSabrina shot was the rubber one.\n\n\"No, it was just\n\na coincidence. Why did you come here in the first place?\"\n\n\"I had something\n\nto say to you, Sabrina. So I came....\"\n\n\"But I told you\n\nthat I didn't have anything else to say to you.\"\n\nSabrina turned her\n\nback to Kazuki.\n\nShe rejected him.\n\nSilence fell and it\n\nfelt like the two of them were isolated from the rest of the world.\n\n\"Sabrina... let's\n\ngo home.\"\n\nKazuki spoke first.\n\nBut Sabrina didn't\n\nlook back.\n\n\"Why must I go\n\nwith you? I'm a mafia boss. I told you that I have nothing to do with you.\"\n\nSabrina pushed Kazuki\n\naside with cold words.\n\nWhy did you come back?\n\nI tried so hard to\n\nforget about you Onii-chan.\n\nWhy won't you let me\n\ngo?\n\nHer heart started to\n\nache again.\n\n\"You're lying\n\nwhen you say you have nothing to do with me!\"\n\nSabrina flinched.\n\n\"Why are you\n\ntelling me it's a lie? I'm not lying. I'm a dangerous person, an assassin in\n\ntraining and a mafia bo—.\"\n\n\"No.\"\n\nKazuki cut Sabrina\n\noff.\n\nAnd continued...\n\n\"You're my\n\nfamily. I can tell when my little sister is lying.\"\n\nAffected by his words,\n\nSabrina quickly turned around.\n\nTears were rolling\n\ndown her cheeks.\n\n\"Onii... chan...\"\n\nWith his uninjured arm,\n\nKazuki gently hugged Sabrina.\n\n\"Sorry Sabrina.\n\nI'm sorry for hurting you like this.\"\n\nKazuki stroked Sabrina's\n\nhead softly with his hand.\n\nAs he did, Sabrina realized\n\nfor the first time that heartache and tears were caused by being hurt.\n\nHowever, she started\n\ncrying in her brother's warm arms because of a different emotion.\n\nMany different\n\nemotions were clashing inside her.\n\nBut she didn't need to\n\nhold back any longer.\n\n\"Uuuu, waaaa.\n\nOnii-chan... Onii-chan.\"\n\nSabrina was bawling\n\nher eyes out on Kazuki's chest.\n\n\"I want to be\n\nwith you forever, Onii-chan...\"\n\n\"Yeah, family\n\nshould always be together.\"\n\n\"... Si, ... Si.\"\n\nKazuki patted her head\n\nsoftly.\n\n\"Welcome back,\n\nSabrina.\"\n\n\"... Onii-chan.\"\n\nSabrina hugged Kazuki...\n\nIncluding his injured arm.\n\n\"... (\n\nPress\n\n).\"\n\n\"It hurts—.\"\n\n\"... (\n\nPresssss\n\n).\"\n\n\"... S-Sabrina,\n\nhold on. It hurts. Could you let me go? Look, I'm injured because I was shot.\"\n\n\"No... no.\"\n\nShe just wanted to be\n\nby her brother's side, so she couldn't let him go. She couldn't control her\n\nstrength and hugged him even stronger.\n\n\"It hurts! It\n\nhurtsss! Sabrina, time out! Time outtt!\"\n\n\"No.\"\n\nKazuki's painful yell\n\nechoed through the underground parking lot once more.\n\n3\n\n\"Don't move!\"\n\nWhile Kazuki was being\n\ntightly hugged by Sabrina and screaming, he heard someone yelling at them.\n\nIt was Juan. It looked\n\nlike he regained his senses. He was pointing the gun that he'd previously dropped\n\nat them.\n\nStill tightly attached\n\nto Kazuki, Sabrina tried to turn her body.\n\n\"Oh no, don't\n\nmove! Don't do anything suspicious.\"\n\nJuan was in an\n\nunstable state. They could tell by the look in his eyes that he was about to do\n\nsomething.\n\nI need to protect\n\nSabrina...\n\nKazuki hung onto\n\nSabrina tighter.\n\n\"You runts, how\n\ndare you look down on me...\"\n\nWith a sinister smile,\n\nJuan placed his finger on the trigger.\n\n\"Wait—!\"\n\nA voice suddenly\n\ninterrupted.\n\nTa ta ta ta!\n\nSurprisingly, the one\n\nrunning towards them was Saki.\n\n\"Ehh-it!\"\n\nWhile Juan was caught\n\noff guard with the sudden intrusion, she swung a wooden box at his head.\n\nSlam.\n\nWith a great noise,\n\nJuan was knocked out again.\n\n\"Ootaki-kun, are\n\nyou ok!?\"\n\n\"K-Kinoshita...\n\nhow?\"\n\n\"Si. Why are you\n\ninterrupting our precious time together?\"\n\n\"No, no, shouldn't\n\nyou ask how she got here!?\"\n\n\"You see,\n\nIzuna-san said 'I'll take you to a nice place' and she brought me here. But as\n\nsoon as we arrived, she said 'Something smells good!' and ran away. So while I\n\nwas looking for Izuna-san, I saw you guys. ...So, I guess I rushed in to help\n\nyou out. Heh heh heh.\"\n\nSaki, who was being\n\nshy, had shivering legs.\n\n\"But Ootaki-kun,\n\nthose wounds...\"\n\n\"Ah, yeah, it's a\n\nbit... but it's ok. It's nothing... maybe.\"\n\n\"Ah, that's\n\nright. I've brought a first aid kit.\"\n\n\"Wait. W-why did\n\nyou bring that?\"\n\nThe box that she swung\n\nat Juan was a first aid kit.\n\n\"It was Izuna-san\n\nwho told me to. She said that I needed a first aid kit when going to a nice\n\nplace.\"\n\nThe definition of a 'nice'\n\nplace was completely off. That aside, it was great that she brought it.\n\n\"I think I'm\n\nstarting to get dizzy from blood loss.\"\n\n\"Hold on, I'll\n\ntreat yo—.\"\n\nRustle.\n\nSabrina stopped Saki's\n\nhand, which was reaching for bandages inside the first aid kit.\n\n\"Sabrina?\"\n\n\"Thank you for\n\nbringing the first aid kit, but I'll be the one to treat Onii-chan.\"\n\nTug.\n\nShe tugged at the box.\n\nHowever.\n\n\"Hold on! This is\n\nmy first aid kit, so I think I have the right!\"\n\nTug.\n\nThis time, Saki tugged\n\nit toward herself.\n\n\"Both of you...\"\n\nTug, tug.\n\nThe box was being\n\ntugged back and forth between the two girls like a fishing net.\n\n\"Treat me...\"\n\nTug, tug, tug.\n\nKazuki was able to\n\nfaintly hear the girls' voices as his consciousness faded away.\n\n\"As soon as possi...ble.\"\n\nGulp.\n\nWith those words,\n\nKazuki died... or more likely, he fell unconscious.\n\n* * *\n\n\"Nya ha ha ha,\n\nthey're as funny as ever.\"\n\n\"Is this your way\n\nof doing things?\"\n\nIzuna spoke to Sofia\n\nwhile they were watching the other three converse.\n\n\"Ah, not good! I\n\nneed to go and run my business. Ah— so busy.\"\n\n\" But wait, you're\n\na nun.\"\n\nSofia stopped Izuna\n\nwho was trying to hurriedly run away while checking her non-existent watch.\n\n\"The one who put\n\nthe envelope in my room, told the boy about Sabrina's location, and called\n\nSabrina here was you, wasn't it? You're not very honest.\"\n\n\"What are you\n\ntalking about? I don't know what you're talking about. Look, I'm just a nun.\"\n\n\"It doesn't\n\nreally matter if you're a nun.\"\n\n\"... So, you\n\nfound me out?\"\n\nIzuna laughed while\n\nscratching the back of her head.\n\n\"You're not that\n\nhonest either. You were hiding in wait for a chance to help Kazuki out~.\"\n\n\"Um, that's... I\n\ndon't know.\"\n\nSince she didn't\n\nexpect to be attacked that way, Sofia blushed and pretended not to know what\n\nthe nun was talking about.\n\n\"Ah! Sabrina\n\nstarted to treat Kazuki in a loving way!\"\n\n\"What!? I'm\n\njealous! I'll kill that boy!\"\n\nWhen Sofia turned\n\naround to look at Sabrina by reflex, all she saw was Sabrina wrapping the\n\nbandages normally. While Sofia was distracted, Izuna ran away and left behind a\n\nridiculously\n\nlarge bill of hotel\n\nservices she used.\n\n\"Should we go\n\nafter her?\"\n\nA girl wearing an\n\neye-patch took Izuna's place in the conversation and picked up the bill.\n\n\"No, it's\n\nmeaningless to do so anyway. I'll leave it to you.\"\n\nWhen Sofia said that,\n\nthe girl with the eye-patch motioned using her hand.\n\nMany Jevini Family\n\nmembers gathered and took Juan away.\n\n\"I suspected\n\nsomething when the underboss accepted Sabrina, but I didn't expect him to try\n\nto assassinate her via a plane crash.\"\n\n\"The ones who were part of the plan were\n\narrested in Italy. They really do hold all the information in the world, as\n\nexpected of the 'Happy Crown.' Their fearsomeness is unchanging.\"\n\n\"Fearsome, huh...\n\nthat aside, when you guys charged into my room, I thought I was going to die.\n\nTo think that the special corps was moving against the underboss himself.\"\n\n\"Juan aimed for\n\nSabrina's life. He broke the law, it was the obvious thing to do.\"\n\nSofia and the\n\neye-patch girl both looked at Sabrina.\n\nThe emotionless girl\n\nthat they once knew back in Italy was gone.\n\nAll they saw was a\n\ngirl who loved her older brother very much.\n\n\"Will this really\n\nbe ok?\"\n\n\"Yeah, it doesn't\n\nmatter to me. This is what she wanted, anyway.\"\n\n\"... Is that so.\"\n\n\"And...\"\n\nSofia looked away from\n\nSabrina and began looking at the girl with the eye-patch.\n\n\"I think being a\n\nmafia boss will be fulfilling.\""
    },
    {
      "chapter_order": 8,
      "chapter_title": "Epilogue: Epilogo",
      "chars": 10500,
      "words": 1815,
      "_stripped_leading_credit_lines": 0,
      "text": "*chomp chomp* Sabrina the rabid Italian girl!\n\nTranslator: Junnynam\n\nEditor: LHI\n\nPlease enjoy~\n\n____________________\n\n1\n\nA week had passed since the ordeal.\n\nToday was the first day they all went back to school. School had been on break because of the damage Juan caused, but resumed classes in the city's public facilities. The school was being fixed thanks to a large sum of money given to the school by an anonymous donor. It was a secret, but the money probably came from the Jevini family.\n\nAfter being shot by Juan, Kazuki has been looked after by a doctor of the Jevini family. Although they were bullet wounds, since the injuries inflicted were in areas that healed fairly quickly, Kazuki considered himself lucky in an otherwise unlucky situation.\n\nKazuki told people who didn't know what happened that he fell down the stairs, but it still became a hot topic of discussion among the students for a while. Well, since Kazuki wasn't able to tell the truth, he didn't really mind.\n\nAlthough most of his injures already healed, he was still using crutches.\n\n\"Oops.\"\n\nWhile going to school, Kazuki stumbled... but it wasn't because he wasn't used to the crutches.\n\nThe reason why he couldn't walk properly was Sabrina, in a round-about manner.\n\n\"Sabrina, isn't this hard for you? I don't want to trouble you, so I'll just use crutches. Could you give them back?\"\n\n\"No, it's not a problem. I can protect you better than these things.\"\n\nSabrina had her hand around one of Kazuki's shoulders helping him walk. Unfortunately, due to their height difference, she wasn't so much helping him walk as she was pulling him down until he found it difficult to walk.\n\nAnd every time they took a step, Sabrina's \"tool box\" bumped into him; thus, it was surprisingly painful. But since she was doing it out a good will, Kazuki didn't have the heart to tell her.\n\nAfter becoming the boss of the Jevini family, Sabrina had to return to Italy.\n\nBut she remained in Japan and was living with Kazuki.\n\nTo understand how this happened, one would need to look back at what happened three days ago.\n\n* * *\n\nThree days ago, Kazuki and Sabrina were at the airport.\n\nSince Sofia was returning to Italy, the two of them came to see her off.\n\nOn a side note, Juan and his men had already been sent off to Italy by the Jevini family. Apparently, a harsh punishment awaited to the traitors.\n\nWhen Kazuki asked what kind of punishment was in store for them, Sofia thought for a bit and asked \"I don't think you'll be able to eat meat for a while, is that ok?\". Obviously, Kazuki chose not to inquire any further.\n\nOutside on the runway, a plane soared off into the cloudless sky.\n\nSoon it would also be time for Sofia's plane to depart.\n\n\"Thanks for coming here to see me off.\"\n\n\"Don't mind it, it's nothing really.\"\n\n\"I wasn't talking to you. I was talking to Sabrina.\"\n\nSofia glared at him.\n\n\"Ehh...\"\n\n\"I wouldn't have come if Onii-chan didn't come with me.\"\n\n\"Hah.\"\n\nAfter hearing Sabrina's words, Sofia's threatening expression quickly disappeared and tears started appearing in the corners of her eyes. When Sofia tried to complain, Sabrina hugged Kazuki's arm tightly and closed her eyes. A menacing look fell on Kazuki.\n\nSo he quickly changed the subject.\n\n\"Ah, by the way, is that really ok with Sabrina?\"\n\n\"Ah, this?\"\n\nSofia tapped the thick brown envelope she held in her hand.\n\n\"It's fine as long as I have these documents.\"\n\nInside were documents. One was to acknowledge that Sabrina was now the official boss of the Jevini family.\n\nThere was another document as well, it stated that 「 As the boss - Sabrina will be staying in Japan as a foreign exchange student and Sofia will take her place as the substitute boss. 」\n\n\"With this, Sabrina doesn't have to be in Italy.\"\n\n\"Are you ok with this though, Sofia-san?\"\n\n\"This will benefit Sabrina for sure, but this is also a great opportunity for me. Our interests just happened to coincide.\"\n\n\"I see... thank you.\"\n\n\"I told you that I didn't do this for gratitude.\"\n\n\"But I still want to say thank you. Thank you.\"\n\nWhen Kazuki bowed his head, Sofia snorted in an embarrassed manner.\n\n\"I told you this before, but don't let your guard down.\"\n\nHer expression turned serious as she warned them.\n\n\"With this document I'm the boss on paper, but it won't change the fact that Sabrina is the real boss. Enemy mafia families... or like this time, even a Jevini family member could attack.\"\n\nShe paused for a moment.\n\nAnd asked him;\n\n\"Do you still have the resolve to take in Sabrina?\"\n\n\"I...\"\n\nThe moments when the school blew up, Saki got hurt and Juan shot him started replaying in Kazuki's head.\n\nHe wasn't able to answer Sofia straight away. He didn't even know how to respond. Sabrina looked up at Kazuki while he was still frozen.\n\n\"Oh, are you scared?\"\n\n\"To be honest, I'm... I'm scared when I think that something like this might happen again.\"\n\n\"Are you trying to run away?\"\n\n\"No.\"\n\nKazuki looked straight at Sofia.\n\nAnd he declared...\n\n\"I am scared, but I am also prepared. Sabrina is my little sister, after all.\"\n\nSofia's hand flashed for a moment as she looked away.\n\n\"... That's some good determination. If you answered me without thinking, I was going to kill you.\"\n\n\"What!?\"\n\nShe put the switch blade back in her pocket. It seemed like Kazuki could've been killed on the spot.\n\n\"Onii-chan...\"\n\nSabrina happily rubbed her nose on Kazuki's arm.\n\n\"Looks like it's time. I'll be off now — get away from her!\"\n\n\"S-sorry. S-so, look after yourself. Hey, Sabrina.\"\n\n\"Si. I leave the paper work to you.\"\n\nSofia turned around.\n\n\"Ah, that's right.\"\n\nShe turned back around and moved her face near Kazuki's.\n\n— You and Sabrina live in different worlds. It won't turn out well in the end.\n\nHe remembered what she said to him before. Kazuki's body stiffened.\n\n\"I leave Sabrina to you.\"\n\nSofia kissed Kazuki's cheek.\n\n\"What?\"\n\nKazuki was unable to process what just happened and proceed to stare blankly at Sofia. Sabrina probably didn't see what just happened because of how she was standing, so she looked up at Kazuki in a puzzled manner.\n\nHe stroked his cheek. He was still able to feel the softness of Sofia's lips. Kazuki quickly blushed.\n\n\"Eh? Eh? Ehhh—hhh!\"\n\n\"Why are you getting so worked up over something like this? Surprisingly, you have a cute side. That was to say thanks for what happened this time, and my way of saying that I trust you.\"\n\n\"Sofia-san...\"\n\nTrust. That single word made Kazuki feel happy.\n\nHowever...\n\n\"But... if you do something to Sabrina, I won't forgive you!\"\n\nSofia's expression quickly changed... at a shocking speed.\n\n\"Ah, ahh...\"\n\n\"I'll let you taste various tortures used across the world. You'll believe you'd better off dead. Well, you won't die though.\"\n\nShe cracked her fingers and smiled evilly. Her eyes were out of focus and the scariest part was that she might actually do it.\n\n\"If you do, I won't forgive you.\"\n\nSabrina coldly said. Sofia turned to stone as she was bullying Kazuki.\n\n\"Eeep—.\"\n\nWith the large amount of mental damage dealt, Sofia dragged her feat and disappeared through the boarding gates.\n\nHer figure as she walked away didn't give off the atmosphere of a boss, but a melancholic one instead.\n\n* * *\n\nAnd so, Sabrina remained in Kazuki's house.\n\n\"What should I do, I'm going to be late at this rate - eep.\"\n\nKazuki tripped over something and fell magnificently. After falling, he rubbed his nose and looked behind him... only to see a zombie, no, Izuna grabbing his leg.\n\n\"I—'m—hung—ry!\"\n\nIzuna crawled up Kazuki's body.\n\n\"Lord, I thank thee for thy mercy and gladly receive this daily bread. I bless this which is set before me and - I can't wait any more.\"\n\n\"Stop! Why are you offering a prayer!? Sabrina! D-do something!\"\n\n\"Si.\"\n\nSabrina removed a cute pouch and opened it. Izuna, who was about to eat Kazuki (in a non-sexual way) stopped her hands.\n\n\"Izuna.\"\n\n\"Hmm!? Is that a packed lunch!?\"\n\nSabrina threw the packed lunch away like she was throwing a soccer ball... it flew quite far.\n\n\"Woof, woof!\"\n\nIzuna chased it like a dog.\n\n\"Kyaa—aa!\"\n\nSaki stood there with a pale face. In her hands were some gardening tools. She probably had them to do some gardening at the cathedral.\n\n\"S-Sabrina, t-that was the lunch I packed for Ootaki-kun...\"\n\n\"Si. I found the suspicious lunch inside the bag on the floor, so I used it.\"\n\n\"That was mine!\"\n\nSabrina and Saki exchanged glances with one another.\n\n\"...You.\"\n\n\"...\"\n\nThe two of them didn't move an inch and they both refused to back down.\n\nBite.\n\nWhile Saki was focused on glaring at Sabrina, Sabrina bit her.\n\n\"Kyaa! It hurts, it hurts! I'm sorry~.\"\n\n\"Ah—hh! Sabrina, stop it!\"\n\nKazuki pulled Sabrina off Saki.\n\n\"Are you ok, Kinoshita?\"\n\n\"Yeah, somewhat.... Eh heh heh, I'm glad you were able to make up with Sabrina.\"\n\nSaki wiped her tears away as she smiled happily.\n\n\"Yeah, it's all thanks to you, Kinoshita. Isn't that right, Sabrina?\"\n\n\"Si. I'm really in your debt this time. Thanks to you, I'm now Onii-chan's 'family' and 'family.'\"\n\n[1]\n\n\"Ah, so I am part of that family now. I don't want to be involved in a fight for a while, though.\"\n\n\"It's ok. If we're together, we're invincible.\"\n\n\"Umm.\"\n\nSaki held her hand up.\n\n\"Is it ok if I join that family as well? No, I need to join!\"\n\n\"Ehh!? What are you saying, Kinoshita!?\"\n\n\"But you two seem to be having lots of fun together. Hey, how do I sign up?\"\n\n\"No, no. It's not an extra curriculum activity.\"\n\n\"Si. Others are not allowed to join.\"\n\n\"Uuu...\"\n\nWhile Kazuki was persuading Saki, Izuna hopped on his back. Her breasts were pressing against him and he felt a soft, marshmallow-like sensation.\n\n\"Izuna-san!?\"\n\n\"You don't really need all that to become a family. For example, get 'married.'\"\n\n\"\"Married!?\"\"\n\nKazuki and Saki spoke at the same time. Sabrina also widened her eyes in surprise.\n\n\"So for that reason, Kazuki-kun will be mar—ried to me☆\"\n\n\"Whaaat!? What are you saying, Izuna-san!?\"\n\n\"T-then I will!\"\n\n\"Kinoshita as well!? Will that be ok!?\"\n\n\"Si. Then me as well.\"\n\n\"Sabrina is a little sister!\"\n\n\"It's fine, it's fine. Then, everyone will be competing with the Paradise Lost as our destination!\"\n\n\"We're not! Everyone calm dow—!\"\n\nLike always, Kazuki's yell echoed throughout the blue sky.\n\n______________________________________________________________________\n\nReference\n\n1.\n\nThe first \"family\" means family as in mother, father, brother, sister, etc. The second \"family\" means the mafia family. Saki is confused thinking that the second \"family\" is like a club or something.\n\n↩"
    }
  ]
}