Volume 1: Chapter 3 – Part 4Author: Geraint
"Sorry, Yuki-sama, but could you buy some groceries? We just ran out today, and there aren't enough ingredients for tonight's dinner."
Himiko-san handed me a shopping list. I glanced over it.
"Can Fuyumi come with me? I want to bring her outside."
"Sure, she can… but are you going to be okay? The stuff on this list is pretty heavy."
"Remember who you're talking to, Himiko-san." I flexed my right arm proudly.
"I know you're not human, but please don't let anyone else find out."
"Nah, I'll be fine. I'll just store the groceries in my dimensional storage. That way, I've got both hands free to hold Fuyumi."
"Still… please be careful."
"Okay."
Fuyumi was snug and comfy in the baby carrier strapped to my back.
"Everything's checked. Now, we're ready for our first adventure, Fuyumi."
"Babu~ Guhehe~" She looked delighted.
We stepped through the gate, and I waved at Himiko-san.
"We're off!"
"Please take care, you two!"
She waved back, though her face showed clear worry. It was our first outing together, after all.
"Let's go, Fuyumi."
"Ai~"
I felt excited. Our first shopping trip together! Suddenly, the streets I'd walked a hundred times before felt new and full of wonder.
"Look, Fuyumi!"
I pointed at a young woman leaving her house just ahead.
"That's Akemi. She's always going on 'business trips'—but actually, she's having an affair with her boss."
The woman looked around nervously, then hurried off. Yep, off to another 'business trip.'
"Au~" Fuyumi giggled.
Turning a corner, we passed an old man kneeling before three scar-faced Yakuza.
"Hehehe... Fuyumi, that old man borrowed a huge amount from loan sharks and blew it all on horse racing and pachinko."
"Gii~" Fuyumi laughed as we walked past. The Yakuza gave us wary stares.
Then, a gorgeous woman stepped out of her house and smiled flirtatiously when she saw me. She winked.
"Hey there, handsome. Wanna hang out with me?"
"Nah, I'm busy showing my baby sister around right now."
"Then can I at least get your number? We can hang out when you're free~" She blocked my path, leaning forward to emphasize her assets.
I gave her a cold glare.
"I don't have anything like 'free time.' All of it's for taking care of my baby sister. Now, get lost."
I walked right past her.
"Kyaah! He's so cool!" she squealed behind me.
…Huh? What's going on in her head?
"Guhehe~" Fuyumi giggled again.
Her cuteness helped me forget every annoying thing in an instant. My focus was only on her.
We finally arrived at the supermarket. I grabbed a cart and started collecting the items on the list.
"Palm oil, sugar, salt, black pepper, soy sauce... mild curry roux… what else? Oh, we're out of rice."
Once I had everything, I waited in line and paid in cash. People stared as I casually carried several heavy bags in both hands like they were feathers.
Outside, I discreetly stored everything in my dimensional storage. With my hands free again, I decided to wander around a little longer with Fuyumi.
Before I knew it, I found myself in front of my school.
"I wonder how everyone's doing…"
"Awoh~" Fuyumi waved her tiny hands, giggling.
"Oh? You want to check inside?"
"Fuwah~"
"Alright. Let's go see your big sisters. Let's surprise Yuuka and Shiina."
Students were scattered across the school field, busy with club activities as we walked onto the campus.
"Seir-sama!"
Lilith ran up to me and bowed with elegance.
"You don't have to do that, Lilith. We're in public, remember?"
"I apologize, Seir-sama—"
"Lilith! Why'd you run off like that!?"
Riko came rushing over, panting and out of breath.
"You're so fast, I couldn't even keep up!"
She spotted me and froze.
"Seir-kun!?"
"Been a while, Riko. How've you been?" I waved.
"I was so excited to see you at school, then I find out you got suspended on the first day! What the hell!? Starting trouble already!?"
"I just taught a few delinquents not to mess with my family. I made them regret it."
"We're in high school now, and you still haven't changed… I'm grateful you saved me before, but try not to get in trouble again. You'll get expelled next time." She sighed.
"I'll try… but I can't promise. If someone starts something, I won't just let it slide."
"Oh, that's right! Since you're here, how about we walk around together?" She grabbed my arm—then noticed the baby carrier.
"Awuh~"
"Huh?"
"It's my little sister, Fuyumi. I was showing her around the neighborhood." I turned to show her.
"Kyah! So cute! She looks just like my little cousin when she was a baby!" Riko squealed, pinching Fuyumi's cheek.
I turned to Lilith.
"Anyway, where are Yuuka and Shiina? Do you know?"
"Yuuka-sama went somewhere with Ayaka. They left me with Riko in the classroom."
"Why do you sound like you had no choice but to hang out with me?" Riko glared.
"It's just your imagination." Lilith looked away.
"Seir-kun, let's check out the school clubs!" Riko said, tugging my arm as Lilith followed behind.
"But I'm suspended."
"It's fine, as long as nobody finds out."
We arrived at the gymnasium, where a crowd had gathered around a Kendo match.
"Wow, the Kendo Club's popular. Wanna watch?"
"Nah. Not really into these kinds of sword fights."
Kendo was too rule-bound for my taste. Real swordsmanship—like in Kaho-san's Kenjutsu—was different. Sports-based habits could get you killed in real combat.
I was about to walk away when someone yelled:
"Mizuno Kaho-chan! If I win this duel, go on a date with me!"
I turned toward the ring.
"Kyaah~!" squeals erupted from the crowd.
"Win or lose, sorry. I have to refuse."
"What, scared you'll lose to me?"
The challenger was a Kendo Club member. Kaho-san looked mildly irritated—but took the bait.
"If I win, you'll be my girlfriend. If I lose, I'll leave you alone. Deal?"
"Fine. But I won't hold back."
The match began.
"Huh?"
Kaho-san vanished—and in an instant, appeared before the guy and slammed her bamboo sword on his head.
"Arrgh!"
He collapsed instantly. The crowd went wild.
"She's so quick! Amazing!" Riko gushed.
"Wait! I wasn't ready! Let's have a rematch!" the guy protested.
"Such disappointment." Kaho-san sighed, removed her gear, and turned to leave.
"Kaho-chan, I like you!"
"Huh?"
A real confession.
For some reason, watching that made me feel oddly uncomfortable.
Everyone went quiet, waiting for her response.
Her cheeks turned red. She looked flustered.
"Sorry. I already have someone I like."
"Eh?"
The guy froze in place, crushed.
"Senpai!" his clubmates dragged him away.
Kaho-san was immediately swarmed by students praising her.
"Another guy rejected," Riko said beside me.
"Is it just me, or is she really popular?"
"You've been suspended, so you wouldn't know. Mizuno-senpai used to be the most beautiful girl in school."
"Used to?"
"Well… she got replaced by Yuuka, the rising idol. Aka Yuuka-tan. Still can't believe she's our classmate. Now that I think about it… you mentioned her earlier. What's your relationship with her?"
"I've been looking for you, Lilith! Where did you—Onii-sama!?"
Yuuka appeared, with Shiina peeking nervously from behind her.
"Eh? Seir-kun?" Shiina blinked.
"Just came to visit. How's everyone doing?"
"You're suspended! What are you doing here?!" Yuuka scolded.
I turned around to show Fuyumi, who was fast asleep on my back.
"You brought her here?"
"I went shopping. The school was on the way back, so I thought we'd drop by."
"Seir-kun!? Since when—"
Kaho-san's voice cut in from behind us. She froze when she saw me.
"Oh! Nice match, Kaho-san!" I gave her a thumbs-up.
Her entire face turned bright red.
"Waaahhh! Seir-kun, you dummy!!"
(To be continued.)