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EP.69 Is It Really That I've Become Younger?
From childhood, my world always revolved around my sister.
Though we weren't related by blood, maybe that's why my feelings for her were so special.
Even knowing it was wrong, a tender longing for her always simmered inside me.
So when I learned my sister would be coming back after three years, I felt like I had the whole world.
I never had the courage to confess my feelings, not then or now.
But I resolved to at least talk with her a little this summer break.
That was my plan.
But when she finally returned home, she was arm-in-arm with a strange man.
When I heard the word "boyfriend," my heart went cold.
And that night, I saw it.
The unbelievable scene through the crack in her closed door extinguished even the last ember of hope I'd harbored.
I ran out of the house, plunging into the pitch-black night.
Until my feet were blistered.
Until I was gasping for breath.
Even with my eyes squeezed shut, that awful scene from home seemed to chase me.
When I came to, I was at the shrine.
I couldn't even remember how I got there.
Even as my lungs burned, I found myself, as if possessed, pressing my hands together and praying to a god I never believed in.
'Please… let me have my sister back. Like before, just once more…'
I desperately wished this futile prayer would come true.
Even knowing it never could.
When I came to my senses, the first thing I noticed was an unfamiliar view.
Objects around me looked down from above.
A quick glance at my hands and feet showed they were comically small and chubby.
'It worked.'
The possession itself had succeeded without issue.
Judging by my body, it seemed like the prologue had been skipped, just like with the Elf Hypnosis scenario.
It was actually better to skip the tedious parts, but what point in the story was this?
I'd figure that out soon enough, but first, the status window-
"Who are you?"
A sudden voice interrupted before I could open the status window, and I reflexively turned my head.
There stood a familiar woman, looking at me with wary eyes.
Messy brown hair.
Healthy, sun-kissed skin.
Especially the tanned lines tracing her cleavage and collarbone radiated a sensuality.
That alone was enough to recognize her as Miyano Akari, the main heroine of AneNatsu.
Since she was asking who I was, I must have just become younger.
In other words, this was the morning of the second day in the main story.
That was all I needed to know.
"…Akari-neesan?"
I steadied myself and called her name, doing my best to look innocent and frightened.
My voice came out just right: awkward, thin, and trembling-exactly like a prepubescent boy.
"You-you can't be. Yuu?"
Akari's eyes widened in shock as she took a step back, her pupils trembling like waves.
My first attempt at acting like a child worked perfectly.
I took it a step further and made my eyes glisten with tears.
Sad thoughts, sad thoughts…
"When I woke up, Mom and Dad were gone… and why are you so big, Sis? I'm… scared…"
Ugh.
Crying like a kid at my age.
Actually doing it was more embarrassing than I'd imagined.
But I couldn't break character.
The reward for enduring this humiliation would be more than worth it.
"What-what is going on… No, even so…"
Still, my performance seemed to work; Akari rubbed her eyes in disbelief, her lips moving as if to speak but stopping.
Just then-
"What's all the commotion this morning?"
A languid voice came from the stairs on the second floor.
"Akari? …Huh?"
As expected, it was Daiki.
So that's what he sounded like.
His annoying voice matched his looks, which was a relief.
He spotted me through half-open eyes and frowned, looking at me like I was a rock on the roadside.
"Who's this little kid?"
"Daichan! Could you check Yuu's room and see if he's there?"
Daiki looked baffled by Akari's sudden request.
"Huh? How would I know where his room is? And who's this kid, anyway?"
"Just go, hurry!"
Akari's voice rose in irritation, and Daiki reluctantly nodded.
"Fine, fine. I'll check, okay?"
Not long after Daiki disappeared down the hall, I heard doors being flung open.
He must have checked every room in the house.
Soon, he came trudging back, shaking his head.
"Nothing. I checked all the rooms upstairs, didn't see a trace. Maybe he went out?"
"Not there?"
Akari looked even more confused as she turned to me.
She slowly approached and knelt down.
Her anxious eyes met my innocent face.
"Are you really, really Yuu?"
"Yeah… I am, Sis."
Well, my body is, anyway.
Still, my acting was going better than expected.
Have I gotten better without realizing it?
Or is Akari just that naïve?
"Akari, what's he saying?"
Daiki blinked, as if he'd misheard me.
"Wait, Daichan. Just hold on a sec."
Akari raised her hand to silence Daiki and turned back to me.
"If you're really Yuu… do you remember what happened when we caught crayfish in the mountain stream as kids?"
Of course I do.
I'd prepared for this question in advance.
I was glad the original and the game matched here.
"Yeah, that time…"
As I started to recall the details I'd reviewed-
-"Waaaah~!"
A faint image flashed through my mind.
A sunny summer day, a girl crying by the stream.
A boy beside her, at a loss.
"…Yeah. Sis, you slipped and cried a lot back then. I even lost the crayfish I caught for you."
Akari's eyes grew as big as a rabbit's.
Of course. It was a secret memory only the two siblings shared.
But the real issue was the image that flashed through my mind just now.
Was it a memory? Did the host body's memories flow into my own?
I didn't have time to dwell on it.
"Then… what about this?"
Apparently unsatisfied, Akari asked another question.
"The picture book you begged me to read every night-the one with the sun and moon smiling on the cover. Do you remember the title?"
"'Friendly Sun and Moon.' You read it to me so many times, how could I forget?"
"…That's right."
Akari's voice trembled at my confident answer.
It's not easy to believe someone could turn into a child overnight.
But by answering every question, I'd broken down much of her skepticism.
"Akari, what's going on? Explain it to me too!"
Unable to stay silent, Daiki raised his voice, his face showing open annoyance and doubt.
"Daichan, I think… my brother's really turned into a child. For real."
"Akari, come on. If you're going to joke, at least make it believable…!"
"I'm not joking. I can't believe it either. But there's no other explanation."
Akari's voice was full of conviction and deep concern, and Daiki put his hands on his hips in disbelief.
"So, your brother just magically turned into a kid? Or was he abducted by aliens?"
"How can you say that? My head's about to explode too!"
Akari couldn't hold back and raised her voice at Daiki's sarcasm.
This was my cue.
"Sis, what's wrong? Did I do something bad?"
I squeezed out a voice as if I might cry and grabbed her slender fingers. Akari quickly shook her head.
"No, you didn't do anything wrong. Don't be scared."
Her voice was much softer now.
She reached out to pat my head, but her hand stopped in midair.
"Whew. Yuu, do you remember anything from last night?"
I shook my head vigorously.
"Yesterday… I don't know."
"Even a little? You really don't remember anything?"
"No. Sorry."
"No, you don't have to apologize."
Akari sighed deeply.
Daiki still seemed baffled, but Akari's seriousness stopped him from saying more.
He'd probably hoped spending time with Akari would relieve his boredom here-too bad for him.
Then Akari seemed to remember something and spoke up, her eyes lighting up as if she'd found a clue in the dark.
"Come to think of it, you went out last night. Do you remember where you went? Anything strange happen? Try to think."
I did go out.
Well, not me, but the protagonist Yuu.
And this is the result.
I furrowed my brow and groaned, pretending to dig for memories.
"Uhh… last night… I think I was really sad. And… I ran somewhere… Oh! The shrine! I went to the shrine! I think I wished for something there!"
This is way tougher than the Elf Hypnosis scenario.
Back then, I could just hypnotize and have my way.
But this time, I have to tough it out since I chose this game.
"The shrine…"
Akari fell silent, deep in thought.
She must feel like she's found a piece of the puzzle.
"Alright. Let's go to the shrine. We have to do something."
After a long pause, Akari seemed to make up her mind.
At that, Daiki stepped in front of her.
"Akari, are you serious? You're going to believe what a kid says?"
"Daichan, just watch the house for us, okay?"
"Why should I…!"
Frustrated that Akari ignored him, Daiki sighed over and over.
"Fine, whatever."
In the end, he gave in and stepped back, glaring at me like I was a nuisance.
Sorry, but things are only going to get more annoying for you.
Soon, your girlfriend will be mine.
Smiling inwardly, I followed Akari out of the house.
After a long walk, we arrived at the mountain behind the house.
The summer-green path was filled with the scent of grass and earth.
Sunlight filtered through the leaves, scattering golden fragments on the ground.
Somewhere, unknown birds sang brightly.
Every step on the winding trail made the dry branches crunch underfoot.
After a while, just as I was getting out of breath, a steep stone staircase appeared.
At the top, a weathered torii gate stood tall, like a portal to another world.
The cicadas' cries drowned out all other sounds as we climbed, step by step, toward the shrine.
At the top, we entered the grounds and saw a woman in a shrine maiden outfit sweeping the yard.
The woman, Kisaragi Fumika, stopped her sweeping when she saw us and approached.
"Oh my, Miyano-san, it's been a while. I heard you were back. What brings you here so early in the morning?"
Her voice was calm, but there was a hint of curiosity in her eyes.
Her ample chest, barely hidden by the modest shrine maiden outfit, made me swallow unconsciously.
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