this attack is not okay.
People almost died, and Hinata even got injured.
I don’t know if I’m related to this attack.
But I can’t think of it as completely unrelated to me either.
After all, in the original story—in the world where I didn’t exist—this incident never happened.
When I chose this path, I never imagined that just one person’s actions changing could alter the story this much.
In hindsight, how shallow of me.
That’s why I need to think carefully this time.
—Whether it’s okay for me, a mere spectator, to continue being involved with Hinata.
“Hey, Ibuki.”
As if perfectly timed.
The sound of the cutting board stops, and a voice neither gentle nor harsh calls out to me.
“You should look in the mirror once in a while too.”
Leaving just those words, she resumes cooking.
“Huh… What do you—”
Before I can question the meaning of her words,
—Ding dong.
The doorbell rings.
“Sorry, Ibuki. I can’t leave this right now, could you get the door?”
“Sure thing.”
And there, beyond the opened door—was Hinata, her face clouded.
“Hinata!? Are your injuries okay? Is work all done?”
“Y-Yes. I got treatment right away, so my injury is fine. …Ehehe, thank you.”
Hinata, surprised by my enthusiasm, said this with a shy smile.
“Also, I’ve already handed over my work. …More importantly…”
She paused for a moment.
Her clouded expression made me think of something unpleasant.
…She couldn’t have found out that I’m , right?
I didn’t do anything wrong… but after that, maybe Rui told her…
However, Hinata’s next words were,
“I’m sorry about today. It was supposed to be a special day, and yet…”
“N-No, no, no!”
Caught off guard by her unexpected words, I hurriedly denied it.
“It’s not your fault, Hinata!”
If anything, it’s mostly my fault.
“No… It’s not just you, onii san. As a member of Libra, involving innocent people is unacceptable.”
“But, that’s—”
“However—”
“Why don’t you come inside, Hinata?”
As we were flustering, a voice called out from behind. It was Kushina.
Her words made us realize we were still at the entrance, dealing with a guest.
“Ah, yeah. That’s right, Hinata. Come on in, it’s been a while.”
“How about dinner? I’ll tell auntie for you.”
“Eh? Um… Well, yes. I’d like to eat together, it’s been a while. I’ll tell my mother myself.”
“Alright. Then, come on in, Hinata.”
Before I knew it, it was decided that Hinata would have dinner at our house.
…Strange, isn’t this supposed to be my house…?
Well, I don’t mind though?
Having dinner with your Oshi is a situation more delicious than food itself for an otaku, right?
“It’s been… so long…”
Hinata looked around the unchanged entrance with curiosity.
“And the smell is still the same as back then.”
“Ah, yeah. You tend to remember the smell of people’s houses, don’t you? It brings back old memories too.”
“That’s the Proust effect. It’s a phenomenon where memories are evoked by scents. The sense of smell is directly connected to human memory.”
“As always, Kushina is knowledgeable.”
“It’s not that impressive.”
“It totally is.”
“…Flattery will get you nowhere but dinner.”
“You two haven’t changed at all.”
Hinata laughed cheerfully, though still with a hint of shadow.
Her smile reminded me of when we were little.
It was only about a year, but the memories of talking like this remained vivid and countless.
“Excuse me for intruding.”
“Welcome.”
Hinata is my favorite, but she’s not just that.
If Kushina is my childhood friend, so is she.
—Maybe that’s why I don’t know how to handle this situation.
As we had dinner together, Hinata was gradually regaining her usual energy—at least on the surface.
The problem arose during after-dinner conversation.
“When is this ‘Centennial Satanalia’ happening?”
It was a question about the term “Centennial” that had been flying around the dinner table.
It shouldn’t have been such an outrageous question, but,
“Huh?”
“Eh?”
They looked at me as if I had said something unbelievably stupid.
My favorite’s dubious look is helpful…
Unfortunately, that side-eye slid from me to Kushina sitting next to me.
What a pity…
“…Kushina.”
“Ugh.”
“This is what happens when you spoil him and take care of everything!”
“Well, even I didn’t think it would be this bad…”
Kushina shrank apologetically.
READ THE ORIGINAL TRANSLATION AT LOCALIZERMEERKAT.PAGES.DEV
“He even came to the meeting point today without wearing a mask!”
“I-I’m sorry. I’ll make sure to discipline him properly…”
“Are you talking about a pet or something?”
“We’re talking about you!”
“Nya-ni…?”
I don’t get it…
Hinata lectured me and Kushina for a while.
After that, she said, “Well, I suppose it can’t be helped,” and put on glasses that she produced from somewhere.
“First, what do you think of when you hear ‘hundred years’?”
“Well, I know what the Centennial is—”
“Quiet, please!”
“…Yes.”
It seems Hinata has entered teacher mode…
It’s cute, so I don’t mind (brain dead).
“Let me ask again. What do you think of when you hear ‘hundred years’?”
“It’s the period from when Lux was first confirmed until now.”
“That’s right. The Centennial is essentially the ‘Hundredth Anniversary of Human Lux Awakening Celebration’.”
“That’s long…”
“Hmph.”
“I’m sorry-nya…”
“Very well. Now, when was Lux first confirmed?”
I feel like I heard about this recently, so I search my memory.
“Um, late April, I think I heard it was around next week.”
“That’s right, it’s next week.”
“I see, next week— Wait, the festival is next week!?”
“You really didn’t know…”
“Yeah…”
The gaze from my oshi is painful…
But I see now.
No wonder there were flags with ‘100’ written on them attached to the streetlights recently.
They might have done it for the 80th anniversary too, but I wasn’t born yet then.
At the 90th anniversary, we were just coming off “that big incident,” so it wasn’t the mood for festivals…
As I was nodding in understanding, Hinata said, “Here, look at this,” and showed me her smartphone screen.
She probably wanted to show me a website or something, but I,
“—Uwaaah!? My eyes are melting!?”
“They are not melting!?”
Hinata said exasperatedly.
“onii san, you’re still not over your smartphone aversion…”
“He can barely watch TV at his age.”
“Uwah…”
I feel like her exasperation is turning into disgust.
…But even that face is cute.
“…So, what’s the scale of this festival?”
“There’s no other way to describe it but ‘throughout the entire city for a week’.”
“That’s long and wide. But in that case…”
What comes to mind is today’s incident.
My concern seems to have been communicated.
Hinata nodded solemnly.
“Yes. All branches in this country will be operating at full capacity and on high alert.”
“—But you’ll still have some time off, right?”
Kushina’s voice cut in smoothly.
“Eh? Yes, that’s right. Many squad members want to enjoy the Centennial too, so we should get at least a few days off.”
“I see. Then—why don’t you two go together? A rematch for today.”
Hearing that, Hinata tilted her head in confusion (cute).
I probably had a similar expression (not cute).
“Why are you two looking like pigeons hit by a bean shooter?”
“Uh, well, but…”
Hinata looked between me and Kushina, troubled.
In the past, I would have been overjoyed, but now that I’m hesitant about continuing to interact with Hinata, it’s a difficult situation for me.
Seeing my dilemma, Kushina whispered to me in a voice only I could hear.
[Are you really okay with leaving Hinata alone?]
“——”
Those words made me realize.
Since coming to our house, Hinata has been acting cheerful, but both Kushina and I had noticed the dark expressions she shows at times.
It’s not hard to imagine that the cause of those shadows is today’s incident.
And now, Kushina is asking me:
—Are you going to leave your little sister figure alone when she’s feeling down?
Especially when you might be the root cause of her worries.
…Kushina is right. This is no time to be thinking only about myself.
With newfound determination, I say with a smile:
“Hinata, shall we go together?”
“Eeh!? A-Aren’t you coming, Kushina…?”
“Hmm, I’m a bit busy around that time…”
“I see…”
That’s disappointing news.
Normally, I’d want to join Hinata in pressing Kushina for reasons, but if it’s related to [Nega Messiah], I can’t pry carelessly.
I keep my mouth shut obediently.
But that didn’t last long.
“Then, the two of us… no.”
Hinata wore a complex expression and looked up at me with questioning eyes.
“Since it’s a rematch for today, why don’t we invite Rui again—”
“No.”
I blurted out reflexively.
“I want it to be just the two of us, Hinata.”
“Feh!?”
“I want to go around the festival with just the two of us!”
“Feeh!?!?”
Because—I absolutely can’t handle being with Rui, who tried to kill people so casually!
Even if she’s also my oshi!
It’s impossible when my life is at stake!
I shudder to imagine what would happen the next time we meet…
“B-But…”
She’s probably feeling bad about excluding her best friend.
The girl who cares about her friends is hesitating to nod.
I lean forward, almost desperately,
“Hinata.”
“Hya, y-yes…!”
I took her hand.
And appealed with sincere eyes.
“We’ve known each other for a long time, but we’ve also been apart for a long time. That’s why I want to make up for the time we couldn’t spend together.”
“Ah, u… okay…”
Hinata nodded with a reddened face.
—Yes! Now I can avoid death!
I can’t help but smile with satisfaction.
Next to me,
“I wonder how he plans to clean up this mess…?”
For some reason, Kushina muttered while putting her hand to her forehead.
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