Absolute Duo Vol 5 Chapter 6

“What kind of person was Otoha-san like?”

Julie asked that question right after the train heading to Fujisawa departed.

On the last Saturday of August-----

Julie and Tora were accompanying me to visit Otoha’s grave.

It’s quite late from the planned O-bon but, I think Otoha will forgive us since many many things happened.

“Otoha huh. Let’s see……..i told you this before but, she would always follow me from behind. She has a quiet personality, and even though she doesn’t talk much in front of others, she would get noisy when it comes to me-----“

“Fuun, that’s because you keep performing acts that would worry her”

“………………”

Even though Tora visits us once or twice every month, he has been with us for many years so that’s why I interrupted in with a bitter face.

“From my own words, she’s a quiet one but, she’s good in catching details, and is good in nature…………..she’s a little too caring though”

“Hahah. She would half-forcefully treat your wounds after all”

Since we were the same age and had the same strength level, we would always fight over who is stronger and could not avoid injuries.

After saying that with that memory in mind, Tora made a bitter face this time.

“Guh. Even though I tell her that the wound isn’t that serious, she would look at me with those teary eyes. How the heck can I refuse…………….wait, you get more injured than me. Don’t make it sound like I am the only one getting injured for your own convenience”

While causing a fuss------(Tora was the one mainly causing it)-----we continued talking about Otoha.

“Her hair length reached her hips, and around here----“

I pointed to my temple.

“She would braid her hair at one point here. Also-----this might sound biased but, I think she’s cute. Especially her smile”

“Fuun, you don’t have to be biased, she’s beautiful unlike you. I told you just now before that she’s good in natured so she’s quite popular in the dojo I went to”

I felt great when Tora said that.

It’s a happy feeling that a family member is being praised.

“She sounds like a good girl”

“Yeah, I think of her as my sister”

“…….Tora, no matter how charming Otoha is, I think having a 12 year old as your love interest is bad”

“Don’t just think of Otoha’s age from 2 years ago! I am 14 at that time!! And, I said I thought of her as a sister originally!!”

I teased Tora after feeling better and a good retort flew back as expected.

Otoha’s story continued on.

But-----he never came up once, even his name wasn’t.

It’s natural for me but, Tora did not say it too.

With that day as the start, his whereabouts were lost but, he’s publically announced as deceased from the fire.

Where is he, after he disappeared into the flames…………..

Soon, we got off the train and what we were waiting for was-----

“I am glad that you are healthy and lively, young master. Kokonoe-sama too”

A black luster high-class car was stopped in front of us and a properly attired old man lowered his head to us.

“It has been a while, Terao-san”

“Eeei, I told you many times to stop calling me young master, Terao!”

“---------?”

Julie looked confused when she heard the conversation we were talking with the old man.

We explained to her that Terao serve as a butler in Tora’s house and he would be sending us to the cemetery from the station today.

Actually, Tora came from a wealthy family; so much that it’s hard to understand why he would pick his future in a technique training school. He says that this path suits him but, he used to go to a famous private school with a tough middle exam during middle school so, I could only imagine that he messed up his pedigree; leaving his attitude aside though.

After Julie and Terao exchanged greetings, we got on the car and left the station.

And after the car wiggled around less than 20 minutes------

We reached the cemetery Otoha and the others were sleeping at.

We got of the car, and entered park with the cleaning tools Terao-san prepared for us.

After reaching the tombstone with Kokonoe family grave written on it, I started cleaning with them.

Only the cries of cicadas could be heard in this cemetery which was only populated by us.

After a while------we placed the offering flowers now that it’s quite clean and placed the incensed stick before praying.

(Otoha, sorry for being late…………..)

First off, I closed my eyes to apologize, and reported the events that happened in this half-year in my mind.

How I met the silver girl, unexpectedly meeting Tora, and many other things.

And also-----I told her I gained <