Volume 7.5 epilogue

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Epilogue: Towano Chikai and the Second Coming of the Rival

“…Hm? What’s wrong, Suzuka? Youseem a bit restless.”

“Hya?!”

Late afternoon on a certain school-freeday, around a month after Suzuka and I started attending the sameschool.

When I came down to the living room onthe first floor, Suzuka was walking around in circles. Wearing anapron, I could guess that she was probably on her way to clean, buther attitude stood out to me as unordinary. She was clearly spacingout, her head above the clouds so to speak, only moving the featherduster above one spot, and that reaction first and foremost. When sheturned around with “Since when have you been standing there!?”, Iwas certain that something was fishy.

“N-Nothing is wrong, okay? I justfelt like cleaning a bit…”

“Why? Is someone coming over?”

“Ehhh?! Why would you think that?!”

“It’s weird for you to clean atthis time of the day, of course. And, you always say that we have tokeep it sparkling clean when guests come over… Am I wrong?”

When I rebutted with that, Suzuka gaveme a slight giggle, saying “I-I see, so you’re properly looking,Onii-chan…,” only to quickly avert her face.

“Uuu…!”

And now she even started groaning…What’s wrong with her now?

But, this attitude of hers didn’ttake too long, and she soon hung her head, with an exasperated sigh.And, as if she had made up her mind on something, she once morelooked at me.

…Why do I get this tragic, yet bravefeeling from her…

“…M-Madenokouji-san is comingover,” she muttered, almost forcing herself.

“Eh? Madenokouji-san…you meanNene-san?”

“…Yes, there is only theMadenokouji-san from Hakuou that I’m talking about. Do you rememberher…?”

“Of course I do? With all that datagathering and light novel lecturing, there’s no way I could forgetabout her. In the first place, why is she coming over?”

“T-That’s… I received an emailfrom her yesterday, saying that she wanted to meet us for old time’ssake.”

“I see. Yeah, it’s been a while,alright…I hope she’s been doing good all this time,” I said,and started reminiscing about her.

She admired Towano Chikai’s novel,and started dreaming of becoming a light novel author herself. Forthat, she sought our help, and we ended up going along with herrequest, assisting her in collecting data, explaining variousimportant aspects, and so on.

…Yeah, we really did a lot…Well,I’d rather not start recalling the details, but it does feel a bitnostalgic.

And, the novel that sprung forth fromour hard work barely failed to achieve first place in the light novelcontest, but she still seemed satisfied in the end.

…I wonder if she has another request?

“…Mm? W-What is it?”

The time I was lost in my thoughts,Suzuka had walked over towards me, gazing up at me with a superunhappy expression.

“You seem pretty happy that you canmeet Madenokouji-san again, huh…?”

“Eh? Well, of course. It’s been along time after all, so of course I’d look forward to it.”

“I-Is that really everything?”

“…What else could there be?”

“N-No, nothing at all. That’s finethen. If it’s just that.”

…Mmm, today’s Suzuka is clearly offthe rails.

“You too, you haven’t been able tosee her ever since you graduated from Hakuou, right? Aren’t youlooking forward to seeing her again?”

“Yes, I do look forward to it, but…U-Uhm, how do I say it, there’s also a certain fear that Ihold…like a growing worry…”

Weirdly enough, Suzuka couldn’tmanage to bring out her words. Not to mention that she was constantlyglancing over at me.

…Listen, if you don’t say itclearly, I won’t know what you mean by ‘fear’ or ‘worry’,you know?

And with that perfect timing, the doorchime rang as I tilted my head. In response, Suzuka twitched greatly,and said in a wavering voice.

“S-Seems like she’s here…”

Putting away the feather duster andtaking off the apron, Suzuka headed to the entrance.

“…A-And Onii-chan is coming withme, of course…”

Of course, I immediately followed her,but by doing that I just earned myself a sideways-glare.

“Of course I do? Is it bad if I metNene-san?”

“That’s—————certainly notthe case.”

“Your expression is totally tellingme otherwise though?!”

“D-Don’t mind me. I’m justthinking in the one in a million chance…! A-Anyways, now that it’scome to this, we have to get through this, Onii-chan…!”

Still blurting out incomprehensiblethings, Suzuka slowly opened the door.

Really, you can just tell me ifsomething’s wrong— was what I thought, but when the dooropened fully, showing me the scenery behind it, my train of thoughtcompletely disappeared.

“”Eh?!””

Both mine and Suzuka’s voicesoverlapped, surprised. The reason for this—

“It’s been a while, Suzuka-sama,Onii-sama!”

The person who greeted us was indeedthe Nene-san we knew, but her smile that she threw at us was asradiant as the sun, almost blinding us. Before, she was always timid,always shy about everything, a girl with no confidence in herself,but today it was like she was a different person. Her expression andher body language were open, ready to get in contact with otherpeople, and you’d almost get happy just by being with her.

…Y-Yeah, that change really issurprising, but…!

I gulped.

…The differences are so great, thatit took me a second to even understand who’s standing in front ofme right now!

“…? What’s wrong, you two?”

The biggest change, however, was hershoulder-length hair.

“M-Madenokouji-san, what about yourhair?!”

With a shaky voice, Suzuka finallymanaged to bring out what I wanted to ask myself.

…Yes, before, she had long, blackhair that almost reached down to her waist, but she had given it anextreme cut!

Even Suzuka, who had known her for muchlonger than I, could only stare at her in puzzlement.

“Ahh, I thought of cutting it to geta change of pace, so to speak.”

However, the person in questioncommented on it like it was a daily occurence, and continued to smileat us.

…N-No no no, a woman’s hair is thesame as her life, right? Is this really something you’d do to get achange of pace…?

“U-Uhm, did something happen?”

That’s why, being a bit perplexed,asked that question without thinking. Only to immediately regret it.

…S-She’ll totally think that I haveno delicacy at all…!

“No, I just felt like cutting it abit shorter.”

Contrary to my fears, Nene-san said soas gleefully as ever.

…S-Seriously? Does that actuallyhappen?

“U-Uhm, Madenokouji-san, are youreally…?”

“Yes, Suzuka-sama…I’m fine. It’snot what you think.”

When Suzuka asked in a worrying manner,Nene-san brought her face a bit closer, as if she wanted to whisperto us, and said so.

…Is that so?

Nene-san just gently smiled at theperplexed Suzuka.

W-Well, whatever the circumstances, weshould let her inside now. It’s been a while, so she must have alot to talk about.

“Suzuka, let’s go to the livingroom for now.”

“Y-Yes… Madenkouji-san, if youwould.”

“Yes! I’m happy that I can meet thetwo of you again!”

Everyone moved inside towards theliving room, and Suzuka swiftly prepared some tea. In the meantime, Ionce again closely inspected Nene-san’s new atmosphere, andespecially her hair. She’d really changed a lot. In a good way, ofcourse.

“Uhm… Nene-san really changed alot… Like you’ve become more lively than before,” I said, andreceived a giggle in return.

“Thank you very much, Onii-sama. It’sall thanks to you two.”

“Thanks to Suzuka and me?”

“Because the two of you have lent meyour strength, I was able to write that novel. Although it sadlymissed the last step… But, back then, I realized. To live a fun andenjoyable life, I have to enjoy being myself first and foremost. LikeSuzuka-sama and Onii-sama… Like that, I just happened to changeinto what I am now.”

I-I see…? I don’t have any concretememories of what we supposedly did for such a great change to occur,but if she’s happy now, that doesn’t matter all that much Iguess.

“Suzuka-sama, I actually joined thestudent council this year.”

“Eh, really?”

“Yes. Although it might be a bit latenow that I’ve become a third-year, I just felt like I had to followin Suzuka-sama’s footsteps, and it was now or never…”

“Is that so… I had no idea… Uhm,Hiiragi-san is indeed a kind person, but she can be a bit difficultat times…how is that working out?”

“I am very well acquainted with thestudent president Hiiragi-sama. Of course, there are some scaryaspects about her, but she is a very serious and honest person. Theme from before might not have been able to stand her and would havejust frozen up in fear.”

Again, Nene-san’s gleeful smilelooked very positive and encouraging.

“And I managed to make a lot offriends with similar interests. It might sound a bit surprising, butthere are more and more people who enjoy otaku culture. It’s allthanks to Onii-sama’s lecture back then,” said Nene-san, stickingout her tongue at me.

…She’s really changed a lot…

“But, in the end, it’s all thanksto Onii-sama—No, Towano-sensei. Thank you very much.”

“N-No, it’s not like I…Right,Suzuka?”

“O-Onii-chan, don’t just pull meinto the conversation at a weird timing like that!”

I-I can’t help it though! I’m notgood with this straightforward thankfulness. And I’m just yourstand-in, so that thank-you shouldn’t even be directed towards mein the first place.

“It’s all thanks to you for pushingme towards this dream of mine.”

“Dream of yours…so you still—”

“Yes, I still am writing novels forthe light novel contest.”

Having expected that, I gave a deepnod. The last time we spoke, I was really worried if she mightactually stop writing novels all-together. But, she’s still writingthem, huh…

“A while ago, I was back in the finalselection again. Though I sadly didn’t make it through, I was happythat I managed to get this far without anybody else’s help! Nexttime, I’ll definitely win!”

…F-Final selection…is the samelevel as me, right? N-No wait, since this is the second time shemanaged to do that, isn’t she at a higher level than me…?

At that moment, the Nene-san in frontof me looked really big…And I’m not talking about her chest size.She grew both as a human, and as an author in this short amount oftime. This whole time, I had been seeing her as a sort-of pupil, butaren’t I the one who’s supposed to be taught?!

“By the way, how are you feeling asof recently, Suzuka-sama? Are you happy that you get to attend thesame school as Onii-sama after all?”

However, Nene-san knew nothing of myshock, and now switched the topic over towards Suzuka.

“I-It’s a completely normal studentlife. But, we ended up going to the same school, so of course thetime we spend together went up ten-fold…meaning that we’re evenmore close than before, you know?! Right, Onii-cha—Hello,Onii-chan? What are you spacing out for?”

“…Eh? Ah, w-what is it, Suzuka?”

“Why aren’t you listening whenwe’re talking about you… I keep telling you to pull yourselftogether a bit more, don’t I! I was saying that we were spendingmore time together ever since I started attending your school…!”

“Ahh, you’re right. But, it feelslike the times you get mad at me went up equally… Like when mynecktie is crooked, or when I’m talking with another girl…”

“Wha—?! T-That’s true, but thatjust shows how close we are…! Really, Onii-chan is just…!”

“Ouch?! Why are you pinching me?! …Isit that? Are you still mad at me for eating that pudding that Ididn’t know was yours?”

“N-No! It’s not that, but…! Nowthat you mention it, why did you just eat it without askingme!?””So you are mad at me! I was working on mymanuscript, so I didn’t give it any thought that time!”

Our exchange continued until we heardNene-san’s soft giggle.

“…You two are as close as ever. Thesame as before—No, even more so, you’ve gotten even closer…That slightly awkward atmosphere from before is now completely gone…Really, you only make it more difficult for me.”

“Eh? What?” “Madenokouji-san?”

Though we couldn’t quite catch therest because she started muttering, she showed a rather disheartenedexpression, which made Suzuka and me stop our fighting andconcentrate on her. However, her smile returned shortly after, andshe put one hand into her bag.

“Actually, I didn’t come here justto meet you. The truth is, there is something that I would likeOnii-sama to have a look at.”

“Something you want me to have a lookat?”

“Yes. The manuscript that I’m goingto submit in the next light novel contest.”

“Ehhhh?!”

For some reason, Suzuka was the one wholet out a shocked groan. What are you panicking about?

“Your new manuscript? Of course, ifyou’ll let me.”

Of course I wouldn’t say no if Icould read another light novel, and not to mention if it’s from aformer pupil of ours…However,

“No, I still can’t have you readit.”

“Eh?! W-Why?!”

“Because I still feel like there’ssomething missing. It has to be even more interesting…That’s why,I’ll rewrite it. When I finish, would you be so kind as to readit?”

W-What’s up with that… Well, can’thelp it if she’s aiming for even better quality.

“S-So, basically…?!”

Suzuka seemed to be in shock. Inresponse, Nene-san gave a smug look at Suzuka and whispered somethingin her ear. Shortly after that, Suzuka’s eyes opened wide with a”I-I thought so…!”, and her whole body started shaking.

…W-What? What did she tell her? Itfeels really awkward to be left out like this, you know…

But, before I was given a chance toask, Nene-san turned around to look at me, and gave me the brightestsmile I had seen yet.

“It’s nothing. Just, I haven’tgiven up on my dream just yet.”

Seeing that and her confident wordsmade my heart skip a beat.

“I-Is that so? Well, I’m happy thatyou haven’t given up yet.”

“Thank you very much! Hearing thatfrom Onii-chan really gives me courage!”

“O-Onii-chan?! What kind of carelessencouragements are you blurting out?!”

…W-What’s your problem? I didn’tsay anything weird…

While Suzuka was gritting her teeth andglaring at me, I suddenly felt a soft sensation on my left arm.Turning around, I found Nene-san clinging to me—

“Ah?! What are you doing?!”

“Well, I wanted to ask something ofyou. To make an even better novel, I was hoping that Onii-sama wouldhelp me collect some more data.

C-Collect data?! I know what she’stalking about, sure, but why now…!

“N-No, Onii-chan will be collectingdata with me after this. I’m sorry, but we have to take priority inthat.”

“Ehh?!”

And now Suzuka also jumped into thechaos, grabbing my right arm?! And I didn’t hear anything aboutthat?!

“I see… Then, let’s make this acompetition, Suzuka-sama!”

“Exactly what I was hoping for! I’mthe only one who’s allowed to collect data with Onii-chan!”

Of course, the two of them weregradually heating up more and more, and I lost my chance to speak formyself.

…I have no idea what’s going onanymore, but…

“Ahahaha, I definitely won’t lose,okay!”

The smile that Nene-san displayed thenand there looked like she was enjoying herself from the bottom of herheart, shining as brightly as ever.