http://www.baka-tsuki.org/project/api.php?action=feedcontributions&feedformat=atom&user=Bob+Morane 2026-08-30T06:15:43Z User contributions MediaWiki 1.43.1 http://www.baka-tsuki.org/project/index.php?title=Denpa_Onna_to_Seishun_Otoko&diff=588834 2026-08-29T13:28:11Z

<p>Bob Morane: /* Volume SF (Sukoshi Fushigi) Version */</p> <hr /> <div>{{Status|Active}}<br /> <br /> [[File:DTS Cover Vol 01.jpg|thumb|300px]]<br /> <br /> The Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko series is also available in the following languages:<br /> *[[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko ~Spanish~|Spanish (Spanish)]]<br /> (Note: Translation progress varies for each version.) <br /> <br /> Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko (電波女と青春男) is a light novel series written by Iruma Hitoma and illustrated by Buriki. The series is published by ASCII Media Works and is completed with eight volumes (nine with side-story volumes).<br /> <br /> ==Story Synopsis==<br /> My plan of acquiring 'Youth-points' (specifically, a sweet and sour high school life spent with girls) will begin here, in the city watched by the aliens. “The Earth is in danger,” according to the crazy, mattress-wearing cousin, Touwa Erio, who lives under the same roof as I do. The obstacle of my grand scheme, she is also the reason of many Youth-points lost. Even though the meeting with the healing and hearty Ryuuko and the cosplaying Maekawa-san, who scares even professional models, is increasing my Youth-points dramatically, the futon-wearing girl is stuck with me… What is happening to my youth?<br /> <br /> ==Translation==<br /> === [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Registration Page|Registration]] ===<br /> <br /> Translators are asked to [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Registration Page|register]] for chapters they want to work on.<br /> <br /> ===Format Standards===<br /> '''Every Chapter (after editing) must conform to the general format guidelines.'''<br /> *[[Format guideline|General Format/Style Guideline]]<br /> *[[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Guidelines|Project-Specific Guidelines: Format, Names, and Terminology]]<br /> <br /> ==Updates==<br /> *Auguest 28, 2026 - Volume 8 Completed<br /> *Auguest 23, 2026 - Volume 7 Completed<br /> *Auguest 11, 2026 - Volume 6 Completed<br /> *July 30, 2026 - Volume 5 Completed<br /> *March 8, 2020 - ''Volume 5 Chapter 1 Completed''<br /> *August 8, 2018 - ''Volume 4 Afterword Completed''<br /> *August 8, 2018 - ''Volume 4 Chapter 5 Completed''<br /> *January 26, 2018 - ''Volume 4 Chapter 4 Completed''<br /> *November 27, 2017 - ''Volume 4 Chapter 3 Completed''<br /> *July 2, 2017 - ''Volume 4 Chapter 2 Completed''<br /> *May 21, 2017 - ''Volume 4 Chapter 1 Completed''<br /> *March 12, 2017 - '''Volume 3 Completed'''<br /> *January 23, 2016 - '''Volume 2 Completed'''<br /> *September 28, 2015 - '''Volume 1 Completed'''<br /> <br /> == Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko ==<br /> [https://rektnovelcompilations.wordpress.com/denpa-onna-to-seishun-otako/ For PDFs/Epubs]<br /> === Volume 1‎ ([[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume1|Full Text]])===<br /> [[File:DTS Cover Vol 01.jpg|thumb|x200px]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume1 Illustrations|Novel Illustrations]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume1 Chapter1|Chapter 1: City of the Aliens]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume1 Chapter2|Chapter 2: Perverse Observation]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume1 Chapter3|Chapter 3: &quot;Question to self: What if I got three jokers on hand during a game of Old Maid?&quot;]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume1 Chapter4|Chapter 4: The Lost Teenage Paranoia]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume1 Chapter5|Chapter 5: The Inconceivable Moment of the Crawling Girl]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume1 Chapter6|Chapter 6: Aliens of the City]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume1 Afterword|Afterword]]<br /> <br /> &lt;br style=&quot;clear:both&quot; /&gt;<br /> <br /> === Volume 2‎ ([[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume2|Full Text]])===<br /> [[File:DTS Cover Vol 02.jpg|thumb|x200px]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume2 Illustrations|Novel Illustrations]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume2 Chapter1|Chapter 1: Kyaah—]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume2 Chapter2|Chapter 2: The Melancholy of Thanksgiving]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume2 Chapter3|Chapter 3: Ryuu'ko'←(emphasis)san's, whatcha call it, trouble?]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume2 Chapter4|Chapter 4: In the Rain of an Extraterrestrial Town]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume2 Chapter5|Chapter 5: Cosplay Seventy-two — Maekawa-san and Work Status]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume2 Chapter6|Chapter 6: The Day That Will Become Someone's Memory]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume2 Chapter7|Chapter 7: The Prayer of Tsiolkovsky]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume2 Chapter8|Chapter 8: The E.T's Workplace]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume2 Afterword|Afterword]]<br /> <br /> &lt;br style=&quot;clear:both&quot; /&gt;<br /> <br /> === Volume 3 ([[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume3|Full Text]])‎ ===<br /> [[File:DTS Cover Vol 03.jpg|thumb|x200px]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume3 Illustrations|Novel Illustrations]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume3 Prologue|Prologue: Summer This Year]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume3 Chapter1|Chapter 1: Local-only Alien Incident]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume3 Chapter2|Chapter 2: The Boy's Strange Summer]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume3 Chapter3|Chapter 3: The Girl Under the Eave]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume3 Chapter4|Chapter 4: The Noisy Summer]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume3 Chapter5|Chapter 5: In This Summer: Basketball, Superpower, Stargazing, Festival, Baseball and Meme-san (discontinue)]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume3 Chapter6|Chapter 6: 0.00000000198cm Per Second]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume3 Chapter7|Chapter 7: The Midnight Sun]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume3 Chapter8|Chapter 8: How Many Shining Stars Are There?]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume3 Afterwords|Afterword]]<br /> <br /> &lt;br style=&quot;clear:both&quot; /&gt;<br /> <br /> === Volume 4 ([[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume4|Full Text]])‎ ===<br /> [[File:DTS Cover Vol 04.jpg|thumb|x200px]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume4 Illustrations|Novel Illustrations]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume4 Chapter1|Chapter 1: Runaway Base]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume4 Chapter2|Chapter 2: Peering at First Love]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume4 Chapter3|Chapter 3: Skyward Tomorrow]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume4 Chapter4|Chapter 4: The Distance Between My and Her Moon]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume4 Chapter5|Chapter 5: E.R.O]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume4 Afterword|Afterword]]<br /> &lt;br style=&quot;clear:both&quot; /&gt;<br /> <br /> === Volume 5 ([[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume5|Full Text]])‎ ===<br /> [[File:DTS Cover Vol 05.jpg|thumb|x200px]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume5 Illustrations|Novel Illustrations]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume5 Chapter1|Chapter 1 - The End of the Beginning of the Summer, Continued]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume5 Chapter2|Chapter 2 - ''Chanbara'' Alien]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume5 Chapter3|Chapter 3 - The Banquet of Those Unsure of What &quot;In Full Swing&quot; Means]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume5 Chapter4|Chapter 4 - Tomorrow is a Youthful Hangover]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume5 Chapter5|Chapter 5 - When an Alien Who Traveled from Afar Comes Sightseeing at the Local Beach]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume5 Chapter6|Epilogue - Cradle at Twilight]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume5 Chapter7|Afterword]]<br /> <br /> &lt;br style=&quot;clear:both&quot; /&gt;<br /> <br /> === Volume 6 ([[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume6|Full Text]]) ===<br /> [[File:DTS Cover Vol 06.jpg|thumb|x200px]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume6 Illustrations|Novel Illustrations]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume6 Prologue|Prologue - School Newspaper Article: Culture Festival Preparations]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume6 Chapter1|Chapter 1 - Tokaido Melos]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume6 Chapter2|Chapter 2 - At the End of Star Dust]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume6 Chapter3|Chapter 3 - StaRMan's Children]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume6 Chapter4|Chapter 4 - When the Storm Comes, the Bucket Maker Goes Bankrupt]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume6 Chapter5|Chapter 5 - Attraction Romanticist]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume6 Epilogue|Epilogue - School Newspaper Extra Edition: Culture Festival Special]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume6 Afterword|Afterword]]<br /> <br /> &lt;br style=&quot;clear:both&quot; /&gt;<br /> <br /> === Volume 7 ([[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume7|Full Text]]) ===<br /> [[File:DTS Cover Vol 07.jpg|thumb|x200px]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume7 Illustrations|Novel Illustrations]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume7 Prologue|Prologue - If Space Stretched Out Beyond]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume7 Chapter1|Chapter 1 - Ending No. 4: Niwa-san]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume7 Chapter2|Chapter 2 - Ending No. 3: Sharing Happiness]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume7 Chapter3|Chapter 3 - Ending No. 2: The Earthling in the Town Observed by Aliens]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume7 Chapter4|Chapter 4 - Bad Ending No. 1: Denpa Otoko]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume7 Chapter5|Chapter 5 - Ending No. 2559: Do Spacesuits Dream of Silkworms?]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume7 Chapter6|Chapter 6 - Ending No. 5: Together with Meme-tan]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume7 Chapter7|Chapter 7 - The Day Off of a (Beginner) Seishun Onna]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume7 Chapter8|Next Chapter - Daydream, Invasion]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume7 Afterword|Afterword]]<br /> <br /> &lt;br style=&quot;clear:both&quot; /&gt;<br /> <br /> === Volume 8 ([[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume8|Full Text]]) ===<br /> [[File:DTS Cover Vol 08.jpg|thumb|x200px]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume8 Illustrations|Novel Illustrations]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume8 Chapter1|Chapter 1 – Are You Telling Me To Remove My Futon?]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume8 Chapter2|Chapter 2 – Even if I Accept That Dreams Don't Go As Expected]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume8 Chapter3-A|Chapter 3-A – Chasing and Being Chased]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume8 Chapter3-B|Chapter 3-B – Driven by Dreams and Hopes, Lying Beneath the Futon and Reality]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume8 Chapter3-C|Chapter 3-C – Things That Cannot Be Surpassed]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume8 Chapter4|Chapter 4 – Fighting For The Light]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume8 Curtain Call|Curtain Call – The Rocket to Ending No1]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume8 Afterword|Afterword]]<br /> <br /> &lt;br style=&quot;clear:both&quot; /&gt;<br /> <br /> === Volume SF (''Sukoshi Fushigi'') Version ===<br /> [[File:DTS Vol SF 01.jpeg|thumb|x200px]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:VolumeSF Illustrations|Novel Illustrations]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:VolumeSF Prologue|Prologue]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:VolumeSF Chapter1|Chapter 1]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:VolumeSF Chapter2|Chapter 2]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:VolumeSF Chapter3|Chapter 3]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:VolumeSF Chapter4|Chapter 4]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:VolumeSF Epilogue|Epilogue]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:VolumeSF Afterword|Afterword]]<br /> <br /> === Short Stories ===<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Short Stories 01|Tsuri Onna to Chounouryoku Shoujo]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Short Stories 02|(Moto) Kami-sama Onna to Uchuu Shoujo]]<br /> <br /> === Mini Stories ===<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Mini Stories 01|A Youthful Man and his Sweet and Cheerful Comrades (1)]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Mini Stories 02|A Youthful Man and his Sweet and Cheerful Comrades (2)]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Mini Stories 03|On a Summer Day]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Mini Stories 04|After the Ending of Denpa Onna]]<br /> <br /> <br /> &lt;br style=&quot;clear:both&quot; /&gt;<br /> <br /> ==Project Staff==<br /> * Supervisor:<br /> * Project Manager:<br /> <br /> ==== Translators ====<br /> * [[User:Zephyrus|Zephyrus]]<br /> * [[User:Magykalman|Magykalman]]<br /> * [[User:Jasonjapi123|zWei.Yaasus]]<br /> * [[User:Bob_Morane|Bob Morane]]<br /> <br /> ==== Editors ====<br /> <br /> * [[User:Magykalman|Magykalman]]<br /> * [[User:Jasonjapi123|zWei.Yaasus]]<br /> <br /> ==Series Overview==<br /> <br /> 電波女と青春男 (電撃文庫) [文庫] (January 7, 2009) - ISBN 978-4048674683&lt;br /&gt;<br /> 電波女と青春男〈2〉(電撃文庫) [文庫] (May 10, 2009) - ISBN 978-4048678100&lt;br /&gt;<br /> 電波女と青春男 3 (電撃文庫 い 9-12) [文庫] (Nov 10, 2009) - ISBN 978-4048681384&lt;br /&gt;<br /> 電波女と青春男〈4〉(電撃文庫) [文庫] (March 2010) - ISBN 978-4048683951&lt;br /&gt;<br /> 電波女と青春男〈5〉(電撃文庫) [文庫] (June 10, 2010) - ISBN 978-4048685962&lt;br /&gt;<br /> 電波女と青春男〈6〉(電撃文庫) [文庫] (Sep 10, 2010) - ISBN 978-4048688802&lt;br /&gt;<br /> 電波女と青春男〈7〉(電撃文庫) [文庫] (Dec 10, 2010) - ISBN 978-4048701259&lt;br /&gt;<br /> 電波女と青春男〈8〉(電撃文庫) [文庫] (April 8, 2011) - ISBN 978-4048704304&lt;br /&gt;<br /> 電波女と青春男 SF（すこしふしぎ）版 (April 10, 2011) - ISBN 978-4-04-870470-0&lt;br /&gt;<br /> 釣り女と超能力少女 (February 10, 2012) - No ISBN (Internet publication)&lt;br /&gt;<br /> （元）神様女と宇宙少女 (February 10, 2012) - No ISBN (Internet publication)<br /> <br /> [[Category:Light novel (English)]]<br /> [[Category:Genre - Harem]]<br /> [[Category:Hitoma Iruma]]</div>

Bob Morane http://www.baka-tsuki.org/project/index.php?title=File:DTS_Vol_SF_22.jpg&diff=588831 2026-08-28T17:18:55Z

<p>Bob Morane: </p> <hr /> <div></div>

Bob Morane http://www.baka-tsuki.org/project/index.php?title=File:DTS_Vol_SF_21.jpg&diff=588830 2026-08-28T17:18:51Z

<p>Bob Morane: </p> <hr /> <div></div>

Bob Morane http://www.baka-tsuki.org/project/index.php?title=File:DTS_Vol_SF_20.jpg&diff=588829 2026-08-28T17:18:16Z

<p>Bob Morane: </p> <hr /> <div></div>

Bob Morane http://www.baka-tsuki.org/project/index.php?title=File:DTS_Vol_SF_19.jpg&diff=588828 2026-08-28T17:18:06Z

<p>Bob Morane: </p> <hr /> <div></div>

Bob Morane http://www.baka-tsuki.org/project/index.php?title=File:DTS_Vol_SF_18.jpg&diff=588827 2026-08-28T17:17:58Z

<p>Bob Morane: </p> <hr /> <div></div>

Bob Morane http://www.baka-tsuki.org/project/index.php?title=File:DTS_Vol_SF_17.jpg&diff=588826 2026-08-28T17:17:50Z

<p>Bob Morane: </p> <hr /> <div></div>

Bob Morane http://www.baka-tsuki.org/project/index.php?title=File:DTS_Vol_SF_16.jpg&diff=588825 2026-08-28T17:17:41Z

<p>Bob Morane: </p> <hr /> <div></div>

Bob Morane http://www.baka-tsuki.org/project/index.php?title=File:DTS_Vol_SF_15.jpg&diff=588824 2026-08-28T17:17:29Z

<p>Bob Morane: </p> <hr /> <div></div>

Bob Morane http://www.baka-tsuki.org/project/index.php?title=File:DTS_Vol_SF_14.jpg&diff=588823 2026-08-28T17:17:21Z

<p>Bob Morane: </p> <hr /> <div></div>

Bob Morane http://www.baka-tsuki.org/project/index.php?title=File:DTS_Vol_SF_13.jpg&diff=588822 2026-08-28T17:17:14Z

<p>Bob Morane: </p> <hr /> <div></div>

Bob Morane http://www.baka-tsuki.org/project/index.php?title=File:DTS_Vol_SF_12.jpg&diff=588821 2026-08-28T17:17:06Z

<p>Bob Morane: </p> <hr /> <div></div>

Bob Morane http://www.baka-tsuki.org/project/index.php?title=File:DTS_Vol_SF_11.jpg&diff=588820 2026-08-28T17:16:55Z

<p>Bob Morane: </p> <hr /> <div></div>

Bob Morane http://www.baka-tsuki.org/project/index.php?title=File:DTS_Vol_SF_10.jpg&diff=588819 2026-08-28T17:16:27Z

<p>Bob Morane: </p> <hr /> <div></div>

Bob Morane http://www.baka-tsuki.org/project/index.php?title=File:DTS_Vol_SF_09.jpg&diff=588818 2026-08-28T17:16:18Z

<p>Bob Morane: </p> <hr /> <div></div>

Bob Morane http://www.baka-tsuki.org/project/index.php?title=File:DTS_Vol_SF_08.jpg&diff=588817 2026-08-28T17:16:08Z

<p>Bob Morane: </p> <hr /> <div></div>

Bob Morane http://www.baka-tsuki.org/project/index.php?title=File:DTS_Vol_SF_07.jpg&diff=588816 2026-08-28T17:15:58Z

<p>Bob Morane: </p> <hr /> <div></div>

Bob Morane http://www.baka-tsuki.org/project/index.php?title=File:DTS_Vol_SF_06.jpg&diff=588815 2026-08-28T17:15:48Z

<p>Bob Morane: </p> <hr /> <div></div>

Bob Morane http://www.baka-tsuki.org/project/index.php?title=File:DTS_Vol_SF_05.jpg&diff=588814 2026-08-28T17:15:30Z

<p>Bob Morane: </p> <hr /> <div></div>

Bob Morane http://www.baka-tsuki.org/project/index.php?title=File:DTS_Vol_SF_04.jpg&diff=588813 2026-08-28T17:15:18Z

<p>Bob Morane: </p> <hr /> <div></div>

Bob Morane http://www.baka-tsuki.org/project/index.php?title=File:DTS_Vol_SF_03.jpg&diff=588812 2026-08-28T17:15:07Z

<p>Bob Morane: </p> <hr /> <div></div>

Bob Morane http://www.baka-tsuki.org/project/index.php?title=File:DTS_Vol_SF_02.jpg&diff=588811 2026-08-28T17:14:57Z

<p>Bob Morane: </p> <hr /> <div></div>

Bob Morane http://www.baka-tsuki.org/project/index.php?title=File:DTS_Vol_SF_01.jpeg&diff=588810 2026-08-28T17:14:38Z

<p>Bob Morane: </p> <hr /> <div></div>

Bob Morane http://www.baka-tsuki.org/project/index.php?title=Denpa_Onna_to_Seishun_Otoko:VolumeSF_Illustrations&diff=588809 2026-08-28T17:14:06Z

<p>Bob Morane: Created page with &quot;==Novel Illustrations== These are the novel illustrations that were included in volume 8. &lt;gallery&gt; File:DTS Vol SF 01.jpeg File:DTS Vol SF 02.jpg File:DTS Vol SF 03.jpg File:DTS Vol SF 04.jpg File:DTS Vol SF 05.jpg File:DTS Vol SF 06.jpg File:DTS Vol SF 07.jpg File:DTS Vol SF 08.jpg File:DTS Vol SF 09.jpg File:DTS Vol SF 10.jpg File:DTS Vol SF 11.jpg File:DTS Vol SF 12.jpg File:DTS Vol SF 13.jpg File:DTS Vol SF 14.jpg File:DTS Vol SF 15.jpg File:DTS Vol SF 16.jpg File:...&quot;</p> <hr /> <div>==Novel Illustrations==<br /> These are the novel illustrations that were included in volume 8.<br /> <br /> &lt;gallery&gt;<br /> File:DTS Vol SF 01.jpeg<br /> File:DTS Vol SF 02.jpg<br /> File:DTS Vol SF 03.jpg<br /> File:DTS Vol SF 04.jpg<br /> File:DTS Vol SF 05.jpg<br /> File:DTS Vol SF 06.jpg<br /> File:DTS Vol SF 07.jpg<br /> File:DTS Vol SF 08.jpg<br /> File:DTS Vol SF 09.jpg<br /> File:DTS Vol SF 10.jpg<br /> File:DTS Vol SF 11.jpg<br /> File:DTS Vol SF 12.jpg<br /> File:DTS Vol SF 13.jpg<br /> File:DTS Vol SF 14.jpg<br /> File:DTS Vol SF 15.jpg<br /> File:DTS Vol SF 16.jpg<br /> File:DTS Vol SF 17.jpg<br /> File:DTS Vol SF 18.jpg<br /> File:DTS Vol SF 19.jpg<br /> File:DTS Vol SF 20.jpg<br /> File:DTS Vol SF 21.jpg<br /> File:DTS Vol SF 22.jpg<br /> &lt;/gallery&gt;&lt;noinclude&gt;<br /> {| border=&quot;1&quot; cellpadding=&quot;5&quot; cellspacing=&quot;0&quot; style=&quot;margin: 1em 1em 1em 0; background: #f9f9f9; border: 1px #aaaaaa solid; padding: 0.2em; border-collapse: collapse;&quot;<br /> |-<br /> | Return to [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko|Main Page]]<br /> | Forward to [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:VolumeSF_Prologue|Prologue]] <br /> |-<br /> |}<br /> &lt;/noinclude&gt;</div>

Bob Morane http://www.baka-tsuki.org/project/index.php?title=Denpa_Onna_to_Seishun_Otoko&diff=588808 2026-08-28T16:55:31Z

<p>Bob Morane: /* Updates */</p> <hr /> <div>{{Status|Active}}<br /> <br /> [[File:DTS Cover Vol 01.jpg|thumb|300px]]<br /> <br /> The Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko series is also available in the following languages:<br /> *[[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko ~Spanish~|Spanish (Spanish)]]<br /> (Note: Translation progress varies for each version.) <br /> <br /> Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko (電波女と青春男) is a light novel series written by Iruma Hitoma and illustrated by Buriki. The series is published by ASCII Media Works and is completed with eight volumes (nine with side-story volumes).<br /> <br /> ==Story Synopsis==<br /> My plan of acquiring 'Youth-points' (specifically, a sweet and sour high school life spent with girls) will begin here, in the city watched by the aliens. “The Earth is in danger,” according to the crazy, mattress-wearing cousin, Touwa Erio, who lives under the same roof as I do. The obstacle of my grand scheme, she is also the reason of many Youth-points lost. Even though the meeting with the healing and hearty Ryuuko and the cosplaying Maekawa-san, who scares even professional models, is increasing my Youth-points dramatically, the futon-wearing girl is stuck with me… What is happening to my youth?<br /> <br /> ==Translation==<br /> === [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Registration Page|Registration]] ===<br /> <br /> Translators are asked to [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Registration Page|register]] for chapters they want to work on.<br /> <br /> ===Format Standards===<br /> '''Every Chapter (after editing) must conform to the general format guidelines.'''<br /> *[[Format guideline|General Format/Style Guideline]]<br /> *[[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Guidelines|Project-Specific Guidelines: Format, Names, and Terminology]]<br /> <br /> ==Updates==<br /> *Auguest 28, 2026 - Volume 8 Completed<br /> *Auguest 23, 2026 - Volume 7 Completed<br /> *Auguest 11, 2026 - Volume 6 Completed<br /> *July 30, 2026 - Volume 5 Completed<br /> *March 8, 2020 - ''Volume 5 Chapter 1 Completed''<br /> *August 8, 2018 - ''Volume 4 Afterword Completed''<br /> *August 8, 2018 - ''Volume 4 Chapter 5 Completed''<br /> *January 26, 2018 - ''Volume 4 Chapter 4 Completed''<br /> *November 27, 2017 - ''Volume 4 Chapter 3 Completed''<br /> *July 2, 2017 - ''Volume 4 Chapter 2 Completed''<br /> *May 21, 2017 - ''Volume 4 Chapter 1 Completed''<br /> *March 12, 2017 - '''Volume 3 Completed'''<br /> *January 23, 2016 - '''Volume 2 Completed'''<br /> *September 28, 2015 - '''Volume 1 Completed'''<br /> <br /> == Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko ==<br /> [https://rektnovelcompilations.wordpress.com/denpa-onna-to-seishun-otako/ For PDFs/Epubs]<br /> === Volume 1‎ ([[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume1|Full Text]])===<br /> [[File:DTS Cover Vol 01.jpg|thumb|x200px]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume1 Illustrations|Novel Illustrations]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume1 Chapter1|Chapter 1: City of the Aliens]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume1 Chapter2|Chapter 2: Perverse Observation]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume1 Chapter3|Chapter 3: &quot;Question to self: What if I got three jokers on hand during a game of Old Maid?&quot;]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume1 Chapter4|Chapter 4: The Lost Teenage Paranoia]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume1 Chapter5|Chapter 5: The Inconceivable Moment of the Crawling Girl]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume1 Chapter6|Chapter 6: Aliens of the City]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume1 Afterword|Afterword]]<br /> <br /> &lt;br style=&quot;clear:both&quot; /&gt;<br /> <br /> === Volume 2‎ ([[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume2|Full Text]])===<br /> [[File:DTS Cover Vol 02.jpg|thumb|x200px]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume2 Illustrations|Novel Illustrations]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume2 Chapter1|Chapter 1: Kyaah—]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume2 Chapter2|Chapter 2: The Melancholy of Thanksgiving]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume2 Chapter3|Chapter 3: Ryuu'ko'←(emphasis)san's, whatcha call it, trouble?]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume2 Chapter4|Chapter 4: In the Rain of an Extraterrestrial Town]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume2 Chapter5|Chapter 5: Cosplay Seventy-two — Maekawa-san and Work Status]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume2 Chapter6|Chapter 6: The Day That Will Become Someone's Memory]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume2 Chapter7|Chapter 7: The Prayer of Tsiolkovsky]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume2 Chapter8|Chapter 8: The E.T's Workplace]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume2 Afterword|Afterword]]<br /> <br /> &lt;br style=&quot;clear:both&quot; /&gt;<br /> <br /> === Volume 3 ([[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume3|Full Text]])‎ ===<br /> [[File:DTS Cover Vol 03.jpg|thumb|x200px]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume3 Illustrations|Novel Illustrations]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume3 Prologue|Prologue: Summer This Year]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume3 Chapter1|Chapter 1: Local-only Alien Incident]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume3 Chapter2|Chapter 2: The Boy's Strange Summer]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume3 Chapter3|Chapter 3: The Girl Under the Eave]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume3 Chapter4|Chapter 4: The Noisy Summer]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume3 Chapter5|Chapter 5: In This Summer: Basketball, Superpower, Stargazing, Festival, Baseball and Meme-san (discontinue)]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume3 Chapter6|Chapter 6: 0.00000000198cm Per Second]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume3 Chapter7|Chapter 7: The Midnight Sun]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume3 Chapter8|Chapter 8: How Many Shining Stars Are There?]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume3 Afterwords|Afterword]]<br /> <br /> &lt;br style=&quot;clear:both&quot; /&gt;<br /> <br /> === Volume 4 ([[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume4|Full Text]])‎ ===<br /> [[File:DTS Cover Vol 04.jpg|thumb|x200px]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume4 Illustrations|Novel Illustrations]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume4 Chapter1|Chapter 1: Runaway Base]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume4 Chapter2|Chapter 2: Peering at First Love]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume4 Chapter3|Chapter 3: Skyward Tomorrow]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume4 Chapter4|Chapter 4: The Distance Between My and Her Moon]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume4 Chapter5|Chapter 5: E.R.O]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume4 Afterword|Afterword]]<br /> &lt;br style=&quot;clear:both&quot; /&gt;<br /> <br /> === Volume 5 ([[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume5|Full Text]])‎ ===<br /> [[File:DTS Cover Vol 05.jpg|thumb|x200px]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume5 Illustrations|Novel Illustrations]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume5 Chapter1|Chapter 1 - The End of the Beginning of the Summer, Continued]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume5 Chapter2|Chapter 2 - ''Chanbara'' Alien]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume5 Chapter3|Chapter 3 - The Banquet of Those Unsure of What &quot;In Full Swing&quot; Means]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume5 Chapter4|Chapter 4 - Tomorrow is a Youthful Hangover]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume5 Chapter5|Chapter 5 - When an Alien Who Traveled from Afar Comes Sightseeing at the Local Beach]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume5 Chapter6|Epilogue - Cradle at Twilight]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume5 Chapter7|Afterword]]<br /> <br /> &lt;br style=&quot;clear:both&quot; /&gt;<br /> <br /> === Volume 6 ([[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume6|Full Text]]) ===<br /> [[File:DTS Cover Vol 06.jpg|thumb|x200px]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume6 Illustrations|Novel Illustrations]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume6 Prologue|Prologue - School Newspaper Article: Culture Festival Preparations]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume6 Chapter1|Chapter 1 - Tokaido Melos]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume6 Chapter2|Chapter 2 - At the End of Star Dust]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume6 Chapter3|Chapter 3 - StaRMan's Children]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume6 Chapter4|Chapter 4 - When the Storm Comes, the Bucket Maker Goes Bankrupt]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume6 Chapter5|Chapter 5 - Attraction Romanticist]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume6 Epilogue|Epilogue - School Newspaper Extra Edition: Culture Festival Special]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume6 Afterword|Afterword]]<br /> <br /> &lt;br style=&quot;clear:both&quot; /&gt;<br /> <br /> === Volume 7 ([[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume7|Full Text]]) ===<br /> [[File:DTS Cover Vol 07.jpg|thumb|x200px]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume7 Illustrations|Novel Illustrations]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume7 Prologue|Prologue - If Space Stretched Out Beyond]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume7 Chapter1|Chapter 1 - Ending No. 4: Niwa-san]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume7 Chapter2|Chapter 2 - Ending No. 3: Sharing Happiness]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume7 Chapter3|Chapter 3 - Ending No. 2: The Earthling in the Town Observed by Aliens]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume7 Chapter4|Chapter 4 - Bad Ending No. 1: Denpa Otoko]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume7 Chapter5|Chapter 5 - Ending No. 2559: Do Spacesuits Dream of Silkworms?]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume7 Chapter6|Chapter 6 - Ending No. 5: Together with Meme-tan]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume7 Chapter7|Chapter 7 - The Day Off of a (Beginner) Seishun Onna]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume7 Chapter8|Next Chapter - Daydream, Invasion]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume7 Afterword|Afterword]]<br /> <br /> &lt;br style=&quot;clear:both&quot; /&gt;<br /> <br /> === Volume 8 ([[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume8|Full Text]]) ===<br /> [[File:DTS Cover Vol 08.jpg|thumb|x200px]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume8 Illustrations|Novel Illustrations]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume8 Chapter1|Chapter 1 – Are You Telling Me To Remove My Futon?]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume8 Chapter2|Chapter 2 – Even if I Accept That Dreams Don't Go As Expected]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume8 Chapter3-A|Chapter 3-A – Chasing and Being Chased]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume8 Chapter3-B|Chapter 3-B – Driven by Dreams and Hopes, Lying Beneath the Futon and Reality]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume8 Chapter3-C|Chapter 3-C – Things That Cannot Be Surpassed]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume8 Chapter4|Chapter 4 – Fighting For The Light]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume8 Curtain Call|Curtain Call – The Rocket to Ending No1]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume8 Afterword|Afterword]]<br /> <br /> &lt;br style=&quot;clear:both&quot; /&gt;<br /> <br /> === Volume SF (''Sukoshi Fushigi'') Version ===<br /> [[File:DTS Cover Vol SF.jpg|thumb|x200px]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:VolumeSF Illustrations|Novel Illustrations]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:VolumeSF Prologue|Prologue]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:VolumeSF Chapter1|Chapter 1]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:VolumeSF Chapter2|Chapter 2]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:VolumeSF Chapter3|Chapter 3]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:VolumeSF Chapter4|Chapter 4]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:VolumeSF Epilogue|Epilogue]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:VolumeSF Afterword|Afterword]]<br /> <br /> === Short Stories ===<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Short Stories 01|Tsuri Onna to Chounouryoku Shoujo]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Short Stories 02|(Moto) Kami-sama Onna to Uchuu Shoujo]]<br /> <br /> === Mini Stories ===<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Mini Stories 01|A Youthful Man and his Sweet and Cheerful Comrades (1)]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Mini Stories 02|A Youthful Man and his Sweet and Cheerful Comrades (2)]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Mini Stories 03|On a Summer Day]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Mini Stories 04|After the Ending of Denpa Onna]]<br /> <br /> <br /> &lt;br style=&quot;clear:both&quot; /&gt;<br /> <br /> ==Project Staff==<br /> * Supervisor:<br /> * Project Manager:<br /> <br /> ==== Translators ====<br /> * [[User:Zephyrus|Zephyrus]]<br /> * [[User:Magykalman|Magykalman]]<br /> * [[User:Jasonjapi123|zWei.Yaasus]]<br /> * [[User:Bob_Morane|Bob Morane]]<br /> <br /> ==== Editors ====<br /> <br /> * [[User:Magykalman|Magykalman]]<br /> * [[User:Jasonjapi123|zWei.Yaasus]]<br /> <br /> ==Series Overview==<br /> <br /> 電波女と青春男 (電撃文庫) [文庫] (January 7, 2009) - ISBN 978-4048674683&lt;br /&gt;<br /> 電波女と青春男〈2〉(電撃文庫) [文庫] (May 10, 2009) - ISBN 978-4048678100&lt;br /&gt;<br /> 電波女と青春男 3 (電撃文庫 い 9-12) [文庫] (Nov 10, 2009) - ISBN 978-4048681384&lt;br /&gt;<br /> 電波女と青春男〈4〉(電撃文庫) [文庫] (March 2010) - ISBN 978-4048683951&lt;br /&gt;<br /> 電波女と青春男〈5〉(電撃文庫) [文庫] (June 10, 2010) - ISBN 978-4048685962&lt;br /&gt;<br /> 電波女と青春男〈6〉(電撃文庫) [文庫] (Sep 10, 2010) - ISBN 978-4048688802&lt;br /&gt;<br /> 電波女と青春男〈7〉(電撃文庫) [文庫] (Dec 10, 2010) - ISBN 978-4048701259&lt;br /&gt;<br /> 電波女と青春男〈8〉(電撃文庫) [文庫] (April 8, 2011) - ISBN 978-4048704304&lt;br /&gt;<br /> 電波女と青春男 SF（すこしふしぎ）版 (April 10, 2011) - ISBN 978-4-04-870470-0&lt;br /&gt;<br /> 釣り女と超能力少女 (February 10, 2012) - No ISBN (Internet publication)&lt;br /&gt;<br /> （元）神様女と宇宙少女 (February 10, 2012) - No ISBN (Internet publication)<br /> <br /> [[Category:Light novel (English)]]<br /> [[Category:Genre - Harem]]<br /> [[Category:Hitoma Iruma]]</div>

Bob Morane http://www.baka-tsuki.org/project/index.php?title=Denpa_Onna_to_Seishun_Otoko&diff=588807 2026-08-28T16:54:46Z

<p>Bob Morane: /* Volume SF (Sukoshi Fushigi) Version */</p> <hr /> <div>{{Status|Active}}<br /> <br /> [[File:DTS Cover Vol 01.jpg|thumb|300px]]<br /> <br /> The Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko series is also available in the following languages:<br /> *[[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko ~Spanish~|Spanish (Spanish)]]<br /> (Note: Translation progress varies for each version.) <br /> <br /> Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko (電波女と青春男) is a light novel series written by Iruma Hitoma and illustrated by Buriki. The series is published by ASCII Media Works and is completed with eight volumes (nine with side-story volumes).<br /> <br /> ==Story Synopsis==<br /> My plan of acquiring 'Youth-points' (specifically, a sweet and sour high school life spent with girls) will begin here, in the city watched by the aliens. “The Earth is in danger,” according to the crazy, mattress-wearing cousin, Touwa Erio, who lives under the same roof as I do. The obstacle of my grand scheme, she is also the reason of many Youth-points lost. Even though the meeting with the healing and hearty Ryuuko and the cosplaying Maekawa-san, who scares even professional models, is increasing my Youth-points dramatically, the futon-wearing girl is stuck with me… What is happening to my youth?<br /> <br /> ==Translation==<br /> === [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Registration Page|Registration]] ===<br /> <br /> Translators are asked to [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Registration Page|register]] for chapters they want to work on.<br /> <br /> ===Format Standards===<br /> '''Every Chapter (after editing) must conform to the general format guidelines.'''<br /> *[[Format guideline|General Format/Style Guideline]]<br /> *[[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Guidelines|Project-Specific Guidelines: Format, Names, and Terminology]]<br /> <br /> ==Updates==<br /> *Auguest 23, 2026 - Volume 7 Completed<br /> *Auguest 11, 2026 - Volume 6 Completed<br /> *July 30, 2026 - Volume 5 Completed<br /> *March 8, 2020 - ''Volume 5 Chapter 1 Completed''<br /> *August 8, 2018 - ''Volume 4 Afterword Completed''<br /> *August 8, 2018 - ''Volume 4 Chapter 5 Completed''<br /> *January 26, 2018 - ''Volume 4 Chapter 4 Completed''<br /> *November 27, 2017 - ''Volume 4 Chapter 3 Completed''<br /> *July 2, 2017 - ''Volume 4 Chapter 2 Completed''<br /> *May 21, 2017 - ''Volume 4 Chapter 1 Completed''<br /> *March 12, 2017 - '''Volume 3 Completed'''<br /> *January 23, 2016 - '''Volume 2 Completed'''<br /> *September 28, 2015 - '''Volume 1 Completed'''<br /> <br /> == Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko ==<br /> [https://rektnovelcompilations.wordpress.com/denpa-onna-to-seishun-otako/ For PDFs/Epubs]<br /> === Volume 1‎ ([[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume1|Full Text]])===<br /> [[File:DTS Cover Vol 01.jpg|thumb|x200px]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume1 Illustrations|Novel Illustrations]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume1 Chapter1|Chapter 1: City of the Aliens]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume1 Chapter2|Chapter 2: Perverse Observation]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume1 Chapter3|Chapter 3: &quot;Question to self: What if I got three jokers on hand during a game of Old Maid?&quot;]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume1 Chapter4|Chapter 4: The Lost Teenage Paranoia]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume1 Chapter5|Chapter 5: The Inconceivable Moment of the Crawling Girl]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume1 Chapter6|Chapter 6: Aliens of the City]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume1 Afterword|Afterword]]<br /> <br /> &lt;br style=&quot;clear:both&quot; /&gt;<br /> <br /> === Volume 2‎ ([[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume2|Full Text]])===<br /> [[File:DTS Cover Vol 02.jpg|thumb|x200px]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume2 Illustrations|Novel Illustrations]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume2 Chapter1|Chapter 1: Kyaah—]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume2 Chapter2|Chapter 2: The Melancholy of Thanksgiving]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume2 Chapter3|Chapter 3: Ryuu'ko'←(emphasis)san's, whatcha call it, trouble?]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume2 Chapter4|Chapter 4: In the Rain of an Extraterrestrial Town]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume2 Chapter5|Chapter 5: Cosplay Seventy-two — Maekawa-san and Work Status]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume2 Chapter6|Chapter 6: The Day That Will Become Someone's Memory]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume2 Chapter7|Chapter 7: The Prayer of Tsiolkovsky]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume2 Chapter8|Chapter 8: The E.T's Workplace]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume2 Afterword|Afterword]]<br /> <br /> &lt;br style=&quot;clear:both&quot; /&gt;<br /> <br /> === Volume 3 ([[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume3|Full Text]])‎ ===<br /> [[File:DTS Cover Vol 03.jpg|thumb|x200px]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume3 Illustrations|Novel Illustrations]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume3 Prologue|Prologue: Summer This Year]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume3 Chapter1|Chapter 1: Local-only Alien Incident]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume3 Chapter2|Chapter 2: The Boy's Strange Summer]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume3 Chapter3|Chapter 3: The Girl Under the Eave]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume3 Chapter4|Chapter 4: The Noisy Summer]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume3 Chapter5|Chapter 5: In This Summer: Basketball, Superpower, Stargazing, Festival, Baseball and Meme-san (discontinue)]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume3 Chapter6|Chapter 6: 0.00000000198cm Per Second]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume3 Chapter7|Chapter 7: The Midnight Sun]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume3 Chapter8|Chapter 8: How Many Shining Stars Are There?]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume3 Afterwords|Afterword]]<br /> <br /> &lt;br style=&quot;clear:both&quot; /&gt;<br /> <br /> === Volume 4 ([[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume4|Full Text]])‎ ===<br /> [[File:DTS Cover Vol 04.jpg|thumb|x200px]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume4 Illustrations|Novel Illustrations]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume4 Chapter1|Chapter 1: Runaway Base]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume4 Chapter2|Chapter 2: Peering at First Love]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume4 Chapter3|Chapter 3: Skyward Tomorrow]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume4 Chapter4|Chapter 4: The Distance Between My and Her Moon]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume4 Chapter5|Chapter 5: E.R.O]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume4 Afterword|Afterword]]<br /> &lt;br style=&quot;clear:both&quot; /&gt;<br /> <br /> === Volume 5 ([[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume5|Full Text]])‎ ===<br /> [[File:DTS Cover Vol 05.jpg|thumb|x200px]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume5 Illustrations|Novel Illustrations]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume5 Chapter1|Chapter 1 - The End of the Beginning of the Summer, Continued]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume5 Chapter2|Chapter 2 - ''Chanbara'' Alien]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume5 Chapter3|Chapter 3 - The Banquet of Those Unsure of What &quot;In Full Swing&quot; Means]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume5 Chapter4|Chapter 4 - Tomorrow is a Youthful Hangover]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume5 Chapter5|Chapter 5 - When an Alien Who Traveled from Afar Comes Sightseeing at the Local Beach]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume5 Chapter6|Epilogue - Cradle at Twilight]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume5 Chapter7|Afterword]]<br /> <br /> &lt;br style=&quot;clear:both&quot; /&gt;<br /> <br /> === Volume 6 ([[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume6|Full Text]]) ===<br /> [[File:DTS Cover Vol 06.jpg|thumb|x200px]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume6 Illustrations|Novel Illustrations]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume6 Prologue|Prologue - School Newspaper Article: Culture Festival Preparations]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume6 Chapter1|Chapter 1 - Tokaido Melos]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume6 Chapter2|Chapter 2 - At the End of Star Dust]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume6 Chapter3|Chapter 3 - StaRMan's Children]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume6 Chapter4|Chapter 4 - When the Storm Comes, the Bucket Maker Goes Bankrupt]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume6 Chapter5|Chapter 5 - Attraction Romanticist]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume6 Epilogue|Epilogue - School Newspaper Extra Edition: Culture Festival Special]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume6 Afterword|Afterword]]<br /> <br /> &lt;br style=&quot;clear:both&quot; /&gt;<br /> <br /> === Volume 7 ([[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume7|Full Text]]) ===<br /> [[File:DTS Cover Vol 07.jpg|thumb|x200px]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume7 Illustrations|Novel Illustrations]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume7 Prologue|Prologue - If Space Stretched Out Beyond]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume7 Chapter1|Chapter 1 - Ending No. 4: Niwa-san]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume7 Chapter2|Chapter 2 - Ending No. 3: Sharing Happiness]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume7 Chapter3|Chapter 3 - Ending No. 2: The Earthling in the Town Observed by Aliens]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume7 Chapter4|Chapter 4 - Bad Ending No. 1: Denpa Otoko]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume7 Chapter5|Chapter 5 - Ending No. 2559: Do Spacesuits Dream of Silkworms?]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume7 Chapter6|Chapter 6 - Ending No. 5: Together with Meme-tan]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume7 Chapter7|Chapter 7 - The Day Off of a (Beginner) Seishun Onna]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume7 Chapter8|Next Chapter - Daydream, Invasion]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume7 Afterword|Afterword]]<br /> <br /> &lt;br style=&quot;clear:both&quot; /&gt;<br /> <br /> === Volume 8 ([[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume8|Full Text]]) ===<br /> [[File:DTS Cover Vol 08.jpg|thumb|x200px]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume8 Illustrations|Novel Illustrations]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume8 Chapter1|Chapter 1 – Are You Telling Me To Remove My Futon?]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume8 Chapter2|Chapter 2 – Even if I Accept That Dreams Don't Go As Expected]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume8 Chapter3-A|Chapter 3-A – Chasing and Being Chased]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume8 Chapter3-B|Chapter 3-B – Driven by Dreams and Hopes, Lying Beneath the Futon and Reality]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume8 Chapter3-C|Chapter 3-C – Things That Cannot Be Surpassed]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume8 Chapter4|Chapter 4 – Fighting For The Light]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume8 Curtain Call|Curtain Call – The Rocket to Ending No1]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume8 Afterword|Afterword]]<br /> <br /> &lt;br style=&quot;clear:both&quot; /&gt;<br /> <br /> === Volume SF (''Sukoshi Fushigi'') Version ===<br /> [[File:DTS Cover Vol SF.jpg|thumb|x200px]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:VolumeSF Illustrations|Novel Illustrations]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:VolumeSF Prologue|Prologue]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:VolumeSF Chapter1|Chapter 1]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:VolumeSF Chapter2|Chapter 2]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:VolumeSF Chapter3|Chapter 3]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:VolumeSF Chapter4|Chapter 4]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:VolumeSF Epilogue|Epilogue]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:VolumeSF Afterword|Afterword]]<br /> <br /> === Short Stories ===<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Short Stories 01|Tsuri Onna to Chounouryoku Shoujo]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Short Stories 02|(Moto) Kami-sama Onna to Uchuu Shoujo]]<br /> <br /> === Mini Stories ===<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Mini Stories 01|A Youthful Man and his Sweet and Cheerful Comrades (1)]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Mini Stories 02|A Youthful Man and his Sweet and Cheerful Comrades (2)]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Mini Stories 03|On a Summer Day]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Mini Stories 04|After the Ending of Denpa Onna]]<br /> <br /> <br /> &lt;br style=&quot;clear:both&quot; /&gt;<br /> <br /> ==Project Staff==<br /> * Supervisor:<br /> * Project Manager:<br /> <br /> ==== Translators ====<br /> * [[User:Zephyrus|Zephyrus]]<br /> * [[User:Magykalman|Magykalman]]<br /> * [[User:Jasonjapi123|zWei.Yaasus]]<br /> * [[User:Bob_Morane|Bob Morane]]<br /> <br /> ==== Editors ====<br /> <br /> * [[User:Magykalman|Magykalman]]<br /> * [[User:Jasonjapi123|zWei.Yaasus]]<br /> <br /> ==Series Overview==<br /> <br /> 電波女と青春男 (電撃文庫) [文庫] (January 7, 2009) - ISBN 978-4048674683&lt;br /&gt;<br /> 電波女と青春男〈2〉(電撃文庫) [文庫] (May 10, 2009) - ISBN 978-4048678100&lt;br /&gt;<br /> 電波女と青春男 3 (電撃文庫 い 9-12) [文庫] (Nov 10, 2009) - ISBN 978-4048681384&lt;br /&gt;<br /> 電波女と青春男〈4〉(電撃文庫) [文庫] (March 2010) - ISBN 978-4048683951&lt;br /&gt;<br /> 電波女と青春男〈5〉(電撃文庫) [文庫] (June 10, 2010) - ISBN 978-4048685962&lt;br /&gt;<br /> 電波女と青春男〈6〉(電撃文庫) [文庫] (Sep 10, 2010) - ISBN 978-4048688802&lt;br /&gt;<br /> 電波女と青春男〈7〉(電撃文庫) [文庫] (Dec 10, 2010) - ISBN 978-4048701259&lt;br /&gt;<br /> 電波女と青春男〈8〉(電撃文庫) [文庫] (April 8, 2011) - ISBN 978-4048704304&lt;br /&gt;<br /> 電波女と青春男 SF（すこしふしぎ）版 (April 10, 2011) - ISBN 978-4-04-870470-0&lt;br /&gt;<br /> 釣り女と超能力少女 (February 10, 2012) - No ISBN (Internet publication)&lt;br /&gt;<br /> （元）神様女と宇宙少女 (February 10, 2012) - No ISBN (Internet publication)<br /> <br /> [[Category:Light novel (English)]]<br /> [[Category:Genre - Harem]]<br /> [[Category:Hitoma Iruma]]</div>

Bob Morane http://www.baka-tsuki.org/project/index.php?title=Denpa_Onna_to_Seishun_Otoko:Volume8&diff=588806 2026-08-28T14:25:51Z

<p>Bob Morane: Created page with &quot;{{:Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume8 Illustrations|Novel Illustrations}} {{:Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume8 Chapter1|Chapter 1 – Are You Telling Me To Remove My Futon?}} {{:Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume8 Chapter2|Chapter 2 – Even if I Accept That Dreams Don&#039;t Go As Expected}} {{:Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume8 Chapter3-A|Chapter 3-A – Chasing and Being Chased}} {{:Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume8 Chapter3-B|Chapter 3-B – Driven by Dreams and Hop...&quot;</p> <hr /> <div>{{:Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume8 Illustrations|Novel Illustrations}}<br /> {{:Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume8 Chapter1|Chapter 1 – Are You Telling Me To Remove My Futon?}}<br /> {{:Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume8 Chapter2|Chapter 2 – Even if I Accept That Dreams Don't Go As Expected}}<br /> {{:Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume8 Chapter3-A|Chapter 3-A – Chasing and Being Chased}}<br /> {{:Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume8 Chapter3-B|Chapter 3-B – Driven by Dreams and Hopes, Lying Beneath the Futon and Reality}}<br /> {{:Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume8 Chapter3-C|Chapter 3-C – Things That Cannot Be Surpassed}}<br /> {{:Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume8 Chapter4|Chapter 4 – Fighting For The Light}}<br /> {{:Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume8 Curtain Call|Curtain Call – The Rocket to Ending No1}}<br /> {{:Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume8 Afterword|Afterword}}<br /> <br /> &lt;noinclude&gt;<br /> ==Translator's Notes and References==<br /> &lt;references /&gt;<br /> <br /> {| border=&quot;1&quot; cellpadding=&quot;5&quot; cellspacing=&quot;0&quot; style=&quot;margin: 1em 1em 1em 0; background: #f9f9f9; border: 1px #aaaaaa solid; padding: 0.2em; border-collapse: collapse;&quot;<br /> |-<br /> | Back to [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume7|Volume 7]]<br /> | Return to [[Denpa_Onna_to_Seishun_Otoko|Main Page]]<br /> {{#ifexist:Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume_SF | {{!}} Forward to [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume_SF|Volume SF]] }}<br /> |-<br /> |}<br /> &lt;/noinclude&gt;</div>

Bob Morane http://www.baka-tsuki.org/project/index.php?title=Denpa_Onna_to_Seishun_Otoko&diff=588805 2026-08-28T14:23:01Z

<p>Bob Morane: /* Volume 8 */</p> <hr /> <div>{{Status|Active}}<br /> <br /> [[File:DTS Cover Vol 01.jpg|thumb|300px]]<br /> <br /> The Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko series is also available in the following languages:<br /> *[[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko ~Spanish~|Spanish (Spanish)]]<br /> (Note: Translation progress varies for each version.) <br /> <br /> Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko (電波女と青春男) is a light novel series written by Iruma Hitoma and illustrated by Buriki. The series is published by ASCII Media Works and is completed with eight volumes (nine with side-story volumes).<br /> <br /> ==Story Synopsis==<br /> My plan of acquiring 'Youth-points' (specifically, a sweet and sour high school life spent with girls) will begin here, in the city watched by the aliens. “The Earth is in danger,” according to the crazy, mattress-wearing cousin, Touwa Erio, who lives under the same roof as I do. The obstacle of my grand scheme, she is also the reason of many Youth-points lost. Even though the meeting with the healing and hearty Ryuuko and the cosplaying Maekawa-san, who scares even professional models, is increasing my Youth-points dramatically, the futon-wearing girl is stuck with me… What is happening to my youth?<br /> <br /> ==Translation==<br /> === [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Registration Page|Registration]] ===<br /> <br /> Translators are asked to [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Registration Page|register]] for chapters they want to work on.<br /> <br /> ===Format Standards===<br /> '''Every Chapter (after editing) must conform to the general format guidelines.'''<br /> *[[Format guideline|General Format/Style Guideline]]<br /> *[[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Guidelines|Project-Specific Guidelines: Format, Names, and Terminology]]<br /> <br /> ==Updates==<br /> *Auguest 23, 2026 - Volume 7 Completed<br /> *Auguest 11, 2026 - Volume 6 Completed<br /> *July 30, 2026 - Volume 5 Completed<br /> *March 8, 2020 - ''Volume 5 Chapter 1 Completed''<br /> *August 8, 2018 - ''Volume 4 Afterword Completed''<br /> *August 8, 2018 - ''Volume 4 Chapter 5 Completed''<br /> *January 26, 2018 - ''Volume 4 Chapter 4 Completed''<br /> *November 27, 2017 - ''Volume 4 Chapter 3 Completed''<br /> *July 2, 2017 - ''Volume 4 Chapter 2 Completed''<br /> *May 21, 2017 - ''Volume 4 Chapter 1 Completed''<br /> *March 12, 2017 - '''Volume 3 Completed'''<br /> *January 23, 2016 - '''Volume 2 Completed'''<br /> *September 28, 2015 - '''Volume 1 Completed'''<br /> <br /> == Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko ==<br /> [https://rektnovelcompilations.wordpress.com/denpa-onna-to-seishun-otako/ For PDFs/Epubs]<br /> === Volume 1‎ ([[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume1|Full Text]])===<br /> [[File:DTS Cover Vol 01.jpg|thumb|x200px]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume1 Illustrations|Novel Illustrations]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume1 Chapter1|Chapter 1: City of the Aliens]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume1 Chapter2|Chapter 2: Perverse Observation]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume1 Chapter3|Chapter 3: &quot;Question to self: What if I got three jokers on hand during a game of Old Maid?&quot;]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume1 Chapter4|Chapter 4: The Lost Teenage Paranoia]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume1 Chapter5|Chapter 5: The Inconceivable Moment of the Crawling Girl]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume1 Chapter6|Chapter 6: Aliens of the City]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume1 Afterword|Afterword]]<br /> <br /> &lt;br style=&quot;clear:both&quot; /&gt;<br /> <br /> === Volume 2‎ ([[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume2|Full Text]])===<br /> [[File:DTS Cover Vol 02.jpg|thumb|x200px]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume2 Illustrations|Novel Illustrations]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume2 Chapter1|Chapter 1: Kyaah—]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume2 Chapter2|Chapter 2: The Melancholy of Thanksgiving]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume2 Chapter3|Chapter 3: Ryuu'ko'←(emphasis)san's, whatcha call it, trouble?]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume2 Chapter4|Chapter 4: In the Rain of an Extraterrestrial Town]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume2 Chapter5|Chapter 5: Cosplay Seventy-two — Maekawa-san and Work Status]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume2 Chapter6|Chapter 6: The Day That Will Become Someone's Memory]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume2 Chapter7|Chapter 7: The Prayer of Tsiolkovsky]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume2 Chapter8|Chapter 8: The E.T's Workplace]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume2 Afterword|Afterword]]<br /> <br /> &lt;br style=&quot;clear:both&quot; /&gt;<br /> <br /> === Volume 3 ([[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume3|Full Text]])‎ ===<br /> [[File:DTS Cover Vol 03.jpg|thumb|x200px]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume3 Illustrations|Novel Illustrations]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume3 Prologue|Prologue: Summer This Year]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume3 Chapter1|Chapter 1: Local-only Alien Incident]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume3 Chapter2|Chapter 2: The Boy's Strange Summer]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume3 Chapter3|Chapter 3: The Girl Under the Eave]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume3 Chapter4|Chapter 4: The Noisy Summer]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume3 Chapter5|Chapter 5: In This Summer: Basketball, Superpower, Stargazing, Festival, Baseball and Meme-san (discontinue)]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume3 Chapter6|Chapter 6: 0.00000000198cm Per Second]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume3 Chapter7|Chapter 7: The Midnight Sun]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume3 Chapter8|Chapter 8: How Many Shining Stars Are There?]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume3 Afterwords|Afterword]]<br /> <br /> &lt;br style=&quot;clear:both&quot; /&gt;<br /> <br /> === Volume 4 ([[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume4|Full Text]])‎ ===<br /> [[File:DTS Cover Vol 04.jpg|thumb|x200px]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume4 Illustrations|Novel Illustrations]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume4 Chapter1|Chapter 1: Runaway Base]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume4 Chapter2|Chapter 2: Peering at First Love]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume4 Chapter3|Chapter 3: Skyward Tomorrow]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume4 Chapter4|Chapter 4: The Distance Between My and Her Moon]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume4 Chapter5|Chapter 5: E.R.O]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume4 Afterword|Afterword]]<br /> &lt;br style=&quot;clear:both&quot; /&gt;<br /> <br /> === Volume 5 ([[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume5|Full Text]])‎ ===<br /> [[File:DTS Cover Vol 05.jpg|thumb|x200px]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume5 Illustrations|Novel Illustrations]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume5 Chapter1|Chapter 1 - The End of the Beginning of the Summer, Continued]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume5 Chapter2|Chapter 2 - ''Chanbara'' Alien]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume5 Chapter3|Chapter 3 - The Banquet of Those Unsure of What &quot;In Full Swing&quot; Means]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume5 Chapter4|Chapter 4 - Tomorrow is a Youthful Hangover]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume5 Chapter5|Chapter 5 - When an Alien Who Traveled from Afar Comes Sightseeing at the Local Beach]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume5 Chapter6|Epilogue - Cradle at Twilight]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume5 Chapter7|Afterword]]<br /> <br /> &lt;br style=&quot;clear:both&quot; /&gt;<br /> <br /> === Volume 6 ([[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume6|Full Text]]) ===<br /> [[File:DTS Cover Vol 06.jpg|thumb|x200px]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume6 Illustrations|Novel Illustrations]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume6 Prologue|Prologue - School Newspaper Article: Culture Festival Preparations]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume6 Chapter1|Chapter 1 - Tokaido Melos]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume6 Chapter2|Chapter 2 - At the End of Star Dust]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume6 Chapter3|Chapter 3 - StaRMan's Children]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume6 Chapter4|Chapter 4 - When the Storm Comes, the Bucket Maker Goes Bankrupt]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume6 Chapter5|Chapter 5 - Attraction Romanticist]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume6 Epilogue|Epilogue - School Newspaper Extra Edition: Culture Festival Special]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume6 Afterword|Afterword]]<br /> <br /> &lt;br style=&quot;clear:both&quot; /&gt;<br /> <br /> === Volume 7 ([[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume7|Full Text]]) ===<br /> [[File:DTS Cover Vol 07.jpg|thumb|x200px]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume7 Illustrations|Novel Illustrations]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume7 Prologue|Prologue - If Space Stretched Out Beyond]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume7 Chapter1|Chapter 1 - Ending No. 4: Niwa-san]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume7 Chapter2|Chapter 2 - Ending No. 3: Sharing Happiness]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume7 Chapter3|Chapter 3 - Ending No. 2: The Earthling in the Town Observed by Aliens]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume7 Chapter4|Chapter 4 - Bad Ending No. 1: Denpa Otoko]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume7 Chapter5|Chapter 5 - Ending No. 2559: Do Spacesuits Dream of Silkworms?]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume7 Chapter6|Chapter 6 - Ending No. 5: Together with Meme-tan]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume7 Chapter7|Chapter 7 - The Day Off of a (Beginner) Seishun Onna]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume7 Chapter8|Next Chapter - Daydream, Invasion]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume7 Afterword|Afterword]]<br /> <br /> &lt;br style=&quot;clear:both&quot; /&gt;<br /> <br /> === Volume 8 ([[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume8|Full Text]]) ===<br /> [[File:DTS Cover Vol 08.jpg|thumb|x200px]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume8 Illustrations|Novel Illustrations]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume8 Chapter1|Chapter 1 – Are You Telling Me To Remove My Futon?]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume8 Chapter2|Chapter 2 – Even if I Accept That Dreams Don't Go As Expected]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume8 Chapter3-A|Chapter 3-A – Chasing and Being Chased]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume8 Chapter3-B|Chapter 3-B – Driven by Dreams and Hopes, Lying Beneath the Futon and Reality]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume8 Chapter3-C|Chapter 3-C – Things That Cannot Be Surpassed]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume8 Chapter4|Chapter 4 – Fighting For The Light]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume8 Curtain Call|Curtain Call – The Rocket to Ending No1]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume8 Afterword|Afterword]]<br /> <br /> &lt;br style=&quot;clear:both&quot; /&gt;<br /> <br /> === Volume SF (''Sukoshi Fushigi'') Version ===<br /> [[File:DTS Cover Vol SF.jpg|thumb|x200px]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:VolumeSF Prologue|Prologue]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:VolumeSF Chapter1|Chapter 1]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:VolumeSF Chapter2|Chapter 2]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:VolumeSF Chapter3|Chapter 3]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:VolumeSF Chapter4|Chapter 4]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:VolumeSF Epilogue|Epilogue]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:VolumeSF Afterword|Afterword]]<br /> <br /> === Short Stories ===<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Short Stories 01|Tsuri Onna to Chounouryoku Shoujo]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Short Stories 02|(Moto) Kami-sama Onna to Uchuu Shoujo]]<br /> <br /> === Mini Stories ===<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Mini Stories 01|A Youthful Man and his Sweet and Cheerful Comrades (1)]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Mini Stories 02|A Youthful Man and his Sweet and Cheerful Comrades (2)]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Mini Stories 03|On a Summer Day]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Mini Stories 04|After the Ending of Denpa Onna]]<br /> <br /> <br /> &lt;br style=&quot;clear:both&quot; /&gt;<br /> <br /> ==Project Staff==<br /> * Supervisor:<br /> * Project Manager:<br /> <br /> ==== Translators ====<br /> * [[User:Zephyrus|Zephyrus]]<br /> * [[User:Magykalman|Magykalman]]<br /> * [[User:Jasonjapi123|zWei.Yaasus]]<br /> * [[User:Bob_Morane|Bob Morane]]<br /> <br /> ==== Editors ====<br /> <br /> * [[User:Magykalman|Magykalman]]<br /> * [[User:Jasonjapi123|zWei.Yaasus]]<br /> <br /> ==Series Overview==<br /> <br /> 電波女と青春男 (電撃文庫) [文庫] (January 7, 2009) - ISBN 978-4048674683&lt;br /&gt;<br /> 電波女と青春男〈2〉(電撃文庫) [文庫] (May 10, 2009) - ISBN 978-4048678100&lt;br /&gt;<br /> 電波女と青春男 3 (電撃文庫 い 9-12) [文庫] (Nov 10, 2009) - ISBN 978-4048681384&lt;br /&gt;<br /> 電波女と青春男〈4〉(電撃文庫) [文庫] (March 2010) - ISBN 978-4048683951&lt;br /&gt;<br /> 電波女と青春男〈5〉(電撃文庫) [文庫] (June 10, 2010) - ISBN 978-4048685962&lt;br /&gt;<br /> 電波女と青春男〈6〉(電撃文庫) [文庫] (Sep 10, 2010) - ISBN 978-4048688802&lt;br /&gt;<br /> 電波女と青春男〈7〉(電撃文庫) [文庫] (Dec 10, 2010) - ISBN 978-4048701259&lt;br /&gt;<br /> 電波女と青春男〈8〉(電撃文庫) [文庫] (April 8, 2011) - ISBN 978-4048704304&lt;br /&gt;<br /> 電波女と青春男 SF（すこしふしぎ）版 (April 10, 2011) - ISBN 978-4-04-870470-0&lt;br /&gt;<br /> 釣り女と超能力少女 (February 10, 2012) - No ISBN (Internet publication)&lt;br /&gt;<br /> （元）神様女と宇宙少女 (February 10, 2012) - No ISBN (Internet publication)<br /> <br /> [[Category:Light novel (English)]]<br /> [[Category:Genre - Harem]]<br /> [[Category:Hitoma Iruma]]</div>

Bob Morane http://www.baka-tsuki.org/project/index.php?title=Denpa_Onna_to_Seishun_Otoko:Volume8_Afterword&diff=588804 2026-08-28T14:21:56Z

<p>Bob Morane: Created page with &quot;&lt;noinclude&gt; {| border=&quot;1&quot; cellpadding=&quot;5&quot; cellspacing=&quot;0&quot; style=&quot;margin: 1em 1em 1em 0; background: #f9f9f9; border: 1px #aaaaaa solid; padding: 0.2em; border-collapse: collapse;&quot; |- | Back to Curtain Call | Return to Main Page |- |} &lt;/noinclude&gt; ==Afterword== After watching the baseball news, my father swung his arm toward the windowpane and said a single line: “Playing catch with my...&quot;</p> <hr /> <div>&lt;noinclude&gt;<br /> {| border=&quot;1&quot; cellpadding=&quot;5&quot; cellspacing=&quot;0&quot; style=&quot;margin: 1em 1em 1em 0; background: #f9f9f9; border: 1px #aaaaaa solid; padding: 0.2em; border-collapse: collapse;&quot;<br /> |-<br /> | Back to [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume8_Curtain_Call|Curtain Call]]<br /> | Return to [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko|Main Page]]<br /> |-<br /> |}<br /> &lt;/noinclude&gt;<br /> ==Afterword==<br /> After watching the baseball news, my father swung his arm toward the windowpane and said a single line:<br /> <br /> “Playing catch with myself on the other side of the darkness.”<br /> <br /> What an incredible father.<br /> <br /> <br /> Hello, I am Iruma Hitoma. I was struggling because I had so little material for this afterword.<br /> <br /> By the time this book is released, I wonder if the anime will already be airing. Probably.<br /> <br /> ''Mii-ma''’s&lt;ref name=&quot;ftn43&quot;&gt;''Mii-Maa'' stands for ''Usotsuki Mii-kun to Kowareta Maa-chan'', another of the author’s works, which was adapted into a movie in 2011.&lt;/ref&gt; movie wasn’t screened in Gifu, but since it seems the anime will be available to watch, I intend to sit formally in front of the television to view it. It had been since “Rascal” that I had watched a TV anime via broadcast rather than on DVD, so I was looking forward to it.<br /> <br /> <br /> While writing ''Denpa Onna'', a significant number of things I wanted to write and various ideas had accumulated, so I intended to focus on those for a while. If you wouldn’t mind, please look forward to those as well.<br /> <br /> Iruma Hitoma<br /> <br /> ===Iruma Hitoma===<br /> Hello, hello, this is Iruma’s dad. Here is a sad event from a certain day. A bear pushed me. As I fell on my backside, an orchid shoot snapped. I was framed for something I didn’t do, and I’m still all wet. Someone even told me, “Why don’t you just become a humidifier instead?”<br /> <br /> ===Buriki===<br /> I live in the Kansai region. This year, an anime will be based on my work! I will continue to do my best!<br /> &lt;noinclude&gt;<br /> {| border=&quot;1&quot; cellpadding=&quot;5&quot; cellspacing=&quot;0&quot; style=&quot;margin: 1em 1em 1em 0; background: #f9f9f9; border: 1px #aaaaaa solid; padding: 0.2em; border-collapse: collapse;&quot;<br /> |-<br /> | Back to [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume8_Curtain_Call|Curtain Call]]<br /> | Return to [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko|Main Page]]<br /> |-<br /> |}<br /> &lt;/noinclude&gt;</div>

Bob Morane http://www.baka-tsuki.org/project/index.php?title=Denpa_Onna_to_Seishun_Otoko:Volume8_Curtain_Call&diff=588803 2026-08-28T14:21:45Z

<p>Bob Morane: Created page with &quot;&lt;noinclude&gt; {| border=&quot;1&quot; cellpadding=&quot;5&quot; cellspacing=&quot;0&quot; style=&quot;margin: 1em 1em 1em 0; background: #f9f9f9; border: 1px #aaaaaa solid; padding: 0.2em; border-collapse: collapse;&quot; |- | Back to Chapter 4 | Return to Main Page | Forward to Afterword |- |} &lt;/noinclude&gt; ==Curtain Call – The Rocket to Ending No. 1== Let us talk about Youth Point...&quot;</p> <hr /> <div>&lt;noinclude&gt;<br /> {| border=&quot;1&quot; cellpadding=&quot;5&quot; cellspacing=&quot;0&quot; style=&quot;margin: 1em 1em 1em 0; background: #f9f9f9; border: 1px #aaaaaa solid; padding: 0.2em; border-collapse: collapse;&quot;<br /> |-<br /> | Back to [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume8_Chapter4|Chapter 4]]<br /> | Return to [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko|Main Page]]<br /> | Forward to [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume8_Afterword|Afterword]]<br /> |-<br /> |}<br /> &lt;/noinclude&gt;<br /> ==Curtain Call – The Rocket to Ending No. 1==<br /> Let us talk about Youth Points… Or so, I recall saying at the very beginning. And, as I promised, I had gone on to recount about eight different stories involving the rise and fall of those Youth Points.<br /> <br /> Moving past all of those, I wondered what the cumulative total of those Youth Points stood at now. I had no way of knowing that objectively. Whether they were in the positive or the negative, I couldn’t say. Well, I would simply pray that someone might make a wonderful judgement upon it while reflecting on the stories told thus far. Only God knows.<br /> <br /> Well, now.<br /> <br /> By coming to this town, I had found one more thing worth discussing, in addition to my youth.<br /> <br /> Let us talk about aliens.<br /> <br /> It was a strange thing that I could count them on my fingers, but ever since I arrived in this town, there had been aliens all around me.<br /> <br /> And quite a surprising number of them, too. I truly wondered what was going on with this place.<br /> <br /> Of course, every single one of them was merely self-proclaimed. Not even one of them was the real thing. Well, probably. There were a few suspicious ones, but they were all somewhat imperfect, and not a single one looked capable of defying gravity and taking flight.<br /> <br /> I wondered what my youth had even been, spent constantly being entangled with people like that.<br /> <br /> Sometimes, I wondered how things had ended up this way. I didn’t really feel any regret. I was just puzzled.<br /> <br /> No matter how many times I retraced my memories, I could never find an answer.<br /> <br /> Only the beginning was easy to understand.<br /> <br /> The reason why I ended up spending my days holding hands with aliens…<br /> <br /> It was likely because, on that day, at the entrance of my new home…<br /> <br /> I had happened to find something that looked like a ''chikuwa ''lying there, haphazardly.<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> “Hmm… this is difficult.”<br /> <br /> I was troubled. There I was, in the garden of the Touwa Family on a Sunday, standing before a bicycle and Erio. While I kept my hand firmly gripped on the top of Erio’s head as she attempted to climb into the bicycle basket without a second thought, I continued to tilt my head in contemplation. I was trying to instill a bit of common sense into Erio, who looked at me with wide, bewildered eyes, but it was proving to be a difficult task.<br /> <br /> Someone riding a bicycle with another person in the basket was not allowed.<br /> <br /> To begin with, two people riding the same bicycle was prohibited altogether, but it had occurred to me that one shouldn’t persist in such an even more dangerous manner. However, persuading Erio was proving difficult.<br /> <br /> “Listen, Erio, riding in the basket is dangerous. You’ll gt in trouble if we get into an accident or something.”<br /> <br /> “Hmm.”<br /> <br /> Erio nodded, looking like a cat with her arms hanging limp at her sides, her scruff still held in my grasp.<br /> <br /> “So, from now on, you should ride on the rear rack instead.”<br /> <br /> “Mmmmm.”<br /> <br /> I shook my head. We had already repeated this unproductive exchange about two times now.<br /> <br /> “I mean, it’s dangerous.”<br /> <br /> “Hmm.”<br /> <br /> “Stop doing that, okay?”<br /> <br /> “Mmmmm.”<br /> <br /> …That’s how it went. It was a difficult challenge, as it was a child’s rejection based entirely on pure instinct, without a shred of logic. Since I had managed to get her to put on her shoes at the entrance today (even if she was stepping on the heels), I had attempted to move on to the next stage.<br /> <br /> However, how could I possibly persuade a child who hardly ever speaks and had absolutely no respect for me?<br /> <br /> “Cousin, you’re a tyrant!”<br /> <br /> “I’m trying to look out for you, and this is how you act.”<br /> <br /> I pinched her cheek and stretched it out. Immediately, Erio, who had been behaving quietly, became active and pinched my cheek back. I sensed something bad was coming thanks to my intuition and past experience, but I was too late. Her light blue eyes locked onto mine. She watched as the strength flowed from her eyes, through her throat, and all the way down to her fingertips.<br /> <br /> “Muuui! Muuu!”<br /> <br /> “Adyadyadyah!”<br /> <br /> Erio pulled on both of my cheeks with all her might. For me, whose cheek flesh was several degrees firmer than Ryuushi-san’s, it felt like torture. The sound of skin snapping and stretching echoed right beneath my eyes. Did she have no concept of restraint?!<br /> <br /> “Did you think you could beat Ebiuo-san? Ibyohoh!”<br /> <br /> “It hurts, it hurts! Fine, I give up, let me go!”<br /> <br /> I surrendered obediently. Honestly, it was a struggle because children had no sense of moderation. Was she really the same age as me? In fact, taking care of Erio made me feel as though I was five or six years older than I was.<br /> <br /> “Victory.”<br /> <br /> Erio released my cheeks and, with a blank expression, formed a peace sign with a little flourish. Good for her.<br /> <br /> “And with that, our playtime is over, so get in the luggage carrier quietly.”<br /> <br /> “Mmmmm.”<br /> <br /> “…Never mind, I’ll go in the luggage carrier myself.”<br /> <br /> It didn’t make much sense, even to me. However, since I had already said it, I sat in the luggage carrier instead of on the saddle. Fu fu fu, this way the bike wouldn’t be able to move, so she wouldn’t be able to ride in the basket either. Though I wouldn’t be able to go anywhere either.<br /> <br /> “Well then, I’ll do the driving.”<br /> <br /> “Whut?”<br /> <br /> Erio scurried over to the handlebars with quick, light steps, then straddled the bike with such force it was as if she were kneeing the saddle. After ringing the bell twice, “ring, ring” she placed her feet on the pedals.<br /> <br /> “Today, Erio-san is going to '''escort '''Cousin.”<br /> <br /> Erio looked back and chuckled, “fu fu fu”. That triumphant smile was the spitting image of Meme-san’s.<br /> <br /> “…You really are mother and daughter.”<br /> <br /> “Hm? Cousin and I are like mother and daughter?”<br /> <br /> “To an onlooker, it might not be wrong.”<br /> <br /> Though I imagined an actual child would be far more of a handful than her.<br /> <br /> You’re something else, Meme-san.<br /> <br /> “Erio is the mother? Having a child like Cousin is such a drag.”<br /> <br /> “You’re getting way too full of yourself.”<br /> <br /> “Ugh.”<br /> <br /> I silenced her by pulling her hair from behind. I let go with a laugh, thinking it was a convenient leash.<br /> <br /> However, the fact that Erio was riding a bicycle, well.<br /> <br /> I wondered if this, too, was one of the influences brought about by Little Smakin. I looked up at the sky and stared at the sun. Narrowing my eyes, I thought about what she had given Erio, feeling as though she had vanished somewhere beyond the light. She had truly involved herself in Erio’s life only to depart.<br /> <br /> I wondered how much of her behaviour had been sincere.<br /> <br /> “By the way, can you even ride a bike?”<br /> <br /> “O-of course I can. It’s no problem at all,” Erio added, pedalling in a panic and making the wheels spin. The bicycle, which had become slightly rusted from the seawater, made a strained noise, but there were no issues with its movement.<br /> <br /> I placed my hands on Erio’s shoulders to match her movement and lifted my hips from the luggage rack, resting my feet beside the wheels.<br /> <br /> “Oh, oh, oooh.”<br /> <br /> As I stood up, Erio lost her balance, and the bicycle became unstable. The front wheel traced an S-shaped curve, and I felt as though I were about to be thrown off. The bicycle nearly tipped over, but Erio managed to avert disaster by instinctively kicking the ground. In the process, her left shoe slipped off and was left behind, yet Erio proceeded onto the road anyway. She showed no sign of stopping; in fact, she even kicked off her right shoe and tossed it into the garden.<br /> <br /> “Hey, what are you doing after I went through the trouble of making you wear those.”<br /> <br /> “I can’t give it my all while wearing shoes.”<br /> <br /> She wiggled the toes of her bare foot, opening and closing them rhythmically. It was like watching an elementary schooler getting ready for a footrace.<br /> <br /> Once again, I placed my hands on those shoulders that felt so unreliable, as if they might crumble under the slightest pressure, and gazed out over the town from a slightly elevated vantage point. The wind brushed against my cheeks, arriving just a little earlier than usual. On that Sunday, the town was peaceful and quiet, as if it were dozing in the sun. The sound of turning wheels reached my ears without interruption, and Erio’s very essence seemed to overlap with that rhythmic flow.<br /> <br /> Enveloped in a shimmering dust that felt as though it might lead me into another world, my destination was nothing more than a simple candy shop.<br /> <br /> E.T. did not ride in a basket. Instead, he travelled by bicycle, taking Earthlings along.<br /> <br /> That was the reality for those of us on the other side of the cinema screen.<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> Ring, ring.<br /> <br /> “Hey, stop ringing for no reason.”<br /> <br /> I scolded her, wondering if she had made the bell a favourite pastime, as Erio continued to flick it with her finger. As I did that,<br /> <br /> “Ring, ring.”<br /> <br /> She started making the sound with her mouth. Furthermore, it sounded remarkably like the bell. Even though she had no intention of mimicking it, Erio’s voice seemed to ring like a bell. It was difficult to tell if an actual bell was ringing unless I checked with my eyes.<br /> <br /> The bicycle moved sluggishly through the residential area, at about half the speed I usually pedalled.<br /> <br /> Suddenly, though we hadn’t even passed a car until then, I heard the sound of something approaching from behind. When I looked back, it was a motorized scooter. A scooter rider without a helmet sped past our bicycles in an instant. That scooter came to an abrupt stop ahead of us, and the driver looked back.<br /> <br /> She had a small frame and flowing blonde hair. Her figure, with the sleeves of a vibrant, goldfish-coloured ''yukata ''fluttering, looked familiar. Her youthful face broke into a bright, cheerful grin. She was the person who had been called Princess Kaguya, back at the sea this summer.<br /> <br /> The surface of the moped was covered in scratches, as if it had been ridden roughly.<br /> <br /> “Yo! You were Maekawa’s friends, right… Hey, don’t overtake me!”<br /> <br /> With a “ring, ring!” Erio overtook the moped, which had come to a deliberate halt. She then continued forward just as she was. She seemed so absorbed in her rhythmic muttering that she wasn’t paying attention to anything else.<br /> <br /> “Erio, brake.”<br /> <br /> “Hm?”<br /> <br /> She lifted her chin and looked at my face. Looking down at her relaxed expression, I asked her something other than to brake.<br /> <br /> “Is riding a bike fun?”<br /> <br /> “Mmh.”<br /> <br /> She affirmed with a pleasant expression. Well, that was good.<br /> <br /> “Hey, you brats, show some respect to your elders! And while you’re at it, cherish the aliens!”<br /> <br /> Princess Kaguya, who had hopped off the moped and sprinted to catch up alongside us, operated the brakes on her own. The bicycle screeched to a painful halt, and the “ring-ring” sounds came to an abrupt end.<br /> <br /> “Hey, you girl in light blue. You better stop properly, or I’m gonna pick a fight with you, you brat.”<br /> <br /> She was already picking a fight. A small child with arms crossed swerved in front of the bicycle and introduced himself once more.<br /> <br /> “Yo, friends-z!”<br /> <br /> “The ‘z’ is just part just redundant.&lt;ref name=&quot;ftn41&quot;&gt;When Princess Kaguya said “friends-z” in Japanese she was saying ''tomodachi-zu''. The “zu” mimics an English plural to sound cool, but the “dachi” already conveys a notion of plural.&lt;/ref&gt;”<br /> <br /> “Kids these days are so annoying.”<br /> <br /> Though her tone was accusatory, she wore a grin from beginning to end.<br /> <br /> “So, do you need something from us?”<br /> <br /> “Need something? No way, because I don’t even know you guys that well.”<br /> <br /> She burst into a loud, monotone “Gah-hah-hah!” The adults in this town were all like this.<br /> <br /> “Come to think of it, you boy over there, you know Yashiro, don’t you?”<br /> <br /> She cast a fleeting glance toward me. For what it was worth, I knew Erio too.<br /> <br /> “Well, I guess. But I don’t know her well enough to call her an acquaintance.”<br /> <br /> “If you’re friends with someone like that, your future is looking pretty bleak!”<br /> <br /> She stated it with a boisterous laugh. But then she immediately pulled that smile away and turned dead serious.<br /> <br /> “And you know Maekawa too, don’t you?”<br /> <br /> “Yes.”<br /> <br /> “On top of that, you were friends with Ryuushi, right?”<br /> <br /> “To some extent.”<br /> <br /> “I-I’m also friends with Ryuushi or something!”<br /> <br /> Erio interjected. Princess Kaguya merely nodded, appearing not particularly interested.<br /> <br /> “You’re quite the ladies’ man, young boy! You’d better watch your back so you don’t get stabbed from all sides!”<br /> <br /> She gave a thumbs up and shouted, “Yeah!” Her voice was loud every single time she spoke, making it embarrassing to be around her.<br /> <br /> “Um, isn’t Yashiro with you?”<br /> <br /> “She’s rarely ever with me. I just let her roam free at my place. I’m starting to worry that the turtle in the garden might eat her one of these days, though I think I saw her during breakfast this morning.”<br /> <br /> She clicked her tongue happily. From that gesture, it was clear that she didn’t hold much ill will.<br /> <br /> “That kid eats a lot, for such a little thing. Hey, how about it, young man? Want to take Yashiro off my hands?”<br /> <br /> “No, thank you.”<br /> <br /> “Answering that quickly? You’re a ladies’ man but you’re of no use at all.”<br /> <br /> “What do you mean, no use?”<br /> <br /> “I don’t know,” Princess Kaguya said, sounding strangely smug for some reason. Then, as Erio turned her bicycle around to try and bypass her, she leaped sideways to block the path. Erio let out a groan and looked up at me.<br /> <br /> Good grief, was she counting on me to handle this? Not that I felt bad about it, though.<br /> <br /> “Um, if you don’t have any business with us, please don’t get in our way. For what it’s worth, she has work to do after this.”<br /> <br /> I tapped Erio on the shoulder. She looked at me, demanding a correction for “for what it’s worth,” but I ignored her.<br /> <br /> “Fine then, I’ll create some business for you. Next Sunday, I’ll recruit you guys as guest players for a baseball game.”<br /> <br /> “Baseball?”<br /> <br /> “Just some casual baseball, early morning. You did some during summer vacation, didn’t you? I’ll let you participate again.”<br /> <br /> The way she spoke, completely disregarding anyone’s autonomy and forcing participation, was strikingly similar to Yashiro.<br /> <br /> “It’ll be so much fun!”<br /> <br /> “Why did your tone get so ominous all of a sudden?”<br /> <br /> “I’ll have Maekawa contact you, so make sure you show up!”<br /> <br /> Leaving that one-sided command behind, she hopped onto the motorized scooter that Princess Kaguya had left unattended and sped off. Her thick blonde hair flowed in the wind as her silhouette rapidly faded into the distance. After watching her depart, Erio looked up at me.<br /> <br /> “Cousin, are we playing baseball next week?”<br /> <br /> “Hmm, well, as long as we don’t have any prearrangements or anything.”<br /> <br /> “Then, I’m relieved.”<br /> <br /> She let out an exaggerated sigh of relief. “You brat,” I muttered, digging my finger into her crown.<br /> <br /> I met the next acquaintance after I counted about thirty times the sound of “ring, ring.”<br /> <br /> “Oh, if it isn’t Makoto-kun and Erio-chan.”<br /> <br /> The person who spoke to us in a cheerful voice was the hairdresser, Ooi-san, and her daughter.<br /> <br /> This time, Erio also voluntarily stopped the “ring,ring” and applied her brakes.<br /> <br /> Perhaps she was on her way back from shopping, because plastic bags were dangling from Ooi-san’s fingertips. Even though it was the middle of October, she was wearing short sleeves as usual and a slightly worn red hat. Looking at her outfit, I couldn’t help but be reminded of summer.<br /> <br /> Ooi-san’s daughter, the name of which escaped me, peeked out while clinging to Ooi-san’s leg, let out a “fueee” sound (?), and stared intently at Erio. She seemed quite intrigued by Erio’s hair. Feeling that gaze, Erio grew restless. She began shaking her head from side to side, trying to escape those curious eyes.<br /> <br /> “H-hi there.”<br /> <br /> Erio offered a clumsy greeting while turning her face away. The girl’s reaction was a “f-fueee” hardly worth describing. She completely hid herself behind Ooi-san’s leg. She seemed like an incredibly shy child.<br /> <br /> As a side effect, Erio felt a little depressed by the fact that she had been feared.<br /> <br /> “You’re quite shy, aren’t you? Don’t take after your parent.”<br /> <br /> Ooi-san smiled while stroking her daughter’s head. Well, Erio didn’t take after her mother, either.<br /> <br /> Though, that was a truly wonderful thing.<br /> <br /> “Mm-hmm, you both have grown your hair out. You should come by to get it cut soon.”<br /> <br /> She knelt down as if to peer into my and Erio’s faces, continuing with her business. It felt as though every time we met, she remarked on how much our hair had grown. Ooi-san herself seemed to have let hers grow even longer since the summer, as the tips of her hair looked as though they might reach past her waist. I wondered how much further she intended to grow it. Perhaps she was making a wish or something.<br /> <br /> “I’ll make sure to stop by once I get my allowance next time.”<br /> <br /> “Ahaha, that’s right, you are a high schooler. It must be hard to manage your finances. So young, so young,” Ooi-san laughed repeatedly. Then, she said, “See you later, Erio-chan,” to Erio, with whom she hadn’t spoken much, and began to walk away. Her daughter, whatshername-chan, stopped clinging to her and instead took Ooi-san’s hand.<br /> <br /> Halfway there, she turned back and gave Erio a small wave, letting out a little, “F-fueee.”<br /> <br /> Erio responded by waving her hand with an exaggerated flourish.<br /> <br /> “It’s a good thing, right? You have a friend whose mental age is just like yours.”<br /> <br /> “Wh-what are you saying? Stupid Cousin!”<br /> <br /> Erio puffed out her cheeks. Then, she began pedalling her bicycle again. As she started moving, the bike swayed precariously from side to side once more. That instability suited Erio strangely well.<br /> <br /> “Hey, Erio.”<br /> <br /> “Hm?”<br /> <br /> “You’ve really started to settle into the town, haven’t you?”<br /> <br /> A person she could share such exchanges with had finally appeared within the town.<br /> <br /> “I don’t need to hear that from an outsider like you.”<br /> <br /> Erio pouted her lips, as if to say she was offended.<br /> <br /> “I suppose that’s true,” I laughed, unusually agreeing with her point.<br /> <br /> And so, we headed toward the candy store, passing several familiar faces along the way.<br /> <br /> It was a common, everyday sight for a day spent in this town.<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> “Mofuffuffufu”<br /> <br /> After arriving at the candy store, I sat there without any particular purpose when a small figure appeared, like a final encore. The figure was clearly unaccustomed to moving while wrapped in a futon, as they slammed the right side of their body violently into the door. It was a heavy-duty shoulder charge. The small figure looked more likely to be sent flying than the rickety door itself.<br /> <br /> “Hey, Yashiro. What is that outfit?”<br /> <br /> “Hmph. You actually managed to see through my true identity. Not bad for you, Makoto. Don’t get cocky.”<br /> <br /> The contents of the sleeping bag revealed themselves quite easily. Or rather, her identity had been plain to see all along since that distinctive hair was poking out. Yashiro approached, having shed her futon in a hurry as if finding it too stifling, and donned her spacesuit. A silver coin glinted between her fingertips. She was likely looking for “the usual.”<br /> <br /> Yashiro let out a heavy sigh. Beads of sweat stood out on her forehead.<br /> <br /> “What was even the point of that disguise?”<br /> <br /> “It was my own way of showing mercy, by attempting to provide some stimulus to that wrinkle-free brain of yours.”<br /> <br /> She then held out a hundred-yen coin, adding, “And the usual, too.” After I swatted her hand away, I glanced at the discarded futon. Perhaps alien sensibilities were universal, because even her futon had an iris pattern.<br /> <br /> I wondered if that futon might have been the one Little Smakin used.<br /> <br /> “I ran into Princess Kaguya a moment ago. She asked me to take you in. I turned her down, though.”<br /> <br /> “Hmph, we’re enemies, after all. Nothing to be surprised about.”<br /> <br /> So, were you staying at the home of someone you were hostile toward and causing them trouble? Just how thick-skinned were you?<br /> <br /> “More importantly, Makoto, about that matter.”<br /> <br /> Yashiro lowered her voice and leaned her face closer. Hey, don’t thrust that beautiful girl face right in my eyes. I fell into the illusion that the overflowing particles of white light were weighing down my eyelashes, making my eyelids heavy. It was like the scales of a butterfly.<br /> <br /> “Wait, what matter, all of a sudden?”<br /> <br /> I had no idea what she was talking about. At that, Yashiro knit her brows, looking at me as if to say, “Are you an idiot?”<br /> <br /> “It’s obviously the matter of when the time has finally come to activate the spaceship manufacturing plan!”<br /> <br /> With a silly, self-made sound effect “ta-da!” Yashiro announced something.<br /> <br /> “Wh-What did you say!?”<br /> <br /> Come to think of it, she had been spinning such nonsense a few days ago. I wondered if she had been serious. Then again, she had never once uttered a joke until now. That was exactly what made it so troublesome.<br /> <br /> “First, I shall go to the Moon. Fu fu fu… I wonder how many years it has been since I last set foot on that celestial body.”<br /> <br /> “I hate to interrupt your trip down your deluded memory lane, but you’re talking about building a spaceship. You know, that’s not something you can just pull off with the same casualness as signing up for a cooking class.”<br /> <br /> I was just sitting there idly, but I felt like I was about to be swept up into some absurd scheme, so I tried to set some boundaries. I waved my hands in a “no way, no way” gesture, but Yashiro refused to listen. She simply let out a low, rhythmic chuckle, her shoulders shaking.<br /> <br /> “You all just wait, you Moon people. You shall tremble before a rocket made of Earthly parts.”<br /> <br /> Actually, we’ve already been there. The Americans even went as far as planting a flag.<br /> <br /> “Why don’t you take a page out of Erio’s book and aim to become an astronaut yourself?”<br /> <br /> When I made the suggestion, Yashiro let out a derisive snort.<br /> <br /> “How absurd. With the scientific capabilities of foolish Earthlings, it would take hundreds of years. I have concluded that it would be faster if I built it myself. Fu fu fu, how foolish, how truly foolish, you Futonese!”<br /> <br /> Yashiro continued her foolish laughter. Her tone sounded as if she were prophesying that, five hundred years from now, humanity would be seeking encounters with aliens, which made me chuckle a little.<br /> <br /> It felt as if her delusions might actually become the truth someday.<br /> <br /> I found myself feeling a strange sense of worry, fearing that by finding joy in such things, I might one day join the ranks of these delusional aliens myself.<br /> <br /> Even today, the alien was being noisy around me.<br /> <br /> Little Smakin had not appeared before us once since that day. However, just as Yashiro had suddenly appeared, perhaps she, too, might one day pop up at the Tamura store.<br /> <br /> Aliens were so predictable.<br /> <br /> That was why she would surely come back to make a fool of me.<br /> <br /> As for the other person who looked like an alien, Erio, better known as Big Smakin, she was hunched over in a corner of the candy store, busy on a phone call. Even when I teased her about her lack of professional pride, she seemed too absorbed in her conversation to hear me. It sounded as though she was speaking to Ryuushi-san. Though, perhaps it was a bit premature to call it a truly rare occurrence.<br /> <br /> After all, their relationship had only just begun.<br /> <br /> “Hey, are you listening, Makoto? I’m going to build a spaceship. A spaceship!”<br /> <br /> Yashiro spoke as casually as if she were talking about making a plastic bottle rocket, all while tugging on my ear. I scowled and furrowed my brows in pain, thinking, “You brat, just because you’re actually motivated doesn’t mean you can build a spaceship.”<br /> <br /> “For starters, building a spaceship with you is something that’s at least five hundred years away.”<br /> <br /> “Huh? Your brain seems even more scrambled than usual today, Makoto.”<br /> <br /> “I’m joking, don’t take everything so literally… So, a spaceship, huh? I wonder if we could make one out of candy store supplies.”<br /> <br /> I looked around the shop. Every time I shook my head, that unique scent drifted into my nose. It was mainly the aroma of dried wood. The flat scent, mixed with just a hint of something artificial, felt as if it were staining the inside of my nostrils white. I inhaled deeply, taking in that smell that felt like a symbol of stagnation and tranquillity. Then, I exhaled.<br /> <br /> If one only inhaled, everything would come to a standstill. It was through the act of exhaling that breath was born, and that people began to move.<br /> <br /> Of course, this was hardly the kind of situation that would make one gaze into the distance, lost in a sense of poetic atmosphere. Unfortunately.<br /> <br /> In this place, where time seemed to have frozen since the Shouwa era, there were those who continued to clamour about a future far beyond the skies. They came in waves, constantly changing. The “aliens” gathered here.<br /> <br /> Maybe.<br /> <br /> Within this otherwise rounded Earth, this might just be the place closest to the cosmos.<br /> <br /> “…Mm, mm. W-Wash my neck&lt;ref name=&quot;ftn42&quot;&gt;“Wash your neck” is a Japanese expression that means something like “Just you wait and see!” It’s essentially a threat implying that some form of punishment is coming. The proverb comes from the fact that criminals’ necks were washed and purified before decapitation.&lt;/ref&gt;? ‘kay, I’ll wash and wait.”<br /> <br /> After nodding several times, Erio ended the call. She then tucked her phone away inside her clothes and turned around with enough energy to wag a tail. Her face was visibly radiant with joy, and in that moment, she seemed completely disconnected from her usual eccentric self.<br /> <br /> “Cousin”, she reported, using that same old way of calling me that showed no sign of her ever intending to remember a person’s actual name. An English vocabulary book lay scattered beside where she sat. I wondered if the words needed to reach one’s dreams were listed in there.<br /> <br /> She had hinted at the possibility of returning to school, though that decision was something for a little further in the future.<br /> <br /> “Ryuushi or something said she’s on her way now.”<br /> <br /> “Heh? I guess she’s on her way back from club activities, then.”<br /> <br /> “Yeah, that’s what she said.”<br /> <br /> “Hmm. In that case, shall we try calling Maekawa-san as well?”<br /> <br /> There was no particular reason to do so, but for now, the four of us were able to be together. That fact alone made me incredibly happy.<br /> <br /> Every person was like a star. There was a distance between oneself and others. Some stars were close, while others are far away. Yet, even with those close stars, there are often times when the distance begins to widen as time passes. If that distance grows too great, it becomes truly difficult for us to reach that star even with a rocket. It becomes, for all intents and purposes, impossible.<br /> <br /> That was why, while our distances were still close like they were now, we decided to set aside stargazing for a while.<br /> <br /> We decided to set out as much as we pleased using rockets.<br /> <br /> “Since having more hands for spacecraft manufacturing is always better, I shall permit the addition of more labour.”<br /> <br /> Yashiro, who had been listening to the conversation from the side, interjected. It was becoming impossible to ignore her.<br /> <br /> “Hey, if I’m going to listen, you’d better have a concrete plan.”<br /> <br /> “Of course I do. Prepare to be amazed, nay, prepare to be in awe…”<br /> <br /> And so, no matter how many times I was deceived by Yashiro’s grandiloquent manner of speaking, I continued to listen, only to regret it every single time. The only person who would take such nonsense seriously was likely my cousin, who sat beside me listening with eyes sparkling… And Little Smakin, I suppose.<br /> <br /> Everyone truly loved space, didn’t they?<br /> <br /> I looked up at the sky visible from the entrance and squinted my right eye against the dazzling sunlight.<br /> <br /> Gazing at the blue sky from a corner of the Earth, I aimed for the far reaches of space.<br /> <br /> After all, we were Earthlings.<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> Let’s talk about Youth Points.<br /> <br /> For a little while longer, in this town watched over by aliens.<br /> <br /> [[File:DTS Vol 08 220-221.jpg]]<br /> &lt;noinclude&gt;<br /> {| border=&quot;1&quot; cellpadding=&quot;5&quot; cellspacing=&quot;0&quot; style=&quot;margin: 1em 1em 1em 0; background: #f9f9f9; border: 1px #aaaaaa solid; padding: 0.2em; border-collapse: collapse;&quot;<br /> |-<br /> | Back to [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume8_Chapter4|Chapter 4]]<br /> | Return to [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko|Main Page]]<br /> | Forward to [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume8_Afterword|Afterword]]<br /> |-<br /> |}<br /> &lt;/noinclude&gt;</div>

Bob Morane http://www.baka-tsuki.org/project/index.php?title=Denpa_Onna_to_Seishun_Otoko:Volume8_Chapter4&diff=588802 2026-08-28T14:21:31Z

<p>Bob Morane: Created page with &quot;&lt;noinclude&gt; {| border=&quot;1&quot; cellpadding=&quot;5&quot; cellspacing=&quot;0&quot; style=&quot;margin: 1em 1em 1em 0; background: #f9f9f9; border: 1px #aaaaaa solid; padding: 0.2em; border-collapse: collapse;&quot; |- | Back to Chapter 3-C | Return to Main Page | Forward to Curtain Call |- |} &lt;/noinclude&gt; ==Chapter 4 – Fighting For The Light== Was there any meaning in d...&quot;</p> <hr /> <div>&lt;noinclude&gt;<br /> {| border=&quot;1&quot; cellpadding=&quot;5&quot; cellspacing=&quot;0&quot; style=&quot;margin: 1em 1em 1em 0; background: #f9f9f9; border: 1px #aaaaaa solid; padding: 0.2em; border-collapse: collapse;&quot;<br /> |-<br /> | Back to [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume8_Chapter3-C|Chapter 3-C]]<br /> | Return to [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko|Main Page]]<br /> | Forward to [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume8_Curtain_Call|Curtain Call]]<br /> |-<br /> |}<br /> &lt;/noinclude&gt;<br /> ==Chapter 4 – Fighting For The Light==<br /> Was there any meaning in dreams that remained unfulfilled?<br /> <br /> Was it foolish to hold onto dreams that could never come true?<br /> <br /> Lately, I found myself wishing I knew the proper amount of dreaming one should do in order to live a better reality.<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> Encountering Smakin = me taking flight. Now that such an equation was gradually becoming established, how was I getting on? I asked this to my imaginary audience while pushing hard on my bicycle pedals. My foot slipped off midway, leaving the pedal to spin aimlessly with a clicking sound. I leant my weight to the right and turned.<br /> <br /> “I really wish Smakin attacks would be a one-time thing.”<br /> <br /> “If it becomes popular, they’ll turn it into a series, and then we’ll have a third and fourth Futonese…”<br /> <br /> “That is exactly why I’m heading off to get this cancelled right now.”<br /> <br /> I pedalled my bicycle furiously toward the sea. Back to the very place where it had all begun. To be precise, this time, I only intended to contend with that long slope rather than the ocean itself. For that purpose, I rode.<br /> <br /> It was far more comfortable than my ride in April, as I spun the wheels and pedals all at once.<br /> <br /> “I’m feeling incredibly jittery, despite how out of character it is for me.”<br /> <br /> “That doesn’t convey anything at all, because you’re a Smakin.”<br /> <br /> “I’ve been wondering for a while, but what exactly is a Smakin?”<br /> <br /> “Look in a mirror.”<br /> <br /> The surface of the water would have worked, but the sea I was heading toward was so murky that it likely wouldn’t reflect anything.<br /> <br /> I sped along as if taking a shortcut, traversing a journey that had previously taken over two hours one way on a rusted bicycle. If I kept riding at this speed, I found myself momentarily dreaming that I might actually take flight one day. Perhaps if such illusions continued to pile up, a Smakin would be born.<br /> <br /> “I wonder if we will truly be able to fly, using your power and mine.”<br /> <br /> “Who knows. I failed spectacularly last time, after all.”<br /> <br /> “That was to be expected. Power cannot be generated from two Earthlings.”<br /> <br /> Despite having watched ''E.T.'' for the very first time today, she seemed completely captivated by it. Onii-san worried about her future, fearing she might be easily deceived by bad people. Furthermore, Erio was far too trusting, which was suspicious in itself.<br /> <br /> “Like this, and like that… twisting the power forward… Fumomo…”<br /> <br /> “What exactly are you contemplating? Besides, I don’t think you need to go through the trouble of writing down such internal conflicts on paper.”<br /> <br /> It was a mistake to expect any kind of meaningful reaction from me. Any form of advice was simply beyond my reach.<br /> <br /> “…………”<br /> <br /> I wondered with what kind of feelings Erio and Tamura-san saw me off. I parted ways with them at the Tamura store, promising that I wouldn’t do anything dangerous. Erio, in particular, seemed worried about my sea diving since I had started saying things similar to what I had said before. I told her not to worry, but I wondered if she had actually believed me.<br /> <br /> Before long, as the sun approached its midday peak.<br /> <br /> I applied the brakes and came to a halt at the top of that hill where I had arrived.<br /> <br /> I felt a sense of having returned to a place I shouldn’t have.<br /> <br /> It was mixed with a feeling of greeting the place, as if to say, “I’m back again.”<br /> <br /> Both the sea and the guardrail were still too far away to be seen. The dense trees had changed colour with the autumn scenery, and fallen leaves danced, fluttering before my eyes. The flow of traffic was just as it had been back then, as if no divine intervention had altered its course. Almost unconsciously, my finger moved and rang the bicycle bell. It felt as though the anxieties within my heart were escaping through the gaps in the bell’s chime.<br /> <br /> “I’ve been waiting for this moment, mofumofu.”<br /> <br /> “Huuh?”<br /> <br /> “With this, it looks like I’ll finally be able to return to my family.”<br /> <br /> “…That’s good, then.”<br /> <br /> I hoped he could return home without being taken away. If that day ever came, I thought I could at least see him off.<br /> <br /> I took a deep breath to ease my nerves. I rolled my right shoulder twice to steady my breathing. That sensation of gradually accelerating resurfaced in my mind, and my memory raced down the slope ahead of my actual movement. A shiver crawled up my spine, and I instinctively stroked my back as if to brush it away. After patting my back three times, I gripped the handlebars.<br /> <br /> From here on, I was going to descend this slope with everything I had.<br /> <br /> Of course, I had no intention of actually flying.<br /> <br /> If I were to plunge into the sea, I might truly die this time, and more importantly, I couldn’t afford to ruin my new bicycle. So, I wouldn’t fly, but I would ride. I would accelerate in a controlled manner and then brake halfway through.<br /> <br /> “Hey, Little Smakin, what is this?”<br /> <br /> I held up my index finger before Little Smakin’s eyes. With a “mofufu”, Little Smakin strained with effort.<br /> <br /> “It was a trick question. That was mimicking a pistol. Bang!”<br /> <br /> “…It seems you saw right through me.”<br /> <br /> I didn’t know the underlying principle, but as long as the path ahead was being verified, it was fine. There was a purpose to this run.<br /> <br /> I would run, accelerate, and teach Little Smakin the meaning of fear just before the moment of jumping. I thought that if I could stoke her anxiety regarding the fall, it might serve as a harsh remedy to wake her up to the reality of taking flight. That was my train of thought.<br /> <br /> To prove that she was not an alien, I once again began to descend the slope, knowing full well that I could not fly.<br /> <br /> This time, I would use a mere handful of wisdom and self-preservation to keep my recklessness in check.<br /> <br /> “Alright, here we go.”<br /> <br /> I leaned forward and placed my right foot on the pedal. I was tormented by an exhilaration akin to being on the verge of the start of a race, coupled with a shrinking sensation in my very organs. The sweat and the wind seemed to rush past me together in a great torrent.<br /> <br /> Mofufu.<br /> <br /> It felt as though she was replying, “Go ahead whenever you’re ready.”<br /> <br /> Good.<br /> <br /> I kicked off the ground, directing the front wheel toward the slope.<br /> <br /> And so, I began to ride.<br /> <br /> At first, I went slowly, not even pressing down on the pedals, simply surrendering myself to the momentum of the descent. I knew nothing at all about horse racing, but it felt just like that sensation when the gates swing open before the start. The one-way path had been opened to me.<br /> <br /> An image descended upon me, as if a transparent pillar were piercing through my spine.<br /> <br /> A small wall formed between my upper and lower body as both halves attempted to act independently. I gripped the handlebars tightly to brake the bicycle, while simultaneously, my legs and hips pressed down on the pedals, beginning an endless acceleration. The downhill slope showed an intent to aid both, tempting me onwards.<br /> <br /> The scenery blurred. The surrounding trees became fragmented, and I plunged all at once into an unstable world. The sound of the tyres scraping against the ground stood out, like the buzzing of giant flies near my ears, paralysing my other senses.<br /> <br /> Even Little Smakin, who had been staying quiet as if hiding within a basket, began to lean forward with the acceleration.<br /> <br /> Despite Smakin obstructing my view, I lifted my hips off the saddle, aiming for even greater speed.<br /> <br /> It was exhilarating.<br /> <br /> No matter how hard I struggled or fought during my usual routine, I could never achieve being swallowed up by such high speed.<br /> <br /> My face contorted as if stained by madness, and the sweat gathered at my hairline sprayed outward in an instant.<br /> <br /> The pedals continued to rotate at a terrifying speed, transferring every ounce of that energy into the wheels. The wheels let out a roar alongside the ground, obeying my demands and the rhythm of the pedals to the very end.<br /> <br /> Floating gently, only my consciousness seemed to drift upward. I viewed myself, the bicycle, and Little Smakin from a slight distance, as if admiring a scene. I felt intoxicated by this bird’s-eye view of my own being. Finding pleasure in pushing toward the very limits of speed, my legs refused to stop pedalling. It felt as though the more I rode, the faster I would become.<br /> <br /> Faster than anyone else.<br /> <br /> It was the job of my upper body to keep the bicycle from veering off course. I suppressed the front wheel, which felt as though it might lift off the ground, and bowed my head to gravity, staying true to the slope.<br /> <br /> “It’s coming, it’s coming! We’re almost there!”<br /> <br /> Little Smakin held up a new message, and my eyes followed it unconsciously.<br /> <br /> In that moment, my consciousness, which had been immersed in ecstasy, returned to me.<br /> <br /> I blinked repeatedly, having forgotten to do so, and my sense of touch resurfaced.<br /> <br /> At the same time, the terror coursing through my entire body slammed violently against my insides.<br /> <br /> I couldn’t just fly off like this.<br /> <br /> I had returned to my senses!<br /> <br /> I glared at the handlebars.<br /> <br /> Alright, now I just needed to brake, urk !<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> “ Ah ?”<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> Time warped, and the flow of my movement no longer matched that of the bicycle.<br /> <br /> The one left behind was me, having just returned from that instant of lost consciousness.<br /> <br /> The bicycle accelerated with a few more strides.<br /> <br /> And at the centre of it all lay the catastrophe. An incident. A miscalculation.<br /> <br /> The brake lever, which I had gripped with all my might, snapped.<br /> <br /> It bent with a sharp, sickening crack.<br /> <br /> “Ah, uh, what?”<br /> <br /> The fragment of the brake lever slipped from my loosened fingers and fell to the ground with a light clatter. The front wheel of the bicycle wobbled left and right with a shallow, rhythmic rattling. The bicycle refused to stop, unsettling the rider to the point where staying upright felt like a miracle. The finish line loomed closer and closer, and retirement was simply not an option.<br /> <br /> A cold shiver ran through me, and the blood drained from my face.<br /> <br /> It felt as though the wind might catch me and fling my body backward.<br /> <br /> “It’s here, it’s here, it’s here!”<br /> <br /> In stark contrast to the excitement inside the basket, all my mouth could do was scream.<br /> <br /> My vision turned blood-red, as if tears of blood were about to overflow at any second.<br /> <br /> My own screams filled the surroundings, reaching a crescendo before plunging into total silence. The rising tide of anxiety brought by this unforeseen disaster caused my breath to hitch. It wouldn’t have been strange if even my heart had stopped for a couple of seconds.<br /> <br /> This was bad, bad, bad!<br /> <br /> The brakes, the brakes have failed! And both of them! My teeth chattered so violently that I couldn’t let out anything but screams! It was a sickening, squelching sensation! Aaaah, the acceleration AaaaAaaah!<br /> <br /> There were more goosebumps than there were birds, and the strength to dream of wings was more noble than anyone’s. But I couldn’t fly!<br /> <br /> The end of the downhill slope loomed all at once. And along with it, the end of my life?<br /> <br /> You’ve got to be kidding me!<br /> <br /> I howled. I howled. I was loud. Truly loud. Yet, in inverse proportion to that noise, my mind began to settle. Little Smakin stood up almost entirely, leaning forward and shifting her centre of gravity.<br /> <br /> It felt as though I weren’t trying to stop a bicycle with failed brakes, but rather trying to accelerate it.<br /> <br /> <br /> The sound of wheels turning echoed.<br /> <br /> <br /> It was a sound like “Gaoooooooo” something gouging the ground, or perhaps scrapping it.<br /> <br /> That sound crushed all other noises, much like a pulveriser.<br /> <br /> My earlobes, swollen and engorged with excess blood, stung as the wind irritated them. The edges of my wide-open eyes grew dry, causing tears to well up naturally. My cheeks had stiffened and bulged like clumps of neglected clay, and my face remained contorted without any sign of relaxing. My arms remained motionless, gripped tightly around the bicycle handlebars, making it impossible to let go. Keeping the bicycle travelling in a straight line was the absolute limit of my strength.<br /> <br /> My chin was tilted upward, and with a rhythmic, trembling throat, I glared straight ahead.<br /> <br /> The bicycle and I raced down the slope, as if attempting to cut through the very horizon where the blue of the sky and sea merged. Even for a descent, the speed was excessive, bordering on what could only be described as out of control. Occasionally, the front wheel lifted into the air, performing small, frantic leaps. I knew that if I made even the slightest error in steering and the bike tipped over, I would have to prepare for my skin to be torn right off unless I happened to be wearing a yellow helmet.<br /> <br /> Despite the danger, my legs kicked harder against the pedals. I kept them spinning as if trying to break them.<br /> <br /> I felt as though I had become a part of the bicycle itself. Cold sweat poured out incessantly, soaking the area around my shoulder blades, and my skin writhed with a restless sensation, as if it were about to peel away. It was a feeling born from having already experienced exactly what kind of future awaited the bicycle, myself, and Smakin, who sat nestled in the basket.<br /> <br /> Yes, it was bound to fall.<br /> <br /> And yet, I continued descending the slope.<br /> <br /> It was like an uphill climb following a steep descent, prepared specifically for a leap. The momentum from the descent knew no bounds, driving me up the slope. My speed did not die. Rather, I even felt as though I were accelerating.<br /> <br /> I reached the top of the slope and leaned my body back. Though my fingertips were beginning to feel congested from gripping so tightly, I ignored the sensation, gripped the handlebars even harder, and directed the bicycle upward. Using a technique similar to a wheelie, I lifted up.<br /> <br /> It was like a fish leaping from the vast ocean for a brief moment.<br /> <br /> Like leaping from the sea, driven by a longing for the light.<br /> <br /> Driven by a struggle strikingly similar to that, I aimed for the sun and the open sky.<br /> <br /> My head and the sides of my eyes were dyed pure white as they took in the light, and my open mouth was screaming something.<br /> <br /> The air swirled, swallowing that scream, until nothing could be heard.<br /> <br /> And then, I flew.<br /> <br /> Flying through the sky on a bicycle.<br /> <br /> However.<br /> <br /> At the very moment I began to soar, the consciousness clinging to the back of my head suddenly wondered.<br /> <br /> <br /> How did things end up like this, again?<br /> <br /> <br /> “This, iz, be, cauz!”<br /> <br /> My throat trembled, ravaged by the swallowing wind, and though I looked as if I were on the verge of tears, I screamed.<br /> <br /> This, is, be, cause!<br /> <br /> I am a ''Seishun Otoko''!<br /> <br /> And because a ''Denpa Onna'' was riding in my bicycle basket, IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII! I! I! I! I! I! As for the rest!<br /> <br /> “Can!”<br /> <br /> “That’s it!”<br /> <br /> IIIIIIIIIIIIII! CaaaaaaaaaaaaAAAAAAAAAAAANNN!<br /> <br /> ““FfflllyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyYYYYYYYYYY YYY<br /> <br /> YYY<br /> <br /> yyyy<br /> <br /> yyy<br /> <br /> yyyyyy!””<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> To cut a long story short, the bicycle flew through the air.<br /> <br /> For about two seconds.<br /> <br /> My flight, which was even less reliable than Icarus’s wings, covered just a little further than last time.<br /> <br /> So.<br /> <br /> After that, of course, it was all “Woooiiiiuuuuaaauuuaaagahgobogobobobogo!”, and I went head over heels.<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> “Ah?”<br /> <br /> In the midst of the freefall, time seemed to slow as if we had come to a standstill in mid-air.<br /> <br /> Below, the green expanse of the sea stretched out, and my view was hazy, as if a filter had been applied.<br /> <br /> The scattered reflections of light upon the water’s surface strangely failed to catch my eye.<br /> <br /> And then, I saw “myself” floating there upon the surface of that very water.<br /> <br /> [[File:DTS Vol 08 186.jpg|thumb|And then, I saw “myself” floating there upon the surface of that very water.]]<br /> <br /> With a vacant expression, “I” gazed up vacantly at my falling form.<br /> <br /> Beside that figure, a girl with light blue hair was also floating, just as she had at some point in the past.<br /> <br /> What was this?<br /> <br /> By the time I finally shook off the haze of my dreamlike state, it was too late.<br /> <br /> By the time I finally shook off the haze of my dreamlike state, it was too late.<br /> <br /> In that instant, our eyes met, and we were both struck with sheer horror.<br /> <br /> Then, our foreheads collided with a bone-cracking force.<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> “Baa?”<br /> <br /> It seemed I had lost consciousness for several seconds after the fall. When I came to, I was sinking, my shoulders pulling me down toward the bottom of the sea. My bicycle sank along with me. This time, I held onto the handlebars tightly, as if we were destined to sink together. “Don’t mess with me,” I snapped, anger surging through me, though I couldn’t tell what exactly I was angry at, as I turned my face toward the surface.<br /> <br /> Beyond the depths, a shadow floated upon the sea, looking as if it were covering the sun like a futon.<br /> <br /> It was a rounded shadow. Its drifting, weightless form resembled an Adamski-type UFO.<br /> <br /> Relieved by this, I began to ascend along with my bicycle.<br /> <br /> I kicked my legs, moving slowly and making sure not to panic.<br /> <br /> I was fortunate that I had lost consciousness for only a few seconds. If it had been dozens of seconds, I would undoubtedly have died. I wondered if my arms were broken or my legs. My entire body was tormented by intense pain from the clumsy dive, and I couldn’t even tell where I was injured. The tinnitus in my ears combined with the sound of the water, making my inner ear feel unsteady.<br /> <br /> As soon as my face broke the surface, I began vomiting water. Everything that had accumulated in my stomach and nose was expelled naturally, like a fountain at exactly three o’clock. A pathetic, retching sound escaped my throat, and eventually, tears began to flow.<br /> <br /> It probably took about a minute before I regained my composure.<br /> <br /> It was only when the sensation in my fingertips, which were gripping the bicycle handlebars, had completely returned that I finally lifted my head.<br /> <br /> There, floating before my eyes and swaying with the waves, was Little Smakin.<br /> <br /> From any perspective, I must have looked like a total wreck.<br /> <br /> “Hey.”<br /> <br /> I called out to her. I offered a greeting, feigning the attitude of someone meeting her for the first time. In response, Smakin replied.<br /> <br /> “Yo.”<br /> <br /> A hand poked out from beneath the futon. With a conflicted feeling, I directed my words toward that hand.<br /> <br /> “Any particular thoughts?”<br /> <br /> After a brief pause, Little Smakin sent her next message. In that hand was a piece of notebook paper, so waterlogged from the sea that it had lost its original shape. It seemed she intended to attempt a conversation without ever leaving the safety of her futon.<br /> <br /> …She was a stubborn one.<br /> <br /> “The paper is all soggy, so it’s hard to write.”<br /> <br /> “Is that so? Well then, I’ll take my time listening once you come out from under that futon.”<br /> <br /> Regardless, I decided to make my way out of the sea. Fortunately, it seemed my arm wasn’t broken this time. While not exactly at full strength, my limbs were functional enough to paddle through the water. However, because I had to drag my bicycle along with me, it was more gruelling than the last time. The incoming waves also felt stronger than last spring.<br /> <br /> “Can you even swim in that outfit?”<br /> <br /> With a soft chuckle, Little Smakin nodded and floated on her back. She began to move forward like she was doing the backstroke, kicking her legs vigorously. Even as she was nearly swallowed by the waves, she skilfully headed toward the shore, so I followed after her. The impact of hitting the surface of the sea had not yet faded, and I moved my body in a sort of trance.<br /> <br /> I made my way back to the beach while dragging my bicycle. My head spun, tossed about by the exhaustion and a sense of emptiness that gripped my entire body. My breathing was heavy, and my body trembled from the cold wind and the lingering excitement. My wet clothes were merely heavy and uncomfortable.<br /> <br /> As I coughed, seawater spilt from my mouth. It seemed I had swallowed quite a bit, as something salty sloshed at the bottom of my stomach. I worried about the excess salt. I lifted my chin, feeling the numbness in my limbs grow stronger.<br /> <br /> “…It doesn’t feel like anything has ended.”<br /> <br /> It didn’t feel right. Last time, I felt as though some sort of closure had been reached.<br /> <br /> This time, I couldn’t help but feel a premonition that there was still more to come.<br /> <br /> As if responding to my monologue, Little Smakin twisted her body and held up a blurred message.<br /> <br /> “Please rest assured, thanks to you, my objective has been achieved.”<br /> <br /> “…Oh, really?”<br /> <br /> Regardless, she wasn’t saying it in the way I had hoped.<br /> <br /> Little Smakin skipped lightly across the sandy beach, looking as happy as could be.<br /> <br /> “If you could bring me closer to the sky for even a moment, my family in space would have been able to detect me. After that, they will be able to pull me back up.”<br /> <br /> “…Your backstory lacks consistency right until the very end.”<br /> <br /> I let out a bitter laugh as my feet grew tangled. I nearly fell, but the bicycle steadied me as I climbed from the sandy beach onto the road. As soon as I got home, I would have to service the bike. I needed to minimise the rust. The brakes were broken too, so the fact that I couldn’t rush was another downside.<br /> <br /> “Before we go home, would you mind coming with me for a moment?”<br /> <br /> Little Smakin, scurrying ahead, turned back to extend that invitation.<br /> <br /> “Where are we going? If it’s far, we won’t.”<br /> <br /> My words came out halting, as if crushed by the weight of my sodden uniform. I kicked away the seawater dripping from my hair and pulled off my shoes. Since my wet socks felt unbearably uncomfortable, I took those off as well and shoved everything into the basket.<br /> <br /> I stepped onto the road, feeling the bare skin of my feet press against the pavement and the scattered sand. I wondered how many years it had been since I last walked a path barefoot.<br /> <br /> “It’s right by the slope, so we’ll be there soon.”<br /> <br /> She pointed upward. “Huh?” I muttered, looking toward the sky with suspicion. The sun spread directly overhead, dazzling my eyes.<br /> <br /> “Is there something you need?”<br /> <br /> “I like high places.”<br /> <br /> “Is it because you’re an airhead? Or is it because of the smoke?&lt;ref name=&quot;ftn40&quot;&gt;A reference to the Japanese proverb “Fools and smoke like high places”. Because smoke rises to high places, and some people like to elevate themselves to positions where they are incompetent, making them appear like fools.&lt;/ref&gt;”<br /> <br /> “Both.”<br /> <br /> She was the type who continued to spin endless, baseless stories until the very end. Exhausted by both her arguments and her denials, I looked down and silently followed after Little Smakin. This time, Smakin was being persistent, still wrapped in her futon.<br /> <br /> I hoped she would take it off soon so that my leap wouldn’t be in vain.<br /> <br /> I walked toward the slope, leaving several dark, mottled patches of water behind on the road. As I reached the incline, I felt a sudden impulse to just drop my bicycle and lie down right there, but I gritted my teeth and kept pushing the handlebars. The ringing in my ears had not yet stopped, nor had the pain from where my entire body had slammed against the surface of the sea subsided. Despite having been cold until now, my body began to grow increasingly warm. I felt as though I might end up like a piece of dried fish at this rate.<br /> <br /> “We’re there.”<br /> <br /> Little Smakin came to a halt in front of the guardrail. She stood beside the chipped paint of the rail on a slope that felt as if it had been prepared solely for taking flight, with no sign of any cars approaching from the other side of the road. I stopped my bicycle as well and stood beside her.<br /> <br /> Below the guardrail lay cliffs, reefs, and the vast, open ocean. The very things I had leaped over twice before spread out beneath my feet. As I gazed down, I felt as though I might be suddenly sucked in, and I hurriedly pulled my body back. In contrast to me, Little Smakin seemed to be staring blankly up at the sky.<br /> <br /> “So, is there something actually here?”<br /> <br /> “Sun-drying. It’s so hot in here, you could almost steam a bun.”<br /> <br /> “Let’s go home.”<br /> <br /> “Just kidding. Someone should be arriving soon, so I’ll wait.”<br /> <br /> “Arriving? …Hey, are you still acting like an eccentric?”<br /> <br /> Since I had acted so dramatically, it would be a scam if there weren’t some kind of result to show for it.<br /> <br /> Even if it lacked context, I figured it would work out somehow.<br /> <br /> “Oh, and also, I feel like expressing my gratitude.”<br /> <br /> She bowed her head deeper than usual.<br /> <br /> “What’s all this all of a sudden?”<br /> <br /> “Well, I feel like you’ve looked after me in many ways.”<br /> <br /> “After all you’ve done, you’re actually worried about gratitude… I can’t even imagine a way to hold a favour over an alien.”<br /> <br /> I wasn’t angry, but her lack of sincerity was just as excessive as Yashiro’s.<br /> <br /> “I hope you get to go to space while you’re still alive.”<br /> <br /> “I wonder. I just hope my lifespan and the advancement of science align perfectly.”<br /> <br /> Leaning against the guardrail, I narrowed my eyes toward the azure horizon. The bicycle, the sea, Smakin. Everything that had been by my side when my youth in this town began was all right there.<br /> <br /> “Oh, by the way, you…”<br /> <br /> “Hm?”<br /> <br /> “I’m foreshadowing suggestively.”<br /> <br /> “Just say it already.”<br /> <br /> “Ah, I ran out of paper.”<br /> <br /> I shrugged. Even if she asked me to restock, I didn’t have any spares left.<br /> <br /> Besides, the contents of my bag were a complete mess.<br /> <br /> As I watched her with a sense of lethargy, wondering what to do, Little Smakin held up a fresh sheet of paper.<br /> <br /> Just as I started to smile, thinking that she actually had some,<br /> <br /> “It can’t be helped, I guess.”<br /> <br /> “……!”<br /> <br /> Little Smakin pulled her arms back, and then.<br /> <br /> She lifted the duvet with a light touch, as if it had never been binding her at all.<br /> <br /> With a clatter, permanent markers and stacks of paper scattered across the floor as if by some magic trick. Without even bothering to pick them up, Little Smakin swung the futon loosely, revealing her true identity.<br /> <br /> The face that had been hidden beneath the futon.<br /> <br /> Her hair.<br /> <br /> And her overflowing particles.<br /> <br /> “Who are you?”<br /> <br /> “I told you, I’m an alien.”<br /> <br /> For the first time, she spoke words from her won voice.<br /> <br /> And my eyes widened at the true face of Little Smakin, now revealed from beneath the duvet.<br /> <br /> That face smiled innocently, and she thrust her arm out toward me.<br /> <br /> “Give my regards to Master.”<br /> <br /> While I stood there dazed by Little Smakin’s “true identity”, she turned her back to me. She cast aside the duvet, and the girl who was no longer Smakin let her long hair be swept away by the wind. That wind drifted toward me.<br /> <br /> What rose into the air were particles.<br /> <br /> Particles emitting a fleeting light brushed against my cheek before drifting away weightlessly.<br /> <br /> “Ah, here it comes.”<br /> <br /> The girl murmured, looking upward. As I followed her gaze and lifted my chin, I saw something dazzling.<br /> <br /> The midday sun was suspended in the sky like a clock, momentarily blinding me. Caught off guard by the overwhelming light, I instinctively reached out my hand. I covered my eyes as if to create a shade, enduring for a moment the pain that seeped into me like lukewarm water. I expected tears to fall, but contrary to my expectation, nothing came.<br /> <br /> Even so, for some reason, I pulled my hand away after wiping my eyes with my fingers. A haze of light remained seared into my vision, making me feel as if I were treading the boundary between dreams and reality. My inner ear felt unsteady, and a sense of dizziness washed over me.<br /> <br /> “…Huh, what?”<br /> <br /> It was only after I made a gesture as if to clear away that untouchable haze with my palm that I realised. She wasn’t there.<br /> <br /> Little Smakin, who had been standing there just a few seconds ago, had vanished. She was like Hoshimiya Yashiro, who had disappeared from the surroundings the moment a meteorite fell. It was as if both her shadow and her form had been lost within the pouring light.<br /> <br /> All that remained were the iris-patterned futon sprawled sloppily on the ground and my writing utensils. When I picked them up without much thought, I found a message on the top sheet of paper that hadn’t been there until a moment ago.<br /> <br /> “Thank you very much.”<br /> <br /> I stared at those words twice before peering into the sea. I had become worried that, perhaps, she had jumped.<br /> <br /> I strained my eyes against the surface of the sea. Amidst the gentle movement of the waves, no foreign object could be found. Even as I continued to stare, forgetting to blink, there was no sign of a girl floating there. No, that wasn’t right; I looked up once more.<br /> <br /> I tightened the muscles around my eyes to face the sun. The brilliance of the solar disc. I directed my gaze toward whatever lay beyond it. As my eyes continued to absorb the light that acted as an obstruction, the vision within them gradually began to change colour, as if algae were proliferating.<br /> <br /> I searched for any trace of the girl. I reached out, as if toward the source of those particles that had drifted away on the wind.<br /> <br /> This town truly forced strange experiences upon me. A fragment of an extraterrestrial lifeform, fluttering provocatively like a celestial robe. If I tried to push it away, it would pursue me, and if I tried to grasp it, it would recede. It asserted its existence loudly, yet while evading any absolute proof, it approached me in a way that left me in a state of doubt.<br /> <br /> In the end, those types of people would always vanish, leaving behind just a tiny hint of their extraterrestrial nature.<br /> <br /> “…Ha ha, ha… hah.”<br /> <br /> Aliens were such an incredibly roundabout bunch.<br /> <br /> And so, I was entangled by them, tossed about by them, and danced through the sky.<br /> <br /> That was my…<br /> <br /> “It’s my Youth!”<br /> <br /> I shouted toward the vast ocean, the sea breeze searing the back of my throat.<br /> <br /> Within a vision saturated by light and rendered completely useless, I curled my lips into a smirk.<br /> <br /> I chose to intentionally abandon my pursuit of those mysteries, suffering a total defeat to their love for “space”.<br /> <br /> I held up my remaining duvet like a victory flag, letting it flutter powerfully in the sky.<br /> <br /> And then.<br /> <br /> Toward whoever was watching us from beyond the heavens, if one could even say so.<br /> <br /> I called out the end to those aliens.<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> Hi, this was Niwa Makoto.<br /> <br /> <br /> -----<br /> *While falling, I found something like “me”: ±0<br /> *Once again, I cannot fly: +5<br /> '''Current total Youth Points:''' ±0<br /> -----<br /> &lt;noinclude&gt;<br /> {| border=&quot;1&quot; cellpadding=&quot;5&quot; cellspacing=&quot;0&quot; style=&quot;margin: 1em 1em 1em 0; background: #f9f9f9; border: 1px #aaaaaa solid; padding: 0.2em; border-collapse: collapse;&quot;<br /> |-<br /> | Back to [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume8_Chapter3-C|Chapter 3-C]]<br /> | Return to [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko|Main Page]]<br /> | Forward to [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume8_Curtain_Call|Curtain Call]]<br /> |-<br /> |}<br /> &lt;/noinclude&gt;</div>

Bob Morane http://www.baka-tsuki.org/project/index.php?title=Denpa_Onna_to_Seishun_Otoko:Volume8_Chapter3-C&diff=588801 2026-08-28T14:21:15Z

<p>Bob Morane: Created page with &quot;&lt;noinclude&gt; {| border=&quot;1&quot; cellpadding=&quot;5&quot; cellspacing=&quot;0&quot; style=&quot;margin: 1em 1em 1em 0; background: #f9f9f9; border: 1px #aaaaaa solid; padding: 0.2em; border-collapse: collapse;&quot; |- | Back to Chapter 3-B | Return to Main Page | Forward to Chapter 4 |- |} &lt;/noinclude&gt; ==Chapter 3-C – Things That Cannot Be Surpassed== Dreams that came true...&quot;</p> <hr /> <div>&lt;noinclude&gt;<br /> {| border=&quot;1&quot; cellpadding=&quot;5&quot; cellspacing=&quot;0&quot; style=&quot;margin: 1em 1em 1em 0; background: #f9f9f9; border: 1px #aaaaaa solid; padding: 0.2em; border-collapse: collapse;&quot;<br /> |-<br /> | Back to [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume8_Chapter3-B|Chapter 3-B]]<br /> | Return to [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko|Main Page]]<br /> | Forward to [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume8_Chapter4|Chapter 4]]<br /> |-<br /> |}<br /> &lt;/noinclude&gt;<br /> ==Chapter 3-C – Things That Cannot Be Surpassed==<br /> Dreams that came true became a part of reality.<br /> <br /> Reality eventually became hollow and began to yearn for new dreams.<br /> <br /> Dreams were nothing more than lunch in the course of a lifetime. They were not worth dedicating one’s entire existence to.<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> From before noon, I found myself worrying whether it was alright to be pedalling along on my bicycle in my school uniform. My legs felt withered, and my back began to slouch. I felt that this timidity was characteristic of me. On the other hand, Little Smakin was in high spirits.<br /> <br /> She hummed incessantly while keeping the message “Paper is out, please refill” displayed the entire time. When I listened closely to those somewhat cloudy hums, I realised they were some of the songs the singers had performed passionately at the school festival.<br /> <br /> I ran in the direction exactly opposite of the Touwa family, far away from the school gates. I had no specific destination, but I steered my bicycle toward an area where I likely wouldn’t encounter anyone I knew. If I ran into someone like Meme-san, things would likely become troublesome. I intended to keep riding along the sidewalk bordering the road and gradually veer away from it. Since I wanted to avoid being detained by the police, I inevitably chose paths with little foot traffic. As someone who had not lived in this town for many years, I found it difficult to judge where those paths actually led.<br /> <br /> “All I know is that if I keep going straight down this road, I’ll merge with the road heading toward the sea.”<br /> <br /> It was a nostalgic road, one that also brought back memories of muscle soreness from when I travelled it back in April. Looking back on it now, I marvelled at my own gullibility for pedalling for hours just to keep up with Erio at the time. I wondered if I really had nothing better to do.<br /> <br /> I gazed at the view ahead with distant eyes. As I narrowed them, I could clearly feel the sensation of my eyelashes brushing against my skin. A floating sensation, teased by the air, played around my eyes. The wind pressed against my face with a flat, heavy weight, much like thin paper being pressed onto a surface. My legs, aching from the heavy use they had endured yesterday, felt strained even against that gentle headwind.<br /> <br /> Yet, my heart moved a step ahead of my body, pulling me forward.<br /> <br /> The realisation that I was moving away from the classroom just as homeroom was about to begin tickled a sense of adventure within me. This was the second time I had skipped class. And in both instances, a Smakin was involved. Stimulated by the presence of the spinning-in-futon girls, my youth was spiralling in a bad direction.<br /> <br /> “Mofufu.”<br /> <br /> Little Smakin bounced inside her cage. I frowned, wondering what was happening, only to realise my phone was ringing right under her backside. It seemed she had jumped in sync with the vibration of the incoming call. Honestly, stop stepping on it.<br /> <br /> I pulled my bicycle to the side of the sidewalk to check the phone. Even so, it was quite the ordeal, having to yank my bag out from underneath Little Smakin’s rear just to retrieve the device.<br /> <br /> I wondered why Smakin always had to make everything so much more complicated.<br /> <br /> “An email… Oh.”<br /> <br /> It was an email from Ryuushi-san. There was no subject line, so I went straight to checking the body. The sunlight hit the liquid crystal display, reflecting so brightly it was difficult to read. Squinting my eyes, I stared through the green-tinted haze at the edges of the screen.<br /> <br /> “Niwa-kun, are you sick today? Do you need Ryuuko-san to come visit?”<br /> <br /> Apparently, she had grown worried because I hadn’t shown my face even after homeroom had begun. That kindness truly touched my heart Even more so when compared to Little Smakin. When I stole a glance, that message was still displayed. How persistent. I opened my bag, roughly tore out an unused section of my notebook, and shoved it under the futon. This person really was attentive to every detail, damn her. Finally, her hand withdrew. Now, I had to reply.<br /> <br /> I certainly wanted her to come visit, but I wasn’t sick. This is troubling. I agonised for two seconds before giving up. I thought about being honest about my current situation and perhaps trying to use an emoticon, even if I was inexperienced, but I had no idea how they worked.<br /> <br /> “I’m feeling too healthy, so I skipped class. Emoticon.”<br /> <br /> I had made a conversion error. Every time a car passed by, the sound made me feel anxious. Even the clicking sound of the buttons felt irritating. To make matters worse, I added “I’m so grateful,” which conveyed not even a shred of sincerity.<br /> <br /> Just as I was feeling subtly irritated, another email arrived. This time, it was from Maekawa-san.<br /> <br /> “Transfer student, are you skipping school? By the way, Ryuushi probably just sent you an email.”<br /> <br /> “Whoa, how sharp of her.”<br /> <br /> The fact that she saw through my truancy was exactly what I expected from Maekawa-san. Ryuushi’s way of thinking was that of a good girl. In this day and age, there was no way a high school girl wearing a yellow helmet could be a bad person. But that was a good thing.<br /> <br /> For now, I replied to Ryuushi-san, having removed the emoticon part. After that, I began composing a reply to Maekawa-san. Little Smakin was hopping around, perhaps out of boredom. She was as noisy as a cicada in an insect cage.<br /> <br /> “Both are correct. I’m amazed by your keen insight, Maekawa-san.”<br /> <br /> Sent. Maekawa-san had even seen through my purchase of porn magazines… wait, no, that was just a delusion.<br /> <br /> At least that part differed from reality, which was a relief. “…Oh?”<br /> <br /> Ryuushi-san called me. “Yeah, yeah,” I muttered to myself as I answered.<br /> <br /> Since I was by the roadside, it was hard to hear.<br /> <br /> “Hello, Niwa-kun speaking.”<br /> <br /> “Uh, I’m Niwa-kun, though.”<br /> <br /> “Ah, my mistake. I was going to make a prank call, but the person on the other end was Niwa-kun.”<br /> <br /> “…You’re way too much of an airhead.”<br /> <br /> “'''Mistake'''!”<br /> <br /> My side was likely filled with noise, but Ryuushi-san’s side was also overflowing with the clamour of the classroom.<br /> <br /> “So, are you doing it? Are you skipping class?”<br /> <br /> “Yeah. It kind of ended up that way.”<br /> <br /> I poked Little Smakin in the back. She turned around with a “Mofufu!”, but I ignored her.<br /> <br /> “So, you are ''Niwaring''&lt;ref name=&quot;ftn34&quot;&gt;Ryooshi just created a verb based on the name “Niwa”.&lt;/ref&gt;?”<br /> <br /> “Well, I suppose I am ''Niwaring''.”<br /> <br /> As always, her sense of language was mysterious. It was far too new, yet I understood the meaning. It was a strange kind of realisation.<br /> <br /> “Eeeh, lucky you. Next time you’re ''Niwaring'', invite me too.”<br /> <br /> Once the word ''Niwaring ''became established, it almost made it sound like I was a habitual truant.<br /> <br /> “Hmm. But Ryuushi-san, you’re a good girl, so I think it’s better if you actually attend class.”<br /> <br /> “Are you calling Ryuuko-san, who is known as the Axis of Evil, a good girl?”<br /> <br /> “Since when did you hold such a high-ranking position?”<br /> <br /> If she became part of the Axis, I doubted anyone would even recognise it as evil anymore.<br /> <br /> “I’m definitely going with you next time. That’s a promise from Ryuuko Onee-san.”<br /> <br /> “Yeah, yeah.”<br /> <br /> “I’m going to leave a proper note on your desk, Niwa-kun!”<br /> <br /> Before I could tell her to wait a moment, the call ended. As I stared at the phone’s screen, a cold sweat ran down my back.<br /> <br /> Since she was such an airheaded, she might actually do it.<br /> <br /> Something like, “Next time, Niwa-kun and Ryuuko-san will be ''Niwaring''.” To anyone else, it would look like a secret code.<br /> <br /> “You’re surprisingly popular, despite your unremarkable appearance.”<br /> <br /> Little Smakin twisted her body, offering her frank assessment of me.<br /> <br /> “Thanks for the ‘surprisingly’ compliment.”<br /> <br /> “Oh, don’t mention it.”<br /> <br /> “Are all aliens unable to understand sarcasm?”<br /> <br /> I didn’t know why she was acting so bashful. Her personality sat somewhere right in the middle of Yashiro and Erio.<br /> <br /> “Oh, another call.”<br /> <br /> I had more or less guessed who it was even before checking the name on the screen; it was Maekawa-san.<br /> <br /> “Hello, transfer student speaking.”<br /> <br /> “Oh my, Niwa-kun. It’s bad to skip school. You’re the very incarnation of it.”<br /> <br /> Her tone was clearly different from usual, filled with a forced softness.<br /> <br /> “You’re imitating Ryuushi-san, aren’t you?”<br /> <br /> “Fufufu, I nailed it, didn’t I?”<br /> <br /> “You’re quite versatile, Maekawa-san. So, uh, is something wrong?”<br /> <br /> “I’ve asked this before, but is it forbidden to call you unless I have something urgent?”<br /> <br /> “As I’ve said before, that’s not the case at all.”<br /> <br /> Little Smakin held up a piece of paper that read “Not yet?”, so I mouthed “Not yet” back to her.<br /> <br /> “Well, since it looked like Ryuushi called the transfer student, I was merely following suit.”<br /> <br /> “Heh, you’re quite perceptive.”<br /> <br /> “Naturally. We’re in the same classroom, so everything is out in the open.”<br /> <br /> “Ah, I see. Maekawa-san, since you are tall, you can probably see everything even while sitting down.”<br /> <br /> “I don’t even need to look to know what Ryuushi is up to.”<br /> <br /> “I wonder what happened with that classroom matter…”<br /> <br /> At that moment, I thought I caught the faint sound of a voice from the other end of the line saying, “I told ya…”<br /> <br /> “So, I decided to skip school today.”<br /> <br /> “Yes, that has happened before. Does that mean you intend to jump into the sea again?”<br /> <br /> “No way,” I said as I shrugged and laughed. I didn’t possess that kind of youth anymore… I told you, I didn’t.<br /> <br /> There was a Smakin girl. Someone who insisted she was an alien. She was sitting in the bicycle basket.<br /> <br /> However, I couldn’t exactly dive into the vast ocean on a bicycle. I had no desire to die, after all.<br /> <br /> Besides, I had no intention of risking my life for someone whose face I had never even seen.<br /> <br /> “This time, it’s not like I ran away from school because I wanted to skip class.”<br /> <br /> “Hmm, and what does that mean?”<br /> <br /> I held my cell phone close to Little Smakin. I wondered if that boisterous, noisy “Mofufu, mofufu” reached the other end of the line. After a few seconds, I pulled the phone away to find Maekawa-san laughing.<br /> <br /> “Ah, I see, I get the gist of it. It looks like you’ve taken a real liking to her, transfer student.”<br /> <br /> “I couldn’t just abandon her, so I had no choice.”<br /> <br /> “You paedophile.”<br /> <br /> She insulted me with a voice that tried to sound serious… She was pretending, wasn’t she?<br /> <br /> “Well, it’s not like this habit of yours of being a people-pleaser is anything new, transfer student.”<br /> <br /> “Wait, is that really how people see me?”<br /> <br /> “The fact that you’re unaware is a serious symptom. Ha ha ha!”<br /> <br /> I wondered if that was true. And I wondered if this was the kind of moment where I should just laugh it off. Little Smakin didn’t say anything in response.<br /> <br /> “Are you coming to school tomorrow?”<br /> <br /> “Probably. No, definitely. I don’t have the guts to skip school several days in a row.”<br /> <br /> “In that case, I’ll be looking forward to tomorrow. I’ll be hoping that something amusing happens today so I can hear all about it.”<br /> <br /> “Pray for my safety rather than my amusement!”<br /> <br /> I said that jokingly, and after we both shared a laugh, we hung up. A close friend was certainly someone worth having.<br /> <br /> As I went to put my phone away with a lingering smile on my lips, I noticed Little Smakin, who had twisted her upper body, was staring intently at me. Sensing an odd atmosphere wafting from deep within her futon, I asked suspiciously, “What is it?”<br /> <br /> If the person in front of me had been Erio, all I would have received in response was a simple “Mm”, but Little Smakin was different.<br /> <br /> “You’re quite popular, despite your unremarkable appearance.”<br /> <br /> “…Thank you for removing the ‘surprisingly’.”<br /> <br /> If that was meant as a compliment, there were much better targets for it. Little Smakin squirmed.<br /> <br /> “Now, let us resume our journey to outer space!”<br /> <br /> “Ehh, we’re going to space? In that case, I’m naming this bicycle the ''Haru''&lt;ref name=&quot;ftn35&quot;&gt;The name is in katakana, so it is difficult to guess the intended meaning, but it is probably “spring” which in Japanese also symbolises “youth”.&lt;/ref&gt;!”<br /> <br /> I felt as though the pedals or handlebars might stage a rebellion against me, though. I lifted my feet from the ground and pressed down on the pedals. Applying pressure to my toes, I began to spin the wheels round and round. It felt strangely heavy for the first three rotations. Once that passed, however, it became light as a lie, and I began to move forward as if I had stepped onto a conveyor belt. It felt as though the very direction of gravity had shifted, pulling me forward.<br /> <br /> The crosswalk I passed had a green light, yet I deliberately came to a halt.<br /> <br /> “Where is space exactly? Here, I’ll let you choose the path.”<br /> <br /> I left the choice between left, right, and straight ahead to Little Smakin. The question of whether she could see through the futon had already vanished. Looking back at my actions so far, it would be strange if she couldn’t. And that, in itself, was plenty strange.<br /> <br /> “It’s obviously straight ahead. This is a duel.”<br /> <br /> “Is this a baseball commentary? What exactly am I competing against?”<br /> <br /> Before the light changed, I hurried across to the other sidewalk. At this rate, it felt as though I would end up heading to the sea with Smakin once again. My very skin could sense that tide pulling me. Without deciding whether to resist it or drift along, my feet continued to pedal through sheer inertia. Was this really okay?<br /> <br /> “Hmm…”<br /> <br /> I pondered the matter with real intent. I wouldn’t deny that my life had been one of simply drifting along, but I wondered if it wouldn’t be alright to try resisting such things every once in a while.<br /> <br /> I applied the brakes with my feet and gripped the bicycle handlebars tightly. Much like performing a wheelie, I lifted the front wheel and turned around. Then, I began to head back the way I had come. I certainly didn’t want to end up face-planting with Little Smakin.<br /> <br /> “Oh my, are you taking a detour? How rude of me to ask.”<br /> <br /> “After all, sticking to familiar paths is best, yeah.”<br /> <br /> “So you lack the courage to embark upon a new path, you coward.”<br /> <br /> The road to the sea wasn’t particularly new. Without offering any rebuttal, I turned back the way I had come. I considered returning to the Touwa Family, but it wouldn’t be right to let someone of unknown identity into the house. It was a bit late to mention, but up until now, it was likely Meme-san who had invited her in. Regardless of whether she was the head of the house, it wasn’t exactly commendable for me, a mere lodger, to be the one letting people in. Besides, having her relaxing in my room made me feel strangely restless.<br /> <br /> “That’s why there’s only one place left to go.”<br /> <br /> I changed my course toward that destination and pressed down on the pedals. The people over there were surely lenient when it came to skipping out on responsibilities.<br /> <br /> “We’re going to fly! Fly! How exciting!”<br /> <br /> “You’re way too influenced by fictional works; Onii-san is worried about your future.”<br /> <br /> I placed my hand on her head to suppress her excitement. Since Little Smakin was trapped in the basket with nowhere to run, all she could do was kick her legs about restlessly. It was quite amusing.<br /> <br /> And so, I took a long detour to bypass the school, only to wander into unfamiliar territory and become blatantly lost.<br /> <br /> Somehow, I had managed to get lost quite thoroughly. It wasn’t even that I was struggling to find my way; rather, I had wandered straight into the unknown.<br /> <br /> Sticking to the paths I knew well should have been the best course of action, but that was the problem with cowards like me.<br /> <br /> “Man, this scenery is a complete panorama of things I’ve never seen before.”<br /> <br /> I parked my bicycle by the side of the gravel road and looked around. I felt as though I were shipwrecked. Several pear trees were planted next to a house, and some sort of wire fencing had been strung up. A warning sign was attached to it, too: “Elementary students passing through here, do not be mischievous and drop things!” Was this a route to an elementary school?… I wondered if a teacher would reprimand me for wearing my school uniform. I shrunk my shoulders as I imagining the encounter. So, what should I do?<br /> <br /> I considered calling Meme-san on the phone, but I decided against it, fearing she would come charging out in literally two seconds.<br /> <br /> I didn’t want to incur an unwanted debt to that ''youkai''.<br /> <br /> “You must not park your bicycle.”<br /> <br /> Little Smakin protested. The basket swayed heavily against the back of my knees.<br /> <br /> “When you’re lost, it’s better not to move aimlessly.”<br /> <br /> But that was based on the assumption that someone would come to save you. There was no way anyone was coming for us.<br /> <br /> “In the worst case, you can just keep pedalling.”<br /> <br /> “What kind of advice is that? Besides, you’re an elementary schooler. Isn’t this area part of your route to school?”<br /> <br /> “It is cosmically unrelated.”<br /> <br /> “The cosmos seems pretty unrelated to you, too. Well, I can’t think of any clever ideas, so let’s just ride for now.”<br /> <br /> “That choice is a yes, isn’t it?”<br /> <br /> It seemed this creature was satisfied with just riding, as long as it could keep going and perhaps even fly through the sky.<br /> <br /> It was such a dreamy type, likely because it was always wrapped up in its futon.<br /> <br /> “Wah ha ha.”<br /> <br /> I laughed all by myself at my own heartfelt joke, then moved away from the pear tree. As long as I accepted the idea of skipping school to ride through unknown roads, it wasn’t a bad thing. Everything was unfamiliar, and it felt fresh.<br /> <br /> Exuding an atmosphere akin to Little Smakin Delivery Service&lt;ref name=&quot;ftn36&quot;&gt;Probably a reference to ''Kiki’s Delivery Service''.&lt;/ref&gt;, I headed roughly toward my destination through the long, narrow paths. I paid attention only to my direction, leaving the rest to chance. I passed through the back of the school, a place I had never seen, and ran along the fence of a field labelled “West Athletic Ground”, as if gathering a sense of liberation along the way.<br /> <br /> “Flying freely through the sky!”<br /> <br /> Little Smakin also grew strangely cheerful midway through, rampaging while brandishing what sounded like a parody of a song&lt;ref name=&quot;ftn37&quot;&gt;What Little Smaking said in her previous sentence resembled a lot like part of the lyrics of the opening of the anime ''Doraemon ''(”I want to fly freely in the sky!”).&lt;/ref&gt;.<br /> <br /> Of course, the wheels never even lifted once; they continued to run steadily along the level ground.<br /> <br /> After taking just under an hour, we finally arrived at the Tamura store, a shop that boasted being open year-round. Aside from the Touwa Family, this was the only place where we could find refuge while bringing Smakin along. If it was Tamura-san, I felt she would likely just brush off my shirking with a single scolding, saying, “You’re such an idiot.”<br /> <br /> I applied the brakes, sliding along the road with a screech. It would probably be fine to leave the bicycle parked out front.<br /> <br /> “Isn’t this where (provisional) Master is located?”<br /> <br /> “You’re right. Let’s go in and say hello.”<br /> <br /> I lifted Little Smakin out of the basket. Surprisingly, Little Smakin dismounted obediently without showing any sign of resistance, murmuring, “Mofufu.” Probably just a murmur. It felt as though it might have contained some deeper meaning, but there was no way for me to tell.<br /> <br /> I pushed against the poorly fitting entrance door with both hands and squeezed my body through the resulting gap sideways.<br /> <br /> Once I was inside the shop, I called out to a figure who was looking down, staring intently at an English vocabulary notebook.<br /> <br /> “Yo, how’s it going?”<br /> <br /> The alarm above the door chimed *piroliro-piroliro*, announcing the arrival of a customer.<br /> <br /> “We? Wel-c-cco-m…&lt;ref name=&quot;ftn38&quot;&gt;Essentially, Erio is struggling to say ''irasshaimase'', the traditional Japanese greeting that is used to welcome customers.&lt;/ref&gt;”<br /> <br /> Though a hint of confusion snagged in her mind, Erio uttered the standard shopkeeper’s greeting like a conditioned reflex. She stood up from the register and came running toward me, her bare feet pitter-pattering across the floor. It didn’t seem like Tamura-san had come out to the front of the shop.<br /> <br /> “Cousin, what are you doing here?”<br /> <br /> She looked up at me, her already large eyes widening into circles. Now, I wondered what kind of lie I should tell.<br /> <br /> “Today was the school’s anniversary. Man, I totally forgot; I only realised after I had already left.”<br /> <br /> I went with a ''cliché''. After saying it, I remembered that Erio had been a student at that same school last year. I wondered if she would at least remember the anniversary. Then again, I wasn’t even sure if the anniversary was a school holiday or not.<br /> <br /> “You lying idiot. There was no such thing at the school Shouji attended.”<br /> <br /> Before Erio could even react, a voice from the back of the shop called out, exposing my lie. Tamura-san appeared, leaning against the wall with her hands pressed against it. After straightening her dishevelled jacket, she slowly knelt down.<br /> <br /> “Cousin, you lied?”<br /> <br /> “Well, as it turns out, maybe.”<br /> <br /> I wished she wouldn’t ask things while looking at me with those innocent eyes, as if trying to make a point. A sense of guilt ached needlessly.<br /> <br /> “Man, I can’t believe you’re skipping class, Makoto. I wonder what kind of face Shouji would make if he knew.”<br /> <br /> Having finished settling into a formal kneeling position, Tamura-san’s shoulders shook with amusement. What kind of face would my father make?<br /> <br /> It would likely end with a simple “Is that so?” The relationship between my father and me was a shallow one.<br /> <br /> “Still, you’re free to skip as you please, but you certainly have a knack for bringing strange people along. Are you trying to interfere with my business?”<br /> <br /> The strange individual I had been called upon to present stepped forward with a wide, “Mofuffu” stride. It was certainly careless of me to bring along the very person I had been told to “do something about” just a few days ago. She was even puffing out her chest, completely oblivious to the atmosphere.<br /> <br /> “Don’t tell me you’re planning to ask me to take her in too?”<br /> <br /> “If you do it now, you can get me as a set.”<br /> <br /> “And how exactly is having more brats a benefit?”<br /> <br /> Tamura-san let out a derisive snort. However, she didn’t deny it, and it seemed she was willing to accept the situation.<br /> <br /> The grandmother’s kindness was never straightforward, which made her difficult to read, but that was also part of her charm.<br /> <br /> “Ugh, Cousin, are you dealing with that kid again?”<br /> <br /> Erio pouted, covering her mouth with an English vocabulary book. It wasn’t as if I were looking after her by choice, either. As for whether I enjoyed dealing with Erio’s usual antics, I decided to avoid giving a direct answer.<br /> <br /> “She’s your apprentice, so you should try to get along.”<br /> <br /> “It’s because she’s my apprentice that I’m not spoiling her.”<br /> <br /> Erio turned her head away with a huff. Not spoiling her, huh? I thought that might actually be quite effective.<br /> <br /> Since I had been humouring her, she had grown overconfident, and even her resolve seemed to have hardened. Or so I thought.<br /> <br /> And so, leaving Little Smakin alone, the three of us huddled together to confer in hushed tones. We brainstormed words and reactions that might work against Little Smakin, eventually reaching a consensus.<br /> <br /> Sensing she had been excluded, Little Smakin scurried over to us.<br /> <br /> “Um…”<br /> <br /> “What is it, you fraud?”<br /> <br /> “What’s up, you fraud?”<br /> <br /> “What’s wrong, you fraud?”<br /> <br /> In unison, the three of us labelled her a phoney. Even Little Smakin faltered at that.<br /> <br /> “Mmm… I have a feeling my credibility is waning.”<br /> <br /> “It was already close to zero, so I don’t think you need to worry about it.”<br /> <br /> Even if a microorganism were to leap through the air, we wouldn’t be able to catch it.<br /> <br /> “By the way, what time is it now?”<br /> <br /> For some reason, I suddenly began to care about the time. I wondered if she had some business or an appointment, and despite thinking that about someone like her, I checked the time on my phone. Because I had hesitated so much, the hands of the clock had already passed ten in the morning.<br /> <br /> “It’s about ten o’clock.”<br /> <br /> To someone like her, who was always wrapped up in futon, it felt as though both morning and afternoon were meaningless.<br /> <br /> Little Smakin nodded once, as if saying, “I see.” Then, she stretched again.<br /> <br /> “Then, for the sake of honour, I shall tell you the truth.”<br /> <br /> “No, enough already with your delusions and weird Japanese sentence structure.”<br /> <br /> Because I had enough of it. Besides, was there even any need to worry about the time?<br /> <br /> “This is the truth. Actually, there were quite a few lies in what I’ve said until now. It breaks my heart, but it was unavoidable in order to hide my true identity. Please forgive me.”<br /> <br /> Quite a few? You mean everything.<br /> <br /> “Listen closely, I am about to say something incredible. Are you prepared for something incredible?”<br /> <br /> “Yes, yes.”<br /> <br /> I brushed off Little Smakin’s preamble with a casual dismissal. After a short pause, Little Smakin began to speak in earnest.<br /> <br /> [[File:DTS Vol 08 169.jpg|thumb|Her face remained expressionless, but she appeared to be frozen in place.]]<br /> <br /> “About seventy years from now, aliens will attempt to make full-scale contact with Earth. At that time, the descendants of this (provisional) Master will be needed. They will serve as the bridge between aliens and humans.”<br /> <br /> “…………”<br /> <br /> I exchanged glances with Erio. Her face remained expressionless, but she appeared to be frozen in place.<br /> <br /> “However, as things stand, their descendants will not aspire to become astronauts. Therefore, first, this (provisional) Master must become an astronaut herself to pass that dream down through the generations.”<br /> <br /> She ended the sentence with an onomatopoeic “Fufufuun.” Silence fell over the candy shop. It felt as though the very pillars were creaking.<br /> <br /> “I see… So, you’re saying… you came from the future?”<br /> <br /> “Hehe, you’ve finally figured it out.”<br /> <br /> “…What happened to space?”<br /> <br /> So, is this the Sewashi-kun&lt;ref name=&quot;ftn39&quot;&gt;Sewashi is a character from ''Doraemon''.&lt;/ref&gt; who came to my home? To try and change the past without Doraemon… you certainly have nerve.”<br /> <br /> I was so exasperated that I couldn’t even find the words. There was a complete lack of consistency. Even Erio had more sense of cohesion than this.<br /> <br /> “She’s a serious case. Makoto, do something about it.”<br /> <br /> Tamura-san commanded, her expression grim. Even if I said I would try, I couldn’t think of a single solution.<br /> <br /> Since I had only attempted the Smakin treatment once before, I had no way of knowing if it would work this time either.<br /> <br /> As I stood there speechless, Erio, who had remained silent until then, finally spoke.<br /> <br /> Her voice was far more intelligent and clear than usual.<br /> <br /> “You won’t fly.”<br /> <br /> She stood directly in front of Little Smakin and stated it with finality. Little Smakin slowly arched its body, looking up at Erio. Erio did not flinch at the movement and simply conveyed her words in her own way.<br /> <br /> It was the voice of someone with experience.<br /> <br /> It was advice in Erio’s own way, infused with her own regrets, failures, and escapism.<br /> <br /> “You can’t fly through the sky on a bicycle. Humans cannot fly through the sky on their own.”<br /> <br /> Erio added that it was a simple fact. She spoke with a firm attitude, her tone carrying a sense of maturity as if she were soothing a small child. I stood there taken aback, my eyes drawn to Erio’s profile.<br /> <br /> When she wasn’t smiling, her somewhat mature expression was the spitting image of Meme-san.<br /> <br /> Tamura-san, too, stared intently at Erio’s back.<br /> <br /> However, Little Smakin steadfastly rejected an Earthling’s opinion.<br /> <br /> “That is only because you are an Earthling. As an alien, I am different.”<br /> <br /> Little Smakin refused to yield even an inch. If anything, the fact that she wouldn’t listen to what others had to say made it even more difficult.<br /> <br /> “Listen here…”<br /> <br /> She was so stubborn that I began to feel increasingly irritated. Why were all aliens such incredibly obstinate creatures?<br /> <br /> “Cousin, please do something…”<br /> <br /> Erio gazed up at me, pleading as if clinging to me. She kept begging me, “Do something, do something.”<br /> <br /> Why did the task of defeating Smakin always fall solely on me?<br /> <br /> “Alien!”<br /> <br /> Little Smakin ran around the shop, making her overbearing presence known. Unlike before, Erio did not transform into Smakin to chase her. She simply watched the scene unfold with a stiff, expressionless face.<br /> <br /> A ridiculous, pathetic Smakin. That thing always seemed to find its way to me.<br /> <br /> If such a thing were all that could be called my destiny.<br /> <br /> Then even I found it so pathetic that it was almost laughable.<br /> <br /> “…Alright, I get it.”<br /> <br /> Whether it was spring or autumn.<br /> <br /> It was my duty to awaken the Smakin in this town.<br /> <br /> It was as if someone had already decided this fate for me.<br /> <br /> And so, looking down at the small, netted girl, I told her.<br /> <br /> Both to Smakin and myself. That she was simply declaring a foolish act that served only to expose her lack of learning ability.<br /> <br /> “You, self-proclaimed alien.”<br /> <br /> “Mofufu?”<br /> <br /> “From here on, I’m going to fly through the sky with you. If you can’t fly, then you’ll have to become an Earthling.”<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> Because those were the most effective words for exorcising her delusions.<br /> <br /> -----<br /> *Little Smakin leaking with delusions: −2<br /> *Being dragged along with them: −2<br /> '''Current total Youth Points: −5'''<br /> -----<br /> &lt;noinclude&gt;<br /> {| border=&quot;1&quot; cellpadding=&quot;5&quot; cellspacing=&quot;0&quot; style=&quot;margin: 1em 1em 1em 0; background: #f9f9f9; border: 1px #aaaaaa solid; padding: 0.2em; border-collapse: collapse;&quot;<br /> |-<br /> | Back to [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume8_Chapter3-B|Chapter 3-B]]<br /> | Return to [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko|Main Page]]<br /> | Forward to [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume8_Chapter4|Chapter 4]]<br /> |-<br /> |}<br /> &lt;/noinclude&gt;</div>

Bob Morane http://www.baka-tsuki.org/project/index.php?title=Denpa_Onna_to_Seishun_Otoko:Volume8_Chapter3-B&diff=588800 2026-08-28T14:21:02Z

<p>Bob Morane: Created page with &quot;&lt;noinclude&gt; {| border=&quot;1&quot; cellpadding=&quot;5&quot; cellspacing=&quot;0&quot; style=&quot;margin: 1em 1em 1em 0; background: #f9f9f9; border: 1px #aaaaaa solid; padding: 0.2em; border-collapse: collapse;&quot; |- | Back to Chapter 3-A | Return to Main Page | Forward to Chapter 3-C |- |} &lt;/noinclude&gt; ==Chapter 3-B – Driven by Dreams and Hopes, Lying Beneath the Futon...&quot;</p> <hr /> <div>&lt;noinclude&gt;<br /> {| border=&quot;1&quot; cellpadding=&quot;5&quot; cellspacing=&quot;0&quot; style=&quot;margin: 1em 1em 1em 0; background: #f9f9f9; border: 1px #aaaaaa solid; padding: 0.2em; border-collapse: collapse;&quot;<br /> |-<br /> | Back to [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume8_Chapter3-A|Chapter 3-A]]<br /> | Return to [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko|Main Page]]<br /> | Forward to [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume8_Chapter3-C|Chapter 3-C]]<br /> |-<br /> |}<br /> &lt;/noinclude&gt;<br /> ==Chapter 3-B – Driven by Dreams and Hopes, Lying Beneath the Futon and Reality==<br /> Those who look only at reality “lack dreams”.<br /> <br /> Those who chase only dreams “fail to see reality”.<br /> <br /> And as for me, caught in a half-sleep, I let out a long yawn.<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> What greeted me the following morning was muscle soreness.<br /> <br /> The insides of my thighs felt as though they were twitching like some other living creature.<br /> <br /> “I haven’t been able to wake up at a normal hour lately.”<br /> <br /> I tapped them a few times while grumbling, and I felt relieved when the pulsing finally settled. However, just as it calmed, a numbness spread outward, enveloping my legs. My lower body felt heavy. Pushing against the futon with my hands, I dragged myself along and dropped my legs to the floor. My heels hit the ground with a blunt, unceremonious thud. I took a single breath, and as I exhaled, I rose slowly. I visualised myself using even my very toes to lift my weight. If I ever had to explain to someone that I was sore from a game of tag, they’d laugh at me and say, “At your age?”<br /> <br /> In truth, I found myself mocking my own situation. As I recalled the events of yesterday, I couldn’t help but laugh at various things.<br /> <br /> “At least my waking was better today, since Smakin and the others didn’t wake me up.”<br /> <br /> I descended the stairs, pressing my hand against the wall for support. I felt a sense of gloom, wondering if school was going to be just like this today. I wondered if Meme-san, Yashiro, and I were the only ones from yesterday’s group suffering from muscle aches. Ryuushi-san was likely fine, and Maekawa-san had only been walking. As for the Smakin duo, they seemed somehow unscathed.<br /> <br /> When I reached the first floor and peeked into the living room, I saw a notice stuck to a familiar object.<br /> <br /> The non-little Smakin was sprawled out in the living room. That part was a common sight in the Touwa family, but the notice was rare. Rubbing my sleepy eyes, I leaned in to see what it said.<br /> <br /> “I’m studying. If you have business with me, please pet me&lt;ref name=&quot;ftn28&quot;&gt;Let’s note that “pet” here is ''mofumofu''.&lt;/ref&gt;.”<br /> <br /> “…Pet her?”<br /> <br /> I lightly tapped the side of the futon. It made a muffled thud, a sound that was quite far from “mofumofu”.<br /> <br /> “Mofu?”<br /> <br /> Erio’s face popped out. It was as if she were poking her head out from a turtle’s shell.<br /> <br /> The hair at the top of her head, sticking up like bedhead, swayed gently like a field of grass.<br /> <br /> “No, I don’t really have any particular business with you.”<br /> <br /> “Mofu.”<br /> <br /> She withdrew. She crossed her arms, agonised right there on the spot, and I tapped the futon once more.<br /> <br /> “Hmph. I don’t have time to entertain you, Cousin.”<br /> <br /> Her face popped out again, and she waved me away with her hand.<br /> <br /> “Hmph.” It felt as though my daughter had entered her rebellious phase. That was the mood.<br /> <br /> I found myself feeling a bit shocked.<br /> <br /> “What kind of studying are you doing?”<br /> <br /> “The kind required to become an astronaut.”<br /> <br /> What poked out next was an English vocabulary book… Hey, that’s the one I use.<br /> <br /> Return it before I go to school.<br /> <br /> “It must be pitch black inside that futon. Can you even see?”<br /> <br /> “Ta-daah, a flashlight!”<br /> <br /> An emergency flashlight, kept by the entrance, was gripped in the right hand that emerged from the futon. There really wasn’t any need to go to such lengths just to study inside a futon. As I stood there feeling exasperated, Erio pulled her head back into the futon, as if to signal that the conversation was over, and returned to being Smakin. Thinking it was probably best not to disturb her studies, I moved away.<br /> <br /> “That girl is really serious about this, isn’t she?”<br /> <br /> Though it might just be that she had become difficult to get a hold of.<br /> <br /> Last night, I had looked up a little bit about what one had to do to become an astronaut. I had no ulterior motive; I just found myself wondering about it. The primary requirements for Japanese astronaut candidates seemed to be proficiency in English, having worked for about three years after graduating from a science-related university, and possessing high communication skills. Broadly speaking, those three things were what was expected. Everything else depended on the specific role one would hold inside the rocket.<br /> <br /> As of now, Erio certainly lacked every one of those qualities. I couldn’t say for sure regarding her English, but I knew the other two well. She had dropped out of high school, and her communication skills were well worth noting. Although she had become considerably more sensible, she was still far from being up to standard. Though, I did wonder what the actual standard for communication skills even was.<br /> <br /> As I walked aimlessly down the hallway, I noticed that Meme-san’s room was becoming noisy. I wondered if it wasn’t just the person but even the room itself that had become loud. I hadn’t peered in there very often, but I decided to head over to at least offer Meme a greeting. Besides, if I, a mere highschooler, were to hurt my back or something only to find that a forty-year-old was perfectly fine, it would be quite discouraging, so I wanted to put my mind at ease early on.<br /> <br /> When I peeked into the room, Meme-san was still lying on her futon. She was still in her pyjamas. And as if it were only natural, she sat facing a tiny television screen alongside Little Smakin. It was truly small, perhaps about eight inches. On the screen, which was restless with flickering lines, the original subject of the cosplay I had seen just the other day was displayed in a close-up. Yes, it was ''E.T.''<br /> <br /> …Looking at it now, it all seemed rather cheap.<br /> <br /> I couldn’t view it with the same sense of freshness I had felt the first time. It wasn’t the remake, either, but the old version.<br /> <br /> Furthermore, the medium being played was a videotape. It felt nostalgic; it had been a long time since I had seen one. By the time I was a child, most things had already transitioned to DVD. Inside that dim room, time belonged to the Showa era.<br /> <br /> Incidentally, the mirror on the dressing table, which Meme-tan had crashed into during the summer, was still intact. The job of facing Meme-san every single day must have been quite difficult for it. It was worthy of sympathy.<br /> <br /> “Ooooooh…”<br /> <br /> Little Smakin expressed her admiration. Looking down, I saw several scraps of paper scattered across the floor, filled with impressions like “Oh!” or “Wooooah!” It was a lavish use of paper. I wondered if the self-proclaimed alien had been truly that moved by ''E.T.'' Ah, E.T. was flying. To be precise, he was pedalling through the air on a bicycle.<br /> <br /> “Oooooooohhhhh…”<br /> <br /> Little Smakin dropped to her knees and leaned forward, pressing close to the television screen. Smakin was clearly in a state of pure excitement. It seemed that every Smakin was incredibly moved by the moment of flight. I wondered why. Was there some universal sensitivity shared among aliens? I wondered why; was there some universal sensitivity shared among aliens?<br /> <br /> To be precise, it brought back the pain of a broken bone and the boredom of the hospital. It nearly made me scowl.<br /> <br /> “But…”<br /> <br /> To think that the two of them were holding an ''E.T.'' viewing party so early in the morning. Perhaps responding to my voice, Meme-san turned only her head toward me. Her long hair swayed with a rustle, its shadow dancing in the dimly lit room, where the only other light came from the television. It was frightening.<br /> <br /> “Hmm, a black shadow eyeing up Meme-tan’s underwear!”<br /> <br /> “Your delusions of persecution are in peak form this morning. Good morning.”<br /> <br /> While the movement of her lips and tongue was in peak condition, everything else lacked vitality. It seemed she was suffering from muscle soreness after all. I had heard that as you get older, it arrives a few days later, but it appeared Meme-san’s body was unexpectedly young.<br /> <br /> Meanwhile, Little Smakin, who had leaned forward too far, collapsed face-down. She kicked her legs around, but she did not seem capable of standing up on her own. That had happened before.<br /> <br /> “Cough, cough… Ah, Meme-tan’s body is being eroded by an illness. I cannot move.”<br /> <br /> “I wonder at what age her brain stopped developing as well.”<br /> <br /> “Because of this malady, I couldn’t prevent this child’s intrusion, ugh…”<br /> <br /> She writhed, stretching her body as if to say she had been defeated. What was she even saying after we had held a movie night together? However, it seemed this Little Smakin had returned again. I was certain we had properly parted ways in the park.<br /> <br /> Perhaps because of how she acted, it gave me a headache how much she seemed to belong in this house.<br /> <br /> The vibe between you guys is kind of like family.<br /> <br /> “Please pick me up.”<br /> <br /> Someone who had collapsed and was unable to move was now calling for help. Since she was kicking her legs and kicking up dust if left alone, I reluctantly helped her up. And then, the revived Little Smakin began her high-speed ja-ja-ja-ja.<br /> <br /> “Good morning, Kurokage-san!”<br /> <br /> “Please stop acting like you’re a new member of Akakage&lt;ref name=&quot;ftn29&quot;&gt;Probably a reference to the manga ''Kamen no Ninja Akakage''.&lt;/ref&gt;. Also, try to act like you’re not here.”<br /> <br /> It was as if she had already become a child of this household. She shouldn’t settle in so easily. Furthermore, Meme-tan showed absolutely no sign of having learned her lesson. I doubted anyone had believed that superficial apology of hers anyway.<br /> <br /> After a uniquely long pause, Little Smakin crafted a new sentence.<br /> <br /> “Shall we strike a daring pose or something?”<br /> <br /> “That’s not what I meant. Don’t try to make a scene. You’ll just wrinkle the futon.”<br /> <br /> She wasn’t being cute at all.<br /> <br /> My thighs grew too tired to remain standing, so I sat down. Little Smakin, wrapped in a futon that seemed to have been washed since the dirt had vanished, turned her body back toward the television screen.<br /> <br /> “From behind, it looks like you’re about to be sucked right into the screen.”<br /> <br /> She wasn’t quite real. Her presence was something similar to, yet distinct from, Big Smakin.<br /> <br /> Now, while the boy and E.T. enjoyed their elegant journey through the sky, over here was reality. The thing that lay prone.<br /> <br /> Meme-san, who had slumped her face into her pillow as if bunching up her unnaturally soft cheeks, looked exactly like an oversleeping child. Her hair, scattered like indigo veins, was a mess of bedhead, and she was even rolling her eyes back.<br /> <br /> The scene was such that it wouldn’t have been strange if a Tuesday night suspense drama had started at any moment.<br /> <br /> “It looks like we shouldn’t expect much for breakfast.”<br /> <br /> “Today’s Meme-tan is just not feeling it…”<br /> <br /> “I’m usually no good at it, but as an adult…”<br /> <br /> I ignored her, pretending to groan in frustration. That attitude was exactly what was wrong with me.<br /> <br /> “I’ll just grab some bread or something for breakfast.”<br /> <br /> “Aaaah, the master’s once-a-month special home-cooked meal! Make sure there’s some for Meme-tan, too!”<br /> <br /> I decided to pretend I hadn’t heard any of it. I left Meme-san’s room and headed toward Erio.<br /> <br /> “Hey, Erio, let’s eat.”<br /> <br /> Smakin was still sprawled out in the living room. Moreover, there was no sign of her even intending to move. A flyer fluttered in the wind, catching my eye. Ah, right, how annoying, I thought as I began thumping the futon.<br /> <br /> No matter how I thumped it, there was no way it would produce a soft mofumofu sound. It had substance, after all.<br /> <br /> “Cousin, read the room!”<br /> <br /> Erio, with her face and hands protruding like a turtle, puffed out her cheeks in a pout. She had really been getting quite prickly with me lately. Even though she clung to people’s backs whenever we went out, hiding behind them because she was so shy.<br /> <br /> I wondered if there was something about my usual attitude that made her feel she could underhand me. Had I spoilt her too much?<br /> <br /> “I said we should have breakfast.”<br /> <br /> “Huh? Are you cooking, Cousin?”<br /> <br /> “That’s how it’s going to be. Meme-san won’t move.”<br /> <br /> I was about to say “I don’t mind if you do it”, but I swallowed the words. I couldn’t believe myself, what on earth was I planning to entrust to someone who didn’t even know how to use a toaster? Erio’s round eyes darted back and forth.<br /> <br /> “But Cousin, you can’t cook.”<br /> <br /> “Don’t be so sure. I can at least toast some bread. Come on, let’s go to the kitchen.”<br /> <br /> “Hmm.”<br /> <br /> Erio pulled her head back. Then, she began to roll, heading toward the floor. She was such a lazybones. She rolled energetically toward the kitchen, arriving while bumping into a wall along the way because she couldn’t quite bring herself to a full stop.<br /> <br /> “Alright, alright, that’s enough, Smakin. Get out from under the futon and sit down.”<br /> <br /> “Squelch…”<br /> <br /> She wiggly crawled out from underneath the bottom of the futon. She scrambled about on all fours, moving all the way to her own chair. She pulled the chair out slightly from the table and sat down, pointedly showing off her crossed legs for some reason. Crossing her arms and straightening her back, she was, in her own way, trying to project an air of “''grandeur''”.<br /> <br /> It didn’t suit her at all, and there was no dignity in it. It was like a hamster trying to imitate a tiger.<br /> <br /> “Scrambled eggs and ham. And, uh, let’s see… an espri, espresso.”<br /> <br /> She started placing an order. Aside from her attitude, it seemed like the first two items were something I could manage.<br /> <br /> Yet, I wondered if that was the fruit of her studies. It made me want to cry, in more ways than one.<br /> <br /> “Anyway, what even is an espresso?”<br /> <br /> I heard the term often. As in “dawn espresso&lt;ref name=&quot;ftn30&quot;&gt;“Dawn coffee” or “dawn espresso” is a euphemism for a man and a woman spending the night together. It was popularised by the song of the 1960s, ''Koi no Kisetsu'', by Pinky to Killers.&lt;/ref&gt;”. Erio tilted her head with a “Hmm,” and said,<br /> <br /> “I don’t know.”<br /> <br /> “Don’t order things you don’t know. I’m sorry, but we don’t serve espresso here.”<br /> <br /> “You don’t? What a poorly stocked shop.”<br /> <br /> “Don’t worry, today is the last day we’re even open.”<br /> <br /> I certainly hoped so.<br /> <br /> I opened the refrigerator and took out three eggs. I decided to make some for Meme-san as well, just in case. Then I looked for ham. I rummaged through the refrigerator, which was largely empty. There wasn’t any. In its place, I found some sausages. They were brand new.<br /> <br /> “Will sausages work instead of ham?”<br /> <br /> “Then, one sausage-coffee.”<br /> <br /> I thought about making exactly what she wanted, but I restrained myself, fearing that if she complained about the result, it might end up founding a kingdom of stress. I silently tore open the bag of sausages. At this rate, it seemed my English proficiency wouldn’t be much to expect for the time being, either.<br /> <br /> “Was the last time I cooked back in middle school?”<br /> <br /> Aside from the occasional time when my working parents were busy in the morning, I had rarely ever held a frying pan. My legs began to go numb just from standing upright for a short while. To be honest, I wanted to be sleeping too.<br /> <br /> “At least prepare the plates.”<br /> <br /> As I lit the stove, I gave Erio her instructions. Setting the plates out was a reasonable request for a child like her.<br /> <br /> Erio nodded with an “Mm” and stood up, scurrying around the kitchen… Hmm. It wasn’t as if her legs were short, nor was there much distance to cover in the narrow kitchen, yet for some reason, she gave the impression of running with all her might. Her legs didn’t look like they were suffering from any muscle soreness, though. I narrowed my eyes and continued frying the sausages, thinking how envious I was.<br /> <br /> After that, I finished preparing the meal and took my seat. I had prepared a portion for Meme-san as well, but there was no sign of her appearing in the kitchen. Well, I figured she would show up eventually if I just left her be. With that decided, I began to eat.<br /> <br /> “This is my home cooking, so you’d better eat it with gratitude.”<br /> <br /> When I said that jokingly, she gave me a roundabout rejection, saying, “There’s no espresso.” Shut up and just drink your milk.<br /> <br /> As I spread butter on my bread, I suddenly turned to Erio and asked.<br /> <br /> “Hey, Erio.”<br /> <br /> “Hm?”<br /> <br /> “Since you’re aiming to become an astronaut, do you intend to return to high school?”<br /> <br /> I didn’t know if it would be easy to return after quitting. Erio cast her eyes down, hiding her mouth behind her bread.<br /> <br /> “I-It’s uncertain.”<br /> <br /> “…I see.”<br /> <br /> I couldn’t tell which way she was leaning, so my response remained vague.<br /> <br /> It felt like the relationship between a father and daughter whose conversation had run dry. It was a bit awkward.<br /> <br /> I finished spreading the butter. Perhaps I had used too much; a clump of butter remained in the centre.<br /> <br /> “Well, I guess there are things like the ''daiken''&lt;ref name=&quot;ftn31&quot;&gt;The ''daiken ''used to be a highschool equivalency exam. It allowed for someone who didn’t graduate highschool to prove they had a highschool-level, which allowed them to apply for a university.&lt;/ref&gt;? But if you want to improve your social skills, going to school might be the quickest way.”<br /> <br /> After all, a school was a melting pot of human relationships. It was the perfect place to learn about personal boundaries. It was the perfect place to learn about personal boundaries. It also served as practice for eventually “forgetting” those things. However, the atmosphere was not one suited for a long-winded lecture on such matters. I wanted to bring up another topic to change the subject, but that was the only thing that came to mind.<br /> <br /> “Ah, was it fun to play tag?”<br /> <br /> “''Tokkun'' is nothing but pain and hardship; there’s no way it could be fun.”<br /> <br /> She spoke as if wondering what on earth I was talking about. Despite that, her expression was relaxed, so she must have enjoyed it in her own way. According to what she said, she had always had few friends.<br /> <br /> I wondered if she simply hadn’t had much experience participating in games like tag. It was unexpectedly pitiful.<br /> <br /> “Is Mako-kun-kun doing well?”<br /> <br /> “He reached level 30.”<br /> <br /> Whoa, was that… strong? At the very least, Mako-kun-kun seemed to have reached a higher level than me.<br /> <br /> Erio gnawed on a crust of bread. As she chewed rhythmically, she once again started acting like “Erio-san”.<br /> <br /> “Cousin, your baking is amateurish. You lack sufficient training.”<br /> <br /> I was being criticised by someone who couldn’t even use a toaster by herself. Before I could even feel insulted, I found myself laughing.<br /> <br /> “I didn’t bake it myself, so I don’t think there’s any training involved.”<br /> <br /> “The ones Mum bakes are tastier.”<br /> <br /> “That’s just your mother-complex-driven bias… oh.”<br /> <br /> Little Smakin came trotting up with quick, pattering steps. Humming a soft “mofuufu”, she prepared a cup and used her toes to open the refrigerator, pulling out a glass bottle of chilled barley tea. After setting the cup and the bottle on the table, she closed the refrigerator. Then, she sat down in the chair that Meme-san usually used and poured the tea into the cup. She thrust the cup straight into the futon and began gulping it down, the sound of her swallowing audible.<br /> <br /> “Phew…”<br /> <br /> “Wait a second.”<br /> <br /> I tried to grab the edge of her futon. But it slipped right through my fingers as she pulled away. She moved toward the corner of the wall, keeping her guard up. While I was at it, I pulled the empty cup out from under the futon. I wondered if the inside of the bedding had got wet. At this point, words like dexterous simply failed to describe her.<br /> <br /> “What?”<br /> <br /> “No, nothing. It was just so natural; I couldn’t help it.”<br /> <br /> I was far too preoccupied with someone else’s refrigerator. Even as I thought that she should probably be kicked out instead of being allowed to get so comfortable, there was an underlying feeling that prevented me from actually saying it. I had become far too accustomed to the atmosphere of this house as well.<br /> <br /> “Well, whatever. How is Meme-san?”<br /> <br /> “Zzz and snooore…”<br /> <br /> “Go wake her up and bring her here. You can even trip her on your way back.”<br /> <br /> “Leave it to me.”<br /> <br /> With a quick scuttle, Little Smakin departed, as if kicking off the chair. She was certainly obedient.<br /> <br /> If only her eccentric side could be improved, she would likely become an elementary schooler beloved by everyone.<br /> <br /> “Uhhgh.”<br /> <br /> Erio groaned resentfully while rolling a sausage around with the tip of her chopsticks. What was it now?<br /> <br /> “What, do you want to complain that the cooking is underdone this time? You damn critic from the Gourmet Club!”<br /> <br /> “No. Cousin and Mum, you’re always only focusing on that kid.”<br /> <br /> “Huh? That’s not really true, is it?”<br /> <br /> “It is. Look, she’s being so cheeky.”<br /> <br /> She raised her arm and protested. Ah, so that was it.<br /> <br /> I teased her because her sulky face looked so funny.<br /> <br /> “Don’t be jealous. You’re such a child.”<br /> <br /> “I-I’m not jealous!”<br /> <br /> She stuffed a sausage into her mouth and began chewing quickly. Then, as if the juice had splattered inside her mouth, she rolled her eyes and let out an “Ouch!” While pressing her hand against her mouth, she stared at me with teary eyes, letting out a small whimper.<br /> <br /> I felt my muscles relax, and my loosened expression naturally broke into a smile.<br /> <br /> “I really think it’s more work just dealing with you.”<br /> <br /> I meant it in the sense that she was a handful. I picked an ice cube from the refrigerator and popped it into her mouth.<br /> <br /> “Whoa!” Erio pursed her lips, closing her eyes at the sudden cold.<br /> <br /> Almost at the same time, a muffled scream of “Mofeeeeeeee” drifted in from far away.<br /> <br /> Most likely, she had once again provoked the wrath of “the old lady”.<br /> <br /> Perhaps that lack of ability to learn was the reason she remained wrapped in her futon for so long.<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> When I stepped outside with my bag, Little Smakin followed me for some reason. Perhaps as a result of nearly having her neck twisted off by the old lady, she stumbled along with unsteady feet, looking quite haggard. She had it coming, though.<br /> <br /> As I slid my heel back into my shoe, I twisted my upper body around to face her.<br /> <br /> “Are you insisting that elementary school is closed again today?”<br /> <br /> “It exploded.”<br /> <br /> “I see, I see. So it wasn’t the school you had business with, but the police.”<br /> <br /> Ah, bending my knees was painful. It was because of the muscle aches. I walked away from the tiny terrorist and headed toward the barn. Little Smakin followed behind me. I didn’t want to admit it, but she seemed to be clinging to me for some reason. Erio, Yashiro, Little Smakin. Why did all these alien-type creatures insist on following me around? What exactly did I ever do to them?<br /> <br /> I stepped out of the shed, and as the little one began to loop around me, I cut her off with a “Listen.” Little Smakin looked up with a “Mofufu” giggle. I felt a gaze full of expectation, but I ignored her and rejected it.<br /> <br /> “I’m heading to school now, so I’m not joining you for any special training.”<br /> <br /> “Ah, you don’t need to worry about the ''tokkun ''anymore.”<br /> <br /> “Huh?”<br /> <br /> Was she really just going to give up that easily? Was she really just going to give up that easily?<br /> <br /> Or did she have some other motive? …Ah, come to think of it.<br /> <br /> Yesterday, she had been talking about some new setting. I had mostly tuned it out, though.<br /> <br /> “More importantly, it’s the bicycle! The bicycle! It’s incredible! It can fly!”<br /> <br /> A bicycle? E.T.? More importantly.<br /> <br /> “Your personality has completely changed.”<br /> <br /> Ignoring my remark, she jumped right into the bicycle basket. Furthermore, the sound of her footsteps had evolved from a light pitter-patter. It had a heavier momentum. Yet she still carried a subtle air of silliness. Having settled herself neatly against my rear, she swung her legs upward and commanded me to be the driver.<br /> <br /> “It’s Mach Go-Go&lt;ref name=&quot;ftn32&quot;&gt;A reference to the anime ''Mach GoGoGo'', also known as ''Speed Racer''.&lt;/ref&gt;!”<br /> <br /> “You are definitely an Earthling.”<br /> <br /> “A friend from Earth taught me.”<br /> <br /> “You just arrived on Earth, and you already have friends? Wow, impressive.”<br /> <br /> “Fufufu, that friend is you.”<br /> <br /> “…When did I ever teach you anything?”<br /> <br /> Tired of dealing with her and feeling the pressure of the time, I straddled the saddle again. Sensing the impact, Little Smakin began bouncing wildly with a clattering noise. God, how annoying. I pushed down hard on the pedals.<br /> <br /> “I don’t think it’ll help, but I’ll listen. Where is your house? I’ll give you a ride.”<br /> <br /> “It is in a far-off place in space.”<br /> <br /> “…I thought so.”<br /> <br /> I had already given up. I simply began pedalling toward the high school. Without even considering what to do about the situation.<br /> <br /> When I lifted my gaze just a little, a deep azure sky stretched out as if the clouds had evaporated. There were power lines crossing the view and the red roofs of nearby houses. The world was in full colour. Yet, when I looked straight ahead, all I could see was pure white. The sunlight was intense, and the interior must have been incredibly sweltering. Though, I felt absolutely no sympathy for them.<br /> <br /> “It’s slower than the ''Salamander''.”<br /> <br /> “That’s because its driver isn’t human.”<br /> <br /> Don’t compare me to that. By the way, that non-human entity had been rolling around in the hallway after finishing breakfast. She had declared, “Once I’m full, it’s nap time,” but one way or another, she would likely head off to work after a while. She was someone Erio had been dealing with, after all. And that Erio was working at the shop today as well.<br /> <br /> Besides, my English vocabulary book was snatched away as well… I didn’t use it much anyway, so I suppose it didn’t matter.<br /> <br /> If this helped fulfil her dream, I could hold my head high as Erio’s mentor.<br /> <br /> Even to me, it seemed such a petty motivation.<br /> <br /> “Because you stoked the flames, my cousin has started saying she wants to become an astronaut.”<br /> <br /> “Heh heh heh, exactly as I planned.”<br /> <br /> “I don’t even know what plan you’re talking about.”<br /> <br /> I turned right at the corner with a wry smile. As I stepped out onto the street, a group of middle school students, who weren’t permitted to commute by bicycle, came walking toward me like obstacles. It was disheartening to see boys and girls holding hands on their way to school first thing in the morning, completely oblivious to their surroundings. It was equally disheartening when their gazes all turned toward me and the contents of my bicycle basket at once. I wished I were either blind to my surroundings or an invisible person.<br /> <br /> “Oh my, you look quite disheartened.”<br /> <br /> “If you have that much perceptiveness, then try looking at your own reality for once.”<br /> <br /> “I hope it flies soon. Is it not ready yet?”<br /> <br /> “No, it’s never going to fly.”<br /> <br /> Had she really hopped into my basket expecting a flying bicycle? That was an impossible demand.<br /> <br /> Bicycles on Earth always, and I mean always, just stay on the ground. Sorry to break it to you.<br /> <br /> I was used to eyes gathering on the contents of my basket, so as the journey progressed and a certain amount of time passed, I stopped caring. If anything, I showed it off. No, that would be a lie. But I stopped minding.<br /> <br /> I arrived in front of the school gates without any further incident and pulled the brake. The brakes were a bit weak again, causing me to stop at a position slightly offset from the gate. I thought perhaps I should have them inspected sometime.<br /> <br /> That aside, I let out a grunt and unloaded Little Smakin as if she were a piece of luggage. Even with the futon, she was light. Her weight felt like barely half of Erio’s.<br /> <br /> Little Smakin twisted her body to the right, looking as if she were truly bewildered.<br /> <br /> Other students, being drawn toward the school gate as if by a vacuum, looked back at us at least once, but I turned my back to those gazes and let them pass. Being the subject of rumors no longer bothered me much.<br /> <br /> “We haven’t even taken off yet!”<br /> <br /> “Well, we’ve already arrived at school. So, that’s that.”<br /> <br /> I waved goodbye. I wondered for a moment if she might follow me, but there were no footsteps. Without any hindrance, I headed toward the bicycle parking area… I looked back halfway there. She was still standing in the same spot. I moved forward. I turned around. She was standing there. I turned around. “'''Help me.'''” I found that I didn’t really care much anymore.<br /> <br /> But I looked back once more. She hadn’t moved an inch.<br /> <br /> “…Ugh, seriously.”<br /> <br /> I turned back. I tried ringing the bell for no reason. As if rejoicing at the sound, and as if she had been waiting for it, Little Smakin thrust her two arms forward with incredible speed.<br /> <br /> “Space Ninpou&lt;ref name=&quot;ftn33&quot;&gt;''Ninpou ''refers to ninja special techniques.&lt;/ref&gt;: Pity-Seeking Technique!”<br /> <br /> “What is this Space Ninpou nonsense… Oh, wait, I think space ninjas actually exist.”<br /> <br /> “We are comrades!”<br /> <br /> “Why must you unfold your grand schemes so recklessly?”<br /> <br /> I realised I couldn’t bring myself to completely ignore someone like this. It was difficult not to act like a good person. “Look, it’s just because I’m such a helpful guy with a good heart,” I muttered, offering a hollow self-compliment as my shoulders slumped. My bangs had grown long; I wanted to cut them.<br /> <br /> “Anyway, what is it you want from me?”<br /> <br /> “Let’s fly through the sky together!”<br /> <br /> She invited me with a tone so light-hearted it felt as though a musical trill might follow her words.<br /> <br /> “…That’s a cruel joke, young lady.”<br /> <br /> Leaning against the handlebars of my bicycle, a dry, hollow laugh, “ha ha ha”, escaped my lips.<br /> <br /> Once, there had been a girl who invited me to fly through the sky together.<br /> <br /> Now, in a complete reversal, I was being invited to fly. By a strange, tiny Futonese.<br /> <br /> “This Smakin is being quite aggressive, isn’t she? Give me a break.”<br /> <br /> “Now, now, just think of it as helping someone in need.”<br /> <br /> “Listen… you need to dress like a human being, or at least…”<br /> <br /> Perhaps I needed to be firm with her just this once. I cleared my throat, readying myself.<br /> <br /> Then, raising my voice to lecture that marshmallow-like creature, I said:<br /> <br /> “Listen to me. Bicycles do not fly. I will concede that wrapping yourself in a futon is one thing. But do not try to put dangerous things into practice based on your delusions. Truly, making your family grieve is not okay.”<br /> <br /> Even Meme-san, though she was like that in the end, must have been in despair when Erio went missing or became delusional. Judging by how much she doted on her, one could only imagine how much of a shock it must have been.<br /> <br /> “My family is grieving, so I want to go home as soon as possible.”<br /> <br /> “You’re right; you should go home and then go to school. Bye-bye,” I said, waving my hand. It felt like a good place to stop, so I decided to part ways with her right there.<br /> <br /> She seemed to have grown tired of her dream of becoming an astronaut, and eventually, she would likely grow tired of Smakin, too. That was how a young girl grew up. Yes, that felt like a good conclusion. It should be fine to end it here.<br /> <br /> “You’re an ogre, a demon.”<br /> <br /> “As far as I’m concerned, you’re the little devil.”<br /> <br /> “A little devil, huh? Hehehe.”<br /> <br /> She wriggled her body around. She was being energetically creepy. Moreover, I hadn’t actually even said goodbye.<br /> <br /> “…Well, let me ask you one thing: how exactly are you supposed to fly on a granny bike like this one?”<br /> <br /> “In any case, I think if you just keep running, you’ll eventually fly.”<br /> <br /> “Am I the only one who feels there is absolutely no context to that sentence?”<br /> <br /> “Truth is a shame.”<br /> <br /> There was no way that was true.<br /> <br /> “I misspoke. I meant it truly is a shame.”<br /> <br /> Shut up.<br /> <br /> While I was busy dealing with her, a chime rang out from behind us. Drawn by that somewhat overbearing sound, I saw bicycles rushing in frantically and boys bolting from their parking spots. I had to join them. But however… “…” I tried backing the bicycle up fifty centimetres.<br /> <br /> Little Smakin did not move from that spot. She lacked even the slightest movement to the left or right, as if she might be gold-plated and turned into a statue right then and there. I took another fifty centimetres of distance. The person who had claimed not to be able to sit still had lost all movement, as if her very essence had vanished. I looked away. She was gone. I looked back. She was there.<br /> <br /> “…………………………………………..That’s foul play.”<br /> <br /> The chime finished ringing. The air, which had been trembling in fear of the sound, settled back into its usual stillness.<br /> <br /> As if responding to my surrender, the bicycle wheels rolled forward with a rhythmic clatter.<br /> <br /> “…Fine, I give up. I lost. You can stop with that whatever-it-is technique now.”<br /> <br /> Once I admitted defeat, a triumphant, fanfare-like sound erupted from inside the futon.<br /> <br /> “Space Ninpou: Pity-Seeking Technique!”<br /> <br /> “It worked perfectly, damn it.”<br /> <br /> Was I a fool for being unable to abandon something like this?<br /> <br /> Yes, I was surely just an idiot who was terrible at calculating costs and benefits.<br /> <br /> It felt pathetic, the way I felt compelled to look after even something of this sort.<br /> <br /> Ah, enough of this. I’m skipping.<br /> <br /> Goodbye, school.<br /> <br /> Sometimes, it was good to follow my aunt’s example.<br /> <br /> “Come on, get in the basket quickly. We’re heading back before a teacher spots us.”<br /> <br /> When I beckoned desperately, it began to hop around. It seemed as though it had been holding back its movement until now, for it bounced around with unusual intensity. “Dammit, just get on already,” I muttered, reaching out to grab it, but it cleanly dodged my hand and leaped onto me as if jumping on its own two feet. As the creature hopped around in high spirits with a “moffuffu,” I spoke to it.<br /> <br /> “I’ll run for you, anyway. But I’m telling you right now, neither you nor I are flying.”<br /> <br /> It was a slip of the tongue; I’d meant to say I couldn’t fly, but as I’d already finished speaking, I didn’t correct myself.<br /> <br /> “It’s fine. Since I am carrying an alien, I am sure we can fly.”<br /> <br /> “Hah, hahaha. The last time I carried a self-proclaimed alien, we had a rather spectacular fall.”<br /> <br /> “That was because you were too accustomed to Earth and lacked sufficient power. In that regard, I am brimming with vitality.”<br /> <br /> As if to show off her freshness, she kicked her pale, bare leg up toward the sky. There was absolutely no allure to it; the leg looked much like a boy’s. Since it was in my way, I gave it a light tap to make her pull it back.<br /> <br /> “My power decreases when I am influenced by Earthlings, so please refrain from touching me so casually.”<br /> <br /> “Your personality settings really change constantly, don’t they?”<br /> <br /> I didn’t go so far as to tell her she should follow Yashiro’s example, since Yashiro was at least consistent. That girl’s situation was much more severe.<br /> <br /> “That is because I am an extremely delicate being.”<br /> <br /> “That’s not what that means.”<br /> <br /> “Out of paper. Please refill.”<br /> <br /> That was perfect; I would keep her quiet for a while.<br /> <br /> Sighing repeatedly, I pushed the bicycle forward, onwards.<br /> <br /> I began to ride, turning my back on the town and the school.<br /> <br /> Horizontally, parallel to the sky.<br /> <br /> And so, I ended up skipping school to keep Little Smakin company.<br /> <br /> It was a secret that my heart was dancing just a little bit.<br /> <br /> After all, it felt as though my Youth Points were making a long-awaited comeback.<br /> <br /> -----<br /> *Getting teased relentlessly by Little Smakin: −3<br /> *Skipping school to head out into town: +3<br /> '''Current Total Youth Points:''' −1<br /> -----<br /> &lt;noinclude&gt;<br /> {| border=&quot;1&quot; cellpadding=&quot;5&quot; cellspacing=&quot;0&quot; style=&quot;margin: 1em 1em 1em 0; background: #f9f9f9; border: 1px #aaaaaa solid; padding: 0.2em; border-collapse: collapse;&quot;<br /> |-<br /> | Back to [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume8_Chapter3-A|Chapter 3-A]]<br /> | Return to [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko|Main Page]]<br /> | Forward to [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume8_Chapter3-C|Chapter 3-C]]<br /> |-<br /> |}<br /> &lt;/noinclude&gt;</div>

Bob Morane http://www.baka-tsuki.org/project/index.php?title=Denpa_Onna_to_Seishun_Otoko:Volume8_Chapter3-A&diff=588799 2026-08-28T14:20:47Z

<p>Bob Morane: Created page with &quot;&lt;noinclude&gt; {| border=&quot;1&quot; cellpadding=&quot;5&quot; cellspacing=&quot;0&quot; style=&quot;margin: 1em 1em 1em 0; background: #f9f9f9; border: 1px #aaaaaa solid; padding: 0.2em; border-collapse: collapse;&quot; |- | Back to Chapter 2 | Return to Main Page | Forward to Chapter 3-B |- |} &lt;/noinclude&gt; ==Chapter 3-A – Chasing and Being Chased== Someone who actually fulfill...&quot;</p> <hr /> <div>&lt;noinclude&gt;<br /> {| border=&quot;1&quot; cellpadding=&quot;5&quot; cellspacing=&quot;0&quot; style=&quot;margin: 1em 1em 1em 0; background: #f9f9f9; border: 1px #aaaaaa solid; padding: 0.2em; border-collapse: collapse;&quot;<br /> |-<br /> | Back to [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume8_Chapter2|Chapter 2]]<br /> | Return to [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko|Main Page]]<br /> | Forward to [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume8_Chapter3-B|Chapter 3-B]]<br /> |-<br /> |}<br /> &lt;/noinclude&gt;<br /> ==Chapter 3-A – Chasing and Being Chased==<br /> <br /> Someone who actually fulfilled their childhood dreams. Did such a person really exist?<br /> <br /> I wondered if the reason I had never met anyone like that was simply because I was still a child.<br /> <br /> It was 4:30 in the afternoon, and I found myself thinking such things while running around the park.<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> Let’s revert back in time a few dozen minutes earlier.<br /> <br /> “Who’s going to be It?”<br /> <br /> We had to decide that before we started running. Tag without an “it” was nothing more than just a race.<br /> <br /> “Everyone is It.”<br /> <br /> Erio answered instantly. I stared at her with half-lidded eyes, exasperated.<br /> <br /> “Don’t you think you’ve misunderstood the whole point of tag?”<br /> <br /> It wasn’t a game about pretending to be an ogre&lt;ref name=&quot;ftn20&quot;&gt;“Tag” in Japan can be literally translated as “ogre make-believe” (''onigokko'').&lt;/ref&gt;. I imagined that if we actually started doing something like that, Maekawa-san would come charging in dressed in a red ogre cosplay. I pictured it… not bad. In fact, it was even…<br /> <br /> “I-I know that! Just listen to my suggestion!”<br /> <br /> Erio raised her hand, letting out a mysterious, drawn-out sound. Since she looked like she wanted to say something, everyone present surrounded her, even though it served no real purpose. Between the presence of the spacesuits and the Smakin, combined with how closely everyone was standing, the atmosphere felt incredibly intimidating. Even I, as one of those surrounding her, felt a sense of suffocation. It felt as though someone might break into a low-voiced rendition of ''Kagome Kagome''&lt;ref name=&quot;ftn21&quot;&gt;''Kagome Kagome'' is a Japanese children’s game. One person is chosen as the ogre, is blindfolded, and sits down while the other children are walking around singing ''Kagome kagome''. When the song ends, the ogre must try guessing who the person behind is.&lt;/ref&gt; at any second.<br /> <br /> “U-Ugh. Wh-what?”<br /> <br /> Erio recoiled. The girl, unaccustomed to such high density of people, was visibly trembling with fear.<br /> <br /> “E-ri-tan, let’s p-la-ay.”<br /> <br /> Meme-san leaned forward, letting all her hair fall over her face to hide it, and leaned into the bit. It wasn’t even just for the bit; she was usually like this anyway. Her voice, adjusted to a low, eerie pitch, trembled ever so slightly. Even I would have been startled if something like that had quietly crept into my room in the middle of the night. Actually, I would tremble even if Meme-san just jumped in normally. Fundamentally, the actions this person came up with were always beyond my expectations.<br /> <br /> “I-It’s not playing. It’s ''tokkun''.”<br /> <br /> Erio, who had crouched down on the spot, offered a weak rebuttal. The lineup felt as though Erio was being put through some kind of special training. In an attempt to overcome her social anxiety, it felt like we had… gathered far too many people with diverse personalities.<br /> <br /> As I looked at the dirt-caked spacesuit next to her.<br /> <br /> “So, what’s it about?”<br /> <br /> “Um, it’s a game of tag where everyone is chasing a different person. You win if you catch someone else.”<br /> <br /> “Hmm… So, basically, I chase Erio, and Erio chases Meme-san… something like that?”<br /> <br /> “Mm. An original version of tag, conceived by Erio-san over a period of ten years.”<br /> <br /> I felt as though countless similar games had been invented during the decade she had spent thinking about it.<br /> <br /> However, if Erio herself was pushing for it so strongly, then I suppose it was fine. “Alright, dismissed,” I signalled with my eyes.<br /> <br /> “Man, it’s been a while since I played tag.”<br /> <br /> Everyone easily broke their circle, and each person began stretching. Squatting, they said.<br /> <br /> “B-Bullying. That was bullying. Bullying of Cousin, by Cousin, for Cousin.”<br /> <br /> “Why am I being both the mastermind and the victim in a single sentence?”<br /> <br /> I laughed it off with a “Ha, ha, ha.” Yashiro joined in, laughing along with me, “Ha ha ha”.<br /> <br /> Well, if Erio was now able to join in on jokes like these, I suppose it was a sign of progress.<br /> <br /> And so, after everyone agreed on the rules for a game of tag and spent some time debating who should chase whom, today’s special training finally began.<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> Running headlong toward one’s dreams. How wonderful; it truly felt like the essence of youth… Though, I wondered, which dream was it exactly?<br /> <br /> I looked back without breaking my stride. The sounds of various footsteps, tap-tap-tap, thud-thud-thud, and all that, echoed against the ground.<br /> <br /> “…………”<br /> <br /> I was being chased. I was being chased incredibly hard. Specifically, by everyone. Well, that was a bit too specific.<br /> <br /> First, Erio was pursuing me at full speed. That part was fine; it was exactly how a game of tag was supposed to be. The problem was what followed behind her. Meme-san was chasing after Erio’s back. With her arms raised in a predatory stance, she closed in on me with everything she had, completely indifferent to air resistance or anything else. Following Meme-san, who looked like she was striking a Glico pose&lt;ref name=&quot;ftn22&quot;&gt;The “Glico pose” is the pose of someone crossing a finish line with both arms raised. It is a reference to a famous giant billboard for the Glico company that was set during the 1930s in Osaka. Try looking for グリコのポーズ in Google Images&lt;/ref&gt;, was Little Smakin. She was sprinting at full power with her short legs. Then Yashiro, Ryuushi-san, and Maekawa-san were clinging close to that group. It had become a formation chasing me in a straight line. To be precise, only Maekawa-san was just wandering around the centre of the park, but as a result, she ended up positioned at the very back. How happy we would have been if we could have just wandered around like that, too.<br /> <br /> Once I had started running, I couldn’t find the right moment to stop, and my lower body was moving on autopilot. The sweat that welled up clung to my skin and the back of my uniform, which was incredibly unpleasant. It felt as though I was constantly being pulled from behind. My footsteps continued to ring out in a disjointed rhythm, never ceasing. I wondered what on earth I was doing.<br /> <br /> Was this a game of tag? I had to catch Maekawa-san, but there was no opening for me to turn back. It had been a mistake to run straight ahead without thinking when Erio first chased me. Since then, I had merely been the leader of a straight line of pursuers. A mysterious procession was forming within the park, and I was at the very front of it.<br /> <br /> “Wait! Cousin and Astronaut!”<br /> <br /> “Your father is crying! Because your sister is too magnificent!”<br /> <br /> “Mofufuffu!”<br /> <br /> “Don’t run ahead of the path I am trying to take! …Hm? ''Dé-ja-vu''.”<br /> <br /> “Whoa, wait, who even is this kid in the spacesuit? I told ya!?”<br /> <br /> “Hey everyone, I’d like to propose a game of walking tag! What do you say?”<br /> <br /> I’ll leave it to your imagination to decide who said which line. Well, actually, they were spoken in order.<br /> <br /> I was the only one who wasn’t shouting. I simply pushed my body forward, as if using my elbows to part the wind. While my lower body moved on autopilot, my upper body was quite literally manual. I swung my arms. Driving them powerfully in sync with my steps. However, no matter how much strength I wrung from myself, I couldn’t pull significantly ahead of the others; that was likely the extent of my limit.<br /> <br /> I couldn’t remember the last time I had run alongside everyone for such a long stretch.<br /> <br /> Since I spent all my time on the bench during my soccer days, this might have been a first for me. My breath grew heavy and bouncy, and sweat flowed so incessantly it felt bothersome against my chest. I stripped off my outer layer and flung it onto the ground.<br /> <br /> Running presented a different landscape from cycling. When riding a bicycle at full speed, one could feel as if they were flying through the sky. It was, for better or worse, a weightless sensation. On the other hand, with my own two feet, I could never escape the feeling of treading upon the earth, as if struggling through the mud. My fingertips, which I gripped tight, would begin to unfurl before I knew it, as if struggling to use the wind as a handle to achieve even greater speed.<br /> <br /> Back when I still held onto my dreams, if I had continued to immerse myself in this world… If I had been able to stay in a place where I could gain something by running with all my might… If I hadn’t abandoned my dreams myself, would I still have been able to chase them?<br /> <br /> A haze began to gather in my heart. Like encroaching clouds, it enveloped me and clouded my thoughts. The people behind me were teaching me, through their very actions, exactly what was needed to sweep that haze away all at once.<br /> <br /> I thought that I, too, would scream.<br /> <br /> “Where did my Youth Points gooo! AaaaaaaAAAAaaaaAAAaaahhhh—!”<br /> <br /> At the end of that bone-wrenching scream, the taste of iron surged up from my throat, making the corners of my lips twitch.<br /> <br /> As the haze vanished from within, I inhaled deeply, trying to fill the resulting void with oxygen.<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> “It is hot. O-ver-he-at.”<br /> <br /> “I see. Take off the futon.”<br /> <br /> “I am being stubbornly told to undress.”<br /> <br /> “The fact that you can even have a conversation like that means you’ve still got plenty of energy left.”<br /> <br /> Even though I was so breathless that even opening my mouth felt like a chore. I sat slumped on the ground of the park, my chin tilting upward. My shoulders heaved violently, and perhaps due to the trapped heat, a headache began to set in.<br /> <br /> Little Smakin lay slumped beside me. Without a second thought, she had cast the futon aside and settled right onto the bare earth.<br /> <br /> “Th-there was no point in running away from club activities after all. Or maybe there was.”<br /> <br /> Ryuushi-san stood with her hands pressed against her knees, catching her breath. Being an athlete, it didn’t seem like she had reached her physical limit. She began to take off her helmet, but her hands paused.<br /> <br /> “It’s so hot and humid. I wonder if my hair will end up with a perm if I just keep wearing it like this.”<br /> <br /> Ryuushi-san let her whole body go limp with a groan. After performing a movement reminiscent of a piece of bonito flake dancing on a hot griddle, she sought my opinion, asking, “What do you think, Niwa-kun?” I felt like asking her how I was even supposed to answer that.<br /> <br /> “I think you’ll just end up smelling like sweat.”<br /> <br /> Maekawa-san interjected from the side, having spent some time wandering about on her own little stroll.<br /> <br /> “Hmm, is that so? On one hand, there’s the New Easy Perm Ryuuko-san, and on the other, The Sweat-Soaked Ryuuko-san. I feel like the probability of either occurring is fifty-fifty. How agonising.”<br /> <br /> With both hands pressed against her helmet, Ryuushi-san turned with a wobbly, serpentine motion. Ryuushi-san’s actual hair was permed. Since sweat was also trickling down as well, it was the best of both worlds… What exactly was the “best” part about the sweat? Even as she said it, she didn’t understand what she meant. The smell? No!<br /> <br /> “Ugh… guffe… gufo…”<br /> <br /> It was Yashiro who lay spread-eagled on her back, clearly in genuine distress. It was all because she had been running around energetically in an outfit that looked like it had the worst possible ventilation. She began to rise sluggishly, her breathing so heavy it nearly obscured the beautiful face beneath. It was as if a small bear lying in the grass was slowly propping up its upper body.<br /> <br /> “This primitive method simply won’t do. I have no choice but to activate my grand plan.”<br /> <br /> “What even is this plan?”<br /> <br /> “Fu fu fu… Since your petty imagination could never possibly conceive of it, I shall be kind enough to enlighten you.”<br /> <br /> “Just spit it out already. Not that I actually care; I’m just asking.”<br /> <br /> She kicked me in the shin. Before I could even react to the pain, Yashiro spread her short arms wide.<br /> <br /> “It is a perfectly rational plan to build a spaceship myself!”<br /> <br /> “………………Idiot,” I muttered, though it seemed she didn’t hear me.<br /> <br /> “Khehehe, after all, I have ridden in a spaceship before, so I can certainly build something better than those Earthlings. Kyaa, is Yashiro-san smart? Yes, yes, she is, she is.”<br /> <br /> “Who are you even talking to?”<br /> <br /> I took a step back from Kibayashiro, who was getting worked up while shaking her shoulders. I figured I would just let her stay immersed in her own little world. When I looked up and scanned the area, my eyes met Little Smakin’s. Well, not eyes, she couldn’t actually see. But she was probably looking this way. Then, she held up a message.<br /> <br /> “My throat is thirsty for juice.”<br /> <br /> “Hey, there’s a very blunt demand stuck in the middle of that. Leave that kind of thing to working adults.”<br /> <br /> She pointed at Meme-san. Running around as if she were much younger, Meme-san had ended up sprawled face-down on the bench. Running around as if she were much younger, Meme-san had ended up sprawled face-down on the bench. Gross.<br /> <br /> “Cousin, you’re forgetting about the other working adult.”<br /> <br /> Erio approached with quick, light steps and pointed to her own face ostentatiously. Someone who couldn’t even open a juice cap by herself was a working adult? I tilted my head in confusion, but Little Smakin’s reaction was even faster.<br /> <br /> “Kyaa, (provisional) Master is so reliable!”<br /> <br /> Contrary to her appearance, she seemed quite adept at navigating the world. With a rapid pitter-patter of feet, she rushed over and collided with Erio. Was she intending to hug her with that move? Erio, seemingly not displeased at all, bumped her back with a “thump”. I wondered why, but then I remembered Ryuushi-san had been doing something similar just the other day.<br /> <br /> “I’ll have orange juice.”<br /> <br /> I tried to deflect with a joke, asking, “Oh, so you’re Orange Juice-san&lt;ref name=&quot;ftn23&quot;&gt;Little Smakin said ''Watashi wa orange juice'' which could mean either “I’ll have an orange juice” or “I am Orange Juice”.&lt;/ref&gt;?” Erio simply accepted it with an “Mm”. When she pulled out a wallet bulging with coins, I realised she was going to treat me.<br /> <br /> “What about you, Cousin?”<br /> <br /> “Mm, ah, then a coffee. A sweet one.”<br /> <br /> That was the request I instinctively made. When it came to a park and soft drinks, that was just how it went.<br /> <br /> Good grief, coffee is sweet, but memories are bittersweet… I wondered why things had turned out this way during middle school.<br /> <br /> When we parted ways after the school festival, we hadn’t even exchanged contact information. I suppose that was just like us, though.<br /> <br /> “Transfer student, you’re having coffee? Hmm, perhaps I shall have that as well.”<br /> <br /> “Then, then, I’ll have a coffee too… ugh, with lots of sweetness.”<br /> <br /> Others decided to tag along. Maekawa-san and Ryuushi-san. Maekawa-san ordered normally, but Ryuushi-san did so while pinching the flesh on her upper arm. I’ll leave you to imagine what that movement implied.<br /> <br /> “Are you really okay with such an unoriginal choice?”<br /> <br /> “Well, I thought if I ordered a lot of different things, Touwa wouldn’t be able to keep track. So I just grouped them together.”<br /> <br /> “M-me too, exactly!”<br /> <br /> “D-don’t make fun of me!”<br /> <br /> Erio cried out in indignation. Then, she lunged at Ryuushi-san. Ryuushi-san raised both her hands and met the impact with a loud, “Bam!” These people had far too much energy, despite having run so much. I watched their interaction, which resembled puppies playing, with a sense of exasperation. Naturally, a smile spread across my lips. Maekawa-san wore a similar expression.<br /> <br /> “H-u-r-r-y-u-p!”<br /> <br /> Yashiro was thumping the ground with her fists. I wondered how she managed to stretch out that final syllable all on its own.<br /> <br /> “(Provisional) Master is being slow,” Little Smakin added. Erio stopped her play with Ryuushi-san after being taunted by the self-proclaimed alien group. The two of them glared at each other with intense concentration for about two seconds before pulling apart.<br /> <br /> Taking advantage of that moment, Yashiro held up a hundred-yen coin and spoke to Erio.<br /> <br /> “The usual.”<br /> <br /> “Hmm.”<br /> <br /> I wondered if they could even communicate like that. Just how much time did she spend loitering at the Tamura store? And besides, what exactly was “the usual”?<br /> <br /> “What about Mum?”<br /> <br /> “I’ll have rejuvenation water…”<br /> <br /> “Hm?”<br /> <br /> “I want apple juice&lt;ref name=&quot;ftn24&quot;&gt;Meme is here slurring her words like a child would.&lt;/ref&gt;!”<br /> <br /> Her tone had regressed into something painfully childish. Nodding with an “Alright,” Erio dashed out of the park with quick, light steps. Meme-san, who had revived, chased after her, crying, “I’m coming too!” Did that mother and child still not have enough of playing tag? I watched them go and laughed when Erio was eventually preyed upon, I mean, tackled, along the way.<br /> <br /> Ryuushi-san adjusted her clothes, which had become dishevelled from the tackle, then moved in front of Little Smakin. She swayed her body from side to side, peering down with a “ho, ho, ho” sound. Little Smakin gave a small, polite bow.<br /> <br /> “Oh, how polite. Are you the rumoured child?”<br /> <br /> “I am what they call a child of the sun&lt;ref name=&quot;ftn25&quot;&gt;Maybe a reference to ''The Mysterious Cities of Gold'', known in Japan as “the Child of the Sun, Esteban” (''Taiyou no ko Esteban'').&lt;/ref&gt;.”<br /> <br /> Hey, she had never once mentioned a setting like that until now. What did she mean by “what they call”?<br /> <br /> “You’re such a tiny thing. Where are you from?”<br /> <br /> [[File:DTS Vol 08 117.jpg|thumb|“You’re such a tiny thing. Where are you from?”]]<br /> <br /> “I am a Futonese from outer space.”<br /> <br /> “Ouch, that hurt!”<br /> <br /> She brushed it off with a “tee-hee” kind of smile. She seemed quite used to dealing with this sort of thing. Was it because of Erio?<br /> <br /> “But being tiny makes you kind of cute. Touwa-san was more creepy-cute, though.”<br /> <br /> “You flatter me.”<br /> <br /> “…What exactly does ‘cute’ mean to a girl?”<br /> <br /> I posed this question, which I had grappled with many times before, to Maekawa-san. She simply shrugged.<br /> <br /> “As far as I’m concerned, even transfer student is cute enough.”<br /> <br /> “No, no, I can’t compete with you, Maekawa-san.”<br /> <br /> I laughed brightly. At that, Maekawa-san turned bright red all at once. As if she had been set on fire.<br /> <br /> “Eh? … Ah, yes. Thanks, is that how it is? Is that so?”<br /> <br /> Maekawa-san looked down with a solemn expression, rubbing the tip of her nose, which had become all stuffy. Witnessing such a reaction made me feel the heat as well. The faint redness on her cheeks was beautiful.<br /> <br /> “Wheee Wheeeee! Activating Enforcer Ryuuko-san mode! Come on, tighten up!”<br /> <br /> “Gueeeh…”<br /> <br /> I tried to tighten up. Everything up to that point had been a joke, but then Ryuushi-san’s hand reached out and pinched my eyelid. She pinched it along with the flesh beneath my eye, forcing it shut. It wasn’t so much tightening as it was closing.<br /> <br /> “Niwa-kuuuun you’re waaay, waaay, waaay, waaay, waaay too relaxed, what should I do, he’s so cute, what should I doooo. Mifune, Ryuuko-saaaan.”<br /> <br /> “What’s with that parody song?”<br /> <br /> “Oh, you don’t know it? Hmph, maybe it was only a regional thing? Well then, verse two…”<br /> <br /> Ryuushi-san sang cheerfully, all while keeping my eyes squeezed shut. In the end, she hadn’t taken off the yellow helmet. It seemed she had decided to gamble on the possibility of a quick, easy perm. Even if it failed, if it was the sweaty Ryuuko-san, I would accept it. What did I mean by accept it? I didn’t even know why I was clenching my fists.<br /> <br /> Sometimes, my own instincts frightened me.<br /> <br /> “You two really should be worrying about this little one before you get shut down. See? How strange,” Ryuushi-san said, pointing toward Little Smakin. Upon being called strange, the strange thing moved.<br /> <br /> “Is everyone interested in me?”<br /> <br /> “Not really as far as I’m concerned. I am quite used to seeing your kind.”<br /> <br /> Yashiro interjected. Though, I was certain I was even more accustomed to seeing Smakin than she was.<br /> <br /> “It cannot be helped; I shall tell you my secret.”<br /> <br /> I hadn’t asked to hear it.<br /> <br /> “You’re just going to announce some improvised setting you just thought of, aren’t you?”<br /> <br /> It was plain to see she was itching to talk.<br /> <br /> “The truth is, I bear the heavy responsibility of returning the aliens currently on Earth back to space.”<br /> <br /> “It is a heavy burden, indeed, a heavy destiny.”<br /> <br /> “However, despite coming here specifically for that task, a mistake prevented them from returning.”<br /> <br /> “How troublesome.”<br /> <br /> “But it is still too early for the aliens on Earth; it’s a matter of time.”<br /> <br /> “There is a fear that the true history of Earth might be altered.”<br /> <br /> “How very troublesome indeed.”<br /> <br /> “But since I must act in secret, this must remain a secret from the aliens.”<br /> <br /> At last, Little Smakin, who had been talking incessantly, finally stopped moving.<br /> <br /> “…Is that a happy ending, then?”<br /> <br /> “The Prologue has ended, so we shall proceed to Chapter One.”<br /> <br /> “Stop it.”<br /> <br /> Without a moment’s delay, I restrained Little Smakin, who continued to pour out streams of gibberish one after another, as if flipping through the pages of a paper drama.<br /> <br /> “What happened to the invader settings?”<br /> <br /> “That was merely a temporary form used to commemorate the past.”<br /> <br /> “Well, I’d like to commemorate with you right now.”<br /> <br /> So please, just hurry up and go back to the past… Good grief, honestly. After Erio, there was Yashiro. And while Yashiro was still around, there was Little Smakin. I was constantly surrounded by Denpa Onna.<br /> <br /> It was as if some great will or meaning directed it all. Full-blown convenience.<br /> <br /> “Sorry to keep you waiting!”<br /> <br /> Meme-san returned, laughing loudly with a “Gehahahaha!” as if she were having the time of her life. Erio was with her, too.<br /> <br /> “I’m soooorry, but they didn’t have any rejuvenation water!”<br /> <br /> “I didn’t need you to report that to me.”<br /> <br /> You’re the only one I’m looking for, at least for now.<br /> <br /> “But look! If you mash the apple juice button, they all turn into apple juice! We did it!”<br /> <br /> “Hey, aren’t you apologising for the wrong thing?”<br /> <br /> “Bingo!”<br /> <br /> “Don’t get so excited!”<br /> <br /> Everything really was apple juice. Since I was the one being treated, I didn’t complain to Erio, but I glared at Meme-san. Moreover, whenever I tried to snatch the apple juice she was holding, she would dodge. She flitted away like a moth dancing around a streetlamp. I wondered how she was so skilled at getting under my skin.<br /> <br /> “Mako-kun, come and catch me!”<br /> <br /> “Then don’t run away!”<br /> <br /> “See? Your aunt is just a ''tsundere''&lt;ref name=&quot;ftn26&quot;&gt;''Tsundere ''refers to a personality type where a person is cold or hostile on the outside, while in fact being warm and affectionate inside.&lt;/ref&gt;.”<br /> <br /> “You’re just being an ''amanojaku''&lt;ref name=&quot;ftn27&quot;&gt;An ''amanojaku'' is a demon from Japanese folklore. The term can also refer to people who are perverse or contrarians.&lt;/ref&gt;”!<br /> <br /> I lifted my hips and gave chase to Meme-san in earnest, only to have her truly escape me. There was no way someone like me, a representative of ordinary humans, could ever catch a ''youkai''. In the end, after I had given up on the pursuit, Meme-san, who had grown tired of running, simply began handing out juice. She handed it to me with a bright smile, and I lacked even the energy to snap back at her.<br /> <br /> Why did I have to end up spending my time playing an extra round of tag?<br /> <br /> As I burnt with resentment, Erio quietly approached and whispered beside me. Gently, as if sharing a secret. In that moment, my resentment, which hadn’t been all that serious anyway, melted away, leaving behind only a slight chill.<br /> <br /> Even as the cool breeze blew, that temperature gave me goosebumps.<br /> <br /> “Let’s go to space, Cousin.”<br /> <br /> “……Kay”<br /> <br /> After a series of exchanges that were the exact opposite of our usual interactions, I took a sip from the can of apple juice.<br /> <br /> It was sweet and sour, with just a tiny hint of something foreign on the tip of my tongue, which made the taste unforgettable.<br /> <br /> It was the very embodiment of the memories I had made in this park.<br /> <br /> -----<br /> *Playing tag with everyone, despite our age: +3<br /> '''Current total Youth Points:''' −1<br /> -----<br /> &lt;noinclude&gt;<br /> {| border=&quot;1&quot; cellpadding=&quot;5&quot; cellspacing=&quot;0&quot; style=&quot;margin: 1em 1em 1em 0; background: #f9f9f9; border: 1px #aaaaaa solid; padding: 0.2em; border-collapse: collapse;&quot;<br /> |-<br /> | Back to [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume8_Chapter2|Chapter 2]]<br /> | Return to [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko|Main Page]]<br /> | Forward to [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume8_Chapter3-B|Chapter 3-B]]<br /> |-<br /> |}<br /> &lt;/noinclude&gt;</div>

Bob Morane http://www.baka-tsuki.org/project/index.php?title=Denpa_Onna_to_Seishun_Otoko:Volume8_Chapter2&diff=588798 2026-08-28T14:20:34Z

<p>Bob Morane: Created page with &quot;&lt;noinclude&gt; {| border=&quot;1&quot; cellpadding=&quot;5&quot; cellspacing=&quot;0&quot; style=&quot;margin: 1em 1em 1em 0; background: #f9f9f9; border: 1px #aaaaaa solid; padding: 0.2em; border-collapse: collapse;&quot; |- | Back to Chapter 1 | Return to Main Page | Forward to Chapter 3-A |- |} &lt;/noinclude&gt; ==Chapter 2 – Even if I Accept That Dreams Don’t Go As Expected== I w...&quot;</p> <hr /> <div>&lt;noinclude&gt;<br /> {| border=&quot;1&quot; cellpadding=&quot;5&quot; cellspacing=&quot;0&quot; style=&quot;margin: 1em 1em 1em 0; background: #f9f9f9; border: 1px #aaaaaa solid; padding: 0.2em; border-collapse: collapse;&quot;<br /> |-<br /> | Back to [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume8_Chapter1|Chapter 1]]<br /> | Return to [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko|Main Page]]<br /> | Forward to [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume8_Chapter3-A|Chapter 3-A]]<br /> |-<br /> |}<br /> &lt;/noinclude&gt;<br /> ==Chapter 2 – Even if I Accept That Dreams Don’t Go As Expected==<br /> <br /> I wondered how many dreams I had actually managed to fulfil in my life.<br /> <br /> I kept asking myself this question as I kicked a soccer ball with mindless abandon.<br /> <br /> That was the kind of dream I was having at dawn.<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> My vision, which was pitch black, was filled with noise, with voices crying, “Wake up, Mako-kun-kun!” or “Mofumofu! It’s mofu-mofu!” There was no way I would have ever set an alarm that produced such a gloomy awakening.<br /> <br /> My body, and my head in particular, gradually began to feel lighter. Without resisting that sensation of emerging from a deep sleep, my consciousness surfaced. I lifted my eyelids, feeling my eyelashes peel away from my skin.<br /> <br /> Smakin was peering down at me. I wasn’t particularly surprised, as Erio, who tended to be an early riser, occasionally woke me up in the mornings. The Smakin sisters, swaying unsteadily from side to side, were waiting for me to wake up, and…<br /> <br /> “She multiplied!”<br /> <br /> I bolted upright. It wasn’t just one today. There was a tiny one standing there as an extra. I rubbed my eyes, wondering if I was still half-asleep, but sure enough, Little Smakin was standing there alongside Big Smakin.<br /> <br /> “Mofufufuuu” “Mofufuuufuuu”.<br /> <br /> “Stop that little performance, acting like you’re exchanging ‘Oh, you’re awake’ and ‘Yes, he’s awake’ or something.”<br /> <br /> They probably weren’t even communicating their intentions to each other anyway.<br /> <br /> “Good morniiiing.”<br /> <br /> Both outstretched arms hoisted a greeting. Even though we had parted ways at the park yesterday, they acted as if nothing had changed, behaving exactly like members of the Touwa family, and I couldn’t understand why.<br /> <br /> “Why are you here?”<br /> <br /> Perhaps because I had sat up so suddenly, I felt lightheaded, and the blood drained from my face. Accompanied by a ringing in my ears, my upper body grew unsteady, and I slumped back onto the bed. I groaned and glanced sideways at the two of them.<br /> <br /> As the two Smakins peered into my face, combined with the backlight, the atmosphere felt as though I were about to undergo some sort of reconstructive surgery. Little Smakin seemed to be frantically composing a response to my question, making ja-ja-ja-ja sounds. Big Smakin, on the other hand, was being quite bold, letting out a “moofufuffuuu, moofufuu”.<br /> <br /> “It is what they call a home visit.”<br /> <br /> “I don’t see the point in doing that. And for that matter, how do you even know my, I mean, the Touwa house?”<br /> <br /> “I followed you.”<br /> <br /> “…I appreciate the honesty.”<br /> <br /> I pressed a hand to my forehead and let out a sigh, my brow furrowing. I couldn’t even tell that Little Smakin had been tailing me.<br /> <br /> I wondered if I was just becoming increasingly absent-minded lately or if I simply had to accept the overwhelming prowess of Little Smakin.<br /> <br /> “I’ve gone and been attached to a tiring person again…”<br /> <br /> Or maybe I was possessed. I really didn’t want to attempt suicide by bicycle ever again. Hospital stays were far too boring.<br /> <br /> “Breakfast is ready, so please come downstairs.”<br /> <br /> “Yeah, yeah. I don’t care, but you’re fitting in way too well.”<br /> <br /> If anything, Big Smakin wasn’t working hard enough. She had been doing nothing but making “moofumoofu” sounds for a while now.<br /> <br /> I left the room, accompanied by those two mofumofu creatures. I hadn’t finished changing yet, but I couldn’t exactly strip in front of a girl. Judging by the “mofufu” sounds Little Smakin had been making, she seemed to be a girl as well. I felt bewildered by how much closer this brought me to the great-granddaughter of my delusions, especially given her gender. But surely, that couldn’t be right.<br /> <br /> Still, I looked back. I wondered what someone would think of me, walking around with two Smakins in tow. If they thought I was an outcast, I would celebrate with three cheers, but if they criticised me for being unable to read the room, I would feel quite pathetic.<br /> <br /> “Hey, this is the stairs. You should uncover your face while you come down.”<br /> <br /> I gave them a warning before descending the stairs. It wasn’t just that it might be dangerous; more importantly, if they tripped and caused a domino effect, I was the one at the front who would have to bear the brunt of it. I had no desire to serve as a cushion for the Smakins. From the Little Smakin, the usual ja-ja-ja-ja erupted. While Big Smakin simply showed her face. Her cheeks were slightly flushed, perhaps from the humid heat.<br /> <br /> “Yo. Good morning.”<br /> <br /> “Yo.”<br /> <br /> We exchanged greetings expressionlessly. Then, Little Smakins held up a message card (though it was quite large for a card). Perhaps because she was standing on her tiptoes to hold it up, her legs were trembling slightly, and she looked as if she might collapse at any moment.<br /> <br /> “My face is '''top secret'''. After all, I am from Planet Futon.”<br /> <br /> “…Is that so?”<br /> <br /> “Out of paper. Please refill.”<br /> <br /> “You should have prepared properly at home.”<br /> <br /> In the end, she went down just like that. As if she knew exactly where the stairs were, Little Smakin descended to the first floor without any trouble. When I muttered, “Impressive,” without any real emotion, Erio pouted.<br /> <br /> “I-I can do that too back then!”<br /> <br /> “Don’t try to compete with her over something like this. Come on, let’s go to Meme-san’s place.”<br /> <br /> “Mofu.”<br /> <br /> She had pulled her face back into the futon again. I continued walking down the hallway, deciding to just let her be.<br /> <br /> “Meme-tan doesn’t get enough screen time lately!”<br /> <br /> When I entered the room, Meme-tan was flailing about. This was my forty-year-old aunt. She was lying on her back, thumping and bouncing around, kicking her limbs about. Honestly, I felt her recent appearances were quite appropriate.<br /> <br /> In the first place, the real problem was that a forty-year-old aunt was acting like the heroine in a story about highschoolers.<br /> <br /> Well, it really was a bit late to be bringing that up now.<br /> <br /> “You’re getting dust in the food!”<br /> <br /> I tried scolding her. It didn’t even feel out of place. I wondered what on earth I thought of this aunt of mine.<br /> <br /> Meme-san sat up abruptly and gave a fearless, “Fu fu fu” laugh.<br /> <br /> “Don’t you worry, I’ve wrapped everything in plastic wrap properly.”<br /> <br /> “Did you really feel the need to go that far just to act out?”<br /> <br /> “Well, now that Meme-tan has made her case, let’s eat.”<br /> <br /> She beckoned for me to help, saying, “Mako-kun, come help me.” I was too drained to even form words, so I simply sat down in silence.<br /> <br /> The two of us peeled the plastic wrap away, piece by piece. It was such a hassle. The two Smakins seemed to be waiting in the corner of the room, sitting in formal ''seiza''. I thought Big Smakin should get out of the futon and help, but since she and Little Smakin were tucked away so neatly, I decided to leave them be.<br /> <br /> Besides, before I could address that, I had to mention the other problem.<br /> <br /> I stared at Meme-san while my hands continued to move. She winked at me. Both eyes at the same time. It was meaningless.<br /> <br /> “Why do you just let strangers, especially suspicious ones, straight into your house like that?”<br /> <br /> Yashiro had been treated to breakfast during summer vacation, too. As for today… she wasn’t here, unsurprisingly. However, knowing how she was, I couldn’t rule out the possibility of her quietly appearing from under the eaves again. Between her and Meme-san, there were too many unpredictable people around me, and the constant worry was never-ending. I wondered if, once science and technology advanced enough for everyone to be able to teleport, there would be no time left for one’s nerves to ever rest. Thieves would probably be able to break into houses with ease, too, making everything a complete mess. And widespread use would be difficult too.<br /> <br /> “…………”<br /> <br /> Despite waiting in silence for a long time for an answer to the question, there was no reaction whatsoever from Meme-san. Glancing sideways, I saw that she was peeling off some tape while humming to herself. Had this aunt of mine gone even more deaf? As I glared intently at her, she finally looked up with extreme affectation, her shoulders trembling in a startle. My absurd aunt, whose only fear seemed to be old age, let her shoulders slump awkwardly. Had it not been for her usual attitude, I might have actually been deceived.<br /> <br /> “Meme-tan is reflecting on her actions.”<br /> <br /> “Don’t you think calling yourself ‘Meme-tan’ is completely unnecessary if you’re trying to gain someone’s trust?”<br /> <br /> “If I left that part out, I wouldn’t be Meme-tan anymore! Oh, stop it,” she said, tapping my shoulder. If she stopped being Meme-tan… I suppose she’d become Meme-chin or something.<br /> <br /> “If you have truly self-reflected, please make sure not to let suspicious people into the house from now on. Also, please try not to let them wake me up like they did this time.”<br /> <br /> “It’s just because she looked somewhat familiar.”<br /> <br /> I glanced at Little Smakin while resting my hand on my chin. As if sensing my gaze, she gave a soft “mofufu” little bow.<br /> <br /> “Of course she does. She’s your daughter, the one right next to you.”<br /> <br /> I pointed to the “Mofuumofuu” creature beside her. That appearance seemed perhaps the furthest thing from an astronaut. I wondered if she could really make it to space after undergoing special training from someone like this. Hmm… Huuuummm.<br /> <br /> The more I looked, the less I trusted her. I even doubted whether she could manage a simple errand around the neighbourhood without incident.<br /> <br /> “Alright, the plastic wrap is all peeled off. Erioooo, dinner’s ready!”<br /> <br /> When Meme-san called, Erio obediently crawled out from under her futon. Slithering out from the top of the bedding, Erio crawled toward the dining table on all fours. The abandoned futon gradually wilted from the centre like a damp ''chikuwa'' and slumped heavily. For some reason, Little Smakin tried to tidy it. Leaning forward, she used her arms, which protruded from atop the bedding, to try and upright the rolled-up futon that Erio had shed. It was creepy, almost like she was preying on it. Erio turned back with a fierce glare.<br /> <br /> “What do you think you’re doing to my futon?”<br /> <br /> “I’m tidying it for you, so it’s fine, isn’t it?”<br /> <br /> “Yes, yes.”<br /> <br /> Little Smakin sent a message, reusing the back of the paper used earlier. She continued to sit there quietly in ''seiza'' position, but I wondered if she intended to wait there until we finished breakfast.<br /> <br /> After picking up my chopsticks and soup bowl, I decided to check with her just in case.<br /> <br /> “Um, what about breakfast?”<br /> <br /> “I have already eaten, so please do not worry about it.”<br /> <br /> Oh, Little Smakin was being quite sensible. She was certainly different from that certain person who looked like she was wearing a spacesuit. However, if she weren’t here for the food, I couldn’t think of any reason why she would have visited the Touwa family so early in the morning.<br /> <br /> “Is school alright? It doesn’t look like you’ve even prepared your school bag.”<br /> <br /> “Since I am an alien, I’m taking the day off from school.”<br /> <br /> “Am I the only one who feels like those two sentences had no connection to each other?”<br /> <br /> “Regrettably, you are the only one.”<br /> <br /> She had stated it as a fact. “I see, sorry,” I said, sipping my ''wakame'' miso soup. I found myself losing the energy to continue this conversation.<br /> <br /> I, Niwa Makoto, had finally learned the hard way that engaging in debates with self-proclaimed aliens yielded no productive results. Incidentally, the Niwa Makoto&lt;ref name=&quot;ftn8&quot;&gt;Niwa Makoto is written here with different kanji: he is talking about the video game character Erio created in the previous volume.&lt;/ref&gt; who lived inside the television screen had recently brought a girl to his room.<br /> <br /> It seemed as though there existed some fatal gap between him and me, something beyond just a difference in dimension. The world can just perish.<br /> <br /> “Mmm, your new wife is so good at cooking, isn’t she?”<br /> <br /> “True, except the part about her being my new wife.”<br /> <br /> I ate my meal while letting Meme-san’s usual delusions flow past me. Aside from Little Smakin acting like a mere ornament in the corner, it was a peaceful breakfast time, unchanged from yesterday. Erio, who sat across from me, was also munching away busily. Since her hair looked as though it might fall into her food if she looked down, she maintained that strange posture of holding her bowl up and eating while facing upwards. “Kyaa! Mako-kun, there’s a grain of your rice on your cheek!” I pushed back against my aunt’s approaching forehead. What did she mean by a grain of “my” rice? I touched my cheek. There really was a grain of rice stuck there.<br /> <br /> “…………”<br /> <br /> No, no, no.<br /> <br /> It felt strange because everything was just as it always was. No one, other than myself, cast even a glance toward Little Smakin. That mother and child simply didn’t pay her any mind at all. I wondered what kind of nerves these people had. It almost made me feel like the odd one out, as I was the only one repeatedly glancing at Little Smakin. I decided to give up on Meme-san and instead stared intently at Erio. Although she had shown signs of being down when she was in the park yesterday, she seemed to have recovered overnight. If that was the case, then she should at least notice my gaze. And she should question why the current situation, where Little Smakin was being accepted so easily, was even happening. Because this was exactly how invaders might begin their conquest of Earth, but that’s not the point.<br /> <br /> “Oho, Mako-kun is mesmerised by Eri-tan.”<br /> <br /> Meme-san whispered into my ear, having moved her face right up against my side without me even noticing.<br /> <br /> “Pardon?”<br /> <br /> My eyelids fluttered repeatedly, as if trying to catch up on all the blinks I had missed. Erio set her bowl down and tilted her head, letting out a confused, “Hmm?” I hurriedly pulled my face away, shaking both my head and my chopsticks.<br /> <br /> “No, that’s not it.”<br /> <br /> It was true that I had been staring, but the way she put it was misleading.<br /> <br /> “You’ve finally awakened to Eri-chan’s charms, haven’t you! Now, keep that momentum going and open your eyes to Meme-chin’s bewitching allure, Mako-kun! Come on, give me a big smooch!”<br /> <br /> “There is no rice grains left, so please don’t bring your lips anywhere near me!”<br /> <br /> The peaceful breakfast time collapsed. I abandoned both my bowl and my chopsticks, using both hands to try and push Meme-san away. While I stepped back from that utterly pointless struggle, Erio remained there, tilting her head with a contemplative “Hmm”.<br /> <br /> “Cousin, were you looking at Erio-san with respect?”<br /> <br /> ‘No, he definitely wasn’t (lol).’<br /> <br /> Little Smakin provided a perfectly accurate commentary. “Y-You’re being so cheeky to your master!” Erio puffed out her cheeks. Oh, she finally reacted. Setting aside how overly familiar they were with each other, they looked like sisters when they acted like that… Though, that couldn’t be true. Unless, of course, Meme-san had a secret child.<br /> <br /> But then again, this woman had gone so far as to hide Erio’s existence from her own relatives.<br /> <br /> “Let me tell you one thing, Mako-tan.”<br /> <br /> Meme-san spoke while they remained locked in a struggle, their hands pressed against one another.<br /> <br /> “…Please stop using ‘-tan’.”<br /> <br /> Completely ignoring my opinion, Meme-san smiled. It was a lovely smile.<br /> <br /> “Taking Eri-tan as a bride means, in essence, taking Meme-tan as a bride as well.”<br /> <br /> “Whoa, that’s an impregnable fortress right there.”<br /> <br /> Faced with Erio’s now-sealed fate of a lifelong single life, I felt like raising a bowl of ''wakame'' soup in a toast.<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> “Now, let’s dash forth!”<br /> <br /> I hesitated for about three seconds, debating whether to chase after Little Smakin, who was scurrying down the hallway toward the entrance. I wouldn’t be able to make it outside unless I went that way, but I wondered if it was really okay to just head out like this. I don’t want to start running with you, Litsma&lt;ref name=&quot;ftn9&quot;&gt;“Litsma” was probably intended here as the abbreviation of “Little Smakin” ('''rito'''ru'''suma'''kin) he came up with on the spot.&lt;/ref&gt;. It sounded like “litmus paper” when I abbreviated her name. Not that it really mattered.<br /> <br /> “What do you think you are doing?!”<br /> <br /> “What are *you* doing?”<br /> <br /> Wrapping herself in a futon first thing in the morning and jumping around wildly in someone else’s house Her parents are going to worry. As I pressed my hand to my forehead and sighed, a heavy thumping sound approached from behind. When I turned around, I saw Meme-san jumping about.<br /> <br /> “Meme-tan is going to school, too!”<br /> <br /> “Have you lost your mind, forty-year-old?”<br /> <br /> Today was not Parent-Teacher Observation Day. I told her not to overdo it just because she wanted more screen time.<br /> <br /> <br /> “Mako-kun, you’re a hippo&lt;ref name=&quot;ftn10&quot;&gt;Meme probably inverted the syllables of ''baka ''(”idiot”), giving the word ''kaba ''(”hippo”).&lt;/ref&gt;!”<br /> <br /> She called me a hippo with a completely straight face. What was more, she brushed past me with a detached, brisk stride. It was somewhat frightening.<br /> <br /> “Hippo.”<br /> <br /> “You don’t need to repeat it, my daughter.”<br /> <br /> “Come on, let’s go,” I said, placing my hand on the back of her head to urge her to head out. Erio continued to mutter, “Hippo, hippo…”<br /> <br /> After I made Erio put on her shoes since she had attempted to head outside barefoot, we stepped out. It was still quite early to be heading to school, but I ended up being drawn along by Little Smakin. That Little Smakin was busy chasing a cricket that had darted out from between the plants in the garden. If she only stripped off her futon, she was truly innocent and full of life. That just made her a surreal idiot. That said, I couldn’t just let her play like that forever.<br /> <br /> I approached Meme-san, who had pulled her bicycle out from the shed. Meme-san had completely lost her serious expression and was pouting her lips. “I don’t want to work.” she whined, but I chose to pretend I hadn’t heard her.<br /> <br /> “What should we do about that child?”<br /> <br /> I brought up the matter of how to handle Little Smakin. Meme-san tilted her head with a thoughtful “Hmm”.<br /> <br /> “Mako-kun, couldn’t you just look after her? It seems like she has business with you, anyway.”<br /> <br /> “No, I have to go to school.”<br /> <br /> “And I have to go to work. Guhee.”<br /> <br /> She had unilaterally dismissed me. I recoiled in surprise but quickly regained my composure. As for the current state of Little Smakin, she was skilfully catching crickets with her toes and hopping around on one leg, chasing Erio. Although Erio was usually unfazed by insects, she was currently running around screaming in a panic.<br /> <br /> It was true that Smakin, approaching on one leg like that, was more terrifying than any insect. She looked more like a ''youkai''.<br /> <br /> “By the way, that child isn’t my secret love child. Meme-tan is in the pure heart faction.”<br /> <br /> “Oh, is that so? I completely misjudged the situation.”<br /> <br /> “Maybe I’ll take a big chance and just make her Erio-tan and my child.”<br /> <br /> That was way too much of a big chance. She should just go bury herself right where she stood.<br /> <br /> “So, what are you actually going to do?”<br /> <br /> I ignored her because the conversation wasn’t going anywhere. At this point, I had stopped raising my voice at things like this.<br /> <br /> “Fine, whatever. Meme-tan will just take her to her workplace.”<br /> <br /> Holding both arms out horizontally, Meme-san started to run. As the forty-year-old sprinted across the garden at full speed, she easily lunged forward and grabbed Little Smakin, who had been hopping on one leg, from behind. While Little Smakin was left wondering, “Mofufu?”, Meme-san used both hands to lift the entire body, futon and all, into the air. “Mofufuu!” Being knocked sideways and suspended in mid-air, it seemed impossible for Little Smakin to utilise any agility. She kicked its legs wildly, but since she was short, she couldn’t reach anything. The cricket she had caught between her fingers managed to escape into the garden during the struggle. Little Smakin was then shoved into the basket of Meme-san’s dedicated bicycle (apparently named the ''Salamander'', though I had no idea where the name came from) and held fast. She struggled to kick her way out of the basket, but it only produced a clattering noise. It was like a fish caught in a trap, thrashing about as it tried to escape. Even while struggling, she just went ja-ja-ja-ja inside.<br /> <br /> [[File:DTS Vol 08 069.jpg|thumb|While Little Smakin was left wondering, “Mofufu?”, Meme-san used both hands to lift the entire body, futon and all, into the air.]]<br /> <br /> “If you treat an alien like this, it will start a war.”<br /> <br /> “A war?”<br /> <br /> “I have remained silent until now, but in truth, I am an '''invader'''. I came here to investigate whether or not to colonise the Earth. However, due to an accident, I am unable to return to my comrades.”<br /> <br /> “I heard that backstory somewhere before…”<br /> <br /> I stole a glance toward the source. Erio’s bristling hair swayed slightly. Sensing my gaze, Erio scurried around to my back with a pitter-patter of feet. Then, she clung to me. Why? Was she trying to hide?<br /> <br /> “Alright, let’s get going! La la laaaaa, work is fun again today!”<br /> <br /> Meme-san began pedalling her bicycle while humming a song that clearly didn’t reflect her true feelings. Far from being bothered by Little Smakin’s sudden confession of her backstory, she ignored it entirely. It reminded me somewhat of how Meme-san was in April. Her attitude toward those claiming to be aliens remained consistent.<br /> <br /> Little Smakin flailed her legs even more vigorously, insisting, “As an alien, I demand better treatment!” Weren’t we already taking care of her?<br /> <br /> Leaving the person displaying that message aboard, Meme-san went on her way as usual.<br /> <br /> “The invader has been kidnapped.”<br /> <br /> Meme-san &gt; The invader’s narrative established here. I watched as the crisis facing Earth drifted away.<br /> <br /> The (supposedly) child was left in the care of a (more or less) adult, so it should be fine.<br /> <br /> “M-Mom was stolen. Waaaaah.”<br /> <br /> “…Well, I should be heading out, too.”<br /> <br /> I turned around. Erio, who was still clinging to my back, turned as well. She also had shopkeeping duties waiting for her. I took out my cell phone and checked the time. “Ta-da!” Erio held up her own phone from the side. “I know you have one.” How many times was she going to brag about that? I finished checking the time.<br /> <br /> Good. I eased my grip on Erio from behind. Waiting for the moment she tucked her phone into her clothes, I spoke up.<br /> <br /> “Since we have some time, I’ll give you a ride all the way to the Tamura store every once in a while.”<br /> <br /> “Huh? Oh. The hippo has resurrected as Cousin.”<br /> <br /> “Shut up, and just get on.”<br /> <br /> “Mmh.”<br /> <br /> Though her expression remained blank, Erio nodded happily and hopped into the bicycle basket without a moment’s hesitation.<br /> <br /> I accepted it naturally, without trying to stop her, and gripped the handlebars.<br /> <br /> It was better to have my cousin tucked in the basket than Little Smakin. Well, probably.<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> “Ho-ho. Invasion, aliens, observing humans… Ugh…”<br /> <br /> During PE class, as we ran alongside each other on the school track, Ryuushi-san clutched her head in distress. All I had done was tell her the story of how Little Smakin had burst into my house that morning. She looked quite good in her gym clothes too.<br /> <br /> Or rather, that might have been the most important point. From the perspective of a Youthful Man.<br /> <br /> “Is something wrong?”<br /> <br /> “It’s just that Ryuuko-san is at that age where her frontal lobe occasionally aches.”<br /> <br /> “Th-that’s an age where you should be going to the hospital.”<br /> <br /> “Fu fu fu, it just made me a little nostalgic for the old days.”<br /> <br /> As she said this, she lifted her head and rubbed the underside of her nose with her finger. Then, she began to move her feet with a light, bouncing stride. Because of the dramatic up-and-down motion, Ryuushi-san’s chest was bouncing quite violently as well.<br /> <br /> “…She’s certainly in her growth spurt.”<br /> <br /> Compared to our first meeting in April, I had the feeling she had grown noticeably. A truly moving epic.<br /> <br /> Even though it was a co-ed physical education class, I rarely saw boys and girls running together like this. Because of that, I felt we were attracting some attention. It even felt as if people were whispering about us.<br /> <br /> Under the blue October sky, the refreshing air exuded a sense of coolness. However, the sunlight was fierce, feeling as though droplets of light were sliding down my bangs and dripping onto my face. The tip of my nose felt parched, as if being stroked, and hot.<br /> <br /> Ah, by the way, Maekawa-san wasn’t running from the start. She was trudging along. When I eventually lapped her, I turned around and gave her a small wave. Maekawa-san smiled slightly and waved back.<br /> <br /> “Does that little kid give you a headache, Niwa-kun?”<br /> <br /> “Hmm, I just thought it would be a hassle to be followed around. Also, well… I think it’s better to actually go to school.”<br /> <br /> “That’s true. Ryuuko-san too was quite mischievous, back in my youth, so I had some regrets.”<br /> <br /> I crossed my arms as I kept moving. Mischievous? I tilted my head in confusion. Did she actually have a delinquent phase?<br /> <br /> “Back in kindergarten, I used to get scolded all the time for making the boys cry.”<br /> <br /> “Is that story really that far back?”<br /> <br /> “When I played dodgeball, for some reason, the balls I threw always ended up hitting people right in the face.”<br /> <br /> She spoke while miming the action of throwing an imaginary ball with an “Eiya!” She added that even when she passed the ball in basketball, it always flew straight toward the opponent’s face, so I worried the punchline wouldn’t be that she wasn’t a candidate for the starting lineup.<br /> <br /> “But Ryuuko-san has also an innocent and lovely side!”<br /> <br /> “Ooh.”<br /> <br /> I chimed in, though I began to wonder what exactly we were talking about.<br /> <br /> “In fact, Ryuuko-san once received a love letter from a kid in the neighbourhood!”<br /> <br /> “Whut?”<br /> <br /> She had just announced a fact that was far too significant to ignore. Ryuushi-san puffed out her chest with pride.<br /> <br /> “It was hard to read because it was entirely written in hiragana, but it definitely made my cheeks burn.”<br /> <br /> …Hiragana?<br /> <br /> “I particularly appreciated the part where he wrote, ‘Ryuuko-chan’. Hmm, he certainly knew how to charm me.”<br /> <br /> I nodded rhythmically, saying, “Good, good… Um, how old was this child from the neighbourhood?”<br /> <br /> “Four years old. So what?”<br /> <br /> She asked with a deadpan expression. Her chin tilted up as she gazed vacantly into the distance.<br /> <br /> “No, it’s nothing.”<br /> <br /> &lt;nowiki&gt;*Step, step, step*, I continued running the final lap, my feet striking the ground.&lt;/nowiki&gt;<br /> <br /> It seemed that no matter how much I tried, rhythmic nonsense like “su-te-te-te”&lt;ref name=&quot;ftn11&quot;&gt;''Su-te-te-te'' is the sound of footsteps running. In this novel, it is often associated with Erio running barefoot.&lt;/ref&gt; simply wouldn’t come from my feet.<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> “Onii-san, Onii-san! Come stop by the shop! Onee-san will give you a special treat!”<br /> <br /> “…With a first impression like that, you wouldn’t even be able to complain if people hung up thinking it was a wrong number.”<br /> <br /> Meme-san called me at a timing that seemed perfectly calculated for the moment school ended, or rather, it felt as if she had been monitoring my classroom. I spoke in a low voice, huddling into myself to avoid the sense of liberation permeating the room, muttering and whispering. After all, despite her age, my aunt had a very youthful voice.<br /> <br /> I didn’t want anyone to risk anyone around me mistakenly thinking the person on the other end of the line was my girlfriend.<br /> <br /> “Oh, Mako-kun, you seem all high-strung.”<br /> <br /> “What kind of persona is that? Do you need something?”<br /> <br /> Ryuushi-san, who was near the entrance in front of the classroom, waved at me. It looked like she was on her way to club activities. I gave a small wave back. She mouthed a question, “Who are you talking to?” so I traced “40” with my fingertip. Ryuushi-san nodded as if to say, “Ah, I see,” and then departed. I was relieved my message got through.<br /> <br /> “The fact that you lightly referred to Meme-tan as forty years old shall set your lifelong virginity flag, Mako-kun.”<br /> <br /> “I already told you to stop trying to grasp the situation with more than just your five senses.”<br /> <br /> “Anyway, come by the shop later. Apparently, Mofumofu-chan has some business with you, Mako-kun.”<br /> <br /> “The shop? Mofumofu-chan… Ah, that girl.”<br /> <br /> At the very least, I understood that part. It had to be Little Smakin. As for having business with me, was it special training again? If that was the case, she should have just called Erio; why was she trying to drag me into it? I wondered if this was what it felt like to be appointed as a guarantor by someone I wasn’t even close with. Besides, was she still at Meme-san’s place?<br /> <br /> “Uh, what shop are you talking about?”<br /> <br /> “Obviously the Japanese sweets shop!”<br /> <br /> “How exactly is that obvious… Japanese sweets? Uh, you mean that Mars-something confectionery?”<br /> <br /> “That’s the one! Oh, pleased to make your acquaintance&lt;ref name=&quot;ftn12&quot;&gt;Meme uses the expression ''omishirioki'', which means something like “please remember me” and is often used in business meetings.&lt;/ref&gt;!”<br /> <br /> “I have no idea what that means. Huh, do you have some kind of connection to that place?”<br /> <br /> “Well, you could say it’s like Meme-tan’s backyard!”<br /> <br /> “That sounded so suspicious… Huh?”<br /> <br /> Then, Maekawa-san entered my field of vision. Moreover, she approached me. For some reason, she began to wander around right in front of me, pacing back and forth. Along the way… She peeked up at my face from below and even poked at my crown with her finger.<br /> <br /> I felt as though I were being treated like a mere plaything.<br /> <br /> I looked away from the noisy telephone. “What is it? Do you need something?” I asked Maekawa-san.<br /> <br /> “No, there’s no meaning to it at all. I’d prefer it if you didn’t mind,” she said.<br /> <br /> She let out a bright, cheerful laugh. To tell me not to mind was an impossible request. I was not an immortal&lt;ref name=&quot;ftn13&quot;&gt;Immortal in the Taoist sense: someone who attained immortality by distancing himself from his base human instincts.&lt;/ref&gt;, so there was no way I could simply ignore someone who would groan, “Hummm”, like a critic while pinching my earlobe or stroke the protrusion of my throat, remarking, “This is your Adam’s apple, isn’t it?” I twisted my body, squirming in distress.<br /> <br /> “Oh, transfer student, I wonder if you are particularly sensitive.”<br /> <br /> Maekawa-san beamed, looking quite delighted, as if she were pleased by my reaction.<br /> <br /> “Well, that comment was a bit…” I found it difficult to add, “It really hit home!”<br /> <br /> “What else, let’s see, your collarbone?”<br /> <br /> If she ends in a question, I find it hard to reply, “No, my collarbone?” To make matters worse, she slid her fingers under the collar of my uniform and traced my collarbone with her fingertips. A shiver ran down my spine. I trembled.<br /> <br /> “Hmm, transfer student, you’re quite easy to read. It’s interesting.”<br /> <br /> “It’s, not, interesting.”<br /> <br /> That was the best protest, or rather, rebuttal that I could muster. As expected, Maekawa-san’s personality was difficult to pin down.<br /> <br /> I refrained from saying that she had been much easier to read in my fantasies, fearing she would be completely repulsed.<br /> <br /> “Mako-kuuuun! Don’t abandon your true wife!”<br /> <br /> An inappropriate remark for a wholesome youth erupted from the other end of the phone. I hurriedly brought the device closer to my mouth.<br /> <br /> It was easy enough to respond to that.<br /> <br /> “You really should try to keep your delusions in check.”<br /> <br /> “I don’t want to hear that coming from you, Mako-kun.”<br /> <br /> “Ugh… So, I just have to go pick that kid up, right? Even though I don’t want to.”<br /> <br /> “Yay! Good boy. Well then, farewell!”<br /> <br /> The call ended, leaving behind nothing but a nonsensical parting phrase. She was a frantic person, even over the phone.<br /> <br /> “It seems the person on the phone was your new wife.”<br /> <br /> “Are you still dragging that joke on? No, I asked to come and collect Little Smakin… Wait, I didn’t tell you about her, right, Maekawa-san? Little Smakin is basically that girl who was at the back gate of the school yesterday.”<br /> <br /> “So, the miniature Touwa, then.”<br /> <br /> “Yeah, exactly. I appreciate how quickly you catch on. She wants me to go pick her up right now.”<br /> <br /> I shrugged, sighing in exasperation. “A disaster indeed,” said Maekawa-san, looking quite happy. As if it were someone else’s problem.<br /> <br /> “Well, then, perhaps I’ll come along too.”<br /> <br /> “Huh? Oh, you’re going to your part-time job? I heard she’s at a Japanese sweets shop.”<br /> <br /> I felt like the information was a bit out of order, but I tried saying that anyway. Maekawa-san gave a slight shake of her head.<br /> <br /> “No, I don’t have a part-time job, but… well, I’ve got time on my hands. Enough to hang out with you, transfer student.”<br /> <br /> “That certainly sounds like you’ve got time on your hands.”<br /> <br /> “Right? Right? Come on, let’s go before Ryuushi finds us.”<br /> <br /> I nodded, even as I wondered why Ryuushi-san’s name was suddenly being brought to the forefront.<br /> <br /> And so, I ended up spending my after-school hours with Maekawa-san.<br /> <br /> Sometimes, Smakin actually proved useful to others.<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> “Heh, she really is like a miniature Touwa.”<br /> <br /> “She certainly is.”<br /> <br /> When we arrived at the shopfront, Little Smakin was clutching a broom. Of course, she was still wrapped up in her futon.<br /> <br /> She gripped the broom with both hands protruding from above, leaning forward as she swept the road. From the side, her posture looked like a slightly opened compass. It also resembled the shape of a fan spread downward.<br /> <br /> It was a rather strained sight for someone cleaning. The idea of leaving the cleaning to her probably could only have come from a certain aunt, but as a business owner, one had to wonder about that. Little Smakin twisted her body with a soft “mofufu” giggle.<br /> <br /> Watching her, I attempted to park my bicycle, but the brakes were weak and I went a little too far. There had been no resistance even when I squeezed them. Were they malfunctioning? I kicked off the ground to back up. Just then, Little Smakin moved.<br /> <br /> “Hello.”<br /> <br /> It was a greeting of only five characters, but it was a feat achieved through a whirlwind of motion: releasing the broom for a mere instant, scribbling frantically ja-ja-ja-ja on the paper in the short time it took for both her and the broom to fall, hoisting the note up, and then regripping her broom. It was incredibly roundabout because of the futon. If she had just taken it off, most of that sequence of movements could have been avoided.<br /> <br /> “Yo. Also, why are you calling me? Address me as (provisional) Master.”<br /> <br /> I admonished her not to summon me so casually, even for a greeting. I handed her the broom as well. Freed from her cramped, forward-leaning position, Little Smakin bowed her head with a “mofufu”. Her politeness was fine and all, but still.<br /> <br /> “Anyway, what are you doing in front of the confectionery shop? Are you obstructing business?”<br /> <br /> “I’m cleaning.”<br /> <br /> “I get that. But are you obstructing business?”<br /> <br /> “The old woman made me do it. She treated me to lunch, so she said ‘p-l-e-a-s-e’.”<br /> <br /> The second half of my question was ignored entirely.<br /> <br /> “Ah, thanks for your hard work… And where is that Meme-san?”<br /> <br /> I peeked into the shop, but there was only one clerk present… Ah, I recognised her. She was that strange woman who had visited the candy store dressed as a ''shiratama dango''&lt;ref name=&quot;ftn14&quot;&gt;A shiratama dango is a chewy sweet rice dumpling.&lt;/ref&gt; and started telling me stories of the past. Today, she was wearing normal clothes.<br /> <br /> My eyes met with the clerk’s. Then, she glanced at Maekawa-san and placed a hand on her chin.<br /> <br /> “The old woman ''toubou''&lt;ref name=&quot;ftn15&quot;&gt;Toubou means “escaping”, but because Little Smakin wrote it in katakana, the meaning is not immediately obvious.&lt;/ref&gt; out the back door.”<br /> <br /> [[File:DTS Vol 08 081.jpg|thumb|“The old woman ''toubou'' out the back door.”]]<br /> <br /> Little Smakin provided the explanation, using a rather courageous choice of words.<br /> <br /> “''Toubou''? She fled?”<br /> <br /> It seemed she had been humming that final “run run run run run” while escaping. It was easy enough to understand.<br /> <br /> “By the way, when I called her old lady, she nearly wrung my neck like a wet rag.”<br /> <br /> “Ha ha ha, you did well surviving that.”<br /> <br /> “I almost ended up spilling my insides like gooey chocolate from a cornet.”<br /> <br /> Smakin suddenly shuddered, her upper body trembling. Meme-san was truly terrifying, able to make even an invader shake like that.<br /> <br /> In fact, maybe she was actually the alien.<br /> <br /> After parking the bicycle in front of the shop, Maekawa-san stepped forward and stood beside me. She raised a small hand, as if peering into the swirling vortex of the futon.<br /> <br /> “Hi there, rumoured little one. I saw you by the school’s back gate yesterday.”<br /> <br /> “Well, you’re certainly a big one yourself.”<br /> <br /> For some reason, she grabbed Maekawa-san’s body and attempted to scramble up her.<br /> <br /> “Don’t try to climb to the summit.”<br /> <br /> I pulled the futon from behind and peeled it off her. Little Smakin wriggled, “Mofufu”, as if protesting the casual touch. She slipped from my grasp and kicked sharply against the ground to maintain a certain distance.<br /> <br /> “Touching an alien so carelessly is a big no-no.”<br /> <br /> “Weren’t you just touching Maekawa-san quite carelessly?”<br /> <br /> “Out of paper. Please refill.”<br /> <br /> What a convenient interruption. Maekawa-san and I locked eyes, both of us wearing wry smiles.<br /> <br /> “She’s an interesting little thing. More charming than the old Touwa, at least.”<br /> <br /> “More or less. That one was truly delusional.”<br /> <br /> While Erio had been about 8 parts delusional to 2 parts Smakin, this little one seemed to be roughly 3 parts delusional to 7 parts Smakin. I couldn’t even make sense of that Smakin part myself, even as I said it.<br /> <br /> “Out of paper. Please refill.”<br /> <br /> She wedged herself between Maekawa-san and me. Hey, you’re being a huge nuisance. Left with no choice, I pulled a brand-new notebook from my bag and shoved it toward her. That should last a while. I chose to close my eyes, purposely avoiding the small details, like why I felt the need to bestow paper upon this creature, why I had to deal with her antics, or even what she actually was in the first place, because thinking about them felt like an invitation for a headache.<br /> <br /> From inside the futon, I heard the ripping sound of paper being torn.<br /> <br /> “Thank you so much for the paper! There’s so much it caused a paper jam.”<br /> <br /> “‘Please try to use paper a bit more sparingly.”<br /> <br /> “Try to use it a bit more strategically.”<br /> <br /> Even though I told her to stop such wasteful behaviour. Little Smakin snatched the paper and bounced from side to side.<br /> <br /> “Transfer student, wouldn’t this little one happen to be a relative of yours?”<br /> <br /> While following Little Smakin with her eyes, Maekawa-san questioned me. No, no, she should have been checking if the child had some connection to Erio; my relationship to her was irrelevant. There shouldn’t be anyone in the Niwa family who travels around wrapped in a futon. We did have a strange custom of representing names with a single kanji character, though. But as far as I knew, my mother’s name was “Sakae”, and there was a relative named “Shizuka”. My father was an adopted son-in-law&lt;ref name=&quot;ftn16&quot;&gt;In Japan, there is an old custom that makes it possible for men to be adopted as adults into their wives’ family and take on their family name. This tradition allows for a family that has only daughters, or no competent male heirs, to preserve a business by adopting a male in-law. It is still heavily practised today, especially by big family corporations, from whom the family name is almost undissociable from their business. For instance, the car manufacturing company Suzuki has been managed generation after generation by adopted sons-in-law who took on the name Suzuki. This explains why Japan has one of the highest adoption rates in the world and why most people adopted there are adult men.&lt;/ref&gt; into the Niwa family, so he was different.<br /> <br /> “I don’t need any more relatives like this, thank you; I have enough as it is.”<br /> <br /> “Since you said you were going to pick someone up, I thought she was a child you were looking after. So she’s just a stranger?”<br /> <br /> Maekawa-san poked her finger into Little Smakin’s swirling mass of hair. Little Smakin immediately retreated to escape it, leaning back with a little “mofufu” sound. No matter how much she tried to stand tall, it was ineffective against an opponent like Maekawa-san. It only made the trembling of her legs look adorable.<br /> <br /> “So, her true identity is still a mystery?”<br /> <br /> “I think she’s just an elementary schooler from around the neighbourhood, but I have no proof.”<br /> <br /> “Hmm. In that case, let Maekawa-san, renowned for her impressive intellect, to attempt a deduction.”<br /> <br /> “I’m an alien from planet Futon.”<br /> <br /> Despite Little Smakin’s claim, it failed to convince Maekawa-san.<br /> <br /> “Hmm… I think she is Touwa’s other half, separated by an accident.”<br /> <br /> “Pardon?”<br /> <br /> “By merging, they’ll return to being the true Touwa and power up, or something like that.”<br /> <br /> “…Isn’t it just wrapping up in two layers of futon?”<br /> <br /> “That’s certainly possible.”<br /> <br /> Maekawa-san spoke with an incredibly delighted expression. And there was one who moved as if in agreement.<br /> <br /> “That’s mostly correct.”<br /> <br /> “Hey, don’t jump on the bandwagon and try to cement your position.”<br /> <br /> Since it seemed things would get complicated if Little Smakin joined in, I shut down the topic.<br /> <br /> “I was planning to finish up the cleaning soon anyway, so let’s head over to ''tokkun''.”<br /> <br /> “What’s ''tokkun''?”<br /> <br /> Maekawa-san looked at my face, a question mark written all over her expression.<br /> <br /> “Ah, well, that kid wants to be an astronaut… so, it’s like, some kind of training.”<br /> <br /> I gave a vague explanation, letting my voice trail off. While I was at it, I pulled my cell phone out of my bag. Time to call Erio. Beep, boop, beep. Ah, she picked up immediately. Her responsiveness was so high she seemed like she would have answered even if I’d only let it ring once.<br /> <br /> “Mofumofu.”<br /> <br /> “Don’t answer the phone while you’re Smakin.”<br /> <br /> “That’s not it. This is my own version of hello.”<br /> <br /> “Ah, sorry, my bad. As an amateur, I couldn’t tell the difference. Anyway, Erio-san, how have you been?”<br /> <br /> “I-I have a bad premonition.”<br /> <br /> “Oh, don’t be like that. It’s just that there’s something I can only ask you to do!”<br /> <br /> “''Déjà vu''.”<br /> <br /> “It’s all in your head. Anyway, let’s meet up at the same park as yesterday.”<br /> <br /> “A-Actually, something like this happened yesterday too. Wait, hold on.”<br /> <br /> I hung up. With this, she should be coming. Despite everything, that girl was quite the lonely soul.<br /> <br /> I had no obligation to join in on this special training, but well, there wasn’t much else to do once I went home anyway.<br /> <br /> “What about you, Maekawa-san?”<br /> <br /> “No, I’ll join. Astronaut training sounds fascinating, doesn’t it?”<br /> <br /> “…You shouldn’t get your hopes up.”<br /> <br /> Yesterday, all they did was run relentlessly. The visual novelty lasted for maybe the first five minutes before it became boring. Yesterday’s version of me, who stuck it out until the very end, must have been incredibly bored.<br /> <br /> After returning the broom to the shop clerk, Little Smakin took the lead.<br /> <br /> “Now that our daily duties are finished, let’s go!”<br /> <br /> As she started running energetically, pieces of ''dango'' skewers tumbled out from the gap beneath the duvet.<br /> <br /> And so, I accepted Little Smakin leaping into Maekawa-san’s bicycle basket with a wry smile.<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> “Today’s ''tokkun'' will be tag.”<br /> <br /> Master Erio, whom we had picked up on the way to the park, announced this immediately after we arrived. As she spoke, she was rustling around, climbing out of my bicycle basket. Little Smakin, who had been carried in Maekawa-san’s basket, had already landed on the ground. As expected, she was slightly high-performance.<br /> <br /> “Oh? So you wanted to play tag?”<br /> <br /> “N-no, I didn’t. It’s not playing; it’s ''tokkun''.”<br /> <br /> Erio pouted, demanding a correction. I was being chased by Meme-san day and night, and I wondered if that was actually serving as astronaut training. My future certainly looked bright. As if.<br /> <br /> “Mmm, whoa, oh, oh, oh.”<br /> <br /> Even after she dismounted her bicycle, Erio lost her balance and wobbled. She finally came to a stop when she bumped into Little Smakin, who had been standing there, and abruptly changed her apology to something that sounded more like a master: “Sor… I apologise&lt;ref name=&quot;ftn17&quot;&gt;Erio started saying ''gomen'' but changed it mid-sentence to ''sumanu''. Both expressions mean “sorry”, but the latter sounds more virile, archaic and samurai-like.&lt;/ref&gt;.” Given her appearance, trying to pull off “I apologise” was a bit of a stretch. Little Smakin then began to move with a rapid, rhythmic ja-ja-ja-ja.<br /> <br /> “(Provisional) Master Points: Minus 2.”<br /> <br /> “Hey! It was just a bump!”<br /> <br /> “Your movements are sluggish. If you want to go to space, you need to move much faster than this.”<br /> <br /> As if to prove her point, she began performing side-to-side lateral shuffles. She was certainly fast. More than that, she was creepy. The sight of an entity that looked like a marshmallow with legs hopping rapidly from side to side made the viewer’s face twitch.<br /> <br /> It was a way of life that prioritised speed, shattering any preconceived notions of what Smakin was.<br /> <br /> Then again, what kind of life was it that had preconceived notions of Smakin in the first place?<br /> <br /> “Ah.”<br /> <br /> Erio suddenly let her mouth hang open. After glancing back and forth between Maekawa-san and me,<br /> <br /> “Excuse me for a moment.”<br /> <br /> She declared, turning her back to us. She seemed to be muttering something while hunching her shoulders, her hands busy fiddling with something. She was also murmuring “beep boop beep”. Was she phoning someone? When I tried to peek, she twisted her body even further away with a refusal. I circled around her once. Then I circled again. She spun around and around. Every time she moved, particles scattered beautifully, but since it was entirely meaningless, I gave up and faced Little Smakin instead.<br /> <br /> “Do you know how to play tag, Alien-san?”<br /> <br /> “I am indeed familiar with it.”<br /> <br /> “It’s not a game that requires such archaic formality.”<br /> <br /> Though I didn’t know its origins. Maekawa-san, who had dismounted her bicycle, shrugged her shoulders.<br /> <br /> “Training via tag is quite harsh. It’s a genre I’m not very good at.”<br /> <br /> Well, that made sense, considering she even used to just walk through the running portions of PE class. Or rather, maybe it was just plain laziness?<br /> <br /> “Maekawa-san, are there any sports you’re good at?”<br /> <br /> “Hmm… I was short when I was little, so I was quite good at hide-and-seek.”<br /> <br /> Was hide-and-seek considered athletics? Still, it was hard to imagine Maekawa-san being short.<br /> <br /> “Something like this…”<br /> <br /> I raised my hand to a height level with the top of Maekawa-san’s head and then gradually lowered it. I made it smaller and smaller… until it truly shrivelled. It seemed Maekawa-san went out of her way to bend her knees to match me. I continued to lower the height. I gazed at Maekawa-san, who had become smaller than my own chest and looked quite cramped.<br /> <br /> “Stare, stare.”<br /> <br /> “That highschooler boy is staring lewdly! The big kid’s sense of shyness suffers a blow!”<br /> <br /> “Hey, you little brat, shut up.”<br /> <br /> I shouldn’t have bothered replenishing her paper. To repay a kindness with such ingratitude, aliens too lacked a sense of duty and affection.<br /> <br /> “…My knees are starting to hurt; look, they’re trembling.”<br /> <br /> Why was she flaunting her shaking knees? Well, never mind; I offered my thanks for her help.<br /> <br /> “It really is better for Maekawa-san to be tall, after all.”<br /> <br /> “Is that so?”<br /> <br /> As Maekawa stretched her legs and toyed with her bangs, her cheeks relaxed with a hint of happiness.<br /> <br /> “If transfer student says that, well, it’s just… Long live milk!”<br /> <br /> She raised both hands in a ''banzai ''gesture&lt;ref name=&quot;ftn18&quot;&gt;The equivalent of “long live” in Japanese is ''banzai ''(litterally “ten thousand years”). When shouting ''banzai'', people usually lift up both arms.&lt;/ref&gt;, though she didn’t seem to have even a shred of enthusiasm.<br /> <br /> “Wait, did you grow because you drank milk? How ''cliché''.”<br /> <br /> “No, I don’t drink it at all, but, ugh.”<br /> <br /> Maekawa-san rolled her eyes because she had carelessly raised both hands. She looked as though she might fall backward, but I wasn’t fast enough to catch her. Just then, Little Smakin ran in at high speed and supported Maekawa-san from behind. Acting as a human stabiliser with her entire body, she let out a heavy “Mofufuuu”.<br /> <br /> With a physique like that, even Maekawa-san, who was as thin as a wire, seemed to be a heavy burden.<br /> <br /> “Oh, thank you. Despite how you look, you’re quite a kind soul.”<br /> <br /> Maekawa-san expressed her gratitude while keeping her hand pressed to her forehead as she remained supported. Little Smakin maintained her posture while performing some frantic ja-ja-ja-ja. Perhaps because her arms were cramped, she dropped a piece of paper from beneath the futon, only to snatch it up and hold it aloft with her toes. Just how dexterous was Little Smakin?<br /> <br /> “That’s what everyone says.”<br /> <br /> Who exactly was this “everyone”? It was the kind of “everyone” that was no more reliable than the customer testimonials found in mail-order catalogues.<br /> <br /> Maekawa-san returned and stood on her own two feet. Then, after Little Smakin pulled the paper inside the futon, Erio, who had remained hunched over, turned toward us. She peered back and forth, comparing our faces.<br /> <br /> “Did something happen?”<br /> <br /> “Hmm. Various things happened in a place that has nothing to do with you.” I wondered if something had actually happened.<br /> <br /> “Wh-what is it? Cousin, explain!”<br /> <br /> She clung to me like a spoilt child. She was acting like a spoilt child. As I tried to pry her hands off my clothes, Little Smakin answered in my stead. Of course, she did so by holding up a sign.<br /> <br /> “The era of the late (Provisional) Master is over.”<br /> <br /> “Wh-what, you’re casting me out? Don’t underestimate your Master.”<br /> <br /> “You can’t become a space pilot after all.”<br /> <br /> “…Eh?”<br /> <br /> Erio froze. Maekawa-san and I exchanged glances, while in that brief moment, Little Smakin moved.<br /> <br /> Ja-ja-ja-ja, it was cruelly fast and utterly dispassionate.<br /> <br /> “At my age, it’s still easy, but at (provisional) Master’s age, it’ll probably be impossible.”<br /> <br /> In spite of her appearance, Little Smakin thrust “reality”. Upon Erio. She thrust it upon a girl who had already lost so much. The very air of the park shifted. A certain sense of logic began to weave through Little Smakin’s ridiculous appearance. It was as if a soft futon had suddenly hardened and calcified into a massive wall.<br /> <br /> “You no longer even have the right to dream.”<br /> <br /> Little Smakin continued, almost as if taunting her. Erio watched her words, tracking them from the far left of the screen without even blinking. Before Erio could finish reading, Little Smakin yanked the paper away and, with a swiftness that suggested it had been premeditated, sent the next message.<br /> <br /> “I can’t exactly go around calling someone like that Master. It’s honestly ridiculous. Heh, heh, heh,” Little Smakin sneered. It was probably that sort of laugh.<br /> <br /> Setting aside the matter of being a master or not, her observation was correct. For Erio, the dream of becoming an astronaut had lost its possibility. It was an ordinary truth that befell everyone, just as the dreams we imagined back in elementary school eventually vanish without ever being realised. It was simply that Erio’s moment had arrived.<br /> <br /> It was such an obvious fact that it was rare for anyone to point it out so pointedly. Because of that, I grew a little worried about Erio and peered into her face. Erio clenched her fists tightly, her light blue eyes fixed straight ahead.<br /> <br /> She looked as if she were about to burst into tears, making me want to call out to her as I watched. Just as I was about to utter some sort of words of comfort, Erio’s lips parted before I could.<br /> <br /> She muttered her defiance to Little Smakin.<br /> <br /> “I can do it.”<br /> <br /> Erio’s lips moved just like that. It was fragile, yet certain, as if vibrating the very particles of the air.<br /> <br /> Short, staccato sounds, varying in pitch like the faint fluttering of wings, joined together to form a voice.<br /> <br /> She projected those words forcefully against the walls of the white futon.<br /> <br /> “I am going to become an astronaut, too.”<br /> <br /> Erio declared it, as if in competition.<br /> <br /> In that moment, I felt as though something enveloping us had “twisted”.<br /> <br /> It wasn’t as if the air had changed or the flow of the moment had shifted, as such things were impossible. And yet, it felt as though it had been forcibly contorted, as if tracing the shape of a ''manji''&lt;ref name=&quot;ftn19&quot;&gt;''Manji ''is the Japanese name for the anticlockwise swastika (卍). It has no Nazi connotations, and symbolises prosperity.&lt;/ref&gt;. It was as if logic had been kicked aside, and time itself had begun to move.<br /> <br /> As if the scene had been forced into motion.<br /> <br /> Amidst that sensation of displacement, my eyes widened, and I stared at her young yet fierce profile.<br /> <br /> Wasn’t it just impossible? I swallowed those words.<br /> <br /> “Starting now?”<br /> <br /> “Starting now!”<br /> <br /> Perhaps caught up in the moment, Erio spoke with a forceful conviction. I wondered if she really should have been so definitive.<br /> <br /> “Hoh. Well, good luck with that, I guess, (provisional) Master.”<br /> <br /> Her attitude showed she didn’t believe it for a second. I wondered where that hostility from Little Smakin toward Erio even originated. Though Erio faltered under the brunt of that malice, she refused to back down.<br /> <br /> “Cousin. I’m going to become one.”<br /> <br /> She asserted herself once more, as if making me her witness.<br /> <br /> She pressed her advantage, planting her feet firmly against the ground.<br /> <br /> It was as if she were walking through a reality that felt like a wasteland, left behind after a dream had melted away.<br /> <br /> …Ah, she was barefoot again.<br /> <br /> I realised it just then and furrowed my brow, thinking how troublesome that was. However, the tension in the air eased just a little.<br /> <br /> “A-anyway, we’re playing tag today.”<br /> <br /> “Sounds good,” I told Little Smakin, as if to instil the idea. Little Smakin expressed her agreement, saying, “That’s fine with me.” Since yesterday, aside from running, no other training for being an astronaut had taken place.<br /> <br /> “…I wonder if playing tag could even serve as a warmup.”<br /> <br /> Would it lead to the kind of flapping wings needed to reach space?<br /> <br /> Did space still hold a meaning for Erio that went beyond simply something to look up at?<br /> <br /> …Regardless, I had a feeling that things had begun to move in a strange direction.<br /> <br /> Yes, exactly toward something like “Ending No. 1”.<br /> <br /> “Ah, my phone is ringing.”<br /> <br /> It was calling to me from deep within the bag shoved into my bicycle basket. That electronic chime felt as though it instantly relaxed the tense atmosphere, allowing the stiffness in my shoulders to fade. I trotted over to it and pulled out the phone. It stopped ringing halfway through because it was just an email. I checked the sender. “Ugh.”<br /> <br /> It was an email from Meme-san. Ever since Erio had started carrying a cell phone, most of her emails had been concentrated towards her, so it had been a long time since I had received one addressed to me. It wasn’t as if I felt nostalgic or anything. I opened the body of the message.<br /> <br /> “→”<br /> <br /> It ended with nothing but a single arrow.<br /> <br /> “What is this? Did she butt-dial me?”<br /> <br /> I wondered if she had sent it by mistake while she was still writing. Even if it had been finished, it likely wouldn’t have made any sense. I couldn’t scroll through the text, even though it pointed downward. I turned around, thinking that I had no idea what was going on, when Meme-san “Gyaaa!” My heart experienced a shock, thrill, and emotion so great it could have drawn a crescent moon (I was in a state of confusion).<br /> <br /> My vision grew dizzy and chaotic. Waves surged as if colourful rings were leaping into my eyes.<br /> <br /> “It seems you were quite fluttered by your sudden reunion with Meme-chin, Mako-kun.”<br /> <br /> If a person were flustered, would they let out a scream with voiced consonants like “Gyaaa”?!<br /> <br /> And don’t just show up whenever you want just because you want some screen time!<br /> <br /> “Give some kind of indication, some kind of omen, and be gentle on my heart!”<br /> <br /> “Hey, I gave you plenty of warning.”<br /> <br /> She pointed at my cell phone, nudging it as if to say, “Look, look.” So the arrow in that email meant “behind you”, did it? I mean, come on, it wasn’t like it was a 3D image; how was I supposed to know? Ugh, my chest ached. I bit my lip to endure the pain, knowing that if I spoke aloud, she would start preaching something like, “That is Mako-kun-kun in love.” In the meantime, Erio came scurrying over.<br /> <br /> “Welcome home, Mom.”<br /> <br /> “Ohhh, my healing presence has arrived!”<br /> <br /> She threw her arms around her with a squeal. Erio’s eyes went wide, and she shook her head as if checking on me and Maekawa-san. It seemed she found it a bit embarrassing to be embraced by her mother in front of someone her own age.<br /> <br /> Oh, so you do possess a sense of shame? I gazed intently with that realisation as I stared at her intently.<br /> <br /> “Uh, uhm, Mum. I was thinking, about, becoming, an astronaut.”<br /> <br /> “Oh my, you have such a wonderful dream. Mommy will cheer you on.”<br /> <br /> She accepted her daughter’s unexpectedly serious announcement with complete nonchalance. It was a reaction that was truly characteristic of Meme-san.<br /> <br /> Perhaps she just didn’t take it seriously. No, that wasn’t likely with this woman.<br /> <br /> After finishing the ritual of grinding her chin and the rest of her face against her daughter, Meme-san released Erio from her arms. As if waiting for that exact moment, Little Smakin scurried over to Meme-san. And then, Smakin demonstrated a complete lack of learning ability.<br /> <br /> “Hello, old lady.”<br /> <br /> “Oh, what a polite little thing.”<br /> <br /> With a bright smile, Meme-san grabbed a handful of the area near Little Smakin’s head. Tendons strained against the back of her hand as Little Smakin’s legs suddenly began to flail.<br /> <br /> “Meme-chin is so moved! ☆ A reward for that rotten brain, I mean, that clever head! ☆”<br /> <br /> “Gyaaaaaah!”<br /> <br /> If she had time to write such a scream on paper and hold it up, she really should have put that effort into running away. She actually looked quite composed, so I decided to leave her be, assuming she wouldn’t need any help. I proceeded to ask what her business was.<br /> <br /> “What are you here for?”<br /> <br /> “Meme-chin is going back to her childhood and playing tag!”<br /> <br /> I truly doubted whether there was any need for her to return to such a state. And more importantly, how did she know we were all gathered in this park?<br /> <br /> …Ah, from Erio from earlier. She seemed to have been preoccupied with her phone, with her back turned toward us.<br /> <br /> “You certainly have plenty of energy, considering you skipped work.”<br /> <br /> When I voiced my sarcasm, Meme-san puffed out her cheeks, though she clearly wasn’t offended in the slightest.<br /> <br /> Don’t try to act cute.<br /> <br /> “No way! I wasn’t skipping. I was doing something that only Meme-tan can do!”<br /> <br /> “Hoh?”<br /> <br /> I responded in a monotone, having absolutely no intention of taking her seriously. Then, Meme-san leaned in close and began to speak as if she were sharing a secret. Her face was far closer than necessary, and her voice was unnecessarily loud, though.<br /> <br /> “Actually, the Great Detective Meme-tan has been doing some investigating during her breaks from work.”<br /> <br /> “The ‘tan’ part makes the rhythm unpleasantly clunky.”<br /> <br /> My criticism failed to land with the forty-year-old who had fled her workplace. She simply brushed it off.<br /> <br /> “I searched for any rumours regarding an elementary schooler wrapped in a futon, but it seems there are none.”<br /> <br /> I looked down at Little Smakin, who still held me in a tight grip and refused to let go. No one in town knew that Little Smakin was writhing like a shaving of dried bonito on a hot griddle. This meant that she had only recently wrapped herself in a futon. Or perhaps she had only recently arrived on Earth. Just kidding.<br /> <br /> “Besides, there’s really no point in whispering when the subject of conversation is standing right here.”<br /> <br /> “Don’t worry, I’m taking care to make sure the Earthlings don’t find us.”<br /> <br /> “Look, they’ve joined the conversation.”<br /> <br /> I was just about to suggest that since she seemed so composed, she should try to tighten things up a little more.<br /> <br /> “I heard everything you were saying!”<br /> <br /> “Whoa!”<br /> <br /> Suddenly, the person who had been shouting under the bench slithered into view. To be precise, they tried to appear, but they bumped their head and feet against the leg of the bench, resulting in a rather clumsy entrance, complete with cries of, “Ow, that hurt!” and “I went *thud*; my elbow hit really hard!” After rolling around on the ground and thoroughly dirtying her best clothes (?), Hoshimiya Yashiro stood up. I wondered if it was just my imagination, but I felt like her frequency of appearances around me had been increasing lately. Given who this was, I couldn’t entirely rule out the possibility that she was sensing some kind of omen. Even if it was highly unlikely. After all, this was someone who advocated for evolution at the speed of light.<br /> <br /> “This time it’s your turn, huh? Why don’t you ever have the spirit to just meet up with us like a normal person?”<br /> <br /> “It is only because your attention is so scattered that you failed to notice. You need to learn to take a more bird’s-eye view of the world, Makoto.”<br /> <br /> I wondered if it was even possible. The visor of the girl, who was acting like my mentor without permission, cast a dull shadow.<br /> <br /> “So, I’ll ask just in case, but what were you doing in a place like this?”<br /> <br /> “I presume we are playing tag?”<br /> <br /> “Huh? We aren’t even having a coherent conversation, but fine. Are you saying you want to join in too?”<br /> <br /> “Heh heh, I suppose I shall return to my childhood whims every once in a while. You should feel honoured that I am lowering myself to your level.”<br /> <br /> The girl, who wasn’t much shorter than Little Smakin, declared her participation in the game with an incredibly haughty air. It also occurred to me just then that she was clutching a hundred-yen coin in her right hand. Had she been on her way to the candy shop?<br /> <br /> “Wait, are we actually doing this?”<br /> <br /> “I have a much more efficient way to return to outer space, you know. Heh, heh, heh…”<br /> <br /> Setting aside Yashiro’s delusions as she began to laugh eerily, it seemed she intended to participate. I had no reason to refuse, of course.<br /> <br /> I looked back at the group of eccentric individuals and gave a bitter smile, thinking that things were starting to get out of hand.<br /> <br /> It was a heavy-hitting lineup. There was my tall classmate; a self-proclaimed alien in a spacesuit; my cousin who emitted particles; and a girl wrapped in a futon whose true identity was unknown. And to top it all off, my aunt. It was absurd that my aunt was the final trump card, yet it was so deeply strange that it felt almost natural, which was a depressing thought. The very concept of normal simply didn’t exist among this crowd. As I suspected, that person wasn’t here.<br /> <br /> “Heyyyy, Ryuuko Thunder! Ryuuko Thunder is here!”<br /> <br /> “Oh my, the long-awaited normal person has arrived.”<br /> <br /> Ryuushi-san arrived, riding her bicycle while waving both arms like wings in an extremely dangerous display of hands-free riding. It was a certain kind of skilful manoeuvre. However, despite her movements being far more energetic than the previous two, her entrance was quite subdued, which brought a sense of relief. This was exactly how Ryuuko Thunder was supposed to be. That yellow helmet was not just for show.<br /> <br /> “Hm?”<br /> <br /> Erio pulled up alongside me. Then, she lifted her nose with pride. She let out a sudden burst of particles in the process.<br /> <br /> “I called her over. B-by email. Ta-da!”<br /> <br /> “Yeah, yeah, good girl, good girl.”<br /> <br /> I had heard enough about her bragging over her cell phone. I pushed her hand back along with the phone. Then, I stopped my bike to face Ryuushi-san, who had ridden up with long strides. Perhaps because she had been in such a rush, she was still wearing her yellow helmet.<br /> <br /> “Niwa-kun, you’re so mean!”<br /> <br /> “Is that a greeting or an accusation?”<br /> <br /> “Both! You’re so mean, leaving Ryuuko-san out again!”<br /> <br /> “Everyone is here, though,” I said, pointing to the others. What did she mean by “again”? As I wondered about that, I said, “Sorry, sorry.” At that moment, Maekawa-san, who had been keeping her distance until now, came and sat down next to me.<br /> <br /> “Oh my, Ryuushi, you ended up coming after all. What about your club activities?”<br /> <br /> “I told ya, I’m Ryuuko. I’ve run my heart out in club activities, so that’s enough for me. I did extremely well.”<br /> <br /> She began praising herself. While I watched Ryuushi-san engaging in this bit of self-service with a cynical smile, Maekawa-san spoke to me.<br /> <br /> “I’m completely outclassed by your network, transfer student. You certainly know how to gather an impressive crowd.”<br /> <br /> “Thank you, though I don’t feel much like a winner.”<br /> <br /> A dry laugh escaped my lips: “Ha ha ha.” As I looked back and thought that this was the result of my six months here, I felt a profound emotion… well, maybe. Perhaps that emotion was about fifty percent due to the aura my cousin was radiating by my side.<br /> <br /> “Ryuushi or something, hi.”<br /> <br /> It was a greeting made of creaking, unlubricated movements. Ryuushi-san responded just as awkwardly.<br /> <br /> “I-I told ya, I’m Ryuuko. Hi.”<br /> <br /> “I-I called you.”<br /> <br /> “I-I came.”<br /> <br /> The two of them acted like a man and a woman who had just started becoming aware of one another. If they were going to do that sort of thing, they should do it with me. I also wished they would stop interacting while using me as a human wall between them. It was somehow exhausting.<br /> <br /> “S-so, what is everyone doing gathered at the park? Playing hide-and-seek?”<br /> <br /> “No, tag. Because Erio said she wanted to play.”<br /> <br /> Besides, hide-and-seek would have been far too advantageous for the eccentric duo Meme-san and Yashiro.<br /> <br /> “N-no, I didn’t. We’re just doing ''tokkun'', it’s not playing!”<br /> <br /> I watched Ryuushi-san’s reaction while lightly pressing down on Erio’s head as she let out a low groan. Ah, she laughed.<br /> <br /> “He he, tag? Oh my, Niwa-kun and you all are more childish than I thought.”<br /> <br /> I figured that the person who first thought of “Park = Hide-and-seek” was likely on the same level.<br /> <br /> “Then, Ryuushi-san, do you want to just watch us?”<br /> <br /> “…Well, you see, Ryuuko-san needs to return to her inner child at least once a month, too.”<br /> <br /> Just how much do you all want to return to your childhood?<br /> <br /> Besides, tag? When I thought about it calmly, I felt like, “What even is this?” A handful of high schoolers, a forty-year-old adult, and a self-proclaimed alien of unknown age, all gathered together to play tag? It made no sense at all.<br /> <br /> However, this was likely one of the few times this particular group would gather in one place to do something like this.<br /> <br /> Youth Points lacked a certain poetic charm, but as far as memories went, it was more than enough.<br /> <br /> And so.<br /> <br /> “…I guess I have no choice.”<br /> <br /> [[File:DTS Vol 08 101.jpg|thumb|Shall we all play tag and head out into space?]]<br /> <br /> Taking this moment as an opportunity to return to my childhood self.<br /> <br /> Shall we all play tag and head out into space?<br /> <br /> <br /> -----<br /> *Ryuushi-san’s chest area doing all sorts of things: +2<br /> *Went to a Japanese sweets shop with Maekawa-san after school: +1<br /> *Erio declared she would become an astronaut: ±0<br /> <br /> '''Current Total Youth Points:''' −4<br /> -----<br /> {| border=&quot;1&quot; cellpadding=&quot;5&quot; cellspacing=&quot;0&quot; style=&quot;margin: 1em 1em 1em 0; background: #f9f9f9; border: 1px #aaaaaa solid; padding: 0.2em; border-collapse: collapse;&quot;<br /> |-<br /> | Back to [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume8_Chapter1|Chapter 1]]<br /> | Return to [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko|Main Page]]<br /> | Forward to [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume8_Chapter3-A|Chapter 3-A]]<br /> |-<br /> |}<br /> &lt;/noinclude&gt;</div>

Bob Morane http://www.baka-tsuki.org/project/index.php?title=Denpa_Onna_to_Seishun_Otoko:Volume8_Chapter1&diff=588797 2026-08-28T14:20:19Z

<p>Bob Morane: Created page with &quot;&lt;noinclude&gt; {| border=&quot;1&quot; cellpadding=&quot;5&quot; cellspacing=&quot;0&quot; style=&quot;margin: 1em 1em 1em 0; background: #f9f9f9; border: 1px #aaaaaa solid; padding: 0.2em; border-collapse: collapse;&quot; |- | Return to Main Page | Forward to Chapter 2 |- |} &lt;/noinclude&gt; ==Chapter 1 – Are You Telling Me To Remove My Futon?== &#039;&#039;&#039;Current Total Youth Points:&#039;&#039;&#039; ±0 (Carried over from previous session) ----- The soun...&quot;</p> <hr /> <div>&lt;noinclude&gt;<br /> {| border=&quot;1&quot; cellpadding=&quot;5&quot; cellspacing=&quot;0&quot; style=&quot;margin: 1em 1em 1em 0; background: #f9f9f9; border: 1px #aaaaaa solid; padding: 0.2em; border-collapse: collapse;&quot;<br /> |-<br /> | Return to [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko|Main Page]]<br /> | Forward to [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume8_Chapter2|Chapter 2]]<br /> |-<br /> |}<br /> &lt;/noinclude&gt;<br /> ==Chapter 1 – Are You Telling Me To Remove My Futon?==<br /> '''Current Total Youth Points:''' ±0<br /> (Carried over from previous session)<br /> -----<br /> <br /> The sound of wheels turning echoed.<br /> <br /> It was a sound like “Gaoooooooo”, something gouging the ground, or perhaps scrapping it.<br /> <br /> That sound crushed all other noises, much like a pulveriser.<br /> <br /> My earlobes, swollen and engorged with excess blood, stung as the wind irritated them. The edges of my wide-open eyes grew dry, causing tears to well up naturally. My cheeks had stiffened and bulged like clumps of neglected clay, and my face remained contorted without any sign of relaxing. My arms remained motionless, gripped tightly around the bicycle handlebars, making it impossible to let go. Keeping the bicycle travelling in a straight line was the absolute limit of my strength.<br /> <br /> My chin was tilted upward, and with a rhythmic, trembling throat, I glared straight ahead.<br /> <br /> The bicycle and I raced down the slope, as if attempting to cut through the very horizon where the blue of the sky and sea merged. Even for a descent, the speed was excessive, bordering on what could only be described as out of control. Occasionally, the front wheel lifted into the air, performing small, frantic leaps. I knew that if I made even the slightest error in steering and the bike tipped over, I would have to prepare for my skin to be torn right off unless I happened to be wearing a yellow helmet.<br /> <br /> Despite the danger, my legs kicked harder against the pedals. I kept them spinning as if trying to break them.<br /> <br /> I felt as though I had become a part of the bicycle itself. Cold sweat poured out incessantly, soaking the area around my shoulder blades, and my skin writhed with a restless sensation, as if it were about to peel away. It was a feeling born from having already experienced exactly what kind of future awaited the bicycle, me, and Smakin, who sat nestled in the basket.<br /> <br /> Yes, it was bound to fall.<br /> <br /> And yet, I continued descending the slope.<br /> <br /> It was like an uphill climb following a steep descent, prepared specifically for a leap. The momentum from the descent knew no bounds, driving me up the slope. My speed did not die. Rather, I even felt as though I were accelerating.<br /> <br /> I reached the top of the slope and leaned my body back. Though my fingertips were beginning to feel congested from gripping so tightly, I ignored the sensation, gripped the handlebars even harder, and directed the bicycle upward. Using a technique similar to a wheelie, I lifted up.<br /> <br /> It was like a fish leaping from the vast ocean for a brief moment.<br /> <br /> Like leaping from the sea, driven by a longing for the light.<br /> <br /> Driven by a struggle strikingly similar to that, I aimed for the sun and the open sky.<br /> <br /> My head and the sides of my eyes were dyed pure white as they took in the light, and my open mouth was screaming something.<br /> <br /> The air swirled, swallowing that scream, until nothing could be heard.<br /> <br /> And then, I flew.<br /> <br /> Flying through the sky on a bicycle.<br /> <br /> However.<br /> <br /> At the very moment I began to soar, the consciousness clinging to the back of my head suddenly wondered.<br /> <br /> How did things end up like this, again?<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> Hi, this was Niwa Makoto.<br /> <br /> The development made me want to fold up the story right from the very beginning. What even was this?<br /> <br /> Was this a new assassin descended from the pointed remark of a god (or an alien) sending someone else, realising that the “''Denpa Onna''” was already irrelevant? Or was it perhaps that, through the mercy of a greater being, a single piece of my useless delusion had been reproduced in reality? If it were the latter, I would shout it from the rooftops.<br /> <br /> There were surely better things that should have been reproduced!<br /> <br /> Like Mae-tan, for example. Or Ryuuko, for instance.<br /> <br /> … Well. Hello, I’m Niwa Makoto. I wondered, would such a greeting even work on someone like this?<br /> <br /> The current year was fairly ok. There was still no sign that aliens intended to make a formal visit to Earth.<br /> <br /> It was a day wrapped in the pleasant warmth of October, and I was at a candy shop that had absolutely no connection to N○SA&lt;ref name=&quot;ftn1&quot;&gt;It should be obvious, but he is referring here to the NASA.&lt;/ref&gt;.<br /> <br /> Little Smakin had descended upon us.<br /> <br /> “Mofufu.”<br /> <br /> She leaned back, projecting an air of sharp confidence… Though she was stretching herself so much, her legs were trembling.<br /> <br /> Her height seemed to be around the average for a fourth or fifth grader. She was about the size of the great-grandchild from my delusions.<br /> <br /> However, even I knew how to distinguish between delusion and reality. This was not my great-grandchild.<br /> <br /> So, what was her true identity? 1. A new character. 2. A version of my delusion that had travelled from the future. 3. Meme-san, who had undergone a long-awaited rejuvenation after being forced to take drugs by a mysterious organisation. I rejected the third option, as that plotline felt like it would lead to a murder case.<br /> <br /> “Do children like this come here often?”<br /> <br /> I tried asking Erio, who was busy tending the shop at the Tamura store. Erio shook her head from side to side.<br /> <br /> “I don’t know, mofu.”<br /> <br /> “You haven’t even wrapped yourself in a futon yet.”<br /> <br /> As the original Smakin, perhaps a sense of rivalry had already begun to stir. What a fruitless competitive spirit. It felt rare to find a relationship within a competitive drive that failed so much to inspire any sense of improvement.<br /> <br /> “Mofufu.”<br /> <br /> Ignoring my confusion, Little Smakin moved. Both her arms thrust out abruptly from beneath the futon. It was as if a soft-bodied creature in the sea had extended its tentacles to seize prey. In those hands was a rectangular sheet of drawing paper, inscribed with a message in rounded lettering.<br /> <br /> “Try tossing some paper and a pen inside!”<br /> <br /> “Huh? Inside the futon?”<br /> <br /> “Mofufu.”<br /> <br /> As if to say, “That’s right,” Little Smakin wiggled and contorted vertically. It was full of energy and deeply gross. To begin with, did I even have any need to communicate with this creature, who was wrapped in a futon from the waist up and whose origins were entirely unknown? As I watched, nothing but a bad feeling crossed my mind. It reminded me of what happened in April.<br /> <br /> When I glanced sideways at the original Smakin, who was essentially the source of the trouble, “Wah” had turned into Smakin. She seemed to have somehow procured a futon in the meantime, and Smakin, sitting in ''seiza'' position, was saying “Mofu”.<br /> <br /> “You’re certainly quick to act only in times like these.”<br /> <br /> “Mofumofu.”<br /> <br /> She puffed out her chest as if to say, “Leave it to me.” Well, it was more her futon than her chest, though. With this, two Smakins existed within the Tamura store, facing one another. Little Smakin remained in the same posture, holding up the sheet of drawing paper. Its two feet (also bare) padded against the ground, almost as if it were prompting me.<br /> <br /> “…Fine, I guess I’ll try it.”<br /> <br /> I pushed myself up and headed toward the back of the shop. I grabbed the stack of old university notebooks that Erio used as her shop log, though they were mostly just her personal diary, and picked out an unused one. After tearing out a few blank pages, I found a random pen rolling around at the back of a shelf and returned to the shopfront. Wah, Smakin was still alive and well.<br /> <br /> I wondered if I could resolve this by deciding it was all just part of my delusion, but perhaps that was impossible.<br /> <br /> “Mofu-mofu?”<br /> <br /> “Mofufuffu.”<br /> <br /> “Mofuufufuu.”<br /> <br /> “Mofufu, mofuffu (with a serious look).”<br /> <br /> “Mofu (with a sharp, determined look).”<br /> <br /> “…Can you even communicate like that?”<br /> <br /> I asked the two Smakins, who appeared to be spending the most fruitless moments on Earth. For what it was worth, Tamura-san, who was in the same space, was gnawing on some dried squid from the shop while staring at the Smakins with a grim expression.<br /> <br /> Every so often, a mouth that had grown bored of softening dried squid with saliva would move sluggishly as I uttered:<br /> <br /> “The idiots are multiplying.”<br /> <br /> “Mofuffuffuuu.”<br /> <br /> Erio turned around and reported something. Of course, it was impossible to understand what she was saying.<br /> <br /> Ignoring that for the time being, I approached Little Smakin, who was still holding the paper aloft.<br /> <br /> “Should I just put it in from the top?”<br /> <br /> “Mofufu.”<br /> <br /> I tried plunging my hand into the centre of the spiral formed by the rolled-up futon. Something squirmed inside with a wriggling sensation, and the feeling sent goosebumps crawling up my skin. The paper and pen were snatched from my fingertips as if being preyed upon, and I pulled my hand back immediately. When I checked my withdrawn fingertips, I felt as though something like glowing particles had adhered to them. To begin with, it was never certain whether the light particles I saw on a regular basis were even real. Nevertheless, I was shaken by the fact that I could experience such an illusion just by touching the depths of the futon.<br /> <br /> What on earth was inside this futon?<br /> <br /> While I stood there faltering, a frantic, rapid-fire scratching sound ja-ja-ja-ja&lt;ref name=&quot;ftn2&quot;&gt;Ja-ja-ja-ja is probably supposed to represent the sound of a pen scratching on paper.&lt;/ref&gt; echoed from within Little Smakin, who had pulled both arms back. It sounded like a pen racing across paper at high speed. Oh, so this version of Smakin could read and write too? Could it be that this was a next-generation Smakin, evolved to be even more compact and higher-performing?<br /> <br /> So, even our local ''youkai ''were having a hard time in the struggle for survival, huh? I see. I tried to force myself to accept it. I wondered if it was even possible.<br /> <br /> Before long, the ja-ja-ja-ja inside ducked back down, and then, both arms thrust out from the top of Little Smakin with a sudden burst. Held high, like a hitchhiker signalling for a ride, was a message containing the following text:<br /> <br /> “I am what you would call an alien. You may refer to me as an inhabitant of planet Futon.”<br /> <br /> “…This type again?”<br /> <br /> Based on its appearance, I had already braced myself for the second coming of Smakin. But an inhabitant of planet Futon? A bitter smile escaped me at such a simplistic name. Since she was clearly aware of her own state, there was a certain level of honesty to it.<br /> <br /> As a new alien showed up, the third to appear, more or less, Erio was the only one unable to grasp the situation, getting herself excited as she hummed “Mofuffufu”. She really hadn’t understood a single thing about that mofu-mofu summit, after all. As expected of Smakin, a person who stood at the complete opposite pole of working for the good of the world and its people.<br /> <br /> “Hey, Makoto.”<br /> <br /> Tamura-san, who had been refraining from speaking, beckoned me over. The dried squid was gone, implying she had finished eating it.<br /> <br /> “Yes, what is it?”<br /> <br /> As I approached her while still crouching, she reached out a wrinkled hand. Without much thought, I took it.<br /> <br /> “I’m tired. Take me to the back to rest.”<br /> <br /> “…Alright.”<br /> <br /> I helped Tamura-san toward the back room, supporting her by the shoulder. Erio was currently wrapped up in her futon, so she wasn’t available. After lying down on the remaining futon, Tamura-san spoke.<br /> <br /> “Makoto.”<br /> <br /> “Yes?”<br /> <br /> “I’ll let you deal with the situation.”<br /> <br /> Ah, she had just dumped it all on me. She rolled over and turned her back to me. I wanted to run away myself.<br /> <br /> “Make sure you handle things before I wake up.”<br /> <br /> She even added a time limit. I was really not good at dealing with people like that.<br /> <br /> Actually, the real question was where I could find someone who was good at it.<br /> <br /> “Oh, and by the way, your hand looks like Shouji’s. Don’t worry, it wasn’t a compliment.”<br /> <br /> “Hah…”<br /> <br /> Like my father, huh.<br /> <br /> I headed back toward the shopfront, staring intently at my right hand, the one she had said resembled my father’s.<br /> <br /> “Mofumofuuu!”<br /> <br /> “Mofufuuu!”<br /> <br /> The original Smakin and the Little Smakin were running in circles around the candy shop. I quietly averted my eyes from the sight of the large and small Smakins scurrying busily around the store. Or rather, I turned around.<br /> <br /> “Excuse me, do you have another futon available?”<br /> <br /> I asked Tamura-san in the back. I wanted to pull a futon over my own head and pretend I hadn’t seen anything.<br /> <br /> “*Snore*!”<br /> <br /> A truly blatant snoring sound was the only response. It felt like a half-hearted, incredibly dismissive way of telling me to, well, good luck. I decided to stop trying to turn away and instead faced the Smakins. The Smakins ran about, kicking up dust and scattering their individual particles as they went. I found myself impressed by how they managed to run around without constantly tripping over themselves, but why exactly were they running?<br /> <br /> Upon closer observation, it looked as though Erio was being chased by Little Smakin. Was Big Smakin losing? Perhaps because she was an older model? Or perhaps because she had been away from her Smakin life for so long that there was a gap in their abilities. Either way, being on the losing side felt more like something Smakin would do.<br /> <br /> “Hey, hey, now. Don’t bully my little one so much…”<br /> <br /> While attempting to admonish her, I tried to grab Little Smakin to stop her. However, as if sensing my intent, Little Smakin suddenly changed her course and immediately kicked off the ground. She moved with a sudden, high-speed burst, maintaining a certain distance from me. Even though her vision must have been pitch black while wrapped in that futon, her movements showed that she knew exactly where everything was located.<br /> <br /> “Ho-ho.”<br /> <br /> Little Smakin was quite high-performance. Her appearance was a bit of a letdown, but otherwise, there seemed to be no major issues. Since the futon she was wrapped in was so large that not even her hair was visible, let alone her face, her gender remained somewhat uncertain.<br /> <br /> On the other hand, Erio, also known as Big Smakin, was still running around. I decided to leave her alone for a moment. She spun. Around and around she went. She spun faster and faster. It seemed she only realised what was happening halfway through her fourth lap, letting out a confused, “Mofu?” She came to a halt, looked back, and swayed her body erratically. She came to a halt, looked back, and swayed her body erratically. When I reached out, she didn’t run away, and I was able to easily grab the futon. The only thing Erio was capable of doing was eating pizza in a bizarre manner… Was there anything else? Actually, was that even something worth counting as an ability? It was nothing more than eccentricity.<br /> <br /> “Mo, mofu…”<br /> <br /> Perhaps sensing my gaze, Big Smakin showed signs of agitation. She took a slight, stumbling step backward. The bags of snacks lined up on the shelf brushed against her back, making a rustling sound.<br /> <br /> “Show your face.”<br /> <br /> I tried giving an order. Only Erio obeyed obediently, poking her face out toward the front. Little Smakin, however, sent a message back, accompanied by that frantic, repetitive ja-ja-ja-ja: “There are reasons why I cannot show you.” It seemed that, perhaps more so than Big Smakin, her case of Alien Disease was severe.<br /> <br /> “U-Ugh. You’re so cheeky for a newcomer.”<br /> <br /> Erio bristled at Little Smakin. Yet, perhaps due to the sense of defeat as a Smakin, she seemed to be cowering. As Little Smakin threatened (?) her with a “Mofufu”, Erio scurried away on tiptoe to hide behind my back. I wondered whether a mere futon gave enough protection. Meme-tan’s overprotectiveness was becoming a problem.<br /> <br /> “A-Aniki! This one is totally looking down on us!”<br /> <br /> “Hey, lackey, don’t drag me into being looked down upon…”<br /> <br /> And, as it turned out, there were quite valid reasons for being looked down upon.<br /> <br /> Little Smakin &gt; Big Smakin, an unshakeable hierarchy like that.<br /> <br /> “Apparently, this one is a Futonian.”<br /> <br /> I added, without saying it directly, that they were an old companion of yours. Erio stared at Little Smakin with a vacant, expressionless gaze, then looked back at me as if she had reached some sudden realisation. Her light blue eyes were clear, like the azure sky.<br /> <br /> “Cousin.”<br /> <br /> “What is it?”<br /> <br /> “This one’s an airhead.”<br /> <br /> “Look who’s talking.”<br /> <br /> I pinched Erio’s cheek and pulled it. Since when did you adopt the principle of not looking back at the past (unless it was convenient for you)? I kneaded her cheeks as punishment. Erio’s face deformed in a hilarious way, yet she managed to defend the line of being a beautiful girl in every single instance. She was the type of person who might get disliked by women of the same age.<br /> <br /> “Muiii…”<br /> <br /> “So, where is your home, dear?”<br /> <br /> While still pulling Erio’s cheeks left and right, I asked Little Smakin gently. Ja-ja-ja-ja.<br /> <br /> “Ha ha ha, oh stop it. I’m an alien, so there’s no way I’d have a house on Earth.”<br /> <br /> “Ha ha ha, there you go again.”<br /> <br /> “Ha ha ha.”<br /> <br /> She had written nothing but laughter in massive capital letters across the entire paper. Man, for someone so high-performance, she was certainly skilled at grating on one’s nerves. And then, immediately after, there came a ja-ja-ja-ja.<br /> <br /> “Out of paper. Please refill.”<br /> <br /> What are you, a photocopier? And don’t even get me started about you not using the back of the page.<br /> <br /> I slumped my shoulders in exasperation. Then, perhaps having regained her fighting spirit, Smakin, who had pulled her face away from the futon after escaping the hand that was pinching her cheeks, moved away from my back to face Little Smakin once again.<br /> <br /> “Mooofuuufuuu.”<br /> <br /> “Mofufuuufuuu.”<br /> <br /> “Mofufufuuufuuufuuufuffufu.”<br /> <br /> Far from being in opposition, the two of them were standing side by side, sounding like a round. It looked as though a big Smakin and a little Smakin were lined up together. Though the big one wasn’t quite as adorable-looking as the little one.<br /> <br /> Basically, Smakin was just a human bundle, after all.<br /> <br /> “It’s what Tamura-san ordered, so I have to do something about this. Hey, you two, I’m stripping your futons off.”<br /> <br /> I reached out. Little Smakin dodged me with ease. I tried to chase and grab her as she pulled her body away, but she evaded me with pinpoint accuracy, as if she were watching my every move. There was no way she could have seen it. As she kept dancing out of reach as if mocking me, my frustration began to mount. When I reached toward Big Smakin to vent my stress, I managed to grab her quite easily. Ah, how pathetic.<br /> <br /> The moment an impulse to scream, “I’m done with this crap!” took hold of me.<br /> <br /> “I’ve heard enough!”<br /> <br /> [[File:DTS Vol 08 025.jpg|thumb|No matter how you looked at it, it was a pseudo-spacesuit; no matter how you looked at it, it was Hoshimiya Yashiro.]]<br /> <br /> Someone burst through the door of the candy shop with a loud, clattering bang.<br /> <br /> She shouted with a booming voice, as if she were screaming on my behalf.<br /> <br /> “…Ah, another person who refuses to listen has arrived.”<br /> <br /> I lamented the rounded shape of that head. No matter how you looked at it, it was a pseudo-spacesuit; no matter how you looked at it, it was Hoshimiya Yashiro.<br /> <br /> It was the appearance of someone who popped up unexpectedly and completely failed to read the room.<br /> <br /> I wondered if she had arrived after catching the scent of outer space that permeated the shop.<br /> <br /> With her same old clumsy, slapping footsteps, she stepped into the store. I truly wished for no more self-proclaimed aliens to join us. Instead of resolving the situation, the number of troublemakers had only increased. It was, quite literally, piling up.<br /> <br /> If Tamura-san witnessed this scene, she might actually fall ill for real this time.<br /> <br /> “I mean, was there even any point in me listening?”<br /> <br /> They were speaking in Futonese. However, Yashiro let out a low, mocking chuckle. Her visor gleamed dully.<br /> <br /> “You may leave everything in the hands of I, Kibayashiro.”<br /> <br /> “Do you honestly expect to gain anyone’s trust with that combination?”<br /> <br /> And besides, wasn’t that all you really wanted to say?<br /> <br /> Well, I figured it would be a help if someone else dealt with them, so I stepped aside and left the floor to Kibayashiro. I took a step back to watch their next move. Perhaps sensing Yashiro’s presence, Little Smakin turned toward her side and spoke with a “mofufu” sound, or so it seemed. I couldn’t tell if that attitude expressed friendliness or hostility.<br /> <br /> “Ho, so you are the new alien. Then tell me, from which planet did you arrive?”<br /> <br /> “Out of paper. Please refill.”<br /> <br /> “Niwa-ya, please prepare some paper.”<br /> <br /> “Did you give up your alien persona to become a great detective or something?”<br /> <br /> “And the usual, please.”<br /> <br /> She held out a hundred-yen coin. I had no idea what her “usual” was. In fact, was she even a regular to begin with?<br /> <br /> In other words, she had just come here to play today, completely unrelated to Little Smakin. How misleading.<br /> <br /> “Ask the clerk, ask the clerk.”<br /> <br /> She pointed at Big Smakin. Yashiro stared intensely at Big Smakin through her visor and uttered a single word.<br /> <br /> “This one’s an airhead.”<br /> <br /> “That’s the second time you’ve said that today. No comeback for you. Got it!”<br /> <br /> I was too exhausted to even retort, so I stood up, partly to make an escape. Just as I had done before, I prepared some paper from the back of the shop. Since being told what to do repeatedly was a hassle, I simply took a brand-new notebook and stuffed it into Little Smakin’s futon. I also attempted to grab her by the head and pull her out, but as if sensing my intent, Little Smakin leaped backward to put distance between us.<br /> <br /> “Hmm…”<br /> <br /> His specs were incredibly high. As for Big Smakin, she struck a pose with a “Mofumofu!”, but that pose wasn’t really necessary.<br /> <br /> They say that the naughtier the child, the cuter they are. Is that even true?<br /> <br /> “Now, let me ask you again: where exactly did you come from?”<br /> <br /> In response to Yashiro’s interrogation, there was a light-hearted ja-ja-ja-ja. Big Smakin began to wriggle.<br /> <br /> “From outer space.”<br /> <br /> “Hoh, what a coincidence. I’m from space, too. So, what brought you to Earth?”<br /> <br /> “It’s mostly for personal reasons. If possible, I’d like to return to my home planet as quickly as possible.”<br /> <br /> “I get it, I totally get it. I can’t go back either, you know.”<br /> <br /> “Oh, what a strange coincidence.”<br /> <br /> “Yes, on this planet, they say that even a chance brush of sleeves is a sign of fate&lt;ref name=&quot;ftn3&quot;&gt;A Buddhist proverb that means essentially that a chance encounter is the result of a karmic connection from a past life.&lt;/ref&gt;.”<br /> <br /> “Sleeve rubbing.”<br /> <br /> “You don’t even have sleeves, you bastard! Wah ha ha!”<br /> <br /> “…You don’t have any either.”<br /> <br /> What on earth were these two bonding over? Yashiro turned around and shouted.<br /> <br /> “As a result of my investigation, I have determined that while she looks like a futon, her true identity is an alien!”<br /> <br /> She’s really just listening to what she’s been told!<br /> <br /> “You’re useless! Actually, I was the idiot for expecting anything from you!”<br /> <br /> “What?! I even summarised it so even your self-deprecating brain could understand it!”<br /> <br /> “You just lumped everything together without distinguishing what was true from what was false!”<br /> <br /> “Mofumofu!”<br /> <br /> “Mofufuuu!”<br /> <br /> “Shut up, you Smakins! Are you guys friends or enemies or what?!”<br /> <br /> It went without saying that, as a result, I ended up shouting until my throat went hoarse.<br /> <br /> No matter how hard I chased, Little Smakin and her true identity slipped through my fingers.<br /> <br /> In the end, the day passed without me uncovering a single thing about her true identity.<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> “So, anyway, yesterday I was attacked by an MMR deployment and barely managed to escape.”<br /> <br /> “MMR? Is that short for Morimori Ryuuko-san?”<br /> <br /> What kind of name was that? Where the meaning changed entirely depending on which part you called ‘morimori’? Personally, I’ll just leave it at that.<br /> <br /> It was Monday at school, the day after the arrival of Little Smakin. Lunchtime was the usual, eating lunch with Ryuushi-san. Nothing had changed; I had an ''onigiri ''from the school store, while Ryuushi-san had her ''bento''. Meme-san had once made me a lunch, but it had been an attempt to use various ingredients to recreate Erio’s face on top of white rice, so I had no intention of ever asking her for one again. On the day she made that lunch, she had tried to slack off on her work, muttering, “My spirit and soul are completely depleted, guff.” Of course, it was a failure.<br /> <br /> As she picked up a piece of burdock from the bamboo shoots with her chopsticks, Ryuushi-san nodded, saying, “Hmm.”<br /> <br /> As always, her lunch was packed to the brim with vegetables and fruit.<br /> <br /> “So that’s why your voice is so raspy today, Niwa-kun. Rattle, snake. A man who keeps a snake in his throat. Oh, isn’t that just so cool! I wonder if Ryuuko-san keeps something like a koi fish in her heart, too.”<br /> <br /> “That’s supposed to be cool?”<br /> <br /> “Aw, isn’t it? Like a garden with a pond where a koi splashes around. Oh, so glamorous!”<br /> <br /> I turned a blind eye to Ryuushi-san’s standards of what was cool, the fact that the whole point had been lost, and stared intently at her smile instead. So this was how a girl who kept a koi in her heart laughed. Multiply, O ye koi fish. Multiply.<br /> <br /> “She’s like a miniature Touwa-san, then? I wonder what her real identity is.”<br /> <br /> “I think she’s just a local elementary schooler imitating Erio.”<br /> <br /> There was no dream involved, but that was the most likely explanation. That kid sometimes wrapped herself up in a futon even at the candy store, so it wouldn’t have been strange if an elementary schooler had seen her and decided to imitate her. Well, the taste required to imitate such an outfit was certainly strange, but I decided to turn a blind eye to that particular personal preference.<br /> <br /> While I was busy looking after Yashiro and Erio yesterday, Little Smakin had scurried away. She had probably gone home. If she had a place to return to, it was somewhat a relief. Among those who claimed to be aliens, there were those who used eaves as beds and targeted tomatoes in other people’s gardens.<br /> <br /> “But, Niwa-kun, you really do have a knack for encountering people like that, don’t you?”<br /> <br /> The corner of my cheek twitched.<br /> <br /> “Wh-what kind of people?”<br /> <br /> “People who say, ‘I am an alien’.’”<br /> <br /> “Guh.”<br /> <br /> It was a fact I didn’t particularly want pointed out. It was true; my encounter rate with such people was clearly too high.<br /> <br /> It was strange; before I came to this town, I never used to run into Smakin-types like that.<br /> <br /> “By the way, I am Ryuuko-san.”<br /> <br /> Ryuushi-san decided to jump on the bandwagon. It sounded like Ryuuko Thunder&lt;ref name=&quot;ftn4&quot;&gt;When Ryuushi said “I am Ryuuko-san”, in Japanese she says ''Ryuuko-san da'', which sounds like “Ryuuko Thunder”.&lt;/ref&gt;. It was almost like a ring name.<br /> <br /> “Hey, transfer student! Just flirting with Ryuushi like always?”<br /> <br /> A tall woman was standing by the entrance at the back of the classroom, leaning against the door, and she beckoned to me. Not only that, but she was singing her words in a loud, boisterous tone. Ryuushi-san’s eyes distorted into wobbly slits.<br /> <br /> With a dull thud, Ryuushi-san stood up from her seat. It seemed like she had bumped her leg.<br /> <br /> “I-I-I’m not flirting!”<br /> <br /> [[File:DTS Vol 08 032.jpg|thumb|“I-I-I’m not flirting!”]]<br /> <br /> Ryuushi-san denied it, waving her chopsticks wildly. Of course, Maekawa-san didn’t pay her any mind. She continued singing. She also continued beckoning. I wondered what it could be; perhaps the teacher was calling for me? I decided to go for now.<br /> <br /> “I’ll be right back.”<br /> <br /> “O-oh, okay!”<br /> <br /> I was sent off with an excessive amount of enthusiasm. A clenched fist even flickered before my eyes. No, wait. Moreover, immediately afterwards, a phantom left hook struck, and I ended up groaning while clutching my left leg. Wait, that’s a completely different sport from basketball.<br /> <br /> Clutching my half-eaten rice ball, I ran toward Maekawa-san. She stopped beckoning and placed her hands on her hips. Hmm, the gesture emphasised her limbs, which were as thin as a mannequin’s. They were truly like wires.<br /> <br /> Braking with my heels, I slid to a stop in front of Maekawa-san.<br /> <br /> “Oh, you arrived before the second verse even began. How swift. I’m impressed, transfer student.”<br /> <br /> “Whoa, that was the shortest one… So, what is it?”<br /> <br /> Maakawa-san reached out and slickly plucked a piece of kelp that was protruding from the centre of my ''onigiri'', then popped it into her mouth. Since when did she start reaching into people’s food so naturally? Ah, and now she had even torn off and eaten a piece of the seaweed.<br /> <br /> “Actually, transfer student, there’s a guest at the back gate who looks like they could only be an acquaintance of yours.”<br /> <br /> Maekawa-san pointed toward the hallway with her thumb, a smirk playing on her lips. A guest who was an acquaintance of mine?<br /> <br /> “Who is it? I don’t really know that many people.”<br /> <br /> I wasn’t a local, after all. Moreover, my social circle was small. Well, there was always that saying about quality over quantity.<br /> <br /> “Well. I recognised her face, but she’s someone I don’t know.”<br /> <br /> Maekawa-san chuckled, her shoulders shaking for some reason.<br /> <br /> “That’s incredibly vague. Did that person ask you to go fetch me?”<br /> <br /> “Ah… well, let’s just leave it at that, shall we?”<br /> <br /> “Pardon?”<br /> <br /> “Now, this isn’t the time to be flirting with Ryuushi. Go ahead and enjoy yourself out there.”<br /> <br /> She swung the door wide open and gestured toward the hallway, as if urging me to leave. I scratched my cheek, feeling as though she were practically demanding I get out of the classroom immediately. In the meantime, Maekawa-san gave my shoulder a light tap before stepping into the room and taking the seat directly across from where Ryuushi-san had been sitting just a moment before.<br /> <br /> “I’ll sit in for the transfer student instead. How’s that? Aren’t you happy, Ryuushi?”<br /> <br /> “F-for now, I’m Ryuuko, I told ya!”<br /> <br /> It seemed Maekawa-san had successfully hijacked my spot. After popping the last of my ''onigiri'' into my mouth, I tilted my head, wondering if she was a guest. And I then stepped out into the hallway. If she wasn’t someone affiliated with the school, could it be Meme-san?<br /> <br /> Erio probably wouldn’t come since she had to man the Tamura store. I couldn’t think of anyone else. With no ideas, I headed downstairs, put on my shoes, and walked and jogged aimlessly under the October sunlight. I headed toward the back gate, then turned back, sprinting with everything I had as if I were attempting to climb a waterfall. After all, the one at the back gate was…<br /> <br /> “Where are you going?”<br /> <br /> Little Smakin, who was even faster than the original, chased after me. Her footsteps had a subtle momentum to them. Moving her short legs that protruded from her futon with pitter-patter steps, she pursued me with both arms outstretched. Just wait a second.<br /> <br /> “Why are you following me?! Why are you here?!”<br /> <br /> As we both ran, the sound of ja-ja-ja-ja echoed. Little Smakin was far too skilful. Moreover, despite being wrapped in a futon, she followed me with perfect precision. She truly began to give off an otherworldly aura.<br /> <br /> “Mofufu!”<br /> <br /> Little Smakin tripped over her own right foot with her left. She fell face-first with a heavy thud. There was no way she could have broken her fall properly. Seeing that, I found myself unable to run away and turned back.<br /> <br /> “Hey, is your face okay?”<br /> <br /> “Pain, pain, go away!”<br /> <br /> “Actually, let’s not, because you’ll fly away too.”<br /> <br /> “Oh, that sounds lovely. I long for the extraordinary and the tragic.”<br /> <br /> “Enough with the chatter. Just get up first.”<br /> <br /> “Mofufu, mofufu…”<br /> <br /> She flailed her legs for a moment, but then, perhaps having given up, she switched back to her ja-ja-ja-ja routine. Suddenly, a hand thrust toward me.<br /> <br /> “Please pick me up.”<br /> <br /> “…I suppose losing your balance in an adult-sized futon makes you just like my (imaginary) great-grandchild.”<br /> <br /> I couldn’t just leave her lying there, so I helped her up. Unlike the original Smakin, this Little Smakin’s behaviour was perfectly normal, aside from her insistence that she was an alien, which made it difficult to push her away.<br /> <br /> Because she had fallen, a dark stain had marred the front of the futon. Incidentally, the pattern on the futon was irises.<br /> <br /> I wondered if it was a mere coincidence or perhaps she was showing respect to the original Smakin.<br /> <br /> “I applaud with gratitude.”<br /> <br /> “No, that’s fine, but what are you doing here? I mean, do you really have business with me?”<br /> <br /> I sought confirmation while secretly praying he was looking for someone else. “Mofufu.” Ah, she nodded without a moment’s hesitation.<br /> <br /> “You’re quite the esper. I actually intended to sneak in on my own.”<br /> <br /> “If you enter this school dressed like that, it’ll cause misunderstandings, so just forget it.”<br /> <br /> People might mistake her for the old Erio. It was uncertain how much the impression of that person had changed since this year’s school festival. Little Smakin twisted her body to the right with a soft “mofufu” and voiced a question. She ignored me.<br /> <br /> “Besides, at this hour, you’re supposed to be at elementary school. It’s a weekday, after all.”<br /> <br /> “I am an alien, so such things do not apply to me.”<br /> <br /> “They do apply. Aaah, it’s because your mother and everyone else will worry.”<br /> <br /> “I am surprisingly independent.”<br /> <br /> “I don’t even know what you mean by surprisingly.”<br /> <br /> Was there some rule that forbade self-proclaimed aliens from attending school? Primarily Yashiro, for example.<br /> <br /> Suddenly, she began a series of side-to-side steps, as if performing a repetitive drill. I braced myself, wondering what this was about.<br /> <br /> “It is my nature to be unable to stay still.”<br /> <br /> “That doesn’t match your appearance at all… This isn’t going anywhere. What business do you have with me?”<br /> <br /> “Oh, right. Actually, I wanted to ask you for ''tokkun''.”<br /> <br /> I stared intently at the paper where rounded letters danced. And tilted my head in confusion.<br /> <br /> “''Tokkun''&lt;ref name=&quot;ftn5&quot;&gt;''Tokkun ''means “special training”, but since Little Smaking wrote it in katakana, the meaning of it wasn’t immediately apparent to Makoto.&lt;/ref&gt;? You mean special training, right?… For what?”<br /> <br /> “Oh well, the training I need to become a space pilot. Nahahana.”<br /> <br /> “…Huh?”<br /> <br /> A hollow laugh escaped my own lips, following her “Nahahana.” An astronaut? Is that your dream for the future?<br /> <br /> That’s pretty great. Me too, when I was a child… what did I dream about?<br /> <br /> “To return to space, one must first ascend into space.”<br /> <br /> “Return… You’re being unnecessarily realistic.”<br /> <br /> “I heard that in order to ascend to space from this planet, the only way is to become a space pilot.”<br /> <br /> “I suppose that might be true. But isn’t that plan too long-term?<br /> <br /> It was far too much of a slow, steady grind. How many years did she think it would take, and how many years of cooperation was she asking of me? There was no way I could look after her until the day she flew into space.<br /> <br /> “Please, please take care of me! 4649&lt;ref name=&quot;ftn6&quot;&gt;“4649” can be pronounced in Japanese as ''yoroshiku'' (4=yo, 6=ro, 4=shi, 9=ku), which means “nice to meet you”.&lt;/ref&gt;, right?”<br /> <br /> “That’s so old-fashioned. No, wait, hold on a second, okay?”<br /> <br /> “Please, take your time.”<br /> <br /> I considered slamming into her with everything I had, but I decided against it because it would be too much trouble to pick her up once she fell.<br /> <br /> “Why are you relying on me for this?”<br /> <br /> I was a complete outsider when it came to space. I might have been a bit particular about the deep sea, though.<br /> <br /> “When I saw your face, it just clicked.”<br /> <br /> “…You haven’t even looked at my face.”<br /> <br /> To be stalked based on reasoning that felt nothing but suspicious. Give me a break.<br /> <br /> “If anything, you should be clicking with Yashiro, who dresses the part on a daily basis.”<br /> <br /> “That one is extremely suspicious.”<br /> <br /> “I’ll agree with you there. Though the person right in front of me is just as bad.”<br /> <br /> “I will do my very best, mofu!”<br /> <br /> “Ugh, that had zero persuasive power.”<br /> <br /> Little Smakin pulled the message back. Only to thrust it forward again immediately.<br /> <br /> “I’ll do my very best, mofu!”<br /> <br /> “No, that’s not the direction you should be putting your enthusiasm into.”<br /> <br /> Besides, I had no idea what kind of tasks I should even assign to an astronaut’s special training.<br /> <br /> “If I accumulate about fifty Space Points by completing special training tasks, it looks like I might be able to return to my home planet.”<br /> <br /> “What is this, a point system?… Come to think of it, I wonder how my Youth Points are doing.”<br /> <br /> I muttered to myself as I looked back to check the clock attached to the school building. I didn’t have time to chat with her. Lunch break was about to end. However, I didn’t know how she would react if I rejected her bluntly. After all, she was the type of person who could roam around while still wrapped in her futon. She was also the type to suggest sneaking into places. It was better to be cautious of such unpredictability.<br /> <br /> Furthermore, this was for a very personal reason.<br /> <br /> Recalling the great-granddaughter from my delusions, I found myself unable to push her away. It was quite a problem.<br /> <br /> “Either way, it’s impossible from now on… Oh, I know.”<br /> <br /> It was too much of a hassle, so I decided to drag someone else into it. I would drag Big Smakin into this.<br /> <br /> In fact, she might actually be the perfect person for the job.<br /> <br /> I pulled out my mobile phone.<br /> <br /> Well, Meme-san really deserved credit for buying that girl a phone.<br /> <br /> I selected Erio’s saved number and attempted to call. It was actually my first time calling her.<br /> <br /> I wondered if her reaction would be somewhat innocent, since she likely wasn’t used to phone calls. Oh, she picked up.<br /> <br /> “I told you not to call me while I’m working, you know.”<br /> <br /> She sounded so condescending. Lately, I felt like her attitude toward me had become strangely bold. Was she looking down on me? Or is this her true nature, and she was gradually reverting to it? Due to the changes in her relationships?<br /> <br /> “I can hear the sound of someone eating.”<br /> <br /> The sound of something being slurped was mixed in. If Erio were to make something herself, it would probably be some kind of cup noodle.<br /> <br /> “Eating lunch is part of a '''businesswoman'''’s job, you know?”<br /> <br /> “I see. You’re quite reliable, '''businesswoman.''' Are you free after school… once I’m done with my classes? It can be after you’ve finished your work.”<br /> <br /> “Hmm? Mm… ‘kay.”<br /> <br /> “Alright. Then let’s meet at the park. You know, that place we went to back in April.”<br /> <br /> If I remembered correctly, it was behind the temple. I was doubtful whether I could find it accurately, compared to Erio, who was from the area.<br /> <br /> “Hmm? What will we be doing?”<br /> <br /> “Ah, it’s just that I really need your help with something.”<br /> <br /> “My help? …I hereby permit Cousin to call me Erio-san.”<br /> <br /> “What kind of convenient logic is that?”<br /> <br /> Yesterday she was my subordinate, and today she was acting like my senior. She was certainly a busy person. But well, fine, I might as well play along.<br /> <br /> “Man, Erio-san, you really are a lifesaver!”<br /> <br /> I was such an incredibly blatant sycophant. If someone had said that to me, I would have interpreted it as sarcasm.<br /> <br /> But Erio was honest, for better or worse.<br /> <br /> “Mm-hmm. That’s right, that’s right.”<br /> <br /> “Whoa, seriously. Anyway, see you after school.”<br /> <br /> “Bring it on!”<br /> <br /> After getting Erio’s overly enthusiastic agreement, I hung up the phone.<br /> <br /> Then, I faced Little Smakin. She was jumping around. Just as she had claimed, she was restless.<br /> <br /> “So, I’ve secured a master for you, so do your best after school.”<br /> <br /> “This is ok.”<br /> <br /> “Huh?”<br /> <br /> “No, I was just talking to myself. After school, is it? Understood.”<br /> <br /> “Oh, you’re being quite cooperative. This Smakin is easy to talk to, isn’t she?”<br /> <br /> “Please do not lump me in with the average Futonese.”<br /> <br /> “There aren’t any random… oh, wait, maybe there are. I suppose there are.”<br /> <br /> I let out a sigh. The only people in this world who couldn’t deny such a thing were those in Erio’s inner circle.<br /> <br /> I never imagined a second, more serious one would appear. I stared intently down at Little Smakin.<br /> <br /> As if trying to discern her true identity through the futon.<br /> <br /> “I’ll be blunt: who exactly are you?”<br /> <br /> “I am what you might call a '''new face'''.”<br /> <br /> “…I can’t even see your face.”<br /> <br /> Perhaps I was born under a star that favoured these kinds of people.<br /> <br /> I felt like destroying that very star, but as I looked up at the vast blue sky, I could find nothing of the sort.<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> Anyway, after school. Ryuushi-san was busy bouncing balls in her club, and Maekawa-san had left the classroom early.<br /> <br /> I was supposed to spend an unremarkable amount of time wandering, with nowhere to go but the bookshop.<br /> <br /> But then, my time for mofu-mofu had arrived.<br /> <br /> “W-why did you call me?”<br /> <br /> Because it didn’t seem like anyone else would show up even if I called.<br /> <br /> “No, really, Erio-san, you are seriously so reliable!”<br /> <br /> “I-I already heard that at lunchtime.”<br /> <br /> Hum, did I tell you that? I didn’t quite remember, but regardless, I needed you.<br /> <br /> “Since this Futonene came into being because of you (probably), you’d better look after her.”<br /> <br /> I was at the park with Erio and Little Smakin. The park was deserted, the kind of place children wouldn’t even use as a playground, and despite the sunlight still pouring down, it felt chilly. Perhaps the sparse weeds, scattered as if pushing aside the pebbles on the ground, contributed to that feeling.<br /> <br /> With her futon still dirty, the tiny Smakin sat on the swing. As she swayed the chains, which were peeling and shedding red rust, Little Smakin seemed quite excited, letting out a little “mofufuuu”.<br /> <br /> “Since there’s also that tiny one from yesterday.”<br /> <br /> “Yeah. The one you lost to.”<br /> <br /> “I-I didn’t lose.”<br /> <br /> She shook her hair vigorously from side to side. She really was someone who displayed her competitive streak in the strangest of ways.<br /> <br /> “Apparently, that little one wants to become an astronaut, so she wants you to give her special training.”<br /> <br /> I shrugged as she asked, “Why on earth are you asking me?” In response to that, the confusion that had resided in Erio’s eyes softened into a gentle roundness. She drew a breath, her surprise so profound it was almost sluggish.<br /> <br /> “Space, pilot.”<br /> <br /> “It’s called '''My Dream'''.”<br /> <br /> Little Smakin joined the conversation while swinging on the seesaw. It was unclear where she had sourced them from, but it seemed she had managed to replenish her supply of paper. Erio looked down, fiddling with her bangs with a quiet “…Mm”.<br /> <br /> “An astronaut. A space pilot. Park, special training… Ugh.”<br /> <br /> This time, she began clutching her head. Because of her past (her Denpa era), such gestures from her stirred a subtle sense of anxiety within me. I could not deny the possibility that the appearance of Little Smakin before her might be providing some mysterious stimulus.<br /> <br /> “What’s wrong?”<br /> <br /> I peered into her face and asked. There was no sign of pain in Erio’s expression. She simply looked as though she had swallowed something bitter.<br /> <br /> “An old wound in my heart began to ache.”<br /> <br /> “…That’s exactly what the protagonist said in that drama yesterday.”<br /> <br /> Ignoring my remark, Erio lifted her head and thumped her chest. It was a hollow sound.<br /> <br /> “Alright!” she nodded with newfound determination and then pointed at her own face.<br /> <br /> “You can leave this part to the great Erio-san.”<br /> <br /> “How reliable.”<br /> <br /> I sent her off with a few overly casual, perfunctory claps. Standing tall before Little Smakin, Erio folded her arms modestly, looking somewhat awkward. After taking a single deep breath, she spoke.<br /> <br /> “First, try calling me Master.”<br /> <br /> “Masster.”<br /> <br /> “The small part was unnecessary.”<br /> <br /> “Mast.”<br /> <br /> “A-Aniki!&lt;ref name=&quot;ftn7&quot;&gt;The whole passage is pretty much untranslatable. First, Erio asks to be called “master” (''shishou''). But Little Smakin mispronounces it (''shisshou'', which means “being unable to contain one’s laughter”), so Erio tells her to remove the extra letter, so Little Smaking ends up removing the end of the word (''Shisshi'', which means something like “scornful look”), which startles Erio who starts calling her ''aniki'' (“big brother”).&lt;/ref&gt;”<br /> <br /> [[File:DTS Vol 08 045.jpg|thumb|It was difficult to hold back my laughter at Erio, who had regressed to the role of a sidekick in just a few seconds of interaction.]]<br /> <br /> “You’re being totally looked down on, aren’t you? I wonder why.”<br /> <br /> It was difficult to hold back my laughter at Erio, who had regressed to the role of a sidekick in just a few seconds of interaction. I chose not to intervene, instead offering a half-hearted “Good luck” as I watched the two of them play off one another.<br /> <br /> It was quite a heartwarming sight. Provided one was used to Smakin’s appearance. I certainly couldn’t.<br /> <br /> “What could you possibly understand about space travel?”<br /> <br /> Little Smakin asked Erio, letting out a soft, slightly ragged huff. Erio, twirling a strand of hair around her index finger and scattering sparkles, took a deep breath before responding.<br /> <br /> “I used to aim for that back when I was in elementary school. I even used to have secret special training in the park just like this.”<br /> <br /> “…Hoh hoh.”<br /> <br /> …That too had been drawn on the paper. It was unclear whether that implied admiration or some other expression. However, as if having reached a conclusion, Little Smakin, who had been twisting her body sceptically, straightened her spine. The shrivelled ''chikuwa'' straightened out as if it had been recast.<br /> <br /> Sitting on a piece of playground equipment that looked like a tire half-buried in the ground, I let out a long sigh.<br /> <br /> Back when I was in elementary school, I had dreamed of becoming an astronaut.<br /> <br /> I felt as though I had a memory of hearing such a story, yet I couldn’t be certain.<br /> <br /> “T-That’s why I said I’ll be your master, I told ya!”<br /> <br /> Ah, she had just imitated a certain Ryuushi-san. She was the type of person who was easily influenced by television or the friends around her.<br /> <br /> “Then, let us arrange what is known as a trial period. For a short time, I shall treat you as a (provisional) master, and you shall dispense special training. If I am satisfied, I shall remove the (provisional) part.”<br /> <br /> The small one, looking down on her, acknowledged Erio as her master, albeit provisionally. Erio nodded vigorously.<br /> <br /> She spun around and pointed toward the upper diagonal. Using her unreliable, feeble right arm.<br /> <br /> “A-Alright. For now, we’re going to go work on our stamina!”<br /> <br /> “Ooh!”<br /> <br /> “We’re going to run, so keep up!”<br /> <br /> “Don’t you fall behind!”<br /> <br /> “Hey, that’s my line!”<br /> <br /> And so, Erio and Little Smakin began running through the park. Running around was no different from what they had done yesterday. The only difference was that Erio was wearing a one-piece dress instead of being wrapped in a futon.<br /> <br /> The park grounds were small, so much so that they were barely big enough for a mouse, let alone a cat. They completed their laps in rapid succession. Naturally, the number of times they passed in front of me, as I sat on a tyre with my chin resting in my hand, increased. The sight of the girl with light blue hair and the mysterious object wrapped in a futon running around the park in circles was dramatic, in a sense. The sight of the girl with light blue hair and the mysterious object wrapped in a futon running around the park in circles was dramatic, in a sense. Erio’s feet moved with quick, light steps, and Little Smakin scurried along right after her.<br /> <br /> I noticed it as I focused on their feet, but they were both barefoot.<br /> <br /> I couldn’t keep dwelling on the delusion of a great-grandmother playing with her great-grandchild. However, the sight of Erio, no longer wrapped in a futon, leading a girl who was still wrapped in one as they ran, felt somewhat strange. It felt as though a story, similar but fundamentally different due to a single shifted role, was about to be born from this moment.<br /> <br /> After I had watched about twenty laps, I grew bored and lifted my hips off the tyre. Feeling thirsty, I left the park in search of a vending machine to buy a drink. “Where are you going?” and “Mofufu” voices called out to me, but I brushed them off like a self-appointed master, saying, “Don’t chatter aimlessly during training!” Since she was the ''aniki'' of her master, I laughed sarcastically, thinking the role was appropriate.<br /> <br /> “I wonder if one can actually reach space like that.”<br /> <br /> It looked to me as nothing more than chickens flapping their wings and scurrying across the ground.<br /> <br /> I spotted a vending machine on the road running alongside the temple and bought a juice. I tried to recall the brand of coffee I had drank in the park on a winter night, but only Hoshinaka’s profile kept returning to my mind, causing the appearance of the can to grow blurred.<br /> <br /> I gave up and settled on orange juice instead. After buying one, I started to turn away from the vending machine, but my feet stopped in their tracks. I scratched the back of my head with an “Ah”, hesitated for a moment, and then proceeded to buy two more juices with a series of heavy thuds.<br /> <br /> When I returned, clutching the three orange juices between my fingers, the two of them were still running around the premises. I felt as though it looked less like practice for soaring into space and more like mere running for health maintenance.<br /> <br /> While feeling a slight sense of admiration for how Little Smakin, whose vision should have been obstructed, continued to circle the park while accurately following Erio, I sat back down on the same tyre. I opened just one of the orange juices and took a sip. At the sight of this, Erio and the others veered off their running course and came sprinting toward me in a straight line. Much like puppies returning to someone’s feet.<br /> <br /> “What, is it over already?”<br /> <br /> “Taking a break.”<br /> <br /> Even as she said that, she reached out her hand. I couldn’t help but feel uneasy about a training session that involved taking breaks right in the middle of warm-ups.<br /> <br /> I handed her the can with a wry smile. Well, I suppose being this relaxed was for the best. If things had turned into a full-blown, hot-blooded sports anime, I doubted I could have kept up. Besides, I didn’t even feel the need to be accompanying her at this point.<br /> <br /> “Sniff, sniff, smells of mandarins.”<br /> <br /> To my surprise, Little Smakin even correctly identified the type of juice. Hmm, was her sense of smell unnaturally acute? Or was there perhaps a tiny peep hole cut into the front of her futon? Growing increasingly exasperated yet unsettled by this second-generation local ''youkai'', I held out the can of orange juice. Now, how would she drink it?<br /> <br /> Little Smakin bent at the waist as if bowing, thrusting both arms toward me. After clutching the orange juice can, she immediately pulled her hands back. There followed the sound of a tab being pulled from inside the futon and the rhythmic, gulping sounds of swallowing. This repeated for several seconds before she tossed the empty can out.<br /> <br /> “Phew…”<br /> <br /> “I feel like it would have been quicker to just say that out loud.”<br /> <br /> “Mofufuuu.”<br /> <br /> Sorry, but it had just been a waste of time. I picked up the empty can and let out a sigh. Because she was capable enough of understanding me, I couldn’t simply ignore her, which was exhausting. When I looked over at Erio while resting my chin on my hand, she was struggling to pull the tab and open the can. Her rounded fingertips and nails tapped against it with a clicking sound, her brow furrowing as she muttered, “Ununu…” With another heavy sigh, “Haa”, I snatched the can away from her.<br /> <br /> “Ah, Cousin just robbed me.”<br /> <br /> “I bought it in the first place, anyway… Here, I opened it for you.”<br /> <br /> I handed it over after opening it. “Ooh,” Erio said, her expressionless face showing a hint of moved emotion as she peered into the surface of the orange juice. She stared intently, then stuck out her tongue and began to lap at the liquid with the tip. What are you, a cat?<br /> <br /> “Why are you being so wary?”<br /> <br /> “If stingy Cousin is treating me, it might mean you’re poisoning me. This is Erio-san’s intuition.”<br /> <br /> “…Geez, Erio-chan, you’re quite a piece of work, fundamentally denying someone’s good intentions like that.”<br /> <br /> I grabbed a handful of her head and squeezed with my fingers. “Uwa, uwa!” Erio flailed, trying to escape, but her resistance only caused small particles of hair to scatter as they rubbed together. Dammit, light blue particles, don’t go making such a dramatic atmosphere for a scene like this. When I tried to brush them away with my hand, they only clung to me even more.<br /> <br /> It was as if they were tracing Meme-san’s very personality.<br /> <br /> However, lately, she showed a tendency to be more talkative than before. It was possible that some kind of change had occurred after she exchanged phone numbers with Ryuushi-san and Maekawa-san. Though, she still couldn’t even drink juice by herself.<br /> <br /> Little Smakin, who had been watching that interaction, let out a dramatic ja-ja-ja-ja.<br /> <br /> “(Provisional) Master Points: Minus 3.”<br /> <br /> She pointed it out sharply at Erio. Erio looked up, flinching as she attempted to protest.<br /> <br /> “U-Ugh. “What is it?”<br /> <br /> “If you hit minus ten, you’ll become my new apprentice. It’s an extreme downgrade.”<br /> <br /> “G-Gah…” Erio muttered. It felt as though she would reach that point within the hour. Setting that aside, I also took a sip of my juice. A beverage with a fruit content of 17%, a figure that someone like Meme-san would likely envy, burnt my throat. It was terribly sweet. It made my throat ache far more than that sweet coffee I had once drank.<br /> <br /> As it passed down my throat, it left a taste behind, as if stubbornly clinging like grime. That kind of taste. I swallowed that persistent flavour, which felt out of place in the autumn breeze, feeling it scratch my throat. There simply wasn’t enough fruit juice.<br /> <br /> “Hey, hey.”<br /> <br /> Erio pinched the edge of Little Smakin’s futon. She seemed a bit hesitant. Little Smakin, however, maintained a dignified, or rather brazen, attitude and turned around sharply, even though she likely couldn’t see me anyway.<br /> <br /> “What is it?”<br /> <br /> “Why do you want to go to space?”<br /> <br /> Erio asked, her tone clearly attempting to be serious. Little Smakin’s response was instantaneous.<br /> <br /> “To return to my family. '''Go home'''.”<br /> <br /> “…Hmph.”<br /> <br /> Erio made a sour face, unsure of what to make of a motive that was hardly different from her own self in April.<br /> <br /> “Then, why is it that you want to become an astronaut?”<br /> <br /> Little Smakin asked in return. Erio’s polka-dotted eyes shimmered like the surface of water.<br /> <br /> Even though I realised that the question was not in the past tense, I watched the exchange in silence.<br /> <br /> “I… I just like space and stuff.”<br /> <br /> “Is that so?”<br /> <br /> Her response was indifferent. Perhaps bored with waiting, she began to hop around. It was as if her whole body were pleading, suggesting we should get to the “tock-tock” sooner rather than later. Erio gave an “Mmn” in response and gulped down her orange juice in one go. After finishing, she coughed a few times and hunched her shoulders.<br /> <br /> Then, I took the empty can she held out to me. As I held the now-hollow can between my fingers and tried to take a sip of my remaining juice, I felt a gaze upon me. From beyond the futon, Little Smakin was staring intensely at me, or more accurately, at the juice. When I tried bringing the can closer to her, an outstretched hand snatched it away with an “Uwa!” She gulped it down with that familiar sound, then tossed the empty can aside with a light “pop”.<br /> <br /> “Thanks for the drink.”<br /> <br /> “Who said you could have that?”<br /> <br /> Well, it didn’t matter much, as the taste had been quite lingering. I wondered what kind of throat she had to be able to chug that all at once without any trouble.<br /> <br /> Waiting for that exchange to settle, Erio turned toward me, her lips softening just a fraction as she spoke. The way the stray particles drifted around her expression only added to the sense of mystery.<br /> <br /> “Cousin, I’m going to become an astronaut.”<br /> <br /> “…………”<br /> <br /> “I… I’ve wanted to say that for a long time.”<br /> <br /> She wasn’t exactly crying, but the way the particles of light lingered at the edges of her eyes and drifted down in intervals looked much like tears. I felt my voice grow stiff as I addressed Erio, whose expression seemed to be caught in a bittersweet smile between laughter and weeping.<br /> <br /> I reached out, not with a softness so slight it might have been a mere illusion, but with a touch that was undeniably there.<br /> <br /> “…I see. We met just a little too late, didn’t we?”<br /> <br /> “Hmm.”<br /> <br /> Erio gave a small nod. As I naturally stroked her head, I looked up at the sky visible through the gaps in the dense trees. It was a day that could hardly be called clear; masses of clouds shrouded the sun. The moon and the tiny, grain-like stars were far away, and there existed a barrier there that we, as we were now, could do nothing to overcome.<br /> <br /> I wondered if running around on the earth could ever serve as enough of a running start to eventually break through that very barrier.<br /> <br /> The expression of Little Smakin, who needed to know that truth, remained hidden beneath a thick futon, submerged in the pitch-black darkness within.<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> Thus, since April, I have found myself being entangled by Smakin once again.<br /> <br /> Once more, I allowed myself to be swept away by it, but this time, there were two people tasked with handling it.<br /> <br /> -----<br /> * Little Smakin invades: −3<br /> * Yashiro also invades: −2<br /> * Involved with Little Smakin: −3<br /> * Little Smakin, special training in the park with Erio: +1<br /> <br /> '''Current total Youth Points:''' −7<br /> -----<br /> &lt;noinclude&gt;<br /> {| border=&quot;1&quot; cellpadding=&quot;5&quot; cellspacing=&quot;0&quot; style=&quot;margin: 1em 1em 1em 0; background: #f9f9f9; border: 1px #aaaaaa solid; padding: 0.2em; border-collapse: collapse;&quot;<br /> |-<br /> | Return to [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko|Main Page]]<br /> | Forward to [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume8_Chapter2|Chapter 2]]<br /> |-<br /> |}<br /> &lt;/noinclude&gt;</div>

Bob Morane http://www.baka-tsuki.org/project/index.php?title=Denpa_Onna_to_Seishun_Otoko&diff=588778 2026-08-23T07:50:22Z

<p>Bob Morane: /* Updates */</p> <hr /> <div>{{Status|Active}}<br /> <br /> [[File:DTS Cover Vol 01.jpg|thumb|300px]]<br /> <br /> The Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko series is also available in the following languages:<br /> *[[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko ~Spanish~|Spanish (Spanish)]]<br /> (Note: Translation progress varies for each version.) <br /> <br /> Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko (電波女と青春男) is a light novel series written by Iruma Hitoma and illustrated by Buriki. The series is published by ASCII Media Works and is completed with eight volumes (nine with side-story volumes).<br /> <br /> ==Story Synopsis==<br /> My plan of acquiring 'Youth-points' (specifically, a sweet and sour high school life spent with girls) will begin here, in the city watched by the aliens. “The Earth is in danger,” according to the crazy, mattress-wearing cousin, Touwa Erio, who lives under the same roof as I do. The obstacle of my grand scheme, she is also the reason of many Youth-points lost. Even though the meeting with the healing and hearty Ryuuko and the cosplaying Maekawa-san, who scares even professional models, is increasing my Youth-points dramatically, the futon-wearing girl is stuck with me… What is happening to my youth?<br /> <br /> ==Translation==<br /> === [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Registration Page|Registration]] ===<br /> <br /> Translators are asked to [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Registration Page|register]] for chapters they want to work on.<br /> <br /> ===Format Standards===<br /> '''Every Chapter (after editing) must conform to the general format guidelines.'''<br /> *[[Format guideline|General Format/Style Guideline]]<br /> *[[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Guidelines|Project-Specific Guidelines: Format, Names, and Terminology]]<br /> <br /> ==Updates==<br /> *Auguest 23, 2026 - Volume 7 Completed<br /> *Auguest 11, 2026 - Volume 6 Completed<br /> *July 30, 2026 - Volume 5 Completed<br /> *March 8, 2020 - ''Volume 5 Chapter 1 Completed''<br /> *August 8, 2018 - ''Volume 4 Afterword Completed''<br /> *August 8, 2018 - ''Volume 4 Chapter 5 Completed''<br /> *January 26, 2018 - ''Volume 4 Chapter 4 Completed''<br /> *November 27, 2017 - ''Volume 4 Chapter 3 Completed''<br /> *July 2, 2017 - ''Volume 4 Chapter 2 Completed''<br /> *May 21, 2017 - ''Volume 4 Chapter 1 Completed''<br /> *March 12, 2017 - '''Volume 3 Completed'''<br /> *January 23, 2016 - '''Volume 2 Completed'''<br /> *September 28, 2015 - '''Volume 1 Completed'''<br /> <br /> == Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko ==<br /> [https://rektnovelcompilations.wordpress.com/denpa-onna-to-seishun-otako/ For PDFs/Epubs]<br /> === Volume 1‎ ([[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume1|Full Text]])===<br /> [[File:DTS Cover Vol 01.jpg|thumb|x200px]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume1 Illustrations|Novel Illustrations]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume1 Chapter1|Chapter 1: City of the Aliens]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume1 Chapter2|Chapter 2: Perverse Observation]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume1 Chapter3|Chapter 3: &quot;Question to self: What if I got three jokers on hand during a game of Old Maid?&quot;]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume1 Chapter4|Chapter 4: The Lost Teenage Paranoia]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume1 Chapter5|Chapter 5: The Inconceivable Moment of the Crawling Girl]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume1 Chapter6|Chapter 6: Aliens of the City]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume1 Afterword|Afterword]]<br /> <br /> &lt;br style=&quot;clear:both&quot; /&gt;<br /> <br /> === Volume 2‎ ([[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume2|Full Text]])===<br /> [[File:DTS Cover Vol 02.jpg|thumb|x200px]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume2 Illustrations|Novel Illustrations]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume2 Chapter1|Chapter 1: Kyaah—]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume2 Chapter2|Chapter 2: The Melancholy of Thanksgiving]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume2 Chapter3|Chapter 3: Ryuu'ko'←(emphasis)san's, whatcha call it, trouble?]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume2 Chapter4|Chapter 4: In the Rain of an Extraterrestrial Town]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume2 Chapter5|Chapter 5: Cosplay Seventy-two — Maekawa-san and Work Status]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume2 Chapter6|Chapter 6: The Day That Will Become Someone's Memory]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume2 Chapter7|Chapter 7: The Prayer of Tsiolkovsky]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume2 Chapter8|Chapter 8: The E.T's Workplace]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume2 Afterword|Afterword]]<br /> <br /> &lt;br style=&quot;clear:both&quot; /&gt;<br /> <br /> === Volume 3 ([[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume3|Full Text]])‎ ===<br /> [[File:DTS Cover Vol 03.jpg|thumb|x200px]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume3 Illustrations|Novel Illustrations]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume3 Prologue|Prologue: Summer This Year]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume3 Chapter1|Chapter 1: Local-only Alien Incident]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume3 Chapter2|Chapter 2: The Boy's Strange Summer]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume3 Chapter3|Chapter 3: The Girl Under the Eave]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume3 Chapter4|Chapter 4: The Noisy Summer]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume3 Chapter5|Chapter 5: In This Summer: Basketball, Superpower, Stargazing, Festival, Baseball and Meme-san (discontinue)]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume3 Chapter6|Chapter 6: 0.00000000198cm Per Second]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume3 Chapter7|Chapter 7: The Midnight Sun]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume3 Chapter8|Chapter 8: How Many Shining Stars Are There?]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume3 Afterwords|Afterword]]<br /> <br /> &lt;br style=&quot;clear:both&quot; /&gt;<br /> <br /> === Volume 4 ([[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume4|Full Text]])‎ ===<br /> [[File:DTS Cover Vol 04.jpg|thumb|x200px]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume4 Illustrations|Novel Illustrations]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume4 Chapter1|Chapter 1: Runaway Base]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume4 Chapter2|Chapter 2: Peering at First Love]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume4 Chapter3|Chapter 3: Skyward Tomorrow]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume4 Chapter4|Chapter 4: The Distance Between My and Her Moon]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume4 Chapter5|Chapter 5: E.R.O]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume4 Afterword|Afterword]]<br /> &lt;br style=&quot;clear:both&quot; /&gt;<br /> <br /> === Volume 5 ([[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume5|Full Text]])‎ ===<br /> [[File:DTS Cover Vol 05.jpg|thumb|x200px]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume5 Illustrations|Novel Illustrations]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume5 Chapter1|Chapter 1 - The End of the Beginning of the Summer, Continued]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume5 Chapter2|Chapter 2 - ''Chanbara'' Alien]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume5 Chapter3|Chapter 3 - The Banquet of Those Unsure of What &quot;In Full Swing&quot; Means]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume5 Chapter4|Chapter 4 - Tomorrow is a Youthful Hangover]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume5 Chapter5|Chapter 5 - When an Alien Who Traveled from Afar Comes Sightseeing at the Local Beach]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume5 Chapter6|Epilogue - Cradle at Twilight]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume5 Chapter7|Afterword]]<br /> <br /> &lt;br style=&quot;clear:both&quot; /&gt;<br /> <br /> === Volume 6 ([[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume6|Full Text]]) ===<br /> [[File:DTS Cover Vol 06.jpg|thumb|x200px]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume6 Illustrations|Novel Illustrations]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume6 Prologue|Prologue - School Newspaper Article: Culture Festival Preparations]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume6 Chapter1|Chapter 1 - Tokaido Melos]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume6 Chapter2|Chapter 2 - At the End of Star Dust]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume6 Chapter3|Chapter 3 - StaRMan's Children]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume6 Chapter4|Chapter 4 - When the Storm Comes, the Bucket Maker Goes Bankrupt]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume6 Chapter5|Chapter 5 - Attraction Romanticist]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume6 Epilogue|Epilogue - School Newspaper Extra Edition: Culture Festival Special]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume6 Afterword|Afterword]]<br /> <br /> &lt;br style=&quot;clear:both&quot; /&gt;<br /> <br /> === Volume 7 ([[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume7|Full Text]]) ===<br /> [[File:DTS Cover Vol 07.jpg|thumb|x200px]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume7 Illustrations|Novel Illustrations]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume7 Prologue|Prologue - If Space Stretched Out Beyond]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume7 Chapter1|Chapter 1 - Ending No. 4: Niwa-san]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume7 Chapter2|Chapter 2 - Ending No. 3: Sharing Happiness]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume7 Chapter3|Chapter 3 - Ending No. 2: The Earthling in the Town Observed by Aliens]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume7 Chapter4|Chapter 4 - Bad Ending No. 1: Denpa Otoko]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume7 Chapter5|Chapter 5 - Ending No. 2559: Do Spacesuits Dream of Silkworms?]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume7 Chapter6|Chapter 6 - Ending No. 5: Together with Meme-tan]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume7 Chapter7|Chapter 7 - The Day Off of a (Beginner) Seishun Onna]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume7 Chapter8|Next Chapter - Daydream, Invasion]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume7 Afterword|Afterword]]<br /> <br /> &lt;br style=&quot;clear:both&quot; /&gt;<br /> <br /> === Volume 8 ===<br /> [[File:DTS Cover Vol 08.jpg|thumb|x200px]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume8 Illustrations|Novel Illustrations]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume8 Chapter1|Chapter 1 – Are You Telling Me To Remove My Futon?]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume8 Chapter2|Chapter 2 – Even if I Accept That Dreams Don't Go As Expected]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume8 Chapter3-A|Chapter 3-A – Chasing and Being Chased]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume8 Chapter3-B|Chapter 3-B – Driven by Dreams and Hopes, Lying Beneath the Futon and Reality]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume8 Chapter3-C|Chapter 3-C – Things That Cannot Be Surpassed]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume8 Chapter4|Chapter 4 – Fighting For The Light]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume8 Curtain Call|Curtain Call – The Rocket to Ending No1]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume8 Afterword|Afterword]]<br /> <br /> &lt;br style=&quot;clear:both&quot; /&gt;<br /> <br /> === Volume SF (''Sukoshi Fushigi'') Version ===<br /> [[File:DTS Cover Vol SF.jpg|thumb|x200px]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:VolumeSF Prologue|Prologue]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:VolumeSF Chapter1|Chapter 1]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:VolumeSF Chapter2|Chapter 2]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:VolumeSF Chapter3|Chapter 3]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:VolumeSF Chapter4|Chapter 4]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:VolumeSF Epilogue|Epilogue]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:VolumeSF Afterword|Afterword]]<br /> <br /> === Short Stories ===<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Short Stories 01|Tsuri Onna to Chounouryoku Shoujo]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Short Stories 02|(Moto) Kami-sama Onna to Uchuu Shoujo]]<br /> <br /> === Mini Stories ===<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Mini Stories 01|A Youthful Man and his Sweet and Cheerful Comrades (1)]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Mini Stories 02|A Youthful Man and his Sweet and Cheerful Comrades (2)]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Mini Stories 03|On a Summer Day]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Mini Stories 04|After the Ending of Denpa Onna]]<br /> <br /> <br /> &lt;br style=&quot;clear:both&quot; /&gt;<br /> <br /> ==Project Staff==<br /> * Supervisor:<br /> * Project Manager:<br /> <br /> ==== Translators ====<br /> * [[User:Zephyrus|Zephyrus]]<br /> * [[User:Magykalman|Magykalman]]<br /> * [[User:Jasonjapi123|zWei.Yaasus]]<br /> * [[User:Bob_Morane|Bob Morane]]<br /> <br /> ==== Editors ====<br /> <br /> * [[User:Magykalman|Magykalman]]<br /> * [[User:Jasonjapi123|zWei.Yaasus]]<br /> <br /> ==Series Overview==<br /> <br /> 電波女と青春男 (電撃文庫) [文庫] (January 7, 2009) - ISBN 978-4048674683&lt;br /&gt;<br /> 電波女と青春男〈2〉(電撃文庫) [文庫] (May 10, 2009) - ISBN 978-4048678100&lt;br /&gt;<br /> 電波女と青春男 3 (電撃文庫 い 9-12) [文庫] (Nov 10, 2009) - ISBN 978-4048681384&lt;br /&gt;<br /> 電波女と青春男〈4〉(電撃文庫) [文庫] (March 2010) - ISBN 978-4048683951&lt;br /&gt;<br /> 電波女と青春男〈5〉(電撃文庫) [文庫] (June 10, 2010) - ISBN 978-4048685962&lt;br /&gt;<br /> 電波女と青春男〈6〉(電撃文庫) [文庫] (Sep 10, 2010) - ISBN 978-4048688802&lt;br /&gt;<br /> 電波女と青春男〈7〉(電撃文庫) [文庫] (Dec 10, 2010) - ISBN 978-4048701259&lt;br /&gt;<br /> 電波女と青春男〈8〉(電撃文庫) [文庫] (April 8, 2011) - ISBN 978-4048704304&lt;br /&gt;<br /> 電波女と青春男 SF（すこしふしぎ）版 (April 10, 2011) - ISBN 978-4-04-870470-0&lt;br /&gt;<br /> 釣り女と超能力少女 (February 10, 2012) - No ISBN (Internet publication)&lt;br /&gt;<br /> （元）神様女と宇宙少女 (February 10, 2012) - No ISBN (Internet publication)<br /> <br /> [[Category:Light novel (English)]]<br /> [[Category:Genre - Harem]]<br /> [[Category:Hitoma Iruma]]</div>

Bob Morane http://www.baka-tsuki.org/project/index.php?title=Denpa_Onna_to_Seishun_Otoko&diff=588777 2026-08-23T07:49:14Z

<p>Bob Morane: /* Volume 7 */</p> <hr /> <div>{{Status|Active}}<br /> <br /> [[File:DTS Cover Vol 01.jpg|thumb|300px]]<br /> <br /> The Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko series is also available in the following languages:<br /> *[[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko ~Spanish~|Spanish (Spanish)]]<br /> (Note: Translation progress varies for each version.) <br /> <br /> Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko (電波女と青春男) is a light novel series written by Iruma Hitoma and illustrated by Buriki. The series is published by ASCII Media Works and is completed with eight volumes (nine with side-story volumes).<br /> <br /> ==Story Synopsis==<br /> My plan of acquiring 'Youth-points' (specifically, a sweet and sour high school life spent with girls) will begin here, in the city watched by the aliens. “The Earth is in danger,” according to the crazy, mattress-wearing cousin, Touwa Erio, who lives under the same roof as I do. The obstacle of my grand scheme, she is also the reason of many Youth-points lost. Even though the meeting with the healing and hearty Ryuuko and the cosplaying Maekawa-san, who scares even professional models, is increasing my Youth-points dramatically, the futon-wearing girl is stuck with me… What is happening to my youth?<br /> <br /> ==Translation==<br /> === [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Registration Page|Registration]] ===<br /> <br /> Translators are asked to [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Registration Page|register]] for chapters they want to work on.<br /> <br /> ===Format Standards===<br /> '''Every Chapter (after editing) must conform to the general format guidelines.'''<br /> *[[Format guideline|General Format/Style Guideline]]<br /> *[[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Guidelines|Project-Specific Guidelines: Format, Names, and Terminology]]<br /> <br /> ==Updates==<br /> *Auguest 11, 2026 - Volume 6 Completed<br /> *July 30, 2026 - Volume 5 Completed<br /> *March 8, 2020 - ''Volume 5 Chapter 1 Completed''<br /> *August 8, 2018 - ''Volume 4 Afterword Completed''<br /> *August 8, 2018 - ''Volume 4 Chapter 5 Completed''<br /> *January 26, 2018 - ''Volume 4 Chapter 4 Completed''<br /> *November 27, 2017 - ''Volume 4 Chapter 3 Completed''<br /> *July 2, 2017 - ''Volume 4 Chapter 2 Completed''<br /> *May 21, 2017 - ''Volume 4 Chapter 1 Completed''<br /> *March 12, 2017 - '''Volume 3 Completed'''<br /> *January 23, 2016 - '''Volume 2 Completed'''<br /> *September 28, 2015 - '''Volume 1 Completed'''<br /> <br /> == Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko ==<br /> [https://rektnovelcompilations.wordpress.com/denpa-onna-to-seishun-otako/ For PDFs/Epubs]<br /> === Volume 1‎ ([[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume1|Full Text]])===<br /> [[File:DTS Cover Vol 01.jpg|thumb|x200px]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume1 Illustrations|Novel Illustrations]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume1 Chapter1|Chapter 1: City of the Aliens]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume1 Chapter2|Chapter 2: Perverse Observation]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume1 Chapter3|Chapter 3: &quot;Question to self: What if I got three jokers on hand during a game of Old Maid?&quot;]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume1 Chapter4|Chapter 4: The Lost Teenage Paranoia]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume1 Chapter5|Chapter 5: The Inconceivable Moment of the Crawling Girl]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume1 Chapter6|Chapter 6: Aliens of the City]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume1 Afterword|Afterword]]<br /> <br /> &lt;br style=&quot;clear:both&quot; /&gt;<br /> <br /> === Volume 2‎ ([[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume2|Full Text]])===<br /> [[File:DTS Cover Vol 02.jpg|thumb|x200px]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume2 Illustrations|Novel Illustrations]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume2 Chapter1|Chapter 1: Kyaah—]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume2 Chapter2|Chapter 2: The Melancholy of Thanksgiving]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume2 Chapter3|Chapter 3: Ryuu'ko'←(emphasis)san's, whatcha call it, trouble?]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume2 Chapter4|Chapter 4: In the Rain of an Extraterrestrial Town]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume2 Chapter5|Chapter 5: Cosplay Seventy-two — Maekawa-san and Work Status]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume2 Chapter6|Chapter 6: The Day That Will Become Someone's Memory]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume2 Chapter7|Chapter 7: The Prayer of Tsiolkovsky]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume2 Chapter8|Chapter 8: The E.T's Workplace]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume2 Afterword|Afterword]]<br /> <br /> &lt;br style=&quot;clear:both&quot; /&gt;<br /> <br /> === Volume 3 ([[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume3|Full Text]])‎ ===<br /> [[File:DTS Cover Vol 03.jpg|thumb|x200px]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume3 Illustrations|Novel Illustrations]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume3 Prologue|Prologue: Summer This Year]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume3 Chapter1|Chapter 1: Local-only Alien Incident]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume3 Chapter2|Chapter 2: The Boy's Strange Summer]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume3 Chapter3|Chapter 3: The Girl Under the Eave]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume3 Chapter4|Chapter 4: The Noisy Summer]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume3 Chapter5|Chapter 5: In This Summer: Basketball, Superpower, Stargazing, Festival, Baseball and Meme-san (discontinue)]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume3 Chapter6|Chapter 6: 0.00000000198cm Per Second]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume3 Chapter7|Chapter 7: The Midnight Sun]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume3 Chapter8|Chapter 8: How Many Shining Stars Are There?]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume3 Afterwords|Afterword]]<br /> <br /> &lt;br style=&quot;clear:both&quot; /&gt;<br /> <br /> === Volume 4 ([[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume4|Full Text]])‎ ===<br /> [[File:DTS Cover Vol 04.jpg|thumb|x200px]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume4 Illustrations|Novel Illustrations]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume4 Chapter1|Chapter 1: Runaway Base]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume4 Chapter2|Chapter 2: Peering at First Love]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume4 Chapter3|Chapter 3: Skyward Tomorrow]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume4 Chapter4|Chapter 4: The Distance Between My and Her Moon]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume4 Chapter5|Chapter 5: E.R.O]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume4 Afterword|Afterword]]<br /> &lt;br style=&quot;clear:both&quot; /&gt;<br /> <br /> === Volume 5 ([[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume5|Full Text]])‎ ===<br /> [[File:DTS Cover Vol 05.jpg|thumb|x200px]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume5 Illustrations|Novel Illustrations]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume5 Chapter1|Chapter 1 - The End of the Beginning of the Summer, Continued]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume5 Chapter2|Chapter 2 - ''Chanbara'' Alien]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume5 Chapter3|Chapter 3 - The Banquet of Those Unsure of What &quot;In Full Swing&quot; Means]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume5 Chapter4|Chapter 4 - Tomorrow is a Youthful Hangover]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume5 Chapter5|Chapter 5 - When an Alien Who Traveled from Afar Comes Sightseeing at the Local Beach]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume5 Chapter6|Epilogue - Cradle at Twilight]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume5 Chapter7|Afterword]]<br /> <br /> &lt;br style=&quot;clear:both&quot; /&gt;<br /> <br /> === Volume 6 ([[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume6|Full Text]]) ===<br /> [[File:DTS Cover Vol 06.jpg|thumb|x200px]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume6 Illustrations|Novel Illustrations]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume6 Prologue|Prologue - School Newspaper Article: Culture Festival Preparations]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume6 Chapter1|Chapter 1 - Tokaido Melos]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume6 Chapter2|Chapter 2 - At the End of Star Dust]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume6 Chapter3|Chapter 3 - StaRMan's Children]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume6 Chapter4|Chapter 4 - When the Storm Comes, the Bucket Maker Goes Bankrupt]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume6 Chapter5|Chapter 5 - Attraction Romanticist]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume6 Epilogue|Epilogue - School Newspaper Extra Edition: Culture Festival Special]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume6 Afterword|Afterword]]<br /> <br /> &lt;br style=&quot;clear:both&quot; /&gt;<br /> <br /> === Volume 7 ([[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume7|Full Text]]) ===<br /> [[File:DTS Cover Vol 07.jpg|thumb|x200px]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume7 Illustrations|Novel Illustrations]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume7 Prologue|Prologue - If Space Stretched Out Beyond]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume7 Chapter1|Chapter 1 - Ending No. 4: Niwa-san]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume7 Chapter2|Chapter 2 - Ending No. 3: Sharing Happiness]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume7 Chapter3|Chapter 3 - Ending No. 2: The Earthling in the Town Observed by Aliens]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume7 Chapter4|Chapter 4 - Bad Ending No. 1: Denpa Otoko]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume7 Chapter5|Chapter 5 - Ending No. 2559: Do Spacesuits Dream of Silkworms?]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume7 Chapter6|Chapter 6 - Ending No. 5: Together with Meme-tan]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume7 Chapter7|Chapter 7 - The Day Off of a (Beginner) Seishun Onna]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume7 Chapter8|Next Chapter - Daydream, Invasion]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume7 Afterword|Afterword]]<br /> <br /> &lt;br style=&quot;clear:both&quot; /&gt;<br /> <br /> === Volume 8 ===<br /> [[File:DTS Cover Vol 08.jpg|thumb|x200px]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume8 Illustrations|Novel Illustrations]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume8 Chapter1|Chapter 1 – Are You Telling Me To Remove My Futon?]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume8 Chapter2|Chapter 2 – Even if I Accept That Dreams Don't Go As Expected]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume8 Chapter3-A|Chapter 3-A – Chasing and Being Chased]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume8 Chapter3-B|Chapter 3-B – Driven by Dreams and Hopes, Lying Beneath the Futon and Reality]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume8 Chapter3-C|Chapter 3-C – Things That Cannot Be Surpassed]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume8 Chapter4|Chapter 4 – Fighting For The Light]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume8 Curtain Call|Curtain Call – The Rocket to Ending No1]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume8 Afterword|Afterword]]<br /> <br /> &lt;br style=&quot;clear:both&quot; /&gt;<br /> <br /> === Volume SF (''Sukoshi Fushigi'') Version ===<br /> [[File:DTS Cover Vol SF.jpg|thumb|x200px]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:VolumeSF Prologue|Prologue]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:VolumeSF Chapter1|Chapter 1]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:VolumeSF Chapter2|Chapter 2]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:VolumeSF Chapter3|Chapter 3]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:VolumeSF Chapter4|Chapter 4]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:VolumeSF Epilogue|Epilogue]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:VolumeSF Afterword|Afterword]]<br /> <br /> === Short Stories ===<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Short Stories 01|Tsuri Onna to Chounouryoku Shoujo]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Short Stories 02|(Moto) Kami-sama Onna to Uchuu Shoujo]]<br /> <br /> === Mini Stories ===<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Mini Stories 01|A Youthful Man and his Sweet and Cheerful Comrades (1)]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Mini Stories 02|A Youthful Man and his Sweet and Cheerful Comrades (2)]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Mini Stories 03|On a Summer Day]]<br /> * [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Mini Stories 04|After the Ending of Denpa Onna]]<br /> <br /> <br /> &lt;br style=&quot;clear:both&quot; /&gt;<br /> <br /> ==Project Staff==<br /> * Supervisor:<br /> * Project Manager:<br /> <br /> ==== Translators ====<br /> * [[User:Zephyrus|Zephyrus]]<br /> * [[User:Magykalman|Magykalman]]<br /> * [[User:Jasonjapi123|zWei.Yaasus]]<br /> * [[User:Bob_Morane|Bob Morane]]<br /> <br /> ==== Editors ====<br /> <br /> * [[User:Magykalman|Magykalman]]<br /> * [[User:Jasonjapi123|zWei.Yaasus]]<br /> <br /> ==Series Overview==<br /> <br /> 電波女と青春男 (電撃文庫) [文庫] (January 7, 2009) - ISBN 978-4048674683&lt;br /&gt;<br /> 電波女と青春男〈2〉(電撃文庫) [文庫] (May 10, 2009) - ISBN 978-4048678100&lt;br /&gt;<br /> 電波女と青春男 3 (電撃文庫 い 9-12) [文庫] (Nov 10, 2009) - ISBN 978-4048681384&lt;br /&gt;<br /> 電波女と青春男〈4〉(電撃文庫) [文庫] (March 2010) - ISBN 978-4048683951&lt;br /&gt;<br /> 電波女と青春男〈5〉(電撃文庫) [文庫] (June 10, 2010) - ISBN 978-4048685962&lt;br /&gt;<br /> 電波女と青春男〈6〉(電撃文庫) [文庫] (Sep 10, 2010) - ISBN 978-4048688802&lt;br /&gt;<br /> 電波女と青春男〈7〉(電撃文庫) [文庫] (Dec 10, 2010) - ISBN 978-4048701259&lt;br /&gt;<br /> 電波女と青春男〈8〉(電撃文庫) [文庫] (April 8, 2011) - ISBN 978-4048704304&lt;br /&gt;<br /> 電波女と青春男 SF（すこしふしぎ）版 (April 10, 2011) - ISBN 978-4-04-870470-0&lt;br /&gt;<br /> 釣り女と超能力少女 (February 10, 2012) - No ISBN (Internet publication)&lt;br /&gt;<br /> （元）神様女と宇宙少女 (February 10, 2012) - No ISBN (Internet publication)<br /> <br /> [[Category:Light novel (English)]]<br /> [[Category:Genre - Harem]]<br /> [[Category:Hitoma Iruma]]</div>

Bob Morane http://www.baka-tsuki.org/project/index.php?title=Denpa_Onna_to_Seishun_Otoko:Volume7&diff=588776 2026-08-23T07:49:07Z

<p>Bob Morane: Created page with &quot;{{:Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume7 Illustrations|Novel Illustrations}} {{:Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume7 Prologue|Prologue - If Space Stretched Out Beyond}} {{:Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume7 Chapter1|Chapter 1 - Ending No. 4: Niwa-san}} {{:Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume7 Chapter2|Chapter 2 - Ending No. 3: Sharing Happiness}} {{:Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume7 Chapter3|Chapter 3 - Ending No. 2: The Earthling in the Town Observed by Aliens}} {{:Denpa...&quot;</p> <hr /> <div>{{:Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume7 Illustrations|Novel Illustrations}}<br /> {{:Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume7 Prologue|Prologue - If Space Stretched Out Beyond}}<br /> {{:Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume7 Chapter1|Chapter 1 - Ending No. 4: Niwa-san}}<br /> {{:Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume7 Chapter2|Chapter 2 - Ending No. 3: Sharing Happiness}}<br /> {{:Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume7 Chapter3|Chapter 3 - Ending No. 2: The Earthling in the Town Observed by Aliens}}<br /> {{:Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume7 Chapter4|Chapter 4 - Bad Ending No. 1: Denpa Otoko}}<br /> {{:Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume7 Chapter5|Chapter 5 - Ending No. 2559: Do Spacesuits Dream of Silkworms?}}<br /> {{:Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume7 Chapter6|Chapter 6 - Ending No. 5: Together with Meme-tan}}<br /> {{:Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume7 Chapter7|Chapter 7 - The Day Off of a (Beginner) Seishun Onna}}<br /> {{:Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume7 Chapter8|Next Chapter - Daydream, Invasion}}<br /> {{:Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume7 Afterword|Afterword}}<br /> <br /> &lt;noinclude&gt;<br /> ==Translator's Notes and References==<br /> &lt;references /&gt;<br /> <br /> {| border=&quot;1&quot; cellpadding=&quot;5&quot; cellspacing=&quot;0&quot; style=&quot;margin: 1em 1em 1em 0; background: #f9f9f9; border: 1px #aaaaaa solid; padding: 0.2em; border-collapse: collapse;&quot;<br /> |-<br /> | Back to [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume6|Volume 6]]<br /> | Return to [[Denpa_Onna_to_Seishun_Otoko|Main Page]]<br /> {{#ifexist:Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume8 | {{!}} Forward to [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume7|Volume 8]] }}<br /> |-<br /> |}<br /> &lt;/noinclude&gt;</div>

Bob Morane http://www.baka-tsuki.org/project/index.php?title=Denpa_Onna_to_Seishun_Otoko:Volume6&diff=588775 2026-08-23T07:45:52Z

<p>Bob Morane: </p> <hr /> <div>{{:Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume6 Illustrations|Novel Illustrations}}<br /> {{:Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume6 Prologue|Prologue - School Newspaper Article: Culture Festival Preparations}}<br /> {{:Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume6 Chapter1|Chapter 1 - Tokaido Melos}}<br /> {{:Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume6 Chapter2|Chapter 2 - At the End of Star Dust}}<br /> {{:Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume6 Chapter3|Chapter 3 - StaRMan's Children}}<br /> {{:Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume6 Chapter4|Chapter 4 - When the Storm Comes, the Bucket Maker Goes Bankrupt}}<br /> {{:Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume6 Chapter5|Chapter 5 - Attraction Romanticist}}<br /> {{:Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume6 Epilogue|Epilogue - School Newspaper Extra Edition: Culture Festival Special}}<br /> {{:Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume6 Afterword|Afterword}}<br /> <br /> &lt;noinclude&gt;<br /> ==Translator's Notes and References==<br /> &lt;references /&gt;<br /> <br /> {| border=&quot;1&quot; cellpadding=&quot;5&quot; cellspacing=&quot;0&quot; style=&quot;margin: 1em 1em 1em 0; background: #f9f9f9; border: 1px #aaaaaa solid; padding: 0.2em; border-collapse: collapse;&quot;<br /> |-<br /> | Back to [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume5|Volume 5]]<br /> | Return to [[Denpa_Onna_to_Seishun_Otoko|Main Page]]<br /> {{#ifexist:Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume7 | {{!}} Forward to [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume7|Volume 7]] }}<br /> |-<br /> |}<br /> &lt;/noinclude&gt;</div>

Bob Morane http://www.baka-tsuki.org/project/index.php?title=Denpa_Onna_to_Seishun_Otoko:Volume7_Afterword&diff=588774 2026-08-23T07:44:03Z

<p>Bob Morane: Created page with &quot;&lt;noinclude&gt; {| border=&quot;1&quot; cellpadding=&quot;5&quot; cellspacing=&quot;0&quot; style=&quot;margin: 1em 1em 1em 0; background: #f9f9f9; border: 1px #aaaaaa solid; padding: 0.2em; border-collapse: collapse;&quot; |- | Back to Epilogue | Return to Main Page |- |} &lt;/noinclude&gt; ==Afterword== “Something incredible is going to happen next October!” ← a certain charismatic editor. “Eh? What is it? Is there something else...&quot;</p> <hr /> <div>&lt;noinclude&gt;<br /> {| border=&quot;1&quot; cellpadding=&quot;5&quot; cellspacing=&quot;0&quot; style=&quot;margin: 1em 1em 1em 0; background: #f9f9f9; border: 1px #aaaaaa solid; padding: 0.2em; border-collapse: collapse;&quot;<br /> |-<br /> | Back to [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume7_Epilogue|Epilogue]]<br /> | Return to [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko|Main Page]]<br /> |-<br /> |}<br /> &lt;/noinclude&gt;<br /> ==Afterword==<br /> “Something incredible is going to happen next October!” ← a certain charismatic editor.<br /> <br /> “Eh? What is it? Is there something else happening?” ← a certain me.<br /> <br /> “No, I have absolutely no plans. No evidence, nothing at all. But it’s going to happen!”<br /> <br /> “…Um, are you sure there’s really no basis for this? Like, you’ve been told something but you’re just keeping it a secret?”<br /> <br /> “No, really, I have nothing. But don’t worry, it will definitely happen! I don’t know why, but I’m just so full of conviction! This is incredible, isn’t it insane?!”<br /> <br /> “…………………………………….Yeah, it’s pretty insane.”<br /> <br /> I am not wondering whether it is safe to follow this editor.<br /> <br /> However, if nothing happens next October, I really don’t know what he’ll do.<br /> <br /> Lose his charisma, I suppose.<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> Hello, I am Iruma Hitoma. When I started playing the latest ''Pokémon'' game on the day I bought it, it was springtime, but by the next time I played, one step outside my house and it was autumn. What a relatable protagonist.<br /> <br /> Well, now.<br /> <br /> Every once in a while, someone points out something like this to me: “Didn’t the characters’ personalities change quite a bit between volume one and the rest of the series?” And honestly, that is absolutely true. But look, even Hi○ in Yuu○○○&lt;ref name=&quot;ftn42&quot;&gt;Hard to be 100% certain with the extensive censorship, but it is probably a reference to the character Hiei from the manga ''YuYu Hakusho''.&lt;/ref&gt; was totally different in the beginning. This is a common occurrence when you’re writing a long-running serialisation. So, I’m asking for a little bit of… leniency, shall we say.<br /> <br /> With that in mind, please enjoy the series. And please also extend your patience to my father, who points at random hives on his body and says, “This cat-shaped birthmark is actually a royal crest…” He’s not a bad person, so please forgive him.<br /> <br /> Thank you so much for your purchase again this time.<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> Iruma Hitoma<br /> <br /> '''Iruma Hitoma'''<br /> <br /> A creature that, when staying at a hotel, ends up eating nothing but sweet bread, vegetable salad, and jelly. The games I want to play right now are ''El Shaddai'' and ''Way of the Samurai 4''. I’m getting impatient every day, wondering when they’ll be released. I haven’t changed at all since I was a kid.<br /> <br /> <br /> '''Buriki'''<br /> <br /> I live in the Kansai region. I worked hard again this year. I’ll work even harder next year!<br /> <br /> &lt;noinclude&gt;<br /> {| border=&quot;1&quot; cellpadding=&quot;5&quot; cellspacing=&quot;0&quot; style=&quot;margin: 1em 1em 1em 0; background: #f9f9f9; border: 1px #aaaaaa solid; padding: 0.2em; border-collapse: collapse;&quot;<br /> |-<br /> | Back to [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume7_Epilogue|Epilogue]]<br /> | Return to [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko|Main Page]]<br /> |-<br /> |}<br /> &lt;/noinclude&gt;</div>

Bob Morane http://www.baka-tsuki.org/project/index.php?title=Denpa_Onna_to_Seishun_Otoko:Volume7_Chapter8&diff=588773 2026-08-23T07:43:57Z

<p>Bob Morane: Created page with &quot;&lt;noinclude&gt; {| border=&quot;1&quot; cellpadding=&quot;5&quot; cellspacing=&quot;0&quot; style=&quot;margin: 1em 1em 1em 0; background: #f9f9f9; border: 1px #aaaaaa solid; padding: 0.2em; border-collapse: collapse;&quot; |- | Back to Chapter 7 | Return to Main Page | Forward to Afterword |- |} &lt;/noinclude&gt; ==Next Chapter - Daydream, Invasion== “…And so, Ryuushi or something, uh...&quot;</p> <hr /> <div>&lt;noinclude&gt;<br /> {| border=&quot;1&quot; cellpadding=&quot;5&quot; cellspacing=&quot;0&quot; style=&quot;margin: 1em 1em 1em 0; background: #f9f9f9; border: 1px #aaaaaa solid; padding: 0.2em; border-collapse: collapse;&quot;<br /> |-<br /> | Back to [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume7_Chapter7|Chapter 7]]<br /> | Return to [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko|Main Page]]<br /> | Forward to [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume7_Afterword|Afterword]]<br /> |-<br /> |}<br /> &lt;/noinclude&gt;<br /> ==Next Chapter - Daydream, Invasion==<br /> <br /> “…And so, Ryuushi or something, uh, sang that thing that was playing on TV…”<br /> <br /> With an expression that said, “I see, I see,” Tamura-san listened intently, nodding along at appropriate intervals. Erio was reporting on how she had spent the previous weekend playing with everyone, using all sorts of gestures to embellish her story.<br /> <br /> I sat there blankly, facing the entrance of the candy shop with my back turned to both of them. Since a young girl, much like a granddaughter, was speaking so joyfully, Tamura-san had little choice but to listen.<br /> <br /> A week had passed since that Sunday, and a new Sunday had arrived. I sat there in front of the shopfront of the Tamura store, narrowing my eyes in the atmosphere of the October air as I breathed it in deeply. My eyelids slowly grew heavy.<br /> <br /> I closed my eyes without resistance and found peace, using Erio’s energetic, topic-jumping boasts as my background music. The air touching my skin was cool, while my toes, warmed by the sunlight, felt cosy; it was an ideal climate.<br /> <br /> I had decided to help Erio keep watch over the shop, and a day off like this wasn’t so bad. There was a small part of me that worried this was becoming the “Great-Grandpa Chapter” of my own fantasies, but it was a trivial concern.<br /> <br /> “And look, look! A cellphone! I bought a cell phone!”<br /> <br /> When I turned around, Erio was holding up a mobile phone at Tamura-san’s eye level, making a mysterious “ta-daaa!” sound with her mouth. The matching sparrow straps we had bought together swayed from side to side. Tamura-san stroked her chin and gazed at the light blue phone, feigning indifference.<br /> <br /> “How many times have you been boasting about it now? I’ve heard it seven times already this week.”<br /> <br /> That basically meant every single day, huh? How did you put up with it every time, Tamura-san?<br /> <br /> “Grandma, what’s your phone number?”<br /> <br /> “Idiot, do you really think I have it? Go call Meme or something.”<br /> <br /> “Mom sends me plenty of emails.”<br /> <br /> “Ah, those that caused incessant chirping while we were working the shop yesterday? That fool should get a job.”<br /> <br /> “She sent about a hundred yesterday.”<br /> <br /> Any more than that, and it would have crossed the line into harassment. Meme-san often sent messages to my phone as well, but her contents consisted of emojis and emoticons that were entirely inappropriate for her age, making them almost like a cypher. They were impossible to decode.<br /> <br /> “Aaah, so what kind of stuff is in those messages from that idiot?”<br /> <br /> Tamura-san peered at the phone, feigning complete lack of interest. Erio, however, operated the device with pure delight. She tapped the buttons with her index finger, pulling up the inbox history.<br /> <br /> “Something like this.”<br /> <br /> Tamura-san readjusted her reading glasses and stared intently at the screen, her face contorting into a scowl as she let out a disgruntled, “Ah? ‘Eri-chan, what did you have for lunch?’… Is that all?”<br /> <br /> “Yeah.”<br /> <br /> “That girl is really an idiot. She could have just come and asked you directly.”<br /> <br /> She dismissed Meme-san with a dismissive snort. Clutched tightly in Erio’s hand, the mobile phone served as the backdrop for her continued, staccato-filled high-pitched chatter. She pressed on with her mixture of bragging and self-reporting.<br /> <br /> “And then, I managed to get Ryuushi or something’s number and Maekawa or something’s number, too…”<br /> <br /> I did not interrupt her and instead looked forward again, letting my mind drift into the autumn air.<br /> <br /> It had been about seven months since I moved to this town. Seven months since I met Touwa Erio.<br /> <br /> Ryuushi-san had said the same thing at the karaoke box. Over and over, I would find myself ruminating on the mysterious flow of reality, as if reflecting deeply and thinking, “Yeah, that’s right.” Even though my final conclusion was exactly the same: “I can’t believe it.”<br /> <br /> Starting from the day I first spoke to her, I could never have imagined that I would arrive at a day like this. That I would find peace of mind while sharing the same space as that Denpa-san and that I would find myself laughing at the way she proudly spoke of her connections with friends, even if her words were a little clumsy. If I were her father, I would have burst into tears at how much she had grown.<br /> <br /> It wasn’t as if I had intentionally chosen this path. It was simply that I had always chosen the path that seemed best in every given moment, and it just happened to turn out this way. I didn’t deny that.<br /> <br /> From then on, I would likely continue to be lured by whatever seemed best in the moment. I would struggle with the tip of a swaying fishing rod, giving my all only to the fish that bit at that very instant. In the end, that was all I could do. Even if the future were all predetermined, the only time I truly lived was the present. The future was nothing more than a present that would eventually arrive.<br /> <br /> Furthermore, the present was not something to be changed but something to be chosen. While my way of choosing remained somewhat vague, it was beginning to stabilise, and I soon found that I rarely struggled with such decisions anymore. If any doubt remained, it was only regarding the nature of Youth Points.<br /> <br /> “…………”<br /> <br /> I turned around. Now that Erio had become a “Youthful Woman”, I found myself unable to predict how the scenery of my youth would evolve around me. For better or worse, Touwa Erio was an unpredictable element in my life. Her mother was the same, though in her case, it was mostly for the worse. Setting that aside, the situation was deeply troubling.<br /> <br /> However, looking back at my own burgeoning delusions… someone might have argued that it was only natural, since they were delusions to begin with, but they were filled with nothing but a bright future. Whenever the April version of Denpa Erio was by my side, realms of imagination that I surely could never have reached would unfold easily within my mind.<br /> <br /> That was why I felt certain, yes, certain, that my “present” would never be labelled a “bad future”. I felt a twinge of guilt, however, for having reached a conclusion that was the polar opposite of what I had concluded when I dismissed her as a negative factor.<br /> <br /> As long as I lived my life alongside Erio…<br /> <br /> “… Crap, the Great-Grandpa Ending or the Living with Meme-tan Ending are looking way too likely. How scary.”<br /> <br /> Even as I felt that fear, there was one thing I felt certain of.<br /> <br /> It was a single light that brightened the future, born from my decision to believe in the person I had been until now.<br /> <br /> No matter which path I chose from here on out, that light-blue “''Denpa Onna''” would likely never appear by my side again.<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> I had been optimistic, perhaps even too complacent, thinking such things.<br /> <br /> But reality, as if finding its very purpose in mocking me, summoned the “next” thing.<br /> <br /> From a “beyond” that I knew nothing about.<br /> <br /> “Mofuffuffufu”<br /> <br /> <br /> The silhouette of a creature that suddenly, with lazy dexterity, used its toes to swing the entrance door open was…<br /> <br /> “Mofuffuffufu”<br /> <br /> <br /> It was a combination of a familiar appearance and an unfamiliar smallness.<br /> <br /> “Mofuffuffufu”<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> “Mofufu.”<br /> <br /> Little Smakin had made its appearance at Tamura store.<br /> <br /> &lt;noinclude&gt;<br /> {| border=&quot;1&quot; cellpadding=&quot;5&quot; cellspacing=&quot;0&quot; style=&quot;margin: 1em 1em 1em 0; background: #f9f9f9; border: 1px #aaaaaa solid; padding: 0.2em; border-collapse: collapse;&quot;<br /> |-<br /> | Back to [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume7_Chapter7|Chapter 7]]<br /> | Return to [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko|Main Page]]<br /> | Forward to [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume7_Afterword|Afterword]]<br /> |-<br /> |}<br /> &lt;/noinclude&gt;</div>

Bob Morane http://www.baka-tsuki.org/project/index.php?title=Denpa_Onna_to_Seishun_Otoko:Volume7_Chapter7&diff=588772 2026-08-23T07:43:51Z

<p>Bob Morane: Created page with &quot;&lt;noinclude&gt; {| border=&quot;1&quot; cellpadding=&quot;5&quot; cellspacing=&quot;0&quot; style=&quot;margin: 1em 1em 1em 0; background: #f9f9f9; border: 1px #aaaaaa solid; padding: 0.2em; border-collapse: collapse;&quot; |- | Back to Chapter 6 | Return to Main Page | Forward to Chapter 8 |- |} &lt;/noinclude&gt; ==Chapter 7 - The Day Off of a (Beginner) Seishun Onna== “…Just kidding....&quot;</p> <hr /> <div>&lt;noinclude&gt;<br /> {| border=&quot;1&quot; cellpadding=&quot;5&quot; cellspacing=&quot;0&quot; style=&quot;margin: 1em 1em 1em 0; background: #f9f9f9; border: 1px #aaaaaa solid; padding: 0.2em; border-collapse: collapse;&quot;<br /> |-<br /> | Back to [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume7_Chapter6|Chapter 6]]<br /> | Return to [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko|Main Page]]<br /> | Forward to [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume7_Chapter8|Chapter 8]]<br /> |-<br /> |}<br /> &lt;/noinclude&gt;<br /> ==Chapter 7 - The Day Off of a (Beginner) Seishun Onna==<br /> <br /> “…Just kidding.”<br /> <br /> I cut off those aimless delusions and faced reality. Meme-san had completely dampened my mood.<br /> <br /> On the actual game screen, Mako-kun-kun was paralysed and being pummelled by enemies. The reliable allies controlled by Erio continued the battle, intent on wiping out the enemies while completely ignoring the protagonist.<br /> <br /> Did she have a grudge against me or something? I glanced sideways at Erio, only to see her frantically mashing buttons. Hey, don’t tell me you were letting the protagonist die just because it was too much of a hassle to select any command other than Attack! The battle ended, brought to a close by the merry band of companions who continued their frenzied attacks even as Mako-kun-kun fell.<br /> <br /> “Ah, I don’t have any items to revive him.”<br /> <br /> “Are you turning back?”<br /> <br /> “I shall press on, swallowing my tears.”<br /> <br /> “Whoa, everyone is sprinting full speed with such perfect form.”<br /> <br /> I wondered what would become of Mako-kun-kun, left behind all alone. In modern games, wouldn’t they at least let you put a fallen comrade in a coffin and drag them along?&lt;ref name=&quot;ftn33&quot;&gt;In old-school JRPGs like the early ''Dragon Quest'' series, a dead companion would follow the group in a coffin until revived.&lt;/ref&gt; I also felt it was somewhat questionable how the story could continue progressing even in the absence of the protagonist.<br /> <br /> “Ah, we’re in a pinch now that Mako-kun-kun isn’t here.”<br /> <br /> Overwhelmed by the numbers of enemies they next encountered, the remaining companions were being beaten mercilessly. It was then that Erio, finally ceasing her button-mashing, began to focus her mind on healing them and improving the situation for her allies.<br /> <br /> Watching the screen from a protagonist-biased perspective, thinking things like, “No, you’re too slow; you should have helped him the moment Mako-kun-kun was in danger”, was actually quite entertaining. I let my focus blur slightly and rested my chin on my hand.<br /> <br /> “…Phew.”<br /> <br /> After passing through four or five great adventures that spanned across time and space, my brain was screaming from the sheer strain. I marvelled at how I had managed to immerse myself in such lengthy fantasies. The last one, in particular, had gone completely off the rails. I couldn’t fathom how a second-year high schooler, someone who had no grandchildren, no children, no wife, and no girlfriend, could find himself dreaming of such a peaceful and fantastical old age. Wait, a newlywed life with Meme-tan at the very end? I had no idea what I was talking about. That part never happened, and it was better to just leave things at that.<br /> <br /> Setting Meme-san aside, my delusions had been a bit too intense this time. I almost suspected that someone had sent me some kind of radio signal, but perhaps it was simply that because my Youth Points were empty, some mysterious function had stepped in to provide everything I needed to compensate. It was none of its business, but thanks anyway.<br /> <br /> I envisioned three main pillars.<br /> <br /> Viewing it through a gaming lens, there was the Maekawa-san route. And also the Ryuushi-san route and the Erio route? Getting involved with one made my relationships with others change significantly, and my surroundings had shifted as well.<br /> <br /> No matter which possibility I reached, I would inevitably lose something. Something that existed in my life right now.<br /> <br /> Precisely because that was a realistic and natural consequence, I felt the urge to cover my eyes.<br /> <br /> Regarding the choices from here on. No matter which path I took or how I proceeded, I would lose the “present”.<br /> <br /> I wondered how long this period of fulfilment, where I lost nothing, could possibly continue.<br /> <br /> I found myself thinking that perhaps having a time like this last forever was my true ideal.<br /> <br /> “Hmm, the phone… is ringing.”<br /> <br /> The cellphone, left sitting in my second-floor room, played its default electronic ringtone, as if urging me to “pick up already”. I pushed myself up from the sofa and ran toward the stairs. It was doubtful whether I would make it in time even if I hurried, but I ran nonetheless. Since the ringing did not cease, it seemed to be a phone call rather than an email. If so, I could more or less guess who was calling. It was that person whose I-told-ya special intensive training month had just come to an end.<br /> <br /> I raced up the stairs and burst into my room. With the momentum of a high school baseball player sliding a ball into their glove, I snatched the phone, which was vibrating faintly on my desk. I moved with such force that I slammed my arm against the leg of the desk. The momentum did not stop there; my shoulder collided with it, and finally, I struck my back against the furniture. It was perhaps the first time that I had proven myself to be a true idiot three times within such a short span of time.<br /> <br /> “Bkeeee, bkeeeeee!”<br /> <br /> I arched my back on the carpet, writhing in a pain so intense it felt numbing. However, I couldn’t afford to let the phone keep ringing, so while rolling around, I pressed the answer button and held it to my ear. Since I had made it that far, I tried to suppress my screams and cries of agony, but I couldn’t hold them back even as I bit my lower lip. Straightening my spine, I let out a spirited,<br /> <br /> “Gugueeeee!”<br /> <br /> “O-oh? What’s wrong, Niwa-kun? Put the automatic Japanese mode on!”<br /> <br /> The voice belonged to Ryuushi-san, as expected. Since she was demanding a response, I tried to stifle my agony by digging my claws into the carpet. As I delivered my heavy, ragged breathing to Ryuushi-san in real-time, she misunderstood, asking in a carefree voice, “Are you playing a prank call game?” Should I be grateful she didn’t call me a pervert?<br /> <br /> “Fuu, Hii… Ah, hello. This is Niwa Makoto.”<br /> <br /> “Well, well, how polite. This is Mifune Ryuuko.”<br /> <br /> My memories instinctively drifted back to the very beginning. I bowed my head toward the other end of the line, offering a quick, “Nice to meet you.” Now, then.<br /> <br /> It was Ryuushi-san, who was not a college student, and her hair was not long. I decided I should avoid calling her Ryuuko.<br /> <br /> “By the way, I told ya, I’m Ryuuko.”<br /> <br /> “Wait, didn’t your special intensive training month end already?”<br /> <br /> “He he he, did you really think I wouldn’t see through something like this, Niwa-kun?!”<br /> <br /> There was a dramatic sound effect accompanying her words, so she was likely striking a pointing pose.<br /> <br /> “I know all about it! Niwa-kun, right now, your phone is displaying Ryuushi-san!”<br /> <br /> “No, no, didn’t you register your real name under that contact, Ryuushi-san?”<br /> <br /> “Oh? Did I? Well, you did just say Ryuushi right now. In other words, I-told-ya was in response to a future event. Yup. I was simply predicting a future event that might occur where I should say I-told-ya.”<br /> <br /> Since she had reached her own unilateral conclusion, it was difficult to comment on it. Recalling that there were things that simply could not be spoken of, I remained silent. In the meantime, Ryuushi-san moved the conversation forward.<br /> <br /> “And with that, the introductions are over. Hello, Niwa-kun. How are you? You were making quite a lot of noise at first, though.”<br /> <br /> “If I can make that much noise, I’m probably doing fine. So, what’s up today? Do you have business with me?”<br /> <br /> “Well… I might be free tomorrow.”<br /> <br /> No youthful boy would ever turn down an invitation from a girl on a Sunday. This was not the time to be indulging in fantasies that were already reaching their breaking point. I sat up straight and replied, “I’m free.”<br /> <br /> “As reliable as ever, Niwa-kun. However, what comes next is a surprise show!”<br /> <br /> “Huh? Clap, clap, clap.”<br /> <br /> Thinking that perhaps she was about to perform some sort of hidden talent, I gave her a purely vocal round of applause.<br /> <br /> “I meant a surprise&lt;ref name=&quot;ftn34&quot;&gt;The first time Ryuushi said “surprise” was in Japanese, the second time was in English.&lt;/ref&gt; show!”<br /> <br /> The meaning was the same, but the nuance was quite different. As I nodded in understanding, Ryuushi-san cleared her throat with an “ahem, ahem”. I waited for Ryuushi-san’s next words, focusing on nothing in particular, like how her cough sounded unnecessarily dusty. I waited for a few seconds. Then, her high-pitched voice reached me:<br /> <br /> “For this time, I was wondering if we could, you know, do something like a Touwa-san-style thing!”<br /> <br /> “Something Touwa-san-style?”<br /> <br /> I looked down at the floor, thinking of the half-Smakin who was facing off against a game on the first floor. It was a roundabout way of putting it, but the only person Ryuushi-san could mean by “Touwa-san-style” had to be her. Meme-san was more like Mochi-mochi Sensei&lt;ref name=&quot;ftn35&quot;&gt;''Mochi-mochi'' means something like “chewy”, “elastic”.&lt;/ref&gt;.<br /> <br /> “So, you’re saying Erio is invited, too?”<br /> <br /> It was certainly surprising, and I couldn’t help but smile at how unusual it was.<br /> <br /> “If that’s the interpretation you want to make Niwa-kun, then fine! Hmph!”<br /> <br /> “Alright, then let’s do this.”<br /> <br /> “Geez, you’re being way too honest, Niwa-kun. Ryuuko-san is going to end up blushing so hard bees will sting her.”<br /> <br /> What was that supposed to mean? Was she trying to say she’d turn even redder if she were stung? That would just be painful.<br /> <br /> “I was thinking we could invite Maekawa-san too and maybe go grab some food or hit up karaoke or something.”<br /> <br /> “Like a social gathering? Similar to the one we had after the cultural festival the other day?”<br /> <br /> That particular event had been nothing but stomach-turning developments. Mostly due to Hoshinaka’s antics. Man, what a headache.<br /> <br /> “Muu… mumu.”<br /> <br /> “What are you grumbling about?”<br /> <br /> “Niwa-kun… you were being called things like ‘Niwa-chi’… and it was just so Niwa-kun…”<br /> <br /> “I’m sorry, but I don’t quite understand what you’re trying to say.”<br /> <br /> Anyway, I told her I would ask her myself. Keeping her on the line, I headed down the stairs and returned to the living room. Erio was once again lost in a frenzy of button-mashing. It seemed she had been repeatedly fighting the same battle, diligently working on levelling up. My heart wept at such careless treatment, thinking she should have revived Mako-kun-kun before doing that.<br /> <br /> “Ah, Cousin, you’re back.”<br /> <br /> Erio finished her button-mashing with great joy. Then, she moved on to the next scene, controlling characters other than Mako-kun-kun.<br /> <br /> It appeared she had made an effort not to progress the story until I returned. She seemed to be more lenient toward the real-life Mako-kun-kun. Hmm, she was certainly adorable… Wait, no, she wasn’t. I pulled the phone slightly away from my face.<br /> <br /> “Erio, do you have to work at the shop tomorrow?”<br /> <br /> “Every day. I am a '''career woman'''.”<br /> <br /> She flexed her arm, making her bicep assert its strength. It was so devoid of muscle it was almost sad.<br /> <br /> “The Tamura store is open all year round. Let’s go anytime to the Tamura store!”<br /> <br /> “Thanks for the advertisement. I see, that’s a shame, then.”<br /> <br /> “Hm?”<br /> <br /> Erio tilted her head, her eyes fixed on the phone in my hand. I wondered how she would react once she heard the truth.<br /> <br /> “Actually, Ryuushi-san is inviting you to come and play with us.”<br /> <br /> “I’m coming!”<br /> <br /> She immediately powered off her gaming console and bolted out from under the covers. She came running toward me with frantic, eager steps.<br /> <br /> I was taken aback by how instantly she bit. At the same time, I could faintly hear a voice from the other end of the phone demanding a correction, saying, “I told ya.” It seemed Ryuushi-san’s intuition was working perfectly again today.<br /> <br /> “No, I was talking about tomorrow.”<br /> <br /> “Eh, ah… the game…”<br /> <br /> She looked back at the television screen as if regretting that she had hung up without even saving her progress. Even though it was a misunderstanding on her part, I felt a strange sense of guilt. However, Erio did not give up, raising her clenched fist with determination.<br /> <br /> “A-Anyway, I’m going. I’ll play with something Ryuushi and Cousin.”<br /> <br /> “Maekawa-san is coming too.”<br /> <br /> “With something Maekawa too!”<br /> <br /> The placement of the word “something” was awkward, but her enthusiasm was clear, so I decided to skip correcting her.<br /> <br /> “But don’t you have to watch the shop?”<br /> <br /> She looked so incredibly happy that I decided to be a little mean. In reality, if she had just explained the situation honestly, Tamura-san would have forgiven her, saying, “You don’t need to come.” It still felt more like she was a child helping out with chores, after all.<br /> <br /> However, Erio had grown quite clever lately. She pressed her hand to her forehead, her expression turning grim in her own way.<br /> <br /> “M-My head hurts. I suddenly have a fever from thinking too hard.”<br /> <br /> “Stop faking a headache. Tamura-san will just give you a poke on the head.”<br /> <br /> “I-I’m not faking it. It’s a real illness.”<br /> <br /> I wondered for a moment if such a word even existed in Japanese&lt;ref name=&quot;ftn36&quot;&gt;The reason Makoto is wondering this is because the way Erio said “real illness” in Japanese was a bit weird.&lt;/ref&gt;. But regardless, she seemed brimming with the desire to go.<br /> <br /> I replied to Ryuushi-san, who had brought the phone back to her ear and was repeatedly practising saying, “I told ya, I told ya.” Well, there was no need to be so roundabout about confirming it. Seriously.<br /> <br /> “She said she’s coming.”<br /> <br /> “Hoh! A-Alright! I’ve claimed the demon’s head!”<br /> <br /> “No, that’s a massive misuse of the idiom&lt;ref name=&quot;ftn37&quot;&gt;“Claiming the demon’s head” is an expression that refers to people boasting as if they had accomplished a great feat that was not actually that impressive.&lt;/ref&gt;.”<br /> <br /> “T-Then, tomorrow! Ah, I’ll invite Maekawa-san myself, so, um… I told ya!”<br /> <br /> After struggling to find a closing line, it seemed the result was simply the fruit of her practice. Why “I told ya”, though?<br /> <br /> After hanging up, I stroked Erio’s head, which was right beside me. She squirmed as if it tickled her.<br /> <br /> “That’s great, isn’t it?”<br /> <br /> “Mofu.”<br /> <br /> “I already told you not to wrap yourself in a futon.”<br /> <br /> When I pointed it out, for some reason, she busily rewrapped the futon around her upper body. Then, she stood up just like that and began wandering aimlessly around the living room. Realising that she was actually dancing, an exasperated expression naturally came to me.<br /> <br /> “Mofuu-mofuu, mofumoomofumofufuuu, moomoomofumofufuuu.”<br /> <br /> “Why are you dancing after wrapping yourself in a futon?”<br /> <br /> Well, I suppose dancing around so energetically without a futon wasn’t Erio-like. But was that “like” even needed to begin with? I tilted my head exaggeratedly as I pondered over that. Then, something caught my eye in my tilted field of vision.<br /> <br /> “Mako-kun, hey, hey.”<br /> <br /> Meme-san was there, peering halfway out from the edge of the hallway and beckoning to me. I wondered when she had returned. Since she was calling me, I approached her while remaining fully on guard. It was only natural that she might suddenly leap or bounce around, and I had to be prepared for the possibility of multiplication or fusion. My aunt was certainly a handful.<br /> <br /> “What was that?”<br /> <br /> “Is the real Meme-chin not making an appearance yet?”<br /> <br /> How did this ''youkai ''even know about the non-real version?<br /> <br /> “Let’s look forward to the next time.”<br /> <br /> “Waaaaah!”<br /> <br /> Ah, Meme-chin dissolved into the hallway. Then, her daughter began to dance. In a writhing, contorted motion. She seemed to be having fun, that one.<br /> <br /> It was perhaps about time I taught her the concept of Youth Points. Maybe then she might actually function properly.<br /> <br /> “How am I supposed to wait until next time? I’ll force an appearance!”<br /> <br /> Ah, the liquid Meme-chin solidified. She sprouted back into existence with a slippery slither, resurrecting as if nothing had happened. Gross.<br /> <br /> “I don’t really care, but aren’t you going to unify the names Meme-chin and Meme-tan?”<br /> <br /> The comment, which was utterly trivial, was treated with utter indifference. It was ignored entirely. Meme-san approached Erio, or rather, Smakin, with a skip that was quite unbefitting her age. Without hesitation, she hugged her right through the futon. While squeezing Erio as tightly as she could, as the latter let out a cry that it was impossible to tell if it was a protest or a sign of surprise, a sort of “Mofuuu”, Meme-san spoke in a sweet, coaxing voice, “Hey, Eri-chan.”<br /> <br /> Meme-san’s suggestion was, to put it mildly, unexpected, or perhaps it was more accurate to call it a natural progression.<br /> <br /> Regardless, there was no doubt that it was a change accompanying Erio’s transformation into a “youthful girl”.<br /> <br /> “Don’t you want something like a cellphone?”<br /> <br /> “Mofuu.”<br /> <br /> Even if I could decipher what she said, it somehow irritated me.<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> “Oh, oooh. B-bzzzt.”<br /> <br /> “Why are you emitting radio waves yourself?&lt;ref name=&quot;ftn38&quot;&gt;As a reminder, ''denpa ''means “radio wave”, and can refer to eccentric people who speak as if they were receiving strange radio waves. Here, Makoto is surprised that Erio is acting as if she were emitting radio waves rather than receiving them.&lt;/ref&gt;”<br /> <br /> Facing the countless mobile phones displayed on the white shelves, Erio panicked. Her eyes darted around nervously. She seemed overwhelmed by the unnaturally bright interior of the mobile shop and the loud, blaring music, clinging to my arm as if to hide half of her body. The clerk, dressed in a uniform, seemed so overwhelmed by the supernatural particles Erio was emitting that she hesitated to approach us. Consequently, I ended up acting as the clerk myself.<br /> <br /> “So, which one do you want?”<br /> <br /> “Th-the best one, please?”<br /> <br /> “Decide on your own what the best is. Look closely, now,” I urged, pressing against her shoulder. Erio peeked at the shelves with extreme trepidation, making sure not to let go of my back. “Bzzz, bzzz.” She began emitting radio waves again. She stared intently at a phone screen, but she didn’t seem to be comparing the devices or paying any attention to their designs; she was simply staring.<br /> <br /> It seemed that Erio’s search for a new mobile phone was going to be a difficult ordeal. Even when the shop clerk provided detailed explanations, Erio’s extreme shyness threatened to cause nothing but further confusion. A heavy sigh escaped her.<br /> <br /> “…Having to accompany a child on a shopping trip they have no interest in, is this how a father feels?”<br /> <br /> I didn’t want to admit it, though.<br /> <br /> Meme-san stood a short distance away, smiling. If she had just stayed quiet, she would have looked like a truly dignified mother.<br /> <br /> “Eri-tan, I’m going to send you a hundred emails a day, ok? Mostly just complaining about work! (Chomp!)”<br /> <br /> “Are you trying to drive your daughter into a nervous breakdown?”<br /> <br /> With eyes wide open, she waved her hands around irritably. Even if she was a fine mother, as an adult, she was a lost cause. She was ±zero. In fact, it might be a miracle that things were even breaking even.<br /> <br /> “But this is getting us nowhere. Is there any specific feature you’re looking for?”<br /> <br /> I tried to narrow down the choices after listening to her requests. Erio held up her fingers in a peace sign.<br /> <br /> “O-One that can do email. And one that can do calls.”<br /> <br /> “Does a cellphone even exist these days without those two features?”<br /> <br /> I pointed across the entire shelf, assuring her that they all had everything she needed. Erio recoiled with a small, intimidated whimper. There was no sign that the situation was making any progress whatsoever.<br /> <br /> “Fine, then pick by colour. What’s your favourite colour?”<br /> <br /> I picked up red, green, and yellow at random. Erio stared at the phones in my hand and muttered, “Like a traffic light.” It seemed as though she was pointing them out one by one, as if mentally checking them off. I felt that if I strongly recommended one of them, she might actually settle on it. But I hesitated.<br /> <br /> Eventually, Erio looked up and, for some reason, poked me in the nose with her finger. Her nail dug in deeper than I expected.<br /> <br /> “What exactly are you trying to do?”<br /> <br /> “Cousin, what colour is your phone?”<br /> <br /> “Ah? It’s white.”<br /> <br /> “Then… then this one. I’ll make mine match Cousin’s.”<br /> <br /> “…You really lack any sense of initiative, don’t you? Well, nevermind.”<br /> <br /> I started to suggest that a light blue one might provide a better sense of cohesion, but I decided to just let her have her way. I grabbed a white mobile phone at random from the shelf. There was no need to even ask the clerk; I assumed this one possessed email and calling functions as well. Rubbing my nose where her nail had poked me, I handed the phone to Erio.<br /> <br /> “Are you fine with this one?”<br /> <br /> “Hmm.”<br /> <br /> Erio received the phone with both palms, as if she were catching raindrops falling from the sky.<br /> <br /> “By the way, Meme-chin’s phone is in its final days!”<br /> <br /> Without me even noticing, the forty-year-old stood by my side, brandishing a banana-yellow mobile phone. It was adorned with a mountain of silver accessories and had two or three bells dangling from it, which made a loud, clattering noise whenever she shook it. It was as if the object itself were a symbol of Meme-san.<br /> <br /> “Maybe I should get one just like Mako-kun and Eri-tan. You know, since Meme-tan is a pure, white butterfly, I’ve been thinking lately that maybe I should go with a pure style in white.”<br /> <br /> “Rather than a vivid yellow, a yellow that looks sun-bleached suits you much better.”<br /> <br /> When I said that, she pinched my cheek with a frustrated grunt. Then, she simply pulled me along as she began talking to the shop clerk.<br /> <br /> “I’d like to sign a contract for this one!”<br /> <br /> “Fugi!”<br /> <br /> Erio remained indifferent to her cheek being pulled, and although she acted a bit suspiciously, she held up the white mobile phone. The shop clerk, who had been taken aback until then, widened her eyes even further at Erio’s proximity. Nevertheless, the clerk followed her to the customer service counter to fulfil her duties.<br /> <br /> Watching Erio’s retreating back, Meme-san suddenly returned to a serious expression and spoke with deep emotion.<br /> <br /> “Erio has reached the point where she needs her own phone, right?”<br /> <br /> “…I suppose so.”<br /> <br /> “Ahhh, this is truly the fruit of the love power between Mako-kun and me!”<br /> <br /> “Gaaah! Ending Number 5 is attacking!”<br /> <br /> I ran around to avoid her, only to be scolded severely by the clerk. I was scolded right along with Meme-san. It felt as though Erio was our guardian. Erio, for her part, silently filled out her name and other details on the contract.<br /> <br /> Meme-san, acting as the guardian, finished entering her details on the contract, and once the paperwork was complete, we proceeded to purchase the mobile phone.<br /> <br /> “I’ll put in Cousin’s number and Mom’s.”<br /> <br /> “You’re doing that right here in the middle of the store? Well, fine, I guess.”<br /> <br /> I dialled the number of the phone Erio had pulled out of the box and registered the contact for her.<br /> <br /> “How should I register my name?”<br /> <br /> “Cousin.”<br /> <br /> “That’s pretty literal. What about Meme-san?”<br /> <br /> “Mom.”<br /> <br /> “You could even go with Meme-chin, or Meme-tan, or Mysterious Beauty; all choices are free, Erio!”<br /> <br /> I ignored Meme-san, who was acting as deranged as usual, and pushed the excited Erio along as we left the mobile shop. Erio tapped away at her new phone, scrolling through screen after screen.<br /> <br /> Once we stepped out onto the sidewalk, Erio ran excitedly toward the prep school across the street. There, she pulled out her mobile phone and began operating it with her index finger, as if she were handling a game controller.<br /> <br /> I could guess exactly what she wanted to do, so Meme-san and I exchanged a glance and waited while smiling.<br /> <br /> Having finished her clumsy manoeuvring, Erio held the brand-new phone to her ear. Her cheeks were flushed with excitement, and her eyes sparkled brightly as she gazed at us. The particles overflowing from her hair coated the pure white phone, ensuring that no matter what colour it had been, it would ultimately be dyed light blue.<br /> <br /> “Oh.” It was my mobile phone that rang. “Where’s Meme-tan?” I thought, casually brushing off the thought that the next call would likely be hers as I glanced at the phone’s screen. The three characters&lt;ref name=&quot;ftn39&quot;&gt;“Erio” is written with three katakana characters.&lt;/ref&gt; for “Erio,” which I had only just registered, flickered to life, and the cheap electronic beep sounded almost like Erio’s own calling voice. Erio was waiting for me, intently.<br /> <br /> I pressed the call button and answered. Erio’s voice vibrated against my eardrums in stereo, coming from both the phone and the space beyond it. Her high-pitched voice, which already possessed a somewhat electronic quality, bounced as if dancing across ice.<br /> <br /> “’Hello, this is Towa Erio.’”<br /> <br /> Reflecting on the various processes and choices that had led to this connection, I replied with a simple, “Oh.”<br /> <br /> This time, the signal reached me clearly.<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> Now, the following day. It was Sunday, and it was just before noon, with the air tasting of what could only be described as early autumn.<br /> <br /> “Did Ryuushi or something and the others manage to make it?”<br /> <br /> “They haven’t come. I mean, go check for yourself.”<br /> <br /> “Oh, how gracious.”<br /> <br /> What was that even about? I felt exasperated by Erio, who was hiding behind my back and refused to even show her face. Well, though, I had to give her credit for not wrapping herself in a futon. It might have just been that she didn’t have a moment to reach for it, since Meme-san had been busy dressing her in all sorts of fancy clothes, saying this was nice and that was nice.<br /> <br /> Because of that whole ordeal, Erio was dressed quite strangely today, looking all fluffy. Her hair was styled so elaborately that it looked like intricate pulled sugar, and in many different senses, she was drawing attention as a beautiful girl unlike any other around here. As for me, being stuck to her back, well, I was reasonably fashionable. Wouldn’t the synergy result in me being treated as a slightly handsome guy or something?<br /> <br /> “The ones coming today are… Ryuushi or something, and something-or-other…”<br /> <br /> “Maekawa-san.”<br /> <br /> “Something-or-other Maekawa.”<br /> <br /> “Maekawa is her surname, so putting ‘something-or-other’ before it is grammatically awkward.”<br /> <br /> “Maekawa something-or-other.”<br /> <br /> “Mm.”<br /> <br /> To me, she was also Maekawa something-or-other. I wondered if the day would ever come when that “something-or-other” would be resolved.<br /> <br /> “…Still, this feels somewhat nostalgic.”<br /> <br /> The meeting spot Ryuushi-san had designated was near the station’s taxi stand. It was the same place we had used to meet on the day of my first date with Ryuushi-san. Back then, I knew hardly anything about this town.<br /> <br /> Now, I knew just a little bit more than I did then.<br /> <br /> “Ah, an email.”<br /> <br /> Erio quickly raised her mobile phone. Since she never cared to carry anything like a bag, she had been clutching that phone since morning. I wondered if her hands ever slipped from the sweat, but she didn’t seem to care at all and refused to let go.<br /> <br /> “It’s from Mom.”<br /> <br /> “Well. Of course it is.”<br /> <br /> “Because Meme-san and I were the only ones who knew her phone number.” Erio operated the device with clumsy hands and opened the message. I wasn’t particularly interested, but I took a peek anyway.<br /> <br /> “Which angle of Meme-chin looks the most photogenic?”<br /> <br /> Image data of Meme-san, taken from various angles one after another, was sent through. There were more photos than in the opening gravure spread of a certain manga magazine&lt;ref name=&quot;ftn40&quot;&gt;Some manga magazines feature photo spreads on the first pages, such as ''Weekly Shounen Magazine'' and ''Weekly Shounen Jump''.&lt;/ref&gt;. Had she bought her daughter a cellphone just for this?<br /> <br /> [[File:DTS Vol 07 198.jpg|thumb|“Cousin, which version of Mom do you prefer?”]]<br /> <br /> “Cousin, which version of Mom do you prefer?”<br /> <br /> “Don’t ask for my opinion; it’s giving me a headache.”<br /> <br /> Leaving Erio to earnestly compare the photos, I looked up at the building across the street. The sky was slightly overcast, preventing any direct sunlight from reaching us, and it looked like it would be a pleasant day in terms of the weather.<br /> <br /> While I was doing that, I heard the sound of bicycle brakes screeching behind me. And then, a voice.<br /> <br /> “Transfer students, you’re quite early.”<br /> <br /> “The use of the plural is a bit strange…”<br /> <br /> I looked back and was speechless. Erio stood there with her mouth half-open, looking dazed. It was obvious from that familiar voice that the person joining us was none other than Maekawa-san. However, her outfit was equally bizarre.<br /> <br /> “Whoops, I don’t need chocolate for our little social gathering. I’m more of a Japanese sweets person myself.”<br /> <br /> Maekawa-san joked, “Ha ha ha”, and her mascot costume for today was that of an extraterrestrial lifeform. Maekawa-san joked with a laugh, and her mascot costume for the day was that of an extraterrestrial lifeform. She was E.T…… So big. A Japanese E.T. And far too tall. Moreover, she wasn’t relying on young Eliott; she was actually pedalling the bicycle herself. Even the face inside her costume looked quite handsome.<br /> <br /> “Since I heard Touwa was coming today, I decided on this particular theme.”<br /> <br /> “Uh, yeah. Come on, Erio, say hello.”<br /> <br /> Flustered, I acted like a guardian and presented Erio. Though she flinched visibly, she softly extended her index finger forward. Perhaps sensing the intent, Maekawa-san also extended her index finger. While passersby began to gather and stir with curiosity, the two of them attempted to touch the tips of their index fingers together.<br /> <br /> No flash of light erupted, but their fingers met perfectly. Two E.T.s. Was there anyone whose cheeks were being wet with tears by this E.T.-style encounter? As if a ritual had concluded, their fingers parted, and Maekawa-san looked around the surroundings, saying, “Well then.” She seemed to be searching for a place to park her bicycle. Incidentally, as per our usual arrangement, Erio sat in the basket while I pedalled the bike… Division of labour?<br /> <br /> “I’m going to go park my bike for a moment.”<br /> <br /> E.T. made her breezy declaration. But instead of flying through the air, she simply pedalled the wheels normally and headed toward the bike parking area. Erio, who was supposed to have deepened our bond through our game of playing with index fingers, hid herself behind me even more thoroughly, using me as a shield.<br /> <br /> “Does Maekawa or something always dress like that?”<br /> <br /> “…Go ask her yourself.”<br /> <br /> Ah, she was coming back. The sight of E.T. trotting back toward us was a precious moment to capture. Perhaps the part of her scalp that felt limp and heavy was too hot, because she had pulled her hood down like a hat, exposing her glossy black hair to the open air.<br /> <br /> “Good morning, once again. Touwa, I think the last time we met was at the school festival, right?”<br /> <br /> “I-I’m Niwa Makoto, representative of Earthlings. Nice to meet you.”<br /> <br /> I felt humbled when E.T. greeted me. Erio also attempted a somewhat awkward greeting, trying too hard to act familiar with a forced “H-hey.” In response, Maekawa-san offered a smile as gentle as a clear stream in a small brook. If it weren’t for E.T.’s excessively long torso, the scene would have been quite picturesque.<br /> <br /> Even so, Maekawa-san, who remained unfazed by such flaws, felt somehow nostalgic. It had been a while since I had seen her in cosplay lately. In my delusions, however, she had become the cutest polar bear in the world.<br /> <br /> “You don’t need to be so formal. It looks like Ryuushi hasn’t arrived yet.”<br /> <br /> “Well, Maekawa or something…”<br /> <br /> Erio spoke to Maekawa-san as if summoning all her courage. From the shadow of my arm. Maekawa-san wasn’t the type of person to prey on others. Although she possessed an intimidating presence, she would undoubtedly lose in a simple fight.<br /> <br /> “What is it?”<br /> <br /> Maekawa-san knelt down to bring herself to Erio’s eye level. Erio held up her cellphone while cowering slightly, making low and hesitant noises. Maekawa-san squinted and glared, pushing her bangs aside and leaning in close before she was finally able to make out what it was. Was her eyesight poor?<br /> <br /> “Oh, a cellphone. So you have one too, Touwa?”<br /> <br /> “B-bought it yesterday. So, exchange numbers.”<br /> <br /> “My number? Sure, let’s register it. Ah, that reminds me, I think yesterday was the first time, but I received an email from Ryuushi, and at first, I wondered who it was from.”<br /> <br /> As she spoke, Maekawa-san operated her phone to call Erio’s number. In stark contrast, Erio faced the phone with a look of intense seriousness, focused on registering the number. It felt quite innocent, as if I were watching over a fledgling. I couldn’t take my eyes off them until the exchange was complete, and even after Maekawa-san said, “There, done,” my shoulders felt heavy. I scratched my neck, blushing, trying not to let it show that Erio’s tension had rubbed off on me.<br /> <br /> A few minutes passed as the three of us gazed vacantly at the other side of the road when I noticed a familiar figure jogging toward us. She didn’t seem to be wearing a hat today, and her hair and bag, as well as the dreams of her upper body, were swaying. It was an ideal, breezy sight, gentle on both the Earth and high school boys.<br /> <br /> “Ah, she’s here. It’s Ryuushi-san.”<br /> <br /> Even at such a low volume, it felt as though someone might have eavesdropped and interjected, “Oh, is it?”<br /> <br /> Perhaps fearing that her hair would be ruined by a helmet, as had happened once before, Ryuushi-san appeared, running there on her own two feet. This time, she had avoided getting caught at the traffic lights and had run at full speed.<br /> <br /> As I watched, thinking that it was dangerous to cross even on a green light without checking both ways, she finished crossing the road safely and waved her hands vigorously. As if caught up in her momentum, Erio peeked out from behind my back and locked eyes with Ryuushi-san. I did not know what had sprouted between them in that moment, but they both called out to one another almost simultaneously.<br /> <br /> “T-Touwa-saaan!”<br /> <br /> “R-Ryuushiiii or something!”<br /> <br /> Moving away from my back, Erio ran toward her with quick, light steps. Ah, it felt somewhat… like the loneliness one felt when a child grew too fond of someone else’s parents. Well, I didn’t really know what I meant by that. Both of them raised their arms meaninglessly and leaned their chests forward as they rushed toward each other. Then, they collided head-on.<br /> <br /> “Boooom!”<br /> <br /> “B-Boooom!”<br /> <br /> Why did they tackle each other? The two of them continued to collide with heavy thuds, gradually making their way toward me. Erio was being pushed back, which meant Ryuushi-san was, well, the rest goes without saying. Even though she was a fruitarian. I suppose it is because fruitarians have a separate stomach for sweets. No, I didn’t intend any deep meaning.<br /> <br /> “Whoa.”<br /> <br /> Maekawa-san bent at the waist and suddenly peered into my face. Since she had an alien mask hanging down behind her head, it startled me on two counts. Alien Maekawa’s shoulders shook as she curled her lips into a teasing smirk.<br /> <br /> “Are you lonely now that Touwa has left your side?”<br /> <br /> “No, not really.”<br /> <br /> Though it was a bit like a child leaving the nest. Well, I suppose it was fine. Probably. I wasn’t lonely, no.<br /> <br /> Maekawa-san was grinning so mischievously that it made me feel uneasy. Then, her body began to sway like a willow leaf.<br /> <br /> “Boom.”<br /> <br /> For some reason, she collided with me. It was so sudden that I stumbled. Or rather, Maekawa-san did. No, wait.<br /> <br /> “Transfer student, I thought I’d offer some comfort to you.”<br /> <br /> “Do you see something in my face that’s asking for a sparring match?”<br /> <br /> She didn’t answer. Instead, Maekawa-san just chuckled, “Fu fuuun”, as if she saw right through everything. Though she really didn’t.<br /> <br /> “Whew, that was a good workout.”<br /> <br /> After the “Boom” ended, Ryuushi-san approached us and made a gesture as if wiping her forehead. As for Erio, for some reason, she tackled me with a “B-Boooom.” I suspected that wasn’t exactly the appropriate way to behave, whether expressing affection or communicating. This girl just loved imitating others.<br /> <br /> Perhaps it was because she was so innocent that she was easily influenced by others. It was quite troublesome as it made it difficult to feed her lies.<br /> <br /> “Hi there, Niwa-kun.”<br /> <br /> Ryuushi-san raised her hand, offering a greeting that sounded like she was imitating the protagonist of some famous manga (though specifically the anime version). I cheerfully raised my hand back with a “Hey!” and received her usual “Nihi” smile.<br /> <br /> “Oh my, do I not get a greeting as well?”<br /> <br /> The incredibly present E.T., standing beside me, pointed it out with a smirk. Perhaps having finally noticed her outfit, Ryuushi-san jumped up with a “Nuwa!” the moment she caught sight of her. It was an excellent display of shock, one that likely wouldn’t have been inferior to the impact of a first encounter with a real extraterrestrial lifeform. Perhaps because she was in the basketball club, her jumping power, too, was impeccable.<br /> <br /> “Maekawa-san, you’re wearing an intense outfit again.”<br /> <br /> “And you yourself, Ryuushi, seem to have chosen quite a cute outfit today.”<br /> <br /> “I-I told ya, I’m Ryuuko! And it’s not true!”<br /> <br /> Ryuushi-san lunged at the E.T. Maekawa. As I watched the two of them bickering, I felt a wave of relief, realising that the relationship which had been so beautifully severed in the future I had imagined was, in reality, still connected without any such animosity. As I watched the two of them bickering, I felt a wave of relief, realising that the relationship which had been so beautifully severed in the future I had imagined was, in reality, still connected without any such animosity.<br /> <br /> “Besides, I-I’m no match for Touwa-san anyway.”<br /> <br /> I glanced at Erio, who was draped in fluttering, frilly clothes. Erio sensitively caught my gaze and pressed herself against my back once again. While part of me thought she really needed to grow out of that habit, another part of me felt conflicted, unable to simply brush her off. Being a guardian was difficult; it was hard to decide how to feel.<br /> <br /> “And, ugh, it’s… it’s the clothes Mum picked out for me.”<br /> <br /> “If we let you choose, you’d only ever pick a futon, so we didn’t have much of a choice.”<br /> <br /> I shrugged. A small doubt remained as to who on earth the clothes Meme-san had pulled out had belonged to, but since they looked good on her, it didn’t really matter. In fact, despite how flashy the clothes were, they seemed to settle into something quite modest whenever Erio’s particles drifted over her, as if shrinking away.<br /> <br /> “You’re terrifying, you know.”<br /> <br /> “W-what?”<br /> <br /> I gently shook my head, telling her not to worry. Erio stared up at me for a moment, but eventually, she seemed to have decided to truly let it go. She peered out from behind my back and raised her right hand.<br /> <br /> “Ryuushi or something, Ta-daaa!”<br /> <br /> Erio thrust her mobile phone towards her, looking as though she were bursting with pride. Because she had over-polished the surface of the phone with a cloth last night, she ended up leaving it covered in scratches. It was certainly shiny, though.<br /> <br /> “Oh, did you get a cell phone too, Touwa-san?”<br /> <br /> “I bought one yesterday. So, let’s exchange numbers…”<br /> <br /> “Hmm, mmm. I suppose that’s fine, right, Niwa-kun?”<br /> <br /> “Eh, you’re putting me on the spot? Well, I guess so.”<br /> <br /> I offered a half-hearted endorsement. With a subtle expression, a sort of “hmmm” that seemed to stem from an unknown cause, Ryuushi pulled out her phone and held it in front of Erio. There were even more straps on it than before.<br /> <br /> “Pe, po, po.”<br /> <br /> “Pi, pi, po.”<br /> <br /> As the two of them operated the phone while creating a world of their own, I snapped a photo from the side and sent it to Meme-san. I had included a note saying that no reply was necessary, but I wondered how effective such a thing really was.<br /> <br /> “There, done. I’ve registered your name as Touwa-san.”<br /> <br /> “And I registered you as Ryuushi or something.”<br /> <br /> “I told ya, I’m Ryuuko!”<br /> <br /> I gently nudged the two of them as they playfully batted at each other, saying, “Alright, alright,” and the four of us began walking together in a group. Erio with friends of the same age walking outdoors alongside her. While Erio also clung to my side, she moved through the town without being wrapped in a futon.<br /> <br /> While I occasionally wished that time would simply stand still, I was also struck by the realisation that we could never have reached this point if time had not flowed, and a thin line of conflicting emotion ran through me. Things rarely go as planned, don’t they? In the end, I suppose the only thing I could do was accept things as they were… For now, I decided to just enjoy the moment.<br /> <br /> An easygoing person, standing just under 180 centimeters (self-proclaimed).<br /> <br /> A wonderful classmate who dressed in a normally cute manner.<br /> <br /> A cosmic girl who radiated a brilliance that could even overpower an outfit designed to emphasise nothing but cuteness.<br /> <br /> And me, maintaining a horizon of exactly zero Youth Points.<br /> <br /> It was an unusual combination. However, it was also a precious moment that we had earned after a long journey.<br /> <br /> And so, I found myself accompanying the Youthful Girl on her day off this Sunday.<br /> <br /> The footsteps of the four of us echoed, each with a unique rhythm. Among them, the most prominent was likely Erio, whose flip-flops made a rhythmic slapping sound. Her footwear was the one thing Meme-san hadn’t picked for her.<br /> <br /> “Hey, Touwa-san, aren’t you going to go back to school or something?”<br /> <br /> Along the way, Ryuushi-san suddenly asked that. She directed it at either Erio or me.<br /> <br /> Erio immediately shook her head vigorously. Vertically. She then muttered, “I won’t.” As if to say, could someone who had already dropped out really just return to school so easily? When I looked up at Maekawa-san, she was tilting her head with a “Who knows?” expression. The part of her E.T. mask that hung loosely also tilted. It was surreal.<br /> <br /> “Hmm, I see. Ah, I wasn’t asking with any deep meaning, really, no.”<br /> <br /> Ryuushi-san waved her hands, emphasising that I shouldn’t worry about it. Erio tended to look down.<br /> <br /> “By the way, where are we headed?”<br /> <br /> As if sensing the atmosphere was on the verge of becoming awkward, Maekawa-san offered a lifeline. Her consideration was wonderful, but it was a secret that I felt like asking exactly where her mascot suit was headed.<br /> <br /> “The karaoke box at that corner over there. Since Touwa-san is here, I thought karaoke would be fine.”<br /> <br /> “Wh-why? Karaoke=me? Why?”<br /> <br /> “Eh, you were singing, weren’t you? You sang live with Owari, didn’t you?”<br /> <br /> It seemed she was still jealous about it. Erio used me as a shield in an attempt to escape that longing gaze. In response, Ryuushi-san circled around, trying to peer into Erio’s face. Erio tried to dodge that as well, and the two continued to circle each other further and further, and so on. They spun around in circles like dogs chasing their own tails.<br /> <br /> “Mmm.”<br /> <br /> “Mmmmm.”<br /> <br /> After glaring at one another, the two began repeating movements like side-to-side lateral shuffles around me. It was impossible to remain at peace with people bouncing erratically all around my person. Or rather, it was far too difficult to walk.<br /> <br /> “Help me, Maeemon!”<br /> <br /> I tried to cling to E.T., who had taken a step back and was clearly enjoying the spectacle. E.T. Maekawa simply gave a blatantly insincere, “Ah ha ha ha,” and brushed my words aside. Shit, even though she was supposed to be my future bride (in my delusions).<br /> <br /> “It’s fine that they are getting along so well. It seems their mental ages are quite similar, too.”<br /> <br /> “Actually, we are all supposed to be around the same age…”<br /> <br /> All of us here were. Yet, I couldn’t help but wonder why Maekawa-san was so much more composed than the rest of us. Though, I wondered if Maekawa-san wasn’t a bit too calm, since she could walk around outside in a mascot suit without a second thought.<br /> <br /> Erio’s and Ryuushi-san’s jumping around continued until we finally reached our destination. By that time, I had grown used to it.<br /> <br /> I grabbed the shy Erio by the scruff of her neck and led her into the karaoke box. The interior seemed to be themed for Halloween, as several pumpkin decorations were scattered around. There was also a dart set and a preserved apple that looked like something William Tell might have worn on his head. There didn’t seem to be any bow and arrow to shoot through it, though.<br /> <br /> According to the staff, many customers had apparently been singing since the morning, and there were only two private rooms left.<br /> <br /> “How many hours are you going to sing for?”<br /> <br /> Having been appointed as the representative to deal with the staff, I turned around and asked my companions for their opinions.<br /> <br /> “About three hours?” “Th-three-minute cooking!” “Chan-chaka-chaka-chaka…”<br /> <br /> Since there was only one viable suggestion, I settled on three hours. I will leave it to your imagination as to who uttered which line. As we moved toward the room, I found myself counting on my fingers, wondering how many years it had been since I last went to karaoke.<br /> <br /> “I prefer ''karaage''&lt;ref name=&quot;ftn41&quot;&gt;Karaage is deep-fried marinated meat (usually chicken)&lt;/ref&gt; to karaoke.”<br /> <br /> Erio, who was clinging to me, muttered her complaint. I silently agreed, thinking, “Me too.”<br /> <br /> As we climbed the stairs at the back and entered the reserved room, it was already lively. The hallway had been unusually boisterous and loud, but the inside was quite noisy as well. Although the light fixtures glowed without restraint, not a single ray of daylight reached the room; yet, not one of the athletic types present complained that being in such a place during the daytime was unhealthy. After all, the only sports-orientated person among us was the one who had requested this very room. Long live karaoke.<br /> <br /> “Where are you going to sit, Niwa-kun?”<br /> <br /> “Hmm, well, I’ll just sit somewhere here, I guess.”<br /> <br /> I sat down on the left side of the two available sofas. Immediately, Erio sat down right next to me. Then, Ryuushi-san sat down beside me as well with a heavy “thump”. Maekawa-san, who was left behind, decided to sit “on the transfer student’s lap, in true E.T. fashion”, choosing a position that was quite a stretch. And yet, she actually settled in. I mean, even without a girl sitting on my legs, I was already surrounded by girls on both sides.<br /> <br /> As a young man, or rather, as a high schooler, I didn’t have much confidence in my ability to restrain my physical reactions, no matter how much E.T.-like her outfit was! However, for the sake of my honour, I bit down on my molars and cheeks, trying my absolute best to endure.<br /> <br /> “Whoa, she’s light, but the presence is intense. It feels like a small wall is resting on me.”<br /> <br /> I muttered such casual observations aloud. In reality, something like a red lamp was spinning round and round inside my head. It created the illusion that I was just standing vacantly inside a dark tunnel at night.<br /> <br /> “Nuu, Maekawa-san! As far as Ryuuko-san is concerned, this is beeep beeep!”<br /> <br /> “What are you talking about? You were the one who chose that spot and sat down first, Ryuushi.”<br /> <br /> “I told ya, I’m Ryuuko!”<br /> <br /> They spent a good ten minutes engaged in such back-and-forth banter. After those ten minutes, I felt full, or, well, yeah.<br /> <br /> I felt as though something slightly more profound than Youth Points had accumulated, I suppose.<br /> <br /> In the end, Ryuushi-san and Maekawa-san sat on the sofa across from us, leaving Erio and me exactly where we were. Maekawa-san had persuaded Ryuushi-san with an argument that was somewhere between persuasion and sarcasm, saying, “Wouldn’t it be pitiful for Touwa if her guardian wasn’t sitting right next to her?” and that was how the seating arrangement was settled.<br /> <br /> Sitting by the intercom, Ryuushi-san took our order, requesting drinks and some fried potatoes to serve as a substitute for lunch. Maybe the secret of the fruitarian to maintaining her physique lay in the moderate consumption of potatoes?<br /> <br /> “Man, it still feels strange. Spending a day off with Touwa-san and all.”<br /> <br /> Ryuushi-san, who had repositioned herself on the sofa, gave Erio a wry smile. Erio looked up at Ryuushi-san, her gaze fixed on her, while simultaneously looking down as if trying to read her expression. Her eyes were shining so brightly that Ryuushi-san actually recoiled.<br /> <br /> “It’s something that would have been unimaginable just a little while ago, right?”<br /> <br /> When Ryuushi-san sought agreement, Maekawa-san gave her usual cynical chuckle and said, “I suppose so. I guess we have the transfer student to thank for this, too.”<br /> <br /> “…No. Wasn’t it because Erio sang on the stage during the school festival?”<br /> <br /> I tried to praise Erio’s spontaneous action by giving her a little nudge. However, Erio naturally shook her head vigorously, saying, “No, no.” As she denied it exactly as expected, the three of us looked at one another and laughed.<br /> <br /> Somehow, Erio had settled in quite well. With enough time, it certainly wouldn’t be impossible to expand that sense of belonging even further. Even if it was impossible for her to blend in completely.<br /> <br /> “Well, let’s just settle on it being thanks to the Youth Points, then.”<br /> <br /> “Youth Points?”<br /> <br /> “Don’t worry about it.”<br /> <br /> While I held a finger to Erio’s forehead to prevent her from pressing for more answers, the drinks and fried potatoes were delivered. We had ordered green tea in a pitcher (Maekawa-san had mentioned that oolong tea makes one’s throat dry because it strips away the oil, so it was no good for singing), and we poured it into our respective glasses. Then, for the time being, we held a toast.<br /> <br /> “What are we toasting to?”<br /> <br /> “Hmm, well, to Touwa-san, then.”<br /> <br /> “I-I decline.”<br /> <br /> I ignored Erio’s protest and unilaterally declared, “Cheers!” It was such a troublesome way to praise someone that it even made me burst into a “Wa ha ha” laugh. A toast to Erio.<br /> <br /> Back in April I wouldn’t have believed it. With the Denpa Smakin by my side, I would have said, “There is no way this could be possible.” Including the fact that the following month, I would suffer my first broken bone and be hospitalised.<br /> <br /> “Well, shall we start singing soon?”<br /> <br /> The four of us entered the codes using the remote while picking at a large pile of fried potatoes.<br /> <br /> “What are you going to sing, Touwa-san? Some Nijuo Owari?”<br /> <br /> “A-a Mofu-mofu song.”<br /> <br /> “There is no such thing as a mochi-mochi tree.”<br /> <br /> “Ugh… the one I listened to with Cousin.”<br /> <br /> That was all she had talked about since yesterday. As she found herself distressed, it was Maekawa-san she turned to, not me.<br /> <br /> “Ah, in that case, shall we sing it together?”<br /> <br /> “Hmm.”<br /> <br /> “Ehh, then Ryuuko-san shall join you as well!”<br /> <br /> “Since Maekawa-san is someone who can read the room, I shall participate too.”<br /> <br /> One after another, people raised their hands until it turned into a chorus. “Fine, whatever, let’s just all sing together.”<br /> <br /> There were many songs whose lyrics I didn’t know, but I decided to just bluff my way through with the rhythm.<br /> <br /> “The first song is… Ah, the one I entered.”<br /> <br /> An unfamiliar melody echoed through the room. Maekawa-san began preparing the microphones.<br /> <br /> “Whoa, that’s a song I’ve never heard before.”<br /> <br /> “It’s that Nijo Owari song, the one she was singing on stage. It’s called ''Tokaido Melos''.”<br /> <br /> I had missed that song at the concert because I was too busy following Eliott-san.<br /> <br /> “I sang it while lip-syncing.”<br /> <br /> Erio boasted, raising her hand. I nudged her with my elbow to shut her up and gripped the microphone, fuelled by the momentum of the moment and a sense of desperation. I had absolutely no confidence in my singing, but simply clapping along seemed just as boring.<br /> <br /> The music paused for a moment, followed by a brief silence. Then, I felt Ryuushi-san take a deep breath. I glanced at the screen, realising that the lyrics were about to begin. Did Maekawa-san memorise the song? She looked off into the distance with a satisfied expression, her lips and cheeks relaxing into a slightly smug, goofy grin.<br /> <br /> “…*Inhale* *Exhale*.”<br /> <br /> “Stop breathing like that.”<br /> <br /> While I was busy reprimanding Erio, the song began. Ryuushi-san started with a solo. Maekawa-san hurriedly joined in, revealing she couldn’t sing even if her life depended on it, and then Erio and I joined in.<br /> <br /> [[File:DTS Vol 07 215.jpg|thumb|Maekawa-san hurriedly joined in, revealing she couldn’t sing even if her life depended on it, and then Erio and I joined in.]]<br /> <br /> … Well. As for the content, the quality was abysmal. The three of us, whose knowledge of the lyrics and pitch were all dubious, ended up dragging down Ryuushi-san, the only one who should have been able to sing properly, creating a clumsy, garbled echo.<br /> <br /> Between Ryuushi-san’s distorted vocals and the chorus of the Distortion Crew, it could only be described as a complete disaster. It was nothing more than a loud, aimless wall of sound that felt like nails scratching against a chalkboard.<br /> <br /> It seemed likely that for the next song, and the one after that, we would continue to fail to stay in sync, merely asserting our presence through undisciplined voices. From the very first song, everyone realized this.<br /> <br /> Even so, we continued just as we were, clutching the microphones and straining our voices however we pleased.<br /> <br /> To begin with, no matter how hard we tried, there was no way our paces would ever align. I wanted people to remember us who gathered. A 180 cm E.T. – a perfectly wonderful classmate. A girl that seemed to come from a water planet. And I, with no prospects of recovering my Youth Points. There was no way people like us could ever reach a consensus.<br /> <br /> I didn’t think our bond was something that was meant to be maintained in that way. As long as Erio was around, being a group of ordinary, happy friends was nothing more than a pipe dream. Just like E.T. was never able to fully adapt to Earth.<br /> <br /> In that sense, it was actually correct to call the existence known as Touwa Erio an “alien”.<br /> <br /> If this town were to be compared to a miniature Earth. Then calling her a foreign, heterogeneous presence would not be a lie. I, too, had been an alien, a transfer student, even if only for a very brief period. Erio’s degree of “alienness” was simply too strong; it would surely be impossible for her to ever fully blend into this town.<br /> <br /> Touwa Erio was an Earthling. However, from the perspective of the townspeople, she was also, inevitably, an “alien”.<br /> <br /> Yet, there was no reason why Earthlings could not become friends with an alien.<br /> <br /> I believed that this could be achieved through a completely new form of communication and a way of existing through emotions, something entirely different from the methods Earthlings used to deepen their own bonds. And I believed that this was my current choice. Regardless of the motive, the fact that I had dragged this futon-woman this far was the result of my process over the past six months.<br /> <br /> I wondered what motive would drive me next, and what kind of present I would choose then.<br /> <br /> “Aaaaaaaaah, I look forward to iiiit!”<br /> <br /> I suddenly poured out my feelings, having nothing to do with the lyrics. Since I had shouted it without any preamble, hoping no one would understand, the fact that all three of them looked at me in equal shock was exactly what I had expected, and it made me feel incredibly uplifted.<br /> <br /> Finally, around the sixth or seventh song, the track I had registered began to play.<br /> <br /> The moment I desired was coming. I continued to choose the present, always believing in that fact.<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> It was after five in the evening when I parted ways with Ryuushi-san and Maekawa-san. The cloudy sky failed to clear until the very end, and night gradually began to bleed into the mouse-grey horizon. At least it didn’t rain, so I felt relieved.<br /> <br /> “See you at school tomorrow!”<br /> <br /> “See you at school tomorrow!”<br /> <br /> “Don’t go stealing my lines!”<br /> <br /> Perhaps it was because I had spent so much time laughing along with Maekawa-san and the others as they exchanged those kinds of greetings, but my cheek felt a little sore. It wasn’t as if my life was filled with nothing but boisterous laughter. If anything, at the Touwa household, I was usually the one doing the pointing and teasing.<br /> <br /> …I see. So the reason Meme-san’s cheeks were always so soft was because she was constantly laughing her head off.<br /> <br /> What a happy person, I thought, my sentiment carrying a double meaning.<br /> <br /> “Mmm fuuufuuufuuu, mmm, fuuufuuufuuufuuu. Fuuufuuufuuufuuu, fuuufuuu, fuuufuuufuuu.”<br /> <br /> Erio, who was perched comfortably in her basket, was in high spirits, and her humming was just as energetic. Even after we moved away from the station area and toward the residential district, her solo performance continued. Devoided of the usual mofu-mofu from her futon, her voice sounded electronic.<br /> <br /> Should we have dinner too? A discussion came up regarding whether we should grab dinner, but since Meme-san had sent an email saying, “Tonight will be chicken or something,” it appeared Erio decided to head home. Following that momentum, we naturally went our separate ways.<br /> <br /> “Did you have fun?”<br /> <br /> “Yeah!”<br /> <br /> She nodded vigorously. Then, for some reason, her expression turned startled, and she looked away, pouting her lips.<br /> <br /> “Well, it was ok-ish.”<br /> <br /> There seemed to be absolutely no need to correct it, though. I wondered why children were so unable to live so simply. Light blue particles drifted through the air like spores on the wind, dancing across the road in the wake of my bicycle. The evening sky was overcast, imbued with a sense of fantasy. Within that setting, her pale right hand and her mobile phone possessed an aura that felt as if they might even pick up signals from some special, alternative world. Yes, for example, something like a multiverse, or perhaps the future.<br /> <br /> “My phone feels so much heavier now that Ryuushi or something’s and Maekawa or something’s numbers are in there.”<br /> <br /> “It’s not like they actually have mass… Well, I suppose that works as a metaphor.”<br /> <br /> I pressed down on the pedals, accelerating my journey home just a little. The sound of the two wheels spinning resonated with the chirping of the insects. Clank-clank-clank, in resonance, like gears meshing together. The blowing wind felt damp, as if heavy with moisture, leaving a chill between my clothes and my skin. It felt as though I were puffing on the air to cool the lingering heat left behind by summer. It was already autumn.<br /> <br /> “We, are, heading, home, now. Ah, we, are, on, our, way, home. Ah, we, will, arrive, soon.”<br /> <br /> Erio tapped away, sending emails addressed to Meme-san. There was no need to provide a live play-by-play just because her location was constantly changing. Looking at her hair, which was beginning to lose its volume, I thought that radio waves might actually be broadcasting from her very fingertips, and I felt a sense of mystery in the colours that resembled the underside of Antarctic ice.<br /> <br /> “And after that, Ryuushi or something, please… get… home… safely…”<br /> <br /> “I don’t want to hear that from someone sitting in a bicycle basket.”<br /> <br /> ''And I told you to wear a helmet ''was the kind of reply I could imagine.<br /> <br /> While the sense of accomplishment felt strange, I arrived at the Touwa residence, sharing a certain tangible feeling with Erio. I slowed down as we entered the grounds, and after the wheels ran over the garden grass that had begun to grow long again, I brought the bicycle to a stop in front of the barn. Then, a curtain of colour, slightly redder than orange, draped over our shoulders.<br /> <br /> That curtain was the radiance of another star, which had visited us about eight minutes ago.<br /> <br /> “Ooh.”<br /> <br /> Perhaps drawn by the setting sun that was rapidly dyeing her mobile phone, Erio was the first to let out a cry of wonder.<br /> <br /> Through a gap in the thin clouds, a coppery hue surged across the sky. It spread with a vivid intensity, as if droplets of flame had spilt onto a sheet of drawing paper. The light radiating from it was deep red, yet it felt somehow cold.<br /> <br /> “The day is ending. A wonderful day is ending.”<br /> <br /> Erio murmured those words. Bathed directly in the brilliance of the setting sun, her form blended with the light blue hues, making her look as if a tiny Earth were floating upon the surface of Mars. The particles of light dissolved into one another slowly.<br /> <br /> It was a world of light that evoked an image of Erio standing at the very centre of a dying star.<br /> <br /> Woosh. A sensation like tinnitus enveloped my ears. It felt like the sound of the wind coming to a standstill.<br /> <br /> I reached my hand out toward the landscape where that encounter with another world was taking place. Then, with incredible ease, the light burst and accepted my hand. I placed my hand upon Erio’s head. Because her hair was so heavily adorned, it was difficult to stroke.<br /> <br /> “Tomorrow will have its own joys.”<br /> <br /> “Hmm.”<br /> <br /> Was I trying to persuade her or comfort her? I didn’t know myself, but I spoke those words nonetheless. Erio nodded with a smile, spread both her arms out horizontally, and ran toward the entrance with a “Wheee!” Of course, her footsteps went tap-tap-tap.<br /> <br /> I watched her go, and then, with the sunset glaring beneath my eyes, I pushed my bicycle. After putting the bike away in the back and stepping out of the shed, the sun had already vanished. There was no light, and a heavy sky enveloped me.<br /> <br /> I had seen skies like this many times before. Because I had seen them, I would face tomorrow once again today.<br /> <br /> There were no infinite possibilities. It was nothing more than a one-way street. Even so, we “choose” our path, moment by moment, day by day.<br /> <br /> I interpreted the accumulation of subdivided choices as the very act of living.<br /> <br /> When the peak of those accumulated choices finally broke through to the surface. Just like Erio did today.<br /> <br /> I wondered if she would think, “I am glad I am alive.”<br /> <br /> “Mako-kun-kun, hurry, hurry!”<br /> <br /> Peering through the living room window, Meme-san beckoned to me, calling me by that unwanted nickname.<br /> <br /> “How did you even know…? Fine, fine, I’m coming!”<br /> <br /> And so, our holiday drew to an end.<br /> <br /> And following the holiday, of course, the time came to fulfil our respective duties.<br /> <br /> &lt;noinclude&gt;<br /> {| border=&quot;1&quot; cellpadding=&quot;5&quot; cellspacing=&quot;0&quot; style=&quot;margin: 1em 1em 1em 0; background: #f9f9f9; border: 1px #aaaaaa solid; padding: 0.2em; border-collapse: collapse;&quot;<br /> |-<br /> | Back to [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume7_Chapter6|Chapter 6]]<br /> | Return to [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko|Main Page]]<br /> | Forward to [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume7_Chapter8|Chapter 8]]<br /> |-<br /> |}<br /> &lt;/noinclude&gt;</div>

Bob Morane http://www.baka-tsuki.org/project/index.php?title=Denpa_Onna_to_Seishun_Otoko:Volume7_Chapter6&diff=588771 2026-08-23T07:43:45Z

<p>Bob Morane: Created page with &quot;&lt;noinclude&gt; {| border=&quot;1&quot; cellpadding=&quot;5&quot; cellspacing=&quot;0&quot; style=&quot;margin: 1em 1em 1em 0; background: #f9f9f9; border: 1px #aaaaaa solid; padding: 0.2em; border-collapse: collapse;&quot; |- | Back to Chapter 5 | Return to Main Page | Forward to Chapter 7 |- |} &lt;/noinclude&gt; ==Chapter 6 - Ending No. 5: Together with Meme-tan== During summer vacation,...&quot;</p> <hr /> <div>&lt;noinclude&gt;<br /> {| border=&quot;1&quot; cellpadding=&quot;5&quot; cellspacing=&quot;0&quot; style=&quot;margin: 1em 1em 1em 0; background: #f9f9f9; border: 1px #aaaaaa solid; padding: 0.2em; border-collapse: collapse;&quot;<br /> |-<br /> | Back to [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume7_Chapter5|Chapter 5]]<br /> | Return to [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko|Main Page]]<br /> | Forward to [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume7_Chapter7|Chapter 7]]<br /> |-<br /> |}<br /> &lt;/noinclude&gt;<br /> ==Chapter 6 - Ending No. 5: Together with Meme-tan==<br /> <br /> During summer vacation, with her daughter too busy stargazing and her nephew treating her coldly and no one paying her any kind of attention, she suddenly charged towards the mirror on her dressing table while shouting, “Meme-taaaaan”. I have a mountain of things I want to say about this forty-year-old woman who slammed her forehead into it and writhed in agony, but I’ll stick to just one carefully selected remark.<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> No way.<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> “Just kidding~!”<br /> <br /> “Gah!”<br /> <br /> She forcibly prevented the forced shutdown. Before I knew it, Meme-san, who had appeared out of nowhere by my side (purely in my imagination, mind you) threw herself at me and latched onto me. She grabbed my head, digging her fingers into my waist.<br /> <br /> “My husband is a high schooler!”<br /> <br /> “I refuse to have a wife who’s a forty-year-old ''youkai''!”<br /> <br /> I pressed my hands against my cheeks, trying to peel Meme-san off me. In my imagination, the way the flesh of her cheeks stretched and deformed felt incredibly soft, which left me feeling somewhat flustered. But regardless of that, she refused to let go. Since she was merely a figment of my imagination, things should be going exactly as I wish. Perhaps my aversion to her has seeped in so deeply that I couldn’t even win against her in my own head. It was like trying to train a dog.<br /> <br /> “You really had the nerve to turn Meme-chin into an old hag and then kill her just now, didn’t you?!”<br /> <br /> “I paid my respects to her throughout the whole thing!”<br /> <br /> “Mama, Papa”,<br /> <br /> “Argh, stay away, you hallucination!”<br /> <br /> I waved away Erio, who came running toward us with her small hands outstretched, looking like a child. For some reason, Erio began to orbit us like a moon. Pale blue particles sparkled like stars, falling upon us like snow. It felt as if she were blessing us. I’m going to burn that glittery dust, you bitch. I feel like she got shorter every time she circled us, too. What are you, a stick of butter?<br /> <br /> “U fu fu. Look at Eri-tan, so totally attached to Papa now. '''Jealousy'''!”<br /> <br /> “What kind of pronunciation is that?! And hey, don’t get lost in your own delusions inside someone else’s delusions! How brazen!”<br /> <br /> “I’m already a completely new bride, right?”<br /> <br /> “Please don’t brag about your mastery at defying the flow of time!”<br /> <br /> As expected of a delusion, where even time leaps were at will! Come up with something better.<br /> <br /> Since it seemed Meme-san had no intention of letting go no matter what, I give up on trying to push her back. At that, Meme-san also stopped her unusual clinging. “Erio, welcome home!” she said, beckoning. “Papa!” Erio, who has shrunk to about half her usual height, leapt at me. Does she want to get punched or something? Just like that, Erio and I were together, embraced by Meme-san. Ugh, it was incredibly stifling. It’s not that I was embarrassed.<br /> <br /> “What is this composition?”<br /> <br /> “It’s just our usual happy little family.”<br /> <br /> “…Wait, family? You two should take that somewhere else.”<br /> <br /> It was slightly better than being described as a newlywed plus her ex-husband’s daughter, at least.<br /> <br /> “Seriously, what kind of lifestyle leads to an end like this?”<br /> <br /> “This is what happens when you just act like yourself. Happy-py!”<br /> <br /> Meme-san raised both her arms. She finally released me from her hug. Ah, the air tasted sweet. It was worth holding my breath. I mean, sniffing the body odour of my forty-year-old aunt, I’d just be a lost cause, right?<br /> <br /> “Happy-py!”<br /> <br /> “Don’t repeat after me, you little one.”<br /> <br /> Little Erio wiggled around and settled herself on my lap. Even she was acting like a pampered daughter! However, unlike the forty-year-old, she was much harder to brush off. Perhaps it was because her eyes were so light blue that they always gave the illusion of being watery. Erio turned around and stared intently at me. Staaaaaare. What?<br /> <br /> “Papa, buy me a gold bar!”<br /> <br /> She made her request with a deadpan expression. It was obvious she just asked without really knowing what she was talking about.<br /> <br /> “Do you want me to shove it up your nose?”<br /> <br /> “Papa, I’m getting married.”<br /> <br /> “Wait, to whom?”<br /> <br /> Was there even a male character that fitted that description?<br /> <br /> “Hmm…” Erio said, crossing her arms. Could someone who barely remembers names actually remember faces?<br /> <br /> “Then, with Cousin.”<br /> <br /> “…Given the setting, you should probably stick to calling him Papa to be consistent.”<br /> <br /> Suddenly reminded of reality, I felt a wave of shame. I scratched my nose with a hint of embarrassment.<br /> <br /> “Kyaa! Every time I look at this photo, I get so excited!”<br /> <br /> Meme-san placed the photo frame on the desk, swaying side to side with such high-speed glee that I half-expected her to start splitting into clones. Glancing at the photo framed within, I found myself thinking, “Is the Earth coming to an end?”<br /> <br /> “Let’s display the wedding reception photo right here!”<br /> <br /> “Image manipulation technology these days is truly something else, isn’t it?”<br /> <br /> It was impressive. The fabricated bride and groom were captured with beautiful smiles. They even had tears in their eyes. Right now, I was the one who wanted to cry. As if seeing right through my feelings, Meme-san looked at me with a grin.<br /> <br /> “Fu fu fu, it seems you aren’t too pleased.”<br /> <br /> “It’s not the photo arrangement that I’m dissatisfied with.”<br /> <br /> I pre-emptively shut down her attempt at a joke. Meme-san let out a small “Tch” and straightened her posture.<br /> <br /> “You’re saying you don’t want to face a future like this, dear husband.”<br /> <br /> “Please find me a husband who says he does want to face it.”<br /> <br /> I rested my hand on Erio’s head as she sat quietly in my lap, letting out an exasperated laugh.<br /> <br /> “But Mako, was there any other ending you could have imagined that would have satisfied you?”<br /> <br /> “Huh? Ah, well…”<br /> <br /> If I had to say, staying in this town and playing with great-grandchildren might seem like an ideal life at first glance… but perhaps that’s because it was a path that lead all the way into old age. I couldn’t help but feel that the sense of satisfaction came from forgetting all the bad parts and focusing only on the good. It’s as if, without a future, one found himself clinging to the past.<br /> <br /> …Even if I said all that, as of right now, I was just an ordinary second-year high schooler. I didn’t truly know how an elderly person felt. I felt like if I tried to shrug it off by saying, “Ask Meme-tan about that,” she would punch me without a second thought.<br /> <br /> “If you’re looking for something ephemeral, how about this?”<br /> <br /> “Yes?”<br /> <br /> “Eri-tan, grow uuuuuup!”<br /> <br /> With Meme’s spell-like declaration, the shrunken Erio began to grow. While I was struck by the question, “Why is she acting so freely even though this is all a figment of my imagination?” things happened, and before I knew it, “Mogu”, my face was pressed against Erio’s chest, which seemed about twenty percent more developed than usual. I was thrown into confusion, wondering why I was being controlled and where the logic was, but even the sensation of her pressing against me felt terribly vague. “Be smaaaaall!” With a single word from Meme-san, she shrank again.<br /> <br /> “So, isn’t this what you wanted?”<br /> <br /> “It’s not a matter of wanting or not! This is way too sudden!”<br /> <br /> “What are you even saying? I don’t get how you can deny Meme-chin when you’re such a good-for-nothing who can’t even figure out what he wants.”<br /> <br /> Once again, she lunged at me. “Gah!” It felt like being hit by a tsunami. With Erio at the centre, Meme-san and I were effectively surrounding her. It was not quite as striking as Erio’s, but her calm indigo hair brushed against my face. And her chest too. A full-on collision straight to my face…………………………………….. I tried to stay blank-minded, resolving not to say a single word, but I reached my limit. For a seventeen-year-old, I had reached my limit in every sense of the word.<br /> <br /> “Mofuu.”<br /> <br /> [[File:DTS Vol 07 176.jpg|thumb|My entire world was, for the most part, filled with breasts.]]<br /> <br /> Erio, caught quite comfortably between Meme-san and me, let out a voice that sounded like a protest. However, Meme-san’s arms were latched onto my back like a parasite and wouldn’t let go, and given the state of her chest, her breasts were swaying away as she wriggled her body happily. My entire world was, for the most part, filled with breasts.<br /> <br /> Combined with the fact that she was my aunt, my grasp on global common sense began to blur, and I felt lightheaded from the lack of oxygen.<br /> <br /> Then, with a smile that bordered on conviction and a mischievous glint in her eyes, Meme-san peered into my face, her gaze shining intensely. For some reason, even within my blurring vision, I felt as though her hair had emitted a brilliant radiance.<br /> <br /> I refused to admit, even at the cost of my life, that this was the “newlywed effect”.<br /> <br /> “Fu fu, this ending isn’t bad either, is it?”<br /> <br /> “…………”<br /> <br /> I was foolish, ephemeral, and only seventeen, unable to say, “Yes, it is!”<br /> <br /> However, well, there was that one thing. The thing I feared most, or rather, the real problem.<br /> <br /> It was the fact that “this” was not much different from the reality surrounding me.<br /> <br /> In the fact that reality was even encroaching upon my nightmares, I caught a glimpse of the end of my delusions.<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> “Nwaaaaaaaah!”<br /> <br /> “Mako-kun-kun, shut up.”<br /> <br /> &lt;noinclude&gt;<br /> {| border=&quot;1&quot; cellpadding=&quot;5&quot; cellspacing=&quot;0&quot; style=&quot;margin: 1em 1em 1em 0; background: #f9f9f9; border: 1px #aaaaaa solid; padding: 0.2em; border-collapse: collapse;&quot;<br /> |-<br /> | Back to [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume7_Chapter5|Chapter 5]]<br /> | Return to [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko|Main Page]]<br /> | Forward to [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume7_Chapter7|Chapter 7]]<br /> |-<br /> |}<br /> &lt;/noinclude&gt;</div>

Bob Morane http://www.baka-tsuki.org/project/index.php?title=Denpa_Onna_to_Seishun_Otoko:Volume7_Chapter5&diff=588770 2026-08-23T07:43:37Z

<p>Bob Morane: Created page with &quot;&lt;noinclude&gt; {| border=&quot;1&quot; cellpadding=&quot;5&quot; cellspacing=&quot;0&quot; style=&quot;margin: 1em 1em 1em 0; background: #f9f9f9; border: 1px #aaaaaa solid; padding: 0.2em; border-collapse: collapse;&quot; |- | Back to Chapter 4 | Return to Main Page | Forward to Chapter 6 |- |} &lt;/noinclude&gt; ==Chapter 5 - Ending No. 2559: Do Spacesuits Dream of Silkworms?== “Cousin,...&quot;</p> <hr /> <div>&lt;noinclude&gt;<br /> {| border=&quot;1&quot; cellpadding=&quot;5&quot; cellspacing=&quot;0&quot; style=&quot;margin: 1em 1em 1em 0; background: #f9f9f9; border: 1px #aaaaaa solid; padding: 0.2em; border-collapse: collapse;&quot;<br /> |-<br /> | Back to [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume7_Chapter4|Chapter 4]]<br /> | Return to [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko|Main Page]]<br /> | Forward to [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume7_Chapter6|Chapter 6]]<br /> |-<br /> |}<br /> &lt;/noinclude&gt;<br /> ==Chapter 5 - Ending No. 2559: Do Spacesuits Dream of Silkworms?==<br /> <br /> “Cousin, let’s go stargazing. Hey, come on!”<br /> <br /> “Don’t grab me by the back of my neck and pull. Am I a cat!?”<br /> <br /> “You’re not as cute as a cat.”<br /> <br /> “Sorry to disappoint,” I grumbled as my cousin dragged me along. It was an annual tradition where I would come to stay at my aunt’s house during summer vacation. I’d stay for a week, or sometimes up to two. Even though my aunt’s place was in a much more urban area than my own town, it had a certain rustic charm that made it strangely comfortable. Here, I found my playful young aunt and my blue-haired cousin.<br /> <br /> And here, there stood a massive, towering rocket, visible from almost anywhere in town.<br /> <br /> “Whoa! Did you spray bug repellent?”<br /> <br /> My aunt called out to me from down the hallway. My cousin, who was pulling me along, looked back with boundless energy as she ran. “I’m fine!” In reality, I couldn’t smell any bug spray on her. This meant that tomorrow, she’ll be in trouble, scratching away after getting bitten on her arms and legs. Me too, though.<br /> <br /> With our shoes slapped on haphazardly, we burst from the entrance out into the garden. The sun had completely set, and summer insects were chirping from all corners of the yard. Before I even had a moment to listen to their subtle melodies, a stark contrast to cicadas in the daytime, the telescope my cousin and I had carried out was set up in the garden. The telescope was ancient, its once-white body now yellowed and covered in scratches. *Wheeze, wheeze…* I didn’t know exactly how old it was, but my aunt once told me it was used by our ancestors so long ago that neither my dad nor my grandpa had ever even met them. Of course, she said she never met them either.<br /> <br /> “Hey, Cousin, move aside. Leave the rest of the preparations to this great master!”<br /> <br /> My cousin puffed out her chest and brushed me aside with a smug “Hmph!” She’s the only one who knows how to adjust the telescope. Even so, could I let that look on her face slide? I brought my fist down, planting a playful thud right on her head.<br /> <br /> “What are you doing?! You’re going to crush my precious brain cells!”<br /> <br /> “I doubt they’re that precious; you’ve got plenty of them. More importantly, stop making your hair glow like spores.”<br /> <br /> “How should I care? It’s not like I’m doing it on purpose!”<br /> <br /> She twisted her body to dodge my fist. Then, while pouting, my cousin gave me a warning: “Don’t get in my way!” “I won’t,” I replied bluntly, before swiping a hand at the insects fluttering around us.<br /> <br /> Every night, we do this: sit and gaze at the stars. We did it last year, and the year before that.<br /> <br /> If I come to this house next year, I’m sure we’ll be doing the exact same thing.<br /> <br /> “But seriously, your hair really is weird.”<br /> <br /> “Got a problem with that?”<br /> <br /> “It’s pretty, so it’s fine, right?”<br /> <br /> “Then we’re good.”<br /> <br /> My cousin nodded cheerfully. Even as she spoke, her hands and eyes moved with precision, continuing to adjust the telescope. Every night, we stood beneath the starry sky in search of the stars’ radiance. Yet, depending on what we sought in that light, what my cousin and I saw was slightly different. I suppose that, too, was part of the charm of dreaming of the stars.<br /> <br /> Looking back, there were clouds drifting across the night sky and a massive shadow spreading out like a monster. That shadow swallowed the night with a shape like the tip of a blade, possessing a presence so overwhelming it felt as if it might collapse upon us at any moment.<br /> <br /> “Once again, the moon is hidden behind the shadow of the rocket.”<br /> <br /> “Mm.”<br /> <br /> My cousin cast a brief glance upward and gave a short nod.<br /> <br /> There was a rocket in our town. It was much larger than any of the massive structures, a rocket built for travelling into space. It stood in a detached area of town, and apparently, it was once a local attraction. Since that was long before I was born, I didn’t know much about it. The rocket itself had been left abandoned for various reasons since it was manufactured over two hundred years ago. There were still some eccentrics who maintained it on their own, which was why it remained standing to this day.<br /> <br /> No matter how long we waited, the day will never come when that rocket, which seemed to tear through the night sky, would actually launch into space. Someday, the people who maintain it will vanish, and fearing it might collapse, someone will dismantle it, and the rocket, along with its shadow, will disappear somewhere. Yet, I felt as though if the rocket were to vanish, this town itself might just fly away with it.<br /> <br /> “It’s finished, Cousin. Now, go on; give this Great Master your praise.”<br /> <br /> “Nice, great, now move over and let me have this spot!”<br /> <br /> “Oh, I can see it, I can see it! There are some wonderful stars visible tonight, too.”<br /> <br /> She completely ignored me. Peering through the adjusted telescope, a wide grin spread across her face. I couldn’t bring myself to pull her away from the lens and her expression, so I just scratched my cheek. Swatting away the buzzing insects, I waited patiently.<br /> <br /> Eventually, my cousin pulled her eyes away from the telescope and looked up at the sky with her naked eyes, pointing firmly upward.<br /> <br /> Toward the night sky, and toward a star 20 light-years away, far, far into the distance.<br /> <br /> Toward that far-off place she continued to stare at through the telescope.<br /> <br /> “If we keep travelling and travelling in this direction, we’ll find aliens there.”<br /> <br /> “I know. Those who send light signals from the stars, right?”<br /> <br /> That much was common knowledge. My cousin nodded, her eyes sparkling like the stars themselves.<br /> <br /> “The aliens… I really want to meet them.”<br /> <br /> Every night, no, at every possible opportunity, my cousin let those droplets of dreams spill from her lips. Each time, as she tilted her chin up and her lips parted just slightly, a flood of various emotions welled up within me. There was no negativity in her expression, yet the mixture of goodwill and affection was so incoherent that it tormented my mind, becoming a constant source of headaches.<br /> <br /> Because I tried so hard to swallow it all down, everything only became more of a jumbled mess, and my vision began to blur at the edges.<br /> <br /> Then again, this is nothing new.<br /> <br /> But today, I truly wanted to cast a light upon the dreams she so passively gazed toward.<br /> <br /> As if to frame her against the silhouette of the rocket.<br /> <br /> Spreading my arms wide, as if to catch every single drop of those dreams with my entire being, I made my declaration:<br /> <br /> “Alright, I’ve got it. I’ll build you a rocket.”<br /> <br /> “Hmm?”<br /> <br /> My cousin gave a dull response to my sudden outburst. What? After I go out of my way to make her dream come true?<br /> <br /> “I’ll build a rocket that travels as fast as light, and I’ll make sure you meet an alien. And I’m telling you, rockets like that are actually being developed right now. There’s even a real plan to meet aliens. Yashiro-sensei at the research institute said so, so, uh, well, I’m not lying!”<br /> <br /> The more I spoke, the more it sounded like a lie. After all, Yashiro-sensei was a self-proclaimed alien and the kind of person who could say incredibly suspicious things without blinking an eye. I shouldn’t have brought his name up. As for my cousin, she was staring straight into my eyes, wearing a fearless and knowing smirk. “Ho ho.” W-what’s with that look?<br /> <br /> “When?”<br /> <br /> “What do you mean, ‘when’… obviously when you and I are adults.”<br /> <br /> “Are you sure? Cousin, are you really that smart?”<br /> <br /> She peered into my face with a mischievous, yet charming, smirk. Her expression looked as if she were thinking, “I don’t expect much, but I appreciate the sentiment,” so I let out a derisive snort. Just you wait.<br /> <br /> There were no shooting stars in the sky. Only the ancient, quietly twinkling light casts a faint glow upon us. Since neither wishes nor prayers would be granted, I made a firm, resolute vow to achieve it all through my own strength.<br /> <br /> “It’s okay, no problem.”<br /> <br /> “Wow, suddenly that sounds super fake.”<br /> <br /> “Shut up. Listen, I’m making a real promise, so just listen.”<br /> <br /> “Mmm.”<br /> <br /> A strong wind blew. It was a tailwind, brushing past my back as it rushed by. As if riding that very current, I spoke:<br /> <br /> “You’re going to ride in the rocket I build, and we’re going to go meet the aliens. It’s a promise, Gertie.”<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> “You haven’t left yet, Makoto?”<br /> <br /> I was dozing off with my cheek pressed against the long table when a familiar voice caused my eyelids to flutter open. Without even realising it, I wiped my mouth with the back of my hand and rubbed my eyes with my fingers. As I lifted my head, the excessive brightness of the breakroom rushed in, forcing me to instinctively close my eyes. Shielding my face with my hand, I cracked open just my left eye, only to be struck by walls so perfectly white that they looked like a cascading waterfall of light. Upon waking, I was besieged by nothing but white, and to top it all off, even the hair of the person who had called out to me was pure white.<br /> <br /> There stood Yashiro, wearing a lab coat that was slightly too large for her. As always, she shone so brightly that even the background walls and lights seemed dim by comparison. She possessed a fragile hue, as if she might dissolve into sand every time someone touched her. White hair, white skin, a small frame. Though, perhaps due to a recent lack of sleep, her gaze seemed sharper than usual.<br /> <br /> “Right back at you. You said you were calling it a day, but didn’t you pull an all-nighter yesterday, too?”<br /> <br /> “Fu ha ha, you fell for it. I was lying.”<br /> <br /> “And who exactly does that lie benefit?”<br /> <br /> I roughly pulled out the chair opposite me, sat down, and slumped face-first onto the desk. As I stretched out both arms, they moved with a dry, skittering motion, like the legs of an arthropod; it was quite creepy. The flesh of her cheek, pressed up against the desk, looked plump, and when I touched it, it felt firm and incredibly satisfying. Yashiro’s eyes darted toward me, her pupils shifting sharply.<br /> <br /> “You’ve got a lot of nerve, touching me so casually, Earthling. Such insolence will be the death of you.”<br /> <br /> “Sure, sure.”<br /> <br /> I’ve grown completely used to her delusions. Who could have imagined we would be together for this long? Well, since Yashiro called herself a psychic with precognitive abilities, she might have known.<br /> <br /> I sneered.<br /> <br /> “I’m honestly impressed you can live your life so fully immersed in your delusions.”<br /> <br /> “Hmph. Even the very first ‘Makoto’ from generations ago, so long ago I’ve lost track, used to say the same thing. Like your names, your family has made no progress whatsoever.”<br /> <br /> “Hey now, ‘the first’, you say?… Don’t go inflating your age, Yashiro Junior.”<br /> <br /> Both you and I only exist because of our ancestors. Though, for some reason, it seems we’ve both been inheriting the same names for generations. Makoto and Yashiro. The kanji were different&lt;ref name=&quot;ftn28&quot;&gt;Here, neither Makoto nor Yashiro’s names are written in kanji.&lt;/ref&gt;, but the pronunciation was exactly the same for everyone in the family.<br /> <br /> “That said, from my perspective, and my father’s and grandfather’s, you haven’t changed at all, and it’s actually a bit creepy. It’s as if you aren’t even a ‘junior’, but the original person herself just living on without ever ageing.”<br /> <br /> When I said that, Yashiro let a suggestive smirk curl her lips. As if to say that was exactly the case. She looked away with an exasperated smile, as if to say it was better not to point this out.<br /> <br /> “So, what were you doing in a place like this?”<br /> <br /> Yashiro asked, still slumped over. She was blinking frequently, perhaps trying to hide how sleepy she was.<br /> <br /> By now, my eyes had finally adjusted to the excessive brightness, and I could keep them open without any discomfort.<br /> <br /> “Tomorrow is the big day, after all. I was just lost in thought.”<br /> <br /> “It looked more like you were fast asleep, snoring away.”<br /> <br /> “Shut up.”<br /> <br /> I dismissed her with a wave of my hand. I had only been reminiscing about the past, but it felt somehow embarrassing. It would be enough to make me cry if someone as famously insensitive as her pointed out that I was being sentimental. Looking at the calendar posted where my gaze had drifted, I saw a red circle drawn around tomorrow’s date.<br /> <br /> There were not even five hours left until tomorrow.<br /> <br /> Until the day the rocket we built would go to greet the aliens.<br /> <br /> This was the research institute in the town watched over by aliens. More precisely, it was a manufacturing plant, but because the locals have always called it a research institute, we have come to call ourselves that as well. Well, we do conduct research, so it wasn’t all a lie. For hundreds of years, rockets have been developed and manufactured here. Unfortunately, there was a part of our history where the first unit was in development, but after some scientists devised a groundbreaking engine and flight method, it ended up being abandoned just as it was nearing completion. That was what the rocket that has become nothing more than a building in town was. Then, after many twists and turns, hundreds of years passed.<br /> <br /> The rocket we developed was sent to another country, and from there, it had reached the point of launch.<br /> <br /> Tomorrow is the beginning, but today was also the end. The end of me sharing the same flow of time as that cousin of mine.<br /> <br /> I looked up at the ceiling, the back of my chair creaking. The artificial sky was so bright, it was hard to believe it was night.<br /> <br /> “Aliens, huh…?”<br /> <br /> “Even without going all that far, there are aliens right here.”<br /> <br /> Yashiro shrugged with a “good grief”. To match her sentiment, I shook my head with a heavy sigh of my own.<br /> <br /> The year was 2559 AD.<br /> <br /> Humanity received a message from extraterrestrial life over five hundred years ago, and we had progressed to this point. We spent twenty years exchanging messages with a planet located 20 light-years away. Having repeated such dizzying exchanges countless times, humanity will attempt a leap toward the next level of communication tomorrow.<br /> <br /> The rocket destined for that planet departs Earth tomorrow. It was the first attempt in human history. Among the crew embarking on this vast journey in search of contact with extraterrestrials, my light-blue-haired cousin was included.<br /> <br /> “It really feels like a dream, doesn’t it?”<br /> <br /> Ever since we were kids, rumours had circulated that my cousin was like an alien, so now she was actually going to meet real ones. The beings on that planet might be the ones in for a shock. “On planet Earth, we have the very picture of aliens,” we’d tell them. I chuckled, my shoulders shaking as I imagined their reaction. No matter where she goes, she always ends up being the centre of attention. Being a rarity even on the scale of the universe, that’s just my cousin for you.<br /> <br /> Yashiro took a sugar cube for her coffee from the pot sitting on the long table. She crunched on it loudly, muttering with pure satisfaction, “It’s so sweet it stings my teeth.” After swallowing, she turned to me and asked:<br /> <br /> “Are you not going home today?”<br /> <br /> “Yeah, I mean, is it today again? I wonder how many days it’s been since I last went home.”<br /> <br /> I tried counting on my fingers, one, two, three, but I ran out of fingers and gave up. I knew it was a bad habit to start staying overnight at the lab just because I couldn’t be bothered to go home, but when laziness wasn’t permitted at work, it inevitably took a toll on my personal life… Now, let’s see, when was the last time I actually left the lab?<br /> <br /> Even the last day I last saw the scenery outside was a blur; this is bad. I tried counting on my fingers again: one, two, three.<br /> <br /> “…Ah, I remember.”<br /> <br /> It was five days ago. I went to see the rocket. I clenched my hand into a fist, all fingers tucked in, and thrust it toward the ceiling.<br /> <br /> I straightened my back and let out a groan, something that caused a ringing sensation in my ears.<br /> <br /> In the midst of that, I wondered what I should do next. I was in no frame of mind to just sleep peacefully and wait for tomorrow. Then again, I was not exactly in the mood to go out and party, either, so I was at a loss as to how to spend my time.<br /> <br /> “Hey, Makoto! You’ve got an international call!”<br /> <br /> One of my colleagues from the lab peeked into the breakroom, calling out to me teasingly.<br /> <br /> The mention of an international call triggered something in my mind. I pushed my desk aside, stood up, and left the breakroom. Yashiro remained slumped over the desk, nibbling on a second sugar cube. She didn’t even look my way.<br /> <br /> Leaving Yashiro behind, I walked briskly down the hallway. Perhaps because my colleague knew who was on the other end of the line, he was wearing a smirk. I shoved him aside as if to push him out of my way and entered the lab, picking up the receiver lying on the desk. I took two or three deep breaths. I had a vague feeling the call was coming, but I was still a little nervous.<br /> <br /> Ah, ahem. I cleared my throat, adopting an exaggeratedly formal tone that felt as though it could carry even to the other side of the line. Then, as I pressed the receiver to my ear and sensed that familiar breathing, I felt a sense of relief, as if ice were melting away.<br /> <br /> “Hey.”<br /> <br /> “Hey.”<br /> <br /> We exchanged brief greetings. Because of the time difference, “good evening” probably wouldn’t match the time on her end. My cousin’s voice, somewhat mechanical and consisting of short, clipped tones, hadn’t changed at all even as an adult. I turned my gaze toward the wall.<br /> <br /> “It’s been a while, Cousin.”<br /> <br /> “Ah? I mean, we just talked about a week ago. Anyway, whatever. You doing okay?”<br /> <br /> “I’m fine, I’m fine. I have to be fine, otherwise they won’t let me board the rocket.”<br /> <br /> “Right. Well, then. Just don’t oversleep and get left behind.”<br /> <br /> I tossed out a silly joke, but my cousin didn’t laugh in the least. She just gave me a plain “Okay”.<br /> <br /> That was just how my cousin is. She was indifferent to the subtleties of language, for better or worse.<br /> <br /> “I’m too excited to sleep much, so I’ll be fine.”<br /> <br /> “I see. Hmm, I see. I guess you can just sleep after the rocket launches, then.”<br /> <br /> “Mm.”<br /> <br /> “…Ah. So, uh, anyway, what’s up?”<br /> <br /> I find myself at a loss for words. Even though I wasn’t the one who called, I find myself searching for something to talk about. Staying in silence could be comfortable or awkward depending on the moment. Right now, however, I feel that every second of silence is a waste.<br /> <br /> That was because today was the last day my cousin and I would be the same age.<br /> <br /> “Aren’t you sleepy, Cousin? It’s already night over there. Right, since there’s a time difference.”<br /> <br /> “Yeah. …Though next time, the time difference between us won’t be something so simple.”<br /> <br /> Because my cousin will be travelling through space at speeds approaching the speed of light, the time dilation effect, the Urashima effect&lt;ref name=&quot;ftn29&quot;&gt;The “Urashima effect” is how the Japanese call time dilation that comes from travelling at relativistic speeds. The name comes from the folktale Urashima Tarou, a fisherman who, after saving a turtle, was invited to the dragon’s palace. When he came back after a year passed in the palace, he realised to his horror that in reality 300 years had passed.&lt;/ref&gt;, will take hold. Once she has travelled between planets, accounting for the time spent accelerating and decelerating, and based on observations from Earth, over forty years will have passed. At that point, a massive age gap will have opened up between my cousin and me. While I might be a frail old man on Earth or perhaps even sleeping beneath the grave, she will undoubtedly still be much, much younger.<br /> <br /> The time experienced by my cousin and me will drift far apart. The very fundamental nature of the world we inhabit will change.<br /> <br /> “By the time I’m an old man, you’ll still be young. I’m jealous.”<br /> <br /> “Then, do you want to come along, Cousin?”<br /> <br /> “…That doesn’t sound half bad. But unfortunately, I haven’t renewed my passport. I won’t make it by tomorrow.”<br /> <br /> I would have loved to use the time dilation effect to solve that problem too, but science wasn’t quite that convenient. We were sprinting toward the goal of omnipotence, but we were still a bit far from being able to pull a time machine out of our pockets.<br /> <br /> “As soon as I get back, I’m coming to see you first.”<br /> <br /> Coming over to come see me at the speed of light? If she moves that fast, it’ll be a struggle just to get her to stop here.<br /> <br /> “I’ll be an old man, having aged a full forty years or more over here. I wonder if you’ll even recognise me at a glance.”<br /> <br /> “I’ll recognise you because you are Cousin. Besides, you’ve always looked like an old man to begin with.”<br /> <br /> “What the hell is that supposed to mean, you brat? I don’t think I look that old.”<br /> <br /> The colleague sitting next to me muttered, “How pitiful…” in a low, performative whisper. Hey, watch it. It felt like I was going to be branded as the “old man” of the office starting tomorrow. “What a pain,” I muttered, scratching my head.<br /> <br /> “So, Cousin…”<br /> <br /> “What?”<br /> <br /> “Just make sure you stay alive until I get back.”<br /> <br /> Her poignant wish pierced me like a single, sharp needle. I found myself at a loss for words, casting my eyes downward.<br /> <br /> A span of forty-some years was by no means a short amount of time for a human being.<br /> <br /> This might very well be my final farewell to my cousin. I had to prepare myself accordingly. It wasn’t a promise I could make lightly, and yet, it was a wish I had no choice but to promise.<br /> <br /> I would wait for the day my cousin and the rocket returned as the very first Earth-born aliens in human history.<br /> <br /> “…Yeah. I’ll do my best to stay healthy and live a long life. Just you make sure you don’t pick fights with the aliens.”<br /> <br /> “Mm.”<br /> <br /> “Okay. Take good care of my rocket, First Officer.”<br /> <br /> “Mmm.”<br /> <br /> After setting the receiver down, I muttered the following words to the person on the other side of the wall. After setting the receiver down,<br /> <br /> “I’ll be there to meet you when you arrive. Just make sure you come back safely.”<br /> <br /> I muttered the following words to the person on the other side of the wall… Actually, maybe it’s better not to tell her; it might be a shock when she returns. So, rather than emphasising it, I simply straightened my clothes and said to my colleague:<br /> <br /> “I’m stepping out for a bit.”<br /> <br /> “Why don’t you go home once in a while?”<br /> <br /> “It’s hard to go back to an empty house. I haven’t been out in five days, so I’m actually kind of scared to leave.”<br /> <br /> Feigning ignorance, I left the lab.<br /> <br /> My cousin will be aboard that spaceship for about twenty years. Well, the perceived time inside the ship will likely be much shorter, but it was bound to be longer than five days. With that thought in mind, as I walked down the corridor, I decided to bid farewell to this unhealthy lifestyle and invited Yashiro, who was still gnawing on a sugar cube in the breakroom.<br /> <br /> “Hey, why don’t we go get some night air?”<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> “I’m tired of going to places like this.”<br /> <br /> “Come on, just this once.”<br /> <br /> I gave Yashiro a nudge, and we clattered our way through the ship. Of course, this was a version of the spaceship that wouldn’t launch. The interior of the rocket, which could almost be called an old symbol of this town, was pitch black; even with a flashlight, it felt like you could easily trip. However, perhaps because I had used this place as my playground since I was a child, I could navigate the interior smoothly even with my eyes closed. I was sure my cousin could do the same.<br /> <br /> With the glowing Yashiro leading the way, we climbed up toward the tip of the rocket. Because a group of eccentrics occasionally performed maintenance as a hobby, the rocket still retained its shape. No matter how many times the exterior was cleaned, it immediately became covered in moss, making it look as if it were painted moss green, but the interior remained stable. Otherwise, a useless piece of junk like this would have been dismantled long ago.<br /> <br /> The rocket located behind the research institute was a place that any researcher would have climbed at least once.<br /> <br /> “Being able to climb up here at night is a privilege for those who work here, isn’t it?”<br /> <br /> It would be the perfect place to invite a girlfriend by telling her you knew a place with a wonderful night view. Though, I didn’t actually have anyone like that.<br /> <br /> Apparently, one of our ancestors was incredibly popular, but it seemed that his charm was lost somewhere along our lineage.<br /> <br /> I stepped out onto a balcony (?) attached near the summit for tourists. It was like an observation deck that offered a panoramic view of the town from the outer surface of the rocket, an altitude that would surely cause anyone with a fear of heights to faint. Because of the height, the wind was strong, and the night breeze was cold for a month of May. I sat cross-legged on the floor, looking down at the endless expanse of metal plating stretching toward the launch pad. The landscape, illuminated by the lights of the research institute, was exactly as it was in the old days.<br /> <br /> It felt somewhat otherworldly. Far removed from daily life.<br /> <br /> My cousin and I are just as we were on that day, standing motionless, dreaming of the rocket’s launch.<br /> <br /> “Hooooooo.”<br /> <br /> For some reason, Yashiro, standing beside me, mimicked the sound of the wind. The petite Yashiro looked as though she might be blown away by the gust at any moment. It was easy to imagine her drifting off into the sky, wailing, “Hooooooo”.<br /> <br /> For some reason, I could easily imagine her landing safely right after that.<br /> <br /> “So, you were getting a call from that fake alien just now. Hmph, getting all worked up just because of a little trip into space. How unmanly. Shouldn’t the name ‘Meme’ have a much more audacious and powerful ring to it?&lt;ref name=&quot;ftn30&quot;&gt;An untranslatable play on words. The name “Meme” is also the root of the adjective ''memeshii'' that Yashiro used her the previous sentence, which means “sissy”, “unmanly” or “effeminate”.&lt;/ref&gt; This is embarrassing.”<br /> <br /> I had absolutely no idea what she was so indignant about.<br /> <br /> “…Loooooooveeeeeeers of loooooooost dimennnnnsiooooons…”<br /> <br /> Yashiro suddenly began to sing. She seemed to make up the lyrics as she went, and the sound, caught in the gusts of wind, was quickly swallowed up. After she finished, Yashiro gave herself a score of “ninety points”. What a generous evaluation.<br /> <br /> “What was that song?”<br /> <br /> “It’s a song for a lover far, far away.”<br /> <br /> She lets out a smug “Fu fun”, laughing at me as if to mock me. Was she trying to tease me?<br /> <br /> “…I wouldn’t call her a lover. To me she’s just Gertie.”<br /> <br /> When I said this jokingly, Yashiro snorted.<br /> <br /> “Eliott’s little sister? And yet you can’t fly, how odd.”<br /> <br /> “Heh, you know about that? It’s a rare piece of footage from over five hundred years ago.”<br /> <br /> “Because I watched it with Makoto.”<br /> <br /> “Which Makoto?” I asked with a bitter smile. I couldn’t help but think that she really might have crossed through time. And all just to keep teasing descendants since the era of the first Makoto? How spiteful can one be?<br /> <br /> “What was the name of the rocket you launched?”<br /> <br /> Yashiro asked, tapping her feet impatiently as if to demand an answer.<br /> <br /> Even though I was the one who named it, I answered with a feigned struggle to remember, trying to hide my embarrassment.<br /> <br /> “Prime.”<br /> <br /> “It seems that lack of taste runs in the family.”<br /> <br /> “Shut up.”<br /> <br /> Everything noteworthy was already used by our predecessors. For all I know, I had no idea what my ancestor’s taste was like.<br /> <br /> “But it’s space, space! It’s incredible.”<br /> <br /> “What is so incredible? You can see space from here, too, can’t you? Look, look!” Yashiro said, pointing at the stars and the vast expanse of the night sky. Clouds drifted overhead, swirling in eddies or mimicking the shapes of great beasts. The indigo sky felt somehow more distant than the blue sky of day. The stars flickered in and out of view behind the clouds. In their place, what shone brightly above me was Yashiro’s hair.<br /> <br /> Looking up at that hair, as Yashiro continued to radiate light itself, I suddenly asked:<br /> <br /> “From where exactly in space did you come from?”<br /> <br /> “It’s a secret.”<br /> <br /> “What kind of annoying response is that?”<br /> <br /> She had said it with her usual grumpy expression; how uncute of her.<br /> <br /> “Meme taught me that when there’s no need to speak, you should just dodge the question like this.”<br /> <br /> “You mention her sometimes, but who exactly is this Meme?”<br /> <br /> “As I said, it’s a secret.”<br /> <br /> This time, her expression was somewhat suggestive and playful. Her cheeks relaxed, and a smirk curled her lips. Unable to decipher the meaning behind that look or what was crossing Yashiro’s mind, I simply rested my chin in my hand.<br /> <br /> For a while after that, both of us gazed out at the night town. The lights from the houses reaching the outskirts, where the research institute was located, were sparse. Even when staring toward the pitch-black mountains, nothing more than a faint, blurry mass of shadows could be seen. No sounds reached us, save for the rushing wind, which echoed like a restless murmur. And as the wind hit us, some part of the rocket creaked. It was often teased that the sound was the rocket’s cries. Because it continued to wail through the night, some people who had just recently moved to this town apparently mistook it for a ghost story. The creaking lasted a little longer than usual tonight, sounding almost as if it were lifting its head to gaze up at the sky.<br /> <br /> “I guess this guy wants to fly, too, after all.”<br /> <br /> I tapped on the rocket with a light tap-tap. The sound was bright and bouncy, like a bouncing ball. Yashiro, who had been staring at the scenery while gripping the railing, looked down at me and replied in a cold voice, “I wouldn’t know. Aren’t you going to fly, Makoto?”<br /> <br /> “Fly? Where to?”<br /> <br /> “To space, obviously, you fool.”<br /> <br /> Yashiro sounded exasperated. Her lab coat, slightly too large for her, fluttered in the wind, making her look like a ghost.<br /> <br /> “You should have flown alongside that fake alien. Even a dimwit like you could be carried along in the rocket indiscriminately as mere cargo.”<br /> <br /> “You certainly made some discrimination there. Besides, well, I did give that some thought.”<br /> <br /> But to even worry about that, I would first need a rocket capable of flight. Since I was the one who has been dedicated to building such rockets, if the two of us didn’t exist, it would result in a paradox.<br /> <br /> However, having made a promise to my cousin, I was the only one here. Therefore, this was how it must be.<br /> <br /> It felt reckless, a dreamlike promise, like attempting to run toward a sky that was far beyond reach. Yet, as years passed, that promise took shape, and now, it became a rocket, ready to take flight.<br /> <br /> I will watch it launch from Earth. There was no one waiting for me to return to the apartment I rented. Because of that, I found myself constantly putting returning home on the back burner. I had to wait here so that my cousin didn’t end up the same way. So that she, who had been called an alien for so long, didn’t truly settle on another planet.<br /> <br /> “Denpa Onna flying on a Seihuun Rocket?”<br /> <br /> Yashiro uttered something cryptic. There was a certain implication in her words, something that more specifically carried the weight of the passing years, and so I remained silent. Hoshimiya Yashiro was truly a mystery from beginning to end.<br /> <br /> It was this very person, full of enigmas, who once spoke to me of the wonders of space and guided me all the way to this point.<br /> <br /> I wondered what a self-proclaimed alien felt when looking at the view from a rocket that would never take flight.<br /> <br /> And I wondered what she would think of the rocket launched tomorrow in search of aliens.<br /> <br /> The psychic said nothing, her lab coat simply fluttering in the wind.<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> The next day, I stood under a clear blue sky. It was a slightly windy day, and the hem of my lab coat danced about. Keeping my hands in my pockets to prevent them from being tossed about by the breeze, I looked up at the rocket that had ascended last night.<br /> <br /> [[File:DTS Vol 07 160.jpg|thumb|Keeping my hands in my pockets to prevent them from being tossed about by the breeze, I looked up at the rocket that had ascended last night.]]<br /> <br /> I was beyond sleep-deprived, yet strangely, I could not muster a single yawn. My body felt heavy, but my eyes were parched and stinging with a slow, creeping ache. Not a single drop remained of the eye drops I always kept in my lab coat. A pity.<br /> <br /> At the very least, it looked like a perfect day for a launch in Japan. It was the kind of sunny May weather that made one miss short sleeves, a day that made one want to head out for a sunbath on the ground rather than fly toward the sky.<br /> <br /> It was the last day that my cousin and I would live within the same span of time.<br /> <br /> The midday sun poured down upon a continuous expanse of metal plating that seemed to stretch endlessly toward the horizon. The white-painted floor absorbed the light and reflected it back in a pale glare that stung my eyes. My vision was dazzling from both above and below, yet even as I squinted, the overwhelming presence of the rocket remained undiminished. When I looked up at it as a child, I naively thought that once I grew up, this wouldn’t seem like such a great height, but I was wrong.<br /> <br /> The wingless mass of metal loomed high above me, like a tower attempting to reach the gods.<br /> <br /> “Wh-at-are-you-do-ing-in-a-place-like-th-is?”<br /> <br /> I turned around when I heard a strange voice calling out from behind me, accompanied by footsteps that were far too light for metal plating. Clad in what looked like a makeshift spacesuit, as if ready to board a mock rocket at any moment, the figure was none other than the person I had been talking with deep into the night. Wow, it’s been a while.<br /> <br /> “You still have that outfit?”<br /> <br /> “It-is-my-u-ni-fo-rm.”<br /> <br /> Uniform? Ah, her uniform&lt;ref name=&quot;ftn31&quot;&gt;The reason Makoto is confused here is because the word used ''seisou'' that Yashiro used has many other possible meanings.&lt;/ref&gt;. Where did she get it? What even is that? The sunlight scattered wildly off the helmet’s visor, making it difficult to look directly at it. Yashiro then stepped a little away from me, coming to a halt by my side.<br /> <br /> “Whew, it’s hot.”<br /> <br /> Yashiro let out a sigh as she removed the helmet with a pop, her speech returning to normal. With the rocket, the spacesuit, and that otherworldly appearance, the three elements combined to make her look like a traveller returned from outer space.<br /> <br /> In forty or so years, this might be the kind of crowd we find ourselves welcoming on Earth.<br /> <br /> “So, why are you here?”<br /> <br /> “Aren’t you watching? The live broadcast of the launch is really picking up right now.”<br /> <br /> With a quick motion, she pointed behind her with her thumb. I turned my head just enough to glance back, then shook my head. My hair, which had grown a bit long because I’d been too busy to maintain it, brushed against my face, swaying in the wind.<br /> <br /> “Watching the rocket launch like this feels much more immersive.”<br /> <br /> After all, the rocket about to be launched was modelled after the hunk of iron that was right in front of us. Since it was purely a matter of appearance, and they weren’t close enough to be called siblings, I suppose… cousins would be more accurate. Much like how my cousin and I shared the same human skeletal structure, and yet we were entirely different in essence and appearance.<br /> <br /> “How much longer until lift-off?”<br /> <br /> “A few minutes. I saw a countdown on the right side of the screen.”<br /> <br /> “I see,” I muttered with a small nod. I glanced over at Yashiro, who was gazing up at the rocket just as I was. She didn’t seem to have any intention of rushing back to the lab. Well, in her case, she’d probably just say something like, “It’s not as if an alien going to space would be anything unusual,” so I decided not to bring that up. Instead, I decided to try telling her a story. It was more of a monologue, or perhaps a memoir; it didn’t really mean much.<br /> <br /> “When I was a kid, I was a captain.”<br /> <br /> “Hm?”<br /> <br /> Yashiro looked at me. I pointed to the top of the rocket. Not the very tip, but the top.<br /> <br /> “The top of this rocket. I used to run wild inside it with my cousin, pretending we were going on a trip to space. She was the first officer, and I was the captain. As for why someone as selfish and strong-willed as her would hand the captaincy over to me? She said it was because she didn’t want to bother learning a language if we had to talk to aliens. Apparently, conducting dialogue was the captain’s job.”<br /> <br /> I shrugged my shoulders. That same girl was now far more proficient in languages than I was. I wondered how many she could speak. We’ve both spent our lives faithfully trying to keep a promise we made back in the fifth grade.<br /> <br /> As for what that truly meant, I’ll have to wait until the rocket returned safely.<br /> <br /> It looked like it was going to be a long journey. Though, I certainly wouldn’t be growing weary of the wait.<br /> <br /> “Well, to be fair, if we were surrounded by people like you, Yashiro, even talking would be a struggle. Wahaha!” I laughed, joking around. I watched Yashiro closely, expecting a rebuttal, only to find her resting her chin in her hand with a solemn expression. I wondered what she was thinking right now. And I wondered what she had been thinking throughout her entire life. I had been by her side, but to be honest, I had never understood her once.<br /> <br /> I slipped my hands into the pockets of my lab coat and looked up at the rocket as if waiting for something, feeling the wind brush against me freely since there was no cover to shield us. During this time, the digital clock inside my mind displayed the time. Naturally, the numbers were slowly ticking down. There was no need to say aloud what would happen once they reached zero. Without knowing the exact time, the moments continued to pass.<br /> <br /> Then, as if timing it perfectly with the creaking of the rocket’s various parts in the passing wind…<br /> <br /> “Do you know what a silkworm is?”<br /> <br /> Suddenly, Yashiro spoke. Silkworm? An insect? My thoughts raced through the connections until I nodded. “Yeah, yeah, I know. They’re used for food on the spacecraft, after all.”<br /> <br /> But what was she on about? Was this her response to my sudden remark? While I was busy speculating, Yashiro continued. Light particles seemed to dance and scatter from her bangs, which swayed in the wind.<br /> <br /> “They can’t fly on their own, and they can’t survive outdoors without human intervention. And yet, they still undergo metamorphosis. Why do you think that is?”<br /> <br /> “…Who knows. Maybe it’s just the natural course of things.”<br /> <br /> Just as humans have long yearned for rockets, stars, and the cosmos, only to eventually take flight.<br /> <br /> “I spent hundreds of… no, I mean a few years thinking about that very thing, and that was why I helped build rockets.”<br /> <br /> Built spacecrafts while thinking about silkworms. I couldn’t help but smile wryly, thinking what a strange person she was, not just in appearance, but in everything else. Then, Yashiro pointed at the rocket, just as I had done moments ago. As if in response, the rocket began to sing.<br /> <br /> The supporting steel frames and the aged parts crying out for replacement creaked. It was a lovely rhythmic creak, like a restless child.<br /> <br /> “Humans are not much different from silkworms. They cannot fly through the sky on their own, and without rockets they cannot drift through space. They struggle to take flight within their protected environments. Even though they have no idea if anything awaits them in the cosmos once they do. Silkworms are the same. There may be nothing waiting for them even if they succeed in flying. Yet, they emerge from their cocoons with wings. Just as humans foolishly dedicate their entire lives to dreaming of the stars.”<br /> <br /> “…………”<br /> <br /> “That was why the hope humans held for space must be much like the dreams of silkworms. Not every silkworm wished to fly through the sky. Nor does flying necessarily lead to anything. Yet, as long as they continue to live, it is only natural that they dream of vast, unimaginable worlds.”<br /> <br /> The rocket was set to launch now. Yashiro spoke with that implication, naturally guiding my gaze toward the mass of steel towering before us. A dreaming silkworm, flying into the far reaches of space, huh? Surely, in the void of space, we humans were as powerless as silkworms. Just as silkworms couldn’t stand on their own. And yet, still.<br /> <br /> “Spacesuits dream of silkworms, I guess.”<br /> <br /> I mumbled the words, playing on the title of a book said to have existed long ago&lt;ref name=&quot;ftn32&quot;&gt;Probably a reference to the novel ''Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?'' by Philip K. Dick&lt;/ref&gt;.<br /> <br /> “Yeah. The cocoon waits through the long passage of time, awaiting its emergence.”<br /> <br /> With Yashiro’s agreement, the steadily decreasing numbers on the clock all hit zero.<br /> <br /> Instinctively, I looked up beyond the rocket, toward the peacefully stretching blue sky. Nothing had changed. The blue sky, born of ultraviolet light, and the migratory clouds drifting on the wind. The rocket, looking as if it might take flight at any moment, remained silent.<br /> <br /> But for me, this was the moment of the rocket’s launch.<br /> <br /> The rocket that I had launched so innocently in my fantasies was now, in reality, heading for the sky with my cousin aboard. Carrying the dreams and hopes of humanity upon those unreliable shoulders, she was going to meet the aliens.<br /> <br /> I tried to recall myself running around my cousin and the rocket. However, no matter how hard I try, I couldn’t. My cousin had already taken flight from this timeline, accelerating into a time of her own.<br /> <br /> This was simultaneously a space voyage and the moment she became a time traveller.<br /> <br /> During my childhood, all the dreams I had envisioned with pure imagination finally converged and came true.<br /> <br /> What remained in my heart was a mixture of pride, exhilaration, and a sense of loneliness, where the wind bit just a little too deep.<br /> <br /> “……Kay”<br /> <br /> After everything had returned to zero, the clock within me displayed “1”. Then, in the blink of an eye, it became “2”, followed by “3”. The count of seconds did not stop; it continued, endlessly. “Ah,” I breathed, a smile breaking across my face as I understood the meaning.<br /> <br /> My time was moving toward a far, far and distant goal. Surely, the target of this count was more than forty years away.<br /> <br /> Until the moment I arrive there, my digital clock will keep ticking. No miscounts or irregularities were permitted. It was a span of years for which there was no guarantee of continuity. Even so, I let my thoughts drift toward the dreams I have sent forth.<br /> <br /> And I prayed for the emergence of my cousin, wrapped within her cocoon.<br /> <br /> I prayed that her wings were more than just mere physical growth.<br /> <br /> And then.<br /> <br /> I will stay here until she returns to the same flow of time as mine.<br /> <br /> In this town, watched over by aliens, alongside the rocket.<br /> <br /> A particularly strong gust of wind blew from behind. The hem of my white coat fluttered, and the grounded rocket let out a cry.<br /> <br /> I felt as though the wind from the distant rocket’s liftoff had reached all the way here.<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> “Hey, wouldn’t it be fine to call this the series finale already?”<br /> <br /> “I think it’ll go on just a little bit longer.”<br /> <br /> &lt;noinclude&gt;<br /> {| border=&quot;1&quot; cellpadding=&quot;5&quot; cellspacing=&quot;0&quot; style=&quot;margin: 1em 1em 1em 0; background: #f9f9f9; border: 1px #aaaaaa solid; padding: 0.2em; border-collapse: collapse;&quot;<br /> |-<br /> | Back to [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume7_Chapter4|Chapter 4]]<br /> | Return to [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko|Main Page]]<br /> | Forward to [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume7_Chapter6|Chapter 6]]<br /> |-<br /> |}<br /> &lt;/noinclude&gt;</div>

Bob Morane http://www.baka-tsuki.org/project/index.php?title=Denpa_Onna_to_Seishun_Otoko:Volume7_Chapter4&diff=588769 2026-08-23T07:43:29Z

<p>Bob Morane: Created page with &quot;&lt;noinclude&gt; {| border=&quot;1&quot; cellpadding=&quot;5&quot; cellspacing=&quot;0&quot; style=&quot;margin: 1em 1em 1em 0; background: #f9f9f9; border: 1px #aaaaaa solid; padding: 0.2em; border-collapse: collapse;&quot; |- | Back to Chapter 3 | Return to Main Page | Forward to Chapter 5 |- |} &lt;/noinclude&gt; ==Chapter 4 - Bad Ending No. 1: Denpa Otoko== “My apologies, I kidnapped th...&quot;</p> <hr /> <div>&lt;noinclude&gt;<br /> {| border=&quot;1&quot; cellpadding=&quot;5&quot; cellspacing=&quot;0&quot; style=&quot;margin: 1em 1em 1em 0; background: #f9f9f9; border: 1px #aaaaaa solid; padding: 0.2em; border-collapse: collapse;&quot;<br /> |-<br /> | Back to [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume7_Chapter3|Chapter 3]]<br /> | Return to [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko|Main Page]]<br /> | Forward to [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume7_Chapter5|Chapter 5]]<br /> |-<br /> |}<br /> &lt;/noinclude&gt;<br /> ==Chapter 4 - Bad Ending No. 1: Denpa Otoko==<br /> <br /> “My apologies, I kidnapped the wrong person.”<br /> <br /> “…Um, what is this?”<br /> <br /> I had gone to sleep at night, only to wake up in the morning to find a mysterious man standing before me. Furthermore, everything in the background was unfamiliar. The white walls occasionally emitted a faint, translucent light-blue glow. The interior felt mechanical, and despite the total lack of visible lighting, the space maintained a constant brightness. I could barely feel any temperature at all.<br /> <br /> The room was roughly twelve ''tatami'' in size. Its shape was a perfect square, much like the inside of a die.<br /> <br /> As for the man scratching his forehead with a slight smile, he looked like a middle-aged man you might find alone at a golf course or a driving range, dressed in a polo shirt and jeans. However, that was only skin deep. His true nature was clearly not of this Earth. After all, much like the mysterious glowing phenomenon on the walls, the man’s hair was also light blue.<br /> <br /> “To introduce myself, this is what you would call the interior of a spaceship, and I am what you would recognise as an alien.”<br /> <br /> Ha ha ha, the man laughed cheerfully while pointing to himself. My head started to spin, even though I had just woken up. Why was it that self-proclaimed aliens always seemed to gather around me? Moreover, this was an obvious kidnapping. I didn’t know if he expected a profit. But if he did, I wouldn’t have suggested him to expect much from my family’s finances. You can’t squeeze blood out of a turnip. In fact, I’m not even sure my parents could manage to find a turnip to squeeze. I felt like recoiling, but strangely, my feet wouldn’t move.<br /> <br /> “But even if I say that, you look like you don’t believe me. Fu fu fu, quite alright, quite alright. That’s a very Earthling-like reaction.”<br /> <br /> Somehow, he had taken a liking to me. I couldn’t help but think of how Erio was when we first met, and I felt a wave of gloom wash over me.<br /> <br /> “Let me show you some proof. Take a look at the view outside. It’s outer space!”<br /> <br /> As he moved his fingertips, the wall changed in an instant. As if the panels were flipping over, the white walls and the glow vanished, replaced by a panoramic view of a dark abyss. Within a heartbeat, even the floor had become outer space, and the blood drained from my face. Though, I suppose fearing a fall in a zero-gravity environment was a bit absurd.<br /> <br /> Come to think of it, I wanted to argue that there was still gravity in this room and that this isn’t actually space, but when I looked up, the Earth and the Moon were clearly floating there. My mouth hung open as I stared at the blue planet.<br /> <br /> “Just so you know, this is the real thing. It’s definitely not some recorded image data.”<br /> <br /> “Th-then, where’s your proof?”<br /> <br /> “Well, if I were to toss you out of this room and into the vacuum of space, I’m sure I would prove it in a few different ways.”<br /> <br /> There was no way I could tell him to go ahead and try. I averted my eyes from the middle-aged man and looked toward my home, Earth, the most striking sight of all. Staring at the blue planet, far too vivid to be anything else, and the Moon, where the American Stars and Stripes should have been planted, I began to believe it was real. But if I accepted that, then it meant…<br /> <br /> Let’s compare this middle-aged man with Earth. The tip of his tongue was stained a pale blue.<br /> <br /> That casual, mindless gesture was simple proof that he was not from Earth.<br /> <br /> Goosebumps prickled my skin as I stumbled backward, bracing myself against the pitch-black wall. My heart pounded violently, and perhaps because the cold sweat of shock wouldn’t stop flowing, my throat felt parched. When I swallowed, it burnt with pain.<br /> <br /> As the saying goes, third time’s a charm.<br /> <br /> This was my third encounter with a self-proclaimed alien.<br /> <br /> Could it be? Had I finally encountered a real one? And he’s saying I’ve been kidnapped?<br /> <br /> “Help me, Mulder&lt;ref name=&quot;ftn25&quot;&gt;A reference to ''The X-Files''.&lt;/ref&gt;!”<br /> <br /> The cry escaped my lips before I could stop it. Naturally, that specific track from certain Files was playing on loop in my head.<br /> <br /> “No, no, I’m not going to harm you. I’ll send you back right away. But if I just take you away without any explanation and then let you go, people will mistake me for a kidnapper. I simply need to offer an explanation.”<br /> <br /> The alien approached and gripped my shoulder. The reason I wasn’t as terrified as I expected to be was likely due to the colour of its hair. Perhaps because I was so used to the particles drifting from that radiant hue which looked exactly like my cousin’s, but simply seeing it brought me a sense of calm. Furthermore, the sensation of his fingertips on my shoulder wasn’t as cold as the void of space. Rather, his body temperature was high, and it felt lukewarm even through my clothes.<br /> <br /> “So, even aliens have body heat in their hands?”<br /> <br /> “It’s fine to have some warmth. I’m human after all.”<br /> <br /> Are you really an alien? The (uncertain) alien let out a cheerful laugh and began pacing around the room with light footsteps. With a casual flick of her fingertips, he turned the walls of the room back into light-emitting surfaces.<br /> <br /> “The fact that you ended up here was a mistake, or perhaps I should call it my own lack of virtue? Maybe I should become more proficient, but unfortunately, practice is a difficult thing.”<br /> <br /> “I’m sorry, I don’t quite follow… the language of the universe is difficult.”<br /> <br /> “No, I’m speaking in perfect Japanese. What I mean is, the salvage operation failed.”<br /> <br /> After saying that, the alien with chiselled features scratched his nose. He seemed somewhat embarrassed.<br /> <br /> “Salvage?”<br /> <br /> “To be honest, for some reason I detected a signature from one of my kind near your house, so I tried to pull it up for confirmation, but it proved to be quite difficult. To use an Earthly analogy, it’s like a UFO catcher&lt;ref name=&quot;ftn26&quot;&gt;“UFO catcher” is the name under which claw machines are known in Japan.&lt;/ref&gt; in an arcade. If you’re not skilled, you’d need a whole mountain of coins just to grab what you’re after, right?”<br /> <br /> “Some people might never succeed in their entire lifetime…”<br /> <br /> I wondered if during development they thought that the level of difficulty was acceptable. Shouldn’t they have considered making it accessible to everyone? Regardless, that wasn’t the point. An alien signature near the Touwa residence? There was only one possible culprit.<br /> <br /> Then again, I wondered if it was even worth worrying about whether I could think of a suspect in the first place.<br /> <br /> “That was just the person in the next room.”<br /> <br /> Wait, so that girl really was an alien? Strictly speaking, her father was, but her mother was a ''youkai'', so that made her a half-alien, half-''youkai'' hybrid? That’s one hell of a combination, my dear cousin.<br /> <br /> “Ah, just as I thought. My apologies, I’m not quite used to these controls… I ended up catching a little bird from the power lines earlier.”<br /> <br /> Just like that, the alien turned his palm over, and a sparrow appeared. To be precise, perhaps “retrieved” would be the more accurate word. Yet, watching that magician-like feat, I couldn’t help but stare in wide-eyed wonder, forced to acknowledge once again that this guy is an entity far removed from Earth’s common sense. Much as it pained me to admit it.<br /> <br /> “But perhaps it’s for the best. My reports indicate that humans are generally quite dexterous.”<br /> <br /> “Well, there’s a lot of individual variation, though.”<br /> <br /> “What about you? From the looks of it, you have the face of a protagonist possessed by the unfair talent of being incredibly popular with the opposite sex, despite having no notable features whatsoever.”<br /> <br /> The alien rested a hand on his chin, casting a scrutinising gaze at me as if trying to read my very soul. While I wondered whether he was complimenting or insulting me, I found myself, in turn, observing the alien from head to toe. Light blue eyes, and upon closer inspection, lips with a faint blue tint. I wondered what Erio would think if she were to meet this old man.<br /> <br /> And if that theory she used to scream about back in her “delusional” days, the ones about aliens, actually turned out to be true…<br /> <br /> “Well, I suppose it’s worth a shot.”<br /> <br /> The old man pulled back his face and moved his hand. Then, in a manner that could only be described as suddenly sprouting from the ground, he produced what appeared to be a massive machine. Its shape was somewhat reminiscent of a UFO catcher.<br /> <br /> “Hey, would you mind giving this a try instead?”<br /> <br /> The alien asked me in a friendly tone, slapping the side of the machine with his palm.<br /> <br /> “Huh? I mean, what even is that?”<br /> <br /> “You heard me just a moment ago, didn’t you? It’s a device for pulling things up from Earth.”<br /> <br /> “Is it really okay for humans to use a machine like that?”<br /> <br /> “I suppose it should be fine.”<br /> <br /> Permission granted. The universe was apparently a forgiving place. The alien gave a wry smile and a small bow.<br /> <br /> “Think of it as a lifelong request from an alien. Just accept it as a souvenir.”<br /> <br /> “So, just how long does an alien live, anyway?”<br /> <br /> He only let out a soft, cryptic chuckle, “Fu fu fu”, offering no direct answer. I was a little afraid to find out. If I ever learned that the reason the self-proclaimed aliens I met in town all had faces far beyond their years was because of their long lifespans, I would be utterly horrified. I might even start boasting about my own kind, claiming that Jojo-tan, an Earthling ''youkai'', was just as impressive. Hum, I was already starting to feel unsettled.<br /> <br /> “Well, but… just one thing. What do you plan to do once you’ve brought Erio here?”<br /> <br /> “Erio? Is that the name of your kin?”<br /> <br /> “Probably.”<br /> <br /> “Oh, I’m not going to do anything in particular. I just want to ask why she’s settled here on Earth.”<br /> <br /> “In that case, why don’t you, being an alien, just descend to Earth and ask her yourself?”<br /> <br /> “Too much work. I’m not familiar with Earth’s geography, so I’d probably end up getting lost in the neighbourhood.”<br /> <br /> The alien shrugged with a sigh. This was the first time I had ever met an alien who was so worried about getting lost.<br /> <br /> “Though this is my first time meeting an alien, after all.”<br /> <br /> I stood before the console. It was a large, indigo-coloured box, with its front obstructed by something that looked much like glass. Mysteriously, it emitted a faint glow, just like the surrounding walls. It was an enchanting light, one that drew you in like a winged insect swarming around a street lamp. On the other hand, I couldn’t help but worry that it might just explode at any moment.<br /> <br /> Was it because I’ve just woken up, or was I still thinking I was in a dream? Somehow, it still didn’t feel real, and yet here I was, standing outside of Earth. When I peered into the console, I saw another Earth floating inside it.<br /> <br /> “Alright, let’s get started, Earthling-kun.”<br /> <br /> The alien prompted me, pointing to two round buttons attached to the console. They were marked with up, down, left, and right arrows, and given their shape, well, they were exactly what they looked like.<br /> <br /> “…………”<br /> <br /> Attached to the corner of the machine was a slender, small, and flimsy silver catcher hand. Its distinctive features were that its fingertips were as slender as tweezers and that they didn’t splay out. It was shaped so that it could be pinched between the fingertips.<br /> <br /> Despite these peculiarities, no matter how I looked at it, this was clearly the cabinet of a UFO catcher.<br /> <br /> “Um… this is Earth, you know.”<br /> <br /> I pointed to the object floating inside. Aside from that, there was nothing but darkness.<br /> <br /> “Well, of course it is. We’re pulling stuff up from Earth, after all.”<br /> <br /> “Wait, are you saying we have to pull it up from here?”<br /> <br /> “What other option is there?”<br /> <br /> The alien spoke with a straight face, showing no sign of joking. In other words, I was actually being told to properly guide the claw machine toward the spherical Earth floating within the cabinet and successfully grab whatever it was he was after.<br /> <br /> “The scale is way too huge! Help me, Scully&lt;ref name=&quot;ftn27&quot;&gt;Another reference to The ''X-Files''.&lt;/ref&gt;!”<br /> <br /> “Earthling-kun, you look just exhausted.”<br /> <br /> “I don’t want a shady Scully like this! Besides, it’s impossible! Just enlarge the Earth more!”<br /> <br /> How was I supposed to just pluck Erio out of the entire Earth?! That was an impossible demand!<br /> <br /> “Well, it’s difficult. That’s why we fail occasionally and end up pulling up strange things. Most of the mysterious disappearances occurring on Earth seem to be caused by this.”<br /> <br /> “That’s quite a nuisance… Wait, does that mean you aren’t letting the things you’ve pulled up go back? What happened to the philosophy of '''catch and release'''?”<br /> <br /> “We couldn’t possibly do something so wasteful. Well, bringing Earth’s flora and fauna back to our planet isn’t permitted, but as long as it’s within the scope of personal enjoyment, we turn a blind eye. After all, living organisms are extremely vulnerable to unknown bacteria. If we kept making careless contact with Earthlings, there’s a risk your entire planet could face extinction. Something like that happened once before. More than half of humanity became infected and nearly went extinct,” the alien said, nodding in solemn agreement.<br /> <br /> If that was the case, wouldn’t it be dangerous to meet them now? If the little bird and I simply head back as we were, humanity might face the same kind of destruction. Hmm, so am I the one who will bring about the end of mankind?<br /> <br /> While lost in these thoughts, I recalled the alien’s words about giving it a try and pressed the button. Instantly, the catcher tucked in the far right corner moved to its designated position. Then, the button began to flash.<br /> <br /> “Does this mean I’m supposed to press it?”<br /> <br /> “Have you never been to an arcade?”<br /> <br /> With a huff, I pressed the up and down buttons. The claw moved forward with a whirring sound. Panicking, I immediately pressed the left and right buttons. Carrying a bit of momentum, the claw came to a temporary halt before veering to the left. That path hadn’t even come close to the prize. As I watched in a daze, the claw reached the far left edge of the machine, slowly plucked something from the darkness, and then headed toward the hole at a frustratingly slow pace. It opened its grip, dropping nothing into the prize chute, and returned to its original position. Once it did, the buttons began to flash again.<br /> <br /> I instinctively glanced at the alien. The alien flashed a bright, refreshing smile, his teeth gleaming.<br /> <br /> “Well, shall we get started?”<br /> <br /> He swept it under the rug. I decided to go along with it and pretend it hadn’t happened either, so I rolled up my sleeves and said, ‘Right, let’s do this!’ To be honest, I wasn’t particularly good at UFO catchers, but I was so frustrated by that recent miss that I suddenly felt a surge of motivation. I even found myself naturally mimicking the whirring sounds of the machine, “Wuiiiin, Gatcha, Wuiiiin”.<br /> <br /> This time, I pressed the buttons with caution. Since Earth was floating in the centre of the machine, it wasn’t hard to track. The problem was, how could I possibly know something as minute as Erio’s position? Should I just aim for the Japanese archipelago? I wondered, gripped by uncertainty. As the claw reached the right position, I pressed the left and right buttons. I glared at the tiny Japanese archipelago floating near Earth, even refraining from blinking until the claw reached the perfect spot. Then, the moment it reached the centre of the archipelago, I pressed down with everything I had, shouting, “This is it! Ah, damn it!”<br /> <br /> The claw machine didn’t stop immediately. Due to a little bit of inertia, the landing point was slightly off. It overshot, finally coming to a halt somewhere around Hiroshima. Then, the tip of the tweezer claw pulled something upward. A tiny speck of something brown was visible at the very end. It was tossed into a hole at the edge of the machine. The alien poked around the hole on the outside of the cabinet.<br /> <br /> What emerged was a cat. A bicolour cat, sleeping peacefully. The alien cradled it, remaining silent.<br /> <br /> “One… one more time.”<br /> <br /> I almost wanted to ask if five hundred yen got me five tries, but there was nowhere to insert a coin. Tapping the machine lightly, I tried again. This time, I’ll lift Erio up. No, at the very least, I’ll lift a human.<br /> <br /> Having mastered the laws of inertia, I had no openings. At least, I shouldn’t. My sense of up and down was perfect. Now, if I just factored in the lateral inertia, good. “Okay!” I captured the very centre of the Japanese archipelago perfectly. The catcher descended slowly and picked something up. As it was being carried away, I noticed it was something dark, clearly different from the light blue. Then, passing through the hole, what emerged with a heavy thud was a furry dog.<br /> <br /> “Just having fun.”<br /> <br /> I tried to gloss it over with a lovely smile and went at it again. Next, it was a tree. “…I mean, look how bleak this room is.” It was a roadside tree, far from being a decorative household plant, with its dirt and roots exposed, but I didn’t care. '''Try again'''.<br /> <br /> “Vroom, rumble, rumble…” I plucked at the brown wig. I wasn’t just playing around. I was going for it big time. I dug into a section of the road and pulled it up. This was bad; it could cause an uproar on Earth. An alien invasion might be triggered by my own hands. Next time, I’ll make things right.<br /> <br /> “Oh, looks like I’ve hooked a humanoid! Yes!”<br /> <br /> Something slithered out of the hole. I froze. I froze the moment I saw the face.<br /> <br /> “Err, what? Niwa-chi?”<br /> <br /> “Put it back! Put it back right now!”<br /> <br /> I immediately teleported the familiar face away. Man, that scared the life out of me. It was even worse because she was in the middle of taking off her pyjamas. The middle-aged alien man tapped me on the shoulder with a half-grin on his face. In his arms, he was cradling a little bird, a dog, and a cat, and because every single one of them was fast asleep, they wouldn’t budge an inch.<br /> <br /> He surely intended to take them home. I had no idea what use he would put them to.<br /> <br /> I could only pray that, at the very least, they would be raised in good health.<br /> <br /> “You really have no talent, do you?”<br /> <br /> The alien evaluated me in a voice tinged with sympathy. I must have been wearing an expression somewhere between a sob and a grin.<br /> <br /> “I am ashamed to say so.”<br /> <br /> “Well, it was a bit of a reckless request, wasn’t it? My apologies. Let’s get these back to where they belong.”<br /> <br /> With a snap of the alien’s fingers, the machine was pulled down into the floor. The way the metal body vanished into the ground, as if melting away, looked just like a movie. I remembered seeing something like that once. If I recalled correctly, the floors and walls turned into spears to attack people.<br /> <br /> “By the way, what happens to my memories of meeting you? Will you erase them?”<br /> <br /> “No, we don’t really perform that kind of procedure. Considering the nature of humans, there’s no need for it, honestly. Hahaha,” the alien laughed cheerfully.<br /> <br /> I wondered what he meant by that, or why he thought it wasn’t necessary. While I was abducted once, sometimes other humans also were. Despite him speaking as if this had happened before, the existence of aliens was not recognised on Earth. It remained in the realm of rumours and fairy tales.<br /> <br /> “…Err.”<br /> <br /> “Hm?”<br /> <br /> As if preparing to give some sort of signal, the alien tilted his head, his fingertips held in a peculiar shape.<br /> <br /> “Have there ever been cases where a human you abducted was sent back to Earth after several months?”<br /> <br /> After all, Erio’s story was that she had been abducted. Perhaps this was the cause.<br /> <br /> The alien’s eyes wandered as if he were deep in thought for a moment, but eventually, he gave a vague nod.<br /> <br /> “Well, I suppose an irresponsible person might do something like that, yes.”<br /> <br /> “An irresponsible person, huh?”<br /> <br /> “It is irresponsible, isn’t it? After several months pass, wouldn’t it be difficult for you to reintegrate into your society?”<br /> <br /> True to being an alien who seems quite well-versed in Earth affairs, he offered a very accurate opinion. And he was absolutely right. Because of that good-for-nothing, Erio had likely endured a great deal of hardship. And for good measure, I ended up flying on my bicycle and breaking my arm. While there was a certain air of self-inflicted misfortune regarding that part, I decided to shift the blame anyway. Since the person in question was such an irresponsible bastard, he should be able to shoulder at least one unreasonable grievance.<br /> <br /> “Still, you’re living in the same house as an alien? That’s quite a rare case, in many ways.”<br /> <br /> “Is that a compliment?”<br /> <br /> “Of course it is.”<br /> <br /> The alien’s eyes shone with curiosity and amusement as he spoke with such certainty.<br /> <br /> “You might find yourself targeted by other aliens as well, so you’d better be careful.”<br /> <br /> “And how exactly am I supposed to live my life being on guard against aliens?”<br /> <br /> I’ll definitely end up acting suspiciously. Like suddenly staring up at the sky in the middle of the road, searching for enemies. That’s just plain stupid.<br /> <br /> “Well, just give my regards to the alien.”<br /> <br /> “Oh, I will. I’m sure she’ll be delighted.”<br /> <br /> If she loves the stars in the universe, she’ll probably welcome aliens with open arms too, probably. As for me, my drowsiness was gradually fading, and my head was beginning to throb with a heat similar to a feverish sweat. It was clearly the excitement of encountering an unknown lifeform. I wanted to share the profound emotion of this historic moment with others as soon as possible.<br /> <br /> “So, with that being said, I would very much like you to send me back to Earth immediately!”<br /> <br /> “Oh? I thought you might start asking for a tour of the spaceship. This is unexpected.”<br /> <br /> “No, because if I don’t get back soon, I’m going to be late for school.”<br /> <br /> Since there were no clocks in the room and the morning sun was a bit difficult to see from our location, I couldn’t be sure of the exact time, but as a perfectly normal high school student, there is no way I was the type to go to bed early and wake up early. My routine usually involved waking up at the last possible second, rushing through breakfast, and then scrambling out the door on my bike. Given that, I figured we were already running quite late, including all the time I spent playing with the UFO catcher. When I told the alien this, he nodded understandingly.<br /> <br /> “That makes sense, given the circumstances. Wow, humans really are industrious, aren’t they?”<br /> <br /> “So, does that mean aliens are lazy?”<br /> <br /> “Well, for us, most things are done for fun. That’s how we were able to build machines like this and get ahead of you with spaceships. However, it’s also true that our cultural evolution has become quite lopsided. Especially regarding food. Compared to Earth, my planet’s food is quite pathetic. There is no diversity. It’s disheartening,” he said, shaking his head with a bitter expression.<br /> <br /> I nodded, feeling as though I were on a field trip.<br /> <br /> “Maybe that’s why once people settle down there, they rarely come back from Earth. Aside from a few countries, food is abundant; science has so much room to grow; it’s a land of dreams. Plus, since the human population is abnormally high, there’s a high concentration of cute girls. Even the variety of hair colours is vast.”<br /> <br /> “…Does everyone of your species have the same hair colour?”<br /> <br /> “Yeah, this light blue. I’m sick of looking at it.”<br /> <br /> He was grumbling, half-joking about whether he should go to a salon to dye it, so I recommended a place. It was the salon run by Ooi-san, since she was the type who would happily cut an alien’s hair.<br /> <br /> “Well, since you requested it, I’d better get you back soon.”<br /> <br /> Once again, the alien repositioned his fingers. His omnipotent fingers. His all-powerful fingers. Perhaps for these aliens, who travel through space as if on a casual road trip, even their fingertips were different from those of Earthlings. Light blue hair, a light blue tongue, and eyes to match.<br /> <br /> The glowing walls turned even whiter. The ground beneath my feet shone, and my entire body was enveloped in light. I felt no heat from the radiance; instead, the sheer intensity of the light only fuelled my anxiety. It felt as though I might vanish, starting from my feet.<br /> <br /> Ah, should I ask to take a souvenir with me? But then, I grew cold feet, wondering what might happen if I brought something back and inadvertently triggered a revolution in Earth’s civilisation, so I withdrew my request.<br /> <br /> I won’t call it the butterfly effect, but it would be presumptuous of me to think I could transform the future of Earth.<br /> <br /> I shall take only my memories back to the world where I live.<br /> <br /> “If fate allows, let us meet again in some corner of the universe.”<br /> <br /> With those final words, even the silhouette of the alien was swallowed by the light.<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> Then, before I knew it, I was back in my futon in my own room. I bolted upright, kicking the futon away. I ran my hands over my body, checking for any abnormalities. After frantically rubbing my face, I replayed everything I had experienced… It wasn’t a dream. If it had been a dream, there’s no way I could remember every single detail so clearly.<br /> <br /> Above all, the heat from the alien’s palm still lingered on my shoulder where it had touched me.<br /> <br /> “Oooooooohhhhhh! Insane! That was insane, Niwa-kun! Yay!”<br /> <br /> I burst out of my room still in my pyjamas. Peeking into the next room, I saw that Erio was already gone. At a time like this? I clicked my tongue and scrambled down the stairs. Leaning forward as if I were rolling down the hallway, I lunged into the living room, where Meme-san and Erio were sitting and having a meal. Erio, still holding her bowl of miso soup, gave me a brief “Yo”. Meanwhile, Meme-san was making a slurping sound, “Muchuu”, as she sucked on the edge of a piece of ''hanpen''.<br /> <br /> I shouted to them both, my heart boiling with an equal mix of excitement and pure joy.<br /> <br /> “Listen to this! I encountered an alien!”<br /> <br /> The cosy atmosphere froze instantly. Erio and Meme-san both stiffened, their smiles twitching. Their right cheeks twitched in unison as they scurried away to a corner of the room, huddling their faces close together. Oh… oh dear?<br /> <br /> “…Even Cousin has eventually…”<br /> <br /> “Mako-kun’s lust for Meme-tan was just too suppressed…”<br /> <br /> “Stop whispering! I can hear everything! No, I’m not lying! Um, so, the alien had light blue hair, and even his tongues were light blue! And his spaceship was glowing faintly, the Earth was blue, and then…!”<br /> <br /> I knew that every single one of my fragmented, excited words was the truth!<br /> <br /> Why are you all making faces as if I were scary?!<br /> <br /> Anyway, I continued my heated insistence. I wanted to find a way to convey to them what it was probably the first time such a feat happened in human history. Because I felt it was my duty as a citizen of Earth. But instead of their eyes sparkling, they were looking at me in total horror!<br /> <br /> “Erio, you really were an alien after all! To be precise, on your father’s side, so you’re half alien! In one sense, your claims were right, and I’m sorry for denying them! Now, I completely understand how you feel!”<br /> <br /> I draw near to Erio. In response, she quickly scurried behind Meme-san, looking at me with a timid and frightened expression. Dammit, it feels like I’ve only fuelled her distrust. Clicking my tongue, I turned on the TV. Hoping against hope, I glared at the news programme, and sure enough, that incident was being broadcast. Apparently, an explosion-like phenomenon of unknown origin occurred this morning, leaving a crater in the road.<br /> <br /> This certainly proved that I went to the spaceship and did what I did with that machine!<br /> <br /> “Look at this natural disaster! This is proof of my failure with the UFO catcher! Fortunately, there were no casualties? Oh, thank goodness. If there had been, I wouldn’t be able to sleep at night! What do you think of this?!”<br /> <br /> [[File:DTS Vol 07 135.jpg|thumb|“…*whispering*”]]<br /> <br /> “…*whispering*”<br /> <br /> “I won’t be able to face Onii-chan, *sob*.”<br /> <br /> “You still won’t believe me?! Argh, what do I have to do to make you trust me? You Earthlings are far too sceptical!”<br /> <br /> I scratched my head in sheer frustration. It looks like the gesture of a madman, but I wasn’t insane. I simply couldn’t find the words to convey it. What is with this Earthling caution?! At this point, they seemed like people from an entirely different planet. They were all so conservative and refused to face the truth. That is why we had yet to even encounter a single alien. They were far too content to remain in their closed-off environment when they shouldn’t be.<br /> <br /> “If your scientific capability is so low-dimensional that you cannot notice a spaceship and an alien approaching so closely, you will have no way to defend yourselves against a stealthy invasion in the future, let alone right now! This is no good, Earthlings! I have a duty to speak up and lead humanity toward a better path!”<br /> <br /> Because that was exactly what it meant to have met with an alien! Why won’t they understand?!<br /> <br /> Meme-san approached with Erio clinging to her back, gently patting my shoulder.<br /> <br /> The way she patted me was so tender; it somehow reminded me of my mother.<br /> <br /> “Youthful boy: okay. Delusional boy: bad. Okay?”<br /> <br /> Uggghhhhhhhnnnnnnn!<br /> <br /> Why must the truth be nothing more than such a fragile arrow? In the midst of my disappointment, my scream echoed in vain.<br /> <br /> “I’m not delusional! I really did meet an alien!”<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> Later, I became momentarily famous within the town as a ''Denpa Otoko'', and I lost everything.<br /> <br /> In the end, I even ended up jumping into a river while chasing a spaceship on my bicycle.<br /> <br /> But that was a different story altogether, woven by a man driven to a madness so profound even he could no longer understand it himself.<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> “It’s a nightmareeeeeee!”<br /> <br /> “It’s a nightmare! (Total party kill).”<br /> <br /> &lt;noinclude&gt;<br /> {| border=&quot;1&quot; cellpadding=&quot;5&quot; cellspacing=&quot;0&quot; style=&quot;margin: 1em 1em 1em 0; background: #f9f9f9; border: 1px #aaaaaa solid; padding: 0.2em; border-collapse: collapse;&quot;<br /> |-<br /> | Back to [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume7_Chapter3|Chapter 3]]<br /> | Return to [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko|Main Page]]<br /> | Forward to [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume7_Chapter5|Chapter 5]]<br /> |-<br /> |}<br /> &lt;/noinclude&gt;</div>

Bob Morane http://www.baka-tsuki.org/project/index.php?title=Denpa_Onna_to_Seishun_Otoko:Volume7_Chapter3&diff=588768 2026-08-23T07:43:23Z

<p>Bob Morane: Created page with &quot;&lt;noinclude&gt; {| border=&quot;1&quot; cellpadding=&quot;5&quot; cellspacing=&quot;0&quot; style=&quot;margin: 1em 1em 1em 0; background: #f9f9f9; border: 1px #aaaaaa solid; padding: 0.2em; border-collapse: collapse;&quot; |- | Back to Chapter 2 | Return to Main Page | Forward to Chapter 4 |- |} &lt;/noinclude&gt; ==Chapter 3 - Ending No. 2: The Earthling in the Town Observed by Aliens==...&quot;</p> <hr /> <div>&lt;noinclude&gt;<br /> {| border=&quot;1&quot; cellpadding=&quot;5&quot; cellspacing=&quot;0&quot; style=&quot;margin: 1em 1em 1em 0; background: #f9f9f9; border: 1px #aaaaaa solid; padding: 0.2em; border-collapse: collapse;&quot;<br /> |-<br /> | Back to [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume7_Chapter2|Chapter 2]]<br /> | Return to [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko|Main Page]]<br /> | Forward to [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume7_Chapter4|Chapter 4]]<br /> |-<br /> |}<br /> &lt;/noinclude&gt;<br /> ==Chapter 3 - Ending No. 2: The Earthling in the Town Observed by Aliens==<br /> <br /> “Mofuffuffufu”<br /> <br /> “…Hey, now that’s nostalgic.”<br /> <br /> When I turned to face Erio, who was sitting in the back of the shop, she broke into a smile and slowly stood up. A girl who was sitting and minding the shop, wrapped in a futon, toddled over to me. The sensor at the entrance of the candy store beeped. The little girl wrapped in a futon, or Little Smakin, was the height of a fourth- or fifth-grader but wrapped in an adult-sized futon, so her balance wasn’t great. It looked like the insides (a girl’s torso, legs, etc.) were protruding from a long, thin tube. I lightly tapped her. I had a pretty good idea who she was, but I was drawn in by the nostalgia and decided to play along.<br /> <br /> “Show your face.”<br /> <br /> When I gave the command, the girl obediently peeked her face out from above the futon and laughed carefree, “Hee hee”.<br /> <br /> “Hi, Grandpa!”<br /> <br /> “If it isn’t my great-grandchild. What’s with the futon?”<br /> <br /> “I’m copying Grandma Eri!”<br /> <br /> Well, that was obvious at a glance. What I asked was where she got it from. I looked up at Erio, who had come over to beside me, and we both smiled. We’ve both got more wrinkles now.<br /> <br /> “Until what age were you doing that?”<br /> <br /> “Twice a week.”<br /> <br /> “You’re still doing it?”<br /> <br /> I chuckled at Erio’s peace sign, shaking my shoulders and thinking, “Well, indeed I do see her do that sometimes.” As I was laughing, Erio, who had come down to the shop barefoot as usual, stroked her great-grandchild’s head.<br /> <br /> Her great-granddaughter’s hair was a thinning, ephemeral light blue. And Erio’s hair had lost that shimmering, particle-like light blue to become a silvery white. The light no longer scattered around my cousin but seemed to flow down smoothly.<br /> <br /> “Don’t shorten it. She is Grandma Eri*o*.”<br /> <br /> “Alright, Grandma Eli!”<br /> <br /> That habit of not listening to people with a big smile on her face, did she inherit this from her great-great-grandmother? Erio pouted like a child. Her great-grandchild buried her face in the futon and danced around, making “moffufuuu” sounds.<br /> <br /> There were no other children in the shop. This candy store, which could almost be registered as a natural monument in this day and age, could be considered successful if it got one or two customers a day. It was run entirely as a hobby. I couldn’t guarantee the consumption or expiration dates of the detergents and snacks on the shelves in the back. No suppliers came here either.<br /> <br /> But still, just drifting off to sleep in the stagnant, detached atmosphere that permeates the shop brought a warm, happy feeling. If this place existed for that reason, then it wasn’t all bad.<br /> <br /> A slow, undulating, and pleasant time unfolded. The gentle warmth from outside filtered in just right, and the sunlight streaming through the glass at the entrance, the moment it entered this side, softened its sharpness and spread warmly once more.<br /> <br /> I felt incredibly happy that these days continued, days when I could doze off in this air and think, “I wouldn’t mind dying like that.” If this were the old me, the one chasing after Youth Points, I’m sure I wouldn’t have been content to stay put and would have started running again.<br /> <br /> I, too, have grown old, along with the world I’ve lived in.<br /> <br /> Even if I started running now, I’d probably hit a wall in no time.<br /> <br /> “Mofuu.”<br /> <br /> My great-grandchild, who had been dancing, suddenly fell backward with a thud. It seems her centre of gravity was still too high. Erio bent his knees and helped Little Smakin back up. She was really getting the hang of being a great-grandmother. Though I was not really in a position to say that, considering how much I spoilt her.<br /> <br /> “Mofuffu.”<br /> <br /> I smiled at my great-grandchild, who was wriggling her body and blanket in a strange way, presumably to express her gratitude. I remembered our own children and grandchildren all imitating her when they were little. The transmission rate was incredibly high.<br /> <br /> “Bloodlines really do exist, don’t they?”<br /> <br /> I murmured, watching my great-grandchild spinning around and around. Then Erio, who was sitting beside me and pushing her long hair back, smiled at my profile. Erio, who should have lost her brilliance like a burnt-out star, at the moment she smiled, released the remnants of particles, causing me to hallucinate “that” light blue. I blinked many times.<br /> <br /> As if scattered by that blink, Erio returned to a black and white colour scheme.<br /> <br /> “So, is this girl going to become a scent fetishist?”<br /> <br /> “…… Don’t take that joke to the grave.”<br /> <br /> I snorted, “Huph”, and turned away. I also twitched my nose and sniffed the candy store.<br /> <br /> A smell of dust mixed with the scent of old wood hung in the air. It was our smell right now. Like trees, we’ve rooted ourselves down, patiently waiting for the end. Living each day without any ups and downs, smoothly.<br /> <br /> I wondered if I could smell Tamura-san’s scent here.<br /> <br /> I wondered if the scent of Meme-san still lingered on Erio and me.<br /> <br /> Scent could be the evidence of a person’s life. Could it be considered proof that they were here?<br /> <br /> “Mofuufuu”<br /> <br /> With my throat and ears scratching at the sound of my great-grandchild singing from deep within the futon, I turned my head to the ceiling.<br /> <br /> Just like them, I should be able to leave this world feeling satisfied, just like those people.<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> I moved to this town and graduated from high school, and yet I stayed here.<br /> <br /> How many decades have passed since then? I felt like I stopped counting the years after we stopped celebrating each other’s birthdays in a big way. Or maybe it was after Meme-san passed away.<br /> <br /> Even now, I still couldn’t quite believe that Meme-san was no longer here.<br /> <br /> “I always thought my mother would be alive and well even after she turned 100.”<br /> <br /> Erio muttered to herself, closing her eyes and swinging her legs back and forth.<br /> <br /> “…Well, I guess so.”<br /> <br /> Err, please keep the same appearance you had when we first met.<br /> <br /> It was as if she were peeking out from the entrance of the candy store, waiting for the perfect opportunity to pop out. I sometimes found myself looking at the store door with an indescribable feeling, whether it’s anticipation or something else. I strained my eyes to look at the view that now stretches far into the distance, since the house across the street has been demolished.<br /> <br /> Of course, there was no sign of Meme-san’s inappropriate adult-child smile. Instead, there was an endless, empty landscape. And after confirming this, we were puzzled by that “obviousness”. Both Erio and I. It wasn’t loneliness or regret, but rather a feeling that something in our bodies was missing, yet we still felt connected to that missing part. We were tossed about by that feeling.<br /> <br /> “But Cousin, if you say that, then it’s strange that you’re all wrinkled.”<br /> <br /> Erio stroked my cheek with her thumb. She rubs it against it, as if to confirm its texture.<br /> <br /> “I still feel young inside, you know.”<br /> <br /> I could now truly understand how Meme-san felt as she resisted ageing. Though, I didn’t think I could have resisted to the point where I would manage to look younger. I wasn’t a ''youkai'' after all.<br /> <br /> “I never thought your hair would turn completely white. I always thought it would be kind of sparkly.”<br /> <br /> Such vague predictions of the future were meaningless in the face of time. Erio and I grew old, and the beautiful girl who defied Earth’s standards became a beautiful old woman who fit within Earth’s framework. As for me, I was just a grumpy old man now. I had children, grandchildren, and even great-grandchildren. All my old friends are no longer here.<br /> <br /> Both Ryuushi-san and Maekawa-san had passed away. I believe I remained good friends with them until their deaths. Including Erio and I, the four of us hung out together even after graduating from high school. In a way, the ideal relationship we had as second-year high school students continued, at least in the parts I could perceive, and I was happy about it. Somehow, I felt that if I had dated or become friends with anyone else, a visible rift would have formed between us. There was no right answer to what I might have done about the possibilities I didn’t choose. But I had no regrets about being an old geezer here and now.<br /> <br /> “Her sleeping face is so cute.”<br /> <br /> Erio smiled as she peered at his great-grandchild’s sleeping face, and I replied with just my lips, “Absolutely.”<br /> <br /> My great-grandchild took off the futon that was wrapped around her, lay down, and went straight to her nap. At least she doesn’t fall asleep wrapped in the futon, so she has more common sense than the first Smakin. She had a promising future, yup yup.<br /> <br /> Even though they lived nearby, having a great-grandchild who comes to visit regularly was quite a treat, wasn’t it? The grandchildren themselves rarely showed up, but the great-grandchildren are very fond of Erio and seemed to enjoy the atmosphere of the candy store. The fact that the candy was practically all-you-can-eat was probably another big plus. Or maybe it was the real reason?<br /> <br /> “Hmm…”<br /> <br /> From my granddaughter’s perspective, we might be mean grandparents who bribed her beloved daughter with sweets, and she might be gossiping about us behind our backs. Especially now that elementary school was on spring break and she was visiting more often. I worried that she didn’t have any friends to play with. Playing Smakin wasn’t something all friends could do together, after all.<br /> <br /> “Cousin, what would you like for lunch?”<br /> <br /> Erio, looking weary, put her hands on her knees and slowly stood up to ask for my requests. Her back was bent, and her posture was mature for her age, but the only thing that hadn’t changed was that she was barefoot. Her demeanour reminded me of Tamura-san, and I involuntarily narrowed my eyes. My eyes too have been getting smaller lately. I couldn’t go without my reading glasses anymore, but today I’ve forgotten where I put them.<br /> <br /> “Hmm… then ramen.”<br /> <br /> I ordered my great-grandchild’s favourite food. I also took into consideration what Erio could cook. Thanks to Meme-san’s guidance, I’ve become reasonably competent at cooking, but wasn’t something I was particularly good at.<br /> <br /> “Hmm.”<br /> <br /> Erio nodded slightly and headed towards the back of the candy store. After vaguely watching my wife’s retreating figure, I sat back down by the cash register, where I could see the front of the store. The cash register, whose age was uncertain and whose surface was yellowed and sticky, still worked perfectly. I hardly ever entered numbers anymore, but it was strange how the mere fact that it was still functioning made my heart flutter. I sat cross-legged, resting my elbows on my feet, and gazing out the window.<br /> <br /> Sitting here like this, I find myself reminiscing about all sorts of past events. Different versions of me, at different times, have sat here in this candy store, taking a breather under the guise of minding the shop. After graduating from high school, I looked for a job in this town. While I was still in high school, Tamura-san passed away, and Erio took over the candy store.<br /> <br /> And so we all lived together in this town. Of course, Meme-san continued to live in the same house. The three of us continued that life, living in the Touwa family home. Meme-san’s personality really didn’t change even when she was fifty or sixty years old. If anything, it felt like her mischievousness got worse. She even started using old lady jokes, and it was impossible to control her. Even in such circumstances, true to form, he never failed to dote on his grandchild. It’s such a shame that she passed away before she could see her great-grandchildren. I still felt dissatisfied about it, thinking it just wasn’t like her. It really didn’t suit her to disappear so suddenly.<br /> <br /> Eliott-san didn’t attend Meme-san’s funeral. Or rather, all the alien types disappeared without a trace. Hoshimiya Yashiro vanished without a warning, as did Princess Kaguya’s family. At the time, I imagined something big had happened in space and chuckled a little. But Erio had stayed in town all this time, and I felt a strange sense of relief that she was a human after all, which now made me cringe wryly.<br /> <br /> “In one year, two years… Elio or I, one of us will die first… huh?”<br /> <br /> We didn’t have much time left. That’s what I felt. Looking back at it, both Tamura-san and Meme-san exhibited behaviours and words in their later years that suggested they sensed their impending death. Perhaps, rather than sudden death, the body sent some kind of signal when it was reaching the end of its lifespan. I had no scientific evidence for this, though.<br /> <br /> Life was like a board game. Towards the end, the number of spaces where you “stop and die” increased. We tried to avoid them by using the chance card of medical facilities, and sometimes we were saved by sheer luck.<br /> <br /> Lately, when I got into bed at night and closed my eyes, I often find myself drifting off into a hazy state. Would I sleep like this forever, without ever waking up? What does sleeping even mean? Such thoughts swirled around in my head, becoming vague and indistinct like a mist, and then I drifted off to sleep.<br /> <br /> And today, once again, I wake up in that state of uncertainty, basking in the morning sun and chuckling muffledly. The town welcomed dawn, and we, who live there, rubbed our eyes in the light, continuing to live along with its rotation.<br /> <br /> I had no regrets. Perhaps, as my brain ages, I would forget even that. Wasn’t that a blessing?<br /> <br /> Listening to the sound of aeroplanes rattling the old roof, I surrendered myself to the passage of time.<br /> <br /> Patiently, patiently. Until a gentle warmth slowly enveloped my palms and my body.<br /> <br /> “Sorry to keep you waiting.”<br /> <br /> “Ooh.”<br /> <br /> I gathered around the table with my great-granddaughter, who had slowly woken up at the smell of the ramen Elio cooked, and we slurped it down. It was instant ramen, and actually the kind you’d find at a candy store, but it was delicious if one overlooked that fact.<br /> <br /> “Morumoru”<br /> <br /> My great-grandchild’s nose, a mix of slimy and fluffy, was glistening with ramen oil. When I wiped it with a tissue, she grined, showing her teeth. Yup, I’d like her to be my daughter.<br /> <br /> “Hey.”<br /> <br /> “Hm?”<br /> <br /> I tentatively made a suggestion to Erio, who was sitting across from me.<br /> <br /> “How about we go looking for aliens together tomorrow?”<br /> <br /> Erio’s eyes widened. Immediately afterwards, she looked as if she doubted for a moment about whether I was senile. How rude of her.<br /> <br /> “Looking for aliens? I’ll go, I’ll go!”<br /> <br /> A girl with hair the colour of an alien happily raised her hand, saying, “Yay, yay!” Ramen broth splattered from the tip of her chopsticks onto the table. “Woups,” she said, rubbing it with her finger and licking it.<br /> <br /> “Destruction of evidence.”<br /> <br /> “Hey. Wipe it properly with a tissue.”<br /> <br /> Erio scolded his great-granddaughter. Anyone who knew her past would want to retort, “You’re one to talk,” but I held back. I also raised my index finger to remind her that I’ve been telling her for decades to get into the habit of wearing shoes, but for the sake of her great-grandmother’s honour, I cleared my throat and brushed it off.<br /> <br /> “So, what do you think? It’s like an alien hunt combined with a picnic.”<br /> <br /> “Aliens.”<br /> <br /> Erio mutters without any emotion. She arranged her chopsticks and placed them on the table, then stared at me. Her eyes. The edges were droopy and wrinkled, but the light blue pupils shining deep inside hadn’t changed since the first time I untied her futon.<br /> <br /> In the middle of the night. Illuminated by the bright lights of a convenience store. With pizza stuck to her head and face.<br /> <br /> Her expression was as unchanging as a Noh mask, yet light blue particles swirled around her, subtly repainting the world and my perception of reality. Those light blue eyes stared straight at me, and I was completely overwhelmed.<br /> <br /> From the moment I peered into her eyes and confirmed their gleam, I was captivated by Erio.<br /> <br /> Erio’s radiance still lingered like a planet. As I find myself speechless, Erio smiled faintly and asked me a question in a more formal tone. Her somewhat affected demeanour was both pleasant and slightly embarrassing.<br /> <br /> “Looking for aliens?”<br /> <br /> “Yes.”<br /> <br /> Erio turned her face towards the entrance of the shop.<br /> <br /> “Want to ride a bicycle?”<br /> <br /> “Yes.”<br /> <br /> Just you and me. Riding a bicycle.<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> “I’ve made the plans suddenly, but thankfully it’s sunny.”<br /> <br /> I looked up at the high-rising sun, its rays burning deep into my eyes. The road in front of the candy store was deserted, with few people or cars passing by. In fact, the houses in the neighbourhood had all been torn down, making it look like a wasteland.<br /> <br /> The sky wasn’t exactly crystal clear but rather hazy. However, I liked this kind of weather. I appreciated that it offered more flexibility than a sky that was just a single shade of blue and didn’t allow for any other expression.<br /> <br /> “What were you going to do if it rained?”<br /> <br /> Erio asked as she polished her bicycle, almost as if testing me. I tilted my head and thought, “Well… We would just do it tomorrow. There’s not much else to do anyway.”<br /> <br /> While I was turning my head back, I readjusted the strap of my bag over my shoulder. Doing this reminded me of my high school days.<br /> <br /> But I was just an old man. The fate of a human who had lived in this town for decades.<br /> <br /> Taking care of my great-granddaughter was the most challenging, yet also the most enjoyable. What an ideal retirement life!<br /> <br /> Of course, this was all assuming that the two of us were still alive tomorrow. When we were younger, that was a normal occurrence, but at this age, it wasn’t not so easy.<br /> <br /> However, I didn’t believe in living life while neglecting the future.<br /> <br /> “……Kay”<br /> <br /> Erio stood up after finishing polishing the pedals. I wonder how many bicycles we’ve owned now, or rather, how many generations we’ve gone through. We never even got our driver’s licences, so we were still riding bikes. At least Erio didn’t fit in the basket anymore. “She’s grown up,” I thought “to myself, nodding as I watched her.<br /> <br /> “What, Cousin?”<br /> <br /> “The fact that you didn’t try to prepare a futon in a situation like this shows how much you’ve grown up.”<br /> <br /> She was the kind of girl who, when it came to travel, when it came to going far away, when it came to going out, was always in her futon. When I pointed that out, Erio turned away. It seemed like she was going to pretend she hadn’t heard anything.<br /> <br /> Meanwhile, our great-grandchild was running around as Little Smakin. Her parents would surely be worried if they saw this. They’d probably be furious, asking what kind of things we’ve been teaching their child.<br /> <br /> “Moofufuffufu”<br /> <br /> I picked up my great-granddaughter, who was trying to climb onto the bicycle with just her feet, making a clattering noise, and put her back on the ground. “Mofuuu?” “I don’t know.” She poked her head out. “What are you doing?”<br /> <br /> “It’s dangerous, so don’t get in the basket.”<br /> <br /> “Well, E.T. rides in a basket. That’s what Grandpa said.”<br /> <br /> “You’re not E.T. Your grandfather’s driving skills aren’t improving, so you can’t do anything dangerous.”<br /> <br /> I tried to persuade my great-granddaughter while criticising myself. She was a precious treasure entrusted to me by my grandchild, so I had to treat her with care. “Uhh,” she grumbled, just like Erio used to grumble. Then, for some reason, I heard another “Uhh” from behind me, so I turned around. Erio was sulking.<br /> <br /> “What is it?”<br /> <br /> “You weren’t that careful with me when I got in the basket.”<br /> <br /> “No matter how many times I told you, you’d only say ‘mofumofu,’ so I guess I gave up.”<br /> <br /> She groaned and scratched my back. Ugh, don’t get jealous at this age. I was at a loss for how to respond when Erio and my great-granddaughter growled at the same time, and I was doubly confused as to why I was troubled by something so simple.<br /> <br /> “Cousin, take good care of me.”<br /> <br /> Erio, who was leaning on my back, was demanding a change in how she was being treated. I thought I was treating her well enough. “I made that promise with Meme-san,” I muttered casually, and Erio stopped leaning on me.<br /> <br /> “With Mom?”<br /> <br /> “Yeah, well, I guess I made a promise to take good care of you.”<br /> <br /> The old woman had jumped at me, saying, “And of Meme-tan too!”, it was really bad for my heart. Calling herself “tan”? Come on!<br /> <br /> “Hmm… but you haven’t been able to keep it.”<br /> <br /> She pointed at me with a happy expression, as if to say, “Yay!” My great-granddaughter then imitated her.<br /> <br /> “Grandpa, you’re stingy.”<br /> <br /> “Oh, so you want some pocket money? Guess it can’t be helped. Here, I’ll give you some payment in kind.”<br /> <br /> I took out from my pocket the candy I always kept with me and offered it to my great-grandchild. “No way,” she said, but took it anyway and popped all three into her mouth at once. She would have done the same thing even if I gave her ten, and I think we should do something about this habit of hers of rolling them around in her mouth all at once. She looked like a frog with its cheeks puffed out.<br /> <br /> Yet, her adorable, almost alien-like, refined features remained unchanged. Just like Erio’s.<br /> <br /> “By the way, have you learned to ride a bicycle yet?”<br /> <br /> My great-granddaughter laughed, her lips twisting into a deep grin. Then she made a peace sign.<br /> <br /> “I trained with Grandma Eri!”<br /> <br /> “Heh?”<br /> <br /> When did that happen? I glanced at Erio, and she, too, puffed out her chest proudly and said, “Hmm.”<br /> <br /> “Knowing the secrets of the park is a basic skill for elementary school students. And also she is Grandma Eri*o*.”<br /> <br /> “There wasn’t anyone close to me who was undergoing special training, though.”<br /> <br /> “It was a secret. You are dense, so you didn’t notice.”<br /> <br /> “Okay, okay, let’s go. Come on, get in.”<br /> <br /> I straddled the bicycle saddle that Erio had polished. My hips made a satisfying snapping sound. My back was stiff from lack of exercise, and my whole body felt cramped. I still used the bicycle as transportation, but it was gradually becoming a struggle. I wonder how old Meme-san was when she stopped riding her bike. As I wiped the sweat from my nose, I felt the impact of someone sitting on the luggage rack. Then a slender hand wrapped around my waist. It was Erio’s arm. Even without turning around, even though it was thin, even through her clothes, I could recognise her immediately just by touch. It’s like how I could close my eyes and remember the placement of things in my own home and move around freely. Erio and I had a well-established relationship.<br /> <br /> “Where am I going to ride?”<br /> <br /> My great-grandchild, still wrapped in a blanket, ran around the bicycle.<br /> <br /> “Haven’t you learnt to ride a bike? Where’s your own bike?”<br /> <br /> “I’d rather be with my great-grandparents.”<br /> <br /> The way she puffed out her cheeks, combined with the length of her hair, reminded me of Meme-san. “Oh yeah,” I thought, glancing left and right across the road to see if she wasn’t hiding there. To my surprise, I found no sign of her.<br /> <br /> “She’s not here.”<br /> <br /> Erio said, as if he could see right through my thoughts.<br /> <br /> “…That’s unusual.”<br /> <br /> Without turning around, we both laughed and rocked the bicycle. Our great-grandchild stretched on tiptoe and looked up at us, saying “Nuu”. She was giving us a piercing “Don’t ignore me” look, so we reluctantly slapped the basket. Our great-grandchild’s face lit up, and she tried to jump on, so we stopped her. “Wait.”<br /> <br /> “Make sure you take off your futon. Look, even your great-grandmother isn’t wearing a futon today.”<br /> <br /> “W-what does ‘even’ mean?”<br /> <br /> “Well, in that case, there’s nothing we can do.”<br /> <br /> My persuasive words convinced my great-grandchild, and she rushed into the candy store with a somewhat convinced look on her face.<br /> <br /> “Cousin, what do you mean by ‘even’?”<br /> <br /> “Locking up the candy store is fine, I guess. The only thing I’d be really upset about losing is my life, ha ha.”<br /> <br /> “Uhg, ugh.”<br /> <br /> While I was trying to distract her, our great-grandchild, who had taken off her futon, returned. She jumped into the bicycle basket and settled in. Seeing that, Erio asked me a question unrelated to “even”.<br /> <br /> “Cousin, where are we going?”<br /> <br /> “Well, where are the aliens?”<br /> <br /> “D-don’t ask me. I don’t know.”<br /> <br /> “Oh, really?” I tried to play dumb. If their whereabouts were known, there would be no need to search for them in the first place. Besides, there were no aliens. I’ve lived in this town and encountered countless self-proclaimed aliens, but I was utterly disgusted by how much they acted like Earthlings. They were far more Earthling than I, a pure-blooded Earthling, had ever been. A lot of them were gluttonous.<br /> <br /> “Okay, then, shall we go to the beach?”<br /> <br /> Whenever I was unsure where to go, I always decided on the beach. I’ve been doing that for decades.<br /> <br /> “The beach? I don’t have a swimsuit.”<br /> <br /> My great-grandchild pouted.<br /> <br /> “It’s too early in the season to swim. The sea is cold at this time of year.”<br /> <br /> I’ve dived in before, so I was sure of it. Huh? Or was that in May?<br /> <br /> “Then, in summer! In summer too, to the beach! I’ll swim!”<br /> <br /> She spoke in an infantile manner, yet with great enthusiasm, trying to secure a promise.<br /> <br /> “Tell your parents to take you there.”<br /> <br /> “My great-grandparents must come too!”<br /> <br /> “Ah… well, if we have some free time. Careful, it’s dangerous, so face forward.”<br /> <br /> I turned my great-grandchild to face me and griped the steering wheel tightly. I needed to drive especially carefully today.<br /> <br /> Erio hugged me tightly around the stomach. Then she rubbed her cheek against my back.<br /> <br /> “Cousin.”<br /> <br /> “Oh.”<br /> <br /> “You must not pant when you see our great-grandchild’s swimsuit.”<br /> <br /> “Shut up, you idiot.”<br /> <br /> I started pedalling. Every time at this moment, I felt a definite force of gravity rushing up from the soles of my feet to my knees. It was heavy. I winced at the weight of the movement and the bitter taste of my clenched molars, and then…<br /> <br /> Nevertheless, I will put all my heart and soul into moving forward in my own way as an inhabitant of Earth.<br /> <br /> I was still striving for that miracle of hanging on just five more centimetres.<br /> <br /> I was worried about whether I’d have enough energy to make it to the sea, but as the saying goes, “Old habits die hard.”<br /> <br /> To ensure that those words and my life up to that point weren’t a lie, I pressed down hard on the pedals.<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> “I’m not lying. Your great-grandparents once flew through the air on a bicycle.”<br /> <br /> “Wow! How far did you fly?”<br /> <br /> “For about two seconds.”<br /> <br /> “Wow, it’s the sea!”<br /> <br /> Apparently, our great-grandchild didn’t like our heroic tale. She pretended she didn’t hear it.<br /> <br /> I went through all the trouble of reminiscing about my wild days, even though I was out of breath. I still dreamed about those days occasionally.<br /> <br /> “When I smell the sea, the inside of my nose gets itchy.”<br /> <br /> “Cousin, is your scent fetish finally showing its true colours?”<br /> <br /> “You’re going to be dragging around that joke until the day you die, aren’t you?”<br /> <br /> She was tormenting me as if she were carrying on Meme-san’s will. With a feeling of nostalgia, deep emotion, and bitterness filling my mouth, I stopped my bicycle just before the beach. The brakes screamed, bringing the wheels to a halt. Looking up, blinded by the light, I saw that the road we used as a runway was still there.<br /> <br /> “The seaaa.”<br /> <br /> “The seaaaaaaaaaaa.”<br /> <br /> My great-grandchild and Erio were experiencing a mysterious resonance. Together, they began to praise the green sea, swaying gently. I gazed at the sea, considering whether I should join in with something like “Seaaaaaaaa” in a round-like manner.<br /> <br /> The sea here has become so polluted. It used to be much clearer and more exciting.<br /> <br /> Even if we jumped over the guardrail into this sea, I would never be able to find Erio on the surface of the water. The sea, too, has grown old. Eternity didn’t exist, not even in nature.<br /> <br /> However, the scent of the sea remained unchanged, no matter how many years passed. As if the air itself alone had transcended time.<br /> <br /> After finishing singing the mysterious song, my great-grandchild jumped out of the bicycle basket and ran out onto the beach, shouting, “Wow!”<br /> <br /> “Hey, it’s dangerous to go alone. Stop, stop! Come back!”<br /> <br /> I warned her, not expecting to be obeyed. My prediction was spot on; my great-grandchild was running around on the beach like a puppy. Can’t help it; I got off my bike and hurried after her.<br /> <br /> First, Erio, who was riding on the back, dismounted. Using my shoulder for support, she carefully lowered her feet to the ground and exhaled to settle her upper body. Due to a period of illness that kept her bedridden, Erio’s body had become weaker. I was not exactly strong myself, though, so I wasn’t in a position to call someone else weak.<br /> <br /> “It’s been a while since we’ve been to the sea.”<br /> <br /> Erio smiled, squinting her eyes and looking up at the blue sky as if searching for a UFO. She took in the sunlight directly in front of her, and her hair and skin seemed to regain their former lustre and radiance as they became moisturised. For a moment, I caught a glimpse of that illusion.<br /> <br /> But in reality, Erio was Erio. An old woman, with withered hair that let nothing escape her lips.<br /> <br /> I felt like if she really wanted to, she could even defy the passage of time. Perhaps she chose not to fight against her own ageing, instead matching my own steady decline. If so, I’m sorry.<br /> <br /> “Shall we look for aliens?”<br /> <br /> “Let’s play with our great-granddaughter first.”<br /> <br /> After locking my bicycle, I pointed to the girl on the beach who looked like she was setting off a firework. Erio’s eyes drooped.<br /> <br /> “I might not have that much energy left.”<br /> <br /> “Well, if we’re completely exhausted, we’ll postpone our search for aliens.”<br /> <br /> “What did we come here for, then?” chuckled Erio. However, she didn’t seem to disagree with my opinion.<br /> <br /> We walked side by side, our feet crunching on the sand. A light, crisp sound enveloped the soles of our feet. With each step, with each foot I put forward, I was reminded of the moments I walked on this beach with Erio. How many times have we faced the sea together like this?<br /> <br /> “Grandpa, Grandma Eri, hurry up and come!”<br /> <br /> She urged me on, twisting her body in a strange wriggling motion. “Okay, okay,” I said, placing my hand on Erio’s waist for support, and we both quickened our pace slightly. Erio looked up at me with a wry smile, and I couldn’t help but let a smile spread across my face. So I pretended not to notice her gaze and looked out at the sea.<br /> <br /> I couldn’t find a single alien I didn’t know of, nor any aliens I had encountered before.<br /> <br /> “Alright, you’ve finally arrived. Good, good.”<br /> <br /> My great-granddaughter, arms crossed and chest puffed out, had an incredibly arrogant expression. Her long hair was tossed about by the sea breeze, spreading out to the sides. The wind picked up particles hidden deep within her hair, sending them flying like confetti. Light blue particles.<br /> <br /> I watched them with a sense of reverence and transience, a feeling mixed with a tightening sensation in my insides. The sea breeze gouged the side of my eye, and a deep, dull pain covered the side of my temple. But I was parched, and no tears came.<br /> <br /> “Hey, Great-Grandpa, there are no aliens.”<br /> <br /> My great-grandchild was stomping her feet and pleading with me. Hmm, I looked around in all directions, but there wasn’t a soul in sight. It was refreshingly quiet, with only three figures standing on the beach. The wind still carried a chill, making me shiver slightly.<br /> <br /> “Shall we play until the aliens appear?”<br /> <br /> Erio suggested, scooping up our great-grandchild’s flowing hair with her fingers. Our great-grandchild jumped up and down, exclaiming, “Whoa!” Was that good or bad? Which is it? I just didn’t get young people these days.<br /> <br /> “What should we play?”<br /> <br /> She asked this with a smiling face, so she apparently agreed. I exchanged glances with Erio. What should we do for fun at the beach? I remember worrying about that before. After several decades of life, I had to come up with an answer. Rather, if I couldn’t come up with one, what had I been doing with my life? I nodded to Erio. Erio also nodded, “Hum”, silently accepting my instruction.<br /> <br /> It appeared we were both prepared for the possibility that we wouldn’t be able to stand up tomorrow or the day after. That’s fine then.<br /> <br /> I rummaged through the bag I was carrying on my shoulder and pulled out three short, soft vinyl swords. Needless to say, they were weapons for sports ''chanbara''. I used them whenever I went to the beach with my son in my younger days, but with some maintenance, they were still perfectly usable. I handed one sword each to my great-granddaughter and Erio.<br /> <br /> “Oh, so that’s what I’m going to play with my great-grandparents?”<br /> <br /> Our great-granddaughter’s eyes lit up as she swung the dagger around excitedly. Erio nodded, “Hum”, and aimed her sword at her great-granddaughter. Great-grandma was full of enthusiasm. It was as if she could see Ryuushi-san on the other side of her blade. That summer beach trip back then was fun. I could even still remember the feeling of the hangover.<br /> <br /> [[File:DTS Vol 07 109.jpg|thumb|“And now, the new generation steps in! Ta-daa!”]]<br /> <br /> That’s why, whenever I was at the beach, I only did sport ''chanbara''. It’s not like I was too lazy to think of anything else.<br /> <br /> “Fu fu fu, Cousin, let’s settle it.”<br /> <br /> Declared Erio defiantly. Settle it? Have I ever actually fought you? I swallowed the question and stomped my feet hard on the sand. My breathing, which had been ragged from cycling this far, slowly calmed down, converging like the tip of the chanbara sword. The sound of the waves faded into the distance.<br /> <br /> “I’ll beat you up on behalf of Ryuushi-san.”<br /> <br /> When I dared to mention that name, Erio’s lips twisted into a sly grin. She’s really become more expressive.<br /> <br /> Perhaps, by abandoning her alien identity, she has become a complete Earthling.<br /> <br /> “And now, the new generation steps in! Ta-daa!”<br /> <br /> My great-grandchild attacked with a sword, accompanied by a mysterious sound effect. Towards me. Her great-grandmother also attacked at the same time. Huh?<br /> <br /> My great-granddaughter was short, so she was at a disadvantage against us. I was worried that she might get upset if I hit her too hard, so I had to go easy on her. But those fears were unfounded. We were practically powerless against our great-granddaughter’s energy. For every time I swung my sword, she’d hit me five times. We couldn’t keep up with her incredible speed, as if she were constantly doing side-to-side jumps.<br /> <br /> Erio, who was accompanying her, widened her eyes and said, “Ah, ah,” her sword was unstable, swaying from side to side.<br /> <br /> “Buiiin, jakiiin, clack-clack-clack-clack!”<br /> <br /> With her hair flying and particles flying around, accompanied by sound effects, it really looked like she was wielding a Force-like sword. Erio and I were quickly out of breath, but our smiles never faded.<br /> <br /> No matter how much pain my lungs were in, my cheek muscles tried to smile regardless. For instance… There were people suffering on the other side of the ocean, and many people were still suffering and dying. But we were so happy right now that we couldn’t bring ourselves to let it go. We had no intention of going to the other side of the ocean.<br /> <br /> Amidst the widespread misfortune in the world, a smile that resembles pure happiness. Genuine, unadulterated feelings.<br /> <br /> As I raised my arm, drawing all those feelings from within, I questioned the unchanging scent of the sea.<br /> <br /> I wonder if that sports ''chanbara ''old guy met an alien in this ocean.<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> “It’s lunchtiiiiime!”<br /> <br /> “Ru ru ruuu.”<br /> <br /> “No, Great-Grandma, this isn’t time for ‘rururu’, help with the preparations.”<br /> <br /> Unfortunately, the beach huts weren’t open because it was out of season. So, it was time for our ''bento''. We spread out the rice balls that Erio and I had prepared that morning on the breakwater, which was half-buried in the sand. Picking up the oddly shaped rice balls wrapped in plastic wrap, I was reminded of the day when Maekawa-san brought some for us during a casual baseball game. Maekawa-san’s rice balls were much nicer shaped, I thought, smiling at my defeat.<br /> <br /> With my great-grandchild sitting between me and Erio, it made me think that we looked like parent and child.<br /> <br /> I moved my arms, which were more than just exhausted, and prepared a water bottle. It contained barley tea. I poured it into a cup and offered it to my great-grandchild. My great-grandchild took it and swallowed it down in one gulp. And then let out a sigh of relief.<br /> <br /> “I want barley tea too.”<br /> <br /> “Yes, yes.”<br /> <br /> I poured barley tea into the cup my great-grandchild handed me, even though Erio kept urging me on. Erio also swallowed it down with a gulp and wiped her mouth. She seemed to have caught her breath, and the tension in her shoulders slowly subsided.<br /> <br /> “What flavours are there?”<br /> <br /> My great-grandchild asked, peering into the rice balls. I compared the rice balls and handed one to my great-grandchild.<br /> <br /> “This is your favorite. ''Furikake''&lt;ref name=&quot;ftn23&quot;&gt;''Furikake ''is a dry condiment that is sprinkled on food. The mixtures vary a lot but they typically contain salt, sugar, seaweed, sesame seeds, dried egg, dried fish, etc.&lt;/ref&gt; flavour.”<br /> <br /> “Wow. Great-granddad, you’re high-tech!”<br /> <br /> My great-granddaughter clapped her hands and took it. She quickly tore off the plastic wrap and took a bite without so much as a courtesy&lt;ref name=&quot;ftn24&quot;&gt;In Japan, you’re supposed to say a courtesy formula (''itadakimasu'') before starting eating, especially in a group. Not doing so is bad manners.&lt;/ref&gt;. Erio, who had been watching from the side, made a loose fist and lightly tapped her great-granddaughter on the head.<br /> <br /> “Make sure to say ''itadakimasu''.”<br /> <br /> “Oh, I forgot. ''Itadakimasu''.”<br /> <br /> She put her palms together while still holding the rice ball. Erio was as much of a nagger as ever, sticking to the rules taught by her Meme-san. I also put my hands together and said, “''Itadakimasu''”, before she would get angry at me.<br /> <br /> I grabbed a rice ball at random and munched on it while facing the sea. The sound of the waves rolling in and out reached me without any noise. Was the sea this quiet in the primordial days, before life teemed on Earth? The more I pondered about ancient times, the fewer moving shadows I could see besides the waves. The movement of the clouds floating in the sky was so slow that one wouldn’t notice it unless they watched them for a long time, just like Erio and me right now.<br /> <br /> “Are the rice balls good?”<br /> <br /> Erio asked her great-grandchild. Her great-grandchild had already finished the first one and nodded enthusiastically. “Mmmm!”<br /> <br /> Then, she looked up at my face and Erio’s face alternately, her cheeks curving into a grin.<br /> <br /> “Aliens, hi.”<br /> <br /> “Hi.”<br /> <br /> Erio started imitating her. Her habit of mimicking people’s gestures and words seemed to be alive and well. I was tempted to be drawn in too.<br /> <br /> “Maybe aliens don’t exist after all.”<br /> <br /> I grumbled, wiping the grains of rice off my mouth with my fingers. Erio nodded, “Hum”, and then…<br /> <br /> “I think that’s fine. Cousin and this child are on Earth, after all.”<br /> <br /> The former futon-spinning ''Denpa Onna'' was now easily denying the existence of aliens.<br /> <br /> And she was doing it with a positive attitude. While it was refreshing, as someone who remembered her earlier days of eccentricity, I couldn’t help but think, “Hold on a minute.”<br /> <br /> “Well, you know, people say I look like an alien.”<br /> <br /> In response to her great-granddaughter’s remark, Erio pouted and spat out something. Then she rolled up his sleeve with a grunt and bent her withered arm, which looked like it would make a satisfying crackling sound if stepped on.<br /> <br /> Rather than showing strength, it evoked a sense of ageing that made me feel uneasy. It looks as if she were about to be broken by the waves.<br /> <br /> “Do you ever get into fights with kids who say things like that?”<br /> <br /> “Not really. They compliment me. They ‘I’m jealous’ and ‘You’re so cool.’ Hehehe,” said our great-granddaughter, shaking her hair. Erio also shook her head, saying “sapapapa” for some reason.<br /> <br /> “If a fight breaks out, Grandma Elio and Cousin will come to help.”<br /> <br /> “Huh, me too?”<br /> <br /> “Hmm,” “Hmmmm,” the great-grandchild imitated her great-grandmother. But could she count on a wrinkled duo as helpers?<br /> <br /> Just playing chanbara with my great-grandchild left my whole body aching, and I was dreading the bike ride home. I glanced at the bike I’ve parked just before the beach, with the vision of a bleak future ahead.<br /> <br /> I’ve lost count of how many bicycles I’ve owned, and this one was a far cry from the colours E.T. usually favoured. That bicycle will never fly, and it served that purpose admirably. We, too, could no longer fly.<br /> <br /> That’s why my partner even said that we didn’t need aliens.<br /> <br /> “…Yeah, I guess so.”<br /> <br /> Just as we were unaware of the misfortunes beyond the ocean, we could not find aliens. The dreams and hopes of the far reaches of the universe, encompassing miracles, prayers, and superpowers, were no longer necessary for us.<br /> <br /> What was important was the time being. In a world that stretched out as far as the eye could see, my great-grandchild and Erio were there.<br /> <br /> Having a son and grandchildren and having contributed to the future of the Earth.<br /> <br /> To this coastal scenery, where a youthful man’s youth came to an end.<br /> <br /> The happiness that Erio and I sought kept coming and going.<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> “Hey, hey, the wind is strong. So hide behind your great-granddad, he he he.”<br /> <br /> “Ah, Mako-kun-kun has been defeated (already no longer paying attention to Cousin beside her).”<br /> <br /> &lt;noinclude&gt;<br /> {| border=&quot;1&quot; cellpadding=&quot;5&quot; cellspacing=&quot;0&quot; style=&quot;margin: 1em 1em 1em 0; background: #f9f9f9; border: 1px #aaaaaa solid; padding: 0.2em; border-collapse: collapse;&quot;<br /> |-<br /> | Back to [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume7_Chapter2|Chapter 2]]<br /> | Return to [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko|Main Page]]<br /> | Forward to [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume7_Chapter4|Chapter 4]]<br /> |-<br /> |}<br /> &lt;/noinclude&gt;</div>

Bob Morane http://www.baka-tsuki.org/project/index.php?title=Denpa_Onna_to_Seishun_Otoko:Volume7_Chapter2&diff=588767 2026-08-23T07:43:14Z

<p>Bob Morane: Created page with &quot;&lt;noinclude&gt; {| border=&quot;1&quot; cellpadding=&quot;5&quot; cellspacing=&quot;0&quot; style=&quot;margin: 1em 1em 1em 0; background: #f9f9f9; border: 1px #aaaaaa solid; padding: 0.2em; border-collapse: collapse;&quot; |- | Back to Chapter 1 | Return to Main Page | Forward to Chapter 3 |- |} &lt;/noinclude&gt; ==Chapter 2 - Ending No. 3: Sharing Happiness== “Niwa-kuuuuun, I’ve been...&quot;</p> <hr /> <div>&lt;noinclude&gt;<br /> {| border=&quot;1&quot; cellpadding=&quot;5&quot; cellspacing=&quot;0&quot; style=&quot;margin: 1em 1em 1em 0; background: #f9f9f9; border: 1px #aaaaaa solid; padding: 0.2em; border-collapse: collapse;&quot;<br /> |-<br /> | Back to [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume7_Chapter1|Chapter 1]]<br /> | Return to [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko|Main Page]]<br /> | Forward to [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume7_Chapter3|Chapter 3]]<br /> |-<br /> |}<br /> &lt;/noinclude&gt;<br /> ==Chapter 2 - Ending No. 3: Sharing Happiness==<br /> <br /> “Niwa-kuuuuun, I’ve been waiting for you.”<br /> <br /> “……I’m sorry.”<br /> <br /> I hunched my shoulders and gave a wry smile in response to Ryuuko, who was waving her hand excitedly with an innocent smile. From what Ryuuko said, it sounded like I was the one who was there first and was going to meet her when she arrived late, but in reality, it was the other way around.<br /> <br /> Ryuuko was already standing in front of the golden clock inside the station, waving to me as I arrived exactly on time for our meeting. Therefore, there was no question mark in Ryuuko’s words. She was simply reporting the fact that she had been waiting.<br /> <br /> She was a natural airhead, so I was sure she didn’t mean any harm, but it was a pretty sharp snide remark. “I wasn’t late though,” I thought to myself as I weaved through the crowd and ran all the way to where Ryuuko was standing, directly beneath the golden clock.<br /> <br /> “Sorry, sorry, I’m still not used to changing trains at the station. You know, I don’t use the train very often.”<br /> <br /> “Noooo, it’s fine, it’s fine.”<br /> <br /> She was still wearing that perfectly relaxed smile, and her gentle demeanour softened the atmosphere. In the hurried, tense mood filled with the anxiety of waiting for someone, her comforting presence was precious.<br /> <br /> “Is there still some time before the movie starts?”<br /> <br /> Ryuuko jumped up and down as if playing hopscotch, looking up at the gold watch. The hour hand was pointing to eleven, and the minute hand was pointing to the boundary between six and seven. The movie we were planning to watch today was at 12:10, so it was indeed a little early.<br /> <br /> “But we also need time to go to the movie theatre, so if we wait, it’ll be over before we know it.”<br /> <br /> “Yeah, let’s get going then.”<br /> <br /> Ryuuko naturally extended her right hand. Her bright smile hadn’t changed since high school. I grasped her hand firmly, but not too tightly, and walked away from the gold watch.<br /> <br /> I, Niwa Makoto, along with Mifune Ryuuko, have become university students. It had only been a month since we started, but we had already got used to university life. There were still some things that were confusing because it was so different from high school.<br /> <br /> Last year, I confessed my feelings to Ryuuko at our high school’s cultural festival, and we started dating. It felt like it happened naturally, but at the same time, it also felt like I had mustered up a lot of courage. Thanks to that, on Sundays, like today, we naturally started talking about going to the movies together.<br /> <br /> After graduating from high school, I left that town to return to my parents’ home. My parents had returned from overseas and were present, so I had no plans to live alone anytime soon. For some reason, now that my family had returned, they were acting like doting parents, and honestly, I couldn’t bring myself to leave. Well, if I got home late from university because of social events or lectures, I could just stay at Ryuuko’s place nearby, so it wasn’t really a problem.<br /> <br /> Rather, it allowed me to do whatever I wanted with Ryuuko… ahem, ahem. Whoops, if I keep talking so casually about that kind of thing, I’ll have to graduate from ''Shounen J''○''mp''&lt;ref name=&quot;ftn15&quot;&gt;A reference to ''Shounen Jump'', a weekly manga magazine.&lt;/ref&gt;. Well, I only ever browse manga magazines at kiosks when I have the time. I didn’t read manga or novels on a regular basis.<br /> <br /> “Aaah, Niwa-kun, you’re grinning. You’re daydreaming again, aren’t you?”<br /> <br /> As we crossed the crowd in front of the ticket office, Ryuuko pointed something out to me. I covered my mouth with my hand and quickly tried to brush it off, saying, “Yeah, something like that I guess?” There was no way I could tell her in public that I was remembering what happened three days ago. If I did, Ryuuko would have a meltdown.<br /> <br /> “Was Ryuko-san making a live appearance in your fantasy?”<br /> <br /> No, a live appearance was impossible. Are you a succubus?<br /> <br /> “You were the lead actress.”<br /> <br /> “Then that’s fine.”<br /> <br /> She gave a thumbs-up, and we showed each other the white of our teeth. That kind of playful interaction hadn’t changed since we first met.<br /> <br /> We’ve both grown a little bit in appearance, though, haven’t we?<br /> <br /> Ryuuko started growing her hair out around the time she entered her third year of high school. For some reason, her complex about her hair becoming straight unless straightened seemed to have disappeared, since it was now perfectly straight. Her brown hair hadn’t changed, and her youthful features were almost the same, but her overall impression changed quite a bit.<br /> <br /> “Ryuuko-san, is there anything you’d like to eat for lunch?”<br /> <br /> When I asked her, Ryuko flinched and pouted.<br /> <br /> “I-I told ya, I’m Ryuushi!”<br /> <br /> “…That’s the complete opposite of how it was back in high school.”<br /> <br /> Her habit of immediately correcting those who called her name remained, but it had been reversed.<br /> <br /> “Oh no, shy Ryuuko-san is getting ahead of herself.”<br /> <br /> She cupped her cheeks in her hands and wriggled her body. Her reactions hadn’t changed since then. It was endearing.<br /> <br /> “Niwa-kun, you’re the bad guy here. Really bad.”<br /> <br /> She gently patted me on the shoulder.<br /> <br /> “Huh, me? Why?”<br /> <br /> “Because you and the others keep calling out Ryuushi-san, Ryuushi-san. Ryuuko-san has caught the Ryushi-san disease and is in a terrible state!”<br /> <br /> I wanted to say, “In that case, Erio is the one to blame,” but I kept quiet and got punched in the shoulder.<br /> <br /> The train station in May was filled with a stifling heat, as if the noise itself had transformed into heat. We passed between the ticket office and the ticket gates and headed towards the entrance with the silver clock. If we went outside the station and walked along the road to the left, we would find a small movie theatre. It was called the Whatchamacallit Theatre, and I once saw a triple feature of movies called “Ki○ I○kami Shi○na&lt;ref name=&quot;ftn16&quot;&gt;Not sure what Ki○ is. The others are probably references to the movies ''Ikigami ''(2008) and ''Sheena ''(1984). &lt;/ref&gt;” there a long time ago. In fact, that was the only movie theatre I knew of near the station. When I asked Ryuuko, all I got were wrong answers like, “It’s Bunbunkanbun.” Getting angry would serve no purpose.<br /> <br /> “He he heee.”<br /> <br /> The calm Ryuuko suddenly burst into laughter. It was a villainous laugh, as if she could no longer contain herself. “Guh?” I tilted my head, half-laughing along. Ryuuko added another ominous laugh, “U he he”, and made a sound, “Ughhh”, that I couldn’t tell was of satisfaction or pain.<br /> <br /> “Well, Niwa-kun, when I hold hands with you, Ryuuko-san’s laughing bag just pops up; I can’t help it. It’s right here,” Ryuuko said, pressing her palm against the area near her lungs. It was typical of Ryuuko-san to have such a mysterious organ in that location. Perhaps that organ was the reason she was always speaking in such a mysterious way.<br /> <br /> “Oh, ''akabuku''&lt;ref name=&quot;ftn17&quot;&gt;''Akafuku ''are ''mochi ''(rice cackes) coated with ''anko ''(red bean paste).&lt;/ref&gt;. Oh, ''shachihoko manju''&lt;ref name=&quot;ftn18&quot;&gt;''Shachihoko manju'' is a kind of cake like a castella bun filled with ''anko''.&lt;/ref&gt;. Oh, a public telephone.”<br /> <br /> Ryuuko was even more excited than her usual self today. She pointed to everything that caught her eye. A foreigner picking up a stack of ''akabuku mochi ''at the front of the souvenir shop and an old man sitting on a public telephone stand drinking Regain&lt;ref name=&quot;ftn19&quot;&gt;Regain is a kind of energy drink / vitamin supplement.&lt;/ref&gt; glanced at us, wondering what’s going on. But Ryuuko seemed to be having fun, so that was all that mattered.<br /> <br /> We stepped outside the station, catching a whiff of the sweet aroma of sweet potato confections being sold beside the entrance. The sky outside was clear and blue, befitting a beautiful May day. There were few clouds, and virtually nothing to block the sunlight. In short, it was hot.<br /> <br /> “What nice weather! The sun’s so strong, I could collapse!”<br /> <br /> Ryuuko raised her left hand, which is currently idle, and pretended to collapse.<br /> <br /> “You’re not Maekawa-san.”<br /> <br /> When I said that and laughed, Ryuuko had an ambiguous smile. Pulled back from that subtle smile, I scratched my cheek. Why was that? I believe both Ryuuko and I feel the same way.<br /> <br /> When we talked about the past, which should have been fun, we somehow felt awkward.<br /> <br /> Without saying a word, just with a smile plastered on, we walked along the station wall. We turned right at the intersection leading to the station parking lot, briefly ignoring the traffic light, walked past the convenience store, and stopped before the traffic light on the main street.<br /> <br /> “…Haa.”<br /> <br /> I was overwhelmed by the view straight ahead, with towering buildings stretching out before me. There was a real estate agency, a sign for a shoe store that had just closed down, and a cell phone shop down the street to the right. A colourful array of buildings and diverse shops, unlike anything I’d ever seen in my hometown.<br /> <br /> A place closer to a city than my town, yet stretching endlessly across the land. A world parallel to the universe.<br /> <br /> Whenever I came here, I couldn’t help but think back to my high school days back in that town.<br /> <br /> Along with the concept of Youth Points that was lost within me.<br /> <br /> “……Hum?”<br /> <br /> While waiting for the red light to turn green at the intersection, I noticed that Ryuuko next to me was looking up at me. I carelessly realised that the way she tilted her head was similar to how I used to look up at Maekawa-san, and a pain shot through my side.<br /> <br /> My temples were also tingling. Trying not to show these various minor pains, I asked, “What’s the matter?” Ryuuko shook her head from side to side, “Hum”, looking very happy.<br /> <br /> Ryuuko often stared at me intently, smiled, and then said nothing. I could understand it if it were the other way around, but I was always wondering if my face was really worth admiring.<br /> <br /> “Niwa-kun, you’ve become so handsome. That’s all.”<br /> <br /> Despite shaking her head, she conveyed an unusual message today. Her unqualified praise made me smile.<br /> <br /> “Oh, I did? Compared to when?”<br /> <br /> “Hmm”, Ryuuko began, counting on her fingers. The fact that she had to count on her fingers to look back made me realise how much time had passed since I met Ryuuko, and it was quite moving. Wait, was I really that uncool back then? That was embarrassing.<br /> <br /> Ryuuko had always been cute, so I wondered what was causing this difference. Were we even on the same level?<br /> <br /> “Yes, it’s been about five days.”<br /> <br /> It was more recent than I thought. Had I been a lame kid all this time? What a shocking revelation.<br /> <br /> “No, five days? That was just a haircut.”<br /> <br /> Moreover, I had simply cut it back to its original length after it had grown a bit. “Hmm, hmm,” Ryuuko nodded.<br /> <br /> “Niwa-kun, you look better like that; you’ve always been that way.”<br /> <br /> “…Ryuuko-san.”<br /> <br /> “I-I told ya, I’m Ryuushi…”<br /> <br /> She mumbled a correction in a low voice. In the wrong direction. I was relieved to hear that the I-told-ya girl was still alive and well.<br /> <br /> The red light in front of us started flashing yellow. But Ryuuko didn’t even glance at it, she was looking up at me.<br /> <br /> Her ears were faintly tinged with crimson, and she seemed a little feverish. She was giggling, “Fu fuuu.”<br /> <br /> “Ryuuko-san developed the I-wanna-kiss disease.”<br /> <br /> I applauded the report of this enviable and delightfully strange illness that appeared at regular intervals since we started dating.<br /> <br /> “Hoh hoh? Then let me heal you right away.”<br /> <br /> After such a silly yet endearing exchange, we boldly began kissing. I could sense the irritation of the stares around us, but I still wanted to cherish Ryuuko more than I cared about those people whose names I didn’t even know. After our kiss ended and we pulled our faces apart, I stroked my cheek with my palm even though it wasn’t itchy.<br /> <br /> “Is it a sign of a serious problem if I’m no longer embarrassed about kissing?”<br /> <br /> When I asked with a smile, Ryuuko shook her index finger from side to side, her face bright red as she said, “No, no.”<br /> <br /> “A kiss, I told ya&lt;ref name=&quot;ftn20&quot;&gt;There’s an untranslatable play on sonority here. ''Chuu ''(”kiss”) and ''ya'''chuu'''ni ''(”I told ya”).&lt;/ref&gt;.”<br /> <br /> “…Kiss.”<br /> <br /> I glanced sideways and noticed the traffic light had long since turned green, and despite being overtaken by the crowds at the intersection, I exchanged a kiss with Ryuuko. Kissing whenever we wanted, regardless of whether we were in public or not. That was what was important.<br /> <br /> [[File:DTS Vol 07 070.jpg|thumb|Kissing whenever we wanted, regardless of whether we were in public or not.]]<br /> <br /> We firmly believed that love was not something to be maintained but something to be built up, so perhaps what lied between us was still infatuation.<br /> <br /> “…Hahaha.”<br /> <br /> “Hmm?”<br /> <br /> “Well, you see.”<br /> <br /> I could only manage a wry smile at myself for no longer being able to laugh at the perverted idiotic couple I once encountered.<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> The movie’s plot could be described as a B-grade suspense thriller. I was familiar with its general outline because it was based on a novel I read several years ago. It was a story by novelist Tachikawa Eiji about high school students, where people die, are killed, and kill others, a truly bleak story. But in the end, it was mostly resolved by love or brute force. Looking back at that book now, I couldn’t help but laugh at how haphazard its structure was.<br /> <br /> Well, if it were expressed visually, like in a movie, it might turn into a tearjerker.<br /> <br /> To be honest, I’ve never been moved to tears by a work of fiction. Maybe because I’ve never consciously tried to empathise with a character.<br /> <br /> “There’s plenty of laughter, but no crying.”<br /> <br /> I murmured, trying to blend into the dim light of the movie theatre. Ryuuko, sitting next to me, let out a quiet “Ohhh” at the trailer for another 3D movie. Of course, she didn’t have the special glasses, so she couldn’t see the 3D effect.<br /> <br /> After all the promotional trailers for other movies, the movie we’ve been looking forward to was about to start.<br /> <br /> …Two people died within the first three minutes. The bleakness seemed to have been faithfully recreated. Was this the kind of movie a couple should see? A fleeting thought of regret crossed my mind. But then again, I’d rather be at Ryuuko’s apartment engaging in romantic activities than watching a romance movie.<br /> <br /> Our seats were the two seats on the far left of the last row, offering a view of almost the entire theatre. Being a holiday, the theatre was almost full, and I couldn’t help but wonder why there were so many couples.<br /> <br /> Though I was probably the last person who should be saying this. But it was truly amazing how many people loved romance. Even on screen, a woman who had killed someone and a man in the middle of killing someone were embracing and whispering sweet nothings to each other. Hmm.<br /> <br /> Humans are so thick-skinned. I continued to watch the screen change, my attention somewhat detached. Occasionally, I glanced over at Ryuuko, who was staring intently at the screen with her mouth half-open. Unlike me, who was easily distracted, she seemed surprisingly engrossed in the story. Well, she was the one who suggested we watch it, so that was to be expected. I also stared at the screen, hoping we could discuss our impressions afterwards. Another person died. This time, the protagonist had stabbed the bad guy repeatedly.<br /> <br /> But then the protagonist suddenly started talking about the love lurking within him, which I don’t think cancelled out the gore… I doubt it ever would. It was not like eating pickled ginger to cleanse one’s palate. Was this really okay?<br /> <br /> I wanted to exchange opinions with Ryuuko right then and there, not after the screening, but I refrained, considering it a breach of etiquette. The film’s content made it difficult to continue watching without pointing out its flaws, and I couldn’t help but yawn.<br /> <br /> The building was dimly lit, after all. On top of that, sitting still and staying calm would make anyone sleepy.<br /> <br /> It was very similar to the drowsiness that often sets in when one was sitting quietly on a train or in a car.<br /> <br /> “…………”<br /> <br /> The darkness of the movie theatre, the light of the wide screen, and the background music that can be heard from somewhere far away.<br /> <br /> As my concentration deepened, my eyes focused on something far away, creating the illusion that I was projecting memories from within my own mind. Visual information stopped entering, almost as if my eyes were closed. I gave up on the movie and quietly turned my attention to the past.<br /> <br /> I started to see my own back from high school in a daze. I was in my summer uniform. So what?<br /> <br /> I was a second-year high school student, riding my bike with a carefree expression on my face. I didn’t take the future very seriously, and I seem to be enjoying every day, muttering nonsense about Youth Points and whatnot. I was bossed around by my cousin, sometimes taking care of her; bossed around by my aunt; and sometimes foolishly almost seduced by her age-inappropriate charm. I also had a tall, reliable friend, and most importantly, there was Ryuuko, or Ryuushi-san, as she was known back then.<br /> <br /> If I were to describe my life in terms of thickness, that period would surely be when I was at my most fulfilled and plump. I believed I started to wither after I became a third-year student and chose to date Ryuuko. I didn’t think it was a wrong choice, and I’m certainly still fulfilled now… But I wonder.<br /> <br /> It was also the moment when something that had been surrounding me began to peel away little by little.<br /> <br /> My life changed drastically after I announced that I was dating Ryuuko. I became estranged from many people while at the same time growing closer to Ryuuko. Conversations with Erio, who I was living with, became awkward and subdued. I also grew increasingly distant from Maekawa-san. So, without even a moment’s thought, I rejected the idea of ​​staying in that town and returned to my parents’ home.<br /> <br /> Since I left that town, I haven’t visited the Touwa’s house, not even once. I wondered how Maekawa-san was doing or if Tamura-san was still running her shop. All the connections that I once had had been severed and were now gone.<br /> <br /> I may never visit the Touwa family again. I no longer have any special business or reason to go there; I simply became a relative, drifting further and further apart. Somehow, that shook me more strongly than the most moving ending of a movie. Why was I getting teary-eyed over thoughts completely unrelated to the movie that was currently playing? I didn’t understand. So I held back my tears.<br /> <br /> The Youth Points I once possessed were already gone. The points I carefully saved up for the future have withered away, and only I remained, my past dried up, sitting in a movie theatre seat, basking in the light. I had absolutely no intention of denying the present. In fact, strictly speaking, people only ever have the “present”. Time was a continuous series of presents, and the past and future were nothing more than the present moments I have experienced, or will experience, at each given time.<br /> <br /> That was why life was sometimes described as a series of choices. As a result of those choices, I ended up here with a lovey-dovey couple, yet at the same time, I felt a slight void.<br /> <br /> What exactly was I dissatisfied with regarding my current situation?<br /> <br /> What was I regretting?<br /> <br /> …I couldn’t believe it, but…<br /> <br /> Did I make a mistake somewhere along the way to arrive here?<br /> <br /> “…Is it even possible that I haven’t made a single mistake?”<br /> <br /> With a small sigh, I whispered so softly that no one could hear me. I looked up and saw that the movie was at a good part. Great music, a tense atmosphere, and passionate performances from the actors.<br /> <br /> Even if one only watched a part of it, it was very clear that it was an important scene.<br /> <br /> Drawn by a swirling, unique passion and the intersection of life’s paths.<br /> <br /> That was exactly the kind of world I had envisioned when I was a second-year high school student, and it was what I felt the most strongly about.<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> After the movie, we went into a coffee shop. Well, it was actually a manga café.<br /> <br /> It was next to the movie theatre and has private rooms, so it was quicker than going back to the station. We chose a couple’s seat and requested to stay for an hour and headed to the room with the designated number, each holding a self-service oolong tea (Ryuuko, as usual, was mixing various drinks). On the way, Ryuuko let out a knowing chuckle.<br /> <br /> “Brings back memories.”<br /> <br /> “Huh? What does?”<br /> <br /> “This is the manga café where Ryuuko-san went when she ran away from home.”<br /> <br /> “Ran away from home? Aah, I remember hearing something like that.”<br /> <br /> I wasn’t involved, so I didn’t know the details. I only vaguely remembered hearing something like that.<br /> <br /> “Ryuuko-san was so young back then; how nostalgic.”<br /> <br /> “Hoh hoh, how plain&lt;ref name=&quot;ftn21&quot;&gt;In the previous sentence, Ryuushi used the expression ''jimi-jimi ''that conveys the idea of something gradually disappearing. But ''jimi ''can also mean “plain”.&lt;/ref&gt;.”<br /> <br /> “Who are you calling plain, I told ya?”<br /> <br /> She herself was the one who suggested it. We entered room number 48. It was a couples’ seating area, and instead of chairs, there was a single red sofa. Ryuuko sat down first, and I followed beside her. I placed my paper cup and bag on the sliding table and took a breather. Ryuuko had already quenched her thirst with a mixed drink. It was a strangely purple liquid.<br /> <br /> “The movie was fun, wasn’t it? Weeeeell, did you enjoy it?”<br /> <br /> We were speaking in hushed tones because if we talked too loudly, the people in the other rooms would get angry.<br /> <br /> “Why are you phrasing this in the style of a presenter on an educational programme?… Well, it was pretty good.”<br /> <br /> I gave a safe answer. The original novel was quite interesting, so I thought that if I watched the movie seriously, I would probably have a similar impression. Ryuuko nodded in agreement. She placed the paper cup on the table.<br /> <br /> “By the way, Niwa-kun, what kind of stories do you like?”<br /> <br /> “Huh, me? Hmm… Now that you’re asking me that again, I wonder, what could it be? SF maybe?”<br /> <br /> “SF, huh? When you say SF, you mean something like ''Predator''?”<br /> <br /> “Is ''Predator ''even SF? Hmm, well, I do like it.”<br /> <br /> “I seeeee. Well then, next time, let’s try SF.”<br /> <br /> Ryuuko gulped down the contents of her glass. I also moistened my lips and throat with oolong tea.<br /> <br /> “But so many things happen in movies, don’t they? It’s completely different from our everyday lives.”<br /> <br /> Ryuuko smiled enviously. I wondered if it were really the case, my eyes darting around a bit, and I tilted my head.<br /> <br /> “We all have our own things going on, you know. Like going to university or watching movies.”<br /> <br /> “Hmm. That’s true, but, how should I put it, there aren’t many events that really take off.”<br /> <br /> Ryuuko twisted her hips back and forth, spreading her arms wide and saying, “Baa, baa.” What was that supposed to represent?<br /> <br /> “Niwa-kun, every day you and I spend together is introspective, like we’re packing everything in tight, and it’s fulfilling. But it’s not like in a movie where all sorts of things are suddenly spread and change the world around.”<br /> <br /> “… Hmm.”<br /> <br /> “Niwa-kun, back when we were living in that town, there was definitely an atmosphere that suggested something incredible might happen. Now, that feeling has kiiiiind of disappeared. Hehe,” Ryuko smiled, a hint of sadness in her voice. Her speech was a bit in her own unique style, which made complete comprehension difficult, but it seemed to suggest she had calmed down. Or perhaps she had stopped daydreaming?<br /> <br /> “So, you mean it’s not exciting?”<br /> <br /> “That’s a rather clever way to put it.”<br /> <br /> “Hmm, indeed. But isn’t that because we’re now college students? I think there are definitely things that can only be experienced when in high school.”<br /> <br /> “Hmmm, so Ryuuko-san and you already lack youthfulness. Mmmm.”<br /> <br /> Ah, she melted. Ryuuko slumped against the sofa and collapsed. It was a gesture that somehow reminded me of Meme-san. Were all women like this? A hundred million Meme? No, no, that would lead to the extinction of humanity. Or perhaps they reproduce explosively? Which is it?… Probably the latter.<br /> <br /> And so I began to speak, thinking of my aunt whose face I still wouldn’t forget, as if she were some unknown bacterium.<br /> <br /> “You know, my favourite part of a movie is the credits.”<br /> <br /> “Hmm?”<br /> <br /> Ryuuko, who had been squashed, lifted her head. Her soft body revived with a “honihonihoni”, and she sat up again.<br /> <br /> “Is that weird?”<br /> <br /> “Err, well, you focus your attention on interesting things.”<br /> <br /> She didn’t need to force herself to praise me. Of course, not that I minded, but… Anyway, what were we talking about?<br /> <br /> “Oh yeah, the credits. I love the way the names of the staff are listed against a black background, and I also like how they sometimes show a short epilogue. Either way, I love it. I’ve even been moved just by watching the credits without watching the actual movie at all.”<br /> <br /> “… As always, Niwa-kun, your fetishes are a little bit perverted.”<br /> <br /> Wait, so she thought I was a bit of a pervert? This shocking truth came to light after six months of dating. On the other hand, it gave me hope that from now on I could just be more open about my perverted side and have a pure relationship.<br /> <br /> Anyway.<br /> <br /> “There’s a mix of wanting to watch a little longer and a sense of relief that it’s finally over, and when you see the names of all the people involved listed, it really hits you. It makes me cry more than the movie itself.”<br /> <br /> It was a work that expresses loneliness and a multitude of emotions, imbued with the solemnity of witnessing the death of someone close. I’ve been strongly drawn to things that symbolise the end, feeling drained, and sometimes shedding tears. Life was the same.<br /> <br /> The end credits of my entire life were still far away. But at each milestone in my story… Ah.<br /> <br /> “I see… so that’s why?”<br /> <br /> “Hmm? Niwa-kun, did you just have some kind of epiphany?”<br /> <br /> “Well, yeah.”<br /> <br /> I chuckled jokingly, “Fu fu fu”, brushing it off.<br /> <br /> The feelings of the past I had experienced in the movie theatre earlier. Realising their true nature, I propped my chin on my hand to support myself. I gulped down the oolong tea to quench my thirst and finally turned my eyes to the credits that had been rolling in my mind. The moment I became aware of them, the scene instantly ended.<br /> <br /> When I left that town, I suppose one movie had come to an end.<br /> <br /> And finally, after the credits finished rolling, I arrived at the present moment.<br /> <br /> What I was feeling was the same kind of exhaustion one gets after watching a really long movie.<br /> <br /> “…I see.”<br /> <br /> I finally figured out the source of my unease and let out a weak laugh. I rotated my stiff shoulders. I felt like complaining, “I’m tired,” but I couldn’t waste the time I had with Ryuuko. The movie screening was over.<br /> <br /> I was sure I would never be able to watch that movie again.<br /> <br /> So, it was time to seriously begin working on the sequel.<br /> <br /> Even if the resulting work was dismissed as a failure by the public, it was done for self-satisfaction.<br /> <br /> It was our life, and that was enough for us.<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> Our one-hour package contract was over, so we stepped outside, still holding hands. Cars were constantly crossing the road in front of us, and their scents rose into the air with the movement of the vehicles. Like dandelion fluff that curls up and sticks to your clothes, their scent clung to us. As soon as that subsided, the spring sunshine poured down from the sky. I looked up at the sun, which we could see from Earth as it was eight minutes ago.<br /> <br /> A ring of light slowly blurred its outline, like the surface of a burning body of water. The blue sky was pale, just like the light blue hair I’d seen before. I squinted, feeling as if this seamless sky might burst forth and rain down like unravelling hair. Of course, that was impossible. I lowered my face, feeling the warmth and sensation of her tightly gripping right hand. Ryuuko-san laughed cheerfully and gestured for me to cross the road.<br /> <br /> “Let’s go.”<br /> <br /> “Yeah.”<br /> <br /> After confirming that the traffic light on the pedestrian crossing was green, we started running, determined to cross before it turned red. We passed a discount ticket shop and a small sports field on our way to the sidewalk, passing bank employees, OLs&lt;ref name=&quot;ftn22&quot;&gt;OL means “office lady”, the female equivalent of a “salary man”.&lt;/ref&gt; carrying lunch boxes for everyone, and students on bicycles, and overtaking them as we headed towards the station.<br /> <br /> Running made our skin feel hot almost immediately; it was that time of year between spring and summer. While I was dreading the increasingly high temperatures, that rise stirred something deep inside me. Something was about to begin. I could only feel that kind of sensation, even if it was just an illusion, during the warmer seasons. The long winter and the still somewhat chilly spring are over, and our university life, which we’ve both entered, was surely just beginning.<br /> <br /> The credits roll, and what will begin is a sequel to a hugely successful film. They are often criticised in reviews as unnecessary, something that shouldn’t have been made, something that should have ended nicely. But we let it be like that. We’ll stay stable and go on adventures. Constantly change the way stories are told, and find satisfaction.<br /> <br /> “I told you that it wasn’t exciting enough.”<br /> <br /> As expected of an ex-sports-orientated person, I spoke to Ryuuko as we ran side-by-side without getting out of breath. My body swayed up and down, and my voice was bouncy, and Ryuuko replied in a similar state. The quality of her voice suited Ryuuko very well.<br /> <br /> “Yes! Stay tuned for entertainer Niwa-kun!”<br /> <br /> “Okay, I get it. I’ll say something so amazing it’ll take your breath away!”<br /> <br /> “A-a murder case against Ryuuko suddenly occurs!”<br /> <br /> As the green light flashed, we finished crossing the pedestrian crossing. But we wanted our hearts to beat a little longer, so we kept running. We passed the bank, we sprinted past the pharmacy, and one half of our stupid couple shouted. A short-sighted fool who doesn’t think about tomorrow was preaching about an important event in the future.<br /> <br /> “Let’s get married!”<br /> <br /> [[File:DTS Vol 07 082.jpg|thumb|“Let’s get married!”]]<br /> <br /> Everyone nearby turned around. They turned back, shook their bags noisily, and glanced at the speeding, stupid couple with disbelief. “How’s that?” they seemed to say, thrusting their left arm forward and letting out an indistinct shout. We laughed wholeheartedly, intoxicated by the pleasure of creating something that had spread around us, something we had somehow lost.<br /> <br /> As Ryuuko, taken aback by my proposal, collapsed to her knees as if melting and let out strange cries like “Hogyaaa!” and “Gubaaa!” in the middle of the pavement, I looked up at the sky one last time.<br /> <br /> The light blue sky and the sun blend together, and those familiar particles rain down upon us.<br /> <br /> To that celebratory illusion, I whispered, “Thank you”, pouring out all the emotions I had felt over the past two years.<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> “Ge he he.”<br /> <br /> “Moooom, Cousin is acting weird.”<br /> <br /> &lt;noinclude&gt;<br /> {| border=&quot;1&quot; cellpadding=&quot;5&quot; cellspacing=&quot;0&quot; style=&quot;margin: 1em 1em 1em 0; background: #f9f9f9; border: 1px #aaaaaa solid; padding: 0.2em; border-collapse: collapse;&quot;<br /> |-<br /> | Back to [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume7_Chapter1|Chapter 1]]<br /> | Return to [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko|Main Page]]<br /> | Forward to [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume7_Chapter3|Chapter 3]]<br /> |-<br /> |}<br /> &lt;/noinclude&gt;</div>

Bob Morane http://www.baka-tsuki.org/project/index.php?title=Denpa_Onna_to_Seishun_Otoko:Volume7_Chapter1&diff=588766 2026-08-23T07:43:04Z

<p>Bob Morane: Created page with &quot;&lt;noinclude&gt; {| border=&quot;1&quot; cellpadding=&quot;5&quot; cellspacing=&quot;0&quot; style=&quot;margin: 1em 1em 1em 0; background: #f9f9f9; border: 1px #aaaaaa solid; padding: 0.2em; border-collapse: collapse;&quot; |- | Back to Prologue | Return to Main Page | Forward to Chapter 2 |- |} &lt;/noinclude&gt; ==Chapter 1 - Ending No. 4: Niwa-san== “Makoto-kun.” “Hmm?” “Fu fu...&quot;</p> <hr /> <div>&lt;noinclude&gt;<br /> {| border=&quot;1&quot; cellpadding=&quot;5&quot; cellspacing=&quot;0&quot; style=&quot;margin: 1em 1em 1em 0; background: #f9f9f9; border: 1px #aaaaaa solid; padding: 0.2em; border-collapse: collapse;&quot;<br /> |-<br /> | Back to [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume7_Prologue|Prologue]]<br /> | Return to [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko|Main Page]]<br /> | Forward to [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume7_Chapter2|Chapter 2]]<br /> |-<br /> |}<br /> &lt;/noinclude&gt;<br /> ==Chapter 1 - Ending No. 4: Niwa-san==<br /> “Makoto-kun.”<br /> <br /> “Hmm?”<br /> <br /> “Fu fu fu, how do you like it? I’ve perfectly memorised your name, right?”<br /> <br /> Maekawa-san’s smug smile grabbed me right to the core. I wanted to interject, “Well, you still get my last name wrong sometimes, don’t you?” but my mouth just relaxed and nothing came out.<br /> <br /> Because of her height, I felt like dating an older girl, which made me feel embarrassed, but I was also infatuated with how cute she was. My busy emotions were a multicolour jumble, as turbulent as a swollen river, but it wasn’t unpleasant. I was enveloped in what could be called a positive sense of impatience, and it was a strange and ticklish feeling.<br /> <br /> As Maekawa-san sat with her back straight, she seemed like a single, perfectly polished block of ice placed amidst the chaotic atmosphere of the lunchtime cafeteria. It was a long, slender block of ice that looked like it could melt at any moment, and looking at it made me uneasy, wondering if it would disappear, but it was also true that its unique coldness was addictive.<br /> <br /> “As expected, the ''oyakodon ''here is sweet. Aah, Makoto-kun, I know you like this kind of seasoning.”<br /> <br /> I was caught off guard. Suddenly, a question arose in my mind, so I put the bowl I had been holding down on the table and asked:<br /> <br /> “In that case, couldn’t you have just ordered something else?”<br /> <br /> I was quite proud of my suggestion, but after hearing it, Maekawa-san paused for a moment, then sighed in exasperation and scratched her forehead. “I don’t really want to say it,” she said, slightly blushing, leaning over to look at me as if covering my eyes, and muttering something.<br /> <br /> “I just wanted to eat the same thing as Makoto-kun.”<br /> <br /> “………………Guh.”<br /> <br /> I almost spat out the sweet sauce in my mouth that was even sweeter than the ''oyakodon''. My nostrils were also in peril.<br /> <br /> “Well, nothing really happens just because we eat the same thing, you know. I guess it’s similar to how people feel when they want to believe in something scientific or superstitious, ha ha ha.”<br /> <br /> Maekawa-san spoke rapidly and fluently what sounded like excuses. But far from being excuses, wasn’t she just making herself even cuter? “What a troublemaker,” I thought, gripping my chopsticks tighter and with more heat.<br /> <br /> “The probability of Mae-tan and I starting a family in the future has increased from 80% to 90%.”<br /> <br /> “W-what’s with that sickeningly sweet report? Come on, let’s stop flirting and eat our food.”<br /> <br /> I was reprimanded by the person who was helping with the flirting, but I grinned creepily and shovelled down the rest of my oyakodon. He didn’t notice the cold wind coming in from outside at all.<br /> <br /> It’s been over two months since Maekawa-san and I started dating.<br /> <br /> The moment that I confessed my feelings during the school festival felt like a dream. Especially since I got a positive response.<br /> <br /> And it was now December of my second year. I had just transferred to this school; the year was about to change, and just as I was starting to feel uncomfortable still being called “transfer student”, I was lucky to start dating Maekawa-san. After all, Maekawa-san was the only one who called me “transfer student”, and when she became my girlfriend, she changed the way she addressed me. She skipped Niwa-kun to go straight to Makoto-kun. It was kind of embarrassing.<br /> <br /> Incidentally, the first time she called me in such a manner, she repeated it about five times. Needless to say, I almost died of excitement about five times. Maekawa-san was becoming a potent drug for me.<br /> <br /> “Maekawa-san, you look better in your winter uniform, don’t you?”<br /> <br /> “Really?”<br /> <br /> Maekawa-san tilted her head, tugging at her sleeve to check.<br /> <br /> [[File:DTS Vol 07 027.jpg|thumb|Maekawa-san tilted her head, tugging at her sleeve to check.]]<br /> <br /> “Even the largest size doesn’t fit me. The sleeves are too short.”<br /> <br /> “No, no, that school uniform cosplay is truly worthy of praise.”<br /> <br /> “It’s not cosplay… I feel like we’ve had a similar conversation before.”<br /> <br /> Indeed. We looked at each other, and both smiled as we remembered that moment. Then, as we were really running out of time, we kept the conversation brief and started eating. As we continued to eat, the sweetness of the oyakodon became addictive. Maekawa-san’s tongue seemed to be getting tired of the sweetness, as she was drinking water more often. I was even thinking that maybe I should skip the oyakodon and order something else next time, which just went to show how incredibly fortunate my everyday life was.<br /> <br /> “…I ate too much today.”<br /> <br /> After emptying the bowl, Maekawa-san grumbled regretfully.<br /> <br /> “Don’t you always say that?”<br /> <br /> “So I always eat until I’m completely full. That’s a problem; I’m going to gain weight.”<br /> <br /> As she said this, she pulled with a bit of force at her side, which had virtually no flesh on it. Was Maekawa-san trying to pick a fight with all the women out there who were struggling to lose weight? Rather, I believed she should put on a little more weight.<br /> <br /> “Well, you see, I tend to gain weight easily if I’m not careful. After all, I have no muscle, right? Heh heh, look at these upper arms. Some people ask me, ‘Did you eat the Gum-Gum Fruit&lt;ref name=&quot;ftn7&quot;&gt;A reference to the manga ''One Piece''.&lt;/ref&gt;?’ That’s just how thin I am.”<br /> <br /> She rolled up the sleeves of her winter clothes, proudly showing off her slender arms. From her upper arm to her wrist, the thickness was almost uniform. Because of this, I got the illusion that they were unusually long. More than that, I wanted to lick her pale skin. No, no, why was I suddenly having this desire? So far, with Maekawa-san, we’ve only gone so far as kissing.<br /> <br /> “Can I touch your upper arm?”<br /> <br /> “W-what’s with this sudden request? Go on.”<br /> <br /> I got up, walked around the table, and massaged the upper arm that Maekawa-san offered. I wasn’t just touching it; I was kneading it. She said he didn’t have much muscle, but perhaps that was why it was so soft. It was cool to the touch, a coolness that was pleasant, unlike that of winter. It felt similar to the texture of Maekawa-san’s earlobe. It was soft and squishy.<br /> <br /> “Hey, what are you doing rubbing my arm this hard and breathing this heavily? E-everyone’s watching.”<br /> <br /> Who is everyone? Ah, whe meant the people sitting at other tables who created that chaotic atmosphere in the cafeteria. A group of guys sitting together were looking at Maekawa-san and me. I see.<br /> <br /> “I’m showing off. In fact, I’d like to loudly proclaim the appeal of your biceps.”<br /> <br /> “What kind of declaration are you making with that cheerful face?! That’s enough, upper arms done!”<br /> <br /> She forcefully pulled her arm away and pulled down her sleeve to hide it. I clicked my tongue in annoyance, but since the end of lunchtime was approaching, I cleaned up my bowl and other things myself. When I placed the tray on the collection shelf, Maekawa-san quickly gathered her bowl and chopsticks together with mine and arranged them in an easy-to-clean position. She was so responsible with these kinds of things; I was really impressed. She was definitely my future wife.<br /> <br /> “Makoto-kun, lately I can’t help but feel that your perverted tendencies have increased. I must take precautions.”<br /> <br /> “Well, you see, there’s this stupid couple in the same grade as me. I asked them for advice, and this is what it led to. I used to want to throw stones at them, but that was just a terrible misunderstanding. They’re good people.”<br /> <br /> “…I see, I get the gist of it. I’ll make sure to give them a stern warning next time. To not brainwash my boyfriend. What a headache,” said Maekawa-san, putting a finger to her forehead with a sigh. Brainwashing? What an exaggeration.<br /> <br /> I just showed a little bit of understanding towards that stupid couple.<br /> <br /> “Listen, Makoto-kun. If you become a pervert, I’ll have to become a pervert to match you. But that’s irreversible, so we must restrain ourselves. Understand?”<br /> <br /> “Ummkay!”<br /> <br /> “Thanks for the super half-baked reply.”<br /> <br /> She pinched my cheek. It wasn’t serious, just playful, so we continued walking together.<br /> <br /> As I stepped out of the cafeteria, shivering from the cold wind, Maekawa-san, who had let go of my hand, cleared her throat and spoke to me. She was coughing, and I was a little worried she might have caught a cold. Her ears and the top of her nose were coloured in a strange red.<br /> <br /> “By the way, Makoto-kun…”<br /> <br /> “Yes?”<br /> <br /> “What do I need to add in order to make up for the 10% left for a marriage proposal?”<br /> <br /> “Bufeeee.”<br /> <br /> I felt like a runny nose coming out. We both seemed to have caught a cold, and we were blushing.<br /> <br /> Lovey-dovey couples are really wonderful, aren’t they?<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> As soon as we returned from the cafeteria to our classroom, the lesson began. Reluctantly, I said goodbye to Maekawa-san at the entrance and took my seat. As I hurriedly took out my Japanese history textbook and notebook, I felt a gaze for a moment and looked up. Did she turn her face away immediately, or was it just my imagination? Ryuushi-san, who was sitting in the place where I felt a gaze coming, was facing the blackboard and twirling her mechanical pencil with her fingertips.<br /> <br /> “…Am I being overly self-conscious?”<br /> <br /> It was only natural, but I’ve grown distant from Ryuushi-san. Contact with her, like hanging out together after school or meeting up on weekends, has drastically decreased. In fact, I couldn’t even remember any such occasions in the last few months.<br /> <br /> It was unavoidable, but a little sad. And I’ll get used to it someday and just accept it as inevitable. Human adaptability could sometimes display a cruelly positive outlook.<br /> <br /> It wasn’t just my relationship with Ryuushi-san that changed, but also that with the Touwa family. Erio and I had grown somewhat distant, and I could no longer see her innocently running after me calling me “Cousin”. As for Meme-san, she hasn’t changed, I guess? Though, perhaps it was wrong of me to even consider her in the first place.<br /> <br /> In that way, I ended up destroying almost everything I had built since coming to this town.<br /> <br /> But I had chosen this present moment of my own free will, hoping to drastically change my surroundings. Feeling lonely was one thing, but I must never regret it. Keeping that in mind, I opened my Japanese history textbook and, as an afterthought, turned to look at Maekawa-san. Maekawa-san wasn’t looking at me.<br /> <br /> What a pity. Even between lovers, complete telepathic understanding was still difficult.<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> “What do you want to do after? Should we stop somewhere?”<br /> <br /> As soon as school ended, Maekawa-san approached me. She already had her school bag, apparently having finished packing. Meanwhile, I hadn’t even unpacked my desk yet. I wondered what I should do.<br /> <br /> It went without saying that I would be spending my after-school hours with Maekawa-san.<br /> <br /> “Is there anything you’d like to buy? Or anything you’d like to see?”<br /> <br /> “No, I’m good with shopping for now. After all… Ah, right. Makoto-kun, are you interested in speed?”<br /> <br /> “Hah?”<br /> <br /> What was that about? I looked over and saw Maekawa-san with her eyes closed and her nose puffed out in a smug look. She seemed proud of something. But I was confused and couldn’t grasp what she was talking about until Maekawa-san pointed to her chest.<br /> <br /> “After school today, I’ll show you the next world of cycling.”<br /> <br /> “Huh?”<br /> <br /> “Well, come along. Oh, but you should change out of your uniform. Okay, how about we meet in front of my house in an hour? Not at the ''izakaya'', but at my parents’ house.”<br /> <br /> “That’s fine, but what are you so excited about?”<br /> <br /> Maekawa-san smiled silently, teasing me. She apparently intended to keep it a secret for an hour. I wondered what it could be as I packed my things into my bag. Anyway, I stood up and reached out my hand.<br /> <br /> “Let’s go back to the shoe lockers together first.”<br /> <br /> “…Hmm.”<br /> <br /> After watching Maekawa-san hesitantly take my hand, we left the classroom together. I made sure not to look left or right. In particular, I made sure Ryuushi-sun wasn’t in my line of sight. Was it cowardly of me to behave like that?<br /> <br /> If you gain something, you lose something.<br /> <br /> I thought it was admirable that she didn’t try to make everything about herself.<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> I was advised to change into my everyday clothes, so I went back to the Touwa house and scattered my uniform around. Meme-san was at work, and Erio was minding the shop at Tamura Store, so there wasn’t a sound in the house. The hallway and stairs were cold because no sunlight reached them, and I regretted taking off my clothes so quickly at the entrance. Why was I putting on a stripping show as I walked? I told myself I would have plenty of time if I didn’t rush, but I walked quickly anyway. I picked up my discarded uniform and rushed up to my room on the second floor. Of course, my room was cold too.<br /> <br /> The room hadn’t changed since I left this morning. The only difference was the light streaming in through the window that had shifted from morning to late afternoon. There was no sign of anything being moved. My futon, which I made after getting up, was still pristine, and no one had tried to wrap herself in it or anything like that. The futon only carried my smell. Come to think of it, Meme-san has also stopped bothering me at night as often as before. I was no longer keeping pace with the Touwa family. I became an outsider.<br /> <br /> I changed into my casual clothes and put on gloves, then tried to sit on the bed for about three minutes to wait until it was time, but I couldn’t wait any longer and left the room. I could just wait at Maekawa-san’s house, probably. As long as I didn’t run into my father-in-law, or rather, Maekawa-san’s father, there shouldn’t be any problem. Whenever I ran into him, he would grind his teeth before I could even open my mouth, and I was always at a loss as to how to respond. And in the end, I would just laugh awkwardly.<br /> <br /> As I was putting my shoes back on at the entrance, I suddenly noticed something. The white shoes that had been prepared for Erio, but which she never wore every day, were gone. I looked under the shelves and inside the cupboards, but there was no sign that they had been put away.<br /> <br /> “Did she wear them?”<br /> <br /> After accepting that fact, strangely enough, the ringing in my ears intensified.<br /> <br /> Before I knew it, Erio had started wearing shoes. She must have put them on of her own volition.<br /> <br /> I was changing, and Erio was changing too. Without either of us knowing. I was no longer “Cousin” but “a cousin”, and Erio, too, was losing her connection to me to become Touwa Erio. That, too, was a form of change.<br /> <br /> It would be a lie to say that I didn’t feel a sense of loss at losing the relationships I had cultivated.<br /> <br /> However, it was also true that my values ​​had drastically changed from how they used to be.<br /> <br /> Some people found ideals in the circle, while others found perfect beauty in the triangle.<br /> <br /> And now I felt love for rectangles, so I won’t look back.<br /> <br /> Niwa Makoto, who had completely surpassed the definition of Youth Points, was now heading outside.<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> “Gaoon, Gyuuuin”<br /> <br /> “Duruduruduru”<br /> <br /> “I wish they’d stop with the unromantic sound effects.”<br /> <br /> Maekawa-san pouted. As I clung to her slender, upright back, I felt an air of authority that completely erased her usual unreliability. However, at the same time, I feared that if I hugged her too tightly, her spine might break and we would both fall, which made me feel relieved, as I thought, “Ah, that’s Maekawa for you.” As we approached a curve, I naturally tightened my arms around her torso. Maekawa-san seemed amused by the amount of force I was using, and a grin spread across her face.<br /> <br /> “Makoto-kun, it feels nice to rely on you.”<br /> <br /> “It’s refreshing to rely on Maekawa-san, too.”<br /> <br /> She curved to the left and headed towards the bridge. She sped along on my moped across the bridge, which offered a panoramic view of the riverbank.<br /> <br /> The next convenient item that Maemon came up with was a motorised bicycle.<br /> <br /> The next world after cycling was riding a moped with a passenger. I sniffled at the biting wind on my cheeks, and my heart pounded with excitement at my first test ride on the moped, which, while riding, accelerated almost as well as a bicycle.<br /> <br /> Maekawa-san had bought a moped with the money she had earned from her part-time jobs and had apparently got her driver’s licence without me noticing. And here I was, clinging to her ridiculously thin waist, in the middle of a two-person ride. Naturally, riding two people on a moped was illegal. And putting someone in the basket of a bicycle wasn’t a good idea either.<br /> <br /> “As I thought, since it’s a weekday in winter, nobody is exercising.”<br /> <br /> Said Maekawa-san as she looked down at the grounds spread out on the riverbank. Two rugby poles were set up in the shape of an H on the field, and perhaps because of the season, there were no crows scurrying around on the soil in search of earthworms. The weeds had been cut down, leaving the ground exposed in a somewhat painful way, creating the atmosphere of a bleak and desolate place. If I were to go down and stand alone in the middle, I would likely feel it even more keenly.<br /> <br /> The river flowing beneath the bridge also has a low water level, and the algae floating on the bottom are reflected in the colour of the water’s surface.<br /> <br /> “Ideally, I should have waited until it got warmer before riding.”<br /> <br /> After descending the bridge and stopping at a traffic light, Maekawa-san turned around and gave a wry smile. Wearing a helmet only halfway, her eyes and the corners of her mouth were red, and white breaths escaped her. It was only a little past four in the afternoon, but the sunlight was already fading and seemed about to sink below the horizon.<br /> <br /> “But you wanted to brag.”<br /> <br /> “That’s right. I can’t even use it to go to school, so there was absolutely no opportunity to show it off.”<br /> <br /> She narrowed her eyes in displeasure and glared ahead. The traffic light turned green, and she started driving again.<br /> <br /> “Speaking of which, transfer student, I mean, Makoto-kun…”<br /> <br /> “What is it, Mae-tan-like Maekawa-san?”<br /> <br /> “What’s with that ‘like’… I mean, aren’t you cold?”<br /> <br /> “I’m happy because I’m hugging you.”<br /> <br /> The moped swerved for a moment. Maekawa-san, whose hand had almost slipped, gave a light nudge with her elbow.<br /> <br /> “You just needed to answer whether you’re cold or not. I wasn’t asking about your heat source.”<br /> <br /> “I wanted to make you feel embarrassed.”<br /> <br /> The sight of her was unbearably cute. That was common sense, wasn’t it?<br /> <br /> “…Being honest is fine. But it’s time you feel ashamed once in a while, Makoto-kun.”<br /> <br /> “I still feel embarrassed when we kiss and do other things.”<br /> <br /> “Other things? B-but we haven’t done anything else yet… Come on! Makoto-kun, it really throws me off when I’m talking to you,” grumbled Maekawa-san, sounding somewhat pleased.<br /> <br /> The scooter continued straight ahead, leading to the back of the station. It felt like ages ago, but it was close to the place I’ve been to when I went to a job interview with Erio. It was a memory that seemed distant, like “Oh, something like that happened, didn’t it?” A memory that wasn’t very close. It was getting chilly, so I pressed my nose against Maekawa-san’s back. I hugged her tightly, gazing at her long, slender back up close, ignoring her eyes that seemed to want to look into the distance.<br /> <br /> “Makoto-kun, maybe someday when you get your driver’s licence, we could go on a trip somewhere a little further away?”<br /> <br /> “……Hum.”<br /> <br /> “Ah, if you’re not in the mood, I won’t force you.”<br /> <br /> “Well, Maekawa-san, I was thinking it would be a shame to lose the opportunity to hug you from behind without any reservations.”<br /> <br /> The scooter’s trajectory became unstable again, shifting from side to side. Finally, it came to a complete stop at the side of the road, and Maekawa-san turned around. Her entire face was flushed and discoloured from something other than the winter wind. I was captivated by how alluring she looked.<br /> <br /> “Well, about that… Since you’re the one asking, Makoto-kun, I’ll consider it positively.”<br /> <br /> “Really?”<br /> <br /> “I’m serious. Yeah, really serious, so bring it on.”<br /> <br /> “Then bring on your boobs too!”<br /> <br /> “Don’t get carried away and say that!”<br /> <br /> In a very unusual turn of events, Maekawa-san raised her voice. The moped accelerated again, and Maekawa-san’s momentum exceeded her usual limits, propelling her forward with increasing speed. Looking up at the sky, she abandoned her usual calm demeanour and roared in a manner that was uncharacteristic for her.<br /> <br /> “About my breasts!”<br /> <br /> “Oh, ooh?”<br /> <br /> “I won’t let you touch them until they’re a little bigger!”<br /> <br /> Maekawa-san’s bold declaration caused the group of students who were walking around with their heads bowed to look up. Their reaction was like a dog jumping up after its tail was stepped on. Meanwhile, I pressed my forehead against Maekawa-san’s back, feeling her warmth spreading to the tip of my nose, and I was overcome in a strange sense of relief as I thought, “Ah, I’m so glad that person is my girlfriend.”<br /> <br /> Although I was asked to wait, it was worth it if it meant I could finally encounter such cuteness.<br /> <br /> And at the same time, I feel pity.<br /> <br /> Pity for the other version of myself in another universe who wasn’t in a relationship with Maekawa-san.<br /> <br /> Maekawa-san, who could even care about my parallel-world self, was truly the best.<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> We wandered around on a different route than our usual one to school, stopped at a convenience store along the way to eat a steamed bun, and then returned to the Maekawa house. My cheeks were parched and the inside of my nose was freezing cold, but it was fun and worth it.<br /> <br /> I guess this is what they call a motorcycle '''touring date'''. It was all over now, though.<br /> <br /> “Well, you know… Want to come to my room?”<br /> <br /> As Maekawa-kun put her moped under the garage roof, she hesitantly pointed to the second floor. It was a very tempting proposition, and I would have probably been up to the challenge had she asked to “Come to my room via the roof”.<br /> <br /> There was one thing that was a cause for concern.<br /> <br /> “What about your parents?” Or rather, my father-in-law?<br /> <br /> “At this time, they are preparing the shop.”<br /> <br /> My concern was easily resolved. I decided to come in.<br /> <br /> “They used to ask me to come help too, but lately it seems like my mother is being more considerate of me. Is it really that unusual for me to have a boyfriend?”<br /> <br /> “Huh, it isn’t unusual?”<br /> <br /> The theory that Maekawa-san was a go-getter suddenly emerged. Maekawa-san puffed out her cheeks and replied sulkily.<br /> <br /> “It is extremely unusual. Apparently, guys don’t like women who are taller than them.”<br /> <br /> “Yeah, there are quite a few people like that.”<br /> <br /> “Even you, Makoto-kun?”<br /> <br /> “Maekawa-san, doesn’t your appeal precisely come from the fact that you are tall?”<br /> <br /> Rather, I couldn’t even imagine a small Maekawa-san. I’ve been looking up at her ever since we first met, and I don’t think I’ll ever be able to surpass her in height. But that was a good thing. I liked the tall and frail Mae-tan.<br /> <br /> “Hearing you say that makes me feel good, you know. Yeah.”<br /> <br /> She was grinning. Far from being malicious, she seemed quite pleased.<br /> <br /> “Because of my height, this is probably, well, the first time I’ve ever had a proper romantic relationship with a man.”<br /> <br /> “Earthlings really have no taste. Maekawa-san is so cute. Like this,” I said, spreading my arms wide to show how cute she was. Maekawa-san choked, her eyes rolling back in her head.<br /> <br /> “Well, Makoto-kun, as long as you have good judgement, then it’s fine, I guess?”<br /> <br /> “Marrying my classmate Mae-tan. Second year. Niwa Makoto. My future wife is a dream come true.”<br /> <br /> “Don’t read some mysterious essay!”<br /> <br /> We went to the Maekawa house, playfully teasing each other. I’ve unfortunately forgotten how many times I’ve been there. But I remember the first time I visited. It was during this past summer vacation, before I started dating Maekawa-san.<br /> <br /> I took off my shoes and stepped into the hallway. I checked the entrance to see if there were any shoes that looked like they belonged to his parents, but they seemed to be out. “I’m home,” said Maekawa-san, greeting the empty house as she walked in. The hallway was chilly. “But Maekawa-san, your body heat lingers on my skin, which is how I can endure it.”<br /> <br /> I tried to explain. I expected her to yell at me for saying such mysterious feelings, but Maekawa-san turned around, her cheeks flushed crimson, and she glared at me with a sulky expression. She looked sulky and generally sharp.<br /> <br /> “The brainwashing has progressed too far. Treating you will be a tough job.”<br /> <br /> “Huh? It’s normal, though? Aren’t you warm, Mae-tan?”<br /> <br /> “I will allow us being a sickeningly lovey-dovey couple, but I won’t stand for us being a perverted one.”<br /> <br /> Maekawa-san seemed to be brimming with determination. She clenched her fist and raised it, shouting “Waah!”, and a few seconds later she almost fell over with a groan, so I caught her as if it were prearranged. With her back still supported, we both went up the stairs to Maekawa-san’s room on the second floor. Something about today’s scene felt a little forced.<br /> <br /> Whenever I visited Maekawa-san’s private room, it was always neatly tidied up, a stark contrast to my own room where books I’m half-reading are piled on my desk. When I complimented her on it once, she casually replied, “I’m probably tidying up because you are coming,” and I hugged her tightly. I almost got sued for sexual harassment. I had no regrets hugging her.<br /> <br /> Maekawa-san picked up the remote control and turned on the heater. Then, she opened the closet in the back, which was full of cosplay costumes, and threw some kind of mascot costume at me, saying, “You can wear this until the room warms up.” It was blue. I grabbed what looked like the head and spread it open. It was a penguin.<br /> <br /> “It’s fluffy and warm, so just trust me and try it.”<br /> <br /> “…Are there any other candidates?”<br /> <br /> “If you’re into polar bears…”<br /> <br /> “…It’ll take the penguin.”<br /> <br /> I put it on. Perhaps because it was sized to fit Maekawa-san’s height, the head part was too big and hung loosely at the back. Saying I was wearing a penguin’s skin&lt;ref name=&quot;ftn8&quot;&gt;In Japanese, “wearing skin” also means “to hide one’s true nature”.&lt;/ref&gt; would be appropriate. I couldn’t reach the fins either, so they were flimsy. I dragged the excess fabric of the costume along the floor like a tail as I walked around the room.<br /> <br /> “You’re so cute, Makoto-kun. I’d love to keep you as a pet in my room.”<br /> <br /> Maekawa-san, dressed in a polar bear costume with her face peeking out from the mouth, was showering me with compliments. Her 180cm polar bear costume was a perfect fit and quite frightening. When she closed her mouth, she looked like a real bear. “Gao!” she raised both hands to intimidate the penguin look-alike.<br /> <br /> Was that really how bears sounded? I had the same question when I saw her crocodile costume.<br /> <br /> “Gaaah.”<br /> <br /> Deep inside the bear’s mouth, Maekawa-san began to feel dizzy. It seemed as if the bear’s eyes were spinning along with her.<br /> <br /> If such a bear existed, I wanted to bring it to the Touwa family too.<br /> <br /> I sat down on the yellow cushion that Maekawa-san had prepared. The penguin costume was indeed warm, and as it mixed with the gradually warming heat of the heater, it became as hot as summer. I could feel sweat on my back.<br /> <br /> The polar bear facing me placed its hand on its chin and stared around me. Seeing the polar bear and the penguin facing each other made me feel like I’ve become a resident of a charming animal village, which I found quite amusing.<br /> <br /> “For a beginner, you’re dressing up much better than I expected.”<br /> <br /> “It’s really saggy.”<br /> <br /> When I raised my hand, the tip of my fins naturally bowed. Come to think of it, penguins are birds, so they have wings, not fins. Either way, it felt like the whole thing lacked substance. And it was hot.<br /> <br /> “How about we go around town together in cosplay sometime? Familiar places might feel fresh and new.”<br /> <br /> “We’re just going to be looked at with strange eyes.”<br /> <br /> “Well, that’s fine.”<br /> <br /> Ha ha ha, I was casually persuaded to agree. I wondered if it was okay, but Maekawa-san’s polar bear costume was so incredibly cute that I wanted to show it off to the world. So, it was fine.<br /> <br /> “Ugh, it’s so hot. We don’t need the heater.”<br /> <br /> Maekawa-san turned off the heater. Wasn’t this costume putting the cart before the horse?<br /> <br /> “Would you like some tea?”<br /> <br /> “Hmm, okay. So, do you want to talk about anything? Or play a game?”<br /> <br /> I flapped my wings frantically, trying to get her opinion on what we should do. “Let’s see,” Maekawa-san said, her eyes darting around as she pondered. I waited for her to come to a decision, glancing sideways at the bed… Damn, I should have borrowed the futon and picked the Smakin cosplay outfit. That would have been heaven.<br /> <br /> Because I could be nice and warm in a futon like the one Maekawa-san used every day.<br /> <br /> I had so easily overlooked the paradise option that was right there beside me.<br /> <br /> Even so, the fact that I could be this happy made me realise that Maekawa-san was truly great, and I arrived at my usual conclusion.<br /> <br /> “Makoto-kun.”<br /> <br /> “Hm?”<br /> <br /> Reluctantly, I looked away from the bed and turned to face Maekawa-san. She was glaring at me with narrowed eyes.<br /> <br /> “W-what’s going on?”<br /> <br /> “…You haven’t made any mistakes with Touwa&lt;ref name=&quot;ftn9&quot;&gt;The word “mistake” in this context can be a euphemism for improper sexual conduct, which is obviously what Maekawa meant.&lt;/ref&gt;, have you?”<br /> <br /> “Mistakes? With Erio? What kind?”<br /> <br /> Surely she wasn’t going to claim she was an alien again? “No, no”, Maekawa-san shook her head.<br /> <br /> “So, did you cheat on me with Ryuushi then?”<br /> <br /> “We haven’t talked much lately. Unexpectedly, things aren’t going smoothly.”<br /> <br /> I said solemnly. Maekawa-san, or rather Shirokuma-san&lt;ref name=&quot;ftn10&quot;&gt;''Shirokuma ''means “polar bear”.&lt;/ref&gt;, made a pained expression, saying, “Ugh.”<br /> <br /> “How about you tell me about how you got eaten by your newlywed wife?”<br /> <br /> “I don’t have a newlywed wife!”<br /> <br /> I didn’t go so far as to shout, “In fact, you’re the actual candidate as my new wife!” What kind of interrogation was this?<br /> <br /> “Makoto-kun, you’re so unfairly popular that it annoys me, so I have to keep an eye on you regularly.”<br /> <br /> Shirokuma-san was scolding me. I had so many questions, like how was I popular with girls and why was my aunt involved in that check, but there was something else that I needed to point out first.<br /> <br /> “Maekawa-san, do you actually happen to be quite possessive?”<br /> <br /> When I pointed this out, Maekawa-san shook her head hastily, as if to say, “No, no.”<br /> <br /> “Isn’t it natural to seek that kind of confirmation?”<br /> <br /> “Really?”<br /> <br /> “Really”, she nodded emphatically. “I see,” I replied, convinced. Shirokuma-san patted my head and said, “Good boy.” It felt like a terribly wrong exchange, but oh well.<br /> <br /> After stroking my head, Maekawa-san scratched her own nose, which was deep inside the bear’s mouth. As if she felt itchy.<br /> <br /> “For example, err… Makoto-kun, you’re a high school student, so there must be nights when you use books like the kind you bought at the bookshop during summer vacation, right?”<br /> <br /> “You found out about that!”<br /> <br /> “Well, yeah, I’ve always seen it. It’s not a big deal.”<br /> <br /> “Well, for me, it’s quite a problem.”<br /> <br /> “Back to the main topic.”<br /> <br /> She swept the subject away without my consent. Kumagawa-san sat in ''seiza ''position. Seeing a bear sit in ''seiza ''position somehow made me feel intimidated.<br /> <br /> “So, even though I know it can’t be helped, the thought of you imagining other women’s naked bodies, and… you know, that kind of thing, it kind of annoys me, and I can’t help but bite my pillow in frustration. Do you understand, Makoto-kun?!”<br /> <br /> “…… Hum.”<br /> <br /> I pondered over Maekawa-san’s explanation, whose nose seemed to have gone completely red. Indeed, as a woman, that was something she might be jealous of. If I’m going to complain, I must respect her feelings.<br /> <br /> “Well, I guess I’ll just take lots of pictures of you and paste your face on nude paintings.”<br /> <br /> Bam, I was hit hard on the head by the polar bear.<br /> <br /> “Who told you to make an ''aikora''&lt;ref name=&quot;ftn11&quot;&gt;An ''aikora'' (abbreviation of “idol collage”) is a composite image of a celebrity’s face pasted over a nude body.&lt;/ref&gt;?”<br /> <br /> Did she want another solution? Hmm, in that case there was only one answer. I brought my wings together with a soft “bom”.<br /> <br /> “Okay. Let’s go pick some porn magazines now. How about next time, I invite you to my room?”<br /> <br /> After struggling to buy one book during summer holidays, I had been secretly buying a few more and hiding them from my family and friends! Each time there was tension, an encounter, and a story, but I’ll omit those details.<br /> <br /> “Huh? …Hah, haaah?”<br /> <br /> I managed to surprise her twice. I took Maekawa-san’s slender hand. I couldn’t tell what it felt like to the touch.<br /> <br /> Because my hands were wings, and Maekawa-san’s hands were bear paws.<br /> <br /> “I’ll only keep one item that you’ve officially approved!”<br /> <br /> “You’re saying something completely stupid while flashing such a bright smile!”<br /> <br /> “It’s fine, it’s fine, let’s begin part two of our touring date!”<br /> <br /> With unwavering courage and a radiant glow of hope, we ran forward, our figures unchanged, sprinting along.<br /> <br /> “Wait a minute!” shouted Maekawa-san as I grabbed her, and we ran out into the cold air.<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> The sight of a penguin and a polar bear riding a moped in the twilight really reminded me of a heartwarming scene in an animal village&lt;ref name=&quot;ftn12&quot;&gt;Makoto is probably referring to the manga ''Shirokuma Café''.&lt;/ref&gt;. I wondered if such a scene could be possible if we travelled to the future, perhaps 800,000 years from now, when humanity might have gone extinct.<br /> <br /> “I mean, why do I have to go and pick some porn magazines…?”<br /> <br /> “To be honest, Mae-tan, I just wanted to see you get embarrassed.”<br /> <br /> “Isn’t that bullying…?”<br /> <br /> Muttering to herself, the polar bear started her moped. Clinging to her fluffy body with my wings, I asked her a question that had been on my mind. For some reason, it seemed like it would be okay now.<br /> <br /> “Say, Maekawa-san.”<br /> <br /> “W-what is it?”<br /> <br /> “Why are you being so obviously wary?”<br /> <br /> “Well, Makoto-kun, it looks like you are about to say something really bad… So, what is it?”<br /> <br /> “Maekawa-san, when you’re doing that kind of thing at night, do you ever imagine doing it with someone other than me?”<br /> <br /> “Right now I’m a polar bear, so I don’t really understand those kinds of things.”<br /> <br /> As if she had anticipated the question, she avoided answering it without showing any signs of distress. Nicely done, Maekawa-san.<br /> <br /> The slightly harsh tone she used, indicating that she hadn’t completely ignored the situation, made it even better.<br /> <br /> As the polar bear and penguin engaged in what they considered the happiest and most pointless conversation in all of Japan, they arrived in front of the Touwa family’s house. While she parked her moped by the barn, I checked and noticed that Meme-san’s bicycle hadn’t been returned yet. What about Erio? I slightly braced myself and peered into her room on the second floor.<br /> <br /> The curtains were still closed, so it probably hasn’t come home. When she’s in her room, she opens the curtains so she can see outside the window. Maybe as an attempt to get closer to the stars.<br /> <br /> “Okay, let’s go, Penguin-kun.”<br /> <br /> Swallowing hard, Shirokuma-san began to stomp forward. I took the key out of my pocket and let it fall inside the costume. I mean, only the mouth area was open.<br /> <br /> Since I couldn’t handle the key properly with my wings, I entrusted it to Maekawa-san. Her polar bear costume, with all five fingers tucked together, shouldn’t be much different, but Maekawa-san easily picked the lock. How skilled.<br /> <br /> “I’m just used to wearing a costume.”<br /> <br /> “But Maekawa-san, it would be difficult for you to do a part-time job in a mascot costume show, right?”<br /> <br /> She’d probably immediately collapse from the heat. Any flashy action would be impossible. Maekawa-san shrugged, and since she wasn’t wearing shoes anyway, we went straight up into the hallway. I lined up my shoes, which I had retrieved from the Maekawa house, in the usual place and then went upstairs. Shaking my head in the silent, heatless space, I realised there was indeed no one at home. Even if there were, I probably wouldn’t be able to get too involved.<br /> <br /> “Makoto-kun, it’s been a while since I’ve been to your room. I feel a little hesitant to go inside.”<br /> <br /> “What do you mean by hesitant?”<br /> <br /> “Maybe because it’s Touwa’s house.”<br /> <br /> “…What do you mean?”<br /> <br /> As I played dumb, she scoffed and said, “Don’t be silly.” She was really sharp. “I can’t win against her,” I thought as I pull on the penguin’s drooping head and climb the stairs with my head down. I looked down and laughed again at my all-white outfit. Was this the path I’ve chosen? I never imagined it would end up with a penguin.<br /> <br /> “So, Touwa isn’t here, huh?”<br /> <br /> Maekawa-san murmured with a sigh of relief as she peeked into Erio’s room on the second floor. I felt the same as her, so I simply nodded and hurried to my own room at the back as I responded, “Looks like it.” I rushed in with my girlfriend to pick out some porn magazines. I felt kind of nervous.<br /> <br /> “Oh, Makoto-kun’s room, huh? Wow.”<br /> <br /> “You don’t have to pretend to be impressed… but I think I remember having that exchange somewhere.”<br /> <br /> Maekawa-san paced around the room. I wondered if a polar bear would react like this and stay if it suddenly appeared in a room one day. It was too scary. Maekawa-san plopped down under the light fixture and crossed her arms.<br /> <br /> “…So, let’s begin the review of these items. Now, submit them so I can have a look.”<br /> <br /> “Ha ha.”<br /> <br /> Since the fact that I possessed porn magazines had already been discovered, I felt I could move on. Rather, I decided to enjoy the situation and gleefully presented all the books I had been hiding in front of Maekawa-san. Maekawa-san’s blush, unbecoming of a polar bear, intensified, and the area around her eyes in particular turned a vivid red, as if bloodshot.<br /> <br /> I surrounded Maekawa-san with my porn magazines, as if building a wall. Although I only had three. My entertainment expenses were quite high, you see. Maekawa-san glared at me without mercy, even though I was being modest. Combined with her bear stern expression, I shivered slightly.<br /> <br /> “When did you manage to keep so many women in your room?”<br /> <br /> “I’m a penguin, so I don’t really understand that kind of thing.”<br /> <br /> “Hey, that’s my signature line!”<br /> <br /> Angry, Maekawa-san began glaring at the covers of the three porn magazines. I angered her further by saying, “The only difference between a picture book and a porn magazine is one character&lt;ref name=&quot;ftn13&quot;&gt;In Japanese there is one letter difference between “picture book” (''ehon'') and “porn magazine” (''erohon'').&lt;/ref&gt;,” and waited for her to make her decision. Of course, I didn’t forget to enjoy watching the expressions on Maekawa’s face as she faced the porn magazines.<br /> <br /> Eventually, Maekawa-san looked up, her brow furrowed in exaggerated wrinkles. It looked like she was displeased with something… Was it my taste? Surely she wasn’t upset that I chose women with large breasts? Arrgh.<br /> <br /> “As expected, I want to confiscate everything.”<br /> <br /> Pointing to each cover one by one, Maekawa-san pouted quietly. Her reaction was cute, so it was fine, but…<br /> <br /> “That’s so unfair… In that case, Mae-mon, give me Maekawa-san’s naughty stuff in exchange.”<br /> <br /> “Th-that doesn’t exist!”<br /> <br /> “I mean, if I just had Maekawa-san, everything will be solved, right?”<br /> <br /> My fingers twitched among the feathers. The polar bear let out a threatening “Gahgiii”, trying to keep the penguin from approaching. The polar bear’s howl was different from last time, but I wasn’t afraid, and just as I was about to charge forward, I jumped in surprise at a noise. I heard the front door open on the first floor.<br /> <br /> Maekawa-san and I stared at each other, frozen in place. We heard the sound of a door closing, then being locked. And the sound of shoes carelessly tossed off. It was Erio. Tap, tap, the sound of small footsteps coming up the stairs.<br /> <br /> The footsteps no longer peeked into my room like before but quietly settled into the next room. The door closed, and I could hear the fan whirring from outside the window, suggesting the air conditioner had been switched on.<br /> <br /> “…Welcome back.”<br /> <br /> I tried calling out in a low voice from the other side of the wall. But, as expected, my greeting wasn’t returned. That girl, she’s even turned on the air conditioner. Has she stopped wrapping herself in her futon? I hadn’t even noticed.<br /> <br /> “Touwa’s back? Well, I guess we shouldn’t make too much noise then.”<br /> <br /> I looked at Maekawa-san, who seemed about to say something like, “No, maybe I should just go home.” Maekawa-san smiled awkwardly, lowered her voice, and asked me a question with her eyes downcast.<br /> <br /> “Well, you know. Sometimes I wonder, are you fine with me?”<br /> <br /> “What?”<br /> <br /> “I mean, Makoto-kun… transfer student, if you wanted to, you could have chosen Touwa or Ryuushi, but you chose me.”<br /> <br /> She deliberately used the old way of referring to the penguin, trying to find out if it had any regrets. The penguin got angry at Maekawa-san for that.<br /> <br /> “Even if it weren’t a penguin, I wouldn’t really understand that kind of thing.”<br /> <br /> With my wings spread, it slid closer. Maekawa-san trembled at the sight of the penguin overwhelming the polar bear. I peered into the polar bear’s mouth and, looking at her bewildered expression inside, and poured out my thoughts.<br /> <br /> “I like Maekawa-san&lt;ref name=&quot;ftn14&quot;&gt;Here, Makoto literally says, “This me likes Maekawa-san” which is normally a way to put some emphasis. But, the “this” part has been further emphasised by brackets, as if to say, “this version of me”.&lt;/ref&gt;. Not Erio, nor Ryuushi-san.”<br /> <br /> I felt a strong sense of righteousness because I had no regrets about what I said and no hesitation about looking back. Including Maekawa-san’s reaction.<br /> <br /> Yes, I chose this future. No matter what, other possibilities could not interfere with who I was now. My past and my feelings worked to lead me to this outcome.<br /> <br /> Perhaps somewhere in the universe, there was a part of me that fell in love with someone else.<br /> <br /> But that had nothing to do with me, right?<br /> <br /> The moment I started feeling differently, that “Makoto Niwa” would no longer be “me”. Even a single subatomic particle.<br /> <br /> “That’s how I feel.” Literally.<br /> <br /> I delivered my speech impulsively. After finishing, the concept of shame burnt into my eyes and the back of my throat. Something that governed my actions that I had long forgotten. I felt the breath of Youth Points deep within my gut.<br /> <br /> Maekawa-san sniffled loudly, then forced a smile from deep inside the polar bear’s mouth.<br /> <br /> “It really touched me. The polar bear is so moved.”<br /> <br /> “Even penguins can get carried away.”<br /> <br /> We both laughed mischievously, trying to hide our embarrassment. It felt like the middle of summer.<br /> <br /> “But if ‘this’ means that there are other universes, then there must be a Makoto-kun who doesn’t like me. For example, a ‘transfer student’ who hasn’t gotten together with anyone yet and is taking care of Touwa.”<br /> <br /> “It seems impossible to me right now, but maybe.”<br /> <br /> “That’s not very amusing.”<br /> <br /> Maekawa-san snorted, arms crossed. I glanced at her profile, which was difficult to see, and wondered whether I should hug her or point it out first and decided to say it first.<br /> <br /> “Maekawa-san, you’re the jealous type, aren’t you?”<br /> <br /> “Ha ha, maybe.”<br /> <br /> And then I hugged her. Even with the thickness of the penguin and polar bear costumes, her slenderness was still evident.<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> In the end, Maekawa-san gave up on confiscating my porn magazines this time (she emphasised it was only for this time), and when I went outside to see her off, the sun was setting and deep night was about to fall. The setting sun, pushed far into the distance, resembled receding waves. The night sky, though continuous with the land, had contrasting colours and was dyed a purple that was almost black, with stars shining like white grains of sand on a beach.<br /> <br /> “Good. If you ever add any more women to your room, make sure you consult me ​​first.”<br /> <br /> “Okaaaay.”<br /> <br /> I guess if I wanted some porn magazines, I’d have to talk to Maeemon about it. I’m curious to see her reaction.<br /> <br /> “…Oh, by the way. Makoto-kun, your bicycle is still at my house.”<br /> <br /> Maekawa-san, nicknamed Shirokuma-san, straddled her moped and averted her eyes, realising she had made a mistake.<br /> <br /> “I’ll stop by to pick it up tomorrow morning before school. Then we can go to school together.”<br /> <br /> “Hmm…Okay, let’s do that. Ah, I’ll give you the penguin costume. I hope you’ll wear it often.”<br /> <br /> “……Yaaay.”<br /> <br /> I lifted my heavy wings weakly. I couldn’t fly like this. Even walking was too much effort for this penguin.”<br /> <br /> “Makoto-kun, come here for a moment.”<br /> <br /> She beckoned me. I shuffled along, dragging my buttocks across the ground as I approached. Then the polar bear placed its arms around my back and pulled me closer. Its face came closer, and I yelled, “Whoa!” and it bit my face.<br /> <br /> Hidden deep within the polar bear, Maekawa-san’s bright red face suddenly lunged at my lips for a kiss.<br /> <br /> “…………”<br /> <br /> [[File:DTS Vol 07 055.jpg|thumb|The polar bear’s and the penguin’s kiss lasted a few seconds.]]<br /> <br /> The polar bear’s and the penguin’s kiss lasted a few seconds. The polar bear pulled its face away. Then, it covered its mouth from above and below with its hands, hiding its face. In that position, it began to mumble.<br /> <br /> “It’s a goodbye kiss.”<br /> <br /> I could vividly feel the blood rushing to various parts of my body. That surge of blood spoke to me. Inside the loose penguin costume, I opened my mouth as if commanded by all the things that were stretching out inside me.<br /> <br /> “That’s not enough.”<br /> <br /> “Hah?”<br /> <br /> “Next, a goodnight kiss.”<br /> <br /> I used my wings to forcefully pry open the polar bear’s mouth, which it had been holding down. Maekawa-san was dizzy.<br /> <br /> “But the sun has only just set!”<br /> <br /> “Just getting an advance.”<br /> <br /> I stretched on my toes, placed my arms around Maekawa-san’s head, and pulled her close as we kissed. Maekawa-san seemed to give up halfway through, bending her knees to be considerate of me stretching. I wished I could grow a little taller too. But what if Maekawa-san grew even taller in the meantime?<br /> <br /> “…A penguin and a bear kissing is pretty surreal, isn’t it?”<br /> <br /> “I think it’s lovely that they are full of love.”<br /> <br /> No matter what I said, she could see right through me and know what I really meant. I just laughed it off.<br /> <br /> “Hey Maekawa-san, I… err, what’s the matter?”<br /> <br /> She narrowed her eyes and stared at me. With that same expression, she repeated my words with a look of dissatisfaction.<br /> <br /> “Maekawa-san, huh?”<br /> <br /> “Huh, what? Would you prefer Mae-tan?”<br /> <br /> She ignored me. Maekawa-san gave a wry smile and shook the polar bear’s head as if to say, “Oh dear.”<br /> <br /> “At this rate, will you be calling me ‘Niwa-san’ in the future, Makoto-kun?”<br /> <br /> “Huh? You want to be adopted into the Niwa family?”<br /> <br /> “No,” Maekawa-san immediately retorted. Kumagawa-san quickly lost her momentum and became flustered.<br /> <br /> “I think that once we’re engaged, we should definitely call each other by our first names.”<br /> <br /> “We need to decide on a date for the ceremony.”<br /> <br /> “That’s not what I mean! So, my first name…”<br /> <br /> “Well, I still don’t know it. I don’t know it, I don’t know it,” the penguin said, shaking its wings from side to side. “Ah, really?” Maekawa-san blinked repeatedly, looking disappointed, and then lowered her chin as if she finally understood. Half of the bear’s face shook as well.<br /> <br /> “No matter how many times I tried to introduce myself, it was as if some mysterious force was preventing me from doing so, and I always failed.”<br /> <br /> “It’s really strange, isn’t it?”<br /> <br /> Last time was during the school festival. We both shrugged and looked around. There were suspicious looks from some people, but this time there was nothing that would get in the way of our introductions. To prevent another Niwa-san in the future, we should reveal Maekawa-san’s name now. We both nodded at the same time.<br /> <br /> Pushing up the face on top of the polar bear, Maekawa-san clearly emerged from the back of the mouth. With the same gaze looking down at me, she smiled defiantly and moved her slightly chapped lips up and down.<br /> <br /> The name her lips uttered was hers.<br /> <br /> “I had to postpone it at the school festival, but this time I’ll definitely introduce myself.”<br /> <br /> “Yeah.”<br /> <br /> “My name is…”<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> “Guhehe.”<br /> <br /> “Cousin, you’re drooling while you’re laughing.”<br /> <br /> &lt;noinclude&gt;<br /> {| border=&quot;1&quot; cellpadding=&quot;5&quot; cellspacing=&quot;0&quot; style=&quot;margin: 1em 1em 1em 0; background: #f9f9f9; border: 1px #aaaaaa solid; padding: 0.2em; border-collapse: collapse;&quot;<br /> |-<br /> | Back to [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume7_Prologue|Prologue]]<br /> | Return to [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko|Main Page]]<br /> | Forward to [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume7_Chapter2|Chapter 2]]<br /> |-<br /> |}<br /> &lt;/noinclude&gt;</div>

Bob Morane http://www.baka-tsuki.org/project/index.php?title=Denpa_Onna_to_Seishun_Otoko:Volume7_Prologue&diff=588765 2026-08-23T07:42:53Z

<p>Bob Morane: Created page with &quot;&lt;noinclude&gt; {| border=&quot;1&quot; cellpadding=&quot;5&quot; cellspacing=&quot;0&quot; style=&quot;margin: 1em 1em 1em 0; background: #f9f9f9; border: 1px #aaaaaa solid; padding: 0.2em; border-collapse: collapse;&quot; |- | Return to Main Page | Forward to Chapter 1 |- |} &lt;/noinclude&gt; ==Prologue - If Space Stretched Out Beyond == “I was given a game.” Erio immediately reported this to me without even saying hello when she c...&quot;</p> <hr /> <div>&lt;noinclude&gt;<br /> {| border=&quot;1&quot; cellpadding=&quot;5&quot; cellspacing=&quot;0&quot; style=&quot;margin: 1em 1em 1em 0; background: #f9f9f9; border: 1px #aaaaaa solid; padding: 0.2em; border-collapse: collapse;&quot;<br /> |-<br /> | Return to [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko|Main Page]]<br /> | Forward to [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume7_Chapter1|Chapter 1]]<br /> |-<br /> |}<br /> &lt;/noinclude&gt;<br /> ==Prologue - If Space Stretched Out Beyond ==<br /> <br /> “I was given a game.”<br /> <br /> Erio immediately reported this to me without even saying hello when she came back from minding the candy store.<br /> <br /> When I went to the front door to greet my cousin and saw what she was holding up expressionlessly, I said, “Huh?” ''Did she receive her daily wage in kind?'' I wondered, as I tilted my head. But it didn’t appear to be the case.<br /> <br /> “You were given? From whom? Anyway, wipe your feet with this,” I said, handing her a cloth. Erio, who still couldn’t shake off her habit of going outside barefoot, picked up the cloth and continued the conversation with an attitude that suggested that she was simply holding onto it for the time being.<br /> <br /> “A stranger.”<br /> <br /> “Don’t accept things from strangers.”<br /> <br /> I pinched Erio’s cheek and pulled it. “Mmmph,” she protested, slapping my arm with the cloth I gave him. Even though I wanted her to wipe her feet with it instead. It was about time she got into the habit of wearing shoes.<br /> <br /> Anyway, this was a day off, a Saturday evening. Mid-October, about three weeks after September’s school festival.<br /> <br /> Good evening, this is Niwa Makoto. Due to certain circumstances, I used up all my Youth Points, so I was feeling pretty depleted lately. I was trying to replenish my reserves, but it was proving difficult.<br /> <br /> “Was it really given to you by someone you don’t remember? Or rather, was it given to you at the candy store?”<br /> <br /> “Yes, yes.”<br /> <br /> Erio nodded twice. She then tried to go up into the hallway without wiping her feet, so I pushed her away.<br /> <br /> “A strangely dressed middle-aged man handed it to me, saying, ‘Send my greetings to Meme.’”<br /> <br /> “Meme? Meme-san? A middle-aged man and Meme-san… Ah, maybe it was Yamamoto-san?”<br /> <br /> I remembered that middle-aged man who was infatuated with Meme-san. I couldn’t quite remember what he was wearing, or even what he looked like. Was he trying to apply the logic of shooting the general&lt;ref name=&quot;ftn1&quot;&gt;A reference to the Japanese proverb “If you want to shoot the general, first shoot his horse.”&lt;/ref&gt; by trying to win over her daughter first? Seems the daughter in question doesn’t remember him at all, though. And the mother doesn’t even remember the middle-aged man’s real name. Poor guy. I gave Elio a nudge while I felt sympathy for him. Elio pouted, “Mmm”.<br /> <br /> “Cousin, you’re trying to kill me.”<br /> <br /> “I’m not that much of an extremist. I told you to wipe your feet.”<br /> <br /> Seriously, why does this girl go outside barefoot? She looks more like an alien child than a wild child. By the way, her mother is forty years old. She’s a youkai whose appearance gets younger day by day, but she’s forty years old.<br /> <br /> That point must absolutely never be forgotten. Furthermore, that ''youkai ''hasn’t returned from work yet today.<br /> <br /> Well, I still didn’t know what she did for a living.<br /> <br /> “Ooh.”<br /> <br /> Erio slapped her palm with her fist. And then, as if she had come up with a brilliant idea, she made a suggestion:<br /> <br /> “Cousin, if you wipe my feet, the problem is solved.”<br /> <br /> “Are you a king? Rejected.”<br /> <br /> “Uhhgh.”<br /> <br /> She reluctantly sat down and began wiping the soles of her feet. I pondered whether I should also warn her about sitting normally on the dirt floor but decided there was no point in being so overprotective, so I waited for Erio.<br /> <br /> “They’re all clean!”<br /> <br /> “Yes, yes.”<br /> <br /> I brushed off Erio, who was showing me the soles of her feet after wiping them, and decided to head back to my room. I had left the paperback I was reading on the bed, so I headed down the corridor to finish it.<br /> <br /> Just as I stepped onto the stairs, my back, clothes and flesh together were pulled. I turned around.<br /> <br /> “What should I do?”<br /> <br /> Erio was holding up the game package that she received as a gift.<br /> <br /> “Cousin, do you want to play the game too?”<br /> <br /> “Is it designed for two people?”<br /> <br /> Erio tilted his head. I picked it up and checked the back. It looked like an RPG. Oh well, should be fine.<br /> <br /> “I shall humour you.” I said as I leaned back.<br /> <br /> Erio nodded, “Mmm”, and dashed off towards the living room. She didn’t say a word about my attitude. I felt my haughty attitude was a bit pointless if she wasn’t going to call me out for it. Alone in the corridor, I scratched my cheek as I lost the urge to lean back with my hands on my hips.<br /> <br /> “I know she’s not suited to being the ''tsukkomi''&lt;ref name=&quot;ftn2&quot;&gt;This is a reference to ''manzai'', a form of Japanese duo comedy. One person plays the role of the ''boke'' (the idiot) who says outrageous things, and the other plays the role of the ''tsukkomi'' (the straight man) who is down-to-earth. Typically, this form of comedy involves the ''boke'' saying something stupid, and the ''tsukkomi'' slightly slapping him with his fan and correcting him.&lt;/ref&gt;, but still…”<br /> <br /> I think Maekawa-san is probably the only one among us who could fill that role. Ryuushi-san was a natural airhead after all. And I could easily imagine that her only way to retort&lt;ref name=&quot;ftn3&quot;&gt;When retorting, the ''tsukkomi ''is supposed to deliver some kind of catchphrase. Typically that catchphrase is ''Nandeyanen!'' (”What the hell?” in Osaka dialect).&lt;/ref&gt; would be “I told ya”.<br /> <br /> I followed Erio into the living room. As I watched Erio happily running around and setting up the game console, I thought, “Well, it’s not so bad, I guess, blah blah.” I’ll spare you the details.<br /> <br /> Finally, Erio started working on the futon she had brought down from the second floor. That’s when I finally intervened.<br /> <br /> “Why are you wrapping yourself in a futon?”<br /> <br /> What kind of ritual was this? Where is Smakin supposed to fit in: us → game console → TV?<br /> <br /> “Mofu?”<br /> <br /> “No, your face is inside the futon right now.”<br /> <br /> Erio, who never was one to pay much attention to people’s questions, gripped the controller with her futon still wrapped around her.<br /> <br /> What was that?<br /> <br /> Wasn’t she supposed to have become a Youthful Women last month? She keeps doing stuff like rolling herself in a futon, or refusing to wipe her feet.<br /> <br /> She hasn’t changed much at all. Well, if she had changed dramatically and become completely independent and suddenly didn’t require any attention, I would have felt lonely… No, no, I would have become a perfect father to her.<br /> <br /> This can’t be, I shook my head, but as I did so, company logos started appearing one after another on the TV screen. Erio frantically pressed a button, presumably to skip them. I sat cross-legged next to her, resting my elbows on my knees.<br /> <br /> “Have you read the instruction manual?”<br /> <br /> “I read it thoroughly in my free time while minding the shop.”<br /> <br /> “Bad girl.”<br /> <br /> When I playfully tapped her on the head, Erio, uncharacteristically, broke into a smile and let out a surprised “Heh”.<br /> <br /> Games, huh? I used to play quite a bit, but I haven’t touched them much since coming here. When I get too engrossed in games, I sometimes get headaches from thinking about weird things.<br /> <br /> Erio pressed the buttons with her index finger, as if she were using a calculator. She was an eccentric one, even counting her appearance.<br /> <br /> When she started a new game, the first thing that appeared was a screen to set the protagonist’s name. There didn’t seem to be a default name, so it was blank. For some reason, Erio stared intently at my face.<br /> <br /> “What?”<br /> <br /> “Hmm.”<br /> <br /> It was a mismatched response. Erio tapped the button with her index finger.<br /> <br /> “Niwa Makoto”.<br /> <br /> “Can’t you use your own name?”<br /> <br /> Moreover, her choice of kanji was wrong&lt;ref name=&quot;ftn4&quot;&gt;Niwa Makoto is normally written 丹羽真, but Erio used completely different characters (庭誠).&lt;/ref&gt;. Who’s that guy? And she didn’t even confirm it with me. How irresponsible or her.<br /> <br /> “Nickname: Mako-kun.”<br /> <br /> “Wait!”<br /> <br /> Cousin, transfer student, Niwa-chi. Maa-chan… She rejected all those on unspecified grounds.<br /> <br /> Out of all the nicknames available, why did she choose that one? People around will start calling me Mako-kun or something. It gives vibes like Enma&lt;ref name=&quot;ftn5&quot;&gt;In Buddhic mythology, king Enma is the guardian of Hell who judges the dead.&lt;/ref&gt;, I don’t like it. But she paid no attention to my objections, and her game started anyway.<br /> <br /> “Teketeketeketeketeteteee, teeeteteteteee, teeete.”<br /> <br /> “You don’t have to hum the background music.”<br /> <br /> Out of habit, Erio continued to control the main character in the centre of the screen without stopping. The Touwa family’s game console was a generation old. Naturally, the game itself is also old-fashioned. Though it was only about seven or eight years old.<br /> <br /> The protagonist, who was inexplicably wearing a school uniform, was also poorly depicted on the TV screen. It might be due to the TV, but the whole image was blurry, and the background was indistinct. So the protagonist was seen pacing around his room.<br /> <br /> “Rub-rub.”<br /> <br /> Erio was twisting the analogue controller around, toying with the protagonist. The protagonist (Makoto Niwa) was spinning at such a high speed on the futon laid out in the centre that if it were real life, he’d definitely be dizzy. Enough with this Mako-kun. I don’t even want to be called Mako-kun by anyone around me.<br /> <br /> I watched for a while as Mako-kun, that strange man who could reverse direction faster than he could spin left and right, was still spinning, but it didn’t seem to end, so I turned my attention to the player, Erio:<br /> <br /> “Just get out of the room.”<br /> <br /> “Before that, I’ll open a drawer and break a vase.”<br /> <br /> “You don’t often find vases in the private room of an average modern person.”<br /> <br /> Just as I gave that warning, I spotted a vase in the corner of the room. It looked incredibly out of place. A vase with a pattern that looked like something you’d find in a royal palace was sitting on a tatami mat. That was completely crazy. What were they thinking?<br /> <br /> “I found one. I found one.”<br /> <br /> Erio pointed at the screen, triumphantly. “That’s strange,” I replied, brushing it off.<br /> <br /> I opened the package and looked at the instruction manual inside. It’s irrelevant, but I wonder what Yamamoto-san would have done if the Touwa family didn’t have a game console. If he knew about it, that was kind of scary.<br /> <br /> “Let’s see,” I thought, glancing at the game’s synopsis. Hmm, the protagonist is a high school student who one day awakens to a mysterious power and fights monsters with his friends? That’s a pretty typical story. Should I call it a classic? And the next page was the character introduction. The protagonist transferred schools this spring… Hoh? I felt a connection with Mako-kun.<br /> <br /> His companion character was… “A beautiful girl who seems to emit light from her whole body, and is she the child of the relative where the protagonist lodges?” “Hum?” Erio looked up and turned to me as I read the instruction manual aloud. “No, never mind.”<br /> <br /> I turned her to face the TV screen. I had a bad feeling about this, but I turned the page. The other companions were a tall, dignified but somewhat frail girl and an ordinary, naive girl? And a mysterious girl with superpowers?<br /> <br /> “I sense clear malice in this selection!”<br /> <br /> What’s going on, Earth?!<br /> <br /> Erio’s shoulders jumped in surprise at my sudden shout. “…No, don’t worry about it,” I said, shaking my head, clutching the edge of the instruction manual. “Cousin, you’re acting weird,” muttered Erio, turning her back to the game screen. It was true that I was acting weird, but was it really something that could be resolved with just one word?<br /> <br /> “Ah, let’s see,” I said, glancing down at the rest of the instruction manual. Depending on how things unfold, you might even become lovers with your companions, and that might even affect the ending? Ha ha ha, that’s nice, quite the dream.”<br /> <br /> I couldn’t bring myself to read it all the way through, so I closed it and put it back in the package. Then I leaned back on my elbow and, still feeling uneasy, turned my attention to the TV. I hope my 40-year-old aunt doesn’t feature in it.<br /> <br /> Mako-kun, controlled by Erio, finally left his room and headed to school. Even though I just got back home too.<br /> <br /> “…………”<br /> <br /> Sometimes… And I’m not just talking about games, but also about movies and TV shows.<br /> <br /> I try to think about what’s on the other side of the screen. Of course, it’s just data, or footage, and such. And I also understand that there’s no “other side” to the screen in the first place.<br /> <br /> But I find it mysterious. A never-before-seen world unfolding before my eyes. To me, there was not much difference between seeing scenery from a place I’ll never travel to in my lifetime and gazing at a game world that’s completely out of my reach through the television screen.<br /> <br /> Both were like different worlds. It felt like peeking into another world. Was I the only one who felt that way?<br /> <br /> Perhaps my way of thinking stemmed from a complete lack of understanding of how TVs and game consoles work. We use them daily, operating them with remotes as if it were the most natural thing in the world, yet they’re filled with the unknown. This kind of expectation, born from ignorance, made me dream about connecting myself to a distant and unperceivable world. I have always loved daydreaming.<br /> <br /> The game’s protagonist was a transfer student. Similar circumstances, similar classmates. So, the TV screen must be showing a '''parallel world''', right? The universe was incredibly vast, so there had to be at least one Earth far beyond our reach in which Erio and I were living similar lives… How many times have I stopped immersing myself in the game to think about that? I even got a headache from thinking about it too much, I think. Ah, I was so young.<br /> <br /> This time, the reason was simply that I was engrossed reading a novel about parallel worlds some ten minutes ago.<br /> <br /> I cut short my daydreams and looked at the screen to see the protagonist being called “Mako-kun-kun” by a female classmate. Mako-kun-kun? Sounds like she’s sniffing him&lt;ref name=&quot;ftn6&quot;&gt;In Japanese, ''kunkun ''is the sound of an animal sniffing.&lt;/ref&gt;. Sniff, sniff. Sounds like a typo. Or rather, what kind of girl calls someone Mako-kun-kun with a smile on her face? I couldn’t bring myself to look at this smile for a different reason.<br /> <br /> I really didn’t like this alternative possibility. Please, no more Mako-kun-kun.<br /> <br /> If it’s going to be a fantasy story anyway, it might as well be more imaginative.<br /> <br /> That’s right, like for example…<br /> <br /> If I were to truly pursue every possible scenario…<br /> <br /> &lt;noinclude&gt;<br /> {| border=&quot;1&quot; cellpadding=&quot;5&quot; cellspacing=&quot;0&quot; style=&quot;margin: 1em 1em 1em 0; background: #f9f9f9; border: 1px #aaaaaa solid; padding: 0.2em; border-collapse: collapse;&quot;<br /> |-<br /> | Return to [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko|Main Page]]<br /> | Forward to [[Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko:Volume7_Chapter1|Chapter 1]]<br /> |-<br /> |}<br /> &lt;/noinclude&gt;</div>

Bob Morane