Nogizaka Haruka no Himitsu:Volume2 Chapter6

Chapter 6

Somewhere in the crowd, I caught a glimpse of a black maid dress.

"Ah, She just turned around that corner."

Mika called out as she pointed to the third junction from where we were standing. She was right, as the black maid dress that we were following had already disappeared from our field of vision.

"Come on, we have to catch up~"

However, Mika was promptly stopped in her tracks by Nanami-san.

"You'll be discovered the moment you run up like that. We have to wait for at least ten seconds before closing the gap."

"Eh~, why do we have to wait for so long~"

Mika whined.

"Will we lose her if we wait for ten seconds......?"

Haruka, who was sticking her head out from our hiding spot, said worryingly with a serious expression on her face.

"Hmm, I can't guarantee that we won't lose her, but~"

There was at least fifty metres between us and our target. To make things worse, we were right in the middle of a crowded shopping street on Sunday (and right in the middle of Tokyo's city centre, no less!). I won't be surprised if we lose our target under such circumstances.

"......Can't we at least go a little closer?"

My suggestion was immediately rejected by Nanami-san.

"Definitely not~. If we go any closer, Hazuki-san will detect us. We're already on the border of her area of detection~"

"Even then......"

No matter how you think about it, this distance is a little too far. If Hazuki-san wasn't wearing her maid dress, then we probably would have lost her already.

"Yuuto-sama, you're too naive. It's precisely because we're in the middle of a crowd that we can afford to keep a distance of fifty meters. If we weren't in a crowd, Hazuki-san would be able to sense us from a hundred meters away."

"......"

......Just what kind of person is Hazuki-san? The skills that she is exhibiting are definitely not what a normal maid should have.

"Anyway, please wait for a little while longer. I'll go first, please follow behind me~"

Nanami-san said as she weaved through the crowd soundlessly. Like Hazuki-san, I'm pretty sure she's not a normal person either.

"Just where is Hazuki-san going?"

"I don't know, if only we had some clues to help us along--"

Haruka answered Mika's question.

"A clue......"

Well, the main purpose of our trip is to obtain clues that would help us deduce Hazuki-san's eventual destination. Just as I was thinking about that, Nanami-san, who had scouted ahead, turned around and signaled for us to follow her.

"Ah, it seems like the coast is clear. Let's go, Onee-chan, Onii-san."

"Alright."

"Ahhh."

Following behind Mika, Haruka and I proceeded to where Nanami-san was.

Well then, as for what we (Me, Haruka, Mika, Nanami-san) are doing at that point in time--

"Hazuki-san......has been acting strangely recently."

It all started with a sentence from Haruka.

It was five days after I had returned to Japan from London.

As the 'Summer Comiket' that I had promised to go together with Haruka was only a week away, I went over to the Nogizaka residence to finalise the details of our visit, and that was when Haruka told me about Hazuki-san (Regarding the finalization of details, I was actually only going over to get Haruka's handmade 'Summer Comiket Map' from her, since we had already decided on where and when to meet on that day).

"I guess it started about three days ago. Hazuki-san started to be distracted when doing work, and she also seems to be thinking intently about something......"

Haruka, who was sitting on her luxurious four poster bed, had a worried expression on her face.

"Hazuki-san, distracted?"

"......Yes."

Just for your information, we were in Haruka's room, and the head maid in question had gone over to the kitchen to get tea and snacks for us, so she wasn't in the room. Because she had said 'Please wait for about twenty minutes', she'll probably return in exactly twenty minutes. Hazuki-san is that kind of person.

"I can't really describe it properly, but it feels like she's worried about something......Even though she said that it was nothing when I asked her about it......"

Haruka looked as if a dark cloud was hovering over her head.

"I'm really worried......I would like her to tell us about any problems she has."

"Hmm......"

Because I've only seen Hazuki-san for a short while when I came in, I didn't really notice anything. In any case, I still have not been able to aquire the ability to understand the minute changes in her normally expressionless face, so it's not like I would have been able to see if she was distracted anyway. Of course, I can understand the more obvious expressions on Hazuki-san's face.

I really can't imagine Hazuki-san being worried about something......

"Haruka, could it be that you're thinking too much about it?"

"Thinking, too much about it?"

"Yes, perhaps you just caught her at a bad time?"

Although I understand Haruka's worries, but I really can't imagine Hazuki-san being distracted about something. I always had the impression that even if a missile was flying towards the Nogizaka residence, she would be able to take care of it.

"Hmm, I don't think that's the case~"

A voice sounded from behind me.

"I don't think Onee-chan's reading too much into Hazuki-san's actions. Because I'm thinking the same thing."

"Eh?"

I turned around to see Haruka's younger sister -- Nogizaka Mika, her light brown hair tied up in twin tails smiling as she stood at the door of Haruka's room.

"Hee, Onii-san, I haven't seen you for five days already."

"Mika......"

"Nanami-san is also here you know~. Yuuto-sama, good afternoon~"

The cheerful maid whom I had gotten to know just five days ago was standing beside Mika at the door.

"Onii-san, how could you not tell me that you were coming? Ah, could it be that you want to be alone with Onee-chan? You~"

"Wa~, Yuuto-sama's such a pervert~"

The two of them were starting to ramble again.

"Hey......"

"Ah, could it be that Onee-chan thinks that it's better that way? Mm~ I see~. Looks like we've interrupted something~"

"Would it be better if we were to leave the two of you to your own devices~?"

"Of, Of course not......We've just met--Of,of course I'll be very happy to be alone with Yuuto-san, but Mika and Nanami-san aren't interrupting or anything--"

Haruka stuttered as she blushed furiously.

Looking at Haruka's blushing face, the two devils smiled deviously.

"Onee-chan's still as bad at lying as ever~ Come on, come on, tell us what you really think~"

"That's right-- It's very important for a person to be honest."

"As, As I've said--"

"Come on, come on~"

"Fufufu~"

(Haruka blushes furiously as she stops talking)

......Sigh.

The teasing from Mika and Nanami-san only lasted for a few minutes (but to Haruka and me, it felt like an eternity). After we finally got past that topic,

"--Well, let's get down to the main topic."

Mika said as she suddenly had a serious expression on her face.

"Just as Onee-chan has said......Hazuki-san has indeed been acting strangely recently."

"......Is that true?"

Mika nodded her head in response to my question.

"Yes. She just doesn't seem like the usual Hazuki-san, even though you can't really tell by just looking at her......"

"She's been lapsing into deep thought three times more than usual~. And her facial expression looked really dark when we passed her on the corridor just now."

Nanami-san added her own observations to back up Mika's argument. It really looks like Hazuki-san has been acting strangely recently.

"I wonder what has happened to Hazuki-san......"

Seeing the worried expression on Haruka's face again, Mika said to her.

"Hmm~, Onee-chan's really concerned about this too right? Hazuki-san's strange behaviour."

"......Yes, I am."

"--Then, won't you want to find out the reason behind it?"

"The, reason?"

Haruka gave a surprised expression.

"Mm. If we find out the reason behind Hazuki-san's strange behaviour, then we'll know what to do about it. --Don't you guys think so?"

Mika turned around to face all three of us as she asked.

"You're right~. I'm really concerned as well~"

"You're right, it'll be much easier if we know the reason behind Hazuki-san's behaviour."

"Right, right?"

Mika smiled as she nodded her head enthusiastically.

"Speaking of which, I just thought of a good plan~"

"A good plan?"

What's is she talking about? Our eyes were on Mika as she opened her mouth with an air of superiority.

"Fufu~ Listen, listen, the truth is, today, Hazuki-san--"

"......What about me?"

Suddenly a voice rang out in the room from behind us.

"Ahhhhhhhh!?"

"Kya!"

"Uwah!"

"~!"

Four loud screams sounded from Haruka's room.

"......To have all four of you react to my presence in the exact same way makes me feel a little hurt."

Without us noticing, Hazuki-san had appeared in our common blind spot. As usual, we didn't feel her presence, nor did we hear her footsteps or the sound of the door opening......Speaking of which, are you sure she's not doing this on purpose?

"A,Ah, what seems to be the problem, Hazuki-san?"

Haruka asked Hazuki-san nervously.

"Even if you ask me......I've brought the tea and cake that you had asked for."

"Ah, I, I see."

Speaking of which, this was the very reason that Hazuki-san wasn't in the room, something which we had forgotten with the appearance of Mika and Nanami-san.

"I, I'm sorry, I forgot about it even though I was the one who asked for it......"

"It's nothing......"

Bowing quietly in response to Haruka's apology, Hazuki-san placed the tray that she was holding on the table. There was a pot of hot tea and three slices of cake.

"Would Te Romano and carrot cake be alright?"

"Ah, of course."

"What about Mika-sama?"

"Mm, thank you."

Maybe because Mika wasn't very used to Hazuki-san's silent teleportation technique, her voice was wavering as she replied to Hazuki-san with a tense expression on her face.

"--Excuse me."

Hazuki-san said as she poured the tea into three teacups before cutting up the cake.

As she did that, the room was covered in a strangely silent atmosphere.

The only sound that could be heard was that of Hazuki-san working.

After a short while, a cup of hot tea and a slice of cake were placed in front of Haruka, Mika, and me.

"Well then, I still have work to do, so I shall return to the kitchen now. Please call for me if you need anything. -- Nanami-san, I'll leave the rest to you.

Hazuki-san bowed politely before going out of the room.

-Click-, she closed the door behind her.

"Ah, I almost had a heart attack."

Immediately after Hazuki-san went out of the room, Mika breathed out a long sigh of relief as she slumped onto the table.

"It all happened so suddenly~"

"It is Hazuki-san after all, so I'm not really surprised that we weren't able to detect her presence at all.

Looks like even Nanami-san had no idea that Hazuki-san was there. However, I really don't know if we should be praising Hazuki-san's technique at this time.

"A,Anyway, shall we drink the tea before it gets cold? Since Hazuki-san went to all the trouble to brew it."

"......Yes, we should."

At Haruka's suggestion, we (except for Nanami-san, who was standing behind Haruka) stretched out our hands towards the teacups that were on the table.

We chatted happily for a while longer, talking about whatever came to mind as we finally got over the shock of Hazuki-san's sudden appearance.

"--Speaking of which, Onee-chan, I've noticed it since a while ago, what's this?"

"Hmm?"

Looking at the booklet that was placed at the corner of the table, Mika asked Haruka about it.

"It looks like a guidebook. Could it be that Onee-chan's going somewhere with Onii-chan? Let me see it!"

"Ah,t,this is......"

Haruka's facial expression froze as she didn't know how to react to this sudden question.

The booklet in question was the 'Summer Comiket Map'(Something that Haruka seemed really proud and confident of) that Haruka was showing me when I first got here.......Haruka, you've forgotten to keep something like this away again.

No matter what, now's the time where I try to divert Mika's attention away from Haruka's booklet.

"Ahem, excuse me."

"I cleared my throat while trying to give Mika a hint with my eyes.

"Those are the notes for our ethics homework, 'Great people of the world'. It's not something that's interesting to look at."

"? Onii-chan, why are you suddenly so--"

"Ahem, Ahem, excuse me."

"What's wrong? Are you sick? Could it be Mycoplasma Pneumoniae?"

Mika was confused for a few seconds, but she quickly caught on as she mumbled softly to herself. '--Ah, I see'.

"Mm, I~see, it's just notes for your summer holiday homework. Then I don't really need to see it."

"Ah, i,is that so?"

Haruka had a clearly relieved expression on her face in response to Mika's words.

"Hmm, but if this is homework, then wouldn't it be better to keep it somewhere safe? It could get smudged if you leave it on the table like this."

"Ah, r,right."

Haruka answered as she covered the front cover of her 'notes' suspiciously before stuffing it into a drawer. Mika looked at Haruka's actions with a bemused expression on her face. Well, it looks like this is over for now.

"Right, Mika. What was the good idea that you were talking about just now?"

I changed the topic the moment Haruka sat down again after stuffing her 'notes' into the drawer.

"Ah, right. Umm--"

Visibly traumatized by what had just happened, Mika looked around the room suspiciously before talking.

"Good, looks like Hazuki-san's not here. --Well then, I know that Hazuki-san will be taking the afternoon off today.

"Nanami-san, is that true?"

"Eh? Ah, that's right~. Since it's a Sunday anyway, and I seem to recall her saying something about going out today."

Nanami-san answered with a surprised expression on her face.

"But what has that got to do with your 'good idea'?"

I felt the same way about that. Haruka had her head slanted to the side beside me as she held her teacup in her hands.

Mika (the youngest among the four of us) gave us the look that clealy said ~you guys really don't know anything~.

"We've already established that whatever the reason behind Hazuki-san's worries, it is something private. So we just have to investigate what she's doing in her private time to find out the reason behind her strange behaviour. Understand?"

"Will......that work?"

"Yes, I'm quite sure it will. 'A lady's secret is always private'--Right, Onee-chan?"

"Eh? Ah, y, yes, you're right."

Faced with the sudden question from her younger sister, the older sister, who was hiding a big secret of her own, answered with a guilty expression on her face as she looked away from her younger sister.

"And then, Hazuki-san will be taking a break from her duties in the house this afternoon. Which means that this afternoon will count as her private time."

"......Don't tell me--"

I could already tell what Mika was going to say.

After about two months of interactions, I could almost grasp the way that Haruka's younger sister thinks. He who interacts with something red will be stained red himself.......Though I'm not very happy about this result.

Mika winked mischievously in response my unfinished sentence.

"That's right. In other words, we're going to follow Hazuki-san this afternoon."

--And so, here we are, tailing Hazuki-san on a sunny Sunday afternoon.

However, it didn't take long for me to realize that tailing Hazuki-san was an extremely difficult task.

Firstly, Hazuki-san seemed to have a biological radar that allowed her to be aware of everything within a certain radius around her.

Also, Hazuki-san was as sensitive as a military hound to the sounds around her.

In other words, it was extremely hard for us to tail Hazuki-san without being discovered.

Even though Hazuki-san's maid dress stood out from the crowd, it still required our full concentration to not lose sight of her.

To be honest, if it was only the three of us, we would probably have lost Hazuki-san a long time ago.

It was all because of Nanami-san, who was almost as skilled as Hazuki-san that we haven't lost her. (On a side note, Nanami-san was not wearing her maid dress, as she opted for a pink camisole with a black mini-skirt instead.)

"The coast is clear~ Please come over now."

We quickly moved over to Nanami-san's position after she had given us the all-clear. This was how we've managed to successfully follow Hazuki-san thus far.

"Hmm, where's Hazuki-san?"

"I don't see her anywhere......"

Hazuki-san seemed to have turned into the street three turns away from where we were, as she suddenly disappeared.

"Hmm, looks like she went into that shop over there~"

"That shop?"

"Yes~"

Nanami-san pointed to a shop that was quite a distance away which had a colorful and chic signboard.

"It looks like a soft toy shop~ It says 'Alice in Wonderland' on it's signboard."

"So,Soft toy?"

"Yes~, you're right."

"......"

I wonder why Hazuki-san would be interested in such a fantastical shop......

"Because Hazuki-san loves soft toys......"

Haruka explained the reason to me."

"She has a lot of cute soft toys in her room. Puppies, kittens, penguins, you name it."

"......"

Although I had almost forgotten about it, but I seem to remember hearing about something like that before. My memory probably rejected it because of how surprising and illogical that memory was.

"We~ll then, let's try to get a little closer to the shop, but be careful to keep your distance or she might sense us from inside the shop."

"......From inside the shop?"

"Yes~"

"No matter how you put it, how can she--"

The fact that I cannot definitively reject that notion is what really scares me. The head maid has already done many things that I had previously thought were humanly impossible. To me, she's the type of person who'll be able to hear the sound of a needle dropping onto the ground a hundred meters away in total darkness.

Which is why I wisely decided to just believe whatever Nanami-san was telling me about Hazuki-san.

We waited for about ten minutes under the shade somewhere near the shop.

"Ah, she's coming out now~"

Hazuki-san came out of the shop with a paper bag in her hand. Two long, white ears were peeking out from the bag, which probably meant that......"

"It's a rabbit right~ From the size of those ears, that's quite a large soft toy she's holding there."

......Nanami-san's probably right. Although it won't be cute if it turns out to be part of a bunny-girl costume.

"I see.......a rabbit soft toy. Hazuki-san's probably going to hug it to sleep."

Haruka mumbled to herself.

"......"

......I honestly cannot imagine Hazuki-san doing something like that.

No matter what the others thought, the first thing that came to my mind when I saw the Hazuki-san + rabbit combination was of Hazuki-san holding the rabbit by its neck with her usual expressionless face (hunting or cooking). Mm, that makes more sense.

Just as I had that image in my head, Mika tapped me on the shoulder.

"Hey, Onii-san, what's with that difficult expression on your face? Let's go~"

"Ah, Ahhh."

I quickly caught up with them as Mika hurried me along.

Hazuki-san's next destination was a pet shop.

"She seems to be playing with a Chihuahua in the shop~"

Unlike the three of us, Nanami-san seemed to be able to see inside the shop. Even then, Hazuki-san and Chihuahuas really didn't......"

"Ah~ Chihuahuas. I want to play with one too~"

"Their big, round eyes are really cute."

The Nogizaka sisters looked towards the pet shop with admiration.

On the other side, Nanami-san continued with her live commentary of Hazuki-san's actions.

"She's hugging it while caressing its head~It's licking her chin, and instead of getting angry, Hazuki-san looks as though she's thoroughly enjoying it."

"......"

"Ah, is it time to go already? Hazuki-san's looking longingly at the Chihuahua~ Ah, she's waving goodbye~"

"......"

......I'm thinking that maybe it's time for me to change my perception of Hazuki-san a little.

"Hazuki-san looks like she really doesn't want to go~She's stopped walking as she continues to wave to the Chihuahua. Ah, she's finally managed to pull herself away. It seems difficult for her, as she jogs away, determined to not look back."

"......"

"Come on, we have to keep up with her~"

And then, we started our routine of following Hazuki-san again.

"I wonder where Hazuki-san's going next."

"......I have no idea."

First the soft toy shop, then the pet shop. All the shops that Hazuki-san have been going into couldn't be any further away from her image. Although it isn't a very nice thing to say, but I really cannot imagine Hazuki-san going into such shops.

"Perhaps her next destination will yield some useful clues for us. She's only gone to some normal character shops so far......"

Mika supported her chin on one finger as she spoke.

Speaking of which, this area is really crowded. Was there some kind of event going on? But then again, it is a Sunday, so it's probably normal for there to be so many people in the shopping district. Under such circumstances, I might even get separated from Haruka and the others if I'm not careful. Of the four of us, at least two of us would probably get lost, so we really have to be careful.

As I was thinking about being careful to not get separated from the others, we passed by a cake shop.

"From this moment onwards, we'll be holding our monthly 'Time Service'!"

A voice sounded from the cake shop.

"Only for the next thirty minutes will there be a 50 - 80% discount on all our products! Please come as early as possible, lest there be nothing left for you to buy. Ready--Start!"

And with that came a complete change in the direction of the crowd.

While we were moving with the crowd before that, the sudden change in direction meant that we were now moving against the crowd.

"Gah!"

A huge wave of people crashed towards us.

Although Nanami-san, Haruka and I managed successfully extricate ourselves from the crowd, there was one person who was still deep in thought.

"Hmm~ She may be going to a fashion shop, or even to a make-up shop......Ah, but by this reasoning, she could also be going to the jewellery store......Wha--Kya!"

Mika disappeared from view as a wave of people crashed over her.

"O,Onee-chan!"

We heard Mika cry out.

In a moment, Mika, who was originally in the middle of the human vortex, had been pushed to the other side of the crowd.

"Ah, Uwaaaaaa, Onee-chan, Onii-chan, Nanami-san!"

With Mika's petite size (She's 147cm, but claims to be 150cm), it was almost impossible to get out of the crowd after being swept away. Although we could see that she was resisting with all her might, the crowd was just too strong for her. Mika was pushed further and further away from us as she looked like how the one-inch boy would have looked like if he was being swept away......Wait a minute, now's not the time to be thinking about such things! (TL Note: The one-inch boy (Issun Boushi) is the main character of a famous Japanese folk tale)

"Mika!"

I tried to follow her, but there were as many people as a newborn nest of words, completely preventing me from getting to her--

"Ah, no!"

I couldn't even move one step in Mika's direction!

I pushed against the crowd, feeling like a newborn salmon fish who was trying to swim against the current to get back to its hometown.

"Haruka-sama, Yuuto-sama, please leave this to me~"

"Eh?"

Nanami-san flew out into the crowd as we looked on. Haruka and I just could only watch as she danced around within the crowd, her skirt billowing in the wind as she made her way towards where Mika's voice had come from (she had completely disappeared from our line of sight).

"Please continue following Hazuki-san. I need to go help Mika-sama, so we'll catch up with the two of you later~"

A moment after saying that, Nanami-san also disappeared into the crowd.

Haruka and I could only gape at the inhuman speed with which Nanami-san ran through the crowd.

".......So, what do we do now?"

Haruka asked.

"......I guess we should continue following Hazuki-san? Since Nanami-san went to get her, Mika should be alright......"

I have no doubts that a maid like Nanami-san would be able to protect Mika from harm no matter what happens, and will also be able to easily catch up with us.

"Y,You're right. Mika would have sacrificed herself for nothing if we give up now. --We have to finish this for her sake."

Haruka clenched both of her hands into fists with a serious expression on her face.

Even though Mika's far from dying......

And just like that, all that remained of the original team was Haruka and myself. Because the key person in our group, Nanami-san had gone off to find Mika, the task at hand became considerably more difficult (probably more difficult by about 55 - 75%). Even then, due to the fact that we were able to blend in with the crowd, we managed to continue tailing Hazuki-san without being discovered.

Right now, Hazuki-san had just entered a cafe that was on the ground floor of a department store. Because the cafe had a large glass window that overlooked the street outside, we were able to keep an eye on Hazuki-san from a safe distance. We hid in the shadow of a vending machine opposite the cafe.

"What do you think?"

"Hmm, she seems to be ordering something."

Just as Haruka observed, Hazuki-san was saying something to the waitress with the manu in hand......I'm really tempted to say something about a maid ordering from a waitress, but now's not exactly the best time for that.

"She looks like she's waiting for someone......"

Up to this point in time, I haven't seen Hazuki-san act strangely in any way. Well, even though buying a toy rabbit from the soft toy shop and playing with a Chihuahua in the pet shop are strange actions to me, but objectively, none of those actions bring us anywhere closer to achieving our objective in tailing Hazuki-san--Which was to find out the reason behind Hazuki-san's recent behaviour--To which I have not seen anything that gives us any clues to work on.

Even at this point in time, I still don't see how the perpetually expressionless Hazuki-san is acting strangely.

"Hmm."

Maybe I'm just to dense to realise that Hazuki-san's acting strangely? Or could it be that Hazuki-san just hasn't been acting strangely......Although I have a feeling that the first explanation is more plausible. Even Nobunaga always says that 'Yuuto, you're really dense, just like the protagonist in bishoujo games.', even though I don't really understand the example that he gave.

But anyway.

Seeing that Hazuki-san had made herself comfortable in the cafe, she shouldn't be leaving (at least not before she finishes her tea) the cafe anytime soon.To ease the tension of constantly watching Hazuki-san, I turned to look at the crowd. The way with which these people walk as if they were in a hurry made them look like busy worker bees. In such a small nation like Japan, where in the world could they be hurrying too......Although I had conviniently forgotten the fact that we were in more of a hurry than them when we were following Hazuki-san a little while ago.

--Tap, tap.

Someone tapped me on the shoulder from behind. Hmm?

Tap, tap.

That person tapped me on the shoulder again. Is it Haruka?

"What's wron--"

But as I turned around, what came into my field of vision was not the puppy-like smile of the first daughter of the Nogizaka family.

"-------EH?"

Instead, I saw a face that I was already sick of, after seeing for my entire life. Just for your information, this face is one of the three faces that I do not want to see in such a situation.

"Wh,Why......"

I really wanted to keep quiet and get out of this place as if I hadn't seen anything.

"Oh, it's really Yuuto. I was just walking along the street when I saw someone who looked like you, so I walked over."

What was my sister doing in a place like this wearing a business suit? She folded her arms over her chest as she looked down at me with an air of superiority. --Wa,Wait, why is Ruko here?

She was still hugging a 1.8 litre bottle of alcohol as she snored on the floor of our living room when I left the house.......(What a useless person)

"Well then, why are you acting so suspiciously in a place like this? Don't tell me you're doing something against the law?"

Ruko looked at me, her sharp gaze slicing into me like flying daggers.

"Ah, ah-, it's a long story......"

I tried to gloss over the question.

I couldn't possibly say that I was tailing the head maid of the Nogizaka family on an unproven premise right.

"On the other hand, what are you doing, dressed like this--"

"We,Well......"

Ruko's facial expression darkened.

"I've been called out to work on a Sunday. I was sleeping happily when my boss called. Something about an emergency meeting to discuss our next course of action before the company's sued for infringing on the copyrights of another company's logo......And he just had to do it on such a hot day."

My sister, involved in an emergency meeting? There must be something wrong with this arrangement. Asking my sister for help may be better than asking some cheap legal consultant firm for help (only when the solution involves violence), but there are too many negative factors that my sister brings to the table.

"Well, that's my story. Then......Hmm?"

As though she just realized (what a dense person), Ruko finally looked at Haruka, who was peeking at us like a small animal beside me.

"Speaking of which, you are?"

"Ah, eh.......?"

Haruka was startled by the sudden question.

"Yuuto, is this your friend? I don't remember seeing her before though......"

"I, I am, umm......"

Haruka looked at me to me for help with desperation in her eyes.

"Ah-, she's......"

"--Ah, I see."

But Ruko didn't wait for my explanation before she nodded her head profusely. 'Is she that person? The one that Yukari had told me about, the girl you suddenly pinned to the ground in class to satisfy your primal urges--"

"That's not right!"

Looks like this person still believes that the rumour is true.

"Ah, I see that your relationship began as a result of insatiable bestial urges......But I don't really approve of such a relationship at your age. Such short-tem passion will not lead to a lasting relationship. Even though I would rather you do something like this than to be a stalker or something......"

"Listen to what I'm saying!"

Ruko's expression darkened for another time.

"--Don't shout like this, it's really embarrassing!"

"Whose fault do you think it is!"

And look whose talking. Your normal voice is as loud as Nobunaga's.

"Ah......sigh......"

It's really tiring to talk to my idiot sister. I felt the exhaustion from the depths of my heart, as I sighed with a dark expression on my face.

"Umm, Umm......"

Haruka, who was standing beside me, looked at my facial expression with a lost expression on her face. Well, you can't exactly blame her for not being able to fully understand what we

were talking about in such a short time.

"Ah-, this is......"

"Ah, I'm sorry. I forgot to introduce myself."

Once again, Ruko ignored what I was saying. This idiot sister of mine......She really doesn't listen to what I say.

"It should be our first time meeting right? I am Ayase Ruko. This fellow's sister."

"Eh, Yuuto-san's, Onee-sama?"

Haruka looked at me in surprise.

"......Well, you can put it that way."

Although I would rather deny the fact that we're actually from the same family.

"I see......Ah, it's nice to meet you, I am Nogizaka Haruka. Umm, Yuuto-san's second-year classmate--"

"Ah, so you're his classmate."

Ruko-nee repeated Haruka's words after her.

"Classmate, eh."

My idiot sister started to scrutinize Haruka as though she was her future sister-in-law.

"Eh, eh.......?"

"Hmm......"

"Umm......"

Because Ruko's gaze was making Haruka extremely uncomfortable, I quickly moved in front of Haruka to shield her from Ruko.

"Ah, Yu,Yuuto-san......"

Haruka looked at me gratefully. Ruko's gaze must have been rather scary, I could even see the tears rolling around in her eyes.

Looking at my actions, Ruko smiled as if she had just confirmed something.

"I see how this is going."

"......What is it that you see."

"Well, I kind of understand what is going on. As the saying goes, 'Actions speaks louder than words'--Yukari might want to get to the bottom of this, but I shan't question you any more."

Speaking of Yukari, her sole meaning in life is to sow discord and chaos in the world.

Ruko adjusted her hair slightly upwards (she leaves it down when working).

"Hmm, Nogizaka-san right."

"Y,Yes?"

Haruka jumped like a robot who was being revived with a stungun after running out of power upon hearing her name called.

"I'll leave this fellow in your hands."

"Eh......?'

Haruka opened her mouth in surprise as Ruko suddenly bowed.

"Even though this fellow's dense, indecisive and unreliable, but he's still my brother. Without him......I wouldn't be able to survive."

Even though her words would have moved anyone else to tears, but I knew that Ruko meant that literally, not figuratively. Because her skill at household chores--particularly cooking--was so low that it completely inhibits her ability to survive in the world, in termperature terms, Ruko's survival skills are at absolute zero. In other words, she was speaking the truth when she said that she won't be able to survive without me.

But because Haruka didn't know all these, she looked at my useless sister with the warmth of a mother bird looking at her newborn child.

"You really love your brother......"

......That is something I find hard to agree with. But then again, it'll be better not to expose Ruko in public, one part of the reason being I don't want Haruka to know about such an embarrassing thing, and the other part being I have no intent of being beaten up by Ruko's metal punches (or metal kicks, for that matter).

Ruko continued.

"Even so, this fellow does have some positive points. For example--"

"......"

"For example......"

"......"

"For example......"

"......"

"We,Well, we don't really need an example."

......Hey.

"--Anyway, please take good care of him. I'm very happy, knowing that someone as nice as Nogizaka-san is with him."

"Ah, y,yes."

"Mm."

Ruko smiled kindly at Haruka as she placed her hands on Haruka's shoulders. For someone like a wild wolf, who attacks anyone she doesn't like, Ruko seems to have taken a liking to Haruka.

"Well, then, I should get going now--Ah, right, you don't have to make dinner tonight. I'm planning to get the boss to treat everyone to a luxurious pufferfish meal. The two of you enjoy yourselves."

After saying that, Ruko walked away like a middle-aged uncle even though she was wearing a tight skirt. Although this was something that I may only see once in a year, it still looked really weird.

"Eh heh heh, she made a request of me."

Haruka smiled happily, seemingly oblivious to what Ruko really meant.

And not just that, Haruka even said something like this.

"But......she's really an outstanding person."

"Huh?"

I couldn't believe my ears.

That person......outstanding?

"Yes, she's so pretty, and she looks so smart in that business suit, and she's constantly thinking of Yuuto-san......I really admire her. She really seems to be an outstanding woman."

"......"

Well, even though it's not very nice for her brother to say this, but that person only looks good on the surface. And from the other perspective, she's the kind of person whom you cannot judge by her appearance.

"Could I......also become someone like her? What do you think, Yuuto-san?"

Haruka looked at me with an extremely serious look.

Before we think about whether you can become like Ruko, I'm begging you, please drop that idea......

A little while after Ruko left, Hazuki-san walked out of the cafe.

After walking out, Hazuki-san walked into the shopping street that was still filled with as many people as a morning fish market. A little while after that, Haruka and I began to follow her at a safe distance.

Hazuki-san moved through the crowd as she turned around four corners before making her way through the shopping arcade.

And then, Hazuki-san finally stopped before a store.

"What kind of store is it?"

"I don't know."

The store in question had a very big shop window. But because of the reflection of the sunlight, we weren't able to see into the store from our position.

Hazuki-san stood unmovingly like an ancient greek statue in front of the shop window for a while. She seemed to me looking extremely serious at something in the shop while sighing at regular intervals.

"Just what is she looking at.......Ah!"

"What's wrong?"

"L,Look at that."

"Hmm?"

I looked at what Haruka was looking at--There was a man running towards Hazuki-san.

That man had messy short hair and the bearing of a sportsman. He also had the kind of smile that makes a good impression, while his teeth were sparkling white. In other words, he seemed to be a nice young man.

The man seemed to be talking to Hazuki-san about something.

"What......is going on?"

Haruka asked a little worriedly. Of course, I had no answer to that question.

We watched as Hazuki-san talked to the man in a low tone before nodding and followed him into the store.

"Yuuto-san, that......"

"--Ah."

That was really suspicious.

Both Hazuki-san's behavious when looking into the shop window and the mysterious man she had just met were extremely suspicious.

Although we don't have any details, but it seemed as though the source of Hazuki-san's problems was connected with this store.

In the meantime, there was nothing we could do but to wait for Hazuki-san to come out of the store.

We stared at the store from the side of the busy shopping street in the sweltering heat.

--For the next twenty minutes.

......Hazuki-san didn't come out.

Although we've been watching the entrance for the past twenty minutes, but there was no sign of Hazuki-san coming out of the store.

The sun shone with as much energy as an unleashed dog, as I sweated profusely.

It seems as though we get more of the sunlight when we're staying in one place then when we're moving around. Damn, it's really hot......

"Yuuto-san, are you alright?"

"Ah, thank you."

Haruka wiped my forehead with her handkerchief. Speaking of which, she doesn't seem to be sweating at all. Is this the legendary rule of the world that 'Rich ladies don't sweat'?

Twenty more minutes passed, and Hazuki-san still had not come out.

"......Since it has come to this, perhaps we should go for a closer look."

I suggested to Haruka as I really couldn't take the heat anymore.

"B,But......"

You won't get the tiger cub without going into the tiger's lair. (TL note: Chinese/Japanese saying, basically means that great rewards comes with great risks.) From our basic knowledge of Hazuki-san's abilities, we knew that the closer we got, the higher the possibility of being found out, but the current situation really wasn't helping us achieve our initial objective.

And also, I was very curious as to what exactly had caught Hazuki-san's eye for her to look so longingly into the shop window.

"......Alright."

Haruka thought about it for a short while before nodding in agreement.

The two of us moved closer to the store.

"Ah......"

It was a bridal shop. The signboard above the shop entrace read 'Bridal shop: Fortune Tales'.

And the centrepiece of the shop window that Hazuki-san was looking at was--

"This......"

--A white wedding dress bathed in pure, white light. Could it be that Hazuki-san was looking at this as she sighed?

"Hazuki-san......"

Haruka had a complicated expression on her face.

"As I thought, Hazuki-san also wishes to get married right?"

"Hmm......"

Could it be like Haruka says?

Although I'm not very sure, but Hazuki-san should be quite young. And it's not very strange for young woman to wish to get married......right? (although this feels rather weird with Hazuki-san as the subject)Well, normally, women usually start to think about such things once they reach a certain age, but of course, there are exceptions. Ruko and Yukari-san do not show any signs that they are thinking of marriage. From my perspective though, I do wish that the two of them will quickly get married and settle down......

"......Hazuki-san has been taking care of Mika and I since we were young."

Haruka told me.

"I don't even remember when she started to take care of me. When I started to remember things, Hazuki-san was already working in my house......Because she wasn't much older than me, so we often played together."

"She's been working since that time......"

Which means that Hazuki-san must have been in her early teens when she started working in the Nogizaka residence. With more than ten years of experience under her belt, Hazuki-san must be a gold-class, no, a diamond-class maid.

Haruka contined.

"When I was in primary school, Hazuki-san was in charge of taking care of me, even though she was very busy with other things. Because my mother was also very busy at that time, so I didn't get to see her often......So Hazuki-san's like another mother to me."

Speaking of which, it doesn't seem as though either one of Haruka's parents come home often.

"Both Mika and I love Hazuki-san very much. Because she follows us wherever we go, and she's also the one who used to read us bedtime stories before we slept. She also comes to our school activities. However, even now, we depend on her for a lot of things. Hazuki-san's too kind to say no, but......"

Haruka lowered her head.

"......Maybe we're holding her back?"

"Eh?"

I was a little surprised by Haruka's words.

"Perhaps all Hazuki-san really wants to do is to get married? But she can't do it because of Mika and me?"

"Haruka......"

"Because we're still very dependent on Hazuki-san. Nanami-san and the other maids are also very good......But to me, Hazuki-san is the first choice. Because she's the most dependable, the most caring, and the most trustworthy--But if this is a burden on Hazuki-san......"

Haruka closed her eyes.

"If it's like this, then I......would like Hazuki-san to go for the happiness that she seeks without caring about us. I'm willing to accept it even if it means that she'll quite her job. Even though I'll be a little lonely......"

The emotion in Haruka's words confirmed the fact that Hazuki-san is a really important person to Haruka......

To be honest, I don't know what Hazuki-san really wants.

I don't know if she really wants to get married, or if her job is weighing down on her.

But I do know one thing.

That expressionless head maid-san definitely does not see Haruka and Mika as a burden.

Even someone as dense as I am can see from how Hazuki-san treats Haruka and Mika that she's happy to take care of them.

"Haruka."

No matter what the reason behind Hazuki-san's actions is, I still have to tell Haruka what I think.

Squeak---

The automatic door of the bridal store suddenly opened in front of us.

"--Hmm?"

A young woman about Ruko and Yukari-san's age came out of the store.

"Hmm, are the two of you interested in anything from our store?"

She seems to be one of the employees of the store, as she gave us a professional smile while she asked us a question.

"Ah, no."

"Um,Umm......"

"The two of you look like you're thinking about something important--Hmm, I understand."

The employee looked us before looking at the shop window as she smiled......I have a bad feeling about this.

"Hey girlfriend, would you like to try that on?" (The original raw used the word 'kanojo', which would mean 'girlfriend' or 'she', the latter of which is definitely not the meaning in this instance. Even though Haruka doesn't really react in a way that we'll expect if someone calls her Yuuto's girlfriend, but because the employee uses 'kareshi' when referring to Yuuto later in this passage, something that almost exclusively means 'boyfriend', I'll use 'girlfriend' her to provide a sense of continuity.)

"Eh?"

The shop employee pointed to the glittering white bridal gown in the shop window.

"You're really cute, so I think you'll look really good in that."

"E,Eh? Umm, well."

Haruka blinked in confusion at the sudden suggestion.

"B,But, that's a display dress......"

"Just treat it as a special service. Not like there'll be anyone who'll stop by to look at the shop window of a bridal store on such a hot day anyway."

She just said something really unprofessional.

For an employee of a bridal shop, she really shouldn't have said something like that.

"Well, that's how it is. Why don't the two of you come in?"

"Eh, eh?"

"Come on, you too, boyfriend."

"N,No, we're just......"

Because Hazuki-san could still be inside, we would probably run straight into her if we were to go into the store like this. I tried to resist the shop employee's advances, but--

"Come on, young people shouldn't think so much about such things. Because big sister here says so, it'll be fine, listen to the adult!"

And so, Haruka and I were dragged into the bridal shop like how a drunk man gets dragged into an exhorbitantly priced bar.

There was a very elegant feel about the interior of the shop.

The first floor of the shop was used as a display space for their bridal gowns, all of which were bathed in a warm light. Soft classical music was also playing, which added to the elegant atmosphere of the shop.

"Ah, this is Mendelssohn's 'Wedding March'."

"Ah, it's rare to find a young person who understand music nowadays."

Haruka beamed at the praise given by the shop employee.

Looking around, I didn't see any signs of Hazuki-san, nor did I see the mysterious man who was with her.

It seems like we're safe for the moment.

Of the three levels of the shop, it looks like the first floor is the display floor, while the second floor is for discussion of the finer points of a wedding--probably what they call the bridal counter, so Hazuki-san could be there. Wherever Hazuki-san is, we have to keep out of her sight......

"Well then, girlfriend, that's the changing room. As for the more difficult parts of the gown......Hmm, Tanaka-san."

"Ah, yes?"

Another female employee, who was wiping one of the display cases (short hair with glasses), immediately stopped what she was doing and came over.

"What do you want me to do?"

"I'm sorry to interrupt you, but would you mind helping that girl to change into a gown? I'll leave the finer points of dressing her up to you."

"Sure, boss."

The cheerful shop employee was actually the boss of the bridal shop.

"Ah, she's really pretty. That's the kind of person I want to serve. --Gulp--"

"P,Please take care of me......"

Haruka was ushered into the changing room with a slightly nervous expression on her face as the bespectacled shop employee had a strange smile on her lips.

"Since we're here already, boyfriend, how about you change into a tuxedo? I remember seeing one in the storeroom-"

"Eh, me too?"

"That's right. What's the point of your girlfriend wearing a wedding dress if you're not wearing something to match her? A bride needs a bridegroom."

"A, bridegroom......"

"Hmm? Yes, a bridegroom. Or if you would have it, Hanamuko-san. Of course, that doesn't refer to the tiredness of your heart." (TL Note: Japanese wordplay, probably on something that has a similar pronounciation of 'hanamuko'. Don't bother asking me, I don't get it either -_-)

"That's not the point......"

The point is, how did we end up trying on bridal wear?

As I struggled to make sense of what was going on, the shop employee--no, the shop owner, whispered to me.

(I don't really understand what's going on, but I guess you guys were having an argument? Ah--, you don't have to explain it to me. Nothing else can make a couple talk to each other with such serious expressions. Which is why I wanted to give you guys a chance to make up)

(......)

(I just broke up with my boyfriend last month-So I couldn't bear to see the two of you go down the same path......Even though I may be overextending myself here)

The shop owner smiled a little sadly.

In any case, she seems like a nice person, although her guess couldn't be any further away from the truth.

"Well then, come over here. I'm sorry, but because we only have one changing room, so you'll have to change here. You be alright by yourself right?"

The shop owner said as she led me into the storeroom. Why are Haruka and I treated so differently?......I oppose gender inequality.

And so, I changed into the tuxedo that the shop owner passed me, surrounded by legless mannequins and wedding albums so old, the bride looks like she's crying. On the brighter side, the tuxedo seems to be made of rather high quality material, and she even gave me a white butterfly neck-tie to go along with the tuxedo. To be honest, this is my first time wearing something like this.

"Oh, boyfriend, this really suits you-"

The shop owner clapped and moved towards me as I walked back into the display area.

There was stil no sign of Haruka and the bespectacled shop employee. The shop owner was the only person at the display area. Even though Haruka went in quite a while before I went to change......

"A girl needs time to dress up. Because your girlfriend is so pretty, our make-up expert will finally be able show off her technique."

The shop owner explained to me as she read my mind.

"Well, it's like that, so why don't you have a cup of tea while waiting."

While waiting, I chatted with the shop owner ('So how far have the two of you progressed?' 'No comment' 'Hand-holding?' 'No comment' 'Kissing? Or maybe even further than that? Fufufu'

'......' For some reason, I feel as though I've heard these sexually harrassing questions somewhere before......) for about ten minutes.

"Boss, we're done."

The bespectacled shop employee came out of the changing room first with an extremely satisfied expression on her face. 'Ah, that was a valuable experience. Silky smooth skin, soft hair, long eyelashes, and a nice body......Even models aren't as perfect as her-"

"I know, right? She's definitely a rank S"

"She's easily a five-star. The type where people would want to put bring her back home to decorate their house like a doll."

The shop owner started to ramble into dangerous territory.

"Well then, I think we can stop talking already. Tanaka-san, please invite the princess out for us."

"No problem. Everyone, please hold your breath in anticipation."

Under the shop owner's orders, the bespectacled shop employee called out to the changing room.

Even though she said everyone, there are only three people here......And speaking of which, there hasn't been a single customer since Haruka and I walked in......I'm not exactly in the position to say this, but can this store survive like this?

"Let us begin. 3. 2. 1......"

The bespectacled shop employee pulled open the curtain of the changing room with an 'oomph', revealing the person behind the curtain--

"Ah,Yuu,Yuuto-san......"

"......"

I was lost for words at the sight of Haruka in a wedding gown.

A white veil that was pure as snow covered Haruka in her white wedding dress.

Well---How do I put it. This was the most beautiful thing I have ever seen.

Haruka's skin tone matched the pure white of her wedding dress perfectly, while her long hair flowed down together with the veil on her head-- Although Haruka also looks extremely pretty in her normal clothes and that evening gown that I had seen a while back, but this was something different. Right now, Haruka was so beautiful, it's as if she's cheating by using a flying machine when everyone else can only walk.

I have no idea what the last part of what I have just said meant either, but anyway, the point is that right now, Haruka is the most beautiful girl on earth.

"Come on, don't look at each other like Romeo and Juliet, go stand next to each other."

"Uh."

"Ah."

The shop owner ushered the two of us to the corner of the shop where the photography equipment was set up.

"Fyuu--You two look really suited for each other."

"......"

"......"

We wisely kept our mouths shut. Probably because of how the shop owner thinks that we're a couple, but the moment I think of how Haruka standing next to me in a wedding dress, my heart started to pump as hard as frog who's getting electrocuted. And beside me, Haruka's face beet-red for the second time today as she nervously peeked at me while saying in a voice as soft as that of a newborn deer.

"Ah, Yuuto-san, this tuxedo really suits you. You look really good in it."

"Th,Thank you. Haruka too......You look......really beautiful."

"Th,Thank you very much"

"N,No problem."

"......"

"......"

......And that was where our conversation ended.

"Hmm--It's nice to be young--I can see the coming of spring-"

"You're right, I'm so jealous."

The shop owner and her employed smiled at each other as they looked at the two of us (both of them were probably in their twenties). If you have the energy to talk about Haruka and I, then why don't you come and ease the awkward atmosphere.

"Well then, please stand over here for the photo."

"Photo?"

Why does she want to take a photo so suddenly?

"That's right. It's not everyday that the two of you will be dressed up like this, so it'll a waste if we don't capture it on film right? Rather than a photo souvenir......Perhaps it's more of the blueprint of the future?"

Once again, the shop owner said something bombastic to the two of us.

"B-B-B-B-B-Blueprint of the future?"

Haruka's voice suddenly jumped up two whole octaves.

"By that, d,do you mean, o,our, future?"

Haruka waved her hands about in the air hurriedly.

From an objective perspective, she was right. Looking at the two of us (Tuxedo & Wedding dress) like this right now could be a reflection of how we will be standing next to each other (Tuxedo & Wedding dress) in the future, and for a man and a woman to stand beside each other like this (Tuxedo & Wedding dress) can only mean one special thing. In other words--

"......"

"......"

Looking at each other, Haruka and I didn't know what to say.

"Ah--, the two of you are really cute. I can feel the energy of youth, good job!"

The very person who made us lapse into such an awkward silence happily gave us a thumbs up......Ah, I finally remembered why the way the shop owner asks her sexual harrassment questions seem so familiar to me, it's because she's a lot like Yukari-san. Not that she looks like Yukari-san, but that they have similar personalities.

"Look here, and smile towards the camera. Hmm, why are your smiles so unnatural......I've got it, boyfriend, put your arm around your girlfriend."

"......H,Huh?"

Yet again, the shop owner bombarded the two of us with another of her random requests.

"Ah, now the two of you look like newlyweds. Girlfriend, you can hug your boyfriend if you want to, don't mind us!"

The shop owner continued to make irresponsible, morally-questionable requests of the two of us. And we're not newlyweds!

"Come on, hurry up. We're already ready on our side."

The shop owner tried to hurry us along. Ugh, what should I do, should I just listen to the shop owner and put my arm around Haruka? But sudden request aside, I'm still rather hesitant about doing something like this......

What should I do? I felt like a chimpanzee looking at a banana suspended on a rope in front of it when Haruka turned to look at me, her face the shade of a fresh red apple, before saying in a hesitant voice.

"Umm, hugging is a little too......much--B,But......"

"Eh......"

"But, I, I don't really mind it i--, if it's like this......"

Haruka said as she linked her right arm with my left arm.

"......"

Along with the Haruka's soft scent, I felt an unprecedented weight on my arm. C,Could this be......!? My face burned as though I was eating hotpot udon in summer--

-Snap!-

Suddenly, my field of vision was blinded by a flash.

"Ah, nice angle! I like the sense of distance between the two of you, brings our the innocence in your relationship!"

-Snap!- -Snap!-

For a while, the satisfied mumblings of the shop owner and the camera shutter were the only sounds in the shop.

"This is really good~I think it'll be good to choose one and use it as an advertisement for the shop."

"That's a good idea. We'll get a lot more customers that way."

"Or perhaps we should print out the pictures and sell them at 500 yen apiece?"

"Maybe 800 yen would be a better price?"

Such a discussion continued for another fifteen minutes.

--And so, the photography session ended with both Haruka and me trying to make sense of what was going on.

"Here, this are your copies of the photos-"

After the two of us had changed back into our original clothes, the shop owner gave us one copy of the best photo each.

"The quality isn't as high as I would have liked it, since we used a polariod to take the pictures. It'll take a while to get the high quality copies out, so come and collect them another day alright."

The shop owner offered with a happy smile on her face as we returned the tuxedo and the wedding dress that we had borrowed.

"Umm, thank you for taking care of us."

Haruka bowed deeply.

"It was nothing. I enjoyed myself too."

"It was a meaningful experience-"

She was right in a way, as I noticed that both the shop owner and her employee seemed to be much more energetic than when we first entered the shop.

"Well then, we'll take our leave. Thank you very much."

"......Thank you very much."

The two of us thanked the shop owner and her employee as we made our way out of the shop.

"Ah, right, girlfriend."

The shop owner called out to Haruka.

"Yes?"

"This is for you."

"Mm? Ah-"

The shop owner said as she threw the white bouquet of flowers that Haruka had been holding on to just now over.

Haruka's eyes widened in surprise.

"Umm, can I really have this? This is such an important thing--"

"Just take it as a souvenir. But the main point is,"

The shop owner winked at the two of us as she said.

"If the two of you really become like 'that' in the future, do come to 'Fortune Times Wedding Shop' for all your wedding needs! We'll give you the vip service~"

After we bid goodbye to the smiling shop owner of 'Fortune Times', we hear a familiarly energetic voice from across the street.

"Ah, the two of you are really here. O~i, Onee-chan, Onii-chan! Here~Here~!"

"Mika, Nanami-san."

"Ah~We finally caught up. That was really tiring~......"

Mika sat down onto the ground like a tired panda.

"Mika, are you alright?"

"Ah, yes, I'm completely fine. The crowd dragged me along for about a hundred metres before I finally managed to get onto the sidewalk. Then just as I was resting, a few strange and irritating people came up to hit on me, so I knocked out one of them with a drop-kick. In the end, they called about ten of their friends over, and were shouting something stupid, along the lines of 'We'll teach you how to respect your elders' just as Nanami-san caught up and knocked all of them out."

"......"

"Ah, it only took her about six seconds to knock all of them out."

"......"

That's not the problem.

And that is nowhere near 'completely fine', rather, it should be something like ' ah, that was extremely close'. This girl really knows how to stir up trouble......

"Hmm? What's wrong, Onii-chan, why do you look so tired?"

Mika gave me a confused expression as she slanted her head to one side like a little bird. Even though Mika's personality was the complete opposite of her sister, but her denseness in such situations was exactly the same as her older sister.

"Haa......"

Well, no point talking about something that is already over.

More importantly,

"Speaking of which, I'm surprised that the two of you managed to find us, since we were so far apart."

"Mm~I have no idea how we found you either. I just followed the direction that Nanami-san was leading me in, and there you were."

"......Nanami-san?"

"Yes. But she didn't tell me how she knew your position."

"......"

"......"

"Ufufu~"

Nanami-san didn't say anything as she looked at us with her eyes half-open. I'm quite sure she'll give me the 'This is a corporate secret~' treatment if I asked her about it......Could it be that all of us have some kind of hidden tracking device (probably GPS too) on us? I have full confidence in Nanami-san's ability to act dumb about whether we have a tracking device on us.

"Ah, what's that?"

Mika's looked at the photograph (Tuxedo & Wedding Dress) and the bouquet of flowers that Haruka was holding and asked.

"Ah, eh, this is......"

"Could it be a clue? Is this the photo of the defining moment of Hazuki-san's troubles? Let me see it!"

"Ah"

Mika practically snatched the photo out of Haruka's hands.

"Let's have a good look at this--"

But the moment she looekd at the photo, Mika gave Haruka a suspicious look.

"............Onee-chan, what were the two of you doing? Weren't you supposed to be following Hazuki-san?"

"N,No, this is..."

"U,Umm......"

How should we explain this? Although it is kind of related to our main mission of following Hazuki-san, but objectively, there really wasn't anything that could connect the contents of the photo to our main mission.

"......Well, at least Onii-san, has taken a huge step towards becoming Onii-san, so it was time well spent." (TL Note: The two Onii-san's are written in different kanji, so while the first one is how Mika has always called Yuuto, the second one literally means 'brother-in-law'. The next 'Onii-san' in this passage also means 'brother-in-law')Mika shrugged her shoulders in an exaggerated fashion as she smiled deviously. Although she said 'Onii-san' twice, but we all know what the second one was referring to, and even though I wanted to tell her that she was wrong, I couldn't, as she had proof (the photo) on her hands. Ugh......

"Fufufu, Onii-san~"

"Looks like I'll be looking after Yuuto-sama as well in the future~"

And so, Mika (with Nanami-san) continued to tease the two of us for a while.

"--So, have the two of you find out anything about Hazuki-san?"

"Eh......"

"About that......"

Haruka turned to look at me in response to Mika's question. Although we couldn't say that we had found something definite, but at least we found some clues that could potentially help us.

Haruka nodded softly.

"......It's alright, I think we're on to something."

"I,Is that so?"

Mika's eyes widened as she looked at the two of us with a surprised expression. Looks like she hadn't expected us to actually find out something useful.......But then again, after seeing that photo (Tuxedo & Wedding Dress), no normal person would continue to hold any expectations of our abilities.

"Yes, in fact......"

"Ah, everyone, please hide yourselves~"

At that moment, Nanami-san suddenly whispered urgently as she pointed behind us,

"Hazuki-san's over there~"

"Eh?"

Just as we turned around, we saw the head maid-san walk out of the automatic door of 'Fortune Tales Wedding Shop'. She was alone, as the mysterious man we had seen before was nowhere to be seen.

We hurriedly attempted to hide ourselves behind something.

Luckily, Hazuki-san didn't seem to notice us, as she disappeared into the crowd once again.

"So the two of you were following after Hazuki-san after all, Onii-san."

"Y, Yes, we were."

We were merely a little distracted by the sudden change in plans (Forceful persuasion --> Tuxedo & Wedding Dress --> Photograph-taking session).......Fine, maybe more than a little distracted.

"Hmm~Looks like Hazuki-san is going home."

"She's walking in the direction of the train station, so she might not neccessarily be going back."

From what I could gather about the current situation, the visit to 'Fortune Tales' was probably Hazuki-san's last destination for the day. Which is why she should be returning home now.

In other words, our little operation has come to an end.

"Well then, Haruka, we should also--"

"......Let's go back too."

Haruka mumbled before I finished my sentence, looking as though she had just made the most important decision of her life. What's wrong?

"Haruka?"

"Onee-chan?"

"Haruka-sama?"

The three of us looked at Haruka as she continued.

"I have something that I have to say to Hazuki-san. And we have to tell her in person......"

"......What does everyone want to talk to me about?"

Hazuki-san looked at our faces with a surprised expression.

We were in Haruka's room.

After seeing that Hazuki-san was heading home, we immediately headed back to the Nogizaka residence to call Hazuki-san, who was supervising the work in the kitchen, to Haruka's room. Although the head maid-san was very concerned about the beef stroganoff and borscht (tonight's dinner), she decided answer Haruka's call in the end.

And so, at this moment, Me, Haruka, Mika and Nanami-san had surrounded Hazuki-san in Haruka's room.

"Umm......"

Haruka sliced through the awkward atmosphere.

"Hazuki-san......have you been worried about something recently?"

Hazuki-san seemed a little surprised by Haruka's question.

"......Why would you say something like that?"

"I'm correct, am I not?"

"......"

Although Hazuki-san didn't answer Haruka's question, but her facial expression had told us all that we needed to know.

"Hazuki-san, you could have talked to us if you had any problems, so why are you so reserved around us?"

Mika said unhappily.

".......No, I don't mean it that way."

Hazuki-san replied.

"It's not something that important--"

"It is something that important!"

Haruka's voice rang out loudly, something that has almost never happened before.

"How can that not be something important? I think that it should be the most important to Hazuki-san, which is why I don't want you to dismiss it like this."

Haruka suddenly took a step forward. (TL Note: The original raw actually says something along the lines of 'Haruka stuck out her upper body', which sounds really weird in english, so I changed it.)

Although Hazuki-san was a little taken back by Haruka's aggressive hamster-like action, she still replied calmly.

"It is something very important to me......But if you were to look at it objectively--"

"I don't care about the objective perspective. If it's an important thing to Hazuki-san, then it's definitely an important thing to me."

"Haruka-sama......"

Hazuki-san blinked in confusion.

"Which is why, as long as that's what you wish to do, we will support your decision. Even if it means that Hazuki-san will become somebody else......I still want Hazuki-san to move forward without regret......"

Haruka started tearing up as she got more emotional towards the end of the sentence.

"--I feel the same way as Onee-chan."

Looking at the tears rolling about in her older sister's eyes, Mika said that with an extremely serious expression.

"Hazuki-san, I want you to do what you want to do. We may still be children in your eyes, but we can take care of ourselves. We......We don't want to hold you back, Hazuki-san."

"Mika-sama......"

On our way back, I had updated Mika on what we had found out.

Although she was surprised when I told her about Hazuki-san looking at the wedding dress, about how she went into the wedding shop with that mysterious man, Mika seemed to have accepted it rather quickly.

"I see......Hazuki-san wants to get married. But because of us......"

Mika came to the exact same conclusion as Haruka. Mika looked down onto the ground with a lonely expression that I have not seen before.

"Please don't mind us, Hazuki-san. Just do whatever you want to do. Because it is Hazuki-san's decision, we will support you."

"Sob......This is also my request."

"My ladies......"

Hazuki-san had an extremely confused expression on her face as she looked at the half-crying sisters in front of her.

"......I understand."

Hazuki-san nodded softly.

"Indeed, I was having a hard time making up my mind......But after hearing your words, I think I am able to make a decision. I will choose the path that I want to walk, and that'll be the right path, right?"

"Ha,Hazuki-san......"

Haruka took a step towards Hazuki-san, as her eyes threatened to overflow with tears.

"-Sob- Ha,Hazuki-san, I have something that I want to give you."

"For me? What is it?"

"Y,Yes--It may not be much, but I would like you to have it. -sob-"

Haruka said to Hazuki-san as she passed her the bouquet of flowers that she had gotten from the bridal shop owner.

"This is......"

"Yes, it's a bouquet of flowers. If you don't mind, I would be very happy if you were to use it for your ceremony......"

"Ceremony......"

"Yes, ceremony."

Haruka sobbed loudly.

However, Hazuki-san feel silent for five full seconds, her face expressionless as usual, before tilting her head to one side.

"Pardon me......But what ceremony are you talking about?"

What Hazuki-san just said shocked every single person around her.

"I don't remember any ceremonies that will be held in the near future......"

"Ceremony? No, we're talking about the wedding ceremony......"

"Wedding ceremony? Who's getting married?"

"Hazuki-san, aren't you the one......"

"Huh? Me......?"

Hazuki-san's responses were full of question marks.

......It seems like we're on completely different wavelengths.

"B,But Hazuki-san, didn't you go into that bridal shop earlier today......"

"Bridal shop......?"

"Y,Yes, with that gentleman......"

"......"

Hazuki-san looked as though she had just heard the most unbelievable thing in the entire world.

"......I'm sorry. But I don't remember that--"

"E,Eh, but......?"

Haruka looked at me desperately.

Even though Hazuki-san says that she doesn't remember anything like that, but Haruka and I did see her go into the shop......

"I don't know why the two of you are saying something like that, but......The only places that I have been to today was the handmade soft toy shop, the pet display shop, a few others, and the metal-works shop......"

There was something that didn't add up.

"The metal-works shop?"

Did she go into that kind of shop? I looked at Haruka, and she shook her head in agreement to what I was thinking.

"Yes, the metal-works shop. I had some personal business there......But I did not go to a bridal shop today."

From the way Hazuki-san responded to our questions with such certainty, I don't think she was lying.

"B,But, Hazuki-san, then why did you go into 'Fortune Times'......?"

"Fortune Times?"

"Y,Yes."

"......"

At the mention of that name, Hazuki-san looked as though she suddenly remembered something.

"......Could that be the shop that took up the first two floors of a three-storey building?"

"R,Right, that's the one, but......"

"......Now I see where you're coming from."

In stark contrast to the rest of us, Hazuki-san looked like she knew everything.

"Haruka-sama, you and the others seem to have gotten my destination wrong. The metal-works store is one the third floor of the building where 'Fortune Times' is housed in......Because of the design of the building, the two shops share a common entrance."

"......"

"......"

Now that she mentioned it, I do seem to remember seeing a sign that read '3F - Metal-works Speciality Store Heaven's Door' in the building......

"B,But, you were sighing as you looked at the bridal dress in the shop window......"

"That was probably when I was looking at one of the photo albums in the shop window. The Chihuahua that was at the feet of the bride was too cute, so I--"

"T,Then, what about that gentleman? The one you went into the shop together with......"

"That gentleman is the owner of the metal-works store. We just happened to meet in front of the store, so we went up together."

Hazuki-san answered all our questions without much effort.

"......"

"......"

"......In other words."

"We've been wrong all this time--"

Exactly.

"Onee-chan, Onii-chan......"

"Arararara~"

Mika and Nanami-san suddenly looked at Haruka and I with sharp gazes.

"I,I,I,I,I'm sorry! I just assumed that Hazuki-san was......"

"No, I was the one who jumped to conclusions......"

We both bowed our heads apologetically. Ugh, this is so embarrassing. And this is really insensitive to Hazuki-san as well. Apologising is the only thing we can do right now.

Instead, Hazuki-san said to the two of us who had our heads bowed,

"......Thank you very much."

Hazuki-san had a kind smile on her face as she said that. Why did she say something like that?

"Please raise your heads. Your feelings......are enough for me."

"Ha,Hazuki-san......"

"Haruka-sama said those things only because you were thinking of me right? I'm very happy.--Mika-sama and Yuuto-sama too, thank you very much."

"B,But......"

Hazuki-san silenced Haruka with one finger before she could say anything.

"It's alright. And more importantly, please do not cry. I'll feel sad too if Haruka-sama cries like this. Because.....nothing in this world makes me happier than the smiles of my ladies."

"Ha,Hazuki-san, Hazuki-san......"

Tears streaming down her cheeks, Haruka rushed into Hazuki-san's arms like a bull rushing at a bullfighter at Spain's San Fermin festival.

Hazuki-san looked at Haruka kindly, like how a mother would look at her daughter, or how an elder sister would look at her younger sister.

If she looked at Hazuki-san now, Haruka would also surely understand.

Hazuki-san doesn't think of Haruka and Mika as a burden, or as an obstacle to her happiness.

"Uuu......This is so touching~......"

I looked at Nanami-san, and saw her wiping the corners of her eyes with a handkerchief.

And just like that, the furor revolving around Hazuki-san ended.

On a side note, sometime after that incident, I asked Hazuki-san about what she was fretting over.

"......My beloved chainsaw didn't seem to be as sharp as before."

For some reason, Hazuki-san seemed to be a little embarrassed to be talking about her chainsaw like that......And speaking of a chainsaw, could she be talking about that weapon from hell that I saw the last time?

"The problem seemed to be that one part of the blade had chipped off, so I went to replace it at the metal-works store that day. The problem was, there were two choices......One was the cheap, multi-purpose stainless steel blade, but it was very sharp. The other option was the expensive Damascus steel that could slice through most things like a knife through hot butter, and also looked really good. I couldn't make up my mind about which to choose, but after hearing what the two ladies said, I finally decided to choose the Damascus steel."

"......"

Can a legendary metal like Damascus steel be used as a chainsaw blade? And also, I really don't think that a chainsaw with wood carvings on its blade would look nice. (TL Note: Swords forged with Damascus steel is characterized by distinctive patterns of banding and mottling reminiscent of flowing water.)

......We really are on completely different wavelengths aren't we.

I thought to myself on a hot summer day.

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