OreShura: Volume 4 Chapter 1

Chapter 1 Summer Training Meeting is Mayhem

After the ｢New Childhood Friend · Found｣ incident came to an end, Masuzu wrapped a white cloth over her uniform.

This was the signal of the start of club activities.

"Because Fuyuumi Ai-san has joined our club, the ｢Society for Bringing Out Your Maiden Self｣ now finally has five members, and hereforth we we will be recognized as an official club."

"I already prepared the application for us."

Fuyuumi immediately placed the application on the table. That very thoughtful preparation. She must have been really motivated.

"Akishino-san, please sign the space that you'll take responsibility as secretary."

"I understand."

Hime nodded with some esteem, and immediately started writing. Her handwriting was very beautiful, and also very confident. Perhaps she had practiced calligraphy or penmanship before. If so, it really suited Hime's image.

"As the first move of the ｢New · Maidens New｣, I would like to revisit the plans for this summer's club activities."

Masuzu rotated the whiteboard, and pointed her finger at the backside that had been hidden.

Society for Bringing Out Your Maiden Self · Regarding a Summer Training Trip

"Wow."

"Not bad."

Hime and Fuyuumi reacted enthusiastically. It seemed like they were very interested.

I originally thought Chiwa would be the same, but I never expected she would have her head down in silence. She was probably still caught up on the incident from earlier.

And I—could only sigh.

Summer vacation was such a rare occasion, why did I have to spend it with these people? No kidding.

"Ah—you can count me out. Summer cram school also starts tomorrow, so I'll be busy."

At this time, Fuyuumi who attended the the same cram school as me tilted her head and said:

"Next week is when vacation starts, right? If we have a week's worth of vacation, it shouldn't be problem to spend two or three nights at summer training camp."

"Whuu—"

Damn, so talkative!

"I see. So lets arrange the summer training camp then."

The marker squeaked as Masuzu used it to jot down the schedule on the whiteboard..

"Where should we go? The seaside? The mountains?"

"The seaside!"

Hime exclaimed loudly, which was very strange.

"It's because I've never seen the sea, so the seaside is good."

Masuzu smiled and nodded:

"Then, this time the summer training camp will be our maiden voyage."

"Maiden voyage doesn't mean that......"

That being said, isn't it surpassing that she said she's ｢never seen the sea｣? Was I the only person who didn't know that people like that were relatively commonplace?

"Hey, Hime. When you say you've ｢never seen the sea｣, do you actually mean you've ｢never been there｣?"

"Correct. As a result, I've usually watch movies on the Internet, and the wallpaper for my PC is the beach at Ouvea island."

"Oh—"

Although I didn't know where this Ouvea island was, it seemed like Hime really expressed deep feelings towards the sea.

"This time, we'll have to make do with Funase. After all, there's no way we go to New Caledonia."

"Ahh, so Ouvea Island was actually there? That's really far away."

From this point of view, it only takes an hour tram ride to reach the Funase coast, so it would be the obvious choice.

—Hey! W-Wait! If this keeps on going, they'll finish the travel plans.

"O-Oh yeah, Fuuyumi! Isn't Michel going to come back from Tokyo? Before, you said that you arranged dates with him so you'd be very busy, right?"

"Ahh, it looks like he'll have to stay in Tokyo for a while longer. It seems there's something he absolutely can't miss no matter what."

"Something he absolutely can't miss?"

"He said there's this television station that's going to re-broadcast his favorite anime."

"Michel——!"

So this hot college guy was actually an otaku!?

That being said, could you actually bear it if he said anime was more important than his girlfriend, A-chan?! You have no problem making your fictional boyfriend like that?

"It's too bad. I heard it's not being broadcast here."

"......"

The important thing isn't that—?

Then I guess I'll change my direction of attack.

"But Masuzu, how will we manage the budget? A trip to the beach plus accommodations and travel costs, must be at least twenty thousand yen per person."

"Well, since we've become an official club, we'll have club funds that we'll be able to allocate. Right, Fuyuumi-san?"

Masuzu looked at Fuyuumi with eyes full of anticipation, but—

"It's not possible to obtain funds immediately. We must apply and pass the student council budget committee review before it's okay."

"Then let's pass it."

"But the budget committee doesn't meet until next semester?"

"Oh……"

Masuzu's expression looked sullen, but I had a big smile on my face. Great, I'm in luck!

Even better, the two o'clock bell just happened to ring, which was the perfect time to end school. Classes on the first day back ended at noon, so the school closing time was earlier than usual.

"Well then, we'll settle this thing about a training trip later!"

I put my bag over my shoulder and stood up. In short, I wanted to delay this matter, and leave the entire question unsettled.

"No, we have to reach a conclusion today."

It seemed like Masuzu had seen through my strategy, and spoken.

"We're going to Eita-kun's house."

"Ah?"

"We're going to continue our meeting at Eita-kun's house."

Hime and Fuyuumi's eyes glimmered as they leaned forward:

"We can go to Eita's house? We can go?"

"R-Right! I also want to make a decision today, so in that case there's no choice!"

"......Hey wait......"

These two girls seemed more excited than when the training trip was mentioned.

Masuzu took off the white cloth and packed it into her bag:

"Since it's agreed, then let's immediately be on our way."

"I said wait! Don't ignore me, the host, and make a decision on your own!"

"Oh dear, since it's Eita-kun's house, isn't it also considered my house? The boyfriend's house is the girlfriend's house. The girlfriend's house is still the girlfriend's house."

"I don't get it!"

The situation was beginning to move forward in directions I didn't anticipate.

These girls actually wanted to come to my house together. I only had bad feelings about this.

♦

So like that, I took this group of girls who claimed to be · maidens home.

When we passed the children's playground, a lady who brought her child watched as we proceeded one by one. ｢Isn't that Eita from the Kidou's family?｣ ｢Oh dear, he's even bringing four cute girls with him!｣ ｢So incredible!｣ ｢Considering how in middle school he was like that…｣ Wait a minute, Aunt Tanaka. Second, what is that you're talking about? What that?!

"So Eita's castle in this world also protects this territory within it's spiritual boundary? I'm very interested."

"Eita-kun's room really makes one full of anticipation, hehe, especially under the bed….. right?"

"If Kidou-kun says he wants anything, I'll h-help you make dinner."

Each of those three seemed to look forward to ｢something｣, and Masuzu's looked especially terrible.

Only Chiwa alone stared at her feet while walking with heavy footsteps. Normally she was the noisiest of all of them, but today she seemed to not have any energy ever since we were in the club room.

I pulled on Chiwa's arm, and led us slightly away from the other three.

"What's wrong? Are you okay?"

"W-what?"

"Do you not have energy? You shouldn't be hungry yet."

Chiwa smiled weakly and scratched her head.

"I really can't compare with Ei-kun. How did you know?"

"Of course I knew, we've known each for so many years."

Chiwa raised her head and looked at me, and eyes slowly watering up with tears.

She threw her entire body against me and hugged:

"Wuahhhhhhhhh! Ei-kun——————! Ei-kun Ei-kun! Ei-kun Ei-kun!"

"Q-quiet! What would we do if the others saw us?"

I hurriedly tried to cover Chiwa's mouth as I glanced to the three of them who still walked in the distance—phew, they didn't notice. They were probably still really excited about the ｢pornography in my room｣, so why would they be distracted by anything else?

Chiwa hugged me, and buried her face against my chest. Her nose spasmed uncontrollably with sniffles.

"Why? Why is Ai earlier than me? Why aren't I the first one?"

Good grief, she was like this because of that?

"There's no reason for you to be so fixated on that. After all, the earlier childhood friend isn't necessarily the one who wins."

Chiwa's swaying body made a motion like a ｢baby shaking its head｣:

"But Ei-kun's childhood friend is me! I'm obviously the only one!"

"What are you talking about? Even for you, didn't you have other friends when you were little?"

"Yeah, for example, Yoshini-chan who moved to Hokkaido, or Saki-chan who left to 菲伏涅 Middle School."

"You see? I'm the same. Fuyuumi just happened to be one among them, right?"

Chiwa gave a ｢wuah~｣ sound and lowered her head.

"Also, when we're talking about childhood friends, shouldn't we consider the time period?"

"Time period?"

"That is, the ｢length｣ of the time two people have spent together. If the know early we met someone mattered, then wouldn't the obstetrician at the birth clinic have the strongest relationship? This can't be correct, right?"

Chiwa raised her head, and stared at me with wide teary eyes just like a Chihuahua.

"The person who's been with Ei-kun the longest is me?"

"Yeah, it's you by far."

Chiwa's formerly very upset expression brightened like a blooming flower.

"............Heyyy ♪"

Chiwa jumped onto and hugged my back, forcing me to carry her.

"H-Hey, Chiwa come down! This is really embarrassing!"

"B-B-B-but, but, the person who has been with me the longest is Ei-kun!"

Chiwa's ribbon pattered as they hit my face. It seems like she was rubbing her face against my back. The lady nearby began to whisper again: ｢The feeling from the old days is better.｣ ｢When they get married, the wife will definitely be the one running the household.｣ ｢I think he'll get ridden on his head by his wife all the time, and have to make a living off of a ten thousand yen allowance｣. The fourth thing, Mrs. Suzki, please do not predict my future.

"Shouldn't you get down by now?!"

Just as at yelled, Chiwa nimbly jumped off my back nearly at the same time.

I looked back over my shoulder, and found Chiwa with her skirt fluttering and wearing a special smile.

"Ei-kun, I love you!"

After she made this shocking confession of love, she ran ahead to to the front where Summer, Autumn, and Winter were walking.

"Sure……"

I love you, yeah.

Ever since we were small, how many times has it been?

Each time a shared a snack with her, made a hamburger steak, and things like that, she'd always confess—if I counted it up, it should be a three-digit number by now.

"Really—everyone. You guys are too excited, we're just going to Ei-kun's house—I go over every day so I'm tired of it already—we have to eat dinner today too—"

Chiwa arrogantly put out an attitude not that of a former, but present ｢childhood friend｣. It looked like she was completely recovered to her usual self. On the other hand, Fuyuumi looked as is she tasted something very unpleasant. You could call this a trade-off of sorts.

When we arrived in front of my house, we saw tall woman walk over from the other side.

She was wearing a white shirt with jeans, dressed casually, and swaying unsteadily as she walked!

Lack of sleep, coupled with eyes you could barely tell were open or closed—it's impossible to be mistaken.

"Aunt Saeko, welcome home!"

"Hey, Eita, I should be welcoming you home!"

I ran near her, and Saeko-san smiled, revealing her white teeth.

This was my aunt, Kiryuu Saeko-san.

For me, as someone abandoned by their parents, she had taken the role as my guardian. She usually slept over at her company because of work, so we typically see each other only once every ten days.

"Ah—Saeko-san! Hello!"

"Hey Chihuahua-chan, how are you?! You look very energetic as usual."

Chiwa rushed over and greeted Saeko-san, and the other three followed suit.

"I heard about you guys. You're the ｢Society for Bringing Out Your Something Something｣, right? I am Kiryuu Saeko, Eita's onee-san! Doki-Doki!"

"Wuah—"

So cold—even though she was my guardian, she was so cold—

Probably perceiving everyone's subtle expressions, Saeko-san laughed out load:

"It was a just a funny introduction! Actually, I'm Eita's aunt."

"That kind of introduction is unnecessary now......"

Well, she did seem to look younger than her age. If her appearance or her personality was considered, no one would think she was someone in her thirties.

"Well, which one of these girls is Eita's girlfriend?"

My childhood friend, ex-girlfriend, and fiancé's expressions all froze and went ｢pah｣!

Only my ｢girlfriend｣ revealed a rosy smile and stepped forward.

"Hello ma'am, this is our first time meeting. My name is Natsukawa Masuzu. Please take care of me. I am currently dating Eita-kun chastely."

Saeko-san smiled wryly and shook her head as soon as she heard her:

"No, no. The one I want to know about isn't this ｢fake｣ kind."

Masuzu and I simultaneously held our breath and looked at each other.

How?

How was Saeko-san able to notice this fake thing?

Saeko-san laughed, and used her finger with nail polish on it to poke my chest:

"Come on, tell me which girl is the one you really like?"

"H-Hey! I......"

Because it was too sudden, I couldn't answer aloud smoothly.

The girl I really liked? Since Saeko-san was the one who asked—did she mean it with regard to love? If that was the case, the answer would be ｢none of them｣. Not only was there not one one among the girls here, but there was not one who existed anywhere. There simply wasn't a girl that I liked.

However, if I said that out loud right here, it would completely destroy my arrangement as Masuzu's fake boyfriend, and it would cause all of our hard work to amount to ｢｣.

Of course, the other three girls did not remain silent.

"Ei-kun?"

Chiwa's wide eyes stared at me, and they looked as if they were anticipating something.

"Eita......?"

Hime grabbed my shirt, and pulled hard. Ah—Hime, you'll pull my shirt out of shape. Please don't pull.

"Stamp……?"

Of course the person who whispered this was Fuyuumi. And I certainly won't stamp it!

All who was left was, most critically, Masuzu—but she only used her eyes to stare at me.

This expression was very rare, as if they exposed Masuzu's ｢fragility｣.

Damn......

What's wrong, Natsukawa Masuzu? Isn't this the time when you're supposed to use your witty language abilities?

Why do you acting like an ordinary person who was just hurt?!

When you look at me with those kinds of eyes………..

I can only work hard, right?

"I don't know what you mean, Saeko-san."

"Ah?"

Even though my back was sweetly like mad, I still desperately declared at the love achievements Masuzu and I had.

"Masuzu and I really are going out, seriously and romantically. We always go home together, and we go to the cafe to drink tea, coffee, and coca cola….. then we always go home together."

"You go home after you finish drinking, that's all? Isn't it:"

"My god—I really couldn't stand it when Masuzu confessed to me! After all, it was in front of the entire class! I can't help but curse the gods! Hahahahaha!"

GIving a cold shoulder to love was this, right?

Is it just me, or does Masuzu look very disappointed in me……?

"—Eita, you missed the point."

My heart jumped a little bit.

What? W-Was there something strange I said?

"Eita, I—"

"Y-Yes!"

"I'm hungry."

"......Ah?"

My eyes turned into small dots.

"My belly, is, very, hungry, wuahh~ ~......"

Saeko-san leaned on me as she collapsed little by little.

Her face was pale, and her incessantly throbbed:

"Because of the continuous mayhem lately, I haven't slept, haven't eaten, haven't slept, haven't eaten……."

"Please say that kind of thing sooner!"

"Sorryyy~ I originally wanted to use the identity as Eita's sister to make a reputation, doki-doki."

"｢Doki-doki｣ is annoying! Think about how old you are!"

Honestly, this person.

She's my guardian but actually a weird person. She's a weird person but also also my guardian. And her name is Kiryuu Saeko-san.

---

Notes

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