We finished the one dance we agreed on, and as I was thinking about how fun that had been, my gaze clicked in place with someone else’s.98Please respect copyright.PENANAnIuT2TWYmk
And in that instant, I turned to stone.
I tripped on my own legs because of the shock and almost fell, and then Oniisama immediately caught me, but more importantly,
WHY IS KABURAGI MASAYA HERE――――!!
Even though they weren’t supposed to be in Japan for the entire holiday, standing right here were Kaburagi Masaya and Enjou Shuusuke──.
How long have they been there? How much did they see?98Please respect copyright.PENANAWh6KvJA1Rc
Weren’t you two supposed to be in the Mediterranean?98Please respect copyright.PENANAzg1CNBFchW
It’s because I thought you weren’t in Japan! It’s because I was relieved that you wouldn’t be here that I casually did something eyecatching as being the only little kid dancing here!98Please respect copyright.PENANAeh78MTS5IH
If I knew you guys were gunna come I definitely wouldn’t have stood out so much!
“Reika?”
Calm yourself. Calm yourself.98Please respect copyright.PENANAEfL3YWJHZg
For now let’s leave aside the reason why they’re here even though they’re not supposed to be, and figure out how to naturally leave the area.98Please respect copyright.PENANAXgFXgJEeiL
First I’ll remove my gaze from those cursed eyes, and undo the Petrification spell.98Please respect copyright.PENANAqtTtc1D6JI
Naturally, naturally…98Please respect copyright.PENANAiN5LZyFet7
GYAH-! Even though I was supposed to move just my eyes, my neck turned by itself―!98Please respect copyright.PENANAem0rUWkQ0E
Doesn’t this look like I turned my head in scorn now? Will he think I’m picking a fight with him!?98Please respect copyright.PENANAZUXjeYGws0
Can’t be helped. What’s already been done can’t be helped. I’ll just naturally leave the area.98Please respect copyright.PENANAtiFkO9Ve6Z
GYAH-! My knees won’t bend! I’m walking like a soldier now―!98Please respect copyright.PENANAHON7xQIUYr
Maybe those cursed eyes attacked my brain because I can’t stop all these involuntary movements.98Please respect copyright.PENANAvG92jkM2Xx
Aahh, what do I dooo?
“Reika, are you listening? Reika―”
Anyway, I need to slip into the crowd and disappear, or else. I’ll make a beeline for the drink corner since it has the most people.
[Monotone:] I am not particularly paying any special attention to you, all right? My throat has simply become parched from the dancing, and I have begun to desire a drink.98Please respect copyright.PENANATyqi09JlRD
[Monotone:] Indeed. That is simply it.98Please respect copyright.PENANA5DEolcZAES
[Monotone:] You, over there. May I have some juice?
“Reika!”
Somebody struck me on the back and dispelled the Confusion spell.98Please respect copyright.PENANAYppuR4lJEg
Aahh, I went completely weird just now.98Please respect copyright.PENANA1vSKuW7EBa
Thanks for returning my sanity, Oniisama.98Please respect copyright.PENANAZnQOGD1fx6
Casting both Confusion and Petrification at once. As expected of a last boss.
“What’s wrong? You’ve been a little strange.”
Mn, I’m more aware of that than anyone.
“Oniisama, I am going to make a small trip to the restroom.”
I want to be alone for a little to reset myself.98Please respect copyright.PENANA2scOzQVpbG
I want to hole up in the toilet and calm myself down.98Please respect copyright.PENANAqgIRUIkb9c
All the reflecting I need to do comes after that.
“Are you okay? Are you not feeling well? Should I have somebody go with you?”
“No, I am fine.”
“Hmm, but…”
Perhaps I was being pretty suspicious because Oniisama seemed to be worried.98Please respect copyright.PENANABobpDemGWw
I’m sorry for worrying you, Oniisama.
“Sup, Takateru.”
“Imari.”
With good timing, somebody who seemed to be his friend called out him, so I’ll leave while I can.
“It is nice to meet you. I am his sister, Reika. Oniisama, I will be fine by myself, so please excuse me for a little.”
Giving friend-san a quick bow, it’s now time to GO!
“What’s wrong with Imouto-chan? She seemed to be in quite a hurry.”
“Ahh, the toilet.”
Don’t say it!
I rushed into the dressing room, and after entering a private room, I collapsed onto the seat.98Please respect copyright.PENANA8I0IiHgnhB
Haah――.98Please respect copyright.PENANAcnBymURE5k
I suddenly felt tired.98Please respect copyright.PENANAmKqSMOSFJ8
It was like the excitement from just now had been a lie.
…That surprised me.98Please respect copyright.PENANAtwGsHPSFKX
Why were they here?98Please respect copyright.PENANA4o9qM9UxUe
Was that stuff about them staying in the Mediterranean all holiday just nonsense?98Please respect copyright.PENANAe5Sy32naXf
I even heard at the Petite Pivoine that they were going to miss out on the summer party.98Please respect copyright.PENANAkYaIsxx7zz
Still, that expression.98Please respect copyright.PENANAJndk60eBZ4
It suure was scary.98Please respect copyright.PENANAREudEH56jj
It was like he saw me happily dancing the waltz and thinking, ‘What the hell is this girl doing?’.98Please respect copyright.PENANAybLgRmDrER
I definitely came off as some ugly chick who thought of herself as hot stuff!98Please respect copyright.PENANAu4GY88Os7S
If I knew he was going to come, I wouldn’t have gotten ahead of myself and waltzed!
“Hey, Masaya-sama was there, wasn’t he. Wasn’t he supposed to be skipping this party?”
While I was in the pits of depression, I heard the voices of some girls who were probably older than me.98Please respect copyright.PENANAiJTxYiWPgK
I think they might be from the middle or high school section.
“Right. He was actually supposed to spend the whole holiday overseas, but I heard he came back early enough to make Yurie-sama’s birthday.”
“My, is that so? My younger sister was making a huge fuss about Masaya-sama being there. But with Yurie-sama as the rival, she really doesn’t stand a chance.”
“Huhu! Isn’t it still too early to say? She’s your own sister, so you need to cheer for her. It looks like there are lots of rivals though.”
“True. My, Maika-sama. Gokigen’yoh.”
“Gokigen’yoh.”
Apparently they stopped talking because yet another acquaintance came in, but with this, the mystery was solved.98Please respect copyright.PENANAad62lMZL2x
So it was Yurie-sama’s birthday!
Suzushino Yurie-sama is Emperor and Enjou’s four years elder childhood friend, and shockingly, Emperor’s first love.98Please respect copyright.PENANATsl0CPDxTU
In 『you are my dolce』, Yurie-sama was a dignified and radiant beauty who was admired by all the girls in Zui’ran.98Please respect copyright.PENANAErpCb60kIk
Kisshouin Reika admired her as well.98Please respect copyright.PENANAzvlFXW2GyB
Since Reika also admired Yurie-sama who detested the unjust, I don’t think it would’ve hurt if she learnt from her example a little, but Reika was a villainess character, so I guess it can’t be helped? How pitiful, Reika…
And so, Emperor loved her up until high school, but Yurie-sama had always thought of him as just a little brother.98Please respect copyright.PENANAvkZaHDaagf
In the end his love ended in an honourable defeat, and there was also a scene where he lashed out at the protagonist to vent, but before long his interest in the protagonist turned into love, and he completely got over his first one.98Please respect copyright.PENANAxlpaXzxedt
But even so, Yurie-sama was a childhood friend who was like an older sister, and as a special existence to Emperor. Being a person filled with independence, when she graduated from university she stood her ground against her parents, and when she decided on her own to go overseas to look for work in an American company, Emperor lent his help in convincing them.98Please respect copyright.PENANA4vDLW1z4fZ
When Yurie-sama was about to leave for America, he said, “If you ever need me, I’ll always come to help. No matter where you are, Yurie,” and the readers remembered her as somebody who would always be special to him.98Please respect copyright.PENANA2lVpK7IxDo
When the protagonist saw this, she did get nervous and say “Is he actually still in love with Yurie-san?” though.
Being who she is, if Yurie-sama had a birthday, of course he came back. I understand it now.98Please respect copyright.PENANAjkZIpnL2XU
Even in the Petite Pivoine, whenever he speaks to Yurie-sama he always breaks into a smile after all.98Please respect copyright.PENANAobgVO63wR6
He always goes Yurie, Yurie, and tries to get her attention doesn’t he.98Please respect copyright.PENANA7yRgW8U8d6
First love, huhh? It sure is bittersweet. Mmn, but that love never bears fruit, does it. Aah, how sad.
Considering how I sneakily observe those two and get all excited about somebody else’s love affairs, my personality is pretty bad, isn’t it.
But wellll, at any rate, I now know why Kaburagi Masaya is here when he isn’t supposed to be.
There’s no use crying over spilt milk.98Please respect copyright.PENANAtf5FQeFJOM
I can’t change the fact that he saw me doing the waltz.98Please respect copyright.PENANAznTpkO0YEq
…Let’s forget about it.98Please respect copyright.PENANAaJ0z8CbVGR
I’ll consider this some dark history and sink it into the swamps of my heart. Mn.
“Upsie daisies.”
Now then, I’ve probably worried Oniisama as well, so I’ll head back.98Please respect copyright.PENANANhiExbLlJB
I spent too long in the toilet, didn’t I. What am I going to do if they get the wrong impression, and my honour as a maiden is besmirched?98Please respect copyright.PENANAVGn5erpX1X
Should I really drive in the fact that my stomach is completely fine?