「Morning, Onee-chan.」
Mizuki was already in the kitchen making breakfast. She’d been doing that more often recently.
Our parents had been doing all the housework in order not to burden us any further, but Mizuki had insisted on this, saying she wanted to do it. Before I knew it, she had become a lot more stubborn than I was, to the point that it sometimes surprised me.
If I wanted to do the cooking, I should have just said so.
I hadn’t even realized something so simple. I had felt like I was the one being rejected, but maybe I was the one rejecting my family. I’d lately begun to understand that.
「Good morning, Mizuki. Want some help?」
「Hmm. Oh, then could you just cut up the tofu? It’s for the miso soup.」
「Got it.」
She was skillfully preparing breakfast. Had she been practicing this entire past year when I hadn’t been watching?
As I cut through the tofu, I thought of Sorahashi-san. I probably shouldn’t teach her how to cut tofu while holding it in her palm anytime soon. If I did, we could end up with bright red tofu.
「You seem happy, Onee-chan.」
「Yep, because I’m cooking with you.」
「Yeah, okay. I can tell that’s not all.」
She said exasperatedly. She was right on the mark. Saying nothing, I added the tofu to the miso soup. I’d initially found it difficult to cook side by side with her, but I’d started to get used to it. We didn’t just make breakfast together. Sometimes, we handled dinner too.
I guess I really did enjoy cooking.
Making food for my family made me happy — all the more so when they said the food was delicious.
「Alright, you can go have a seat now. Mom and Dad are already out for work, so you can sit anywhere you want.」
「Okay.」
I picked the spot where I used to sit. The chair and table hadn’t changed a bit in the past year, but the view from here was different now. Mizuki was the one looking up at me back then, but now, I was the one looking up at her.
Just one single year could be surprisingly long.
I watched her from across the counter. The way she hummed as she cooked was so cute. It really suited her. Once the food was ready, she took off her apron and sat down next to me.
「Time to eat.」
「Thanks for the food.」
Some things had changed, while others had remained the same. I glanced over to see her looking at me too. And then, without any need for words, we smiled at each other.
The distance between us sisters had grown a little, but maybe that distance was just right for us. She’d lately been going out with her friends and coming home late more often, or even staying the night at their houses.
It made me a little sad, but it was surely a happy thing.
Up until now, we’d only had eyes for each other. But now, those gazes were finally turning toward the outside world. And that fact brought me joy.
After eating, we washed the dishes together and then left the house.
She took my hand without a thought.
I smiled.
The warm sunlight was dazzlingly bright. Just two months ago, the city was all dried out. But as spring arrived and all the flowers began to bloom, the city suddenly started to regain its moisture and color, becoming enveloped in a softer atmosphere. The cherry blossoms didn’t seem to be in bloom yet, though, but I was sure that was soon to come.
「Gosh, you’re already in your second year of middle school.」
「What about it?」
「Well, I was just thinking how the time’s just flown by. I hope you can make some friends in your new class.」
「Onee-chan, haven’t you been acting like Mom lately?」
「Well, I’m your mama, after all.」
「You’re too young for that.」
Saying that, she smiled.
As we finally arrived at the station, she gently let go of my hand.
It made me a little sad to say our goodbyes, but I knew I’d see her again when I got home. I waved at her.
「Alright, I’ll be off now. I’ll see you soon.」
「Mhm, later. See you soon too, Onee-chan.」
「Bye bye.」
We parted ways and I got on the train.
Today was the opening ceremony for most schools, so a lot of the students seemed nervous. I might have felt the same way.
「Ku! Ru! Mi!」
As I got to the station near my school, I suddenly felt someone hug me from behind. Or maybe, it would be more accurate to say someone had come crashing into me. I turned around to see Yume.
「G-good morning, Yume.」
「Mhm, morning!」
「Someone’s full of energy.」
「Of course I am! It’s a treat to see you this early in the morning, after all!」
「Ahaha, I see. I’m also happy to see you this morning.」
「Kurumi…!」
She tightly squeezed my hand. Even though she was a second-year now, Yume was still the same as ever. I smiled, returning the gesture.
When we got to school, there was a crowd gathered in front of the big announcement board. Class changes were a pretty big event for us students, I supposed. I didn’t think I would be able to get a good look until things had calmed down a bit.
Just as I was in the middle of that thought…
I caught a faint whiff of Sorahashi-san’s scent. It was refreshing, like the ocean during spring. I felt a tug on my free hand before I could even turn around.
「Futami-san. Kurumi. Good morning.」
「G-good morning.」
Yume said nervously.
「Good morning, Sorahashi-san.」
「We were all in the same class last year. And we will be this year, too.」
「Ah, is that so?」
「I hope we can get to know each other better this year, Futami-san. I’m looking forward to it.」
「Uh, sure.」
Sorahashi-san gently pulled on my hand.
「…I’ll see you later, Kurumi.」
With that, she walked off to speak to another friend. I wasn’t sure if “later” meant during class or something else, but she was also the same as ever.
I was certain that no matter how many years passed by, she’d always be like that.
「Kurumi. We’re in different classes now.」
Dispersing from the crowd, Mutsuki came over to us.
「I see. That’s a shame.」
「Yep. I wanted to be in the same class as you…」
Despite the loneliness in her voice, her expression was devoid of emotion. Was she putting on an act, or was she telling the truth? I couldn’t help but wryly smile.
「That doesn’t really change much, does it? I think you’re the type to get involved with people even if you’re not in the same class.」
Yume said exasperatedly.
「Classes are like countries. Border crossings aren’t allowed.」
「But you do that anyway.」
「I might never see you again, Yume…」
「I think I’ll be just fine without seeing you, though…」
「Then I’ll come see you every day.」
「Can you not? Let’s do once a month.」
「You wound me, dear friend.」
「Who’s whose dear friend, exactly?」
「You’re mine, Yume.」
「No thanks.」
Mutsuki blankly started stroking Yume’s head and messing up her hair. Yume tried to run away, but Mutsuki had already cut off her escape route. Those two were — how should I put it — like children. I still didn’t know whether or not they really got along.
I headed towards the school building.
Glancing at the announcement sheet, I saw that sure enough, Yume, Sorahashi-san, and I were in the same class. I felt some relief that we’d be in the same class even through our second year, but I also felt some anxiety as to whether everything would be alright.
I hoped that she at least wouldn’t try to show her collar in the classroom again.
I idly looked around as I took in the spring breeze. Sorahashi-san, Yume, and Mutsuki all seemed to be full of energy. Friends or otherwise, it was reassuring to see the people you knew looking healthy.
Mutsuki and Yume seemed busy, so I decided to head to class first.
A new year was about to begin. That feeling had settled in even more than it did on New Year’s Day. New school years were weird like that.
Class finished up in the morning on the very first day. Everyone was making plans to hang out with their friends from the year before, but I wasn’t sure what to do. It’d be nice to spend some time with Yume and Mutsuki, but…
I wondered what to do while getting ready to go home only to notice something in my bag. It was a letter with a heart sticker on it. It was clearly a love letter. I went outside the classroom and opened it where nobody could see.
Just as I expected, Sorahashi-san’s handwriting was on it.
『To: Kurumi. I’ll be waiting.』
That’s all the letter said. It definitely sounded like it was from her.
I went back to get my bag and then headed to a certain empty classroom on the third floor. As I walked against the flow of the crowd and climbed up the stairs, the students gradually disappeared. Eventually, I arrived at an empty, silent corridor. I walked down the hallway and stood in front of an empty classroom.
Then, I quietly knocked on the door.
「Come in.」
It was the voice I always heard.
I opened the door to see Sorahashi-san, just as I expected. I went in, closing and locking the door. Seeing this, she smiled.
She was standing by the window, as beautiful as ever.
Her hair glimmered in the spring sunlight. Her eyes were such a beautiful color, as if they were filled with joy itself. I checked the lock on the other door and then went to stand by her. The curtains swayed in the spring breeze and the scent of flowers filled the room.
「The cherry blossoms aren’t in bloom yet.」
She said.
「Mhm. But they will be pretty soon.」
「Would you like to go see them once they have?」
「Where?」
「At home.」
「…Are you talking about the garden in your house?」
「Yep. We have a sakura tree growing there.」
In that case, we could enjoy viewing the cherry blossoms without being seen by anyone. Although it’s not like there would be a problem if we were seen.
We continued to aimlessly stare out the window. We could hear the voices of students outside, all happily planning their outings.
「Say, Kurumi.」
The same voice as always. Sweet and full of passion, one that made my heart race and my lips crease up into a smile.
「Could you undo my scarf?」
She said with a smile.
It was strange to see a scarf around her neck at this time of year. I did as she said and took it off. Sure enough, there was a black collar under it. Unlike the scarf, it didn’t feel strange to see the collar at all. In fact, it’d probably be strange if the collar wasn’t there. I smiled, bringing my hand to her chin.
「Sit.」
「…Woof.」
She sat, just as she always did.
She was my master, an odd person that sometimes led me around by the nose, and sometimes, she was my puppy. She was so, so lovely. She spoiled me, I spoiled her, and sometimes we did strange things with each other. Each and every one of those experiences had made us into the people we were today.
「Sera. How would you like to be disciplined today?」
When I asked her that, she stuck out her tongue and gazed up at me. Her expression was that of a puppy expecting discipline from her master. I felt a chill run through my spine as I began to speak.
「Then first, why don’t you take everything off? You’re a puppy, after all.」
「Woof.」
She happily reached for her uniform.
Her lack of hesitation made my heart pound.
Sorahashi-san was my puppy. And I was hers. As we repeatedly played the role of puppy and master for each other, our relationship grew deeper than it used to be. I was certain that from now on, we’d continue to be even more hopeless, continue to do even more pleasurable things with each other.
I took the leash that she had placed on the desk and attached it to the collar.
With a click, her expression began to melt.
She was a hopeless puppy. And I was her hopeless owner.
「What should we start with, I wonder? Maybe like usual—」
And so, our game of pretend had begun once again.
A hopeless game that would be over if someone were to see us.
I could no longer hear the voices of any other students. All I could hear was her breathing and my own. But that was okay. For just this instant, Sorahashi-san and I became each other’s entire world.
And that felt so, so good.
And just like that, we’ve reached the end of Volume 2 (for real this time.) But more than that, KuraHime has been marked as COMPLETE on Kakuyomu. So unfortunately, this is also the Capital E End for Kurumi and Sera’s story, unless Inukai Anzu writes another light novel without putting it up on Kakuyomu first. I’ll be marking this as complete on Ave Lilium as well, and I don’t expect there to be another volume. BUT… there are a couple of official short stories that have been posted on Twitter, and if there are any bonus stories that come along with the Volume 2 print release, I’ll be working on that too. So stay tuned! But yeah, this is The End. I hope you’ve enjoyed reading this!
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Ave Lilium Translations 