dodge the topic. “That’s all I wanted to hear. I just wanted to confirm it. I’m not worried that you might be stolen by those sisters, or anything like that, and like I mentioned before, I’m not going to make a fuss about something from the past. So, just forget it. Or rather, please forget it. ...Oh god, what was I trying to do by bringing that up? I totally look like a bothersome woman now. I’m such an idiot. ” “Hmm, is that so?” Hikaru on the other hand looked puzzled. “Hey, Sakura.” “What.” “I said this earlier, but I’m someone who keeps his promises.” “Well...that’s right. You are indeed manly in the most unexpected ways.” “So yeah, let’s get married.” “...Hah?” This was a route to school; A very ordinary morning in an unremarkable residential area. An office worker was hurrying along in his suit, a granny was cleaning up the road which passed in front of the houses, and there was a young lady without her makeup, who seemed to be en-route home from a convenience store. “...waitwaitwaitwait!” Sakura stood there looking blankly, but suddenly her expression changed into a faint smile. “Impossible. That’s just not realistic. No no…” “What do you mean by impossible.” “I mean, you just said to get married. That’s basically a proposal, isn’t it. But thinking about it normally, I probably just misheard it, right? Am I still half-asleep, I wonder?” “You are probably not. I mean, I did say to get married.” “...waitwaitwaitwait!” Sakura further hastened her pace and hurried ahead. However, Hikaru closely kept up with her speed. “No wait. Really. I’m lost here.” “I think it’s quite simple, though? I’m just saying to get married.” “Wait wait! That’s definitely not something you ‘just’ say, is it? Do you
even understand what that means? We are talking about a marriage here, you know? It’s something where you submit the marriage registration, enter your name in the family register, change your surname, hold the ceremony and greet each other's parents, you know? Do you really understand that?” “How rude, of course I do. I’m not that much of an idiot.” “Actually, is that something you say at a place like this? It’s just a normal morning and a situation that happens everyday? When it comes to this kinda thing, you would usually, you know, make preparations beforehand or set the right mood for it and do it after that, wouldn’t you? Isn’t that how one usually proposes?” “But wasn’t it you who suddenly brought up the old promise, Sakura?” “Ugh… Well, yea! Yeah, but still! Or rather, it’s just impossible if you think about it! We are just 16 years old yet! We can’t even marry!” “Even if it’s legally impossible we can still do it with our feelings, right? We could just leave it as an engagement for now, and marry when we legally can. Simply confirming each other’s feelings would be enough now. So then, Sakura, is it a yes or a no?” “...Wait wait! waitwaitwaitwait!” Her face became redder by the second and she continuously shook her head as she kept her quick pace. “Wait a minute. Halt. Warte eine Minute . Don’t drag me into your own pace. It really troubles me if you bring this kind of thing up so suddenly.” “Sorry. But well, I thought this was the best timing for it.” “...I’m not sure what kind of world you live in if you thought this was the best timing for it…” “So? Is it a yes or a no?” “No, wait. This is just weird. This whole situation is just weird.” “A boy is proposing to a girl and is waiting for the answer. I think it’s quite a common situation you can find just about anywhere in the world.” “That general theory of yours is a bit too out of the norm at least for the present world… Or well, you know what. Let me just ask this just in case.” “Yes, what is it?” “Hikaru, uhh, how should I say this… D-Do you really...like me?” “How many years do you think we’ve been together,” Hikaru made a rare exasperated expression and continued, “Of course I do. I like you, Sakura.” “Ahwa!”
Sakura became at loss for words, and leaked a strange voice. “I naturally mean that I like you as a woman, okay? It’s not a simple respect towards you as a person, nor is it intimacy as a friend.” “Uh...Ah... Yes. Thank you. Okay.” “Do you not like me, Sakura? You know, I’m not an idiot here, so I think you do like me as a man.” “Ahwa!” She was overwhelmed. However Hikaru wasn’t actually being pushy; he was being his usual carefree self even now and was calmly talking to her, just like how he usually would. There wasn’t a hint of pushiness or coerciveness. But even so, Sakura was in a one-sided defensive battle. “H-Hey,” Sakura kept fastening her pace and continued, “You know, this is the first time I heard about that.” “You mean about me liking you?” “Y-Yeah.” “I mean, you’d usually notice that. We’ve been together for sixteen whole years already, and we live next to each other and go to school together, and you come storming with a yell in my bath if something happens. That’s the kind of relationship we have. If I didn’t like you, it wouldn’t continue like that.” “Eh, ah, yes. Kinda sorry about that.” “And to begin with, I did actually promise to marry you. Even if we were kids then, I wouldn’t have done that if I didn’t like you, would I?” “Yes. I can’t say anything to that. You’re right.” “So there you have it. Now I’d be grateful if you let me hear your answer.” “Waitwaitwaitwait.” She turned beet red. “Whatever’s the case, choose a better timing, will you? You need to create a proper mood for this stuff, right? Like, creating a situation where you’d be getting a definite yes.” “...Hmm, I see. I was certain that the best timing would be when you brought up this topic. I was under the impression that I’d get a definite yes since both of us liked each other, and I was basing it on the promise, too.” “Ugh. Sorry about this.” “My bad, Sakura. It seems I put you on the spot.” “No, not at all! I’m really happy! My mind is simply in a mess right now!
My heart was simply not prepared for it! Sakura desperately corrected herself, while Hikaru kept nodding. “I mean, look. A lot has happened lately, right? Kako-neesan, Ima-san and Mirai-chan came to my house and my life changed in a big way.” “...Well, you have a point there. No one would expect that the actual goddesses would get involved into their life… Even now, I sometimes suddenly realise just how crazy this all is…” “I love you, Sakura, and you love me. It was something obvious to me, but unless I said it out loud, you wouldn't realise it. So I wanted make it clear.” “I wasn’t as confident as you, you know… It’s like, you sometimes look so...I don’t know...really mature and collected.”
“Okay, then let’s do this.” Hikaru stopped, and Sakura followed the suit. And then, he said in a formal manner. “Before we get married, would you please date me as a lover?” “Ah, yes. Gladly!” And thus, the situation concluded as such. Incidentally, “...Actually, why didn’t you just make that confession in the first place?!” It was five seconds after they formally started dating when Sakura made such retort.
And incidentally again, “Actually, Hikaru.” “What is it, Sakura.” “If you like me as you say, then I wish you’d stop doing lewd stuff with the goddesses.” “Well, let’s just leave that aside.” “It seems like we need to have a proper talk…” The future for these two didn’t look so promising, after all.
CHAPTER FIVE “...Eh? You mean you weren’t already dating...?” This is shortly after our last chapter. After they both arrived at the school, they were now sitting in the room of the year one A class of the Taiju Private Academy High School. “I can’t believe it. You were all over each other all the time and you weren’t even dating? That’s really so ambiguous. Even kindergarteners these days make more progress than that.” The person questioning Sakura was Nagasawa Takumi, her elbows propped on the desk and her face showing open amazement, she was a friend of Sakura since they had started the school this spring. “You can put it like that, but I couldn’t help it,” Sakura pouted and continued, “You know how you lose the sense of distance when you’ve been with someone for too long? That’s basically what happened with me and Hikaru.” “No, sorry but I really don’t know that feeling.” It was before homeroom had begun and the room was filled with the buzz of conversation. Takumi’s voice was filled with surety as she nibbled at her yakisoba bread, bought for after her morning training. “I’d stake my claim on the boy I liked and wouldn’t let him go no matter what. I would’ve used anything I could think up to make sure he was mine.” “Ah well, that’s because you’re a man-eater, Takumin…” “This has nothing to do with being a man-eater or wallflower. If you were serious about something you desired, isn’t it natural to not care about appearances and go for the catch.” Nagasawa Takumi was a member of the volleyball club.
She looked strong, intense and dominating──even if her argument was sound, she was too blunt and went right for the jugular. Compared to her, Sakura seemed rather mild. “But ya know, this Oogami Hikaru guy, I haven’t really chatted with him much, but isn’t he like, really weird?” Takumi asked, finishing off her yakisoba bread and moving on to the curry bread. Her appetite was congruent with her towering 170 cm of height and position in a sports club. “Out with it, Sakura, just what part of him do you like?” “Eh?” “You were confessed to, proposed to even, and finally started dating, right? And haven’t you loved him for the whole sixteen years you’ve known each other?” Takumi nodded towards the boy in question, also in the same class, was sitting and having an amiable chat with a friend. “Since I just recently got to know you two, I really don’t know what’s so good about him, so why don’t you tell me instead?” Takumi, being a man-eater and a sporty girl, was direct with everything. If she had something to say, she would say it. If she wanted to ask something, she would ask. And yet, she wouldn’t make people around her feel bad either. People were surprisingly accepting of her innocent frankness. “Eh~? No no no no…” Sakura became bashful. Though she was bashful, at the same time, she was smiling ear to ear. After all, her long cherished wish had been realised. Never had she actually expected Hikaru, someone who never stood out, to be the one to confess. The extent of her delight could be understood just from the fact that the first thing she did when she got here was telling Takumi all about what happened. In other words, Sakura was in full merry mode, unlike her usual tsundere self. “I mean… to begin with, isn’t he just so cool?” “Cool, huh?” Takumi looked towards Hikaru, at his laughing figure as he chatted with his classmate.
A carefree face, an average height and an average body. He was a normal high school boy, to say the least. One you certainly wouldn’t call cool at a glance. “...What part of him?” “Eh? I mean, like, his eyes, his lips, and the air around him. His very existence is cool.” “His very existence, huh?” Takumi was sports-minded, but she had a good head on her shoulders. In fact, she was even assigned in the A class of the private Taiji academy, this was the university admission course, and she was a man-eater girl that excelled in both the literary and military arts. And taking all that into account, her final judgement after much thought was: “No, sorry. I really can’t see it.” “Eh, really? But well, I’m fine with it even if it’s just me who sees his good points. Plus I’m gonna be having another rival if you were to awaken to his charm, Takumin.” “Nope. That’s not happening.” “Eeh? I see, so you don’t understand it at all. Heeh.” Sakura grinned in self-satisfaction. She was acting flippant due her freshly formed relationship. Takumi hunched her shoulders in annoyance. “Okay, I got it. Tell me more concretely about this charm of his. If he satisfies my criteria, I’ll try to steal him with all my power.” “Eh, wha-, gimme a break! You sound like you are really gonna do it, Takumin…” “Nevermind that and tell me already, since you are bragging so much already.” “Eeh? I didn’t mean to do that.” Ehehehe, Sakura’s expression loosened without helping. “For example… Hikaru is very nice.” “As I said, be more concrete. How exactly is he nice?” “Err… This is just an example, just an example, okay?” “Kay.” “Even if the goddesses were trying to court him, he still wouldn’t cross that final line, or something.”
“Right.” Takumi answered with a complex expression, as if she was listening to Swahili. “...I don’t really get it, but where is his kindness in that?” “Eh, he is. The goddesses are really cute, you know? Honestly, if I was a man, I’d jump on them right away, okay? But Hikaru knows I would hate that, so he isn’t going all the way with them.” “...And you call that kindness?” “It is kindness! And it’s also part of his greatness!” “It’s not great at all, and I don’t understand what you mean. And you two just started dating, didn’t you? How is it a kindness to not cross that final line for some girl that he wasn’t even dating yet. Also, what the heck do you mean by the goddesses?” “It was just a hypothetical.” “I don’t get it. Talk about his charm in some other way.” “Err, then… He is manly.” “Manly?” Takumi glanced at Hikaru, and if she had to say, his body looked on the weaker side, and had a tender expression. To be more specific, she could even see him as “a high priest that had reached enlightenment.” “Nope, I don’t get it. Manly? Which part?” “Well, you might not see it from his appearance. Takumin, you don’t know much about him yet. It’s about what’s inside, you know, inside.” “Please be more specific.” “Err, okay so another hypothetical.” “Okay.” “Even if he is approached by the goddesses and has lewd things done to him, he still protects his chastity in the end.” “Sorry, Sakura. Can you speak in Japanese please.” “Eeeeh? But protecting his chastity is really hard, you know? It’s the goddesses we are talking about here. That’s a really impressive feat. Takumin, you would understand it if you actually met those goddesses.” “No, that’s never gonna happen… Well, fine. I more or less got the idea.” Takumi said in consent while calming her down. “In short, it’s basically what they call ‘love is blind,’ isn’t it? Love is
blind, so after you fall in love everything looks nice.” “Ehh? No, that’s not it! I at least have an eye for guys, okay?” “That doesn’t sound so convincing… This is the first time I’ve heard something so unconvincing, actually.” “Eehh?” “Anyway, what I understood is that you’re pretty unlucky.” Takumi said in conclusion, which, in turn made Sakura pout with a dissatisfied face. “It really feels so wasteful. The two of you don’t really balance the scales well, honestly speaking. There aren’t that many girls as cute as you, Sakura.” “Me? No no, that’s definitely not the case.” “Are you an idiot? You can’t deceive my eyes. You are definitely a wolf in sheep’s clothing.” Supporting her chin with her hand, she pointed at Sakura. “Those unfashionable braids, that bulky glasses and knee-length skirt──if you singled out those parts, you are the very image of unfashionable, but…” “But?” “You have a big chest, and long legs. A small face and a straight back. You are most definitely in the top of the caste. Even if you keep up the appearances on the outside, you can’t fully hide that aura that’s seeping from you.” “Well, yea! It’s actually like that! Sorry that I’m so cute!” “...I just pointed it out, but you suddenly got really into it. That somehow pisses me off.” “I mean, since you’ve found me out, there’s no point in hiding it anymore.” “Well, right. So why are you hiding it? It’s not because you can’t be bothered with fashion, is it?” “Mmm, well, you see…” Sakura directed her sight at Hikaru. Her childhood friend was still engaged in a friendly chat with his classmate. It was the face that she had gotten used to seeing for over ten years by now. Yet it was also the face that she would never get tired of looking at. Sakura’s expression slackened without realising.
When she had that face, she looked so lovely she rivalled even a goddess. “...Isn’t it fine to just show your good parts to the person you like?” “Oh?” “Or rather, I only want to show it to him. It’s a bit different from the sense of virtue, and I come of as old-fashioned, even if I say so myself. But I don’t want to show it to anyone, my true self that is. After all, the only guy I care about is Hikaru.” “Mhm-mhm.” “That and, you know, that gap moe? or something they often talk about? If you act a bit unfashionable normally, it will have a bigger impact when the time comes. If me and Hikaru go on a date, I’ll be going all out with my clothes then.” “I see, I see.” “Also, it’s the same for you, but nor does anyone else really understand his charm, right? That’s why, I think it’s fine even if I’m not too careful, or more like, I don’t have to approach him so aggressively… And then all my calculations went out of the window when those goddesses appeared. Hikaru is fawning over them now, and all that reincarnation of Odin and stuff suddenly appeared too… But well, we were able to start dating without a problem, so I guess you could call it a windfall or super-luck.” “Sorry. I don’t really understand what you started saying all of a sudden.” “Ah, sorry, I’m just talking to myself. Well, anyway, you get the point. If I use my killer move everyday its effect will fade away, and if I’m too reserved, it’ll have an opposite effect too.” “Heeh…” Takumi looked at her as if appraising her. And then she suddenly grinned and said. “I see. I got the general idea.” “Ah, really? You got what I mean?” “Sakura, you really are an earnest and a good girl.” “Ehehe. Right? Right?” “And you are quite clever, too. I see you in a better light now.” “Yup, yup. Isn’t that right?” “But you are the type that gets used by boys as they please. If you felt like
it, you could get any boy you like, but to be doing the opposite… what an unfortunate girl.” “Hey, stop… I’m a bit self-conscious about that part.” Sakura prostrated herself on the desk with a groan. That action looked lovely even for Takumi who was of the same sex. If you had to sum it up, she was a hidden unfortunate beauty. Also, she didn’t say it on purpose──if she had to be honest, it wasn’t just Takumi who realised it. The fact that Sakura was simply feigning her appearance. Unfashionable braids, bulky glasses and knee-length skirt. It wasn’t something that could be hidden by those things alone. Takumi had many times been a witness of how the boys that were full of desires sent passionate gazes at her. Or rather, Takumi was also included among them. After all, Sakura had a very erotic body. And Sakura who was only interested in Hikaru wasn’t aware of that fact in the slightest. She was acting like a tactician, but her own defenses were weak. She was full of gaps and wasn’t going anywhere with her methods. But that was fine. “Maybe I should snitch a bit of you before you get eaten up by Oogami Hikaru…” “Eh? Did you say something, Takumin?” “It’s nothing. I was just saying that you’d be a perfect girl if only you had eyes for guys.” “Hey, that’s a misunderstanding, I said! I do have proper eyes for guys!” Such was their little exchange in the corner of the classroom that no one spared a glance to. The relationship between the unfashionable girl and the bisexual man-eater had just only begun.
CHAPTER SIX “Sakura-chan sure is something else, ain’t she?” Again, following our last chapter, in Taiju Private Academy senior high school first year A class. Before the morning homeroom. “She’s got stonkin’ tits and legs for days. Her face’s dainty an’ she’s always standin’ tall. She don’t dress fashionably but that ain’t gonna fool me. She’s right up there, definitely the hottest at school, yeah, Hikaru?” “Yup, I agree.” The guy Hikaru was talking to was Toudou Raita, a friend that he gained after starting the school this spring. “Ya know, I got an eye for the ladies even if I don’t look like it. I gotta say I’m glad that Sakura-chan was the first girl I met when I moved to Tokyo. Ya know, I never met a girl like ‘er back in Kansai. I weren’t really sure how it’d go when my old man switched jobs and we had to move here, but she sure got my motivation up!” “Is that so? That’s nice.” “Right, I’m gonna aim for ‘er for real! Imma use all I can to get close to ‘er, so can ya support me from the back as a friend?” “Ah, sorry. If you are going for Sakura, I already confessed to her earlier and we’re officially going out now.” “Wha- You-!?” Raita sank down. It was the over the top Kansai move, an overreaction he was very fond of. “Hold up, hold up, when did that happen… It def’nitely dain’t seem like that yesterday… and actually, how ’bout you mention that stuff first? I ended up lustin’ after a taken gal.” “Yea, sorry about that.”
“Eh, I kinda thought that might happen though. You ‘n’ Sakura are too close, so I ‘ad a feeling you were dating at times.” “Yea. Well, that’s how it is.” “But still, broken ‘earted at the speed of light. Well, whatever, it happened before I got inta deep shit.” So saying, he swung his legs onto the desk and heaved a big sigh. Incidentally, he was a handsome guy, with a well-shaped face and a slim body. His grades were good and was physically active, too. So with that considered, it wouldn’t have been strange if he was popular, however his Kansai nature was sticking out a bit too much and he was a little cut off from his class. Hikaru was also the same in that regard. That said, he had a gentle personality, so it wasn’t his intention to avoid his classmates, but still, he wasn’t someone who would proactively go and make friends either, and moreover, he had that feel of enlightenment all around him which made him a bit difficult to approach. And as such, these two cut off individuals often tended to hang out with each other like this. “It’s alright,” Hikaru smiled at his friend who was in his heartbreak mode and said, “You are a handsome guy, Raita-kun. You’ll get yourself a girlfriend whenever you want. Sakura doesn’t have to be the one you have to aim for.” “...Do ya really realise what yer sayin’? Those ain’t the words a man who’s dating Sakura should say to the man who got heartbroken by her, don’t ya think?” “Yeah, I know that. But I’m saying that because it’s you. You don’t seem like a guy who’d mind such things.” “Well, that ain’t wrong, but still…” Raita said while knitting his eyebrows, pouting and making a weird face. “Even if ya look like a frank guy, ya actually do know how to read the mood. Ya notice what ya wanna notice, and ya get yer point across without raising yer voice. And if ya felt like it, ya could easily become the center of this class.” “Isn’t it the same for you, Raita-kun. If you behaved a bit more normally, you wouldn’t be cut off from our class, would you? And you can also read the mood if you feel like it, right?”
“You ain't wrong there. Kansai is the land of laughs, and laughs come from readin’ the mood. I read the mood if I gotta, and if not, I’m just doing what I feel like.” “Those parts of yours really don’t make you feel like a high schooler.” “I’m just doing what I want. Matching the mood around ain’t my thing. ...And if yer gonna talk about not feeling like a high schooler, ain’t that the pot callin’ the kettle black?” “Is it?” “You ain’t deceiving my eyes. I got an eye for people even if I don’t look it. It’s like, yer both non-serious and composed at the same time, Hikaru. Ye have that feel around ya that says ye ain’t gonna give a shit even if the world was ending tomorrow. To give ya an example, lessee──” After racking his brains for a while with difficult face, Raita said. “You are kinda like, a Pharaoh?” “Pharaoh?” “Like, ya know, it’s like yer sitting on a giant stone chair and smiling at ya people, with pyramids and a sphinx behind you. Ya give off that kinda feel.” “Hahah. I see.” Even Hikaru, unflappable as he usually was, had been amazed by this. He was already used being called the reincarnation of Odin, but Pharaoh was a first. “I see, so a Pharaoh, huh. That’s quite a unique way of thinking.” “No, it’s yer reaction to it that’s unique… But it don’t quite fit yer image… Ya sure are a strange guy, ya know?” “Really?” “I mean, that’s how it is if ya look at it objectively.” “I see. Well, my family structure is a little special, you see. And due to that, my sensibilities aren’t quite like most people’s.” “That’s true, but I think yer personality is really great. If we made a comedy duo, I bet we’d do pretty well. How about we do a performance when the cultural festival gets ‘ere?” “I’ll think about it.” “While we’re on about it,” Raita bent himself forward. “Just what kinda family structure do ya have? What kinda people are your parents? I’m kinda curious as to how they managed to raise someone with
your character.” “Both my mom and dad are scholars. They are really busy so they rarely come home.” “How about yet siblings?” “Well, you could say I have them, but you could also say I don’t.” “What the. The heck does that mean?” “Uhh, there are three people who are just like my family living with me.” “They women?” “Yup.” “All of ‘em?” “All of them.” “Young?” “From early teens to early twenties.” “Are they beauties?” “A little unbelievably so.” Hikaru answered him without hesitation. Raita, on the other hand, closed his eyes with a difficult face, and said after some thinking. “Hikaru.” “Yeah?” “Would ya let me call you brother from now on?” “Nope.” “Don’t be like that! Ain’t we friends!” “I’m close to you as you say, but it’s only been a month or two since we got to know each other, so I think that’s a bit…” “No, don’t say that! Ever since we met, I was sure ye weren’t an ordinary guy! I’ll do everything! I’ll lick yer shoes if that’s what ya want, I’ll even be an errand boy and buy yakisoba bread for ya!” “Sorry but I don’t want to dirty my shoes, and I’m more into sweet buns than sand buns. Also, I’m against you calling me brother, but I can introduce them to you.” “Say that earlier! I just knew we were kindred-spirits!” With a broad smile, Raida over-familiarly placed his arm around his shoulders. He was the very picture of self-interest, but Hikaru didn’t dislike the
straightforward Kansai bloke. I hope he gets along with the three sisters. And while we are at it, I also hope Sakura drops her stubborn attitude and gets along with them too , Hikaru thought with his whole heart.
CHAPTER SEVEN At the same time in another place. The three sisters were enjoying their tea time in the Oogami living room. “Oh, this is quite delicious.” The elder sister, Kako’s expression loosened as she took a bite of the cherry custard pie. “The complentation between the sweetness of the custard and the sourness of the cherry is just perfect. I feel like I could keep eating this without end.” “Indeed, I can’t stop my hands.” The second sister, Ima, also gave a big nod as she too dug into the pie with the knife and fork she held. “The pastry is baked to perfection too, and it smells just wonderful. The abundance of butter and the salt seasoning is perfect too.” “And it goes perfectly with this black tea.” The third sister, Mirai was also in high spirits, even more so than the usual. “Sweets you bake with your own effort taste of joy. We wouldn’t be able to enjoy this feeling if we went and simply bought it somewhere. This is a luxurious moment.” A freshly made pie sat in the center of the table. This work of art that they’ve been preparing since yesterday was the most important part of today. “Still, this is quite troubling. If it’s this tasty, we might just end up eating too much.” “And that’s exactly where the goddess’ authority comes into play, Kakoneesama.” “Are you suggesting to lose weight by using the goddess’ authority? No, I can’t do something so sly.”
“But Kako-neesama, we are goddesses. If we don’t use our authority now, then when should we?” “Hmmm, you have a point… I mean, don’t tempt me like that. We are goddesses, but we are now human incarnations. We have to properly act within the range of common behaviour as humans. We aren’t allowed to abuse our authority.” “In that case, let me ask you, Kako-neesama. Just what is this range of common behaviour, exactly?” “Hmm, let’s see…,” Eating another helping of the pie, Kako said, “For example, giving various services to Hikaru-san is within the range of common behaviour, right?” “Yes, indeed. Entering baths together and offering your services is a normal occurrence in just about every family.” “I don’t really see any problem with slipping naked into Hikaru-san’s futon in place of a morning greeting either.” “There’s no problems with that. After all, we are something like a family, in other words, what onee-sama is doing is just a family service. And moreover, Hikaru-sama enjoys what we do. If anything, we should increase the amount of skinship we do.” “Indeed. Hikaru-san’s joy is our joy. Sakura-chan is being annoying about it, but we have to properly support Hikaru-san’s lifestyle.” “In other words, it means that using the goddess’ authority for losing weight is justice, doesn’t it?” “Oh my, is it really?” “It certainly is. While Hikaru-sama is a very tolerant person, if our body fat percentage exceeds a set value, I don’t think even he would say quiet about it. I’m sure he would be quite saddened by it.” “Uugh, you hit me where it hurts the most…” “If you don’t use it now, it’s no different than a wasted power. Come on, just give in to the temptation already, Onee-sama.” “Auu, I was unconsciously led astray by your sweet words… However, they also made me regain some of my rationality. After all, I now see what you are planning.” “Oh my. What do you mean by that?” “You just want to use me as an excuse, isn’t it? After making me use my authority, you are going to follow suit, right?
“Ugh!” Ima averted her eyes, while Kako delved into it further. “I know about it. Your upper arm has been getting quite plumper lately, hasn’t it?” “Aah! Please don’t say anymore, Onee-sama!” “That, and your abdomen has also…” “Stop stop, I don’t want to hear about it!” “It’s quite a natural outcome. After all, there’s been nothing but tasty food lately. Today’s cherry custard pie is one thing, but even the three daily meals are so tasty we could keep eating them forever.” “That’s right. Breakfast, dinner, supper, even mid-day and late-night snacks are all so tasty that without thinking, I…” “We are putting on the weight from the good life.” “The days we spend together with Hikaru-sama are full of joy.” “And that’s why, we end up eating too much.” “And we ended up baking a bit too big of a pie, too. Even if we divide it between the three of us, it would still a have a day’s worth of calories in each part.” “The way things stand, we can’t avoid gaining fat….” “Just like Mr. Bear does before entering hibernation….” “Aah, but I can’t stop! This food is too delicious!” “Uugh, I understand your feelings all too well!” “Ima!” “Kako-neesama!” The two desperately embraced each other, after which they started crying in anguish. “You are facing troubles I see, big sisters.” Mirai, on the other hand, acted as if it had nothing to do with her. She merely continued to single-mindedly stuff her face with the pie. “Don’t worry * munch munch* . I’ll take responsibility and eat the remaining pie myself * munch munch* . You don’t have to worry about gaining any more weight * munch munch* .” “My, you are so heartless, Mirai.” “Kako-neesama is right, Mirai. Your sisters are sunk in grief here and you are acting like it’s someone else’s problem.” “So heartless, so saddening.”
“What a cold hearted little sister we have.” The two sisters threw complaints at her, however Mirai simply answered indifferently. “Calling me cold hearted is quite upsetting. Don’t you agree that a freshly baked pie needs to be eaten before it gets cold since that’s when it’s the most delicious? That’s why I’m simply doing my best here and eating it all by myself * munch munch* .” “I’ve been thinking this for a while, and Mirai is really unfair, isn't she.” “I completely agree, Onee-sama. I also think Mirai is really unfair.” “Eeh? Just how am I unfair?” “After all, you never gain weight no matter how much you eat.” “Indeed, indeed. Even though you are eating far more than us, your figure stays the same. You are always slim.” “As you are our blood-related sister, I say this is very unfair.” “We three are a single Norn, and yet we are so unequal.” “Grrr!” “Grrr!” “...Actually, you know what, you two…” Mirai didn’t care about their protests at all, but instead looked at them with cold eyes and said. “You’ve been going on about your abdomen and your upper arms all this time, but speaking honestly, your chests grown lately, haven’t they? Compared to before, they have clearly become bigger, you know?” “Oh, you are right. Which reminds me, I changed my underwear into one size bigger. How about you, Ima?” “I changed mine into two sizes bigger, Kako-neesama.” “Right? I’m aware of it, you know? That you two are the types that gain weight starting from their breasts. And that your upper arm and abdomen only gains weight after that.” Mirai dropped her gaze to her chest, and then dropped her shoulders along with it. “I have a body that doesn’t gain weight no matter how much I eat, but in exchange, so does my chest stay the same. You two have it good… *weep* .” “Come now, don’t cry, Mirai. Being big are the roles of me and Ima, while being small is yours──Having abundance of variety would make Hikaru-san pleased too.”
“It’s just like Kako-neesama said. Be it big or small, there are many kinds of breasts in the world, and each have their charms. That’s how the world is made .” “But that’s not fair! Aren’t we blood-related sisters?! I also want to put my breasts on Hikaru-oniichan’s head, or bury his face in them! Waah!” “Please don’t cry, Mirai. You have your charms too.” “Hikaru-sama is open-minded even towards flat girls. Stay strong.” “No way! I wanna have big boobs too!” “Please don’t throw a tantrum. It’s sad for us too… After all, even if our breasts do grow big, it just makes our shoulders stiff and we have to buy new underwear, and before long, even our abdomens start to gain weight.” “Exactly. Big beasts have their share of downsides too. In summer they become covered in sweet and they attract the stares of men when we walk in the streets. It’s quite annoying, and yet all we want is for Hikaru-sama’s eyes to be nailed there alone.” “In that case, would you big sisters like to use your goddess’ authorities and switch places with me!” “We can’t do that. And weren’t we just talking about how we shouldn’t use our authorities so thoughtlessly?” “In other words, all doors are closed for us.” “You mean there’s no way around it?!” “Yes, no way around it.” “We three goddesses are putting up with inconveniences all the time.” “That’s so sad!” “So sad!” “How sad indeed!” The three sisters suffered a heartache. The happiness brought about by the cherry pie was momentarily shattered to bits──or so it appeared at least. “Oh I know, I just hit upon a good idea.” “What did you think of, Kako-neesama?” “Let’s rely on Hikaru-san. Let us share our hardships with him and have him comfort us. What do you think?” “That’s a nice idea!” “I’m all for it too!” “Then, how about we do a little simulation about how exactly we are
going to have him comfort us?” “Kako-neesama, you are a genius.” “This sounds like it would be fun!” “In that case, I’ll go first since I brought it up. Lets see, if it was me──” Closing her eyes and concentrating hard, Kako started to imagine. “Kako-neesan. You’ve suffered so much.” After listening to my difficulties to the end, Hikaru-san gave me a warm smile. In all truth, just that smile of his was a reward for me, however Hikaru-san continued his words. “I’m always being spoiled by you, Kako-neesan, so this time I’ll be the one to spoil you to your heart’s content. Now, come here.” Saying so, Hikaru-san sat on the bed and tapped on his knees. “I’ll give you a lap pillow.” Ahh──how wonderful it sounds, Hikaru-san’s lap pillow! I am always the one giving lap pillows to him, but reversing our positions once in a while sounds nice in itself too. I plopped down on his knees without reservation. Hikaru-san gazed down at me with eyes full of affection. “As a special service, I’ll do this too.” Moreover, he proceeded to gently pat my head. I closed my eyes and entrusted everything to him. It was a moment that filled me with calmness, blowing all my painful feelings away in the blink of an eye. And then, Hikaru-san’s hand started to move from its position. From around my earlobes to the nape of my neck, and then towards my chest. Ah! You can’t, Hikaru-san, That’s── “Don’t worry. Leave everything to me.” Hikaru-san whispered amorously into my ears. My body flinched at his touch, however I kept my eyes closed and accepted it all. And then, Hikaru-san’s hand didn’t stop at just my breasts, but it kept going lower...and lower── “...Something like that. How about it? Hey, how about it?” “Kako-neesan! That really made my heart skip a beat!”
“I really liked how it gradually went from the heartwarming to lewd scene!” “Let me see, if it was me──” Closing her eyes and concentrating hard, Ima started to imagine. “Ima-san. You’ve suffered so much.” After listening to my difficulties to the end, Hikaru-sama gave me a warm smile. In all truth, just that smile of his was a reward for me, however Hikarusama continued his words. “I’m always receiving a service from you, Ima-san, so this time I’ll be the one to give the service to your heart’s content. Now, come here.” I drew closer to Hikaru-sama as told. “Let me carry you like a princess.” Ahh──how wonderful it sounds, Hikaru-sama’s princess carry! I am always the one giving casual services for Hikaru-sama to enjoy, but reversing our positions once in a while sounds nice in itself too. I yielded my body to him. Thus, Hikaru-sama gently held me up in his arms. Ah, this feels so nice. What a mysterious feeling this is, being embraced by a man. This is surely a moment of ecstasy. Ah, so fantastic indeed. “Could it be that this much is not enough for you? Then I’ll do some more.” Eh? If there still more after this? Aah── Suddenly, Hikaru-sama buried his face in the base of my neck. Hyan! A strange voice escaped my lips. You can’t, Hikaru-sama, doing something like that here so suddenly. “Don’t worry. Leave everything to me.” Hikaru-sama whispered to me in a voice full of confidence. When I heard his whispering voice, my mind went blank. After all, Hikaru-sama had such a sexy voice. And after whispering to me so closely, there was no way I could refuse. Ah!
Meanwhile, I was carried all the way to the bed. And then, Hikaru-sama started to greedily devour my body without a moment’s delay. We can’t, we have to follow the proper steps…, but Hikaru-sama is so skilled, at this rate I’m going to…ahh...ahh..ahh── “...Something like that. What do you think?” “That was good, Ima! Really, really good!” “I was so moved! I really liked how Hikaru-oniichan called it a service but turned into a wild beast midway!” “Then, it’s your turn next, Mirai.” “Okaay! Errr, if it was me──” Closing her eyes and concentrating hard, Ima started to imagine. “Mirai-chan. You’ve suffered so much.” After listening to my difficulties to the end, Hikaru-oniichan gave me a warm smile. In all truth, just that smile of his was a reward for me, but Hikaru-oniichan continued his words. “I’m always receiving requests from you, Mirai-chan, so this time I’ll be the one to do the requesting to my heart’s content. Are you ready?” Saying so, Hikaru-oniichan raised my chin up. “Can I give you a kiss on the cheek?” Waah, is he serious? Having Hikaru-oniichan kiss me is a once is as rare of an opportunity as it can possibly get. So I naturally nodded. And then, Hikaru-oniichan gave me a gentle kiss on the cheek. Ehehe. This feels good. So, so good. “Next, can I give you a kiss on the ear?” Ehh? I believe kissing on the cheek is a sign of closeness… But what does that make a kiss on the ear? That doesn’t simply end on mere closeness, does it? “Come on, it’s a once-in-a-lifetime request. Don’t worry, I will be gentle. Okay?” Hikaru-oniichan pleaded innocently with me. If he requests it like that, there’s no way I could refuse. Just a bit then , thus I answered with a nod.
Then Onii-chan gave my ear a kiss. Then he bit them playfully. And furthermore, he even blew his breath on them. Wah, this is making me tremble… I started feeling strange all of a sudden, I… Rather, this is no longer a kiss you know, Hikaru-oniichan? It’s something else entirely… “Are you… against it?” Hikaru-oniichan pleaded with me with upturned eyes. There was no way I could possibly say no when he acted this way. I answered him with rapid shakes of my head. And then, Hikaru-oniichan’s actions started to gradually escallate. He did all this and that to me that I couldn’t possibly say. I knew all this was wrong. But the way Onii-chan acted so spoiled looked so cute that I agreed without thinking. And every time I did so, I started feeling more and more strange… I realised that my body was burning up now. And my breathing had become rough too for some reason. Seeing me in such a state, Hikaru-oniichan made his final request. “Then, next──Can I have...all of you, Mirai-chan?” “Yeah, you can… If it’s you, Hikaru-oniichan…” “...Kyaa~! Kyaa~!” “Aahn, that’s nice, that’s really nice!” “Mirai, are you actually a genius?” “Hikaru-sama acting like a kept man has that fresh feel to it and it’s nice.” “Eheheh. As I was always the impish character who commences the attacks, I thought being on the receiving side wouldn’t be so bad either sometimes.” “Ah, that’s right. I just hit upon an another wild idea. Let’s see, let’s see── Such was their tea time. The happy circle–with no one to retort–had continued on and on without an end.
CHAPTER EIGHT “Listen to me you perverted sisters!” That day after school ended──In other words, the after school on the day when Hikaru proposed in the morning on the way to the school. Sakura had come to the Oogami house without delay. “Blah blah blah... and so, me and Hikaru are now dating!” In the Living room, Kako, Ima, Mirai, and Hikaru as well were sitting around the dining table. Five of them, with Sakura included. And right now, they were about to begin their little family council. “That’s right, we are dating! Officially! As lovers! That means, I’m no longer in the childhood friend position I was until now, but instead I have become what is commonly referred to as the girlfriend! That’s right, now bow, bow before me, all of you are too haughty!” The point Sakura was trying to make in high spirits was quite simple. That is, no matter what kind of bonds they shared or how much they got along, at the end of the day, Hikaru and Sakura were still not directly related in any way. And there were limits to her influence with just her status as his childhood friend and a neighbour. But what if she became his lover? And not just a normal lover, but instead it was a relationship based on a proposal, so in a way, you could say they were engaged now. In other words, they were now related. You could even say she was part of his family. Which meant that from now on her opinions held a strong authority towards the shameless acts the sisters did!
Now THIS is the moment I waited for so long! Sakura snickered in her mind; finally the wind had changed its direction for her. Despite how long they had known each other and how close they were, she was still resigned to a position where she was treated like air, however, she was unexpectedly promoted by three ranks. And now, this was the moment where she had to correct the disordered public morals of the Oogami family. Men and women bathing together would be banned. Needless exposure of the skin would also be banned. Excessive skinship would be banned, too. With that, even Hikaru who ogled at the three sisters all the time would probably get back into a proper shape. Now, today was the day she would say it all. She would speak without holding anything back (from her standpoint as his relative) and finally end the licentious lifestyle of the three sisters── “““WE WELCOME YOU WARMLY!””” When Sakura was about to speak her mind, the three sisters spoke in perfect unison. “So great, so wonderful! You finally did it, Sakura-chan!” “As expected from you too, Hikaru-sama! You sure know how to hold your own when it counts!” “I was wondering when would you two finally start dating, but it seems the time has finally come! Congrats, Sakura-chan!” “Eeh? Ah, yea. Thanks?” “Hey hey, tell us your thoughts! How do you feel today? Come on, tell us!” “Ah, errr. I’m happy, yeah.” “How exactly did he propose to you, please tell us all about it!” “Errr, it was pretty simple. He just said “please marry me”.” “Sakura-oneechan, when exactly will you two get married for real?!” “Eh, no way, that’s still too early~ We just started dating, you know~” Bit by bit, Sakura’s expression broke into a big smile. The three sisters were good at dragging people into their flow, and Sakura happened to be particularly susceptible. “Still, this is wonderful news. This calls for an immediate feast.” “Of course. Let’s put our all into it and make a delicious meal for tonight.”
“Aside from that, things will be getting hectic for us too. I feel so motivated all of a sudden. How about you, Sakura-oneechan?” “Ah, yea. Errr. What do you mean by hectic again? Like, the cooking?” “No no, isn’t it quite obvious!” “It’s exactly as Kako-neesama says. Something like that is obvious!” “Yaay! Bride training, bride training it is~!” “Eh, wai-, how did it come to that? Didn’t you just hear when I said we just started dating?” “Indeed, we heard it loud and clear when you said you two started officially dating.” “And after getting proposed to, on top of that.” “That basically means, it is based on marriage.” “Wait a-” Sakura fell into panic, but this situation was already taken over by the three sisters. “No no, wait a minute here, you are going too fast there! We started dating only today, you know?! Why are you talking about things like bride training and marriage premises all of a──” “But you two had a marriage promise ever since you were kids, right? That being the case, starting to date would be quite similar to marriage, wouldn’t you agree? Then isn’t it natural to call it a marriage premise and talk about bride training?”
“No, this and that are different things… I mean, everyone makes such promises when they are kids, and it’s not strange for people to forget about them too──” “But Hikaru-san still remembered it, right?” “And Hikaru-sama took responsibility and proposed to you like a man, right? Moreover, he was mindful of your hesitation, Sakura-san, and he settled for being lovers for now, didn't he? And wasn’t it you who brought up that old topic, Sakura-san?” “And now you are saying such things, Sakura-oneechan? You are the worst~”
“Wiat, hold on! I said that was a misunderstanding!” “You are horrible, Sakura-chan. So dating Hikaru-san is just a way to kill time for you, huh.” “You even toyed with Hikaru-sama’s pure heart… You are really tempting god there. You wouldn’t have any complaints if we use our goddess’ authority to bestow a punishment on you, would you?” “I seem to have misjudged you, Sakura-oneechan… I didn’t think you were that kinda person.” “Wait wait! How did it come to this?! Isn’t this just weird?!” While they were at it, Hikaru quietly sipped his Bancha, a lower grade tea, and waited for the outcome. As someone who didn’t talk much but was quite wise, he knew very well that discretion was the better part of valor here. Yup, you guessed it. He found it amusing, hence he just waited and watched. “If you say you weren’t playing with him, then prove it with your actions.” “Dating Hikaru-sama, the reincarnation of Odin-sama, without a goal is like a waste of divinity. You have to give a proper shape to your dating.” “And the best way to do that would be bride training! If you do it, we will be convinced that you aren’t just playing around with him~” “Yes, bride training.” “Bride training it is.” “Bride training, bride training!” “Aaah, just shut up shut up shut up!” Sakura who was fighting a losing battle had finally snapped. She couldn’t endure it when they called the love she harbored for over ten years as mere playing. If it’s proof they wanted, then it’s proof they would get. “Fine, I’ll do that bride training! While it’s not my forte, I can still cook, clean and do laundry!” “Hey, did you hear her?” “I heard it loud and clear, Kako-neesama.” “Me too~ With this, we got her promise.” “──Actually, I ended up agreeing on it, but isn’t this all strange, after all?! I said it many times already, but we just started dating, so we are still at the stage of a platonic love, okay?! How did the bride training come up here!”
“But you already promised.” “Let me warn you that if you fail to keep your promise before the goddesses, you will be in for some big trouble.” “Then let’s get on with bride training starting from this moment!” “...Agh, I don’t care anymore. Fine, fine, I got it.” Sakura finally resigned herself to her fate. It was three versus one from the start, and to make matters worse, the goddesses who were skilled at speech were her opponents. Now that it had come to this, she had no choice but to abide to it. “As I said, I’ll do everything whether it’s cooking, cleaning or laundry. They are fields I’m not really skilled at, but I never dedicated my time to learn them...so this might actually be a good opportunity. Okaay! Now that’s decided, I suddenly feel motivated! I’ll give my all with this bride training of yours! Just watch me, you perverted sisters, I’ll show you that even I can do it if I get serious! Now, whatever kind of spartan education it is, just come at me!” Evening of the same day, Hikaru’s room on the second floor. ...How did it come to this? While staring at the ceiling that had the lights turned off, Sakura asked herself in a daze. She was going to do bride training, and she was fine with it. She expected that it would be a road full of hardships. If it was something that could be solved in one day, the housewives all over the country wouldn’t be having such hardships. I will accept all the challenges head on , she made such resolution. But how did it come to this? She believed she had resolved herself, but this was something beyond what she had in mind. “It’s been a while since we’ve done this, huh.” Hikaru, also looking at the ceiling from beside her, said in a nostalgic manner. “I wonder how many years has it been since we’ve slept together like this.” “Errr, I think ever since the outdoors school from our second year of the grade school… No no, wait, rather than that...” “Hm? Was there some other time when we had a chance to sleep
together?” “Ah, no, I’m sure that was the last time we got to sleep together… I mean, this is no time for that. Isn’t there something else we should be commenting on with our current situation?” “Ah, is your pillow uncomfortable by chance? Wanna switch it with mine?” “Ah, yea, please do. I’m having a hard time sleeping with the pillow I’m not used to… I MEAN, THAT’S NOT IT! WHY ARE WE SLEEPING IN THE SAME BED IS WHAT I’M ASKING!” Sakura went with the flow without thinking before finally snapping. But that was quite a natural reaction. After all, just as she had pointed out, they were now sleeping together. It was one thing for the early grade schoolers, but these were pubescent youngsters we were talking about. “...And again, just how did it come to this…” “Isn’t this because of bride training?” “No, I get that part! I’m saying that the training itself is weird!” “From what I remember, it started as fairly normal bride training at first.” “Right, it was normal at first… We started off with cooking practice…” “That you did, but you were just that terrible at it, Sakura.” “I can’t help it. I’m not skilled at using my fingers, and I’m not cooking at home either.” “So, since that couldn’t be helped, you moved on to the cleaning. But once again, you were hopeless at cleaning…” “I can’t help that either. I’m clumsy, and I’m not doing any cleaning at home either.” “At that point, the mood had already turned grim, but then everyone thought you’d at least be able to do the laundry. After all, all you had to do was to throw the laundry into the washing machine and hit the button.” “Yea, I also thought that was the case...at first! But you know, when I hit that button, the washing machine started smoking and it broke! I bet it was at the end of its lifespan!” “Sorry to disappoint you, but we just recently bought that one, and it’s still the warranty period. Though this wasn’t wear and tear, so the guarantee doesn’t cover it.” “...It’s a conspiracy!”
Sakura shouted with a cornered expression. “There’s something really wrong with it! Don’t you find it strange, if you think about it normally?! Even if it’s me we are talking about, I still can’t accept that I’d fail this much! I’m certain this was a conspiracy devised by some people!” “Do you really think so?” “No, sorry, I don’t. It’s all because I’m so hopeless. I’m sorry for being such a useless girl…” “I was aware of it though. That you are a genius when it comes to the lack of ability with housework in general.” “I thought I could finally do it! I’m already in high school, I thought I might be able to do the things I wasn’t able to in the past! I get that it was just a wishful thinking!” “Isn’t it fine, though? Having things you are bad at. I think it’s smarter to improve what you are good at and leave what you are bad at to others.” “Ugh… Sometimes you pull out a sound argument that I can’t even retort to…” “Don’t worry, don’t worry. There were characters who did cliche things like you in the popularity contest top rankings of the weekly shonen jump I read some time ago.” “Are you saying that my lack of talent is on the same level as manga? Ugaaah!” Sakura screamed teary eyed, while Hikaru laughed nonchalantly. “──No, wait a minute. Let’s get back to the main point.” “What was it again?” “It was as to why are we sleeping in the same bed now! After talking so nonchalantly, I totally forgot the most important part!” “Isn’t it fine though? Your old man and mom gave us their permission too.” “Don’t use my papa and mama as a reference! They are the types that would just say, ‘Yeah, you can go and mate with Hikaru-kun if you want, waha-ha!’!” “Ah. Yeah, they totally would.” “Right, my papa and mama are really so──agh, the conversation is getting derailed again!” “In the end, isn’t the reason quite apparent? It’s because Sakura is so
hopeless at housework that it has come to this, isn’t it?” “Ugh.” “You suck at cooking, cleaning and laundry, so your only choice is to become skilled in bed, so get into his bed right now──when the sisters suggested that, you weren’t thinking clearly and carelessly agreed. Isn’t that what happened I wonder.” “Yes, that’s how it was. Thank you very much for pointing it out so calmly.” “Then, should we stop it, after all? This practice, I mean.” “...That would piss me off in its own way. I don’t wanna flee while being treated as a useless girl. If I turned tail now, I can’t even imagine what the sisters would tell me later.” “Now that’s quite the dilemma. By the way, I am personally quite happy to be sharing a bed with you.” “...Can you not summarize the situation so easily… If you tell me that with a smile, how do you expect me to object…” “Don’t worry, I’m not gonna do anything against your will.” “I-It’s not like I’m against…” “I’m am a guy who can wait. I will wait for as long as you want me to. Be it days, months or even years.” “...If you put it that way, it feels like you are just leaving the decision to me alone.” “Well, let’s do it now then. Let’s start with the kiss and then──” “You just had to start with something extreme! Are you a native digital guy with nothing but 1s and 0s in your head?! If you aren’t, then set a better mood for this or──aagh, I’m such a bothersome girl, even if I say so myself! Just be quiet for a bit! Give me time to think! I’m trying to collect my thoughts!” “Okay okay, I’ll wait.” Hikaru laughed in amusement, while Sakura turned over and covered her face. Aah, come on! What’s up with this situation, gimme a break! I feel like screaming my lungs out. Really, just why did it come to this. Is it my fault? I’m sorry. But...but... ──Sakura felt conflicted. She wasn’t trying to find an excuse, but this situation was kinda inevitable.
She knew that the goddesses weren’t the bad ones here, but she sometimes had trouble following their ideas, given that they were gods, and those calamitous beings were leading her around as they pleased. Thinking back, the past was quite peaceful. Past──In this case, it referred to just a few months prior. Back when the goddesses weren’t around, she had a calm relationship with Hikaru, and she didn’t used to barge in while yelling about shamelessness, and it was out of question for her to sleep with him in order to become better in bed. Peace. Indeed, it was peaceful. There was no incidents. Her relationship with Hikaru was concluded, and they spend their days without any acton, being the “close–albeit slightly unusual–childhood friends who stayed good friends even now that they had become high school students”. … …… ……… Yeah, that’s no good. Sakuwa was self-aware of it. That would be a waste of their life. If the sisters weren’t here, her relationship with Hikaru would never change, and nothing would ever happen, and they would stay as just childhood friends, she had a strong premonition of that. Sakura was well aware that she was a late-bloomer. This time, Hikaru “just happened to” confess and it ended well, but the luck wasn’t always on her side. Perhaps there was a future where they stayed as childhood friends and Hikaru instead dated with someone else. And thinking calmly about it, she realised that there was a high chance that she was heading exactly towards that future. I wouldn’t ever want that, Sakura strongly believed so. After all, I really love Hikaru. She would never give up on that. Reincarnation of Odin? He might’ve been a good at one point? As if that mattered. Hikaru was Hikaru. He was someone she always loved, and while he had some weird parts, he was kind and reliable deep down. He was someone she wanted to have by her side forever and ever. And if she wanted him to be by her side, to always snuggle up to her, then
she couldn’t continue as she did until now. If she wanted everything to remain the same, she had to make a change. It was quite a contradiction but a truth nonetheless. And if so, now was the time. Now, when some mysterious circumstances had led them into sleeping together. Surely, this was the best chance she would get, to change things in order for everything to stay the same, would she not? “Hey, Hikaru──” Making up her mind, she called out to him. “Shall we do it...today?” That was the best invitation she could muster, she was a girl that could hardly be called assertive. And Hikaru’s answer to her invitation was the following. “Zzz.” … …… ……… ...This bastard actually dared to sleep! Smack! She instinctively slapped Hikaru in the head. “Ouch...Zzz.” He reacted to it, but went back to sleep just as quickly. This guy! This guy is just…! I can’t believe it! I can’t believe it! Why is he sleeping so soundly?! Well, that sounds like him, but still! “Soiya! ( Smack! )” “Ouch…Zzz.” She ended up hitting him one more time. But Hikaru went back to sleep again. Haah… I get it, I don’t care anymore. Sakura gave up. Though she knew that he was this kind of a guy. He was off with his weird timings, that was who Oogami Hikaru was, and at times, it was also one of his charms. Her weakness of falling in love with
him had finally ran out of luck, and like this, she had no other choice but to keep dating him for her entire life. Agh, I look like an idiot! Let’s just sleep, sleep! She lied down and covered her face with the blanket. But still… Was this really fine? Thinking calmly about it, this was their first day after they started dating. There was no need to force herself to do the unreasonable. She fell for the smooth talk, got swept up by the mood, and depending on the circumstances, there was a chance that she would cross that one line too. It was a close call. Right, right. It’s fine to just take this slowly. It’d been over ten years ever since they met; a little too late for them to finally start dating. But it was not necessarily a bad thing to take time with it. The fast paced relationships were mainstream in the world, however there was no need for everyone to follow the same route. So I’ll just sleep for now. Goodnight. Saying that to herself, Sakura closed her eyes. A lot had happened today, however it was still a good day, in the end. Let us pray that tomorrow brings yet another good day.
CHAPTER NINE ...As if I can sleep now! Not even five minutes had passed as she pushed aside the blanket and jumped to her feet. Her eyes were red and congested, as if she had just come out of the pool. I tried give this situation a good conclusion, but this is just impossible! I can’t help but think about it! Hikaru, someone I love, is literally sleeping next to me! Your ordinary person wouldn’t be able to fall asleep in a situation like this. Hikaru wasn’t ordinary so he was sleeping like a log, but Sakura on the other hand possessed common sense of a normal person. And on top of that, she was a proper, healthy sixteen year old girl. Frankly speaking, I’m too excited and can’t fall asleep! Gaah! Sakura rolled about in the futon. Her body was hot, and she had a hard time enduring various feelings. Whenever Hikaru’s breath tickled the nape of her neck as he slept, her body would start trembling from the physiological response. Even if she started to recite the heart sutra, following the ‘clear your mind of all mundane thoughts, and you will find even fire cool’ route wasn’t an option either. The worldly desires were the privileges of the young, men and women were the same in that regard. Okay, let’s calm down. I should just calm down. She forcibly persuaded herself. There’s no way these worldly desires would settle down, and neither would she be calming down any time soon, but she had to think either way.
In order to maintain their pure relationship, she had use all her power and find a way to make a clean break out of this situation without loosing to her desires. What she needed to do now was that, above anything else. ...Hmm? Eh? She suddenly recovered herself. Actually… Was is really something she shouldn’t do? Losing to her desires and graduating from their pure relationship… was that really something bad? Despite the fact that they were officially dating? And had promised to marry each other on top of it? That doesn’t sound wrong at all. It’s instead the correct thing to do. Which meant… Even if she made a move now, it wouldn’t really be a problem, would it? Sakura gulped loudly. She looked down on Hikaru who was sleeping next to her. His skin was surprisingly beautiful, and his lips seemed so tasty. She had been with him for too long, so she could easily tell whether he was feigning sleep or not. And right now, he was most definitely asleep. And that meant… Even if she did something to him, he wouldn’t really know...would he? And even he did, wouldn’t it still be legitimate…? Gulp. Sakura swallowed once again. The temptation was real. A sense of virtue could just go fuck itself. At the point when a young girl and boy decided to sleep together, those textbook-like ethics had already lost all their meaning. In this situation, an angel was a devil, and a devil was also an angel. The conflict that commonly happens between good and evil no longer held any significance here. Ba-bum-ba bum-ba bum. Her heart rate accelerated without a stop. And now... Right now… Maybe she could try doing something that she normally couldn't? As a preface or a hors d’oeuvre or something! She slowly drew closer to Hikaru’s face, while frantically trying to hold back her breathing that seemed like it would go out of control at any moment.
And then, she whispered in a voice so low that Hikaru wouldn’t be able to hear it even if he was awake. “...Hikaru. I love you.” Kyaa! Kyaa! She rolled while throwing kicks around. Whoops, that was a bad move. If she made so much noise, even Hikaru could wake up from it. But still──Uhehe. I said it, I said it! She had finally said the words she wanted to say for so many years but was never able to. But the person concerned was sleeping, you say? As if that mattered. And they were already dating after he confessed anyway, you say? Stop joking around, it is always important to say those words to make sure. Tacit understanding is just a nice excuse to avoid it; even when it comes to remembering one english word, isn’t it far more effective when you speak it aloud? Whoops, calm down, me. I need to be careful here, really, really careful… Sakura rebuked her agitated self. After all, this situation was likely to develop into “Hikaru’s been awake all this time!” scenario. And Sakura was well aware that she was exactly the kind of person who was likely to step on that landmine. And so, she decided to make sure of it. She poked his face, and drew her ear close to his nose to check his sleeping breaths. Moreover, she even put her hand on his chest and checked his heartbeat. ──Okay, he was sound asleep, no two ways about it. She was a hundred percent safe. She got annoyed at him for falling asleep in this situation, but now that it had come to this, she was instead thankful of it. By all means, she wanted him to keep sleeping until morning. And during that time, she would do as she pleased with him! No matter the times, those who showed openings were the ones to be blamed! I’m going to kiss him right now! This was quite literally a once-in-a-lifetime chance. There was hardly a chance for it to go wrong. If she failed here, there was no knowing when she would get another chance. But this was just the first day of their dating, you say? That doesn’t matter. The lucky and good day
was exactly when the Lady Luck showed her smile. If she let go of this chance, she would be incurring a divine punishment. And it wasn’t good to turn one’s back at the providence of heavens. I’m doing it. Miyamoto Sakura, sixteen years old, will now be taking her first step on the stairs of adulthood…! She drew her face closer to be on top of his. Hikaru was still sound asleep. This was the promised victory. However clumsy she was, even she couldn’t possibly screw this up. Okay, I’m doing it, here I go! And I don’t meant your cheeks, but your lips! I’ll be taking my first kiss now── ...As if! It won’t be so easy! I knew it! Sakura got flustered and moved her face away, making a clean break. After all, there was no way it could go so well. She didn’t want to boast but, she was a natural born, hopeless-at-love girl, and it was simply impossible for everything to go her way like it has until now. There was definitely a trap ahead. When it comes to a trap that would come up in this situation, it’s most definitely going to be those perverted sisters!
Sakura suddenly glared towards the door. After all──After all, they are surely holding their breaths on the other side of it, aren’t they? They are trying to ascertain with their own eyes just what would Hikaru and I would do, right? Since this was originally part of the bride training, after all! The one those sisters created! And I almost forgot about it, too! If it’s those three, they are definitely going to do something! There’s no way they would sit quietly when there’s something so interesting before them! They are definitely observing us now, and maybe even filming it, and they
want to show me that video with smug faces! I can totally see that happening! Even if I am not the goddess of time and destiny, Norn, I can still predict that much! Sakura jumped out of the bed, and dashed straight towards the door. And then, she pushed open the door with all she had in order to expose the three sisters who were surely giggling on the other side. Slam! Okay, you perverted sisters! You must be having a great mistake if you think you can get away with messing with me every time!! Predicting the earlier development falls under your specialty, doesn’t it?! I’m not gonna stop this time and beat you into── ...They aren’t here! There was no one there. There was only the dark corridor spreading beyond the opened door. The Oogami house had fallen silent in the dead of night, like an uninhabited house. ──Why won’t you come to interrupt us?! Isn’t that basically how it goes in this situation?! Wouldn’t it be bad if I kissed him just like that?! Read the mood, you hear me, read the mood! Sakura stamped her feet in silence, frustrated. No no. Hold on a bit. A certain possibility flashed in her mind. Listening from behind the door was way too predictable thing to do. Then what if they were observing in some different way? It was certainly a possibility. A listening device, or a hidden camera, there were many ways to do it. And to make matters worse, this was the sisters’ home ground. They had more than enough time on their hands to make their preparations. And they were goddesses, to begin with, so they could very well be able to use something like X-ray vision, too. I see, I didn’t see that coming ──Sakura conceded . The enemy prepared a high class strategy. Thinking about it, it was quite natural that if they were going to observe, they would choose the means that was least likely to be found out. Such scheming fellows they were, she was almost deceived. And with that, her next action was already decided!
She ran downstairs to the first floor! To the reception hall where the three sisters had their futons spread out and slept! She was going for a surprise attack! The victory went for the one who made the first move, so while they weren’t aware that she realised their scheme, she would go and obtain the irrefutable evidence! Creak! She opened the sliding door. I found you, perverted sisters! I was sure it would be something like this. You are hundred years too early to be peeping on our kissing scene! You are always messing with me, but this time I’m going to── ...They are sleeping! The three sisters were sleeping normally in the bedroom before the door and releasing sleeping sounds. And they weren’t feigning it either, but instead they were so sound asleep that they wouldn’t wake up even if you hit them. Or rather…! Don’t sleep! Sakura stomped her feel on the air, frustrated. Isn’t this situation where you would be plotting something?! Why are you sleeping like it’s nothing! I believed in the cliche development and came here in high spirits, but I look like a total fool now! But well, I came running here with a triumphant look while fighting a nonexistent enemy, so I really am a fool! Sorry! Or rather, what am I even doing in someone else’s house! I’m reflecting on it, I’m really sorry! Also, let me just confess here! I never actually planned to go for a kiss since the start! After all, I had a premonition that you’d definitely get in the way! I mean, isn’t that how it was supposed to be?! When it comes to these kind of developments, some kind of interruption always comes up, doesn’t it?! Usually, you’d act based on that, right?! It’s because I was convinced that I’d get interrupted that I became so confident there! So I’ll change my attitude now, and I’m not going to kiss him! And moreover, I won’t go beyond that point no matter what! Isn’t it just
unreasonable?! It’s my first time! If I could do something like that, I’d have long since confessed to Hikaru myself! I’d have dated him for a long time now and flirted with him like a normie! So, I’ll just go sleep now! I’ll go and sulk in bed! I’ll send my consciousness in the dream world, and start a new day pretending nothing happened! I can only do that now! I would die from embarrassment if someone saw me right now! And I don’t wanna die yet! Not when I just started dating Hikaru today! Thus, she returned to Hikaru’s room on the second floor and crawled into the bed. She put the blanket over her head and tightly shut her eyes. Now, let’s sleep. Let me count sheep or something and I’ll fall asleep. I’m sure tomorrow would wash away today's events. I’ll bury the memories of this impossible game of today far away, and start a new game tomorrow. Yup, let’s do that. I have to do that, I want to do that, I hope I can do that── ...No like I said, I can’t possibly sleep now! She pushed aside the futon and jumped to her feet, and that started another loop, returning her to the starting point. ──And that covered my report on how Miyamoto Sakura tilted at windmills and had a maiden-like breakdown.
CHAPTER TEN During that time. Oogami Hikaru was dreaming. No, it would be more accurate to say that it was a vision of the future. Where is this──? When he came to, he found himself in a different world. It was not Japan. Perhaps not even Earth. Fire and ice, the vast expansive ocean surging with large waves. And a giant tree like a wall, growing tall without end. The world looked as if the sphere and ellipse were merged together and split, and there existed no concepts of up, down, left or right. There was a war taking place. Between the gods and giants. Between a demon wolf, a giant serpent, a fairy and the dead. War hammers scattered the sparks as the thunders raged about, and w ar maidens spread their wings in the sky. Exactly something worthy of being called a great war. A crucible of destruction, radiating so much energy it reminded of the ending of the world. “Twilight of the Gods.” Someone suddenly spoke those words. That someone had been standing besides him unnoticed. It was the gal beauty──the goddess of destiny, Norn. “‘Sup, Odin-sama. Finally woke up, have we?” “Mmm...Yeah…” Hikaru blinked his eyes, and then, he suddenly remembered it.
What, you ask? Everything. The origin and the past of the present world which was deemed as the Mythical World. “I had a dream, Norn.” “Oh? What kind of dream?” “I had reincarnated into a different world. There was a country called Japan there. It was a small island-country, however it was still a nice country. And there, I lived as a relatively normal boy. Not as a god but as a human.” “Hmm. That piqued my curiosity a bit. Can you tell me more about it?” “It’s nothing that interesting, you know?” “No worries. Please do tell.” “Then, I shall. I lived in that world as an ordinary human. I had no special characteristics. I was quite an ordinary guy; my face wasn’t especially good, and nor was I tall. My only redeeming feature was the fact that I was always smiling.” “Ooh? But y’know,from what you have told me so far, isn’t he quite like you, Odin-sama?” “Is he?” “Totally. He sounds exactly like you. Odin-sama, if it’s about average looks, you have everyone beat at that in the entire Asgard.” “Ahaha. That’s a harsh way of putting it.” “And the fact that he’s always smiling is also totally like you, Odin-sama.” “Well, I still have my position as a great god to consider. Even if I look like this, there are actually a lot of people paying attention to me. In a way, you need to take the political consideration in mind when you stand at the top of the gods.” “But even so, Odin-sama is the number one for me, y’know? You love wisdom and are loved back, you are the war god who discovered the secrets of the runes. You are the wielder of Gungnir, a great strategist who devised the strategy for the approaching final war. In the end, it’s all thanks to your existence that we gods are still here today.” “But still, I lost.” Hikaru said as he gazed ahead. A war was unfolding. The god of lightning, Thor, swung his warhammer, while the giant serpent, Jormungandr, bared its giant fangs. The flame giant, Surtr, brandished his sword and the elven king, Frey r,