kscans

Chapter 83 - Hyakka and Chihiro

When we returned to the church in the evening, a message from Hyakka was waiting for us.

"'Waiting at the Fuurai Inn. Come alone,' it says?"

Famu nodded in response to my words. It sounded like a letter of challenge.

Fuurai Inn was the name of the inn where she was staying.

"Speaking of which, Mizuki. Hyakka said she knew you. Apparently you were in the same school for a year in elementary school."

At the mention of her name, Mizuki touched her chin, searching her memory, and tilted her head.

"A girl from Kansai... with a Kansai accent... could it be, Hii-chan... no, Hida-san?"

She looked at me, seeking an answer. But I hadn't heard her last name either.

"Beats me."

This time, I was the one tilting my head.

"...Honestly, what's with you?"

Mizuki slumped her shoulders in defeat.

"Hmm, but I'm sure that's her. In elementary school, she had short black hair."

Her current red hair must not be dyed, but a change that occurred when she came to this world.

"Is that so. She said you helped mediate a dispute, even though you were in a different class."

"It wasn't like that. She had just transferred and seemed a little isolated, so I just went to talk to Hii-chan. She talked my ear off the whole time. I don't remember what we talked about, but I think a lot of it was about Osaka. Whenever we were together, she just talked and talked."

"And then?"

I asked.

"After that, everyone started listening to her talk."

Hyakka had said Mizuki came to talk to her, but it was Mizuki who had created the opportunity. After that, Hyakka must have just kept on talking. Hyakka said Mizuki was famous and popular. She must have been a beautiful girl even back then. She must have understood her influence on those around her and, instead of mediating, changed their impressions by being with Hyakka. As a result, no one got hurt, and Hyakka was able to fit into her new school. Is that the kind of solution an elementary school girl would come up with?

"...You're pretty amazing, you know that?"

I wish she'd thought of that kind of solution during the molester incident. But I also felt a sense of unease. If Mizuki was capable of thinking like that, she should be demonstrating more leadership. Yet, Mizuki's self-esteem was low, and she never tried to take the lead. I'm sure her fear of men played a part, but I felt like that wasn't the only reason. Was this what Hyakka had been hesitant to say?

"I'm not amazing. Hyakka solved it herself."

"No, that's not true. As a reward, I'll give you some Stollen."

I took out the Stollen I had received earlier, and Aira shot me a glare.

"This Stollen is a gift from Aira-san. She said she wanted everyone to share it. In the meantime, I'm going to see Hyakka."

"Hmph! I said the three of us, including Cecily, should eat it together!"

I pretended not to hear Aira's protest and left the church.

Famu walked beside me, her mouth munching on something.

"Hyakka said to come alone, didn't she?"

"We are two as one,"

Famu declared, offering up a logic I didn't quite understand. I didn't know what Hyakka's purpose was, but I figured it would be fine even if there were two of us. We walked towards the Fuurai Inn.

"Master. Before we go to Hyakka's, let's buy lots of Stollen."

She was a gourmet. Her palate was definitely refined.

"Unfortunately, it's not for sale. The people at a house we happened to stop by gave it to us."

"Is that so..."

Famu's shoulders slumped.

"I don't know if it'll work out, but I'll try to ask for the recipe and make it."

"But it's difficult to bake bread while traveling."

She must have helped out at home and baked bread before.

"Then we'll do it when we get to Miglutt."

"Yes,"

Famu nodded. As we were talking, we arrived at the Fuurai Inn. It had a similar structure to the inn we had stayed at in Richel. When we went inside, the tavern was already bustling. A group of drunkards saw my face and started making a fuss, shouting that the hero had arrived. I pushed my way through the crowd and headed for the reception desk.

"I'm here to see Hyakka."

"A rendezvous... doesn't look like it. She should be in her room."

The man at the desk gave me a teasing look, but his interest seemed to wane when he saw Famu with me. I got the room number and headed to her room. Before I left, I put down a gold coin and told them to buy a round of drinks for everyone in the tavern. I was feeling a bit hungry, so I also got some bread and a non-alcoholic drink to take with me.

"Wh-Why did you bring Famu?"

Hyakka asked in surprise as she greeted us. She was alone.

"Don't mind her. We are two as one."

I patted Famu's head.

"I do mind!"

Hyakka retorted. So Famu's logic didn't work after all.

"Where's Chihiro?"

It looked like a twin room, but he was nowhere to be seen.

"H-He's in another room today."

Was this a conversation so important that even Chihiro couldn't hear it?

"By the way, Mizuki remembered you too, Hii-chan."

Hyakka's expression brightened as if a light had been switched on.

"Is that so? Yamase-san remembered me too, huh..."

She pressed her hands to her cheeks, smiling brightly.

"So, what's the deal, Hii-chan?"

I asked her.

"...Somehow, I don't like it when you call me that, Mash. Chihiro's also 'Hii-chan,' so if you're gonna use a nickname, I'd prefer 'Mocchi' or 'Momo-chan.' Mocchi is 'cause I'm small. You can call me whatever cute nickname you like, Mash."

At her words, I thought for a moment. She said a nickname, but no matter how good I thought it was, I didn't know if she would like it. It was like a landmine.

"Alright, Momongaa. Why did you call me here?"

"...Actually, I'd prefer it if you just called me Hyakka, Mash. Anyway, the reason is... that. The sword that Uta had."

"This thing?"

I took out the double-edged sword Uta had from my storage.

"Isn't it strange? The legend says she used a katana."

"There's an inscription on the blade. Maybe it's for ceremonial purposes?"

I might be able to find out more about this by checking the diary-like memos left on Uta's phone.

"Yeah, that's true, but while you're tryin' to link it to monotheistic myths, it makes me think of my own country's myths..."

"...You have a point. This sword could be seen as the Totsuka no Tsurugi from the myths. The mirror, and then her Crystal Core..."

Hyakka nodded. Uta's burial goods could be compared to the Three Sacred Treasures of Japanese mythology. The sword and mirror were the Kusanagi no Tsurugi and the Yata no Kagami, and the Crystal Core that created that space was the Yasakani no Magatama. It probably wasn't that they were connected to one myth or the other, but that the myths themselves were the source and had become intertwined. I could take this as a message she had left for us.

"So?"

"'So?' What do you mean, 'so?'"

I wanted to hear Hyakka's conclusion, but she just asked me back.

"You're from Kansai, aren't you? Take responsibility for what you say and give me a punchline."

"It was just a thought. Thinking is your job."

"..."

"Is this why you called me here?"

I asked her. If this was all, there was no reason to summon me, nor was there a reason for Chihiro not to be here. Hyakka looked uncomfortable and kept glancing at Famu. I looked at Famu too, but she just had a prim look on her face, listening to our conversation.

"I wanted to be alone with you. I-I wanted to thank you!"

"With a kiss?"

Her face turned bright red, and she looked away.

"You knew that when I told you to come alone! Why did you bring her?"

I had hoped that was the case. Famu had undoubtedly realized it. That's why she came along.

"...It sounded like a challenge to a duel."

"If that's what you think, then I'll fight you. If I lose, I'm yours. Do whatever you want with me. But if I win, I'm taking Yamase-san."

What was she going to do with Mizuki?

"Hold on, there's a handicap of over a year in experience. And I'm not bragging, but I'm weak. I've never seen you fight, Hyakka, but I don't feel like I can win at all."

"I wonder about that..."

She looked at me doubtfully.

"You're changing the subject. You're the one who said you'd give me a kiss if I protected the town, Hyakka."

"...I just said I'd think about it,"

Hyakka mumbled, fidgeting. She had been planning to do it if I came alone, but now she was having second thoughts.

"And you don't have to worry about Famu. From now on, she's the cameraman."

I took out my phone from storage and handed it to Famu.

"No, I didn't get it at first, but Famu is your number one girl. I get it now, y'know! What are you planning on making her do?"

I had no intention of thinking of her that way, but had my attitude over the past few days been so obvious that she could be so sure?

"You seem to think you have a poker face, Mash, but it's pretty obvious what you're thinkin'. And then there's how Famu moves. She's always tryin' to be the closest to you, but you and the other girls let her."

Just as she pointed out, I thought I was a person who didn't show my emotions. So, even though I wasn't aware of it, my thoughts were written all over my face. Even knowing that, I still thought Famu's intuition was uncanny, but she had also been reading my expressions. Famu and I looked at each other. She looked away awkwardly.

"Famu won't do anything. She'll just check the photos with Chihiro."

I brought the conversation back on track.

"Don't do that!"

Hyakka panicked.

"Why not? It's your sister's big moment. Don't you two get along?"

I knew that wasn't the case, but I asked anyway. Hyakka and Chihiro had been summoned to this world as partners. There was no way they didn't get along.

"Talking to you is makin' my head spin! If your girlfriend's not gonna get mad, then just kiss me already. If that's what you want, Mash, we can go all the way."

"Really?!"

I got so excited I replied in Kansai dialect without thinking. "But why?"

"I thought about it a lot, too. Is it really okay to give myself to an old guy like this? But we're from the same world, you saved our town, and that Yamase-san is with you..."

Hyakka started saying something unsettling. I had a bad feeling about this. I wanted to hold her before Famu could stop me.

"Hey, you haven't done anything forceful or horrible to Yamase-san, have you?"

My eyes darted away. There was no way Hyakka wouldn't notice, and she sighed.

"It's true that Master did something terrible to Mizuki, but it was what Mizuki wanted."

For some reason, Famu threw me a lifeline. But I sensed a hint of malice in it.

"What's that supposed to mean? Well, if it were Yamase-san, she'd do something about it herself if she didn't like it..."

Hyakka seemed to have convinced herself. Still, her opinion of Mizuki was quite high. As if she had made up her mind, she came and stood close to me.

"Mash... we might only have ten years left. That's why I don't want to have any regrets. I'm going to start liking you from now on. I want you to cherish me, too, Mash."

Hyakka looked me in the eye and said.

"Are you sure? Isn't there someone else you like? Like Chihiro?"

"Wh-Why are you bringing up my brother's name?!"

She took a step back and looked at me. She was clearly flustered.

"You don't know? The goddess summons the two people with the best compatibility. And when you're transferred, your body changes a little to adapt to this world, right? It can be changed to be closer to your partner's preference."

"...Is that so? Then I guess this red hair is Chihiro's preference?"

She shook her ponytail and tossed it back.

"I don't know about that, but..."

"But there are same-sex pairs, right? Not all of 'em are couples, right? Me and Chihiro... we only showed each other when we were kids."

"What did ya say?! Tell me more about that!"

The second Kansai dialect slip of the day. Hyakka realized her slip of the tongue and covered her mouth, but it was too late.

"...Chihiro found a dirty magazine on our dad's bookshelf. We looked at it together. That night, we showed each other in the bath. After that, I couldn't take a bath with Chihiro anymore."

Compared to this world, our original world was a highly advanced information society. I was surprised that someone would hide dirty magazines on a bookshelf instead of keeping them as data. Chihiro's father must be a true man who valued the old-fashioned paper culture, even at the risk of his children finding them.

"Did your parents find out?"

Getting caught by your parents must be the most embarrassing and awkward thing ever.

"I just got too embarrassed to take a bath with him anymore."

"So that's not it. Did you really just show each other?"

"...I touched Chihiro's, and in return, Chihiro touched mine. After that, we washed each other too."

"Tell me a little more."

"Well, it was different from the book. So, I rubbed it to make it bigger and peeled it back. He did the same to me. He said that when he peeled it back, a little red bean-like thing came out. He played with it, but I couldn't see it from my angle, so I didn't know what he was doing."

Was the dirty magazine a Western one?

"Didn't you check in a mirror or something?"

"I got so worked up at the time that I didn't understand what was happening, so after that, I was too scared to check or touch it myself."

So Hyakka is the type who doesn't masturbate.

"W-Well, about once a month, before my period or so,"

she corrected herself when I remained silent.

"...You do it more often than that, don't you?"

"Ugh... but since coming to this world, Chihiro's always been with me. So I haven't done it. It's true."

She fidgeted, rubbing her fingertips together as she spoke. Famu was also staring intently at Hyakka, listening to her story. Every now and then, her ears would twitch. She was at that age where she was curious about lewd things.

"Let's get back on track. Who started touching first?"

"That was me..."

"Did he put it in?"

"He just touched me! I'm a v-virgin, so if you like me, Mash, you can check later. ...Hey, please, just let it go already. I'll tell you again when I'm your girlfriend..."

She covered her face with both hands. Her words and actions had been fueling my sadistic tendencies for a while now, but it was probably best to stop here.

"Alright, one last thing. Did it feel good?"

"Honestly, I didn't really know, but I think I was wet. I pretended it was just the bathwater."

"That's a great story. I'm moved!"

I put my hand on her shoulder and squeezed it tightly.

"What part of that was great?!"

"Famu, let's take a nude photo of Hyakka. We'll have Chihiro look at it and tell us what's changed and how."

"Idiot!"

Hyakka's scream echoed through the room.