Kaiwa mo shinai tsurekko no imouto ga, naganen issho ni baka yatte-kita Netoge no friend datta

“Well then, I have one more place to go by!”

That was when we parted our ways, about an hour ago.

After all, I could not engage in a single conversation with Hiyori after that. I tried very hard to talk to her on as many familiar topics as I could, but all for naught.

Unable to stand the silent mental pressure, I tried to ease the atmosphere by resorting to karaoke, but it became mentally challenging to sing so many songs all by myself.

I couldn’t have guessed in my wildest of dreams that Hiyori san was that same Philia san ……

It was still quite difficult for me to accept that both were actually the same person.

Even their personalities are as different as white snow and black ink.

Above all, what kind of face should I have at home from now on?

I took a long detour from home to think about it clearly and conclude. Still, there was no conclusion that I could think of.

“I’m home.”

As usual, there was no reply. When I thought whether Hiyori had returned… I found at the front door a pair of brand-new mules. (footwear)

Was this dropped off for this very day?

“Fu~u”

A sigh escapes my lips.

Anyway, I was tired.

I went straight to my room, as I didn’t want to face Hiyori for some reason.

As soon as I entered my room, my eyes jumped towards the computer monitor which was left on.

Now that I remember, I had logged in before leaving and had left it as it was…… n? Are?

“LATE!”

At the very moment I returned to my room, I found the chat column being completely flooded with messages.

In front of the screen, where I saw my character standing still, Filia san was repeatedly reacting by giving “Punsuka” angry emote against it, constantly.

“Sorry, I kind of took the longer route.”

“Mou! where were you gone off to?”

“Going round and round, around the corner…… without any reason or goal?”

“Eh That’s it? Just a stopper’s by? uwaaa~ such a free human”

“Shut up!”

It was the usual conversation. Somehow, it feels so anticlimactic.

And so, still unable to believe that Hiyori was the same Filia-san, I was confused and asked in the spur of moment.

“Hiyori…… is that really you?”

“I wonder what it is about that, Ah, yes, Subaru-kimi ……”

“……That’s…. yes.”

I talk to myself, instinctively.

I had never told Philia, my actual name.

The fact that she knows my real name means that she’s, Hiyori.

“Ahhh, I ate squid ink for the first time in my life, but I was surprised that it was so rich like butter! The taste was also kind of like Pepperoncino, and was surprisingly lighter than I had expected”

“Eehh, so that’s how it was.”

“How were the croquette? Although it was made to look like the eyes of the Dragon King, the quality wasn’t great. How was the taste?”

“Mmmmm well, kind of like crab cream … it was delicious”

“Oh yeah, in case of the alchemist’s tea potion, that just turned out to be jasmine tea–”

In the chat box, Philia san was giving her impressions about today like a commentator, without pausing in-between words.

Our conversation was usual as before.

I found myself to be dumb on wondering how to talk to her from now on. When suddenly, my heart becomes heavy, and my chest starts to feel unsettled.

(*sfx moyamoya.)

Since we were in next room to each other, wouldn’t it be faster to talk to each other directly?

What was that during the day? (TL note: Meeting up with Philia san/Hiyori at Karaoke Celery and having lunch with her.)

So, before I could realize, I found myself getting up and going in front of Hiyori’s room.

…… Not responding to the game, I was aware that I am doing something that is quite unlike me.

I am sure that I am still in the middle of my confusion.

“Hiyori?”

(Sfx: konkon)

“Tsu!?”

(Sfx: Dota-bata gas-shw-an)

When I knocked on Hiyori’s door while calling her name, a sound suggesting that someone has fallen abruptly, came in reply.

The door opened and I saw Hiyori looking up at me with a mixture of expressions (painful and asking) on her face.

Her eyes were a little teary. Her forehead was also a little red. Her cheeks looked a little puffy.

Also, since she hadn’t changed her clothes yet, it was quite refreshing to see my stepsister dressed up fashionably at home.

Not only that, but she was also a little … that, yeah … cute … and when I realized, my face had reddened like I had a fever.

“Well, you know……We can talk about this directly–”

“Tsu!”

Without saying anything good or bad I just silently pressed my hands on her head as if slapping the cushions.

(*sfx pos-pos).

When doing so, I took a quick peek at her, just like always, her face was red till her ears.

“―I–I’m sorry”

With a troubled face, I return a reply while scratching my head. My chests sting a little.

“………………… Thank you, for today.”

“―tsu!?”

It was a voice sounding just like a mosquitoes’ buzz.

But I clearly heard it. Probably Hiyori was quite embarrassed such that she closed the door with a louder sound than she replied to me. I returned to my room with my head, dizzy and remaining convulsed, confused.

“Let’s go again”

―Philia has logged out.

Such a log was left in the chat box.

“……why did you”

Even though it was just a chat log, somehow my chests make unrecognizable convulsions.

“♪”

From Hiyori’s room next door, I could hear her humming a tune. She seemed to be in a good mood, just like the other day.

When I listened to that carefully, isn’t it the theme song tune as that of the game… I couldn’t help but look towards Hiyori’s room and realize that I was smiling.

Perhaps.

I had a feeling that something between us is going to change, definitely.