147 lines
9.0 KiB
Plaintext
147 lines
9.0 KiB
Plaintext
Chocola: 「Mhmn... Master... Zzz zzz...」
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Vanilla: 「Chocola, Master... Zzz zzz...」
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Chocola: 「Haah... Master... Purrrrrr~ ♪」
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Vanilla: 「Mm... Master... Chocola~ ♪ Purrrrrrrrr~ ♪」
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As they let out sleepy breaths...
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... the two of them rested their cheeks against my body.
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I petted both of their heads, each with one hand...
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... and looked up at the ceiling with my mouth still slightly agape.
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Kashou: 「... It's a big bed, but I never thought it would actually be useful in this way, too.」
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And here we were, sleeping right next to each other like a big family.
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I murmured that aloud, never thinking this could've happened.
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Kashou: 「... I can't make an excuse about me just going along with it now.」
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From the start, I never intended to make excuses for this, though.
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As I felt their softness and warmth throughout my body...
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... I pet the two catgirls I honestly cherished.
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Chocola: 「Meow... Master, Vanilla...」
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Chocola: 「Master... Vanilla... and Chocola...」
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Chocola: 「Chocola loves everyone... Chocola wants us to always be together~ ♪ Myaom meom...」
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Vanilla: 「Myah... yes, always together...」
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Vanilla: 「Chocola, Master, and me... Myaom meom~ ♪」
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Kashou: 「Yeah, that's right. Always together.」
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The two of them going "myaom meom" in their sleep...
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... made me burst out laughing.
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Kashou: 「... It was a lot different from what I was expecting, though.」
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Leaving home by myself, becoming independent...
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... taking up all the joys and hardships by myself... or so I'd thought.
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I really thought I'd be living all by myself from now on.
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Kashou: 「... I'm pretty lucky, having precious partners I can connect deeply with like this.」
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Sometimes, they'd make things difficult for me, like when they make mistakes...
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... But in the end, they're catgirls that support both me and the store the best they can.
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Even though we haven't been together that long...
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... I couldn't imagine a moment without Chocola and Vanilla.
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Chocola: 「Master... Chocola is happy too~ ♪ Zzz...」
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Vanilla: 「Master... Vanilla is also happy now... myah...」
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Kashou: 「Yeah, I am, too. Thanks.」
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I kissed both of them gently as they murmured in their sleep...
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... and closed my eyes and drifted off.
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Shigure: 「Become ill from being in heat?」
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Shigure: 「I don't think that's possible.」
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Shigure, the first guest of the morning...
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... said that with a straight face like it was obvious and sipped her tea.
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Kashou: 「Huh... but I've really heard that before...」
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Shigure: 「The catgirls at home are doing just fine, you know.」
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Shigure: 「I'm having them do a bit of exercise to work off the effects of being in heat, though.」
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Kashou: 「... Come to think of it, I seem to remember seeing that before.」
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I hadn't ever seen them doing "stuff" in the house.
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No, being female, there was no way for Shigure to do that with them...
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Kashou: 「... But Vanilla told me they'd get sick from being in heat.」
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Kashou: 「Right, Vanilla?」
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Vanilla: 「Shigure said that I should explain it to Master like that, yawn~」
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Chocola: 「Ah~ Come to think of it, Chocola remembers being told something like that yawnnn~」
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Kashou: 「... So you're the one who told them.」
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Shigure: 「More importantly, Nii-sama. Whisper today's sweet nothings to your little sister~」
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Kashou: 「You can't just "more importantly" your way around this, you worthless little sister...」
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Shigure: 「Ah, it hurts, Nii-sama~! Though I don't mind it rough, either!」
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She doesn't seem to regret anything.
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... Well, I wasn't that angry at her, anyway.
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It seemed as if Shigure was able to see through a lot of aspects of me.
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Mainly my shame, embarrassment, resentments, in particular.
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Shigure: 「Sometimes, the way Nii-sama expresses his love is too rough! Blush~ ♪」
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Shigure: 「Next, let us partake in a sultry kiss between siblings... Mwah! ♪」
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Kashou: 「Don't be dumb.」
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As Shigure sought my lips, I flicked her on the forehead.
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Shigure: 「Muuuuh~ I certainly hope there's a carrot to go with this stick.」
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Shigure: 「How could you ever refuse such a cute little sister's entincements?」
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Shigure: 「Aren't you acting rather cold now after Chocola and Vanilla became your catpanions?」
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Kashou: 「Don't say that and make it sound like we've kissed before.」
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Shigure put her hands on her hips and puffed out her cheeks.
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It was really hard to get her jokes.
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Sometimes, as her older brother, I wondered if it's really safe for her to go outside on her own.
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Even more so because she's a heck of a cute little sister.
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Shigure: 「I am glad that both Chocola and Vanilla are happy now, though.」
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Shigure: 「They were able to get their Bells by going with Nii-sama.」
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Shigure: 「It also seems like they've experienced love a bit as well, doesn't it?」
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The two catgirls' combed each other's hair, still half-asleep.
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Shigure gazed at them as if they were her very own lovely children.
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Shigure: 「Not too long ago, they didn't even seem to care much about personal grooming like that, either.」
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Shigure: 「Don't you think things are a little better now too, Nii-sama?」
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Kashou: 「... Well, in it's own way.」
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Shigure: 「My my, you are just not honest. Teehee~」
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She giggled as if she could see exactly how I truly felt.
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... I did have a bit of uncalled-for pride just because I was a little older than her.
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Shigure: 「If Chocola and Vanilla weren't going to accept you, I would have myself.」
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Shigure: 「I may be your sister, but even before that, I am a woman.」
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Shigure: 「It would be very difficult to turn down Nii-sama's affection.」
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Kashou: 「Come on now. I couldn't do such things to my little sister.」
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Kashou: 「You're always saying silly stuff like that.」
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Shigure: 「Hyauuh, stop always treating me like a child~」
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I rubbed Shigure's head, messing up her hair.
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She grimaced and scowled at me.
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Shigure: 「I'm serious, you know? I'll do whatever I can for Nii-sama.」
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Kashou: 「Yeah, yeah. I get it, I get it. Thanks. Take this and that, too!」
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Shigure: 「Geez, Nii-sama! No messing up my hair!」
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She fixed her hair by patting it down.
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Yep. She was the same old cute little sister.
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Shigure: 「But you do seem to have become kinder too, Nii-sama.」
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Shigure: 「It probably was a good thing for you to leave the house.」
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Shigure: 「... I do feel a bit lonely, though.」
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With a slightly lower tone in her voice...
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... she smiled a somewhat sad and troubled smile.
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Kashou: 「... I've caused a lot of problems for you in the past.」
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When I wasn't able to get along with Dad.
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When I'd practice my baking in secret.
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When I left without saying anything.
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Even after she had realized, she pretended she didn't.
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She even secretly helped box up Chocola and Vanilla, too.
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... It's hard to imagine that Shigure is my little sister, given how bright she is.
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Kashou: 「I'll take good care of Chocola and Vanilla, so you don't need to worry.」
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Kashou: 「Come over whenever you want.」
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I rested my hand on Shigure's cheek, filling it with my feelings of appreciation.
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Shigure: 「... Okay. Thank you very much, Nii-sama.」
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Shigure responded with a soft smile and by leaning her cheek against my hand.
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I could feel the softness and affection...
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... of my small little sister passing through the palm of my hand as warmth.
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Chocola: 「Master~! Preparations for work are all done!」
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Vanilla: 「Combat preparations complete. Not a single cow lick.」
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Kashou: 「Oh, roger that.」
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Kashou: 「Sorry, Shigure. I need to do a little bit of preparation to open the store.」
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Shigure: 「No, no. I was the one who pressed upon you this early.」
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Shigure: 「Today is a new day. Please do your best, Nii-sama.」
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Kashou: 「Yep. You can just take it easy.」
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Chocola: 「Chocola is going, too! See you later, Shigure-chan!」
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Vanilla: 「I shall also be off to work. See you again, Shigure.」
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Shigure: 「Okay~ Have a good day at work!」
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Shigure: 「... Mhmn. I guess this settles a lot of stuff.」
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After being sure everyone had gone down to the bakery to work...
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... Shigure sat on the living room sofa and muttered to herself.
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Shigure: 「It's still hard to believe that Chocola and Vanilla are Nii-sama's catpanions now...」
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Shigure: 「... It's almost like another girl has stolen away my crush from me. Teehee.」
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Those catgirls who were once just little babies, are already...
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Knowing that she had done it to herself...
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... she couldn't help but let out an ironic laugh.
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Shigure: 「... Well, I might as well give up on a dream that won't come to pass.」
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Shigure: 「Maybe it's time I thought about letting my older brother go.」
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As if to ask her yearning heart for the impossible...
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As if to confess to the person she loved, who was just nearby...
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She whispered it out once more:
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At least, instead of me...
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I can entrust my feelings to those catgirls instead of a girl I don't know.
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I'm okay with always staying by his side as his little sister.
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Breathing deeply to calm her prickling, pained heart...
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... she closed her eyes and leaned back on the sofa.
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Shigure: 「... Okay.」
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Shigure: 「Now then, I guess I should start with tidying up Nii-sama's dirty clothes.」
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She leapt up off the sofa...
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... giving both her cheeks a quick slap, and looked out the window.
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