HS Chapter 74: The hopeless sister has her belongings confiscated again.

As befitting the autumn season of sports, my little sis Koma was very active in the track and field event in September. September has flown by, and today we are finally greeting October.

If September is the first half of autumn, October is the second half of autumn. It’s getting chilly in the mornings and evenings, and it’s getting too cold to go to and from school in short sleeves. Thanks to this season, our school has already changed our uniforms and completely shifted from summer clothes to winter clothes.

… Uumu. It’s a shame that I can’t see Koma in her revealing summer clothes anymore. Well, I don’t have a problem with the winter clothes because they have a different charm on Koma than the summer clothes!

“—Now. The next notice will be the last. Everyone, what I’m about to tell you is very important, so I want you to listen especially carefully.”

　As I was absentmindedly thinking about Koma during the morning assembly as usual, the homeroom teacher started urging the whole class, including me, to concentrate and listen to what she had to say. 

Mumumu… What’s important to know? It’s rare for my teacher to call for attention. What happened?

“Ehm, last month… Do you remember when we did the search of your belongings? At that time, the teacher was also talking about the ‘suspicious duo who called out to a junior high school student on their way home and tried to take them away’. Those two, still haven’t been caught… It seems those two tried to kidnap a junior high school student in the area again, using the same tactics as last time.”

“””Eeeeeh!?”””

The whole class made a noise at the teacher’s notice. Uwaa… I didn’t know that those suspicious people hadn’t been caught yet… The teacher gave a warning to my classmates ‘to be quiet’, and then continued the conversation.

“It was only three days ago. A junior high school girl was walking home alone at night after club activities when one of them approached her pretending to ask for directions. They tried to take her straight into the car driven by the other one… But fortunately, there was a similar incident in September, so the junior high school student was cautious. She had prepared a security buzzer just in case, and when she sounded it immediately, the duo ran away in a panic.”

She sighs while saying ‘What a deplorable bunch’, and then continues to speak to everyone here with a serious expression.

“It’s October, and the sun is setting even earlier. Everyone should carry a security buzzer like the girl in the story I just told, and if you are going to be home late due to club activities or studying at school then go home in a group, or have a guardian pick you up, or have one of us teachers give you a lift, so please take precautions against suspicious persons, and be careful on your way to and from school. I’ll be handing out a countermeasure handout in HR on the way home. Please read it carefully and give it to your parents so they can read it carefully. Now, this has become a long assembly, but this concludes the morning assembly. Continue to study well today too.”

After concluding the notice, the teacher leaves the classroom.

“Scary… I’m in a little trouble. I’m gonna be home a little late today… Hey. I’m sorry, but can I come home with you for a while…?”

“Ooh, leave it to me. We’re in the same neighborhood so I’ll walk you to your house… Though, I didn’t know those guys hadn’t been caught yet.” 

“She said the place where it happened was near the station. It’s a place I often pass by.”

The moment the teacher left the classroom, the whole class was talking about the suspicious people. Well, it’s understandable to feel uneasy when a student of your age has encountered such an incident.

As her older sister, I have to protect Koma, even if it means risking my own life…

As I was thinking about this, I spotted some classmates whispering and looking at me…. Oh? What is wrong?

“… Well, there’s about one suspicious person in our class. A suspicious person who stalks her own sister, sends persistent love messages in broad daylight towards her own sister, or sexually harasses her own sister. I don’t believe it, but… That girl is not involved in this case, is she?”

“No, wait a minute. A suspicious person, by definition, is ‘someone who is acting in a suspicious manner or someone who looks suspiciously out of place’, right? You can’t call them suspicious if they’ve been identified for the crime, can you? In that person’s case, they’re more than a suspicious person… You can call them a pervert…”
“That girl already has a lot of extra crimes, so as I thought, isn’t it better to turn her in to the police as a potential criminal now, before she causes problems later? I’m sure it would be better for the world and for Imouto-chan” (TN: Little sister)

“Ey, my friends over there. Why are you guys talking about me while staring at me, Mako Tachibana?.All of you, mind lending me your ears? Hm?”

No matter how tolerant I am, even I won’t forgive you for treating me the same as those upsetting suspicious people, you bastards…

“… Well, leaving aside the light jokes… Mako, you should be more careful.”

“Huh? Be more careful… Kanakana, what are you on about?”

As I was gently tightening my grip on those who were whispering now, my good friend Kanae Kanai, who was sitting next to me—- Kanakana says that to me with an obedient expression. Etto. I wonder what I should be careful of?

… Don’t tell me, from the way these guys were talking right now, I’m guessing what Kanakana is trying to say is this? ‘Be careful not to be mistaken for a suspicious person by the police, Mako.’ That’s a bit cruel, Kanakana…

“Erm, the truth is, the girl who was approached by those two suspicious men… She was a friend of mine from elementary school.”

“Eh? That’s true? That is… That friend of Kanakana’s must’ve had it difficult, too.”
“Yeah, that’s right. The night of the incident, I received a text saying, ‘I was a little surprised. I was tired of being asked so many questions by the police…’.Well, I heard that she’s going to be escorted by the police for a while as a precaution, and more importantly, she also said ‘I’m fine , so don’t worry about me’ so I think she won’t have more problems.”

“I see, I see. I’m glad—- Even if I say that, I don’t know her. Anyhow, I’m glad that your friend is safe… So? What does your friend’s story have to do with you telling me to be careful?”

So far, I don’t see the relevance of Kanakana’s friend’s story about running into a suspicious person and advising me to be careful. Why is Kanakana telling me to watch out?

“This is the main part. It’s important that you listen to me very carefully… Mako and my friend are actually quite similar in height. And not only that, but I heard that the girl who was victimized last month was similar in height to you… Do you get it now, Mako?”
“Ha, haa… Girls with similar heights as me… That?”
“… You. You still don’t get it even after I’ve explained it to you so carefully?”
“Un, I don’t get it.”

When I answered honestly that I didn’t know, she slumped her shoulders and looked dumbfounded, tired, and frustrated… Anyway, my best friend stares at me with an expression full of various emotions.

What is it? So, what’s the point, Kanakana?

“…. That’s why…! I’m just saying that maybe those suspicious people are targeting female junior high school students around your height! That’s why, I meant that you should be careful not to be approached by those people too! Do you get the course of events now!?”
“…. Ooh. I get it.”

I finally understood what Kanakana was trying to say after she explained so much to me. Oh, Kanakana, your explanations are so roundabout and difficult to understand. You’ll have to be more straightforward with me.

“Good grief… Mako’s still that insensitive and bad at judging…. Aah… I’m starting to get genuinely worried. Are you sure you’ll be okay?”

“Such as?”

“As I recall, you and Koma-chan are often late due to club activities, aren’t you? What if you’re targeted at that time? To be honest, I’m a little scared that Mako will be easily taken advantage of and kidnapped…. If you like, I’d be your bodyguard… I can go home with Mako… I-Is that okay?”

“Ahaha. No, no. I appreciate you think so much of me, but you don’t have to do that much for me. As expected, I can’t bother you that much.”
“…. It’s not like I’m bothered by it….”

Rather, Kanakana, isn’t your house in the opposite direction of my house?

“Besides. I’m happy to have Kanakana worry about me, but I’m okay, I’m okay.”

“Saying you’re fine… What’s with that baseless confidence, Mako?”

“I mean, think about it. Leaving Koma aside—- There aren’t many who’d kidnap a hopeless girl like me!”
“…!”
“Huh…? Kanakana…?”

‘That’s why, I’m fine so don’t worry about it.’ I speak to her with feelings conveying that while laughing.

Then, Kanakana seemed to be offended by something I said and started to shake her fist with veins popping on her forehead. Ah, dangerous. I don’t know why, but Kanakana snapped…

“… Y-You’re so in dangero, so defenseless, so carefree, I’m beyond surprised… Listen, Mako! I’m the one who personally warned you, so you really should be careful! ‘There’s no way I’d be approached’—– The people who think so naively are the ones in most danger and the most likely targets!”

“Is that how it is…?”
“Yes! Think about it! Maybe those suspicious people are just a bunch of perverts who love lolis with big breasts like Mako!? Even if Mako doesn’t fit in with the tastes of those suspicious people, there’s always the possibility that you’ll be kidnapped for ransom!? Do you properly understand that!?”

“Eh, ah… Un. Well, to some degree…”

My best friend starts giving me long scolding, lecturing me as if she were my mother… Uun.

I don’t think there are many people in the world who’d approach me, so I don’t think there’s much to worry about. 

… If I say this, I’ll probably just add fuel to the fire and Kanakana will lecture me even more, so I’ll never say it.

But I don’t know what exactly she’s saying, and of course, as her friend, I’m happy that she’s concerned and giving me such sincere advice.

“As the teacher said, we leave in groups! If it’s past the last hour of school, ask a trusted adult to take you home! Even if you don’t, always watch your back on the way to and from school… Avoid back alleys and deserted areas! Mako, you have to have a sense of urgency! Do you understand!?”

“Ussu! I’ll do it with utmost carefulness, Kanakana captain!”
“… Jeez, do you really understand, I wonder? … (*Mumble*) Please, be really careful. Mako, you… You’re really lovely… I’m worried you’re going to be taken… If that happens, I’ll never forgive you…”

Kanakana crosses her arms, lets out a sigh, and mumbles something to herself… Normally, she teases me easily, plays with me, gives me a hard time, and treats me rather cruelly. But Kanakana is so kind to me… Thank you my best friend, I love youu… Of course, right after Koma.

“Well, It may be unlikely that Tachibana herself would be targeted… I mean, there’s a good chance that her little sister will be the target. I’m sure that it’s like Kanai says, I also think that you should be careful when you and your little sister go home together.”

“I know, right? If it’s Mako, you’re free to do as you like, but if it’s Koma-chan, she’s cute and will be easily targeted by suspicious people or perverts.”

“Un, un. In fact, Koma-chan is being marked and stalked by her own older sister(pervert), right?”

“Oi, you lot. You’re still going with those jokes, aren’t you?”

As I thanked my best friend in my heart for her kindness, my other friends, who had been listening to Kanakana and me on the side, joined our conversation.

I’ll make sure to shut up that last one again—- Fumu. Well, they do have a point.

My little sister Koma, is as innocent as an angel, as lovely as a fairy, and yet as beautiful as a goddess. If they’re mainly active in this neighborhood, it’s quite possible that the rumors of my Koma have reached the ears of those suspicious people.

Their next target may be my Koma so no wonder my friends are worried.

“But please don’t worry, gentlemen and ladies! When it comes to counter-measures for stalkers and prowlers, I’ve got it covered.”
“””Counter-measures…?””’

“Umusu! Well, seeing is believing. You should all see.”

“”””…. Wha!? Don’t tell us…!?”””

　I then rummage through the contents of my bag and place them on my desk so that everyone in the class could see them, and I show them all of my countermeasure products.

“First is standard tear gas spray! A single push to the face can cause severe damage to the eyes and nose of an attacker!”
“””…..”””

“Next is my trusty stun gun! Powerful electric shocks and chattering electrocution! Even the weak me can still deal a painful blow to the strongest of thugs!”

“””….”””

“There’s still more! Even if Koma is kidnapped, she will always be found….—— Transceiver! Special baton if challenged to a hand-to-hand combat! My trump card, a grenade to round up all enemies at once…”

“””………..”””

　I explain to them the contents of the security items I have in order to show them how much I’m prepared to protect my beloved Koma. If you have one of these you’re perfectly prepared for stalkers☆ how is it everyone?

“…. Mako. There’s a lot I want to tsukkomi about, but… Let me hear from you just one thing… I thought you had all of this confiscated last month…”

“Ooh! That’s a good point, Kanakana. You’re correct. All of the previous generation’s security products I had were taken by the teacher…”

(For some reason, she looks a little taken back.) As Kanakana says, the teacher confiscated all the tools I used to protect Koma during the inspection of my belongings last month, with no questions asked. It’s a shame, because they were expensive…

“Thanks to that, I was able to replace all of them with newer and more powerful ones, which turned out to be a good thing♪ So I guess these security products are V2. The tear gas spray is smaller and lasts longer, the stun gun is lighter and easier to hold, and the walkie-talkies are more sensitive and have beacons, making it easier than ever to locate my Koma!”

“… I-I see…”

“I’ve bought a few more things, and now I’m ready to go whenever and wherever anyone attacks or takes Koma away… I’ll hunt them down to the four corners of the world, and then I’ll show them pain! I’m fully armed so there’s nothing to be afraid of!”

I’m laughing loudly as I say that. Suspicious people target Koma? Perverts? Stalkers? …. Just bring it on, I’m ready anytime! As long as I’m here, you won’t be able to touch even a single strand of hair from Koma!

“….. (*Mumble*) Hey. Joking aside, isn’t it better to turn this hopeless radical siscon to the police now before she does something…?”
“….. (*Mumble*) Incredible. This hopeless sister is even more suspicious than the suspicious people.”

“….. (*Mumble*) If I were to carry one of these things around town, I’d be arrested at once after being questioned.”

Oh my? Why is it that everyone seems to be looking at me more harshly than usual?

“Mako… You really are a girl that just doesn’t learn, aren’t you. In a way, it’s impressive… That said, Mako. Behind you, behind.”
“Hm? Behind me?”

Suddenly, Kanakana points behind me and urges me for something. I turned and looked at it too, wondering what it was,

“…. Last month, I scolded you ‘Don’t bring unnecessary things to school’ so much… Good grief, you… You’re hopeless… You have some nerve to bring them, Tachibana…”

“…. Aah.”

There was my homeroom teacher, glaring at me with a face like that of hannya noh mask.

After this, I was subjected to the triple combo of a fist bump, a sermon, and the confiscation of my belongings again… Sorry. Just a few minutes ago, I said, ‘I’m fully armed and there’s nothing to be afraid of!’… But, please let me retract that statement.

I’m most afraid of my teacher who can disable this fully armed me in an instant.