HS Chapter 77: The hopeless sister brushes hair.

“I’m sorry for all the trouble I caused you earlier, Kanakana-san… ! I’m sorry, madam…”
“… If I could, I’d have wanted you to stop rampaging around before I felt bad. Jeez, you’ve caused a lot of trouble for me…. But, it’s fine, Mako rampaging around is the usual for you.”

My best friend, Kanakana, took a stand and stopped me from going out of control— I’ve done nothing but to repay her with trouble instead of goodness. After a few minutes of apologizing to her for being so angry while rubbing my breasts as a punishment, she finally forgave me and let me go. I’m saved…

“… Aah. I’ve beautifully styled my hair but now it’s all jumbled up… Muu”

Kanakana mumbles to herself as she plays with her hair, which has become very jumbled from all the pulling and scratching I’ve done. I heard that Kanakana spends a lot of time every day styling her hair with great care.

… It’s my fault her precious and prized hair got jumbled, so it’s understandable that she’d be angry. No, I’m seriously sorry…

“Etto… Etto… Ah! Eehm, Kanakana…?”

“… What is it?”

“That is… Then, can I fix up Kanakana’s hair…?”

“…. Eh?”

I couldn’t stand it anymore, so I wondered if I could somehow make it up to her… I propose such a thing on the spur of the moment.

“… Fix it, Kanakana? Mako will?”

“U, un… Just in case, I’m pretty confident in it. Of course, I’m not expecting this to be an apology…. But, I’ll do it if it’s okay with Kanakana…”

“… Mako will… my hair…”

I’m still pretty good at fixing hair, thanks to the fact that I often brush Koma’s hair at home… I think. Fortunately, I have brushes and etc at hand (For Koma’s use) and it is my responsibility as the perpetrator who jumbled her hair to fix it.

Kanakana was a little puzzled by my sudden and strange proposal, but…

“Ah, etto… That… I have no other choice, then. If Mako says so much… You’ll fix my hair as an apology.”

“Haha! I’m happily grateful!”

“Style my hair properly and pretty. If you’re doing it clumsily, I’ll have you stopped in a heartbeat… And, I won’t forgive you if you pull a few strands.”

After thinking for a while, for some reason, she was a little embarrassed, but she agreed to my proposal. Okay. Now that I’ve gotten her approval, I’m going to make sure that Kanakana’s hair and mood are completely fixed.

“Okayy. Then, Kanakana, for now just sit down, sit down here.”

“U-Un…”

“Well, I’ll start. If you don’t like it, immediately tell me to stop doing it.”
“Nh… Please treat me well…”

I start by fixing the ends of her hair. I apply hair cream and carefully untangle her hair-ends with my hands. If I brush her hair when it’s dry or tangled, I’ll damage it even more.

Once her hair-ends tangles are out of the way, it’s time to start brushing her in earnest. I brush along the flow of her hair, from the roots to the ends.

“… I’ll say this. You’re pretty good… Mako.”

“Ooh, I’m happy to hear it. May  I continue then?”

“Y-Yeah… Please.”

“Umusu. Leave it to me!”

Kanakana herself gave me permission, so I didn’t hesitate to continue. 

The secret to brushing is never to rush and never to use excessive force. If I move the brush too quickly, her hair may get tangled and the heat from the friction may damage the cuticles, and If I use too much force, I may damage her scalp.

That’s right, the important thing is…I do it gently and carefully, with all my heart, just as I would o it lovingly with Koma. I comb Kanakana’s hair slowly and calmly, without rushing or hurrying, without going against the flow of the cuticle.

“… Ha, fuuu…”

“Hmm? What’s wrong? Am I tickling you?”
“Ah, no… Mako is better than I imagined… It feels somehow comforting… I feel like I’m getting sleepy…”
“Ahaha! I see, I see. Then you can sleep until class starts, Kanakana.”

“You idiot, obviously I can’t fall asleep… But, un… It really feels good…”

Before I started, Kanakana seemed to be very nervous, probably because she was worried about my skill, but… As I brush her, she looks pleasantly intoxicated and leaves herself over to me.

Now that she reminds me, sometimes Koma feels comfortable when I comb her hair like this, too… I don’t know, since I’m not interested in taking care of my hair, and I don’t do it for myself, and I’ve never had anyone else do it for me… As I thought, it feels nice? Anyhow, I’m glad she’s enjoying it.

“At any rate, there’s been a lot of them lately…”

“? A lot lately… What exactly?”

As I was combing Kanakana’s hair in such a relaxed manner, one of my friends who was standing beside Kanakana and I, muttered. A lot? What do you mean by that?

“What, you ask… Isn’t it obvious, Mako. Confessions, confessing. Like Koma-chan today, I think there’s been a lot of gossip lately about others confessing their love to someone else?”

“….? Is that so? At least, that’s the first time I’ve heard of it?”
“Hmm…? Saying you heard it for the first time… Jeez, stop telling lies. That’s what you and I were talking about during recess yesterday, wasn’t it? Mako doesn’t remember?”

“Was that how it was? Sorry, Kanakana, I don’t remember at all…”

“… This bird-brain. Mako really, you have nothing but Koma-chan in your sight.”

“Hahaha! My, my, don’t praise me so much, Kanakana. You’re embarrassing me.”
“Just so you know, I’m not complimenting you at all. You should be a little more interested in other things.” (TN: Are you referring to yourself, Kanakana? You want her fluff pillows just for yourself?)

Kanakana mutters in a dumbfounded voice while I brush her hair. But, but… I don’t care who is confessing to who and who is going out with who because it’s unrelated to me.

“But, now that you mention it, you’re right. I’ve been hearing a lot of rumors like that lately.”

“Aah. It’s been rumored that there are a few of us in our class who’re riajuus(traitors) these days.Truly envio—- Rather, I can’t be anything but jealous of them!”

“I know right, I envy them. I want a girlfriend, too. If I could, I’d love to go out with a cute, ladylike and superbly beautiful girl like Koma-san. Then after going out, I’d like us to poke each other.”
“Hey, that boy who just said the most disgusting thing ever. Come with me to the roof in a bit. If it’s okay with you that I’m Koma’s sister, I’ll be happy to bump(fist) you.”

Unfortunate. I didn’t realize that there would be another person from this class that I’d have to beat up like the other senpai. As soon as I finish fixing Kanakana’s hair, I’m going to beat the shit out of him.

Anyhow… I didn’t know that such a rumor had spread to the boys who didn’t seem to know much about love affairs… Maybe Kanakana is right and I should listen to the gossip at least a little bit. At least if I had known about the popularity of confession beforehand, I would have been able to deal smoothly with the people who were trying to take advantage of Koma like today.

“By the way. Especially now that confessing among third years seems to be all the rage.”

“Eh? Is that true? But, why?”

“The senpais in my club told me that the third year students will graduate in a few months. That’s why more and more people are thinking of confessing now, to make their last memories at this school.”

“Hee… I get it now.”

“It’s true that if you don’t confess your love now, you’ll regret it for the three years of your junior high school life.”

“Third year students will be taking their exams in a few weeks, which means that if they want to confess their love or become a couple at this school, now is the time.”

Hearing that story, I’m a little more convinced of senpais’s attitude towards Koma earlier. Aah…. I get it. That’s why that senpai was so desperate to confess. I can understand his impatience, but… No, I’ll never forgive him for forcing himself on Koma.

“Oh my. Confessions aren’t just popular among third years, you know. Didn’t you know? There’s a secret confession boom among us second year students.”

“””Eh!?”””

While the whole class was talking about it, one of my classmates, who loves to gossip, said something like that.

“Among second year students…? But, why. It’s not like there’s any particular event or anything like that currently.”

“Think about it, Mako. If there was someone here who was in love with a third-year student, the senpai they had been longing for would disappear from this school in a few short months. So it’s only natural that those senpai’s would want to confess their love before they leave school, right?”
“Aah… Uun, that may be so.”

Makes sense… After our senpais are gone, you won’t have as much contact with them.

“Also. We’re going to be third years soon, too. In the third year, you have to think about your career. In addition, I’m sure you’ll have to study even harder than you already do for your high school entrance exams, and you’ll be just so busy with everything… You won’t have time to fall in love with anyone or go out with anyone.”

“Uhee… What a harsh world. But… Well, it may be like that next year.”

“Yes, that’s so. In other words, whether you’re a third year or a second year, if you want to confess, now’s the time to do it. If you’re planning to confess to someone, don’t miss this chance.  Be brave and go for it!”

“….!?”

“By the way, me too… Tomorrow after school, I’m going to confess my love to the senpai that I’ve been longing for! So, please cheer for me!”

“””Ooooh! Good luck!”””

With an impassioned speech, a female student proudly announced in front of everyone, ‘I’m going to confess my feelings to him’ with her face completely red. When my classmates heard her pledge, they all cheered at the top of their lungs. I’m rooting for you, too.

“…. (*Mumble*) If I’m going to confess, now is my only chance…. I see… So, it’s now or never…?”
“… Mu? Kanakana? What’s wrong?”

“Eh…? What’s wrong, you ask… About what?”

The only person in the class who was more excited than ever was Kanakana, who was having her hair combed by me, but for some reason she was acting strangely.

At first glance, she looks like she’s in a state of deep thought…  You seemed so comfortable with my brushing just a few minutes ago, so what’s wrong now, my best friend.

“Er, didn’t you just say something in a small voice? Also… You look like you’re in a bit of trouble, Kanakana. Are you okay? Is the brushing maybe painful? Should I stop it now?”

“Ah, no… It’s nothing. I’m fine, I’m just talking to myself. Besides… I was just zoning out. Mako has nothing to worry about.”

“Is that so? If you say so…”

Kanakana hurriedly smiles at me and tells me so. Just zoning out…? Since she herself says so, maybe I just imagined it…?

“Yeah, yeah. Speaking of confessions… Hey, Mako. Koma-chan is amazing these days.”
“Huh?”

As I was a little worried about Kanakana’s condition, a friend of mine suddenly spoke to me as if she remembered me. Koma is amazing as of recently…?

“No, what are you talking about? Far from just recently, my Koma is always amazing, now and then.”

“Ah, no, that’s not what I meant… Koma recently has gotten a confession once per day these  past three days. That’s what I meant by amazing.”

“Wha!? Confession once per day for three days!?”
“It hurts!? Ba-Idiot! Aagh! It hurts, Mako! Don’t pull my hair all of a sudden!”

“Ah! Sorry, Kanakana… just that…”

My friend’s shocking words made me pull hard on Kanakana’s hair that I was combing. No-Not good… I’ve done it again… I’m sorry, Kanakana…

“And then…? The frequency of which Koma is being confessed to… Is it serious…?”

“Yes, it’s serious. As far as I’m aware… With the captain of the soccer team today… As I recall, the day before yesterday… Koma-chan was being confessed by the most studious boy of the second-year in the next class.”

“And just the other day, I saw Koma-chan being confessed by a first year boy. She’s very popular. Must be nice, I wish I was as popular as Koma-chan!”

,,,,, Seriously? Oh, my god. How come something like this hasn’t reached my ears…!? 

According to my friends, there’s a boom in confession right now, and then there’s this morning’s incident. I’ll have to guard Koma more thoroughly for a while.

“Well, when Koma-san is so beautiful, literate, ladylike, and nice, it’s not strange for her to be popular.”
“She’s kind and cute, and we, as fellow girls, admire her too.”

“At any rate, she’s a perfect person whose only apparent stain is her older sister’s existence.”

“Ouh, who’re you calling a stain? I’ll punch you, you bastards.”

I know I’m aware of it, but to say it to my face…

“But. No matter who confesses… Koma-chan hasn’t given the OK at all.”

“Eh? Is that true? Well, as her older sister, I’m very happy about that.”

“Yeah, it is. Even wildly handsome guys who can play sports, like today’s senpai, are not OK. Intelligent cool guys who can study are not OK, too.Then even a cute, refreshing, innocent junior is not OK. It’s really such a waste when she can choose… I find it strange since I’m not popular.”

“Hey, Mako? Why hasn’t Koma-chan given her OK to anyone that has confessed to her?”

“Why… Er, even if you ask me that…”

… But, now that you mention it, why is it that? I wonder if Koma, like me, is not really interested in love? No, I think it’s just that there’s no one around who fits Koma’s ideals or who can match Koma.

Or… In fact, Koma has a secret crush on someone else… I’ll ask Koma about it when I get home…

“Isn’t that about as I thought? … Because of the interfering bug called Mako, Koma-chan is too scared to confess to the person she likes or to say OK to a confession.”

“””Aaah, that makes sense!”””

“Hang on, you bastards. Who’re you calling an interfering bug!?”

Don’t call people like they’re an overprotective mother-in-law who keeps a close eye on you… 

“After all, Mako. If Koma-chan were to fall in love with someone else… You’d definitely be against it, right? Something like ‘I won’t give my little sis as your wife!’”

“To be frank, if I decide to go out with Koma-san, the biggest challenge will be how to convince Tachibana…”

“If you do it poorly, you’ll get beaten up by Mako like the senpai today, or worse, Mako will assassinate you. Koma-chan is so sweet… I can’t think but that she’s hesitant to confess because she doesn’t want her sister to commit a crime.”

“I wouldn’t do such barbaric things…”

In the morning, that senpai forced himself on Koma, so I had no choice but to stop him.

“Also, let me be clear here and now so there are no misunderstandings… I’ll admit with tears in my eyes, as long as the person who Koma has chosen has met the minimum requirements. I’m not going to complain if that’s who Koma chooses, and I’m going to support her love life.”

“””Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeh!??”””

My words were apparently quite unexpected, and the whole class was surprised to hear them. No, eh, why are you all so surprised about…?

“Seriously? I thought it would be an impossible case… Well then, pleased to meet you, Mako-onee-sama. Please treat me well.” (TN: This is more of a formal ‘Onee-san’, like sister-in-law.)

“Sister-in-law, I’ll definitely make Koma-san happy… Please give me your little sister.”

“Actually, I’ve always thought that Mako-onee-sama was very reliable.”

When the boys heard what I said, they immediately started kissing up to me. You guys really are getting carried away…

“In case you’re wondering, the minimum requirements are ‘Someone who can study as well as Koma, play sports as well as Koma, and make Koma happy even in death.’. Boys, if you want to be Koma’s husband, you have to do that much at least.”

“””Haa!?”””

“Tachibana, what kind of minimum requirement is that!? It’s too impossible!?”

“You say that the minimum requirement is to be able to study and be athletic at the same level as Koma-san!? Don’t mess with me! Isn’t that an S-class difficulty!?”

“Apologize to me! Apologize to the pure us who thought ‘There’s a chance we might be able to go out with Koma-san…’!”

Beats me. If you want Koma as your wife, you need to polish yourself as a man.

“Ah, I forgot. I don’t know if there are any here… A girl is OK too, as long as she makes Koma happy. In their case, the difficulty of the minimum requirements will be easier than for boys.”

“Ooh!? Is that true, Mako!?”

“I’ve heard good things. Then I’ll become Koma-chan’s potential wife!”

“Stop right there, I’m first. Sister-in-law Mako, don’t you think that I am more suitable to be Koma’s wife?”

“… Incidentally. ‘Be able to do more housework than me, Tachibana Mako.’— That’s the minimum requirement for girls, so you have my best regards ♡”

“””The minimum requirement is that we have to be able to do more housework than Mako, which is in some ways even more impossible than for boys!?”””

So noisy. I won’t give Koma to dried-up women.

“… Then, what about Mako?”
“Hm? What do you mean about that, Kanakana?”

When the whole class was screaming centered around me, Kanakana, who had been silent for a while, asked me about it. What now?

“So… About… Mako… Has anyone ever confessed their feelings… to you…?”

“…. Huuh?”

…. Someone confess…? Confess, to me…?

“Ha, haha… hahaha! My, my. What are you saying, Kanakana. I can understand if you’re talking about my twin sister Koma… There’s no way in the world that anyone would be so strange as to confess their love to me.” (TN: Blind idiot.)

“…..!”

I answered Kanakana’s question with a chuckle. I’m not proud of it, but I’ve never had someone confess to me in my life so far… I’ve never had a sweetheart for as long as I lived, so what about it?

“No matter who looks at it, I’d rather tell Koma-chan my feelings than confess them to Tachibana. Speaking of Tachibana’s charms… They are her big breasts, she’s a good cook, and her little sister is cute.”

“But, rest assured, Mako. I’m sure there will come a time when there will be someone with a core, maniacal, abnormal sexuality who will be attracted to a girl like you!”

“She’s right. The world is a big place, and I’m sure there’s a demand for a [perverted, siscon, short, chubby and rampant idiot sister] somewhere if you look for it. Don’t give up hope.”

“Un, un, thank you for the kind words… But, don’t you think you’ve said a bit too much?”

As usual, these bastards keep saying whatever they want to… Youuu, I can’t deny any of it…

“… (*Mumble*) ‘There’s no way in the world that anyone would be so strange as to confess their love to me’… she says… What’s with that… Mako…?”