HS Chapter 103: The hopeless sister rides a swan boat.

　I, Koma Tachibana, have a little (?) special taste disorder.

This is an acquired taste disorder, not congenital. Before that day 6 years ago—-Before the day I fell ill with fever and was on the verge of death when Nee-sama saved me— I didn’t not suffer from any taste disorder.

I managed to survive thanks to Nee-sama and the doctors at the hospital, who noticed an abnormality in my sense of taste, and I regained consciousness a month later, shortly afterwards.

… By then, I no longer felt anything, no matter what I ate or drank. The price for wandering between life and death and coming back alive safely was the loss of my sense of taste.

… There’s something I have to honestly confess about. The loss of the sense of taste itself… At the time, I didn’t really feel anything about it (with all due respect to Nee-sama, who was seriously concerned), but.

When I couldn’t taste my favourite food, or when Chiyuri-sensei diagnosed me with taste disorder and explained that I might not regain my sense of taste for a long time to come… It wasn’t sad or painful in the slightest.

Because… Because at that time, I was more than happy that Nee-sama saved my life and that I was alive to see her again. I really thought that the loss of taste was a minor problem, an insignificant thing.

But. Mako-nee-sama, who is as kind as the Blessed Virgin, reacted differently to me.

“Koma not knowing how rice tastes… Koma will be malnutriated(?)! And when Koma is malnutriated, you’ll die!? That is a major incident!”

Nee-sama, who had my taste disorder explained to her by the same Chiyuri-sensei as me, took the taste disorder I suffered from more seriously than I did.

“… I definitely won’t let Koma go…!”

And then, as my Nee-sama, she immediately took action to do something for me. Nee-sama suddenly appears in the ward where I am hospitalised and declares to me just one word— She takes one apple and when I think she would’ve bitten off a bite—

“Uhm, Onee-cha—- Hngn!?”

Then, without a pause, she puts her own lips on mine!

… Can you imagine how I felt at that time? Immediately after saving my life and realising I was in love… I’ve lost my lips to the person I’m in love with? She took my first kiss.

… In all seriousness, I thought I’d die. I was surprised and happy to death… Thanks to her, my heart throbbed like crazy. I thought my heart would stop. I didn’t understand why Nee-sama was kissing me, but I was so happy I wanted to cry… My head was a mess and all I could think about was the feeling of kissing Nee-sama.

“Ah… Uo… oh… One… echan…”

“Koma, once more. Open your mouth.”

“u, Un…”

Unaware of my feelings, Nee-sama nonchalantly inserts the apple she has chewed into the back of my throat. She takes a bite of the apple again and again. Takes a bite and chews it hard. And when she has chewed it, put her lips on top of each other without a gap and pour it down the back of my throat…

How many times has she done that. My stomach… it was full in many ways. Thanks to her, I got a bit calmer… Suddenly, I realized something.

“Sweet… and sour…”

“… Eh? Koma, what did you just say?”

“The apple… I can taste the apple…!”

I guess it’s called shock therapy? I don’t understand the theory well. But, I was certain back then… The sweet and sour taste of apples was present in my mouth.

… My taste buds have been revived.

… That’s why. I, Koma Tachibana, have a little (?) I have a special taste disorder.

I usually have no sense of taste at all… Which means that if I kiss my twin sister, Mako-nee-sama, my sense of taste returns for a while, this is my special taste disorder.

~Side: Mako~

“—-It was a very nice film, Nee-sama.”

“U, un. Yeah… It was amazing, wasn’t it…”

“The sisters in the movie… I was really worried about what was going to happen to them in the middle part of the book, but I’m glad it ended happily. It really was the best film.”

“That’s right…”

I, Mako Tachibana, planned today’s date with Koma. The first event was watching a film with Koma. I was worried that a movie on a date might be too safe, but the very happy expression on Koma’s face suggests… Koma liked watching the movie, so I’m happy more than anything.

Our meeting up was a bit too sloppy, so I’m glad we managed to get the date back on track…

… Eh? What was the contents of the film? Hahaha… I was holding hands with Koma the whole time the film was running on, and I was so absorbed in the feeling of the Koma’s soft and smooth hands that I don’t remember a single thing about the film, but so what.

“Eh, leaving the film aside. It’s just about time, so it’s time to go to our next date place, Koma!”

“Ah, yes, Nee-sama. I’ll follow you anywhere!”

I can’t very well say that I didn’t see the film at all, in front of the happy-looking Koma. Let’s quickly get to the next date place before she mentions the film.

“By the way, Nee-sama. Where are we going next? Of course I would go anywhere with Nee-sama… That’s right, I’m going to follow you even to the other side of the globe!”

“Hm? Where? …Fufufu♪ The next place on our date is, Koma. It’s where you can be alone with Onee-chan, and then I can kiss you for the usual pre-dinner sense of taste recovery… We’re going to that kind of place!”

“There’s such an amazing place…!? What is that place…!?”

“You’ll know it when we get there. Okay, let’s get going, Koma!”

“Y-Yes! Depart!”

I take Koma to our next destination with crossed arms. Now, now. I hope Koma likes my next destination on our date…

◇　◇　◇

“Okay, we’re here, Koma.”

“Here is… the park where we watched cherry blossoms, is it…?”

The place we arrived at was the park where Koma (and incidentally Aunty Meiko) and I had cherry blossom viewing in April, some time ago.

Incidentally, not surprisingly, the cherry petals have long since fallen off. Since it’s November. Not just the petals, but the leaves have already withered away.

“Oh my? You seem somewhat surprised, Koma.”

“Eh, yeah… I didn’t expect to be brought to the park by you…”

Koma mumbles something to herself. Mu, mu… Wording and reacting it like that, I wonder if Koma is discouraged? Koma is also a JC(junior high school girl) nowadays, and maybe she’s a bit, at my choice of a park, as a simple, money-saving place for a date….

“Aah… I’m sorry, Koma. As I thought, you prefer a lively theme park-type place to this kind of place. If Koma doesn’t like doing it here, then we can change places immediately?”

“Auu… No, you misunderstand me! That’s not it, Nee-sama!? I think it’s a better place than a crowded theme park!… Just…” 

“Nm? Just, what?”

When I repeat what she’s just said, Koma scurries around and then puts her lips close to my ear,

“….(*Gonyu, gonyu*) Don’t tell me, but are you planning to kiss here? I find it greatly exciting— Actually, I don’t mind it but… If someone saw us kissing each other in a park like this, where all kinds of people can look at us… I think it may cause trouble for Nee-sama…” 

“Aah, so that’s what you worried about.” 

Koma whispers to me anxiously. Uun. It’s troubling. I get kind of excited when she mumbles something in my ear— Wait, no, that’s not it.

I can understand the feelings of Koma getting looked at by others. Because I was just as worried as she is now, when I kissed Koma and Koma’s tastebuds came back, here before.

“Don’t worry, I’ve got it properly thought out. Anyway, leave everything to Onee-chan today☆ Now, now, get on that thing, Koma!”

“That… Eh? Are you talking about getting on that, Nee-sama?”
“Umusu, it’s as you think!” 

I pointed to a two-seater foot-operated boat in the shape of a swan… The so-called swan boat. It is said to be one of the most popular date attractions, along with the ferris wheel at amusement parks, and is on the list of things that lovers want to ride together at least once.

“Just to make sure, I’ll ask you. Koma is not good at this kind of thing, right? You won’t become sick riding it? Are you okay with it?”

“N, no… No problem. There’s no problem, but…” 

“OK. Then, Koma. Let’s buy a ticket and get on board.” 

“Ha, haa… I understood…” 

Koma obediently follows my instructions, buys a ticket at the boat station and boards the swan boat. I do the same and then get in the swan boat, sit next to the Koma and put my feet on the pedals. I keep pedaling round and round with my legs kicking and crunching.

“Mhm, it feels nice! It’s already the countdown to winter, but it’s warm and warm today, so it’s a perfect day for swan boating, Koma!” 

“Th-that’s right…” 

“Actually, it’s my first time on a swan boat, but… It’s pretty pleasant. What’s nice… I like how it moves by using our power! It’s kind of like a group work of love, and it’s perfect for a date—” 

“Uhm!”

Us, two sisters, cross the lake with ease and close to each other while continuing to talk about such trivial matters. About halfway around the lake, Koma simply stops her rowing legs and calls out to me.

“….? What’s wrong, Koma? Did you get tired? Or you’re tired from rowing? We still have more than 20 minutes to return the boat, but do you want to stop around here” 

“No, there is absolutely no way that I will ever get tired, much less bored, by doing this with you, Nee-sama… But, there’s one thing that’s bothering me… Nee-sama, may I confirm it again with you?”

“Heave-ho, what is it, Koma-san. Don’t hold back to confirm!”

“Thank you very much. Then, I’ll confirm it…”

“Un, un.”

“… Why are we on a swan boat now?”

“Huh?”

Without suppressing the feeling of being truly confused, Koma questions me with her round and cute eyes.

“Just so there’s no misunderstanding, I don’t hate to be on a swan boat with Nee-sama, but… That’s not the nuance I’m asking… Just that,earlier, Nee-sama said, as I recall, ‘I will take you to such a special place… where we can kiss to get your sense of taste back’.”

“Umu. Certainly, I said that.”

“Then, I’ll ask you again… Why are we on a swan boat?”

Thank you for your reasonable question, Koma. Koma’s question is justifiable. At any rate, I’ve only told Koma that we’re going on a swan boat ride, without giving a satisfactory explanation.

She should have come to this park to get her taste buds back, but for some reason she’s on a swan boat—- Mhm, if you look at it objectively it’s incomprehensible.

“Sorry, sorry, I didn’t explain it properly. You said you didn’t know why we were on a swan boat?”

“Yea, that’s right.”

“We’re on it for two reasons. The first reason is… I’ve always wanted to ride in one of these with Koma. I thought it would definitely be fun to ride with Koma. One of my dreams came true today!”

“I’m glad for you… That… I’m honored, Nee-sama. I also really enjoy rowing with Nee-sama.”

In fact, rowing with Koma is a lot of fun. I’m having so much fun that I could cross the Pacific Ocean in this swan boat with Koma.

… Yes, you. In your case, don’t tsukkomi me because anything I do with Koma is fun… It’s true, but.

“So, the second reason is… Maybe this one will answer Koma’s question. Well, we had to go on a swan boat ride in the park for the purpose of bringing back the sense of taste to Koma…. The reason is—”

“….. Eh?”

To answer Koma’s questions and to fulfill the real purpose of getting on the boat. I put my hand on Koma’s cheek before she understood my true intentions and resisted—

“—-Doing this…..”

“Fu, mughy…!?”

I put my own lips on top of Koma’s lips.

“Ha…nhm… *och*…”

“Nghnnnn!? … Nmhmmm…!?”

Completely caught off-guard, Koma has gone rigid(frozen) with her eyes open wide. I thought this was a good thing, so I twisted my tongue into the Koma’s mouth, and caught her tongue and entangled it, and rubbed it together over and over again, making a watery sound.

“…. Ooh!? Just a moment… Ple..a, nhmnnn…!?”

“Nnn… N, *smooch*… Haaha… Koma…!”

“Lyait… Please give me a moment… Nee-sama…! Stop, stop…!”

Koma remained frozen for a few minutes, but finally restarted when I started to play-bite Koma’s tongue. She has restrained me from aggressively kissing her.

“Nm? Stop? Ah, ah… Has Koma’s sense of taste come back?”

“No, it’ll take just a bit more, but— Wait, no! That’s not it… That’s not it, do you listen!?”

“? What’s wrong, Koma? We’re on a lake here… If you get so violent, you’ll fall off the boat.”

“Uu… I’m sorry— That’s not what I’m trying to say, Nee-sama!?”

Koma, who is so upset about kissing me like it’s the first time she’s done it, and me, who feels like a stranger, like our positions are somehow reversed from what they’ve always been.

“Why… Why did you kiss…?”

“My? You don’t get it? To bring Koma’s sense of taste back! Because, you see, it’s almost lunchtime and just in time.”

“In this public place! Wh-Why!? Why in such a dangerous…!? What would you do if someone saw us!? Your little sister… If someone sees you kissing me… Nee-sama will be at a loss and have trouble…”

I’m not sure what she’s against, but seriously, Koma seems to be angry that I kissed her in this place. Aah… Koma who’s puffy and angry is kyute tooo…

“Hahaha, Koma is such a worrywart. It’s okay, no worries.”

“What is okay!? If anyone you know from the school or in your neighborhood saw you… Nee-sama’s misfortunes…”

“We’re on a swan boat now to make sure that doesn’t happen.”

“…. Ye, s?”

Koma-san froze again at my comment. I can’t get enough of seeing so many different expressions on Koma’s face today… Aah, this girl is seriously cute.

“Koma, did you notice? It’s a holiday, but you didn’t see any people on this lake or at the boat ramp.”

“That is… Yes. I thought it was a bit strange that such a fun place wasn’t busy, but…”

“We’re at a well-kept secret place. They usually have a few more customers, but. At this time of year… In November, the weather is getting colder and not many customers think of going all the way out on a swan boat.”

After all, even usually November is cold. More specifically, the waterside’s… It’s colder on the lake. There aren’t many eccentric couples who would purposely want to take a swan boat ride at such a time of year. In fact, the boat ramp here is also closed from late November until spring.

“That’s why. It’s just me and Koma on the lake. It’s not likely that someone will see us. And we rowed to the furthest point from the boat ramp, so the board ramp attendant wouldn’t know we were here.”

“That’s why, we got on a swan boat…? Nee-sama is very shrewd…”

Uhehe. Don’t flatter me so much, Koma. Onee-chan is a bit shy.

“But, but!? No matter whether there aren’t other boaters, there must be people using the park for other reasons! There’s a chance that those people could see you!”

“Aah, you don’t have to worry about that either. I made sure of that when I checked things. This big cherry tree and the rocks are just the right blind spot. Please don’t worry, they won’t see what we’re doing in the boat from the shore.”

“I see, that’s how it was… Wait, but.”

I understand Koma’s concerns. I can’t say that there’s no chance that someone might witness our actions in some way. I can say there’s absolutely no need to take that kind of risk and go out of my way to kiss on this boat if I’m just going to bring back the taste of Koma.

… But. Only today, the need to kiss in this place, even to take that risk, makes sense.

“(Because, this is… a date with Koma.)”

It’s to make Koma really aware of my presence. And then… I’ll confess my love to Koma towards the end of the date… This is an unavoidable event.

… Speaking honestly, It’s so embarrassing to approach Koma like this, my heart is racing and I feel like I’m dying… But, I don’t have time to be embarrassed.

“Now! Now that I’ve finished debunking your arguments, let’s resume the kiss, My Sister! As I recall, Koma said this, ‘I haven’t got my sense of taste back yet’! You did say it!”

“Yes, I did. I said it, but… But, Nee-sama, wait a second. A-As I thought, doing it here is a bit no goo!”

“Fuhaha! I won’t wait, Koma! Now, I’ll have your lips!”

“Gyaaaaaa!?”

I deliberately attempt to make a joke while getting myself excited and pressing closer to Koma. I put my hands around Koma’s neck and hold her so that she doesn’t escape… In the first place, though, there is nowhere to escape to in this place on the lake.

An empty park… We’re inside the swan boat, alone as if we are isolated from the outside world. I kept taking Koma’s lips… in such a slightly mysterious place that didn’t feel real.