~Ten minutes before Mako rushes in~
~Side: Mako~
“Now… How do I find Koma…”
I’m trying to figure out how on earth I should find Koma who ran out of the house before me and how I should meet her. Koma doesn’t have her mobile phone, so I can’t rely on that to find her. It would take too long for me to find the place where Koma is likely to go by randomly searching.
In that case… I have to use that.
“… No other choice. It’s an emergency so forgive me.”
While muttering to myself and apologizing to Koma in my mind, I take out a certain item from my bag. Now, wait for me, Koma. Onee-chan is going to meet you soon…!
“That said… Switch on… now!”
Screaming at the top of my voice, I activated my walkie-talkie (V3).
My V1 and V2 security items were easily confiscated by my homeroom teacher last month and before that month during a search of my belongings, so I had to cry myself to sleep… Thanks to her confiscation (?) I was able to stock up on more up-to-date and more sophisticated crime prevention equipment.
This is one of the security products. It is a walkie-talkie that allows the location of Koma to be known immediately, anytime, anywhere.
This time, the transceiver is linked to my mobile phone, which can determine the location of Koma in real time from the ultra-compact GPS transmitter in the brooch that I gave to Koma yesterday as a good-luck charm and present. The eavesdropping function is also more powerful than before, with better sensitivity and even a record function.
…Ah, In case you’re wondering, in my honour. I only use this for emergencies like this, okay? I’m not using this to tap into the private life of Koma or anything like that, understand?… I’m serious, okay?
“Oh, here it is. Etto, let’s see? … I see, she’s at the train station.”
As I was excusing myself so pointlessly, the location of Koma was immediately sent to my mobile phone. Looking at the map function, it appears that Koma is currently in front of the train station.
I’m glad… She hadn’t gone so far yet. I can catch up to her if she’s in front of the train station.
“Okay, wait for me, Koma! Onee-chan is going to meet you soo–”
“—- Hey! Long time no see!”
“”…. Eh?””
The weather’s getting worse, so let’s go and pick up Koma quickly. Just when I thought that. The man’s voice coming over the walkie-talkie talking to Koma in a very friendly manner was.
“I knew I’d seen you somewhere before, but I knew it was you! Hey, hey, do you remember me? It’s Tanaka and Yamada!”
“My, it’s been some time. See, see, we were your senpais in primary school. I used to look after you when you were a first year? Don’t you remember?”
“Eh…?”
Over the walkie-talkie, I can feel the presence of Koma, who is as upset as I am. Two men who suddenly appeared claiming to be old senpai acquaintances of Koma’s.
They’re talking to her in a very friendly way, and from what I’ve heard, they seem to know Koma…. But, wait, who are these men?
“… Tanaka, and Yamada…?”
The senpais that Koma knew would inevitably be the senpais that her twin, me, who was always by Koma’s side, also knew…. But, I don’t know these people.
Well, it’s certainly not that there weren’t older students with that surname in primary school… The Yamada-senpai and Tanaka-senpai I knew were both lovely girls. They definitely weren’t men with such thick, unpleasant voices.
“Ah… Aah… Yamada-senpai and Tanaka-senpai… is it? I, I remember you. I remember. Hello, it’s been a while.”
“I’m glad that you remembered us. It’s really been long! How many years has it been?”
Koma talks as if she knows them, but she is suffering from prosopagnosia and is unable to recognise faces and facial expressions accurately.
If that leads Koma to misinterpret a stranger as an acquaintance… Then isn’t this situation pretty bad?
“What’s going on? You’re soaking wet. Are you okay?”
“Ah… That is. I’m fine—-~~~~~!”
“Eh, eh? Are you maybe one who is bad with lightning?”
“Oh-oh… Is that so? You look really unwell. You okay?”
“… I’m, okay…”
Over the walkie-talkie, I can hear the exchange between the scared from the thunder Koma and the men who are kindly worried for her. As for worrying about Koma, thank you very much…
“No, no. You don’t look okay at all. You’re shaking a lot, aren’t you?”
“Ah, that’s right! I got an idea! Actually, there’s a karaoke bar near here where our friend works part-time. Let’s take shelter from the rain there for a bit.”
“Ooh! That’s a good idea from you. Let’s go there!”
“….”
… Muu. I’m thankful but what is this unpleasant feeling. They’re strangely forceful, and for someone who calls themselves a close acquaintance, they haven’t even once called out Koma’s name, and what’s more, they’re kind of… That’s right, they’re like that.
… I know, because I’m the one who’s always looking at my little sis Koma with a full-blown lustful gaze. These men… They show(smell) signs of strong ulterior motives.
“…. No, really… I’m okay…”
“It’s fine, so don’t force yourself! You can rest until the thunderstorm is gone! There are towels and change of clothes there, since like this you’ll catch a cold!”
“As your senpai, I couldn’t stand to see a pretty kouhai suffer. Can you stand? We’ll hold you up and you can walk as can”
The people start to move, ignoring the wishes of the unwilling Koma. Perhaps, as he said earlier, they intend to take Koma to a karaoke bar.
“(…. The karaoke bar in front of the station… I don’t think it had a good reputation…)”
Suspicious duo who suddenly appear, who I don’t remember. Karaoke bar with bad rumours. Combined with the fact that Koma isn’t within visual range, all the factors make me anxious.
“He, hey, taxi!”
I have a bad feeling. If I keep running at this leisurely pace, I won’t make it in time… I have a hunch, so I lean over and call a taxi that’s just passing by.
“Where to, young lady?”
“I’m sorry! My little sister might be in trouble! I’ll show you the way, please take me to my little sister!”
“!? What did you say!? Okay, get in! Hurry and get in, young lady! Uncle will take you to your little sister right away!”
“Thank you very much! Please!”
When I asked him to do so with tears in my eyes, the old taxi driver went out of his way to open the passenger seat and encourage me to get in. I get on as quickly as prompted and start navigating him with the help of my walkie-talkie.
“Uncle, take a right at that traffic sign, please! Keep going straight for a while! And sorry, but can I make a call right now!?”
“Go ahead! Call anywhere you like, young lady! Leave the driving to uncle!”
I’m taking out my mobile phone while navigating the taxi driver… Perhaps the people who are now with Koma don’t remember if they simply don’t know me or not… They could really be acquaintances of Koma’s. They might really just be worried about Koma. But, what if they aren’t…?
“—Ah, maybe I should call the police?”
If I’m wrong, that’s fine then. It’s just me embarrassing myself… But if, supposing it wasn’t a misunderstanding, Koma would be in danger. So I didn’t hesitate at all, I pushed 110 on my mobile and called the police.
“Yes, it’s the police officer here. Did an incident happen? Is it an accident?”
“I’m sorry! It’s an incident! My little sister might have been taken by some suspicious people! Please save her!”
“!… I got it. First, calm down and explain the situation fully to me. Do you know where your little sister was taken?”
“You will soon know where my little sister is at the moment! Since she has a transmitter on her!”
“… Tran…smitter? Eh? A transmitter…?”
The Onii-san police officer who answers the phone can’t help but ask twice. Not good, I was in a hurry and said too much… If I’m not careful, he could mistake it for a prank call…
“Ah, no, nothing. Truth is my little sister… She’s been worried recently since she felt like she was being followed by some kind of stalker…”
In a panic, I would tell the Onii-san that my little sister had recently been troubled by someone following her, that she became neurotic after being followed and developed face blindness, and that I had given her a transmitter for security purposes.
… Of course it’s all a lie, but I have to do it like this. If I don’t say this much, the police won’t act.
“I understood the situation. So, once again, please tell me where your little sister is now.”
“My little sister is at the karaoke bar in front of the station! Please hurry!”
“Please calm down. I’m sending a police car from the nearest police station right now. Meanwhile, Tachibana-san, you—-”
Onii-san seemed to believe me as he took me seriously. Okay, now the police have been informed. What’s left for me to do is…
“Yes, I got it! I can get in first and rescue my little sister!”
“…. Huh?”
There’s only one thing to do. It’s to save my little sister myself.
“No, no, that’s totally not it!? Ah, It’s dangerous so you must be careful to never approach the scene unti we arriv—-”
“Uooooooooooooh! Wait for me, Komaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!?”
“Tachibana-san!? Are you hearing me, Tachibana-san!? Hello, hello!? Hello—-(*Kshn*)”
Now that I’ve done my business, I quickly hang up the call and switch to navigation mode. At the same time, I heard this conversation on the walkie-talkie.
“At any rate, it’s not nice to call you ‘you’ forever. Eetto… Lessee? Tachibana Koma-chan, is it… Un, un! Nice name!”
“Ooh!? Koma-chan is 13 years old! Uhha! Isn’t this a lucky find!”
“…..!? My student’s card…!? You tricked me…!? You people… You were not my senpai…!?”
“Ahaha! You’re making us look bad saying we tricked you. That’s because we mistakenly thought we knew Koma-chan but, we didn’t intend to trick you?”
“Yeha, yeah. Also… Koma-chan thought we were your senpai, too? We’re both at fault here.”
“”!!?””
…. I was dead right on the bad feeling. You bastards… I knew they were lying, sons of a bitch…! How dare you deceive my innocent Koma…!?
“Uncle!? Did you hear that just now? Please speed it up and take me faster to Koma!”
“Leave it to me! I’ll take a shortcut! We’re almost there!”
The uncle taxi driver, who has been listening to the bastards on my walkie-talkie with me, drives us through the back alleys with his spectacular driving technique, like a scene from a film.
The targeted karaoke bar appears at the end of the alleyway.
“Okay…! Thank you, Uncle! I’m sorry, I’ll pay you after I’m done!”
“Don’t mind it! More importantly, go save your little sister! Uncle will come help you right away, too!”
I couldn’t afford to pay the taxi fare, so I apologized to the Uncle and got out of the taxi like I rolled away… Then step inside the karaoke bar.
“Aah, welcom—”
“Where’s Koma!?”
“Huh?”
“I’m asking you where my little sister Koma is?!”
“Gu…!? Customer… You’re stran… you’re strangling me… And… what are you talking… about?”
I enter the karaoke and grab the receptionist by the neck and question him without letting him talk back.
“I said, my little sister Koma! She looks just like me and she’s a super sweet, angelic little sister! I’m not letting you go if you’re keeping her hidden, you bastaaaaaaaard!”
“If it’s her… then the inner room…”
“You should’ve said it earlier!”
After questioning him, I shooed the receptionist away and hurried to the back room. Meanwhile, from the transceiver, Koma… I hear a desperate cry for help from Koma.
“…. Nee… sama… Nee-sama… Mako-nee-sama…!”
… Un, I’m right there. It’ll be okay, I’m here. Onee-chan will definitely save you, Koma…!
*Thump*!
While saying that in my mind, I kick through the door of the back room with the force of my run.
“””….Eh?”””
The room I plunged into showed roughly what I’d imagined it would show.
Half-naked man with a camera. Another man is pushing a girl down, who is also half-naked. And then… A girl who grasps her body and shivers while clutching the brooch I gave her yesterday— No, my beloved and my very reason for living, my twin little sister, Koma.
“… Haa… Haa… Haa…”
All three of them are looking at me. This moment. Something in me— Something specifically like a limiter broke off.
“… Aah, *cough*. Hey, you, wait a bit. Did you get the wrong room? This is our room?”
“…….”
The man with a camera comes up to me and says something like that… Hou. You’ve got some guts, I’m gonna send you to hell first.
“Hmm? Now that I look closely, you… You’re exactly like Koma-chan—- (*Bang*) Boghyaaaaaaaaaa!?”
I kick the crotch of the man who let his guard down and came up to me in anger, mercilessly and as hard as I can. As soon as he felt a sickening sensation by my kicking leg, he made a strange noise and the man fainted, blowing bubbles. Okay, first one…
“!? What are you doing, you bastar—- (*Spray*) Myuaaaaa!? My eyes! My eyes, aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!?”
The man who was holding Koma down tries to grab at me in a panic to eliminate me because his partner has fallen. I am a small, ineffectual, athletically inept person against a grown man who is more than a year older than me. In the normal course of events, I wouldn’t be able to put up any resistance at all, and would be effortlessly taken down.
… However. For me, I have this. It is one of the security products to protect Koma—- It’s a tear defense spray.
This, like the walkie-talkie, was continually confiscated by my teacher during repeated inspection of personal belongings. Each time, I’ve had to buy a new one, and it’s continued to evolve, my trusty Koma guarding toy. One push of the button and the adult male is, as you can see, instantly incapacitated.
That’s how I got the two bastards down on the floor, so that I could end their liv— *Cough*. No, that’s not it. To completely neutralize them, I took two black machines out of my bag for the last time. Now. Let’s finish them up.
“…. What am I doing? That’s my line. How dare you… how dare you…”
I gently place (?) the machines against the necks of the twitching men on the ground and after a pause, I switch on the machines and declare in a loud voice.
“… How dare you mess with my cute, sweet and angelic little sister Koma!!? Go diiiiiiiiieeeeeeeeeeeeee!!?”
“”Gyaaaaaaaaaah!?””
The dazzling light and unique sounds emanate from the machines, while at the same time the men’s screams of pain are heard throughout the room…. I don’t think I need to explain this to you now, but. This is also another security product I love to use— My stun gun.
Are you watching, my homeroom teacher…!? Walkie-talkies, tear gas and this taser… They’ve been insanely helpful, do you see!? After all, security items are necessary to deal with emergencies like this.
“Aah, Koma… Koma! I’m sorry, I’m sorry that I came so late…! I’m really sorry, you must’ve been scared…! But, it’s fine already…!”
Like this I beat the spiteful bastards with a flash of justice. Just to be safe, they were tied up with a security rope, which is also a crime prevention device, and then… I run up to the absentminded Koma and hug her as hard as I can.
“Ma, Mako… Mako-nee-sama!”
“Un… Un! It’s me, Koma’s Onee-chan… Tachibana Mako…! I’m really sorry for making you wait…!”
I’m sorry, I’m so sorry… I’m really sorry for being late. But… I came here on time. I made it this time, Koma…!
◇ ◇ ◇
~Side: Koma~
The moment, two suspicious men tricked me and I was in a situation with no escape. It was my beloved and best twin sister in the world, Mako-nee-sama, who rushed in like a cool hero and saved me…
“U, uhm…! Why!? Why… No, how did you find this place, Nee-sama…?”
… I did indeed seek help from Nee-sama. But I didn’t expect her to actually come running here.
I didn’t even tell her where I was going in the first place, I just left her a letter… So I can’t even imagine how she was able to find this place. What kind of miracle did Nee-sama use to come to me…?
“… Love…. power…”
“L-Love!?”
Mako-nee-sama answers my question (while looking away a little for some reason). Please… please don’t…
Even though my heart is beating more excitedly now than it ever has since Nee-sama saved me… My heart will burst if you say such happy things to me…
“M, more importantly! Let’s get out of this unpleasant place and go home, Koma! You’ll catch a cold if you stay wet like this, and Aunty is worried about you too!”
As if to escape the awkwardness of the situation, Mako-Nee-sama, in a cold sweat, holds out her hand to me and suggests to me. I almost grabbed Nee-sama’s hand for a moment—
“… No.”
“Eh?”
“I’m sorry. I can’t go back to that home…”
“Eghy!?”
I push her hand away and distance myself from Nee-sama… This isn’t good. Have you already forgotten why you’ve left home already, me…
“Wh, wh, why…? Wha, what? Can’t go back… Onee-chan… Did she do something bad to Koma…? Ma, maybe… was I bit too extreme? Was my punishment against these people(bastards) too harsh? …. But! These people were horrible!? These idiots did bad things to Koma… That’s why, I… That’s right! It’s legal self-defence! It’s self-defence!”
My rejection of her invitation causes Nee-sama to defend herself with a pale face and a cold sweat that lingers even longer than before. Apparently I’ve made her think that I’ve seen Nee-sama’s series of grandstandings and that I’ve been taken aback. Aah, that’s not it… You’re wrong, Nee-sama…
“…. Please don’t misunderstand me. Nee-sama coming… I’m really happy that you saved me.”
“Then…”
“But… I can’t go back. I… don’t have that right. If I stay with Nee-sama… I’ll make trouble for Nee-sama… I’ll be pesky baggage to you… that’s why…”
At my comment, she mutters, ‘Oh, I get it’ and claps her hands.
“Aah, I understand. That’s how it was. Maybe you heard that? The case about Kaa-san phone call and my slip earlier saying ‘Pesky baggage’, is it. No, you’re wrong, Koma. You misunderstood all of that. That is—”
“And above all else, I… I…”
Before Nee-sama says anything else, I will reveal my thoughts. Right now… It’s hard for me to have a conversation with Nee-sama… Please, understand me…
“I… I’m no longer able to recognize Nee-sama…!”
“… Eh?”
Nee-sama looks momentarily taken aback by my confession.
“…. Not able to recognize? Me?”
“… Yes”
“That means, your face blindness has worsened… right?”
“…. Yes. I already, Aunt-sama… Probably, Hime-sama too… And then, Mako-nee-sama too… I can’t recognize you. I can’t go back home in this state… I don’t want to go back home…! I’m fine with not recognizing others… But! Only Nee-sama…! I don’t want to be not able to recognize Nee-sama… I can’t…! It’s painful, I hate it…! That’s why… I can’t go back! A world where I can’t feel Nee-sama , where I can’t recognise her, even though she’s beside me… I won’t endure it…!”
… Like crying out. Like an ugly spoiled child. I vent out my feelings to Nee-sama.
… Aahaa… I’ve done it. I’ve worked so hard to play a cool, attractive character to make Nee-sama fall in love with me. I didn’t want Nee-sama to see me as this childish… It’s over… It’s already done…
“… Fuun. You can’t recognize me… You say that you can’t recognize me? … Fumufumu. I see.”
When Nee-sama heard my pathetic confession, she muttered something like that and suddenly started rummaging through her bag.
And then, one fruit from her bag— She took out a bright red apple and began to bite and chew it with her big, lovely mouth.
“… Uhm, Nee-sama? What…”
“Koma”
“Y, Yes…?”
“Open your mouth”
“… Ha, haah…?”
I was at a loss to read the meaning of her actions at all, and when she had finished chewing, she orders me to do so in an unusually strong tone of voice. I opened my mouth as I was told to do, and… Mako-nee-sama slipped into my bosom and,
“—-Hnm”
“~~~~~~~!!?”
She has overlapped her own mouth with my open mouth closely.
At the same time as we overlapped, the apple chewed by Nee-sama poured from her mouth into mine. I tried to reject her for a moment, but instantly Nee-sama’s heated tongue pushed mine in… She ordered me to ‘swallow it’, without letting me talk back… I swallow it without knowing why.
“ax… uhm, h… ? Mako-nee-sama…”
“Shut up. Also, open your mouth again.”
“Ye, s…”
Once she was sure I had swallowed, Nee-sama again chewed the apple thoroughly and… And after twisting and cracking my closed lips with her tongue… She’ll pour the chewed apple in again.
After swallowing, she chews again and takes my lips again and again.
How much time has passed since then. Suddenly my tongue starts to function. I could feel the sweet and sour taste spreading all over my mouth.
… That is. I first had my taste buds restored by Nee-sama six years ago, after I had a taste disorder… Nee-sama took my first kiss from me, and it was a hot, enchanting, sweet and sour kiss that connected me to her.
“(Hu…h…?)”
And just in time for my taste buds to return… The lovely face of Nee-sama, unrecognisable until a few moments ago, is an expression… I could clearly recognize it.
It’s a lie… Like magic… Wh, why? How did I so easily… my taste disorder and face blindless…
“… Hey, Koma. Even with this, you can’t recognize me?”
“e…au…”
“I’m proud to say that I’m the only person in the whole world who can give this kiss to Koma. Only this kiss, repeated thousands and thousands of times… I believe it’s a bond between me and Koma that no one else can replicate. Is this not working? You can’t recognize me even with this?”
“n… No. I understand… Nee-sama, I recognize… you”
“Hn. I see, I see. I’m glad to hear that.”
Panicking, I barely answer Nee-sama’s question. Nee-sama smiles in satisfaction at that answer… And, she hugged me gently, like she had done in the past, and whispered to me
“You misunderstand. The whole thing about Kaa-san, the ‘baggage’ comment, it’s all a misunderstanding. I’ll explain everything when we get home, don’t worry.”
“… Misund…”
“Also… Before we go back home, I just want to say this. Uhm, Koma. It’s okay if you can’t see me. It’s okay if you don’t recognize me. Because don’t worry, I’m here. Whenever and whatever happens, I will always be there for Koma. I’ll always be there for Koma, and I’ll always be on Koma’s side.”
“… Nee-sama…”
“And, If you ever lose sight of me again, don’t hesitate to tell me. At that time… I’ll make you recognize my existence with this kiss to the point that you won’t like it!”
“….. Ye, s”
With her dazzling smile and a nice word of advice, my heart is already a complete knock-out. I’m done for. It’s my loss. I’ll obey Nee-sama…
“…. Uhm, Nee-sama.”
“Hnm? What is it Koma?”
“… Once more… Would it be fine… to kiss me?”
“Fueh!?”
“…. Nee-sama’s existence, to be imprinted in me… So that your existence will never again be… unrecognizable!”
“Oh, oooh! I got it! It’s fine! There’s no reason to not do it and you’re more than welcome! Come, Koma!”
Half desperate. Raising the white flag halfway and declaring happiness— Rather intend to declare surrender. I’m demanding a kiss from Nee-sama myself. Nee-sama was surprised, but happily agreed to kiss me.
“… Then, thank you, Nee-sama.”
“U, un! Come here, Koma!”
As soon as I approach her, she quietly closes her eyes, her face flushed red like the apple earlier, and takes up a position to accept my kiss.
… I did the same, aiming at Nee-sama’s lips, then quietly closed my eyes… Slowly, my lips close to Nee-sama’s lips—
*Thump*
“”…..Eh?””
“””….. Eh?”””
—– The moment of contact. Suddenly the door to the room opens as it did when the Nee-sama attacked earlier. From there… A man who appeared to be the manager of the shop, a taxi driver and a police officer with a baton all came inside… Wh, at…?
In a series of sudden developments, I, as well as Mako-nee-sama, could only stare blankly at the three people who had entered, while just had kissed. Both the taxi driver and the policeman just look away awkwardly at this bizarre scene of twin sisters kissing in front of two men tied up with ropes lying on the floor, and remain silent.
The only person who seemed to be the manager of this shop took one look at this room and…
“C… Customers. Well, I’m sorry to interrupt you, but…”
“”Yes…””
Then he stood in front of us twins, pointed to the apple Nee-sama had bitten into and said.
“Bring your own food and drinks to the bar… I hope you’ll refrain from doing so…”
“Is this really the right time to say that!? I know I’m the one who went on a rampage, but don’t you have something more to say!?”
… manager. Could you please read the mood of the room… as Nee-sama says?
Author’s notes: Mako is usually hopeless, but when Koma’s in a pinch or when Koma’s on the edge, she’s a good big sister. Koma’s sensitivity has already went over the top.
I’d also like to close the story as the main storyline of Hopeless Sister in about two or three more chapters. Thank you so much for reading it…. Well, as I’ve said before, I’ll probably get on with it and keep writing the December volume as an afterthought or sequel, or the high school edition, or the college edition.
Tintan 