One morning, sometime after joining the student council, at 6:30 AM…
*Beep beep beep, beep beep beep*
An alarm echoed loudly and pierced through my consciousness.
Extending an arm out of my bed, I reached for my smartphone on the table. Touching the screen with my fingertip, I stopped the alarm.
Just like that, my consciousness smoothly faded away once again, and I slipped into the bliss of a second sleep.
Ah, why does falling back asleep feel so good… No matter how many times I end up late, I don’t think I can stop. It takes so long to fall asleep at night, but it’s so easy to fall asleep a second time—it’s like a glitch in the human body.
After repeatedly hopping back and forth between sleep and semi-consciousness, I gave in and got up at the fourth alarm.
It was 6:43 AM. Roughly the usual time.
Before joining the student council, I set my first alarm for 7:00 AM, but after joining, I set it earlier to avoid being late.
Thanks to that, I still had plenty of time even after four rounds of sleep.
After brushing my teeth and washing my face, I headed to Na-chan’s room.
“Hey, wake up already!” (Takaki)
I knocked on the door and called out from outside, but there was no response.
Of course, there wasn’t a corpse inside, and if I strained my ears, I could hear rustling sounds.
“I’m coming in.” (Takaki)
As I spoke, I opened the door and found Na-chan wrapped in a blanket on the bed. Although her body was hidden, she was wriggling, so she was probably conscious.
“Wake up.” (Takaki)
“No… five more minutes…” (Na-chan?)
“Stop whining.” (Takaki)
Annoyed by her childish response, I yanked the blanket away without a second thought.
“Hyah!” (Na-chan?)
She let out a strange sound as she rolled on the bed. For a moment, she flailed her arms trying to find the blanket, but soon realized it was futile and stopped.
Even with a tearful face, her eyes remained tightly shut as she muttered in a strained voice.
“Ugh… Takkun, you’re such a brute… a sadistic glass-wearing nerd…” (Na-chan?)
“I don’t even wear glasses.” (Takaki)
This nonsensical chatter early in the morning came from none other than Na-chan.
Her full name was Gujou Naho.
Species: Human being;
Gender: Female;
Age: Twenty-eight years old;
Relationship status: Single, no boyfriend;
And she’s my biological aunt.
She had semi-long brown hair with dark roots showing, and while not having a model’s figure, her proportions were fairly well-balanced.
She had a very youthful face. With a bit of bias, she could easily be mistaken for a college student.
She’s more than ten years younger than my dad and was still in middle school when I was born. Even in my earliest memories, she was in high school, so I have vague memories of her in a school uniform.
Because of that, she absolutely hated being called “Oba-san (Aunt)” by me and insisted on being called “Na-chan”.
I can understand not wanting to be called “Oba-san” in your twenties, but it’s annoying how she gets grumpy whenever I slip up.
Now, perhaps trying to make up for the absence of the blanket, she was hugging a pillow tightly with both hands.
It seemed she still had lingering attachments to the world of dreams.
Her strawberry-patterned girly pajamas were slightly disheveled, exposing her smooth stomach and underwear.
Waking up the sleep-deprived Na-chan had become a daily routine for me. I grabbed her shoulders and gently shook her.
“Na-chan, please, just wake up.” (Takaki)
“Hinnn… stop it…” (Naho)
“Oi, don’t make weird noises.” (Takaki)
“Sorry, Takkun… could it be… seeing me like this made you feel… naughty?” (Naho)
“Don’t make me want to smack your thirty-year-old face.” (Takaki)
As soon as I said that, Na-chan, displaying agility that didn’t seem possible moments ago, sat up and stared at me seriously as I stood beside the bed.
“Don’t talk about people’s age like that! I’m still in my twenties, and I get hit on occasionally when I walk around town. Every time I go to buy cosmetics, the clerks compliment me, saying ‘Wow, you don’t look like you’re in your late twenties at all! Your skin is great’, you know?!” (Naho)
With eyes devoid of light and a tone devoid of any life, she returned a robotic response. The pressure was so intense, that it felt like being compressed like a cup noodle at the bottom of the deep sea.
“Uwa—! Don’t suddenly rant at me with a straight face, it’s scary!” (Takaki)
“You’re in high school already, Takkun, so you know what to say if you’ve done something wrong, right?” (Naho)
“Alright, my bad! I’m sorry!” (Takaki)
Seriously though, how does Na-chan manage to eliminate the highlights in her eyes? It’s a real mystery. Is it something she can control consciously?
Being reminded of her age seemed to have completely woken her up. Na-chan reluctantly got out of bed.
“Haa, students who keep thinking they’re young forever… When you hit your late twenties, things start getting really tough, you know?” (Naho)
Well, yeah, I can tell based on how you’re bragging about the compliments from the store clerk earlier.
While muttering to herself, Na-chan headed towards the direction of the bathroom.
After she left, I then headed to the kitchen to prepare breakfast.
Na-chan and I live together in this two-bedroom apartment.
In the kitchen, I set four slices of bread in the toaster. I cracked a cold egg that I’d left out to reach room temperature and dropped it along with some ham into a frying pan, covering it to steam-cook. I lightly washed some cherry tomatoes while waiting and set aside portions for bentos as well.
“Haa… why does morning have to come… They say there’s no endless night, but I wouldn’t mind having an endless dream…” (Naho)
“If you’ve got time to question such a thing, could you at least bring out the jam and dishes? And coffee too.” (Takaki)
“Alright.” (Naho)
I nudged the listless Na-chan aside and plated the toast, ham and eggs, and cherry tomatoes. I popped the individually frozen rice into the microwave to thaw, making sure to prepare some for our bentos as well.
Carrying the plates over, I found Na-chan already seated at the dining table, ready and waiting. She had already prepared coffee for both herself and me.
“Here you go, it’s done.” (Takaki)
“Thanks. Itadakimasu!” (Naho)
Setting aside the smartphone she had been playing with, Na-chan innocently clasped her hands together and started spreading jam on her toast. Just moments ago, she had been grumbling about age and mornings, but now, her mood had completely shifted.
The ability to switch gears so quickly was one of Na-chan’s admirable traits.
“Yeah, speaking of which, I think I’ll be able to come home early today.” (Naho)
“Got it. You’ve seemed pretty busy lately.” (Takaki)
“Yeah, well, my workload is the usual, but I also had to help with training a new employee.” (Naho)
Despite appearances, Na-chan is a full-fledged professional working at a local publishing company.
At work, Na-chan serves as an editor for a local magazine, and she’s apparently relied upon by her colleagues for her talent. That often leads to late nights at the office, and she often comes home exhausted.
However, at home, she fully displays her natural sloppiness—she doesn’t clean, cook, do laundry, or even bother to get dressed after a bath. Consequently, I, her nephew, handle all the household chores.
I wish I could have also been like Na-chan and completely abandoned all household duties, but sadly, I couldn’t bear the thought of rotating through frozen meals, turning the sink into a swamp, or wearing the same dirty socks from the previous week.
I caved in.
Moreover, it’s puzzling how Na-chan can be so lax in everything else yet meticulously care for her facial makeup and skincare routine. Even if she dedicated just a fraction of that effort to tidying up her room, the bathroom, or the contents of the fridge, it would make a difference.
I sprinkle soy sauce over the ham and eggs, break the yolk, and mix the creamy yolk with the ham before taking a bite.
Hmm, today’s breakfast turned out pretty well.
As I praised my own breakfast, Na-chan struck up a conversation.
“By the way, Takkun, you’ve been getting up early lately, haven’t you?” (Naho)
“Yeah, I joined the student council a while ago, so I can’t be late.” (Takaki)
“Oh? …Huh? Student council? That’s news to me!” (Naho)
“That’s cause I never mentioned it.” (Takaki)
“You need to say stuff like this! After all, I’m practically your guardian!” (Naho)
“Oh, right… Sorry.” (Takaki)
You say that, but at home, I often feel like I’m the guardian.
I mean, I do most of the cooking, laundry, and cleaning around here. She’ll at least take out the trash if I ask, though.
While having breakfast, I explained to Na-chan how I ended up joining the student council.
Of course, I didn’t mention how much of a disaster the student council president is.
“…So yeah. Well, I could have probably not joined the student council and avoided repeating a year, but it’s a bit too late now.” (Takaki)
“Hmm, Takkun in the student council, huh? I could understand if it was back in middle school, but it’s a bit surprising considering how you’ve been lately.” (Naho)
“It’s not like I wanted to join.” (Takaki)
“But if you haven’t quit yet, it can’t be all bad, right? Sounds like you’re having fun.” (Naho)
“I’m not so sure about that. It’s a hassle. I’m not a workaholic, and I’d rather have less to do.” (Takaki)
“But you seem comfortable in the student council. Oh, I get it! It’s because Arisu-chan is there with you, right?” (Naho)
“…Why are you bringing up her name?” (Takaki)
“Well, youth and love is wonderful, isn’t it? Having a cute childhood friend is a blessing, you know? You must be pretty happy, right?” (Naho)
“Haa, whatever.” (Takaki)
It’s true that having Arisu in the student council is a blessing, but admitting that to Na-chan would only complicate things, so I brushed it off casually.
And I definitely need to keep my relationship with Togami as discreet as possible. If it got out that there’s an extraordinary beauty as the student council president and that we share secrets, who knows how much teasing I’d have to endure?
As I pondered over these thoughts, I noticed Na-chan staring intently at me.
She had an unexpectedly serious yet gentle expression, causing me to involuntarily pause with my toast halfway to my mouth.
“What is it? You’re not thinking of something weird, are you?” (Takaki)
“Nah, nothing like that. Just thinking about how you seem pretty happy lately, and that’s a good thing, you know, from a guardian’s perspective.” (Naho)
“I see…” (Takaki)
Caught off guard by her sudden remark, I shyly averted my gaze.
But Na-chan wasn’t going to let it slide that easily.
“I mean, you worked hard for high school entrance exams and got into a high-ranking school, only to end up getting injured. I still remember how depressed you were.” (Naho)
“It’s not that bad…” (Takaki)
“But still, that’s quite a contrast from your serious middle school days. I mean, there were all sorts of things before entering high school, right?” (Naho)
“I understand that Dad’s situation is unavoidable.” (Takaki)
“Even if you understand, you’re not okay with it, right?” (Naho)
“…” (Takaki)
“You’re kind-hearted, Takkun. You don’t want to think badly of your Dad.” (Naho)
Dad had to support me financially, and the extended overseas assignment was due to the company’s needs. It would be selfish of me, a child, to complain about it.
I understood all this logically.
But to say there’s absolutely no resentment… would be a lie.
If only life was simpler…
“But stressing yourself out to the point of causing trouble for Arisu-chan, your teachers, or anyone else at school doesn’t solve anything. It’s not helping you, Takkun. It’s just self-destructive behavior. Look up the term ‘self-neglect’.” (Naho)
She hit me with those sharp words as I fell silent.
Despite her usual carefree attitude, she could really drive home the gap in life experiences at moments like this.
“… Well, I’m doing pretty okay now. You can relax.” (Takaki)
“Yeah. I feel like I can rest easy lately. Oh, are you good on time?” (Naho)
As if to wrap up the conversation, Na-chan prompted me.
Indeed, it was time to finish cleaning up and get ready to leave. As I stood up with the dishes, Na-chan handed me a mug and a plate.
“Hey Takkun, could you wash these too?” (Naho)
“Seriously, can’t you start washing your own dishes by now?” (Takaki)
“I can wash them, you know? But whenever I do, you get all mad about ‘the dishes not being clean enough’, so I end up leaving it to you.” (Naho)
“Yeah, I remember that.” (Takaki)
I sighed as I took the dishes from her.
Honestly, I should seriously teach Na-chan how to do household chores one of these days.
◆
On the way home that day.
The student council had a lot of work so we stayed behind until it was completely dark.
I got off at the nearest station with Arisu and we walked back together.
We diverged from the main street and entered a residential area. Small bugs repeatedly hit the dim streetlights, making small sounds in the narrow alley.
It was late October, and the evenings had become quite cool. I felt like it would be if the temperature stayed like this all year round. In another half month, the nights would probably become too cold.
“…And that’s how it is. Even though she’s almost thirty, she’s quite troublesome.” (Takaki)
“Hmm. Sounds like Na-chan hasn’t changed at all.” (Arisu)
As we walked, I complained to Arisu about things that had been happening at home, mainly related to Na-chan.
The Yura family and Gujou family had been close since I was in elementary school. So, Arisu also knew Na-chan, and I was familiar with Arisu’s parents as well.
“By the way, does Na-chan have anyone she’s dating?” (Arisu)
“Not as far as I know. She doesn’t seem interested in that either.” (Takaki)
I’m not sure about her situation before we started living together, but I have at least never heard of Na-chan mentioning being in a relationship with anyone.
Of course, there’s a possibility she was hiding it from me. However, it would be difficult to keep hiding it when we’re living together.
“Really? That’s a bit surprising.” (Arisu)
“Is it? There aren’t many people who are open-minded enough to date her.” (Takaki)
When I said that, Arisu frowned as if to say, “Are you an idiot?”
“Nonono. One wouldn’t normally know about her lazy personality or how terrible she is at housework before dating her.” (Arisu)
“Well, that’s true.” (Takaki)
“Na-chan is quite beautiful, and she’s probably popular, right? If she wanted to get a boyfriend, she could easily get one.” (Arisu)
Even I had noticed that Na-chan was quite attractive, but Arisu seemed to hold her in higher regard than I had expected. I guess it’s a bit hard to judge appearance when it comes to family.
“So, it’s natural to think there’s a reason why she doesn’t get a boyfriend.” (Arisu)
“A reason, huh?” (Takaki)
We walked in silence for a while, and I thought about my life with Na-chan.
An aunt and her nephew living together as a family.
In the eyes of the general public, it might seem a bit unusual.
Up until now, things had worked out well, but it was a delicate balance. If either of our circumstances changed even a little, it would easily collapse.
“Is it because I’m here that she finds it hard to get a boyfriend?” (Takaki)
Arisu folded her arms and pondered upon hearing my words.
“Well, if she started living with her boyfriend, Takaki would be left alone.” (Arisu)
“Yeah, I figured as much.” (Takaki)
“Maybe Na-chan wants to prioritize you over herself for now. So you probably don’t need to worry about her, but I think you could at least be a bit kinder to her.” (Arisu)
“…I see. Sorry, Arisu. I need to stop by the supermarket, so go on ahead without me.” (Takaki)
I had planned to use the ingredients in the fridge for dinner, but maybe I’ll make sukiyaki (Japanese hot pot) for a change.
As if seeing right through my thoughts, Arisu gave me a gentle smile.
“Okay. I’ll head off here. See you tomorrow.” (Arisu)
“Yeah.” (Takaki)
◆
“I’m home.” (Takaki)
As I opened the door, the motion sensor was triggered and the entrance hall was bathed with warm light. Na-chan’s shoes were scattered carelessly on the entryway floor, and her bag was placed placed at the top of the step.
It seemed unusual for Na-chan, who was usually busy with work, to be home already.
“Na-chan, are you here?” (Takaki)
I called out towards the living room door where the light was spilling out, but there was no response.
For now, I quickly took off my shoes and headed to the kitchen to put down the groceries.
“Hmm?” (Takaki)
In the hallway connecting the entrance to the living room, I noticed something lying on the floor.
I set my bags aside and picked it up.
“…Stockings?” (Takaki)
They were the black stockings Na-chan usually wore.
As I shifted my gaze, I noticed a jacket had been dropped in front of the door.
From the circumstantial evidence, it seemed that Na-chan had come home and immediately tossed her bag and clothes aside, then rushed into the living room.
It was typical of Na-chan, but it was quite problematic for someone in their thirties to be like this.
I let out a deep sigh.
For now, I left the bag and stockings where they were and picked up the jacket, which looked like it might get wrinkled. I stepped into the living room, only to almost step on something, and instinctively took a step back.
I noticed a white blouse lying near the entrance to the living room.
But that wasn’t all.
A skirt and blouse were scattered from the entrance to the back of the living room.
It was easy to imagine Na-chan tossing off her clothes one after another and diving onto the sofa.
“Is this a worse version of Hansel and Gretel1…?” (Takaki)
Following the trail of clothes, I ended up at the sofa with its back facing me.
The urge to turn around and retreat to my room surfaced within me.
However, my sense of responsibility prevailed.
I steeled myself and peered in.
On the sofa was Na-chan, lying in her underwear and camisole, half-naked.
It was as expected, but my head felt heavy with the weight of it all.
She had her head and back lying on the seat, with one knee bent and resting on the backrest. One hand, hanging off the edge of the sofa, was also gripping a can of beer.
On the table was a strong Chu-Hi (Alcoholic drink) with its pull-tab already opened, wrapped in a convenience store bag. It seemed likely that Na-chan had bought this at a nearby store, drunk it on her way home, and, in high spirits, also drank the beer from the fridge before falling asleep.
My gaze looking down at this nearly thirty-year-old woman must have been thoroughly cold.
“Hey, Oba-san.” (Takaki)
“Uuuuu…” (Naho)
A wild and displeased growl can be heard from her.
Perhaps she didn’t like being called “Oba-san” even while asleep.
“…Na-chan.” (Takaki)
“Ungh! …Ah, Takkun, you’re back! Yay!” (Naho)
When I called her by her usual nickname, she grinned with her flushed, drunk face.
I really wish she wouldn’t differentiate nicknames even while she’s asleep.
“Why are you sleeping half-naked?” (Takaki)
“Ehh? I’ve been awake the entire time~” (Naho)
“That’s a lie. Because I called you Ob… No, never mind.” (Takaki)
I had almost blurted out a forbidden phrase and barely stopped myself in time. That was close.
Na-chan seemed unaware of this and was flicking the empty can with her fingers.
“By the way, I’m short on snacks~ Takkun, make something~~” (Naho)
“…Fine. I’ll whip something up for you but put a blanket over yourself. You’ll catch a cold.” (Takaki)
Sighing at Na-chan, who was asking for snacks right after waking up, I tossed the blanket that was draped over the backrest of the sofa.
“Hehe, thanks~ I’m so happy that Takkun has grown up to be such a kind child~” (Naho)
“Yeah, yeah.” (Takaki)
I carried the shopping bags into the kitchen and began thinking about what I could make from the ingredients in the fridge and what I had bought today.
It would be a waste to serve the sukiyaki meat to a drunk, so I decided to put it in the freezer for now. For the moment, I could prepare some chopped tomatoes and dried baby sardines with ponzu to satisfy her, and in the meantime, make a sake-steamed dish with mushrooms and pork thigh, and then…
“Oh right, make sure it’s something with strong flavors! And it should go well with alcohol, be low in calories, and good for beauty!” (Naho)
“…Haa.” (Takaki)
I had been troubled by various thoughts during the conversation with Arisu earlier, but now, thinking more clearly, I realized that Na-chan wasn’t exactly the thoughtful type.
I wish someone would hurry up and marry her.
I’ll just live my life peacefully on my own…
TL Notes:
Thanks for reading!
So there are 3 more chapters left in this volume, and I’m kinda on a timer cause my enlistment date is coming up. So hopefully I can finish it beforehand, and not procrastinate.
Wait… Isn’t Hansel and Gretel is all about brother sister witch hunter?