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Chapter 137. [Home is Where The Heart Is]
<<Iroha~! I’ve come to playyyyyy!>>
<<Oh, Ogu. Welcome>>
I opened the front door with a rattle.
There stood Angu Ogu, who had come from America.
I invited her into the house.
Just as I closed the door of the entrance.
<<I’ve been wanting to see you~!>>
<<Hey, don’t hug me so suddenly!>>
Angu Ogu approached, seeking a hug.
I held her back firmly with my palm.
She’s getting all excited after that trip, huh?
She should calm down a bit.
<<Geez, even though it’s been a while, aren’t you a bit distant?>>
<<It’s just that Ogu’s sense of personal space is off, that’s all!>>
Since we’re taking care of each other in the hospital a year ago, we’ve become quite close.
I’ve been swept up in it myself.
So I can’t judge others.
I can’t let my fan pride slip away like this!
Don’t forget my origins.
For this overnight stay, I need to maintain appropriate boundaries.
<<Is it okay to say that? Today is my “thank you” to you, right?>>
<<Urgh!? You’re bringing up your position here, huh?>>
She hit me where it hurts.
Angu Ogu spread her arms wide, appealing to me.
<<Ugh… Fine, I get it. But just a little>>
I sighed and took a step closer to Ongu Ogu.
Then I pinched the hem of her clothes and gently rested my head against hers.
<<!?>>
Angu Ogu’s shoulder twitched.
I thought, “Well, this should barely be safe.”
It might not be exactly a hug, but it’s the result of minimizing the contact area, so it can’t be helped.
After a few seconds, I pulled away.
<<See, this should be fine. Hey, Ogu, is something wrong?>>
For some reason, Angu Ogu seemed strange.
Her face was bright red.
<<I-Iroha. Are you naturally this way!? Don’t you dare do that to anyone else!>>
<<Huh? Why?>>
<<Just because!>>
<<Huh? Well, okay. But I never planned to do that with anyone else besides Ogu anyway.>>
<<!?!?!?>>
Among my acquaintances, no one else would demand a hug except Angu Ogu.
Anyway, we can’t just stand here at the entrance forever.
<<Let’s move to the room soon… Uh, Ogu?>>
<<You’re doing it on purpose, aren’t you?>>
<<Wh-What’s wrong? Your eyes are kinda scary>>
<<Shut up, shut up! It’s Iroha’s fault! Grrrroooooooo!>>
<<Hey, why are you jumping on me… Aaaahhh!?>>
I was pushed down by Angu Ogu right at the entrance.
At the same time, the door rattled open.
“Iroha-chan, I’ve come to playyy~!” and “Iroha-chaaaan, it’s your big sister~!”
<<<<Ah>>>>
“Huh,” “Hm?”
This must be what they mean when they say the air freezes.
I was pushed down and ended up beneath Angu Ogu.
As if snapping out of it, Angu Ogu began to sweat profusely.
Mai froze in place while still smiling.
“Oh, my~.”
Mai’s voice rose sharply.
“Th-This isn’t… yeah! I just tripped, that’s all!”
“Do you think that excuse is going to work, you idiot!?”
“Yikes!? Mai, you’re making a face that girls shouldn’t make!”
“Shut uuup~~~~!”
“Oh dear, did big sister and Mai get in the way? Alright, I’ll come back in an hour. Oh, and don’t worry, big sister will tweet an update to the fans!”
“Hey, wait!? Someone stop that idiotic big sister over there!”
It seems like trouble is inevitable whenever this bunch gets together.
The long-awaited gathering had started with a commotion.
***
“So, what were you two doing at the entrance?”
In my room, Angu Ogu and I were sitting on the floor, made to kneel by Mai.
By the way, Ah-nee was sprawled out on the bed, giggling as she watched us.
“But seriously, I’m saying there was a misunderstanding!”
“[Haa, haa], even though you were saying something like that?”
“!?!?!? I-I didn’t say thaaat!”
“No, you did.”
“Iroha, are you betraying me?”
“As expected, I can’t trust Ogu-san! There must be some reason you came to Japan this time, right? I won’t let Iroha-chan be taken away!”
“Mmmph!?”
With that, Mai, who had been kneeling next to me, hugged me possessively.
As if to declare, “She’s mine!”.
Hey, the height is… uh, well, just right.
“What!? Mai, when did you get so big… Oh, I see now. So that’s why Iroha was worried about her ‘growth’.”
“Hey, don’t just come up with strange explanations! Uh, anyway, more importantly! What was this thing that Ogu mentioned about [reason for coming to Japan]?”
“Hehehe! Thanks for asking!”
Angu Ogu suddenly regained her momentum and stood up.
And with a sound effect that seemed like [Bam!].
She puffed out her nonexistent chest and answered.
“The reason I came to Japan this time. It’s to look for a new ‘home’!”
“A new home? So, you mean…”
“Be delighted, Iroha. The truth is—”
“—I’m moving to Japan!”