The Third Wheel and the Knight and the PrincessĀ (4)
āMitsuki, are you okay?ā
āMako-chan! Unn, Iām totally okay~ā
Arriving at the infirmary, Takayanagi and Mitsuki who were clad in competitive swimsuit and the Swimming Clubās jersey were present as expected.
A compress was attached to Mitsukiās ankle. Her ankle was swollen and one can tell itāsĀ notĀ okay with a single glance. However, Mitsuki had her usual frivolous smile on as she waved at me.
I crouched down by her feet and brushed my finger against her ankle.
āItās not okay right. It looks painful. Iāll carry you on the way back.ā
āYou donāt have to do that! I can walk, geez. Besides, Iām heavyā¦ā¦ā
Thereās no way this delicate body of Mitsuki is heavy. With her being this slender, I can even princess carry her all the way home. And while this isnāt some shoujo manga, āMitsuki sure is light, itās like you have wings on your backā I have confidence I can say something flowery like that.
Rather, even if Mitsukiās a giant that exceeds 100kg, I have confidence I can carry her back.
āMitsukiās an angel so youāre light.ā
āStop it, geez~! Mako-chanās embarrassing.ā
Is there anything embarrassing about it? To me, Mitsuki is really an angel. Mitsukiās mi dulce angel.
Was it that her charm specs increased, or that she became more concerned about grooming herself, Mitsuki who was already cute became even cuter.
Even her large black eyes and soft pink lips, even her white skin, all of them are perfect. Even her tight waist and small chest, even her lovely thighs, are all captivating. The points of focus were like a hentaiās, but itās safe since I was formerly female.
While itās provisional, although Mitsuki and I are supposed to be twins we donāt look alike at all.
Weāre of the opposite gender and fraternal twins so itās okay even if we donāt particularly look alike, but if I also had this much good looks, Iāll probably be leading a popular ikemen life now. Since Iām transported to another world anyway, I wanted to be transported as an ikemen.
āMadoka.ā
Takayanagi had on a complicated face as he called Madokaās name. As I had nothing but worldly thoughts on my mind, that startled even me.
Madokaās shoulder trembled with a start, pursing her lips. She grasped the hem of her one-piece in a frightened manner.
Itās just like a child who was reprimanded, trying not to cry before her mother. But Iām sure Takayanagi isnāt angry anymore. Rather, heās likely going to reconcile with her.
āMadoka, does your cheek hurt?ā
Takayanagi stood in front of Madoka, his hand coming in contact with her cheek that turned red.
Madoka had a face that looked like sheāll start crying any moment as she wiped the corner of her eyes with her fingertips, shaking her head left and right.
āI, was scolded by Makoto. That my relationship with Yasuchika isnāt that of friendsā.ā
Takayanagi gave me a fleeting glance.
I thought he was going to find fault with me who scolded his precious Madoka, but that doesnāt seem to be the case.
Thank goodness. I thought he was going to strike me with the Choke Sleeper I witnessed him using on Junya.
āThat I canāt just let Yasuchika and Junya listen to what I say. I was convinced. I apologise for doing nothing but making you listen to me until now. Iāll listen to what you say from now on too.ā
Madoka stared squarely at Takayanagi. She appeared to be trying to conduct herself firmly but she will probably break into tears any moment. The tips of her fingers are trembling.
Madoka took a deep breath. It seemed that it took all she had just to breath; her body trembled even more intensely.
āThatās why, yes, ā¦ā¦ you donāt have to quit the Swimming Club. Also, I donāt mind if your marriage with me is restored to clean slate. If you come to like me enough to truly want to marry, at that time, will you marry me?ā
Spilling tears, Madoka made the first move and turned her back towards Yasuchika. The queen of ice whoās originally prideful, probably didnāt want him who, in term of age is like a younger brother, to see her crying.
Takayanagi appeared shocked by Madokaās words; he stiffened with his eyes widened. However he quickly returned to his usual look, taking a step towards Madoka and addressing her gently.
āI understand, Madoka. Thank you. I really like the Swimming Club, so Iām really happy to hear you say that.ā
Without a word Madoka was about to leave the infirmary, but just as her hand was on the door she turned back just once, sending Mitsuki a gaze.
āI also apologise for injuring Mitsuki-san. It wasnāt my intention to injure you. Really.ā
Saying just that, Madoka left the infirmary, not waiting for Mitsukiās response.
Having heard Madokaās words, Mitsuki stood upright with the intention of chasing after her.
āWait, Mitsuki, where are you planning to go with your foot in pain?ā
āI, havenāt told Madoka-sanĀ itās alright. Mako-chan became friends with Madoka-san right? I want to be friends with Madoka-san too!ā
Squeeze, she declared as she made a clenched fist. Completely ignoring my words Mitsuki left the infirmary with aĀ hop hop, as though trying to guard her foot.
Mitsuki sure is stubborn at strange timings. I wonder who she takes after, good grief.
āSakurai-kun, about Madoka, thank you.ā
Takayanagi approached me who was still crouching, and bowed his head deeply.
I was the one who became flustered. I simply said what I wanted to, throwing the friendship theory at her like a know-it-all. I stood up as though prompted, waving my hands widely before my chest.
āNo, I simply said what I wanted to, as I liked. I didnāt do anything for senpai to thank me.ā
āI didnāt expect such words from Madoka. Iāve no idea what you said or how you said it, but truly, thank you.ā
Being thanked so much, on the contrary I feel ashamed.
I simply said all I wanted to, and by chance that tugged at some part of Madokaās heart. Whether itās the intention to save Takayanagi, or the intention to save Madoka, I had neither of them.
But if the words I said resounds in someoneās heart, and directs something in someone towards a good direction, I think that thatās a happy thing.
āThatās my line, thank you for nursing Mitsuki. Iāll return with Mitsuki now. Senpai will participate in the practice match, right. Please do your best.ā
āAh, then shall I lend you my gym clothes? You canāt return drenched like that, right?ā
Now that he mentioned it, Iām still wearing wet clothes.
I thought of borrowing clothes from Soutarou, but because he was endeavouring at Basketball Club activities, I didnāt manage to borrow clothes from him.
I thought that since it canāt be helped Iāll just ride the train drenched, as at any rate itās just about 15 minutes, but if Takayanagi will lend me clothes then letās be pampered by his offer.
āAre you sure?ā
āOf course. If itās Sakurai-kun, your stature and built is similar to me, so it should be just right.ā
Certainly Takayanagi and my stature and built are about the same, so it might be better to borrow clothes from Takayanagi than to borrow clothes from Soutarou.
After all, the other day when I borrowed Soutarouās basketball uniform, it was all baggy.
āThank you very much. That helps a lot.ā
I headed to the Swimming Club lockers with Takayanagi.
Various problems cropped up but I wonder if results-wise they were settled well? Itās extremely lamentable to let Mitsuki get injured, but Iām really glad it wasnāt a serious injury.
Well itās kind of late but, could it be that this position of making Madoka and Takayanagi reconcile was actually Mitsukiās position?
With the reason of being worried about Mitsuki or that itās for Mitsukiās sake, I stick my nose in now and then, but that might have broken flags at full-strength. Letās be careful from now on.
Honestly, I donāt mind if flags other than the Princeās are broken. But if itās with any of the capturable characters, oh well, itās okay if you want me recognise your association with Mitsuki, yāknow.
āMy locker is here.ā
āAh, hai.ā
Takayanagiās locker was as expected, neatly arranged and put in order.
Putting aside Soutarou, Kanameās locker is filthy. It canāt be helped if he doesnāt fold his gym clothes and jersey and itās okay to gloss over that, but I donāt understand why he doesnāt dump rubbish in the rubbish bin and stuffs them in his locker instead.
Moreover thereās some weird smell. Even though Kaname himself smells good normally, why is it that his locker stinks? In other words since youāre an ikemen, you should make your locker like an ikemenās too.
āHere you go. If youāre fine with mine.ā
āThank you very much. Iāll return it after washing.ā
āYou donāt have to worry about that.ā
Naturally, Takayanagiās jersey was blue, the 3rd-yearsā colour. Looking at the tag, itās the same as mine in terms of size. If itās this size, itāll fit me perfectly.
Just that, boarding the train in this blue jersey thatās painful for the eyes is exceedingly embarrassing, but itās much better than going back wearing drenched school uniform that clings to the skin.
Takayanagi said he wanted to do warm-ups before the match, so he quickly left the locker area.
I took off my school uniform, and changed into the borrowed jersey. The shirt sticks to my body and it feels awful. I realised only after taking off my slacks, but even my underwear is wet. By no means can I wear someone elseās jersey without underwear, so with the wet underwear on, I put on the jersey.
Still, itās that isnāt it, never do I want to encounter rival characters again.
Just this time onii-chan is tired. Already completely exhausted.
My wishĀ is to, live a normal highschool life in the remaining time, for it to go well between Mitsuki and the Prince, and to quickly return to the previous world on 31st March next year.
But things definitely wonāt go so well huh. After all this is an event omnium gatherum otome game world.
And I am the heroineās older brother. Thereās no way I wonāt get dragged into it.