CH 79

I’m No Match for Kiniwa-san

I opened the front door and froze when I saw the person standing there.

“Good day. I’m sorry for coming all of a sudden.”

She said with a smirk and stuck out her tongue.

I looked around, but there was no sign of Takanashi-san or Yanomiya-san.

“Hey. There’s something I want to ask you, Amane-chan.”

When Kiniwa-san said that, I broke out in a cold sweat.

Kiniwa-san had come to my house without any prior notice. And she did it alone.

She probably, or almost certainly, realized that I was planning something.

I thought I was acting naturally, but it didn’t seem to work for her.

I guess it’s still too early to tell her about my plan. No, but it’s not a good idea to deceive her when she’s already figured it out.

Maybe I should tell her.

But if Kiniwa-san doesn’t want to get on board…

She might be worried about Takanashi-san, and might not want to lift her up.

If possible, I wanted to reveal this to Kiniwa-san when the plan was on track and the probability of it working increased.

If it seemed to be going well, Kiniwa-san would be relieved.

“Amane-chan?”

I was surprised to hear her voice.

“Can I come in”?

I was lost for a moment when she asked me that.

I couldn’t turn her away, and I had planned to get Kiniwa-san’s help at some point.

It’s just that it’s too early.

It’s okay. I’m sure Kiniwa-san will cooperate with me.

“Come in.”

I told myself over and over again that it would be fine, but the anxiety never went away and my voice trembled.

“Sorry to bother you.”

Kiniwa-san smiled and walked into the house.

“Hmm? Ena-chan, you come to visit? Where are Rin-chan and Kuu-chan?”

When I opened the door to the living room and walked in, Alice, who was sitting on the sofa licking an ice cream stick, saw Kiniwa-san and said.

“Pfft!”

Kiniwa-san, who was holding her mouth with her hand, spewed out.

“Eh? What? Did you find something interesting?”

When she saw Kiniwa-san spewed out, Alice raised her voice in wonder.

“It’s kind of funny to think that you’re twins.”

Kiniwa-san giggled as she said that. When Alice heard Kiniwa-san’s words, she got pissed off.

“Are you trying to say that onee-chan and I don’t look alike?”

Alice’s expression and voice clearly changed.

That’s not good. She’s worried about the color of her hair and eyes.

“Ali――”

“No, no, that’s not it.”

When I raised my voice to calm Alice down, Kiniwa-san raised her voice as if to interrupt my voice.

“I thought you look more like sisters than twins.”

When she heard Kiniwa-san’s words, Alice’s face turned red and she quickly hid the ice cream stick behind her.

“Ah, I’m sorry. I’ll be careful to be more proper…”

Then, with a sigh, she apologized to Kiniwa-san.

“Ah, no, no. I didn’t mean it in a bad way.”

Kiniwa-san, who looked impatient, approached Alice as she said this. Then she stood in front of Alice and squatted down on the spot.

“Alice-chan, who is relaxed, is very cute. But I wondered what would have happened to Alice-chan without Amane-chan.”

“Huh?”

Alice tilted her head at Kiniwa-san’s words.

“I’m sure Alice-chan had a tough time, being called one of the two most beautiful girls in the world and having everyone praise you, and never having a moment to relax. That’s why, when I saw you relaxing in the living room, I realized how lucky you are to have Amane-chan as your onee-chan.”

Squatting down, Kiniwa-san smiled and spoke to Alice as she looked up at Alice sitting on the sofa.

Alice opened her eyes and tears welled up from her beautiful blue eyes.

“… Yes.”

She nodded her head while crying, and Kiniwa-san gently stroked her head.

“As for Amane-chan, Alice-chan onee-chan is really strong, isn’t she? She is even more popular than the double Alice, the two most beautiful girls, and everyone is lifting her up. She has everyone’s expectations at her fingertips. It’s as if she’s standing in front of the arrow and taking all the arrows. In order to protect the double Alice behind her. And yet you remain unfazed, that’s the great thing about you, Amane-chan.”

At Kiniwa-san’s words, Alice cried and nodded her head over and over again.

“And this time, you’re trying to take the brunt for Rin, right?”

Kiniwa-san raised her voice to continue. Alice nodded her head in agreement.

“I knew it.”

Then Kiniwa-san chuckled.

A startled Alice looked at me with a flickering eye as she turned pale.

I’m sorry, onee-chan. I told Ena-chan.

That’s what her shaking eyes are telling me.

“Alice, don’t worry about it.”

When I called out to Alice, she tilted her head with her face pale.

Alice seemed to be too flustered to notice, but I could tell from Kiniwa-san’s words and actions.

She didn’t come here to find out what I’m up to. Kiniwa-san is here to help us.

“How much do you know?”

When I asked Kiniwa-san, she put her index finger to her lips and tilted her head.

“Well, Yurizono-san caused a disturbance, and the student president came to the classroom, said something unnatural that she will punish, and it was even more unnatural that Amane-chan would be punished together. And then, Amane-chan is a little distant from Rin-chan, and if Amane-chan and Yurizono-san go to the student council room, the president calls all the committee chairman together. I guess so. I wonder if Amane-chan wants to make Rin-chan the student council president? I thought.”

After talking about it, Kiniwa-san looked at me and stuck out her tongue.

Whaaaaaaaaa! Not just a little, but the whole thing is exposed!

What the heck is this person? Can she really read people’s minds?

“Well, Ena-chan is right enough to say that there is no need for explanation…”

I scratched my head and told Kiniwa-san that. She smiled and nodded.

Oh, but there was one thing I had to tell you.

“It wasn’t because I didn’t believe you that I kept it a secret from Ena-chan――”

“You thought I’d care, didn’t you? Because I wasn’t able to support Rin-chan in middle school.”

I didn’t know if I should nod at that Kiniwa-san’s words.

“When Rin-chan said she was going to try again, I was going to do my best to help her. But that just means that I wasn’t going to do anything if Rin-chan didn’t say so. In the end, I’m just putting the blame on Rin-chan, aren’t I?”

After saying that, Kiniwa-san stood up on the spot.

“Also, when I met Amane-chan in high school, I think I was expecting something from her. I thought that she would be able to guide Rin-chan. I wanted to ask her for help many times, but she seemed to be a little tired. But it seems that Amane-chan has suddenly changed…”

Suddenly changed. I was surprised to hear Kiniwa-san’s words.

Did Kiniwa-san also feel uncomfortable with me?

Well, I guess so. Her intuition is not half bad, you know.

“Do you think I’m strange now?”

When I asked Kiniwa-san about it, she smiled at me.

“Yeah, well, it’s kind of weird, isn’t it?”

She then came closer to me with a smile on her face. Then――.

“The current Amane-chan seems to be able to overcome any difficulties she faces with a smile. You’re so strong, and you’re more dependable than anyone else, just like… onii-chan.”

Kiniwa-san, who gently grabbed my arm and looked at me with a soft smile, said something like that.

“I don’t know. I’m not saying that Amane-chan is masculine, okay? Haha, I’m the one who’s crazy, aren’t I? I didn’t mean to offend you. Sorry.”

Kiniwa-san apologized with dyed cheeks.

I almost gushed out.

No, no, your intuition is spot on.

I may be an onee-chan in body, but I’m an onii-chan at heart.

But, haha, I’m no match for this person.

“I told you that I have a relative named Kanau-kun. He’s a great guy. I’ve always wanted to be like him, and I still do. Maybe that’s why I’ve become like an onii-chan.”

I smiled and replied to Kiniwa-san.

“I’m sure he’s a great person because he’s the kind of person Amane-chan admires. If I met him, I might fall in love with him.”

Kiniwa-san laughed as she said this.

Well, he’s the kind of person who would turn into a giant stag beetle monster and do the stag dance.

“I’m sorry for keeping my plan to make Takanashi-san the student council president a secret. I was wondering if you could help me with it.”

“Of course.”

Kiniwa-san nodded without hesitation to my question.

If I can get the cooperation of Kiniwa-san, who is the most trusted by Takanashi-san, it will be a golden opportunity for me.

“Speaking of which, Alice-chan. What happened to the ice cream?”

As if she suddenly remembered, Kiniwa-san looked at Alice and asked her a question. The question from Kiniwa-san made Alice, who had been in a daze, jump out of her seat.

Alice shows her right hand, which she had been hiding behind her back. In her right hand, she holds a stick.

Yes, it’s just a stick.

“Aaah! It’s melted!”

After a scream-like cry, Alice stood up and found her back and buttocks wet.

Oh no, it’s melted.

I can wipe off the sofa, but not the uniform.

“Alice-chan is Amane-chan’s twin sister, right?”

She said this with a grin, and Kiniwa-san put her hand over her mouth and smiled.

“Uh-uh… we’re twins.”

I laughed along with Kiniwa-san at Alice who turned over and muttered while turning bright red.

At any rate, I’m glad I revealed everything to Kiniwa-san.

Well, I feel like I’ve been read rather than confessed.

The remaining problem is Yanomiya-san.

I’m sure Yanomiya-san can’t tell a lie, so I’d like to keep it a secret until the operation gets underway.

But I don’t want her to find out about the mission later and think that she was the only one left out.

“You have a lot to do, don’t you, Amane-chan? I’ll take care of Rin-chan and Kuu-chan, and you go ahead and do whatever you want to do! That’s what I’m here to tell you!”

I was stunned by Kiniwa-san’s words.

I really don’t know how far this person can read my mind.

“Thank you.”

When I thanked Kiniwa-san, she smiled and nodded.

“While onee-chan and Ena-chan are talking at a high level, I’m wetting my back and butt with melted ice cream… I’m so pathetic that want to cry.”

Alice muttered, on the verge of tears.

“Fufu. That’s why you’re so cute, Alice-chan.”

“Fufu. Yeah yeah, this is why Alice is so cute.”

I felt bad for Alice, but I laughed with Kiniwa-san again.

“Eh, ehehe.”

Alice smiles with teary eyes but with embarrassment.

Yes, it’s cute.