“Can you, like, wear clothes?”
“Hmm. I think I can only touch Big Brother, you know?”
What was that?!
That’s a problem.
So, clothes just slip right through her?
“Then… why are you in that form?”
This girl, if she had been born, would be seventeen years old.
If you only consider the time she’s been awake, she’s about one year old.
The figure in front of me doesn’t match either of those.
“It’s from when I borrowed Big Brother’s body before—”
“Hold on, this is your body, right?”
“That’s Big Brother’s now, isn’t it?”
“Huh?”
“My body is this one that Big Brother and the spirit gave me, you know?”
With a natural smile, as if she was stating the obvious, I—
“What’s wrong, Big Brother?! Does your tummy hurt?”
“It’s, nothing.”
My chest tightened.
If that’s the case, this body was given to her by her parents, so it’s wrong for me to be looking after it.
Such thoughts also crossed my mind.
However, this girl probably understands that and is still saying this.
She’s telling me this.
“Big Brother? —Mgyu.”
“…”
I hugged the small body in front of me.
There are things that can be conveyed without words.
Even if we couldn’t exchange words, we were always together.
I thought there were many things I wanted to talk about, but when I saw this girl’s smile, I couldn’t say anything.
But, there’s one thing I have to convey.
“I’m sorry… I’m so sorry…”
For making you end up like this.
“Big Brother…”
She gently hugs me back with her small hands.
And, just one more thing.
“…Thank you…”
For being alive—.
Ah, I’ve calmed down.
I’ve been crying a lot lately.
I guess it’s because the person inside is around forty years old in total, so I’m easily moved to tears—
“Big Brother, are you thinking about something weird?”
“How did you know… Never mind, let’s get back to the topic, okay?”
“What was it again?”
She tilts her head slightly, but I wish she would look at her own appearance a little.
“It’s about clothes and stuff. And why you look like that.”
“Oh, right. When I borrowed your body once before, it was really hard to walk, you know?”
“Hard to walk?”
“Yeah. It was scary being so tall, and my chest was heavy, too.”
“…”
Well, neither of those things are my fault.
They just grew on their own when I was taking care of my health.
…Oh well.
“Yeah, and?”
“So I thought this size would be just right, and when I thought that, it happened just like that.”
Hmm?
So it depends on her image, huh?
Then maybe it’s the same with clothes?
“Why didn’t you imagine clothes?”
“I was in a hurry to see Big Brother.”
What is this, so cute.
I might become a sis-con.
Translator’s Note
Sis-con is an abbreviation of “Sister Complex.” basically when a sibling is obsessed with their sister.
No, no.
“Well, let’s try it out. What kind of clothes would you like?”
“In Big Brother’s world, isn’t it standard to wear a white kimono or a one-piece dress?”
“No, you’re not a ghost, you know?”
She’s absorbed some strange knowledge.
Well, it’s better than being naked, I guess.
“…Let’s go with a one-piece dress for now.”
Since her appearance is far from Japanese style, it would be better than a kimono.
“Okay!”
Her body is enveloped in light along with her reply.
When the light subsides, a red-haired girl wearing a white one-piece dress is complete.
“Does it suit me?”
“Yeah, it suits you, it suits you.”
“Yay!”
She twirls around happily.
She’s so innocent.
But, doesn’t this mean she can dress up as much as she wants without spending any money?
“And, Big Brother!”
“Yes, what is it?”
“Give me a name!”
…Ah, that’s right, she needs one.
A name, hmm.
It doesn’t come to me instantly like Sieg’s did.
“Do you have any preferences?”
“I can have Big Brother’s old name! Let’s trade!”
“No, a boy’s name is a bit… Hmm, but a Japanese name might be okay.”
There are people like Mizuho-chan and Kyouka-san, after all.
It probably wouldn’t stand out that much.
After thinking for a few minutes.
“How about Akane?”
“Ah, I know that! It’s this color, right?”
She says, showing me her hair.
Our hair color is more of a deep crimson, though.
“Yeah, that’s about right. A long time ago, my grandma—ah, in my previous life, you know. My grandma used to wear a kimono that was the color of madder, and I always thought that color was nice, like a gentle red. …What do you think?”
Translator’s Note
Akane means “deep red,” and is also the Japanese name for the madder plant, whose roots produce a red dye.
“Yeah! Then I’m Akane!”
I’m glad she accepted it.
If she had said, “I don’t want a name like that!” I would have gone to bed right then and there.
It would have been sulk-sleeping.
Translator’s Note
Futene (不貞寝) means “to sulk and go to sleep”
“Big Brother, are you thinking about something weird again?”
“Why do you know that…?”
“Somehow!”
It seems that even without being in a possessed state, she can read my emotions to some extent.
…Well, I think I’ll rest a little.
I removed the bothersome equipment, loosened my clothes, and lay down.
“Big Brother, are you going to sleep?”
“Yeah, I want to talk more, but let me rest a little, okay?”
“Okay. I understand—”
Then, I’ll pull up the covers and, good ni—
“I heard Katia-chan collapsed!”
With a bang!
The door was forcefully opened.
The voice belonged to Fina-san.
“…Huh, did Katia-chan shrink?”
“Ah, it’s Fina-chan—”
“…”
Can I just stay in bed like this?
…I guess not.
“Fina-san, I’m over here.”
I can’t keep it hidden forever anyway.
It’s just that the time to talk about it came sooner than I thought.
I slowly got out of bed and called out to Fina-san.
“Huh, Katia-chan? There are two of them!?”
Fina-san, with her eyes wide open, was followed by Lumia-san, who was out of breath.
“I’m sorry, Katia… I told her to leave you alone because you were resting.”
“No… Since she’s here, I’ll explain to Neil-san and Lyall-san as well.”
“Are you sure? Your body must be tired, too.”
I seem to have recovered enough to stand and walk normally.
Although I’m still not feeling well.
“Yes. It would be rude to remain silent. Could you lend me a room?”
This place is cramped.
It wouldn’t be good to have more people here.
“Then, the conference room we used earlier should be fine. I’ll gather everyone, so you can come slowly later. Come on, Fina, let’s go.”
“Huh, but the small Katia-chan and the normal Katia-chan— Wait, Lumia-sama, don’t push me, I’m coming, I’m coming!”
So that was a conference room.
The voices of Lumia-san and Fina-san fade away.
“Well then, shall we go?”
“Yeah. I just need to go inside Big Sister, right?”
“That’s right. It would be bad if people who don’t know the situation saw you.”
She’s a quick learner.
I gently stroked Akane’s head, and she narrowed her eyes like a cat.
So soothing…
When I explained the situation in the conference room, the three of them had different reactions.
With Akane as a living witness and Lumia-san’s support, the explanation itself went smoothly.
Lyall-san looked dumbfounded.
Neil-san was genuinely surprised.
Fina-san is angry.
“I thought you were a strange one, but I didn’t think it was to this extent. Well, it doesn’t change the fact that you’re strong, so I’ll just keep doing what I’ve been doing.”
Said Lyall-san.
It’s very helpful that his attitude hasn’t changed in particular.
Neil-san is… yeah, he’s frozen.
“Um, Neil-san.”
“! Yes!”
“I’m sorry for keeping quiet until now. …Do you still find it unpleasant? That my previous life was a man?”
“No, not at all! …Um, Katia-san, do you still strongly feel like you’re a man…?”
I wonder if there’s any meaning behind that question?
Since I was asked, I’ll answer.
“Well… I’d say I’m being influenced by my body, my emotions come out more easily… It’s not all bad, I’ve become better at doing two or more things at the same time…”
I probably wouldn’t have been able to use dual-wielding if I had remained a man.
In my previous life, I was quite clumsy, and I couldn’t even imagine moving my two hands separately like this.
“And, although I don’t know to what extent, I might have become somewhat more feminine mentally as well.”
“I, I see. …Then, it’s fine, I guess?”
? It was a question whose intention I didn’t quite understand.
But it seems like he doesn’t have any feelings of disgust towards me, so that’s a relief.
“Neil-kun, you’re making a weird face—”
“Eh, really, Akane-chan?”
He’s already talking to Akane like they’re friends, yeah.
Well then, as for Fina-san.
“…”
I can feel her anger.
What should I do?
“Um, Fina-san.”
“What I’m angry about is that you did something that could have killed you without telling me.”
“…Yes, I’m sorry.”
That’s right.
I have no words to say in return.
“But.”
“?”
“I’m most ashamed of myself for not noticing… I’m sorry, Katia-chan.”
“Wh, why are you apologizing, Fina-san?”
“Because after Silas’s fireworks, Katia-chan wasn’t her usual self. I thought it might just be my imagination, but there were traces of tears. And before that, during the Earth Dragon incident, too.”
“I’m the one who was wrong for not talking. Fina-san didn’t do anything—”
“No. But from now on, please talk to me properly. Promise me…?”
What was I doing?
Fina-san told me before, didn’t she?
That she started painting because of her mother’s death.
She, like Lumia-san, knows the pain of being the one left behind.
“Yes, I promise.”
I won’t make the same mistake again.
I swear it firmly in my heart.
“Did you two have a fight?”
Seeing us apologizing to each other, Akane said that.
It wasn’t really a fight, I guess.
“…If anything, I’d say we reaffirmed how important we are to each other.”
“Yeah, yeah. Katia-chan and I are lovey-dovey.”
Fina-san leans on me and puts her arm around mine.
Huh, I have a bad feeling about this.
“Me too—”
Akane imitates Fina-san like a child.
It’s strange how I can feel her weight properly.
But, I want you to remember.
I’m staggering from fatigue.
So, I think it can’t be helped that I ended up saying it.
“You’re both heavy…”
“Ah—! You said ‘heavy’ to a maiden again! That’s the second time, I won’t forgive you!”
“I won’t forgive you—”
After that, I was tossed around by the two of them and became even more unsteady, and I ended up being carried back to the guest room on Lyall-san’s back.