I was waiting for Ugin at the bookstore when they finally arrived.
Tsuru Niwatatsuru. She may look like a gal who can't multiply and divide, but she is a high achiever who is unwaveringly proud of winning first place in her grade. She is a genius.)
Alina Hiba. She is a beautiful girl with a style and good looks that one would not expect from a high school student, but she is a lone beauty who fully demonstrates a tongue that keeps people away from her. She is a problem child.)
I imagined the danger that loomed over me when these two peculiar characters finally appeared and I wondered how they would play with me in the future. I hope Ugin will not be a bad influence.

'Wow! That's great, brother!

Ugin grabbed my sleeve and waved it around as he did so. I'm not a spherical-jointed doll, so please don't be rough with my elbow joints. I'm going to cum if you keep shaking me around like that. You'll really break it.
My sister, whose excitement was still unquiet, flushed her cheeks and swam her eyes as if she had seen the opposite s*x naked.

Ah, ah, ah, it's nice to meet you! I'm Ugin Sakakiki!
'Ugin. Calm down. They're just organic life forms. No different than your favorite broccoli. You'd look good with mayonnaise on your face, wouldn't you? And it's time to take your hands off my sleeves. They're out of joint. Oh, you just broke your pinky. You heard me.
'But, but, but, too much shine or ......! This is crazy! Pretty is a sin! It's a sin!
'Ugin-kun. Your Japanese is getting broken, so let's shut up for a minute.'

Tsuru seems pleased with Ugin's rave review and chuckles. Alina smiled wryly and looked pleased as well. This difference in treatment is unreasonable for siblings who share many genetic similarities. The girl you are smiling at is 'a part of Comet Sakakiki. Isn't it reasonable to treat her with more disdain?

Ugin-chan. Nice to meet you, my name is Tsuru Niwatatsuru. Nice to meet you.
'Vine, Vine?'
'Nourish. Nisutsuwa.
'Oh, sorry! I remembered!

I laughed so hard when my sister misheard 'chicken'. She wanted me to clarify whether it was a chicken or a crane! I know what you mean.
That's how I feel! It was so funny that my stomach muscles exploded.

'Ide-de-de-de!

Alina pinched my side with a smile. I analyze it as if it were the equivalent of crushing walnuts with my fingers. This is no ordinary girl.
Ignoring my screams, Alina turns to her sister.

It's been a long time. Sister.
'Yes! Alina, you really are beautiful! You shouldn't get too close to my brother! You'll get dirty!''
'Don't worry, it'll be fine. I always disinfect with alcohol after contact with him.

You're a bully, now. Comet virus. If you're gonna disinfect, do it. I won't go extinct as easy as smallpox.

Then you're safe! Are Alina and Tsuru back from their first visit?''
Yes. Just now. Where's Ugin?
'I went with my brother too!
'Oh, yeah?

Alina looks at me with meaningful eyes.

'What the hell? You can't spit money out of your mouth if you stare at me like that.
'You don't seem to go to Hatsumode or something. You do something surprisingly Japanese.
'To tell the truth, I was forced to go to Ugin. I was going to sleep and rot all day.
'You're the model that's in the health textbooks as a bad example of lifestyle-related diseases, aren't you?
Ha-ha-ha. 'Ha-ha-ha.

No way is it in the book with the picture. We boys have been perusing health textbooks since we were high school boys, or even junior high school boys. We know in an instant that such a thing is not in the textbook. A girl like you, who knows nothing about filth, would never understand.

So, are we going to stop somewhere after this? It's crowded everywhere during New Year's.''
I guess. I wish we could stop at a coffee shop or something.
'Tsuru-kun. Why did you call us?
'Well, because Alina said, "I want to see Comet!" I'll go to the beach.
''What?''

Sure enough, Alina glared at me. No, she glared at the gal next to me. Why is it my fault? Hey, Ugin. Don't believe a word Tsuru says. She's lying, of course she's lying. Don't blush. Don't cover your mouth and pretend to be a maiden.



'Tsuru. Did I say that?
'I don't remember.
'Oh, that's too bad. Hey, you there. Tear off your ears. Make amends.
'Why am I being punished ......'

It's too dangerous at the beginning of the New Year.
We picked up the conversation and started talking again about where the four of us were going. We walked around for a while looking for a good place to eat, but as expected, there were many people during the New Year's holiday. Everywhere there were people, people, people. Tsuru and Alina are wearing clogs, so it must be getting hard for them. I wish I could give them a break, but the benches are full.
Then I heard a chilling word.

Hmmm. Why don't you come with us?

Yes. That's what the naturally silly Ugin-chan suggested. Time stood still in my mind for a moment. I felt as if the people passing by me had stopped in the smallest unit of time that one can sense.

'What, are you sure?

Not so good.

Yes! It's close. It's just one station away. You're welcome!

No, sir. The Sakakaki family is closed off. Please don't use English words. My parents would get a bad back if they came over.
Alina's a really pretty girl. The fact that I brought this dazzling girl here will be an incident for them. I'm sure they will think like this. "Where did you kidnap her from? I'm at the bottom of the power structure, so it's no wonder they suspect me of that.

If it won't bother you, I'll indulge you. What do you say, Alina?
'As long as it doesn't bother your parents, I don't have a problem with it.

You're in luck, you idiot. I'm gonna be deathly awkward. I dread to think what they'll do when they get back. Their parents will be asking me questions about my relationship with them. It's called interrogation.
And they'd probably break into my room, which is usually the scariest part. Did you leave anything dangerous in your room? Think, Comet Sakaki! Burn all the calories you got from your lunchtime ozoni! Remember your room this morning! Search for anything disreputable!

d*mn it, I can't remember anything. All I remember is the poor man being pulled off the futon and dragged away by his sister. He looks like a man being taken to the gallows.
The visit to the Sakakikis must be prevented because there are too many dangers. That's right. If we don't let them come, there will be no problem. As long as they don't start.

Wait! The Sakakikis are dangerous.
''Why?''
'It's haunted. It's an accident.'
Is that so?

Tsuru is frightened. You're so naive.

I've never heard of it.
'I just don't know. Shut your mouth.'

Ugin interferes. I knew my sister would be the biggest obstacle. But I don't need the shounen manga element of my friends becoming my worst enemy, so please don't do that now.

And our house is small. Everyone sleeps in closets like Doraemon.
It's a house. And everyone in the family has a bed, and you have your own room.'

No. I'm out of ideas.
Minefields, cluster bomb targets, gelatinous ground, and other fear-mongering options remain, but these guys won't be fooled. Third graders at best.

Let's go home! I'll show you the way!

Ugin skipped out and headed for the ticket gate. Tsuru followed with a clatter of his clogs.
It must be an absolute law engraved in our genes that we are no match for Ugin. I slumped my shoulders and followed them.
Alina came up to me at the same pace. Her posture was as beautiful as ever.

'I won't go if it bothers you.
'Don't worry about it. It's too late.
'I'm serious.
'What?'

Alina pulled her face closer and stopped her clogs. Her eyes were so beautiful.

'If you're really going to bother me, I'd rather not.
'What's the matter? You've got a very serious tone.
'It's nothing. I just don't want to bother you or your parents.
'Have you been drinking stale milk? You seem like a sensible guy.
'He's a man of character.'


'Ho. Beautiful and personable. That's great.
''Hmm.''

He seems firm but slow on his feet.

'Look, they're waiting for you over there.
'If you're really ...... annoyed, it's okay ......?'
'It's too late. They're already on the other side of the turnstiles.

I told him that, but he didn't respond well. She didn't seem her usual self, and I sensed that something was wrong. Probably something other than going to her house.
It was obviously strange for her to be so reserved.

'Hey ......, why don't we go somewhere together?

I didn't know what that meant.
Sometimes people say things that have different meanings behind their backs. Little signs that are not even metaphors. That's exactly what Alina's voice was infused with.

I'm sorry. You'll be turned in to the police station later as a kidnapper.

I dare to blur it out.
For some reason, I was scared. I think "the omen of a confession" is an apt analogy for this feeling.
When a person of the opposite s*x asks you to come to a certain place after school.
When a letter is handed to you.
When a person is unusually close to you.
When someone is staring at you.
When he doesn't make eye contact with you.
It is similar to the complicated feeling of avoiding the fate that comes ahead, even though you know that it is an unattainable happiness. I resented the strange human psychology that makes us do such things even when we know we will be disappointed.

'I wouldn't do that.
'You're joking again ...... eh?'

Less than a second. My body turned to lead.

The sound of my clogs snapped me out of it. Alina ran out. She made a clang sound and flipped a little ahead of me.

'What the...' she said. You've got ulterior motives. You should commit seppuku.

With a nasty smile, she said.
She immediately turned her back again and passed through the ticket gate. I know she meant it as a joke, but to me, the joker of a hundred battles, it was hard to hear and hard to see. If not me, everyone would have known she was trying to be tough.
In that one frame, Alina was smiling weakly with her eyebrows furrowed. It was a fake smile that was hard to watch and very painful. For a moment, I knew she was pleading. I thought I heard her heart cry out for help.
I didn't understand her reluctance to take a step back and be humble, even though we should no longer be reserved with each other.