Chapter 105: He Was Saved

(POV Kaito)

I might have been saved by Chinatsu. The words I had wanted someone to say, the words I had been sending to them, have now returned to me.

“Ehehe, it’s kind of embarrassing,” Chinatsu said.

“…Embarrassing, huh… But, thank you. I somehow feel happy.”

“Well, I’m glad. I’m happy when Kaito is happy. Besides, Kaito’s grandmother told me the same thing.”

“Is that so?”

“That child has low self-esteem, so I want you to praise and uplift him… But, even if she hadn’t said that, I think I would have said these words.”

She proudly puffed her chest with an adult-like demeanor. For some reason, she was brimming with confidence. I found Chinatsu to be quite adorable.

“Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.”

“…I wonder if it was me who was saved after all.”

“Hmm?”

“Oh, it’s nothing.”

“Alright then, let’s hug, let’s hug!”

She had a beaming smile on her face as she nestled up against me. After a while… Chinatsu remained in that position like a koala hanging from a tree.

“Hey, do you think I’m cute? Even in this adult form?” Chinatsu asked.

“Of course, I think you’re cute.”

“Ehehe, thanks. More than in Aki, Fuyu, and Haru?”

“You’re all the same. Equally cute.”

“Muu… well, it’s fine.”

Chinatsu pouted slightly, but her smile quickly returned. She looked so cute that I wanted to keep seeing this smile forever.

“All the same… I’ll be with you forever.”

“I’m glad to hear that, but if you ever feel like going on a journey, just let me know. I’ll be there to support you.”

“I don’t want to go on a journey. I have you, Kaito, so I can’t do it alone. I promised to support you.”

She would support me…. It’s amazing how Chinatsu, who used to be more guarded and fearful than anyone else, now stays by my side to offer her support.

She truly has grown…

“Should I sing a lullaby to you while you rest your head on my lap?” Chinatsu asked.

“No, let’s just sleep normally.”

“Huh!? Even though I’m like this… well then, I’ll sleep beside you.”

With those words, Chinatsu lay down beside me. Her red eyes pierced into mine, and her golden hair lightly brushed against my arm. The faint moonlight seeped through the curtains, illuminating her face.

I thought they were all adorable, whether it was Chiaki, Chifuyu, Chiharu, or Chinatsu. I had raised them with a certain selfishness in mind. But realizing that I truly cared for them brought me a sense of relief.

“Kaito.”

“What’s up?”

“Just wanted to say your name.”

“I see.”

“Hey, Kaito, we’re together, right? Always together, right?”

“Why are you asking something like that?”

“It crosses my mind sometimes. Kaito, you’re kind of mysterious… I worry that you might suddenly disappear or something.”

“Rest assured. As long as Chinatsu wants me to be with her, I’ll always be with her.”

“Yeah… definitely. Even when we’re adults, even when you’re an old man, we’ll always, always be together.”

“If that happens, it might be interesting.”

I couldn’t really picture myself as an old man, but knowing that Chinatsu repeatedly expressed her desire to be together with me was heartwarming.

◆◆

Kaito awoke in the morning and rose from his bed. Casting his gaze towards the side, he saw Chinatsu, now reverted to her child form, peacefully asleep. She had her head resting on Kaito’s arm like a pillow, so he gently placed her head on a cloth pillow so as not to wake her up.

Clad in his pajamas, Kaito descended the stairs. As he swung open the door to the living room…

“Chiharu.”

“Good morning, Onii-san.”

Chiharu was sitting on the sofa, sipping coffee absentmindedly. It seemed she had just brewed it, as white steam was rising from the cup.

“I never pictured you as a coffee drinker.”

“It’s surprising, isn’t it, Onii-san? I take my coffee black.”

“Is that so? I thought you were more into cocoa or something.”

“Well… that’s true. But I guess I suddenly wanted to try acting more grown-up.”

“Acting grown-up, huh?”

“Yeah, you know, wondering about the future… Like, if Chinatsu, Chiaki, and Chifuyu weren’t around anymore… I feel like my current childhood moments would seem lonely.”

“I can kind of understand that feeling.”

“…I wonder if that sense of loneliness disappears once you become an adult.”

“It doesn’t disappear. Because, you know, I’d feel lonely too if Chiharu wasn’t around.”

“…Cut it out with that kind of talk.”

Chiharu said that with a slightly annoyed expression and took a sip of her coffee. After drinking the coffee, she stuck her tongue out ever so slightly.

“It’s bitter…”

“What if you put some sugar in it?”

“I’ll pass. I’m an adult, after all, and an Onee-chan to boot.”

Saying this, Chiharu took another sip and brought the cup to her lips.

“…I wonder if this house is a little big for two people to live in.”

Though those last words from Chiharu never reached Kaito.