Chapter ⑤⑤.⑤ [Kaoru Tsukiyose] Part Two
A few days ago, we moved to a new place.
During the time Juncheng Brother disappeared, everyone was very worried. Sister Nana smoked a lot, Sister Lily cried secretly every day, and Xiao An kept crying to find her father.
However, for our safety, Xiao An and I were not allowed to go out. But Xiao An kept trying to escape, slipping away several times, only to be caught by Sister Nana.
Later, the older sisters said they needed someone to watch Xiao An, but since the older sisters were all busy, I was the one watching An.
I didn’t expect Xiao An to escape while I was asleep. The door was locked, so where did she escape from? I still don’t understand.
After that, I was also very dejected. Although the older sisters said it wasn’t my fault, I still thought it was because I didn’t watch Xiao An properly that she escaped… But there was nothing I could do to make up for it. I could only pray in my heart that Xiao An would be safe and find Juncheng Brother smoothly.
Now it seems that my prayer might have worked, because we actually found Juncheng Brother and Xiao An!
And since coming to this new place, everyone has become more cheerful!
It’s all thanks to the new older sister called Ji Lianbing that everyone could gather together again. It’s so good that everything went so smoothly. That older sister is truly a great person.
And I’ve made new friends!
Although Xue’er doesn’t talk much and doesn’t smile much, after spending time together, I realized that she is actually a very well-behaved and cute person.
We quickly became friends.
Xue’er, I, and Xiao An, the three of us won’t get bored in this place.
This place, which is as large as a castle, has maids everywhere, and the maids even changed us into cute Western dresses, making us feel like princesses.
But because it’s so big, I occasionally get lost when I turn around. Although if I ask a maid, the kind maid will take us to where we want to go, it’s also fun to explore such a huge place!
Today, we played hide-and-seek. We agreed to hide only on the first and second floors of the main house. The three of us played rock-paper-scissors. I lost, so I was “it” … Although I felt like Xue’er changed her hand gesture midway, it was probably just my imagination. Otherwise, her reaction speed would be too fast.
The starting point for hide-and-seek was the middle of the stairs between the first and second floors. I leaned against the windowsill, resting my head in my arms, and counted aloud, occasionally asking, “Are you ready?” The first few times, I got the answer “Not yet~”. I could only hear Xiao An’s voice… Well, Xue’er wouldn’t shout loudly.
2F SF Light Novel
“…9. 100, are you ready~?”
Hmm, no answer.
It seems that this means they have already hidden.
Alright! Then let’s start looking for them now!
I opened my eyes and turned around. The stairs going up and the stairs going down were both in front of me.
Where could they be? The first and second floors. Perhaps they each went to a different floor. This way, when I go to find one of them, they can take the opportunity to get around here.
Hmph… I’ve seen through your plan! This area is a bit too big.
In any case, let’s observe first…
Are there marks on the carpet on the stairs? Was it a wrinkle left on the carpet when they ran up in a hurry? And it’s only on the stairs leading up, not the ones leading down… Did they both go upstairs?
But isn’t this a trap? I feel like Xue’er’s agile skills could easily create such an illusion.
…Never mind that! Let’s search upstairs first!
Anyway, if I can’t find them, I’ll be “it” again, but this time the scope will be limited to one floor.
Deciding to start searching from the second floor, I walked up the stairs. However, after coming up, I was at a loss again because there were rooms on both the left and right sides.
Just then, a maid with red hair and an eyepatch passed by. I decided to ask her if she had seen Xiao An or Xue’er.
“That…”
Wow, she’s so tall, like a giant. I have to look up with all my might to see the maid’s face.
When the red-haired maid noticed me, she immediately crouched down, forced an awkward smile, and said to me in a somewhat off-key voice.
“Um, yes, is there anything I can help you with?”
She seemed more nervous than me.
“Maid sister, have you seen Xiao An and Xue’er pass by here?”
“I haven’t seen them… Do you mean both ladies are missing?! That’s a major incident! I’ll go to the monitoring room right now to check.”
I quickly stopped the anxious maid and explained.
“No, we’re playing hide-and-seek. It’s cheating if we use the monitor!”
“Ah…”
“…So you’re playing hide… hide-and-seek.”
The red-haired maid sighed in relief, as if reassured, and said.
“Then I think the two ladies probably didn’t hide on the right, because I just finished cleaning the rooms on the right.”
“Ah! You’ve helped a lot! Thank you, maid sister!”
“It’s nothing. Please be careful.”
“Okay~”
Hehe, this way the search area is narrowed down a lot. Let me see where you are hiding…
The maid said she was going to clean rooms on the first floor and would also keep an eye out for Xiao An and Xue’er. Of course, I happily agreed.
After all, this place is so big, getting two helpers isn’t cheating!
So, let’s continue! I must find you!
There are three rooms in the left corridor. I started searching from the first room on the left. I remember that Sister Lily and Sister Kering are on this floor, and Juncheng Brother’s studio is also here.
However, there are no nameplates on the doors, so I can’t tell whose room is whose.
Should I knock first?
*Knock, knock* I gently knocked on the door, but there was no response… Then I can only open the door directly.
If the door is locked, it would be even better for me, because if the door is locked, Xiao An and Xue’er can’t get in, and this room can be eliminated.
Before we started playing hide-and-seek, we had already agreed not to lock the doors, because locking the doors is considered interference.
Although I hoped the door wouldn’t open, it did open.
There was no one in the room, but I could hear a faint sound of flowing water… Is the faucet not turned off?
“…–.–…”
This sound… Sister Kering?
She sounds distressed! Is she sick?!
“Sister Kering!”
“Eek?! Ah! Ahhh!”
“Sister Kering? Are you okay! You sound like you’re in pain!”
“Ah… It’s Xuan’er. I’m fine, I’m just a little tired…”
“Why are you panting? Sister Kering, are you really okay? Your face is so red! Do you have a fever?! I’ll go call a maid!”
SF Light Novel
She’s still pretending. She clearly looks sick!
Sister Kering saw me about to go find a maid, threw off the covers, and rushed towards me anxiously, only to trip on her half-unzipped pants and tumble to the ground in front of me.
“No! No need to call anyone! I’m really fine! Xuan’er! I just… yes, I just did some exercise, and I haven’t recovered yet!”
“Sister Kering… your pants…”
“Ah!”
Sister Kering quickly pulled up her pants, her face blushing, and waved her hands to explain.
“I was… I was just changing clothes…”
“Is that so…”
I think I smelled something.
…Sweat? But it seems a little different…
Speaking of which, the sound of water has also disappeared.
Did I mishear?
But I really heard the sound of water just now…
Sister Kering seemed to notice me sniffing the air. Perhaps feeling shy, she quickly spoke to interrupt my action. Well, as a girl, no one wants others to smell their sweat, I can understand that.
“R-right! Xuan’er, why did you come to see me?”
“Xiao An, Xue’er, and I are playing hide-and-seek. Have they been here?”
“Oh… No, they haven’t been here.”
“…Then I’ll keep looking for them. Goodbye, Sister Kering.”
“Uh, wait, Xuan’er!”
“Oh.”
“Well, it’s better not to go next door for now…”
“Hmm? Why?”
“I heard… your Juncheng Brother is… working…”
“Is that so? …I understand. You continue your exercise, Sister Kering! I won’t disturb you!”
My words made Sister Kering’s face even redder. She then collapsed onto the bed, covering her head with a pillow, probably because she was really tired and wanted to rest.
Leaving Sister Kering’s room, I was about to search the next room, but Sister Kering said Juncheng Brother was working… So the second room is probably Juncheng Brother’s studio. I just wonder what Juncheng Brother is so busy with.
Could this be a lie by Xiao An or Xue’er in cahoots with Sister Kering?
Hide-and-Seek All Play
–Which one is true–This is so annoying–
“Xuan’er?”
“Ah, Sister Yu Hui.”
Sister Yu Hui appeared from behind me. It’s just that today, unlike usual, Sister Yu Hui was smiling, and looked more familiar than usual.
“What are you doing here, Xuan’er?”
“We’re playing hide-and-seek. I originally wanted to search this room, but Sister Kering just said Juncheng Brother was working… I don’t know if Sister Kering is lying to me, and I’m hesitating now.”
“Ah—this. Ah.—Hehe, that’s right, your Juncheng Brother is indeed working.”
“What kind of work is Juncheng Brother doing?”
“Hehe, your Juncheng Brother… is just giving the older sisters beauty treatments.”
“Beauty treatments? So Juncheng Brother knows about beauty treatments! Then I’ll ask him for one next time!”
Sister Yu Hui patted my head, covering her mouth with a look of suppressed laughter, and said.
“…Hehehe. You’ll grow up more… But, the you from another world won’t grow up anymore…”
Sister Yu Hui also crouched down, gently patted my head, and asked.
“Xuan’er–Are you happy now?”
Why do Sister Yu Hui’s eyes look a little sad…
Am I happy now?
Of course!
I can eat normally now, I’ve made friends, and I have many older sisters, Juncheng Brother… Thanks to everyone, I can eat and play now. I’m truly happy!
“Yes! I’m very happy!”
Sister Yu Hui was stunned for a moment, then smiled with relief and hugged me tightly, saying.
“Is that so? That’s great, that’s great…”
Did something sad happen?
I gently stroked Sister Yu Hui’s hair to comfort her.
“Don’t cry, Sister Yu Hui, don’t be sad. Let’s all become happy together, okay?”
“…—…”
If only this kind of day could last forever…
I think… everyone must feel the same way…
