Chapter: 1. The if line that shouldn’t exist
If “Astral Guide 2” were not an awful game, the game producer of “Astral Guide” would have decided to make a top-tier galgame that players could enjoy easily and happily, after the original “Astral Guide” miraculously became a huge hit.
In the world line where the original “Astral Guide” series has become reality, two protagonists who should not appear together are about to meet again during their high school years—
—————–
Kawano City.
Bright sunlight streamed through the slightly old window, illuminating the empty room.
“Oni-chan, why did you specifically rent an apartment? You didn’t have to be so polite; you could just stay with us…” Yuki Mizuki, who had just become a high school student this spring, asked with frustration as she stood in the room, her chestnut-colored hair tied into lively twin tails.
In the eyes of the black-haired boy in front of her, this girl who called him “brother” had perfectly symmetrical features and big eyes, and along with her energetic personality, she was undeniably the cute underclassman that countless high school boys dreamed of.
The black-haired boy referred to as “Oni-chan” was Kanade Mizuki. Although they shared the same surname, they were not biological siblings; nor were they what one might call step-siblings. She was the daughter of his father’s younger brother; thus, they were just ordinary cousins who had not seen each other in nearly ten years.
Today was supposed to be their long-awaited reunion, so why did their relationship seem so close—
Perhaps it had to do with experiences from his childhood.
During the early years of elementary school, they had lived together in Kawano City for some time due to their parents’ work and attended elementary school together, making their relationship closer during that period. However, Kanade did not expect that after almost a decade apart, Yuki would still be so warm towards him.
She even once hoped that he would stay at her uncle’s house—Kanade had indeed considered this proposal.
Not only would it save a significant amount of rent, but he would also get to enjoy the meals cooked by the kind uncle and aunt. Despite so many advantages, Kanade ultimately chose to refuse for one reason only—
“Wow~ This pillar actually has a splinter….. Oni-chan, be careful not to tear your clothes!” Yuki, with her back to Kanade, bent down carelessly. In this position, her short skirt was tugged upward, and from the back, Kanade could vaguely glimpse the landscape beneath her skirt—he hurriedly covered his face and turned his gaze away.
“…Did you see?” Unexpectedly, Yuki returned with a mischievous grin that was in stark contrast to her defenseless posture.
“No! And even though we’re cousins, I still hope you can be more careful!” Kanade couldn’t help but sigh.
Indeed, this was one of the reasons why Kanade decided to rent an apartment on his own.
To live under one roof with such a cute girl during his puberty as a high school boy—how torturous that would be!
—After all, a high school boy needs his own private space!
“Is it to vent your pent-up **?”
“Exactly—mind-reading!? My cousin is a super-powered individual!?” Startled, Kanade quickly distanced himself from Yuki.
“Oni-chan hasn’t changed at all~ You think everything is written all over your face~”
“I’d like to see the face that ‘has the ** written all over it’!? ” Kanade tried to mask his fluster with sarcasm, and the fact that this person was his sister made it all the more embarrassing.
—What’s happening? How can girls today casually mention things like “**”…
“Tsk tsk~ So sweet~ Nowadays, high school boys think about these things all the time~” Yuki shook her finger at Kanade, explaining with a proud expression.
“There are too many points to criticize, and I don’t know where to start!”
“Why not give it a try?”
“Yeah… If you want to argue, it should be high school girls who steal from all the boys in the world! And, can you please stop using this mind-reading ability? It’s so scary!”
“Wow, you really just criticized each point, didn’t you?” Yuki was surprised and covered her mouth— “So gross, ah no, I mean how unrefined~~~”
“If you think complimenting high school boys for being gentle is universal, then you’re mistaken!” Damn, being called gross by a girl of similar age… Although it’s not meant sincerely, it still feels somewhat hurtful… No, wait, how can I start using this ability again…
Kanade shook his head vigorously in his mind.
This was the secret he had always kept hidden, which was also the reason he chose not to stay at his uncle and aunt’s house—
Since childhood, he had possessed a kind of ability to sense others’ emotions. On a small scale, he could sense the feelings of those around him, identify their mood at the moment, and even discern lies; on a larger scale, he could directly feel their emotions or vice versa.
It sounds like a great ability, but in reality, it also magnifies the malice directed towards him.
Thus, Kanade had always been reluctant to interact with others since childhood. Thankfully, his parents had consistently guided him gently to accept his powers and the world around him, and he was surrounded by kind-hearted people. By the time he got to high school, Kanade was already able to control his ability to a certain extent.
Coincidentally, Kanade’s parents had to travel abroad due to work recently, so they transferred him to Kawano City, where his uncle and aunt lived, allowing him to start his new life in this remote town surrounded by mountains.
However, just in case, he decided to live alone.
“Well, I’ll rent this place.” Looking at the lush greenery of Shiraishi Mountain in the distance from the window, which was said to be home to Kawano City’s only shrine—“Shiraishi Shrine,” dedicated to the deity that blesses people’s love.
The window in his room faced Shiraishi Mountain, which must be a good omen—surely he could find a cute girlfriend in this town, right?
“Really? If Oni-chan has decided, then I can only move in and live with you—”
“—Absolutely not! This is a 1K (one room and one kitchen)! There’s no way two people can live here!”
“Even though Oni-chan says that, you actually plan to secretly bring a girl back to start a reckless high school life, don’t you!?”
“So girls shouldn’t say such things!”
……
After some banter, Kanade finally convinced Yuki to give up her idea of moving in with him—how scary it is that she really intends to live in the same room as me, a hot-blooded high school boy?! Could it be that… Yuki actually likes me!? To think my luck with women would begin on my first day back in Kawano City—
“Tsk, I thought that if I lived with Oni-chan, I could stay up late every night playing games.”
“So that was the goal?!” From the emotions Yuki was conveying, Kanade judged that this was her sincere intention.
That’s why he felt disappointed over the three major illusions about his life that had just arisen.
“Well, once Oni-chan settles the room, let’s gather and throw a welcome party for Oni-chan~”
“We?”
“Hm? Did Oni-chan forget already? The guys we used to play with when we were young~ Even if it’s been years without contact, they will definitely welcome Oni-chan back to Kawano City.” Yuki smiled.
At this, Kanade’s mind did indeed recall a few childhood friends who had accompanied him throughout his early years.
One boy with short black hair left a deep impression on him.
—Is that so? Will we meet again?
—I wonder how he has changed as he has grown up… But if it’s him, he must have become a popular, cheerful guy, right?
—————–
“Nagisa! I told you to get dressed after waking up… sigh, you really are an unreliable child.”
A beautiful woman exuding elegance sighed as she draped a home jacket over a black-haired girl in the washroom.
At first glance, many people might mistakenly believe the two were sisters, but in reality, they were mother and daughter.
The black-haired girl named Nagi Hoshimi, who was just brushing her teeth in front of the mirror and wearing a light outer coat, was a high school girl who had just turned 17. Although she was a high school student, her well-endowed figure completely strayed from the typical image of a high school girl, let alone her stunning beauty that inherited the best traits from both her beautiful mother and handsome father.
If one had to find a representative for the term “beautiful girl” in this world, it would undoubtedly be her.
However, despite her angelic beauty and sizzling figure, her personality was quite childish, or perhaps one could say she had a boyish and carefree demeanor.
The best example was—after waking up every day, she would walk out of her room wearing only a thin tank top and underwear.
Although her apartment was on a high floor, with no one nearby to catch a glimpse of her springtime beauty, her mother felt an immense headache considering that she was already a high school student in such an exposed state.
“Ah… recently, since mom and dad have to go on a business trip for a while, Renji and Sayaka also won’t be home lately, so you’ve got to behave while at home, got it?” Her mother couldn’t help but sigh again at her stunning daughter, who seemed to invite trouble.
Feeling uneasy, she decided to remind another person busy in the living room before leaving:
“Garuda, please keep an eye on this girl.”
“Mm, leave it to me.” Upon hearing the voice, a petite, white-haired girl poked her head out from the living room.
Don’t be fooled by her appearance, as she looks like a cute young girl, she was actually an adult, and even considered an old hag in human society.
That’s right, Garuda was not human, but a magical creature residing in the Hoshimi household—her role could be likened to a blue robotic cat from a certain household.
After receiving Garuda’s assurance, Nagi’s parents left with their luggage.
In the spacious home, only Nagi and Garuda remained.
At this moment, Garuda, Nagi’s contracted beast, changed her address: “Master, according to the latest news, that guy who might be the protagonist has probably returned to Kawano City. Anyway, we should go and approach him first, right?”
“Dress… up as a homeless beauty?” A voice came from the washroom as Nagi spoke while brushing her teeth.
“Anyway, I found out that he rented a 1K apartment… Master, do you want to play the role of a homeless beautiful girl, getting picked up by him on his way home from school? That will definitely leave a strong impression on him, right?”
After Garuda finished speaking, she didn’t forget to smooth her white hair that fell over her forehead and added, “I can make it rain for you.”
