Hentai Ouji to Warawanai Neko. Volume 12 Chapter 6

If you like our work, please follow us on our social media, join our discord and consider supporting us on Patreon:

https://discord.gg/e4BJxX6 
https://www.patreon.com/CClawTrans

Yokodera Youto and Tsutsukakushi Tsukiko

A line of smoke drifted upwards from the hill with the single cedar.

“Maybe we should have brought some potatoes.”

“I think it’s a bit early to do grilled potatoes this season.”

“A Tsukiko-chan who doesn’t prioritize food? …Impossible. Are you okay? You’re not feeling unwell, are you? Did you eat too much today?”

“What do you mean by that? Rude.”

We lined up next to each other, watching the line of smoke. Sparks could be seen inside of it, sticking out even more thanks to the blue sky. The source of the smoke was the burning Yokodera-kun notes. Surprisingly enough, she was the one who came up with the idea.

“Are you really okay with this?” I asked just in case, and Tsutsukakushi nodded.

“Yes. I will remember everything that is important.”

“I see…”

“Every word, every action, every evil deed you have performed in this world. They’re all engraved in my memories.”

“I see?!”

Tsukiko-chan’s eyes looked terribly serious. It’s like she wants to lock me behind bars as quickly as possible.

“…Mm.”

While we were watching the smoke, looking at the ashes of the eleven volumes of notes, I felt my shoulder getting a bit heavier. Tsutsukakushi was leaning against me, very carefully. I relaxed my shoulder and accepted her.

“What about that? I don’t think we can leave it like that forever.”

I could see her gaze drifting towards the main house we just came from. I thought about it, and then realized she must be talking about the storehouse. After I received that warning from Steel-san, we hadn’t gone anywhere close to the storehouse. Up until now, that girl had been sleeping in there, waiting for her part to play.

“Maybe she went through too much after we tried to control history.”

“Hmmm…”

“I wonder if she will smile if we opened up the storehouse?” Tsukiko-chan said.

She referred to her as a person, almost as if to make the vague distinction between god and human. The origin of the Cat God was probably just like that. It started from a light wish, only for that ancestral spirit to rise to the level of a God, gathering faith from the family. If so, then leaving her alone would be too cruel to do—

‘—Brats don’t have to think about complicated stuff like that, you moron.’

“…?” My thoughts were interrupted, and I raised my head.

Tsutsukakushi looked up at me, slightly confused. For a second, I felt like I heard a voice. It resembled the voice of a straightforward, clumsy, and kind mother.

“Tsukiko-chan?”

“What’s wrong?”

“Ah, no…”

I guess she couldn’t hear it after all.

“It’s nothing.” I shook my head, and took a deep breath, as if to try to absorb the presence of someone invisible. “About the storehouse. I think we can just leave it like it is.”

“…Senpai?”

“I don’t see the need to try and control everything. Let’s just leave it to nature.”

“Is that so…?” Tsutsukakushi responded dubiously and looked down the hill.

The tree here on this hill has stood tall for ages. I don’t think anyone in this world even remembers when it was planted. But, at its roots—I could see small sprouts. They swayed back and forth in the wind, creating new life at the root of the tree.

“You know, Tsukiko-chan.”

“Yes?”

“I think that Gods are Gods because they are Gods.”

“A tautology?” Tsutsukakushi said a complicated word with a complicated expression on her face.

Does this tautology involve naked girls—Ouch ouch, don’t kick me!

“Gods are Gods because they can do things humans can’t. I doubt they’ll just shut themselves inside that one location. Maybe they can even make friends?”

“…Hah.”

“I just hope that she’s smiling.” That is what I prayed for.

I didn’t wish, I merely prayed. So that everybody could smile forever.

“Hmmm…” Tsutsukakushi groaned yet again, crouching down on the ground to play with some sprouts between her fingers.

I guess she really can’t see them. Then again, neither can I. What’s important is that we keep it all inside our hearts, even if we can’t see them. I’m sure these two are watching over us. After all, they are our Gods. All I have to do is believe that.

*

A strong breeze blew up on the hill. The line of smoke swayed, and the leaves that fell down from the tree were blown along with the wind. Tsukiko-chan looked up at them.

“…Achoo!” Only to drop her head down again as she sneezed.

When I looked around, I saw that the ground had started to lose its glimmering night dew, and the flowers and grasses were in full bloom. The silhouette of the tree was painted on the ground as the sun rose higher, announcing the beginning of a new day.

“Tsukiko-chan, let’s go back.”

“Back to where?”

“I don’t know. Somewhere.”

“…That’s right. Everyone is waiting after all.”

I offered Tsukiko-chan my hand, and she accepted it. We held hands and walked side-by-side towards the Tsutsukakushi Household.

Every story eventually has to end. But even if there is no endless story, there are stories that don’t even need telling. This is a long epilogue, as well as the prologue of another long story. A story that won’t fit into notes, let alone a summary.

Our lives will continue, more and more. I don’t know what’s waiting for us. But this new world offers many new paths, and even without anybody telling the story, we will move forward either way.

“I wonder if I can make you happy.”

“Hmm…”

I muttered it out loud without realizing it, and Tsutsukakushi slowly lowered her head.

“More than that, Senpai, are you happy right now?”

“…I wonder?”

I’d never really thought about that. Happiness is something given, not something you feel—at least that’s something Oscar Wilde might have said.

“Then—” Tsutsukakushi reached for my cheeks with her palms, and— “Let~ Me~ Put~ Shape~ On~ That~ Face~.”

“Mguh!?”

She pulled on my cheeks, making me feel like my muscles had gone numb.

“No, I won’t tell you.” She tugged my hand and took a step down the hill. “I will make you happy, Senpai. So I’m sure you’ll make me happy as well, Senpai.”

“…Yeah.” I followed after her.

A comfortable breeze blew against our backs as we skipped and hopped down the hill, like we were returning from a picnic. With her large gemstone eyes, Tsukiko-chan looked at me.

“This way, everyone will be happy.”

She showed me a perfect, unparalleled, and invincible smile.