Himegi-san a Bride from the Future Begs Me to Confess My Love to Her Again - Volume 2 Chapter 2.6

A Pool Date with the Princess 6

Suddenly, Harune-chan stares at me with an expression as if she wants to say something.

“What’s wrong?”

“…Onī-san reminds me of Natsumi-nee.”

“…What?”

“A long time ago, I also received some money from Natsumi-neesan at this game center. The look on Natsumi’s face at that time and Onī-san’s face now are the same.”

” …. “

I should say something, but the words just won’t come out.

I wonder how much sadness and bitterness this small girl harbors.

The fact that this grade-schooler will have to part with her sister in the not-so-distant future made my heart feel like it was about to burst.

With such thoughts, there was no way I could say anything that could comfort her.

“Ah, that’s right. I need to thank Onī-san. Thank you for helping with Harune’s birthday party.”

Harune-chan bows her head slightly and voices her thanks.

“Natsumi-nee was also happy to see me playing the violin. I played the violin without running away, and it was really great.”

” …I see.”

In the original timeline, Harune-chan’s birthday party was canceled because she herself ran away from home.

…The future Harune-chan must have been tormented by deep regret and sorrow.

I have to thank Touka-san.

I’m grateful that this girl, who smiles at me so innocently, could avoid a timeline where she suffers, even if it’s just a little.

“Now, here’s some advice for Onī-san from Harune.”

“Advice?”

“Here, Onī-san should get the stuffed animal! If you do, Touka-nee will also come to like you!”

“Really?”

“Imagine it! Getting the stuffed animal gracefully and giving it to Touka-nee!”

I imagined it.

Winning the stuffed animal and giving it to Himegi-san…

“…And then, being allowed to kiss and even touch her chest!”

“Whoa, that’s jumping too far ahead. At most, you might get a kiss on the cheek!”

“Wooowww!”

Now that she put it like that, I’m suddenly motivated!

“Now, Onī-san, let’s play it!”

I decided to challenge the crane game with my spare 100-yen coin.

With this, I have only 12 yen left in my wallet…

“Onī-san, do you have any experience with crane games?”

“Actually, this is my first time.”

“That’s surprising.”

That’s right; surprisingly, I’ve never played a crane game before.

I’ve always thought that spending money on convenience store lotteries or gachapon (capsule toy machines) is far more productive.

After all, you’re guaranteed to win something if you buy it, even if it’s a small thing.

However, I’m setting aside that philosophy and bet this 100-yen coin for my beloved this time.

I insert the 100-yen coin and operate the lever.

“…There’s a tiny gap between the head and the crown. If I aim for that—”

And then——

“Wow! Amazing-Amazing! You got the stuffed animal for 100 yen!”

I can’t believe I got it in just one try…

Heh! It seems I’ve discovered yet another one of my talents.

“Onī-san!”

“Harune-chan!”

” ” Yay! ” “

We high-fived.

“Ah! Onī-san, Touka-nee is back!”

I quickly hide the Hakugaeru-kun stuffed animal that I just won behind my back.

When she comes closer, I’ll show her the stuffed animal I got and surprise her.

Then, Himegi-san stands next to me.

In her hand is a mountain of 100-yen coins in a medal cup.

What on earth is she planning to do?

How many times is she planning to play???

“Himegi-san, Himegi-san…”

I lightly tap her shoulder with my finger.

“What?”

“Ta-dah! I got the stuffed animal for you! (Smugface.jpg)”

I proudly held up the stuffed animal that I had been hiding behind my back.

“Here you go! (SmugOuji)”

I hand the stuffed animal to Himegi-san.

Then, she looks back and forth several times between the Hakugaeru-kun in my hand and the now-empty crane game and points to Hakugaeru-kun with trembling hands.

“What? Huh? …don’t tell me, you got the stuffed animal?”

“My beloved honey! I’m unworthy because I can’t present you with a hundred billion roses. Please forgive me (DramaticOuji).”

Saying so, I magically popped a single red rose from my empty right hand.

Himegi-san trembles and blushes at my cool words.

Ha! Seems like she’s so moved she’s lost for words.

And then, I offer her the red rose——

“…You thief!”

“Wait…What???”

…Did I mishear? Did she just call me a thief?

Honestly, in my sixteen years of living, no one has ever called me a thief to my face.

More importantly, was her trembling and blushing not out of happiness but anger at my actions?

“That stuffed animal was supposed to be mine!”

Himegi-san stomps her feet like a child on the spot.

She was the very picture of rage, genuine fury, and absolute indignation.

“…I’m sorry. (DowncastOuji)”

“I asked you to watch over things, but I never asked you to win that stuffed animal!”

“…Uh, err, ahhh… Harune-chan!?”

Realizing I couldn’t calm Himegi-san’s anger, I decided to seek help from the younger sister, Harune-chan.

I turned around to look for where Harune-chan was.

“What? Where? Harune-chan!?”

When I turn around, Harune-chan is gone.

Ah, she’s now playing air hockey with some unknown girl.

What a clever kid, sensing danger and escaping immediately.

“Put it back! Put the stuffed animal back where it was!”

“Staff——! SOS! SOS!”

***

“Welcome back, Ha-kun.”

When I opened the front door of our house, Touka-san in an apron welcomed me inside.

“You look tired.”

Touka-san gives a wry smile upon seeing my worn-out expression.

“Hehehe… I was tired, but seeing you in an apron rejuvenated me.”

“Charming lines like that are six years too early for you.”

So it seems.

Well, in six years, I’ll say it as much as I like.

“…By the way, Ha-kun?”

“What is it?”

“Why is ‘thief’ written on your forehead?”

“…No comment.”

I can’t bring myself to say that it was written as a punishment by the JK version of her.

“Did you have fun at the pool?”

I show Touka-san the screen of my smartphone.

“Oh! It’s Harune and me hugging Hakugaeru-kun.”

On the smartphone screen were two people, each holding a differently colored Hakugaeru-kun, grinning from ear to ear.

In the end, Himegi-san spent twenty thousand yen just to win that stuffed animal.

I’m a bit worried that she’ll get scolded by her parents later for such a wasteful expense.

“I plan to send this photo to Natsumi-san later as well.”

“Thank you. Please do.”

She’ll surely be pleased.

“For now, let’s have dinner. Ha-kun, go wash your hands.”

“Okay.”

With that, Touka-san gracefully turns around and heads toward the living room.

Touka-san’s outfit oddly enough resembled what Himegi-san wore today.

Yes, a navy blue knit sweater with blue jeans.

As I looked at her retreating figure, a thought crossed my mind.

“I see, so that’s the… future butt of the second daughter who will take on the responsibilities of the Himegi household…”

Indeed, just as Natsumi-san said, it’s a truly magnificent butt.

“Can’t be helped. I’ll also send a photo of her butt.”

With that thought, I aimed my smartphone’s camera at Touka-san and took a snap.