Chapter 14 - CH 13

Mio ran back to her own room. After almost ripping her uniform, she threw it aside and only wore her underwear as she jumped onto the bed. She buried her face into the pillow and impulsively shed tears.

——After a short period of time, voice from the other Student Council members returned rang out.

But it was too shameless, she was too useless. Right now, she did not want to meet with them.

Lost, Lost, Lost, Lost Lost Lost Lost Lost Lost Lost! I Lost!!

…5 years ago, because Kazu-nii was strong, he disappeared from Nanohana.

So lonely. But after that, her own magic talent was spotted and she found herself an adoptive family.

When she thought that she was also a strong person, she felt that she was able to conquer her loneliness.

So, she thought, her own Magic…was stronger than the Hayashizaki's sword by a lot…

However, she still lost…Too strong. And that person still did not change compared to the past…

…That person was like that since the beginning. No matter how much someone looks down upon himself, he would be indifferent. However, if the companions of Nanohana were looked down upon, it would seem as if he had completely turned into someone else and rage. He would often pick fights with the mean people.

Although the adults thought that Kazuki's side of easily getting into fights were bad…But to us, who were still children, Kazu-nii was a reliable older brother.

Kazu-nii did not change. It seems like she, herself, who was arguing, was the idiot.

But that person, when I did my flashy self-introduction, and even waved to him, he did not recognize me.

Even though it was rare for the both of us to enter the Magic Division, he was still thinking about Hayashizaki's sword techniques.

Being able to meet him once again, actually she was very happy ——but she was so angry that she could not forgive him

She actually wanted to get closer to him and wanted to talk about the stories from the past…

——How long has it been since she had laid down on the bed depressed.

"Hey, Amasaki…Dinner is ready."

A voice passed through the room's door. It was an extremely awkward voice. However, from the voice, you could feel a different feeling than anger existed.

It was Kazu-nii's gentle voice. But because of that…she wanted to behave in a more wilful manner.

"…The meals you made, I don't want them!"

——But that person, who loves to be nosy, would definitely not allow this kind of unhealthy behavior of not eating dinner.

Just like the past. If he was to care about her, then perhaps he would not put her aside no matter what.

Even though she knew that this was not allowed, but she still embraced this kind of expectation.

I can't leave her like this. If that person is Mio, then it is even more so.

Hearing her response, Kazuki thought. Being impulsive and missing a meal, how could I, who is the maid here, permit it. Thus, after taking a deep breath, he suddenly barged into the room.

"Not eating dinner is definitely not allowed! Quickly go eat!"

Opening the door with a violent momentum ——What appeared in front of his eyes was Mio, who was only wearing her underwear.

"Eh, you really camee!? Wait a minute…I did not say that I was still wearing this…!!"

The instant she panicked and got up from the bed, the two valleys in front of her chest bounced.

"…UWAHH!? Sorry!"

Although he was saying this, but his gaze was still attracted to it and he thought that he would be yelled at. However, Mio immediately wrapped a towel around her body and used the towel to cover her mouth. I do not know what she was muttering about.

"…Right now, do you still care about me…"

"…What are you saying? Who could hear what you are muttering across the towel."

Just when Kazuki planned to leave the room, but because a red heart appeared from Mio's body and flew over, he stayed there. Mio was like an arguing child, and she issued a weak voice.

"N, Nothing! I won't eat dinner. I don't want to eat the meals that you made."

"I can't just leave you alone, the senpais are all worried about you…Is it because you hate me and you don't want to see me, so you do not want to go down?"

"Uuuuu. That's right…I…am still angry at you…"

Mio used a mosquito-like sound and spoke to Kazuki through the towel.

…After being reunited, I had constantly hurt her and even dueled with her.

"I'm sorry…but please eat the dinner, I beg you. If you still feel that I'm an eyesore and will trouble you, then I will go outside today."

"Eh!? I, I don't want that!!"

Kazuki's eyes widened. Mio revealed a "Shoot" expression and quickly corrected it.

"…I don't hate that! That means that I don't really hate that!" [7]

"A, Ahhh…What, so it is this meaning, it is really easy for it to be misunderstood."

What, the unnatural separation between and .

"But please don't be mistaken. I do not…plan on treating you like the past! Don't keep on treating me as your younger sister!!"

"The past is the past, now is now, huh. It feels a little bit lonely like this."

"…You, even if it is the me right now, do you still care and worry about me?"

"Of course. I will definitely not permit you not eating dinner."

Mio's eyes widened. A red heart floated over from her chest. It was evidence that her positivity values increased. Is that so, although she was still angry, but he was not hated by her.

If that's the case, then this person is definitely——just arguing and playing around.

"I…Is that so? You will still worry about me…But my stomach is really not hungry."

"Then let's do this. I will still be your slave like before."

"Eh? E, Even though I had lost in the duel…?"

"…So, master, because your slave had made dinner, please go and eat it."

After she froze for a while ——she understood Kazuki's intentions and proudly straightened her chest.

"…I understand. There is no other way…Only because there is no other way! My stomach is completely not hungry. Because I am the master! I must reward my slave's loyalty."

"Ohhh, you must do that."

He could only maintain this kind of relationship with her, who could not be straightforward until now.

However, if the positivity levels increase ——It should be possible to have a relationship like in the past.

The past is the past, now is now, even if they say it like this, it doesn't mean that it is something that is lonely.

"Right, you are only a slave! Only a slave…So you must remain by my side from now on! Don't make any strange misunderstandings and try to leave here!?"

"I know, being able to stay at Witch's House is nice."

Mio constantly nodded her head in agreement. Another red heart flew out.

Come down early, saying this, Kazuki left the room.

"…Right, tomorrow's bento, you don't have to make it."

"Eh? Are we going to the canteen?"

"I'll make it for you…Although you are my slave, but I am the one who lost."

The next day's lunch. Just like yesterday, Leme and Mio gathered around Kazuki's seat.

The thing that Mio prepared was karaage.

"…Right, how did they make the taste in Nanohana? About that, I had constantly wanted to make the same thing and practiced in Amasaki Family, but I could not do it well."

…What, as expected it is a taste from your memories as well.

"About that, the seasoning placed in advance is the key. Okay, next time we make it, you should also wear a maid outfit!"

"What, what's with that happy expression. Are you that happy cooking together with your master? I will absolutely not wear it, that idiotic outfit."

Kazuki could not help but let his emotions rise, Mio seemed to sulk and said some hateful words.

"About that, Amasaki-san…Can I ask, in the end, your relationship is indeed very good?"

The surrounding people incredulously looked at the bento that Kazuki was eating, which was made by Mio.

"So I said don't be mistaken! This guy is only a slave!!…Only . Although this guy is an E-Rank sword idiot…if anybody weaker than me dares to look down upon him, I will absolutely not forgive them!"

Mio issued out a roar to all the people in the classroom.

If she made this kind of declaration, only Koyuki, who was the same A-Rank, could talk back.

…This person, is she protecting me?

"W, What are you looking at? Quickly eat!"

She used her chopsticks, picked up a karaage and said "Eat quickly!" and placed it in front of him.

"…Don't suddenly do things like ", Kazuki felt troubled.

"I, I did not plan on doing it! This is only a feeling similar to feeding a dog!"

"Isn't their relationship extremely good…They have completely entered their own world…"

"Forget it, if it is us, no matter at this time, we would not win against either of them."

"…Speaking of which, he was really cool, Hayashizaki-kun's Iai slash."

"Right! I remembered, I remembered it!! Running while pulling it out!!"

The atmosphere surrounding Kazuki had changed. And Mio, who he had not been able to understand, now, he finally understood the nature of her attitude.

"What are you laughing at secretly over there?"

"No, I just feel happy. From now on, please take care of me."

"Yes. Why are you happy? I did not do anything that would make you happy…Forget it, since there is no helping it, I will also be with you from now on."

Although she was still talking back, Mio's face still revealed a slight smile. It seems like her honest feelings were involuntarily revealed ——

At this moment, somewhere near Mio's chest issued out a light. Looking at the surprised Kazuki, even the person involved, Mio, revealed an incredulous expression. The light finally turned into a key —— and directly entered Kazuki's ring.

This was what Leme had said, a key to their hearts…

-From that moment on, Kazuki was no longer a useless Stigma Magic User.

TL notes and references

1. He actually said maid here. Just so you know, he is not female.

2. 神魔 = Diva. Diva is formed by using the characters of God + Demon.

3.  Baal is the Principal King of Hell. He is depicted as a man or a bull and is the 1st Demon of the 72 Pillars of Solomon.

4.  A Japanese dish. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kiritanpo

5.  A speed unit. Mentioned in Vol 1, Chapter 1.

6. The words used for Mio are different. Mio's name is originally 美桜, but the current spot usesミオ.

7.  It is a bit confusing here but the first half of the phrase (Earlier sentence) means that she is unwilling to let Kazuki leave the room, but the last half (Current Sentence) means that she does not care if Kazuki leaves.