Hello, it's me. I received a consultation from my childhood friend Najimi about the main character, Minato, acting strangely. Agreeing to her request, I decided to investigate.
Over a conversation at a cafe, we had gotten late into the night.
"Thank you, Charao."
"You're welcome."
"Give me a break, you."
My half-sister Mai clearly took a dislike to Najimi. It seemed like the two just couldn't get along together. Ideally, I'd like my favorite characters to be friends. After all, peace between people is the most important thing.
"So, Onii-sama, shall we go home?"
"No, wait. I'll take Najimi home."
"'W-what?"
Najimi's eyes widened in surprise. Mai's eyes were also wide open, but contempt was read in them.
"We've been sitting around talking, and it's getting late. It's only natural that I take her home."
"Charao..."
"Onii-sama! Let's just leave that girl alone."
Mai, stop saying 'bitch, bitch'. I don't think it's appropriate for a young girl to use such derogatory language.
"I can't allow it. It's already dark outside. It's dangerous for a woman to go home alone."
"That's all right. I don't care if she's in danger."
"I can't let that happen."
"Onii-sama, you are too kind..."
Najimi said with an apologetic look.
"It's fine."
"No, it's fine. I have nothing to do when I get home anyway. You don't have to worry about that."
"Charao... thank you."
So, it was settled. I'll take Najimi home.
In a little while.
"Mai, why are you clinging to me like that?"
To my right, Mai is clinging to me like an Australian koala and doesn't want to let go. She's also growling like a chihuahua, directing her hostility at Najimi. Is she some kind of chimera? No, that's my sweet little sister.
''I'm making sure this old woman doesn't try anything weird.
"What do you mean by 'funny'?"
"Lure Onii-sama into the dark, and then-"
"I'm not doing that! What kind of nonsense are you talking about?"
"We'll see. For a bitch."
"Stop saying 'slut' over and over again! I'm a virgin, clearly!"
"Maybe you're lying to make yourself look good in front of Onii-sama?"
"That's not true! I really am a virgin! Charao!"
Why does she feel the need to state this to me? I wish they didn't have such a "whore vs. virgin" debate in the middle of the street.
We walked down the already darkening road.
"You're really something, Onii-sama."
"What's gotten into you all of a sudden?"
"You're subtly walking on the side of the road so I don't get hit by a car. Haven't you noticed?"
"А... well, yes, indeed..."
"Onii-sama is indeed a considerate person. I wish that piece of trash could learn from you."
It seems that by 'piece of trash' she means Minato. Mai didn't seem to like him at all. As for me, I've had my share of trouble from Minato, but I can't say I despise him to the extent that Mai does. I've had my difficulties, yes. But those were duties I had to fulfill as a Charao, and I have no particular disdain or dislike for him.
"...Yes, Minato has never done anything like that for me."
"Fufun, see? Onii-sama is a capable person."
While we were walking like this, it happened.
"Guhehehe~ You young ladies are so cute, aren't you?"
Unbelievably, a drunken clerk approached us from the front. What kind of unexpected event is this? It's similar to what one would expect from a dating game.
"What do you want...?"
"Hic~ Come on, let's go have a drink, baby. А? Sounds good, doesn't it?"
I've seen a lot of similar events in OreNaji - bullies or drunks harassing women, and the protagonist chasing them away and gaining favor with them. I thought situations like that were more of a Minato event.
But I shouldn't overthink it too much. In Minato's absence, it's up to me, a minor character, to deal with it. Let's get rid of him in a gentlemanly manner. He's drunk, after all.
"Hey! What's up! It's Chaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!" (Excuse me, can I talk to you for a minute?).
Suddenly, my dormant charao-speaking tongue turned on. Please stop, it's bad for my heart. Look, you're scaring Mai and Najimi.
"W-what the..."
"Hey, hey, hey, hey, old man! I don't know who you are, but anyone who gets in my way will be smashed to pieces☆annihilated☆applauded! Do you understand?!" (Sorry, we're in a hurry.)
"Heehee... This guy is dangerous..."
The drunken employee walked away, his face contorted with fear. I get it. In terms of suspiciousness, I probably surpass a harmless worker like you.
"Charao... Thank you."
Najimi looked up at me with eyes that read relief in them.
"You're a really nice guy, you know? Always protecting and cheering me up..."
Najimi muttered this while looking down. Why did her cheeks seem slightly red?
"...I'm really stupid."
For some reason, she muttered this.
"Don't humiliate yourself like that, Najimi. You're not stupid."
"Charao..."
After that, I walked Najimi to her house. All along the way, Mai looked constantly dissatisfied while clicking her tongue at Najimi. Indeed, what an unpleasant situation.
～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～
★★Najimi
Charao walked me home. After returning home, I plopped on the bed and lay face down.
"Charao..."
He protected me when that drunk came up to me. Charao always does that, doesn't he? When I'm in trouble, he helps me unconditionally.
It made me nostalgic. И... it made me very happy.
"Come to think of it. it's been a long time since I've gone home with Charao."
Actually, in the last year or so, I've unusually rarely gone home with Charao. Incidents with drunks or bandits usually happened when I was with Minato.
"I want to go home together again..."
Saying that, I felt guilty. I was the one who rejected Charao. I shouldn't rely on him any more than I already do.
He's kind, and if I ask, he'll probably go home with me again. But I mustn't. I've already hurt him once. Even though I know that I shouldn't take advantage of his kindness....
"...Charao."
When he saved me, my heart pounded. Strongly. I felt the same excitement for Charao that I felt for Minato.
"...Am I, as Mai says, a 'whore'?"
I have a boyfriend, but my heart flutters with love for another man.
At that moment, my phone vibrated.
"Who's there... Heehee!"
The call was from Minato. I blocked him on LINE, but I didn't reject his calls.
After a while, the call disappeared.
The log showed:
125 missed calls.
"..."
Minato is trying to contact me again and again. Why?
The thought of his LINE message asking for sex flashed through my mind.
"Disgusting..."
I no longer feel the elation or emotional high I once felt towards Minato. Now I only feel disgust for him.
Another call comes in. It's from Minato again. I'm scared, so I reject the call.
"Charao..."
At times like this, I wished Minato was here. But right now, I sincerely wish that Charao was by my side.
Charao... What am I, a free woman? Am I, as Mai says, a "whore"?