novelraw Chapter 84
Chapter 84
Chapter 84
A night in reality.
While soaking in the bath, I replayed today's events in my head.
(My first kiss...... but since it was in the virtual world, maybe it doesn't count.)
They're still there. The softness of Chihiro-chan's lips, her breath on my mouth, the feel of her hair brushing my face.
(Ugh......! My heart won't stop pounding......! Is a kiss really that powerful? If it hits me this hard in virtual space, what would happen to me if we ever did it in reality...... my heart might actually explode......)
I sink my mouth below the water and blow bubbles.
(L-let's put the kiss thing on hold. The more I think about it, the deeper the hole gets.)
Pulling myself together, I lift my face from the water and stroke my right cheek.
(The red Walther...... "Walther P38 Red-Lie". I was caught off guard, but I took that hit, and then...... I lost. That was a loss. She got close enough to kiss me and I couldn't react. If she'd wanted to, Chihiro-chan could have beaten me.)
Losing one-on-one without any handicaps might be a first in Infinity Space. Come to think of it, even searching my memories, the last time I lost under even conditions was way back—when I lost to Azusa-chan.
"Then it's settled! I'm gonna be the great Phantom Thief, so Rei-chan, you be the best gunslinger ever! I'll be Lupin and you'll be Daisuke Jigen!"
Words Chihiro-chan once said come back to me.
Daisuke Jigen, huh.
(More like, I'm......)
Clack. The bathroom door opens.
"Huh? Big sis, you were in here?"
My totally naked little sister steps inside.
"Azusa-chan!? Wh-why......"
"Your change of clothes is gone and I didn't sense anyone, so I thought it was empty."
"Ah, my change of clothes...... I forgot."
Damn it. I was so shaken I forgot to bring them.
Later I'll have to wrap a bath towel around myself and go get them.
"Well, whatever. I'm coming in anyway."
It's been ages since I took a bath with Azusa-chan. Not since I was in middle school and she was in elementary.
(Even if she's my little sister...... no, *because* she's my little sister, it's hard to look straight at her naked body......)
Even while thinking that, I keep sneaking glances at her under the shower.
A refined body with no excess fat anywhere. Slim but not bony—taut is the right word. Meanwhile, I'm still on the skinny side, though lately I've got a little flab on my belly.......
When Azusa-chan finishes her shower, she slips into the tub—sitting between my legs, back pressed to my chest.
"Feels like it's been forever, huh. Taking a bath together like this."
We always used to sit like this when we bathed together.
"But a high-school girl and a middle-school girl together now, that's pushing it......"
"I don't mind at all. I kinda want you to wash my hair again."
"Hey, normally it's the big sister who washes the little sister's hair, right? Ever since kindergarten I've been the one washing yours. And you used to wear a shampoo hat because you were scared of suds in your eyes. I ditched my shampoo hat ages ago."
I still can't say I'm not a little scared of shampoo suds.......
"Huh? Don't tell me you actually want to wash my hair, Azusa-chan?"
"......Not really."
"There you go getting all shy again!"
"I'm not shy. I don't want some low-femininity person like you touching my hair."
"Mmph......!"
I grab Azusa-chan by both sides.
"Mnya!? ――Hey, Rei-nee!"
"So you still go limp when I grab your sides, huh~"
"Why you......! Acting all cool only with your little sister!"
"Guaah!?"
A direct-hit insult from my beloved little sister! A critical snipe to my mental HP!
"Opening detected."
"Nyaa!?"
Azusa-chan runs her index finger around my belly button.
"Looks like your belly button's still your weak spot."
"S-stop! C-cut it out, Azusa-chan! My belly button really is—wh-whoa!?"
I try to brace my legs to escape the tickling, but I slip from the shock.
"Hey! Don't fall on—"
I tumble into the tub, pressing my chest against Azusa-chan.
---
August 15th.
Once again I log into Infinity Space today.
I lay out my weapons on the mess-hall table—well, the battleship's mess hall—and clean them one by one.
(When and where will she appear next? I...... want to beat Chihiro-chan.)
Getting the Triad back earned me plenty of praise from Ness-san and the MPs. While they were praising me, I asked Ness-san to pass me any info on Phantom Thief Labyrinth. If she posts another warning somewhere in Oceanus, word should reach me.
The question is whether she'll stay in Oceanus. Phantom Thief Labyrinth can appear anywhere in the universe. She's not fixated on Oceanus. But would the pride of a phantom thief allow her to leave a treasure she failed to steal?
Clang-clang—the sound of a bell reaches my ears.
"A visitor, huh...... I hope it's someone I know."
I've set a bell on the pier next to the battleship as a doorbell. A sign on the bridge asks anyone with business to ring it.
I step out onto the deck and look down at the pier: a little girl with a cigarette in her mouth.
"Yo!"
"Ms. Eve? If you had business you could've just sent a message."
"I wanted to show up out of the blue and surprise you."
"Surprise me?"
"Did you see this?"
Ms. Eve opens the newspaper tucked under her arm and shows me.
"Bwuh!?"
I take one look at the headline and burst out laughing.
Splashed across the page...... "Great Phantom Thief Labyrinth! Steals a maiden's lips!" Alongside big bold letters was a huge photo of Chihiro-chan and me kissing......