Chapter 67 – The Three Goddesses of Fate: Kagura of the ‘Present’

A Little Short “…And that’s what happened~. This girl protected me in the nick of time, so that’s why I’m the only one still awake,” Kagura-san explained.

Saying so, Kagura-san gently patted the head of Konoha-chan, who was enjoying the kitsune udon. Though they had only been talking for about a day, it seemed a relationship allowing such physical contact had already formed between them.

“Man~ but it was creepy at first, you know… Everyone in town, including Mom, moving around while asleep. If Konoha-chan hadn’t been here to talk to, I might have gone crazy too.” (Kagura)
“…………” (Yumeji)
“…………” (Amane)
“After that, to find the cause, I went to Futatsu Forest to meet Konoha-chan’s mother, Sakaki-san, and heard a brief version of what happened to you two recently………… Are you listening? Both of you.” (Kagura)
“…………Yes.” (Yumeji)
“…………Y-Yeah.” (Amane)

Kagura-san, while eating her ordered Japanese-style mushroom spaghetti, was explaining what happened to her in an easy-to-understand way. The part about the Inari sushi battle was quite heartwarming, and the adventure tale of a high school girl and a little fox suddenly trying to solve the mystery of the sleeping city, with its horror elements, seemed like a very compelling and interesting story. However, neither Amane nor I could manage more than a curt reply. Because I had been busy looking out the window at the scenery, and Amane was engrossed in the task of counting the wood grains on the table, looking down…

“Hey you two, could you please look this way already? It feels lonely like I’m the only one talking~?” (Kagura)

Taken at face value, those words sounded accusatory, but her tone was clearly teasing. …She said it knowing full well we couldn’t meet each other’s eyes. Currently, the three humans and one animal surrounding the family restaurant table were likely the only living beings in this town talking with their eyes open. Amane’s sleepwalking state was dispelled just by me pressing the ‘Book of Dreams’ against her… but after receiving a brief explanation from Kagura-san, Amane’s ears turned bright red, and she shifted to the important mission of counting wood grains. Kagura-san put an arm around her best friend’s shoulder and grinned.

“It’s fine, isn’t it~? Just a kiss~. If you’d gone all the way, that would be… but it wasn’t your first time anyway, right?” (Kagura)
“W-Well… that’s true, but…” (Amane)

Amane, looking like steam might erupt from her face as it turned even redder, mumbled bashfully, but hearing those words, Kagura-san’s eyes seemed to glint sharply. Wh-What’s with that “Gotcha!” look…?

“Hoh~… So you mean, before you were made to dance in the dream by someone, you two had already willingly experienced something likethaat, which I witnessed in the abandoned building earlier… Is that what you’re saying?” (Kagura)
“Ah!?” (Amane)
“Wha!?” (Yumeji)

A-A leading question!? At a time like this!? Caught completely off guard, my eyes met Amane’s… and the image of what Kagura-san called ‘something likethaat’ flashed through my mind… I hastily averted my gaze. Kagura-san watched us with a laugh like that of a high-ranking villain from an evil organization, looking thoroughly amused.

“Yumeji… I’ve reassessed you. I had pegged you as the shy type, lacking the courage to make a move on Amane… but you go for it when it counts, huh.” (Kagura)

Incidentally, Kagura-san had started calling me by my first name instead of my last name just now. …Apparently, calling me by my last name was confusing because it overlapped with Amane’s nickname ‘Amacchi’.

“No, actually, it was Amane who initiated it at first…” (Yumeji)
“Hey!?” (Amane)
“Ah…………” (Yumeji)

Amane hastily covered my mouth, making me realize my own slip of the tongue, but naturally, Kagura-san wouldn’t ignore it. Her face became even more amused as she pressed on.

“Ooh… Amacchi, how bold. You make your move when it matters… Truly my pride and joy as a friend…” (Kagura)
“What are you impressed about!” (Amane)

Kagura-san nodded to herself in admiration… What exactly was she evaluating as ‘truly’ praiseworthy?

“But, in that case, you don’t need to be so embarrassed. I don’t know when your first time was, but if you’ve already smooched many times, something like that…” (Kagura)
“Th-That’s not true! Because in the dream, I just assumed it was ‘normal life’, but…” (Amane)
“Hoh~ So specifically, how many times did that thing earlier make it?” (Kagura)
“Ue… Uhm~, the morning one was the second time, so the one just now was the third…………” (Amane)
“Ooh, the third time, huh! That might indeed have been going a bit too far… And so? When you say ‘when I woke up in the morning,’ does that mean you two were in the same bed…” (Kagura)
“Th-That’s…………” (Amane)
“Amane! Don’t say anything more!!” (Yumeji)

This person skillfully extracts words from her flustered friend through sheer momentum and teasing!! (Amane-exclusive) If I let her keep talking like this, I feel the terrifying possibility that she might even expose all the things I did in ‘that dream’!!

For a while after that… we were subjected to Kagura-san’s questions (interrogation?), leaving us slumped over the table with steam rising from our heads. Having thoroughly enjoyed herself, Kagura-san wiped her mouth with a napkin, looking pleased… which was somehow irritating.

“Well, I suppose I’ll let you off the hook for that stuff for now…” (Kagura)

However, saying that, Kagura-san’s expression suddenly turned serious, and she straightened her posture, bowing deeply towards Amane and me.

“Thank you, both of you.” (Kagura)
“Eh?” (Yumeji)
“Um… For what?” (Amane)

If anything, we felt like she had helped us, so her sudden action caught us off guard.

“I heard from Konoha-chan that you two saved me. And about the situation with Mom too…” (Kagura)
“Ah, ahh… That matter… W-Well, it’s nothing to be thanked for… That was a request from the coffee shop and Konoha-chan, after all.” (Yumeji)
“That’s right, Kagu-chan, you don’t have to be so formal…” (Amane)
“No, nevertheless, my life was saved… I can’t possibly not express my gratitude.” (Kagura)

That incident, the matter concerning Konoha-chan’s letter, was personally filled with many mistakes and points for reflection for me, so being thanked for it felt somewhat awkward… Besides, my depression over that incident was the reason I… well… received that favor… Damn it…, this person is irritating! When she properly expresses thanks like this without glossing over things, it’s hard to complain, and regarding that matter, I ultimately feel like I should be the one thanking her… As I made a hundred faces, Amane let out a wry smile.

“You should probably give up… Even if she messes with you, this girl always ties things up neatly when it counts. The longer you know her, the more… you know.” (Amane)

…She becomes harder to hate, huh. Thinking that, I can’t help but wonder just how bad Saitou, who instantly inspired murderous intent, must be… Regarding that, it’s probably a matter of “No thanks are needed for those who speak ill of my friends”… Somehow…

“…………Somehow, I think I understand why you guys are best friends after all.”