Akatsuki Translations

“Yeah, it’s fine. I get along well with Yuuta. Mom should just chase her own happiness, and don’t worry about us.” -Imari

The guilt she might feel about what she’s doing, or perhaps just concern, results in these regular phone calls. Even though I’m irritated, I respond appropriately because I need to maintain this life. If I upset her, she might forcibly separate me from Yuuta, and I wanted to avoid that at all costs.

“And, I think you understand, but since both of you are close in age, make sure to behave appropriately. Don’t forget that Yuuta is your brother.” -Mother

So I always endure, even these words, wondering how she can say such things. She’s always worried about Yuuta and me living together. If she was so concerned, she should have just left me with my grandparents, but she didn’t do that because she doesn’t like them.

If it were still the beginning, I wouldn’t have felt this way because I disliked Yuuta, but she’s truly beyond help. If she’s so doubtful, she should visit at least once, but she doesn’t do that either. She’s probably worried that her current man would leave her if she had to take care of me.

“It’s okay. Nothing like that would happen with my brother-in-law. Honestly, I don’t see him in that way at all. In fact, we pretended to be strangers in elementary school.” -Imari

He’s a boy with whom I’ve shared both bad and good experiences. At first, I disliked him because he was of the opposite gender. Now, I like him because he is of the opposite gender. It’s as simple as that. It’s a feeling you wouldn’t understand. No, maybe you do understand, and that’s why you say such things.

“Then that’s fine. Also, I heard you skipped school without permission, Imari-chan. It was only for a day, but you need to attend properly.”  -Mother

“I’m sorry. I was feeling unwell that day and didn’t properly inform you.” -Imari

“Make sure it doesn’t happen again next time. I’ll call the school properly.” -Mother

“Okay, I understand.” -Imari

The call continued, each one seemingly an attempt to reassure herself that she’s doing alright. I suppressed the urge to scream, and after making sure the call had ended, I threw my smartphone on the bed. I hadn’t hung up once before and said,

“Mom, just break up with him already.” -Imari

I probably got overheard saying that. So, she doesn’t truly believe in me, and that’s why I always end up saying the same thing after hanging up.

“Just break up already! It’s all because you won’t leave him that things have come to this!” -Imari

Of all the women I know, she’s the worst.

She cheated right after remarrying, all her actions are just to keep her current man happy, who, humorously enough, has a gambling addiction. She won’t divorce her lawyer husband because she wants money to give to her gambler boyfriend.

“I guess my stepdad plans to leave when I turn 15, but what will she do then? Despite having good looks, she always ends up with the weirdest men. Just when I thought she found someone decent, now he’s too boring for her because he’s too serious.” -Imari

I didn’t hate my stepdad more than her.

Even after finding out about her affair, he tolerated it for a while and tried to fulfill his duty as a parent more than she ever did. He’s Yuuta’s father after all. Though now, it all seems like a distant dream.

“We could have lived happily as a family of four, but she’s truly irredeemable.” -Imari

Even though her infidelity caused her first divorce, as soon as she found another man, she cheated again. Her heart is as dirty as it can be, yet she has a pretty face, which attracts men.

The stepfather whom she deceived into marrying her soon found out her true nature and was driven away to another woman. Even I want to run at full speed away from such a woman.

“Just 14 years old…” -Imari

I cursed my own age.

“Even so, in just two more months, it seemed like things were going well with Yuuta… Kiriyama Misuzu.” -Imari

I remembered the second woman I despised.

Until recently, I only knew her name and was aware that Yuuta was in love with her. Still, the bullied Yuuta and the supposedly most beautiful girl in the grade, Kiriyama Misuzu, should never have been connected.

“Meeting by chance in a dungeon, what kind of romantic comedy is this?” -Imari

Yuuta was pitiful at school, bullied and demeaned. When I first saw him in elementary school, I was shocked to the core, almost in denial that he was related to me. The shock was so intense that when Yuuta came home, I confronted him.

“Are you being bullied? I mean, I saw you getting hit. Why don’t you fight back?” -Imari

“I’m sorry. I know I look lame. You can pretend you don’t know me. I’ll never tell anyone you’re my sister.” -Yuuta

“That’s not what I’m asking! Why don’t you hit them back! Those annoying guys deserve it! They keep hitting you because you let them!” -Imari

“I’m sorry. I know I should fight back, but I just can’t.” -Yuuta

I can’t forget those moments. Every time I recall it, I feel pathetic. Even thinking Yuuta was pitiful makes me feel guilty. But that’s not the case. He’s a good guy. Yuuta has always cared for me.

Even when that woman left home, and when our stepfather stopped coming home, Yuuta, despite feeling lonely himself, always thought of me, preparing meals and doing laundry. I was the worst back then, treating Yuuta almost like a servant, commanding him around.

“Don’t touch my underwear; I’ll wash it myself because it’s gross.” -Imari

“Ah, yeah, I understand.” -Yuuta

“Oh, and I saw this delicious-looking beefsteak in a video today, so make that.” -Imari

“Uh, okay. I’ll give it a try.” -Yuuta

He would do anything I asked, so ordering him around became a habit, like a servant. Even other girls of our age treated Yuuta that way, which made him an easy target for the mean-spirited bullies since elementary school.

“I couldn’t say Yuuta was my brother in elementary school.” -Imari

I say it now, feeling empty as the words leave my mouth. I’m just like her. The blood of the woman I despise the most in this world flows through me. I’m truly vile. But Yuuta has always been pure.

He’s so kind that he can’t hit others, and he never shows displeasure even when ordered around by someone like me. After I selfishly fell for Yuuta, I approached him like her, trying to release the pent-up feelings, but he rejected me.

Even so, I thought he might accept it as it happened, but Yuuta remained pure. He tried to be righteous and even got himself a girlfriend.

“I didn’t think it would work out.” -Imari

I wished I was the only one who understood Yuuta’s goodness.

In two more months, I would have become an explorer too. Then we could have lived together as explorers. We didn’t need to aim for high levels; just safely increase our levels and live an ordinary life with Yuuta.

“That would have been fine.” -Imari

Yesterday, I sneakily looked at Yuuta’s phone. The things I wanted to do. The exchange of messages with Kiriyama Misuzu that looked like they were a couple. The things I wanted to do with Yuuta. If only I had two more months, I would have been the one there.

“I should have opposed him becoming an explorer before me more…” -Imari

No, that was impossible.

No matter what, Yuuta wouldn’t yield to me, and since he started dreaming of becoming an explorer, he changed. I loved that about him, too. In matters related to being an explorer, Yuuta was utterly unyielding.

Even so, I thought Yuuta, being who he is, would just linger on the first floor of the dungeon, never really making any progress. Somehow, he became acquainted with high-level explorers, and from there, everything I envisioned for our future shifted.

In just two days, Yuuta reached level 3. When I saw him running, he was like a different person. He was so fast that I didn’t even feel like running alongside him. He’s already looking to explore the second floor.

“Kiriyama Misuzu is her name. I took this photo on the way back.” -Imari

I was introduced to Kiriyama Misuzu through a photo.

He must have been thrilled to have reached level 3 and to have Misuzu in his life. He was considerate not to mention it before, but now he openly talked about how his feelings for Kiriyama Misuzu were growing.

“This can’t go on. Why won’t mom just divorce? How much more will she interfere in my life?” -Imari

She planted this ugly heart in me, and even though they’ve effectively been separated, she won’t divorce him. I know it. My stepfather is ready to leave, but she’s hesitating because she doesn’t want to lose the money.

Because of that, Yuuta found a girl he likes. If we weren’t just step-siblings, Yuuta wouldn’t have done that. We were supposed to live happily together. Being step-siblings made him seek something unnecessary.

“I’m home,”  -Yuuta

I heard his voice.

Yuuta was back. I realized I hadn’t done any housework in my distraction and hurried to prepare dinner. Yuuta always enjoys the meals I make, and today he seemed especially happy. When I asked him what happened,

“I actually kissed Misuzu.” -Yuuta

Yuuta said, delighted. Kiriyama Misuzu, shamelessly kissing in the middle of the street.

“Is that so? It’s good things are going well with the person you like.” -Imari

“Yeah, but I still don’t have the courage to confess. If we’ve come this far, does it mean she likes me back?” -Yuuta

“Yeah. There’s no other reason.” -Imari

I wanted to scream, “Don’t ask me that,” but I restrained myself. The one difference I hold from my mother is this self-control.

“But I’m honestly scared. If things with Misuzu progress and then don’t work out, we might end up not talking ever again.” -Yuuta

He really likes Kiriyama Misuzu. That’s why he’s scared. Isn’t he afraid of our relationship turning sour?

“If that happens, I’ll become your wife.” -Imari

I hate it. I hate everything. Despite holding back and conversing with my mother, despite not yelling at her. All I can do is hope that things don’t work out between Kiriyama Misuzu and Yuuta.

“I don’t want to hear it!” I shouted. I was yelling not at the person I hated the most but at the one I liked.

“It’s about us,” he continued.

Still, Yuuta didn’t stop talking. I didn’t want to hear any more. I feared that if I did, I’d want to die. I didn’t want to find another man. If I did that, I’d become more and more like that woman. I wanted to die before I became as ugly as that woman.

“I kind of know you can’t see me as your brother. Well, I’ve always been pathetic, and I never wanted you to think of me as your brother.” -Yuuta

“But…” -Imari

“Do you like me?” -Yuuta

“…Yes.” -Imari

I admitted it. With each admission, I found myself liking him more and more.

“If our parents divorce, we’ll be strangers, right?” -Yuuta

“Yeah.” -Imari

“I wonder what will happen to our parents. Honestly, I thought they would separate sooner.” -Yuuta

“It seems my stepfather intended to divorce sooner. He said so when I called him the other day.” -Imari

“You called him?” -Yuuta

“Because I wanted to become a stranger to Yuuta sooner. If not, you wouldn’t look at me, and I even mentioned that a little to dad.” -Imari

“What? You told that to dad?” -Yuuta

Yuuta was surprised.

Yuuta’s father was a man of great integrity, as if seriousness personified. Unlike my own mother, my stepfather had always seriously responded whenever she consulted him.

“Yeah. Then he said, ‘I’m really sorry. It was selfish of us parents to make two unrelated people of the opposite sex live together. If you can’t suppress those feelings, I support you.’” -Imari

“You…” -Yuuta

“I’m sorry. It’s shameful… But I really can’t do it. If you ask me to give up, I’d rather die.” -Imari

I was serious. That was the last thing I wanted.

“Imari, how is it today? Is it good?” -Yuuta

“It’s awful. Can’t you make it a little tastier?” -Imari

“Ha ha, sorry. Cooking is difficult. I’ll make something tastier tomorrow that you’ll say is good.” -Yuuta

No matter how much I lashed out, Yuuta always smiled and forgave me. Looking back, I realized that all the whims I couldn’t throw at my parents, all the loneliness I felt from being abandoned, I had directed all of it at Yuuta. Even though he was a boy of the same age, I demanded he accept all of it.

“Are you stupid? Your father has been unfaithful and hasn’t come home, you know? And you’re nonchalantly doing laundry?” -Imari

“He’s been holding back for our sake for so long. I think it’s not unreasonable. I don’t believe my stepmother had any bad intentions either.” -Yuuta

“I’m appalled. To think well of such a woman. Playing the good guy and looking foolish! I really hate that side of you!” -Imari

I thought he was disgusting. He never got angry, no matter what, and even when I, a woman, ridiculed him, he just smiled foolishly. But then,

“Imari, I’m going to become an Explorer!” -Yuuta

Ever since a dungeon appeared on January 1st five years ago, Yuuta changed. He was the same as ever at school, but at home, he began studying to become an Explorer, training his body, running, and working hard towards his goal.

“Hey, quit that dangerous Explorer thing. You’ll die in no time with your ability.” -Imari

“That’s okay. I’d rather live doing something than living doing nothing.” -Yuuta

“You suddenly start talking about dreams and fantasies, it’s ridiculous.” -Imari

When Yuuta talked about becoming an Explorer, he seemed so lively, almost like a different person. I was surprised that such a gloomy guy could have this side. Around this time, I became increasingly curious about what Yuuta was doing.

“Tasty.” -Imari

“Yes, I finally made something you said was tasty!”   -Yuuta

“So what if I said it was tasty?” -Imari

By the time they reached middle school, Yuuta’s cooking had become delicious, almost without exception. But I was stubborn, determined never to admit it was tasty.

However, on March 15th of their sixth year in elementary school, for some reason, he baked my favorite cheesecake, and it was even better than the ones from the shop, making me inadvertently admit for the first time that it was tasty.

“It’s because you hardly ever say anything I make is tasty. Today is your birthday, so I worked hard.” -Yuuta

“My birthday?” -Imari

“Yeah. March 15th, you’re two months younger than me, right?” -Yuuta

I had forgotten my own birthday.

Nobody celebrated it, so I forgot.

But every year, he was the only one who celebrated it.

Even so, I always ignored it because it felt weird.

And I had never celebrated his birthday even once.

The cake I ate that time was delicious.

And for some reason, I was crying. It was the first time I had said something was delicious, the first time I had let my guard down around Yuuta, and everything I had been holding back just poured out uncontrollably. My mother had abandoned me. The stepfather, whom I had thought I could rely on, had left as well.

Everyone was leaving me. Yet, he was always there by my side.

I clearly realized I liked him at that moment.

Despite how coldly I had always spoken to him, thinking that he had continued cooking just to make me say his food was delicious, I found myself irresistibly falling in love with him. But I hated myself even more and kept stupidly apologizing to Yuuta, saying “I’m sorry, I’m sorry.”

“It’s true. If they tell me to give up on Yuuta, I really will die!” -Imari

“Honestly, I had a feeling you would say that.” -Yuuta

“What!? You knew?” -Imari

“Imari, weren’t you different in the past?” -Yuuta

“Uh.” -Imari

“I know it’s bad, but I don’t mind being liked by you.” -Yuuta

“Eh?” -Imari

Yuuta said something unexpected. I had always felt that my feelings were being rejected by Yuuta. Still, I thought I’d push forward with the flow.

“Don’t look so surprised. After all, I’m just a normal boy. No matter how bad things are at school, when I come home, there’s always an incredibly cute girl waiting. Just thinking about that made every day pretty enjoyable.”  -Yuuta

“Really?” -Imari

“Living with Imari has been my secret pride. Did you know? Imari was said to be the cutest girl in elementary school. We’re in different middle schools now, so I don’t know, but you’re probably still the cutest.” -Yuuta

“I get told I’m cute sometimes, but I don’t know if I’m the cutest.” -Imari

This was a painful memory for me. I was good at studying. Yuuta was

“So, Misuzu is the cutest girl in my school. I can’t believe why someone like her would like me. And on top of that, we’re getting a third member in our group, Evie Nova Timberlake.”  -Yuuta

“…Evie, as in the ‘Miracle 15-year-old’?” -Imari

“Seems so. I looked it up on the net last night, and that’s what it said.” -Yuuta

“How did you even get to know someone like that?” -Imari

“It’s through Misuzu’s sister, Mei Kiriyama’s introduction. She apparently wants to become the most beautiful person in the world, so she aims to reach level 1000 in the dungeon. That aligns with our goals, so she’s coming to Japan.” -Yuuta

For a moment, I wondered if this could be real, but I had heard that Misuzu Kiriyama’s sister was Mei Kiriyama. And if it was Mei Kiriyama, it wasn’t strange that she was connected to Evie. Hearing that, I felt like things were getting ridiculous.

Yuuta is weird. First of all, it’s pretty strange that a boy and a girl are living together under these circumstances. And it’s even more bizarre that he happened to meet Misuzu Kiriyama in a dungeon. And now, with Evie joining, it’s practically a comedy.

“Pfft, what’s that!? Yuuta, stop making me laugh!” -Imari

“Ha ha, it is funny, isn’t it? I don’t even understand what’s going on anymore myself.” -Yuuta

I couldn’t help but burst out laughing. I laughed so hard my stomach hurt. Yuuta, who was pitiable at school, who got beaten up, who was like a textbook case of bullying, how did he end up in such a situation?

“Well, it’s not like I’m going to get involved with Evie. We’re just going to be party members.” -Yuuta

“You’re in your prime, aren’t you?” -Imari

“Is that so? I’m kind of scared to go into the dungeon now with Misuzu, Evie, and Imari. Feels like I might be cursed to death by some guy. Actually, if I were them, I’d curse that guy.” -Yuuta

“Ah, I laughed at something pretty serious. So, you’re saying you want me to give up on you, Yuuta?” -Imari

But that’s impossible. My love isn’t that simple. If I’m told to give up, dying would be the only option. I like him that much. It’s Yuuta’s fault for making such a troublesome girl fall for him after all this time.

“Hmm, to be honest, I never thought things would work out with Misuzu. I thought I’d finish middle school without even speaking to her. Then, two months later, I went into the dungeon with Imari, and I hadn’t really thought about what would happen afterward. Since you’ve been so fond of me, I thought maybe this is fine. Pretending to dislike it while actually being the worst, right?” -Yuuta

However, Yuuta’s following words were not what I expected. I thought he was a completely pure person unlike me, but did he have a similar side to me?

“But when Misuzu kissed me, I was really happy. And it felt good. But when I thought about how different it was from what Imari does for me, I couldn’t really understand it. Honestly, I don’t know what to do now.” -Yuuta

“Yuuta, you’re such an idiot. You didn’t have to say that.” -Imari

“I think I’m an idiot too. But there’s one thing I want you to understand.” -Yuuta

“What?” -Imari

“I won’t abandon Imari. If Imari wants me to quit the party with Misuzu, I’ll do it. That’s how much I can’t leave you alone.” -Yuuta

“Is that so?” -Imari

And yet again, he said something completely unexpected. What should I do with this? I wish someone would give me an answer.

“But maybe if I keep being with Misuzu, I won’t be able to feel that way anymore. So if you hate it, I think maybe I really should break up with Misuzu now.” -Yuuta

“……” -Imari

At this moment, I thought if I said, “Break up with that woman,” Yuuta would really do it. Disband the party and be an adventurer at a leisurely pace until I turn 15, and then live with me. I thought he would do that. But I also wondered if that was really okay.

Surely, Yuuta doesn’t feel as strongly for Kiriyama Misuzu, whom he has only become close to in the past few days, as he does for me. But if things continue this way, the one he’ll really come to like is surely going to be Kiriyama Misuzu. And I can interfere with that with just one word from me.

“It’s sneaky. But, I’m happy that Yuuta really thought about me in that way. I thought it was only me who felt that way, so I’m happy to realize it was different. Hey, honestly, I wasn’t that serious about being an adventurer. Is being an adventurer something to aspire to that much? If you strive desperately, is there something completely different from now?” -Imari

“I don’t know. Maybe something happened to Nagumo-san.” -Yuuta

“Is Nagumo-san such an amazing explorer?” -Imari

“He’s an amazing person. Honestly, I don’t fully understand how amazing he is, but he’s amazing.” -Yuuta

The conversation that day ended there.

In the end, the discussion concluded ambiguously.

Both of us seemed to be avoiding a conclusion, leaving without any answers. That day, when I slipped into bed, Yuuta said nothing. And then I stole a kiss from Yuuta. We continued kissing until we fell asleep. It was incredibly pleasant and I was very happy. The conversation that day ended there.

In the end, the discussion concluded ambiguously.

Both of us seemed to be avoiding a conclusion, leaving without any answers. That day, when I slipped into bed, Yuuta said nothing. And then I stole a kiss from Yuuta. We continued kissing until we fell asleep. It was incredibly pleasant and I was very happy.