Opening the door to the same McDonalds where I first met Saori and Kuroneko a wave of nostalgia washed over me. Unfortunately today only Kuroneko was able to come. Kirino promised she could as well but texted me how she ran into something so she might be a bit late.
Even though it's been a long time Kuroneko still wore her same style of clothing. She looks like a china doll dressed in a fancy ballroom dress. Of course that wasn't the case; she's actually wearing her gothic Lolita styled clothing. But her pale skin and sharp red eyes make her look like a living doll.
"Hey."
"Good morning Senpai."
Still after everything she's treating me the same way. For some reason hearing her call me senpai caused my heart to twist, to say I didn't have any leftover feelings for her would be a lie…
I wanted to talk to her about my current situation with Kirino. I was sure that Kirino already told Kuronkeo about it but it may just be the gist of things instead of the full story. But perhaps waiting for my little sister to be with us before talking about that would be better.
"So how's high school?"
"... Makabe is now in charge of the Game Research Club…"
"Is that bad?"
"…No, just not experienced, with proper experience he could grow to be a good leader…"
"How about you and Sena? Making a new game?"
"It's to be expected we are. However how much we improved is still to be determined…"
As usual Kuroneko is a woman of little words. We went about like this for a couple more minutes while waiting for Kirino. Ask a question, she answers… until finally Kuroneko asks a question of her own.
"So Senpai, how is college?"
"Ahh… even though I'm only taking general education courses, it is still quite stressful."
Kuroneko seemed confused when I mentioned general education courses. Guess she didn't know I haven't selected a course of study yet.
"I haven't chosen a field to study yet… you know me… super plain with no hobbies." Sighing I wondered if being lazy all this time was the single biggest mistake in my life.
"…Are you stupid?"
"Wha-?"
I know it's pathetic I don't have a direction to take my life in but you don't need to rub salt on my injuries!
"Since when is a hobby a direction for what you want to specialize in?"
"Huh?"
"My hobby is writing doujins yet I have no talent in it… would I be foolish enough to aspire to be a writer?"
Ahh… Kuroneko did want to be a writer back then didn't she? Her work might have been rejected by the publishing company but is she really giving up on it?
"I may want to tell a story but I was going about it the wrong way… I found that I can use my creativity in a way that takes advantage of what I'm good at."
"Is that designing a game?"
Kuroneko nodded with a slight hint of a blush.
"…I was afraid it'll fail like my writing but I can see myself improving… the reviews says so…"
I always thought Kuroneko didn't care about what people rather amateurs think of her work but she seems quite happy that people are starting to compliment her.
"I don't know what I'm good at…" I gave a dejected sigh. It's amazing that Kuroneko found out what she's good at. But what about me? I didn't join any clubs when I was a first year or even second year in high school… Damn my lazyness! Damn my normal life! I can't believe I just actually said that!
"I think Senpai would make a good lawyer." Kuronkeo lips curled into a small smirk. Her smirk widened when she saw my confused face.
"Senpai is good at persuading others and you aren't willing to step down no matter what… a stubborn one like your sister. Plus being a lawyer would fit you perfectly; you're always nosey about meddling in others affairs."
Wow, she actually makes sense… Our school does have a pretty good law program. But studying law!? Isn't that a bit hard! I'm already barely scraping by in these classes that are accepted as easier than a main course. If I take law it's like a step above even other main courses. I don't have the study habits or even brain power to handle that!
"Hmm... That's actually a good idea, thank you Kuroneko I'll keep that in mind."
I glanced at the watch… and 30 minutes, still no sign of Kirino… wow this girl. I was just about to text her again but Kuroneko's voice stopped me dead in my tracks.
"…So your sister told me you two are living with each other now? You also got kicked out?"
Ahh… I guess it can't be helped… I'll have to explain the situation to Kuroneko. Although Kirino insisted for us to tell her together, I think I'll use this as a payback for making us wait for her for so long. I summarized what happened, even our exact conversation that started it all and how my father caught us.
"I see."
Kuroneko sure is a woman of little words. After telling her how I got kicked out of my house and subsequently moving out all Kuroneko could say was "I see."
I wonder if this was the ultimate curse Kuroneko talked about. When I chose Kirino, she said she had cursed me. Curse our love. Well I think Kuroneko didn't really have ill will towards us, she could have stayed with me instead she wanted Kirino to confess my feelings before letting me choose. Her curse as she puts it was just a way for her to vent frustration.
"Yeah, I just wanted to talk about it."
"Senpai your life sure is filled with wonderful adventures."
"I'm not sure about wonderful…"
To any outsider, living with Kirino would be amazing right? Well no. Not to me anyway. She is just too much to handle!
"You should already have known this as Kirino's lover, but that girl always tries her very hardest no matter what it is. I am most certain she's trying her hardest for your relationship. That's why she went through such lengths to make it work."
Ahh… it's true, everything Kirino do she gives it her all. She didn't have any natural talent in running yet through determination and hard work alone she managed to be a track star. Her grades… her modeling… everything she does she values highly and everything she values she tries her hardest at. But does that kind of ambition work towards Kirino's love life? I mean is being with me something to give it her all? I wonder…
As if reading my thoughts Kuroneko answered my thought with a small smirk.
"Now that Kirino got you, she's going to try her best to keep you."
"Ah?"
"Why do you look so surprise?"
"I don't want her to treat our relationship like a job…"
Her love life… our love life… I don't want Kirino to try her hardest in it. I personally saw how much sacrifice she did for track and field. She wanted me to throw away all her Meruru collections, her eroges, everything. Just so she could focus on one thing, to prevent any distractions she even cut all contacts with her friends. Everything that made Kirino Kirino. She was willing throw away all that just to be successful in Track and Field. Now I'm not sure about her modeling work and school work. I haven't seen her be that extreme for those two compared to her efforts in track, but that was probably because she hasn't met any challenges yet. But what if there was? What if a challenge arose for her work and studies? Challenges on the same level as what happened when she went abroad for Track and Field; can I really afford to be the distraction that prevented her from having a successful life? More importantly, do I want to be that challenge that causes her to push herself that far? Do I want to be the stressor that causes her to give up on everything else?
Kuroneko didn't say anything; her red eyes just bore into me with a piercing stare. I don't know if she could really read minds, but if she could I would love an answer. However I can't bring myself to actually say what's on my mind in words. She isn't here to counsel me, not for overcomplicated problems I brought on myself anyway.
"Ahh… by the way, I've met a new acquaintance in college and he insist on me coming to this party but I'm not sure if I want to go or not."
"If you don't want to go then don't? You humans are so complicated…"
I was about to explain why the social pressure was kind of against me in this situation but before I could a very fashionably dressed high school girl walked in on us. Her light brown hair swaying to the side as she elegantly made her way over to our table. Yep it was Kirino.
"Sorry for being late, was a bit busy."
I glanced at the three bags strapped over her arm and clicked my tongue. Don't go saying you're busy when you went shopping!
"It's fine… Senpai has already explained your situation with me."
Kirino glared at me with a scowl.
"You couldn't wait for both of us to be here?"
"Well what else was I going to do? Make Kuronkeo sit here for 30 minutes?"
Kirino seemed to have tuned me out, once she sat down she immediately begin bickering with Kuroneko about anime, something I honestly have no interest in. Really even now I can't tell what's so important about Meruru and Maschera.
They argued more than they chatted but eventually it ended, I barely butted in their conversation. Just like old times…
"It's time for us to go; the train ride back is quite long."
"I see, then until next time Senpai."
As we walked to our train station a familiar and dreadful voice called out to me…
"Kousaka, it's you! What a coincidence!"
My white haired ex roommate ran down the street waving his hand enthusiastically. Geez this guy… don't act so friendly, I barely know you!
"Who is this guy?" Kirino asked, her facial expression and tone was clearly upset. I feel the same way, he's embarrassing us.
"Oh this must be your super cute girlfriend, she's even cuter in the flesh!"
"Yeah…" I muttered in an annoyed tone, hopefully this guy gets the hint and get lost, but knowing Seiryuu he probably shrugged it off.
Kirino didn't blush at his compliment like I expected her too. She usually keeps a façade of Ms. Nice when around her friends or strangers, so I expected a timid girlish response. However…
"What!? Don't talk about me like that, creep!"
Apparently since she assumed Seiryuu is my friend, she can be as foul mouthed as she pleased… But of course Seiryuu is ignorant of social hints so he acted like everything was normal…
"So, are you coming with Kousaka to our party this coming Sunday?"
Y-you! Stop acting like I'm actually going! I said might, which means I'm not going!
"Seiryuu, I told you that I have plans on Sunday and I have class that day too."
"The party doesn't even start till 11 PM; make sure you show up hehehe! Anyway I gotta go, see you around Kousaka!"
Before he ran off, he flicked Kirino's bangs, eliciting a scowl. I could tell she was about to blow up on him but Seiryuu already sprinted away.
"What creeps do you have as friends!?"
So of course instead of yelling at Seiryuu, she took it out on me.
"He's not actually my friend, just an ex-roommate." I scratched my cheek nervously, I actually sympathize with Kirino; her foul attitude was actually justified this time.
"Anyway, do you plan on going?"
"Nah… its way too late the train takes too long, plus like I said I barely know him."
"Oh…"
Kirino glanced to the side as if she was nervous about something. I wonder why though, she looked like as if she wanted to ask something. Noticing I was studying her, her facial expression turned to a scowl.
"Stop staring so much in public."
"You want to go don't you?"
"Haaah!? Of course not! I'm just curious about college guy parties..."
Yeah, you definitely want to go. My sister may be mature, she may be the leader of the most popular group of girls but ultimately she's still a first year student in high school. Unfortunately in college, being popular and famous in middle school and high school means nothing. And regardless of how popular and famous you are in middle school and high school, it's only natural to look up to college students.
Even though I wanted to take her, it was far too problematic. Leaving my bad opinion of Seiryuu aside, there's no train available after the party ends, a broke college student like me getting a taxi… yeah that's way too much trouble. Not to mention it was on a Sunday, I don't have time to party all night when I have class the next day! And late night parties… I don't want to sound like my reserved father but that just seems like a perfect set up for trouble, certainly not a place to take a high school first year student.
"So why are you not going? Don't you want friends?"
Kirino sounded upset… she actually want to go doesn't she? Ahh whatever, I guess I could skip a day… but what about her? She's an honor student. Then again, she stays up all night playing eroge, not getting enough sleep probably isn't problematic for her.
"Alright if you want to go that bad…"
"Whaa!? Don't put words in my mouth!"
When you deny it like that you might as well admit it… this girl is such a bad liar.
"A-and anyway, I don't want you to go off and flirting with some other girl and who knows what disgusting things you would do in a college party…"
Wait what!? I didn't want to come in the first place! You only want to watch over me so you can tag along to have fun yourself… geez. And plus does she really think I'm that much of a pervert?
And thus it was decided. For my sister's curiosity, I'm going to go to Seriyuu's party…
