Nyanta & Pomeko

Chapter 14: Shinozuka

"Good morning, Nyan ......, Shinjo?　You look kind of tired, don't you?"

"Oh, Pome ......, Shinozuka, I've got some stuff going on."

　I arrived at school a little later than usual, and as I was leaving the house, I bumped into Shinozuka, who was wearing glasses.

　I see. She's a little later than me, I guess.

"Well, I'll go on ahead then."

"No, no, no, wait. I'm coming with you."

"Huh?"

　Shinozuka made a similar dumbfounded voice as Saeko-san.

　Well it's not like it's a bad thing they are sisters after all. They look exactly alike.

"Then hurry up come quickly, else I'll you leave behind there."

"I know, but ......, if you go to school with me, ......, even you."

　There are already bad rumors about me at school and a lot of students have seen me with Shinozuka.

"It's a little late for that. I don't care about ...... rumors. I'm in the mood to ...... go to school with Shinozuka by the way, those glasses–"

"Nyan...ta?　...... Okay, Shinjo, I don't care what happens to you."

　She ignored me about the glasses, then we both headed to school.

　I ignored the confused Shinozuka and had a normal conversation with her.

　I also told her what had happened after we went on our own ways yesterday.

　I couldn't stop talking. I was able to keep it natural.

"I see, Shinjo-kun is going to live alone. I'm jealous of you. ......, I've been having trouble in the shopping court lately, too, because some strange people talk to me when I'm alone.

　Pomeko ......, no, Shinozuka also had a natural expression. I'm not sure why she wore glasses today, but she didn't have any wrinkles between her eyes. ...... Could it be that the wrinkles between her eyebrows were just ...... invisible?

　There was nothing scary about it and she has a beautiful face anyway.

"It just so happens that I'm going to be living alone, but ...... I'm not ready at all."

　This morning, with trembling hands, my stepmother handed me the keys to my grandfather's house, ...... and a New Year's gift that she hadn't used before.

"...... I guess I wasn't a good mother for my children. I'll talk to your father and face you one day. Come back anytime okay? You can come home anytime. ...... You'll have to cook your meals, okay?　You have to clean the house and do the laundry.　Don't waste your money. ...... You'll be fine, right?."

　My stepmother had a look of as if she lost something important on her face.

　My stepsister was eating breakfast with a messy face as usual.

　It was a strange feeling. It was a peaceful morning, as if yesterday's events were a lie.

"It'll be hard to move alone, isn't it? I mean, it's your grandfather's house, so it's fully furnished, right? Then we can go right away!"

　The house is fully furnished and has all the appliances. I have all the furniture and appliances, and there's even an old computer in the house.

　But there are still some supplies that are missing, and I need to go buy them today.

"I'm going to start living at my grandfather's house this evening. ...... honestly I never thought this would happen."

"Hmm?　That's good, isn't it?　We can both have time to think, you know, write as much as we want."