Watashi, Dokidoki Renai Kakumei de Onii-chan Yattemasu

The Quarrel and the Dog and the Wolf (3)

The next day. As expected, my worries hit the mark.
　Soutarou's responses have been cold throughout the morning. He's clearly holding a grudge regarding yesterday's matter. Even though he speaks normally to Kaname, he doesn't even look at me when we talk.
　What I did yesterday ――chasing after Ikuto and trying to cross swords with Kaburagi―― oh, he's definitely still angry, huh. But even now, I still don't think that my choice at that time was wrong.
　Back then, Kaburagi just happened to not really be a scary person. That's why everything ended safely. But if it weren't so, Ikuto might not be in one piece.

　That's why I can proudly say that my decision is not wrong.
　Getting angry over something of that level, it's Soutarou who's weird.

"Why do you think Souta is so angry, Mako-chan?"

"It's probably because I chased after Ikuto-kun and picked a fight with Kaburagi."

"That's correct, but that's not the point. Both Souta and Mako-chan are strangely off-track."

　Kaname point at the tip of my nose as he gobble snacks up.
　The same animal cookies Prince had been eating before are placed on the table between Kaname and I. Are animal cookies popular in Izumino Gakuen? Well, they are somewhat tasty. Their simplistic taste is addictive, or so to speak.

"What is the point then?"

"Wellll, what'll you do if Souta dives into a yakuza base?"

"Huh? A normal person will stop him, right?"

Soutarou's athleticism is certainly top-notch and he's also tall, so he's definitely strong in fights. But if it's up to me, I'll definitely stop him.

"Then, what if I'm held captive in that base?"

　The yakuza, Kaname and Soutarou.
　It's just hypothetical, but what will I do if the situation Kaname mentioned actually occurs?
　Although I'm worried about Kaname, I can't possibly let Soutarou go to such a place and neither will I be able to best the opponent.

"Th-that's... I'll call the police, maybe. Regardless, I'll never let Soutarou go alone."

"Exactly. At the very least, you won't send Souta in. This example was quite exaggerated, but this is why Souta stopped Mako-chan back then. He was worried, you know? Really."

"Aah, yeah... I see."

　Click, there was the sound of a puzzle piece fitting in.

　I understood clearly that Soutarou stopped me because he was worried from the bottom of his heart.
　And yet, I only considered my own perspective till the very end. It doesn't matter what happens to me. I'm very cool for going to save Ikuto. I was probably thinking that in some corner of my mind.
　After all, I'd have definitely stopped Soutarou if he was the one who went to save Ikuto.

"... I'm sorry."

"Alright."

　Kaname push a cookie against my lips when I suddenly hang my head.
　It's dog-shaped. I accept the cookie and chew it. It has the plain and simple taste traditional cookies have.

　Before I knew it, I began overestimating my strength.
　Due to the transport to this world, I became a tall boy, many people gathered around me, my brute strength and physical power grew stronger than when I was a girl. It was also as though I gained a more powerful fresh start as a person. Perhaps that was how I felt.

　No matter what kind of appearance I come to have, I am me. That is something I said numerous times. Be it the male me or the female me, they are both "Makoto". Nothing has changed. Even if my gender changes, it's still me at the very root.