Chapter 137 - Evil Spirit Exorcism
Why is she here?How on earth can she see us when we're supposed to be under Concealment?
Questions instantly boil up, and answers are derived.
――If they are Party Members of each other, they can be visually recognized even under Concealment Magic.
And the two Ayako-chans are a person who was forcibly split apart. Not twins, but two of the same person.If that's the case, then if one of them is counted as a Party Member, the other is treated the same way.
Having multiple copies of the same person is truly an irregular phenomenon. You can't predict what will happen, and it robs you of your ability to make snap judgments.
And so, I failed to take the action I should have.
"Why are you alive? Why? ...Please die."
Saying that, the Ayako-chan in the school uniform threw the bundle of papers she took from her bag at her other self.A huge amount of... talismans?It's hard to tell in the darkness, but for some reason, those scraps of paper seem to have a lethal effect.The Ayako-chan who took the direct hit began to groan in agony.
"...Agh... ggh... th-this..."
Wheezing in her throat, writhing in anguish—Ayako-chan. The Ayako-chan who lives with me. She's now gasping with a voice that sounds like she's dying.
"Wh... what the hell is this!?"
Don't tell me those paper bundles are coated in poison or something?I instantly pick one up and hold it toward a streetlight.
"Photos...!?"
Straining my eyes, I saw they were photos of a young man and woman linking arms.The man is in a black tuxedo, and the woman is wearing a wedding dress.Probably photos taken at their wedding ceremony.And the groom's face looks exactly like me, while the bride looks like a younger version of the owner of Otsuki Books.
These are probably the ones taken when Ayako-chan's parents held their wedding ceremony.
"..."
So, why is the Ayako-chan who had these thrown at her writhing like a demon with a protective charm stuck on it?It's starting to feel a bit ridiculous, but I ask just in case.
"Why is Ayako-chan making sounds like she's about to die...?"
"...Cough... cough cough! Gweh gweh gweh... gweh gweh gweh..."
She's in no state to hold a conversation. She's retching with the intensity of someone about to give birth to something.Feeling sorry for her, I try rubbing her back, but Ayako-chan's coughing shows no sign of stopping.
"Haha! Ahaha! Ahahahahahahahahaha! How do you like the photo of your father holding a wedding ceremony with another woman! That's right, it's the infamous 'Biological Father's Wedding Photo,' notorious for causing skin rashes just from touch if you're an average father-con! Aha, ahaha, ahahahahahahahahahahahaha!"
...So that's why the other Ayako-chan is wearing gloves. I stare at the uniformed Ayako-chan with astonishment.She prepared a weapon that's devastatingly effective against herself and, on top of that, doesn't break any laws—it's malicious to the extreme.But since it causes no actual harm, it's an attack method that perfectly embodies the person known as Ayako Otsuki.
"It's not over yet, you know...? Fufu, ufufufu. It's not just your father... I've also brought plenty of printed screenshots of scenes where Nakamoto-san is getting all touchy-feely with female celebrities, you know...? If I plaster these on your face, you'll die, you know? Do you understand? Just because my opponent is myself, I won't hold back, you know...?"
"...Stop... please stop..."
Will she die?Can Ayako-chan actually die from that?I don't really know, but the terrifying thing is that with this girl, it seems entirely possible.
"...Do you understand why I'm going this far? ...Today, I got called in. By the student guidance Teacher, because I was spotted walking around during the day, shopping in casual clothes! This is the first time I've ever experienced such humiliation...! What are you going to do about it! ...Why! Why!? You were supposed to die! You promised! You did!"
The Ayako-chan being berated is protecting herself by cradling her head. A posture of complete non-resistance.
"Fake! Fake! Fake! Even though you're a fake! Why are you alive! Why! A person like you!"
Mere insults and photos shouldn't be able to inflict fatal wounds. I know that.But it's not a pleasant thing to watch.I grab Ayako-chan's wrist and stop the fruitless argument.
"Why don't you stop this?"
Whatever she thought of my words, Ayako-chan's movements halted.The gazes of the two girls gather on my face.
"...Eh... ...Nakamoto-san...? Why is Nakamoto-san with the other me...?"
"This Ayako-chan is living with me right now. For various reasons."
"...Huh?"
The uniformed Ayako-chan glares at her own duplicate with lightless eyes.
"...I see... of all people... you seduced Nakamoto-san to keep yourself fed..."
I heard her spit out a curse, calling her a whore. I can also hear the sound of grinding teeth.
"What are you thinking!? Hey!? You're still seventeen, right!? Do you realize how much trouble you're causing by barging into the home of Nakamoto-san, an adult with a social standing!? This is the end, the end! You might feel good playing the tragic heroine, but everyone is troubled by it! Me, and Nakamoto-san too!"
The Ayako-chan being blamed is crouched on the bench, simply enduring the whip of words.Since the abuse is coming from none other than herself, I understand why she can't argue back.Because this is probably what both Ayako-chans normally think.It looks like a quarrel between twins, but in reality, it's no different from a single person struggling with inner conflict.
A battle against—herself.
"...I really should have properly disposed of you myself after all... We don't need two of such a deviant... Even I, who attends school normally, feel like dying sometimes, so how can you live on in shame? Hey? Do you even think about your own future? I'm monopolizing the official identity of Ayako Otsuki, you know!? I'm the one who will graduate high school and go on to university!? So what can you do! What value do you have!? You're the daughter of a university professor, but you're a high school dropout!? There's no meaning to your life, something like that!"
"No matter how you look at it, isn't that going too far?"
"Please be quiet, Nakamoto-san! ...This is our problem."
"That may be true, but."
Being told about academic background stings me too, so I can't just leave it alone.I ended up butting in.
"I get why the Ayako-chan who's properly attending high school is angry, but the Ayako-chan at my place is doing a good job every day, you know? I'm grateful for her help. And, well, the fact that she can't go to school is partly my responsibility as her guardian, right..."
In truth, when I picked up Ayako-chan, maybe I should have prepared a separate identity for her as a Japanese woman distinct from Ayako Otsuki.If I had, the Ayako-chan now sobbing on the bench could have led a proper social life too.But so many things happened that I couldn't manage to be that considerate.
"It's my fault. Please don't be so hard on her."
I release the wrist I was holding and bow my head slightly.Did that calm her down a bit?When I glance up to check Ayako-chan's expression, I see she's radiating an aura like a wrathful demon.It's gotten even worse. Why?
"...Why is Nakamoto-san defending the other me...? Could it be that while living together, you've grown attached...? Don't tell me you're already in a physical relationship? Did you have sex? Huh? Then I really have to kill that other me, you know...?"
"Please, calm down. ...We have a perfectly wholesome relationship... Well, I might have grown attached, though."
"See, you've been swayed. Since it's me, after all, I'm sure she used dirty tricks to seduce Nakamoto-san. That drug is finished anyway, right? Hey? Just how much did you make Nakamoto-san drink!? Hey!?"
Ayako-chan raises her voice and continues to abuse her other half.I don't know what this drug is, but I can't just stand by and watch my housemate be berated forever.
"I'm not being seduced or anything. I took in Ayako-chan of my own will and am looking after her."
"...?"
Ayako-chan's movements stop completely. Both of them.The Ayako-chan doing the blaming and the Ayako-chan being blamed are both staring at my face.They're a truly well-coordinated duo.
"...You took me in... of your own will...?"
Why? she asks.
"I've been wondering about that too, all this time..."
Even the Ayako-chan who lives with me, who had been silent all this time, spoke up.She seems very interested.
"Why did Nakamoto-san pick me up? Even though I'm just a nuisance."
"Why did Nakamoto-san pick me up? Even though I'm just a nuisance."
The two Ayako-chans ask the question in perfect synchronization.Overwhelmed by their eerie intensity, I think.
Right, why did I pick up Ayako-chan?
Even if she had nowhere else to go, bringing an underage girl into my home should have been a risky act.I could have rented an apartment somewhere and let her live alone, or I could have used the method of confining her in a hotel like I did with Philia.So why did I bring her home?
...Because I sympathized with her. That's part of it.Because she was a pretty girl, I brought her back as someone to talk to. That's not entirely absent either.
But the biggest reason was, "It's dangerous to let a potential criminal like this run loose."
It's fine for the other Ayako-chan since she lives with her parents, but this Ayako-chan would be dangerous if I didn't keep her close and monitor her—it was an action based on public morals.
However, I'm not the kind of person who can say such an outrageously rude true feeling.Even I understand that much.So I ended up,
"...Because I liked you."
and lied.I couldn't think of any other phrase to smooth-talk a young woman.My gift of gab is at rock bottom.
"...Liked...?"
"...Liked...?"
"Yeah. I was fond of Ayako-chan, so that's why I decided to look after you at my place."
"Eh, ehh...!?"
"Eh, ehh...!?"
"I originally started going to Otsuki Books because I had my eye on Ayako-chan, you know! Didn't you notice?"
"N-not at all!"
"N-not at all!"
I can see the Ayako-chans are flustered. Where did the demonic actions from earlier go? They're covering their mouths with maidenly gestures.Good, it's working.Just hurry up and calm down.
It's not a lie that one of the reasons I frequented the used bookstore was because of Ayako-chan.If I'm going shopping anyway, I'd rather go where there's a pretty clerk. That's a normal feeling for a guy, right? I'm not in the wrong.Even if I am, I'm not. It's Ayako-chan's fault for being born with such a gorgeous face.Huh?
I'm starting to lose track of what I'm even saying now.But I can't think of anything else. To make Ayako-chan back down quietly, there are probably various dangerous methods like putting her to sleep with magic or intimidating her with violence, but I don't want to do that to a girl who's supposedly in love with me.
So, I flatter her.Even a pig will climb a tree if you flatter it, as they say.When I got into arguments with Elsa or Philia, this usually worked out somehow.Please, just let this end peacefully—with that desperate, straw-clutching hope, I keep shouting.
"I haven't been seduced or threatened! I'm living with Ayako-chan because it feels good having her at home! She's good-looking, does the housework, and on top of that, she likes me, so I don't feel bad about it! She has some quirks, but she's a member of the family now! If you understand, then hurry up and go home, that Ayako-chan! To the Otsuki Household! You have your real father, don't you! But I'm the only guardian this Ayako-chan has! It can't be helped!"
Panting heavily, I look at the faces of the two Ayako-chans....I can see that both are dumbfounded.Are they taken aback by suddenly hearing something like a confession from an old guy?
As I watch with bated breath, the Ayako-chan in the uniform turns around with awkward movements.
"...I'm going home..."
Did she understand? I try calling out to her, but there's no reply.
"...Nakamoto-san likes me... mutual love... legal... premarital relations... Shotgun Wedding..."
Muttering incomprehensible things, her coat-clad back recedes into the distance.It's not an expression one should use for a girl, but the phrase "Evil Spirit Exorcism" naturally came to mind.
"Phew."
Now then.With this, we can finally have the discussion that was our original goal.While gathering the photos scattered on the ground, I call out to Ayako-chan.
"Now that the nuisance is gone, shall we get to the main topic?"
"...No... I'm fine..."
Does she not have the energy left for a long talk?As I'm stuffing the photos from behind the bench into my pocket, Ayako-chan crouches down next to me.
"...Nakamoto-san's feelings were properly conveyed, so it's okay."
"Ah, that."
Just as I was about to confess that it was actually a convenient excuse to silence the other Ayako-chan, my lips were pressed against.A surprise kiss.It was the moment a true, genuine scoundrel who has kissed three girls in one day was born.
"...I'm so glad... Nakamoto-san was also coming to the store to visually violate me... We were doing the same thing..."
"No, that was, well, to resolve things amicably... Wait, what are you pressing against me, Ayako-chan? What is this? It's dark and I can't really tell, but what part of you is this soft thing?"
A lukewarm breath is breathed into my ear.
【Party Member, Ayako Otsuki, has ovulated】
...Have I done something irreversible?And considering that the other Ayako-chan also had a flag raised, am I going to end up eating not a parent-and-child bowl, but an Ayako bowl?
As I'm having these wicked thoughts, Ayako-chan gives me a light poke.When I lose my balance and fall on my backside, I see Ayako-chan's face approaching my crotch.
"...If it's mutual love, there's no problem, right?"
Ayako-chan proceeds to perform the remarkably dexterous act of opening my zipper with her mouth.A zip sound.No, you mustn't go any further.Where in the world is there a brute who would commit lewd acts with a daughter while using her parents' photo as a mat...!?