Chapter 39 - Humidity
"Well, it'd be better if that were the case," I answered.
"Worst case scenario, there's even the possibility of another me."
Imagining myself crossing blades with my own mirror image sent a chill down my spine.
But it was a plausible scenario.
What if, without my knowledge, another me had been cultivated from a severed head?
There was also the possibility of a different me from a parallel world.
"I'm scum, after all. Nothing I did would be surprising. The me here right now just happened to get back on my feet thanks to Ange; originally, I was just burnt-out dregs who'd fallen into despair."
"..."
"If there's another me out there who never met Ange, he might just go around chopping people up and multiplying. Though I can't really imagine the motive."
Perhaps reacting to my words, Angelica hugged me even tighter.
"...Dad always gets self-deprecating right away."
"It's not self-deprecation, it's a calm self-analysis."
"I don't think the culprit is another Dad. It's definitely a different Summoned Hero. No matter what kind of Dad existed, he wouldn't cut people down without reason."
That's the kind of person you are, Dad, Angelica declared firmly.
"Aren't you overestimating me a bit too much?"
"I'm not overestimating you."
"...You really do trust me that much, huh."
Half happy, half embarrassed, I stroked Angelica's head.
"After all, I've known about you, Dad, for years now."
"Huh? ...Ah, so you'd heard rumors about me?"
"I read the book, too. 'The Heroic Tales of Hero Keisuke.'"
"Now that you mention it, that did come out, didn't it."
It was about ten years after I'd been summoned to this other world.
The royal family, aiming to promote the legitimacy of the Hero they had discovered, published a book using state funds.
Though it was the kind of thing where there were more passages detailing the greatness of the royalty than descriptions about me.
"So that book drifted all the way to the Holy Maiden's shrine, huh."
"It was my favorite book, you know."
"I remember being drawn as an absurdly handsome man in the illustrations for that..."
"It's laughable, isn't it. Since you're not handsome at all, Dad."
Show a little tact there, I thought, pinching her cheek.
It stretched out with a squish, surprisingly so.
Even though she's slender, the soft parts are properly soft.
The body of a young girl is full of mystery.
"But I like the real Dad better than the illustrations. Because you're kind."
Angelica placed her own hand over mine.
She looked somewhat enraptured.
Here I was, with my sixteen-year-old daughter on my lap, embracing her face-to-face, stroking her cheek.
It was an indefensible scene.
Wouldn't this be bad if someone saw us?
And hadn't we just let a third party into the house?
And speak of the devil.
"Sorry for the trouble of you even preparing a change of clothes."
With soft, damp footsteps, Ayako-chan came into the living room.
I went "Whoa there!" and, with a graceful motion, tossed Angelica onto the bed.
As expected of a Hero, no problem at all.
It looks super suspicious, but no problem means no problem, I tell you.
Angelica landed on her backside on the bedding, pouting her lips.
"Y-you go take a shower too."
"You wimp, Dad."
Where had that sweet atmosphere from just moments ago gone?
With a huff, Angelica dashed off to the bathroom.
Left behind were me and Ayako-chan, fresh from the bath.
We were alone.
Ayako-chan was vigorously rubbing her head with a towel.
The scent of shampoo and conditioner drifted over.
Water droplets were falling sporadically onto the floor, and I couldn't shake the feeling that each and every drop was giving off that scent.
"...Did you have a fight with Angelica-san?"
"No."
"...I see."
And with that, the conversation died.
After all, my relationship with Ayako-chan was just one where we occasionally saw each other at the bookstore.
We were far apart in age, and unlike with Angelica, we had no shared topic like the other world.
What the hell am I supposed to talk about?
Unable to fill the silence, I decided to at least convey the necessary information for now.
"You see the hair dryer there? Look, next to the pot. Go ahead and use it."
"Ah... yes."
I'll borrow it, Ayako-chan said, turning around and crouching down to rummage near her feet.
Apparently, she was looking for an outlet.
With her rear sticking up, the lines of her underwear were visible.
It was a sight for sore eyes, so I averted my gaze to the TV.
"Isn't there a trash can around there? The outlet's beside it."
"...Found it."
There was a clunk as the plug was inserted.
A few seconds later, the roaring sound of blowing air started up.
It should be fine now, I thought, turning my eyes back to Ayako-chan.
Would it seem suspicious if I kept looking away? I wondered.
I'm at that age where I want to pretend I'm not bothered.
Ayako-chan took a lock of hair in her hand and was applying the dryer with careful movements.
Her fingers handled it tenderly, almost cherishingly.
They say a woman's hair is her life, so she must be meticulous about its care.
In fact, Ayako-chan's hair boasted a magnificent cuticle.
The moist, sleek strands were exactly the color of a crow's wet feathers.
What is this feeling?
When a girl is playing with her hair, my eyes just follow it, or rather, it stirs a pointless flutter in my chest.
Could this be a male instinct?
Even though it shouldn't be a particularly suggestive body part.
As I was flustered by myself, Ayako-chan lowered her head and began the task of drying the top of her head.
Her pure white nape was clearly visible.
Not as much as Angelica, but she was considerably fair-skinned. A whiteness that likely pushes the limits for an East Asian.
I spotted a small mole midway between her shoulder and neck.
Why is it? Why does a mere spot of melanin pigment give off such an illicit aura?
Hey, hey.
Am I actually feeling something like allure? She's a high school girl, you know?
I felt like if I kept looking at her neck any longer, I'd get into a bad state of mind.
So I lowered my gaze. My eyes happened to land around her back.
Thanks to that, I noticed something even more terrifying.
Ayako-chan wasn't wearing a bra under her pajamas.
Even though the fabric was thin, no lines were showing on her back.
Her underwear had been cut up too, so it was only natural, really.
And Angelica's probably wouldn't fit her size anyway.
And they say a lot of people don't wear one before bed.
This is bad.
Had I possibly let a truly outrageous girl stay over?
Ayako-chan's height, by my estimate, was in the low 160-centimeter range. A bit taller than average.
And that girl was borrowing petite Angelica's nightwear, which meant various things were probably stretched tight, right?
When Ayako-chan turns around, I'll fix my gaze from the neck up. I'll do that.
I made a firm vow to myself.
"Nakamoto-san, are you going out with Angelica-san?"
Right after I made that vow, Ayako-chan turned her whole body around.
Please don't take poses that emphasize your body line.
"It's not like that. Ange and I are more like parent and child. Besides, she's still sixteen, you know?"
It was a conversation where we both had to raise our voices to compete with the noise of the hair dryer.
It was rare for Ayako-chan to speak this loudly.
"For parent and child, you seem awfully close."
"She's a foreigner. She comes from a country where kissing and hugging are like greetings. Her awareness of physical touch is different from Japanese people. That's all it is."
"...Is that how it is?"
"That's how it is."
The sound of the hair dryer stopped.
Even though Ayako-chan's hair was probably still damp, she had cut the drying short midway.
"...But Angelica-san definitely likes you, Nakamoto-san."
"Doesn't she just think of me as her Japanese papa? It's familial love."
"If it's familial love, that means it's romantic feelings. Normally, a daughter's first love is her father, after all."
"...Is that normal? I hear stories like that sometimes, but is it really?"
"Yes. Once a girl has a male guardian, it's inevitable she'll fall for him first. ...Girls are creatures like that. If they do a homestay abroad, they get a one-sided crush on the dad of the house. The eldest son is just a kid, so they don't even look at him. No matter how handsome a jock he is, if he's under thirty, it's a no-thank-you. So Angelica-san must definitely harbor desires for you, Nakamoto-san, her Japanese papa."
No, that logic is messed up.
That would make studying abroad an evil custom that only breeds international affairs.
"Please be careful. The way Angelica-san looks at you, Nakamoto-san, is completely the look of a woman. No, it might be more accurate to call it the look of a female."
I won't deny that part, but I want to deny everything else.
I want to deny almost everything about Ayako-chan right now.
Her eyes are scary, like black holes. Where did you put your highlights? Inside your body?
"Please don't let your guard down... That girl might even attack you while you're sleeping."
"That's impossible. How would a girl attack a guy? Our builds and strength are totally different."
"Like drugging you, or getting naked next to you while you're sleeping, taking a selfie, and threatening to send it to the police. I think there are various ways. ...Being under eighteen means being armed with the invisible power of the law. It means being invincible."
Those are things you normally think about, aren't they, Ayako-chan? I wanted to say.
"If I were in Angelica-san's position, I would threaten you, Nakamoto-san, like that and tie you up. Of course, I'd then have relations with you while you're immobilized. A year later, I'd give birth. I'd continue that until the zodiac cycle completes. A dozen children. ...With that number, you could even form a soccer team. That's the completion of an established fact. Terrifying, isn't it."
You're the terrifying one.
I couldn't hide my shudder at this girl, who radiated a more evil aura than any monster I'd ever encountered.
"...But please rest assured."
"Wh-what about? What part of that just now was reassuring?"
"...I... will protect you, Nakamoto-san."
"...Huh?"
Ayako-chan got on all fours and approached me.
It was a posture where both her collarbone and cleavage were in full view. And yet, I wasn't happy at all.
Normally it would be alluring, but right now, it was nothing but sheer terror.
Combined with her hairstyle, she looked like nothing but a horror woman who crawls out of the screen when you play a cursed video.
"...It's okay... Even if Angelica-san sets a despicable trap, I'll properly testify to the police for you. That you're innocent, Nakamoto-san."
"Th-thank you..."
"I'll testify that you're a hardcore homosexual, Nakamoto-san... So there's no way you'd lay a hand on a girl."
"I hate that in its own way, though."
As I stood frozen, Ayako-chan touched my fingertips.
Quietly, my hand was lifted.
I didn't know what she intended, but Ayako-chan grasped my right hand and brought it to her own mouth.
Is she planning to bite it off?
Just as I was thinking that incredibly rude thought, I felt a soft sensation on the back of my hand.
It was a kiss.
[Party Member Ayako Otsuki's Affection Level has increased by 99999]
Ayako-chan had pressed her lips to my hand.
Her pale face flushed crimson in an instant.
"...Because you saved me, when I was thinking of dying."
[Party Member Ayako Otsuki's Affection Level has increased by 9999999]
"...As thanks. Mm. I'll help you, Nakamoto-san, no matter what illegal means I have to use."
[Party Member Ayako Otsuki's Affection Level has increased by 99999999. Unmeasurable. Danger zone. Any further will adversely affect mental state.]
"...So, please keep me by your side forever... You don't have to treat me as a lover. A pet, anything is fine. Please keep me."
Why is it?
Even though I'm receiving a devoted confession from a girl, it feels like I've been latched onto by an undead.
I was nodding my head shakily. It was no longer of my own will.
I realized that differences in physical ability are meaningless in the face of fear.
"I'm so happy..."
Ayako-chan finally started making smacking sounds, sucking from finger to finger.
Her hot, moist breath fell upon my palm.
"...Nom..."
My index finger was enveloped in a slick sensation. It had been taken into her mouth.
The tip of my nail tapped lightly against her teeth.
Taking advantage of my lack of resistance, she was doing as she pleased.
"...Your fingers are delicious, Nakamoto-san..."
Please don't let Angelica find out.
I beg you, don't let her find out.
I don't care if something else falls off, just please don't let this be found out...