Too Many Losing Heroines! - Volume 7 - Chapter Ep

Epilogue: Riko Shiratama, Class 1-F

Five days have passed since then. Looking back, it's hard to believe how reckless we were.

I always aimed to keep a low profile to avoid causing any ripples in my school life.

And yet, here I am, already tangled up in such a mess right at the beginning of my second year-

With those thoughts in mind, I parked my bike next to the entrance of my house.

-Two weeks of temporary club suspension.

That was the punishment handed down to the Literature Club.

I thought we had managed to get through everything without getting caught, but I had forgotten entirely about Komari. Totally slipped my mind.

Komari had stormed the wedding venue to help us escape, which, unsurprisingly, caused quite a bit of a scene.

The venue staff were convinced it was a surprise orchestrated by Shiratama-san, so they let it slide. But the Tsuwabuki teachers who were present weren't as understanding.

As for what a "temporary suspension" actually entails, I have no idea. None of us do.

"I'm home~"

I sighed as I opened the front door and saw the numerous pairs of shoes lined up in the entryway.

Dragging my feet, I opened the door to the living room.

"You're late, Nukumizu-kun."

"T-Think about what you have done."

... All the members of the literature club gathered around the living room table.

We can't use the club room due to the suspension. But why did my house become the new hangout spot?

Shiratama-san quickly approached and took my bag from me.

"Welcome back, Prez. Everyone is throwing me a welcome party today."

"I see. Ah, I can take off the jacket myself."

"No need to be modest. Here, I'll hang it up for you."

Indeed, Riko Shiratama has officially joined the Literature Club.

Having joined forces and successfully executed our plan, our bonds have grown much stronger.

"Looks like the senpai breeze is blowing! Wind speeds exceeding 5 meters per second!"

"I-I'm getting blown away."

Yanami and Komari jeered at me from the side.

Just so we're clear, this teasing is a sign of our strengthened bonds.

That's why I don't mind that Komari is reading the manga I had hidden behind the bookshelf or that Yanami is eating my pudding without asking. It's all a sign of our close-knit relationships. Definitely.

"Ah, Nukkun's back! Welcome home!"

It's Yakishio walking into the living room while drying her hair with a towel. Apparently, the distance from school to my house is just right for her warm-up, so she's been dropping by more often lately.

That's fine and all, but I would appreciate it if she didn't shower at my place. It gives me weird feelings.

Shiratama-san handed her a glass of barley tea.

"Here you go, Yakishio-san."

"Thanks, Tama-chan!"

Yakishio downed the tea in one gulp and then joined Yanami and the others at the dining table.

Feeling somewhat out of place, I sat down on the sofa, and a sweet aroma wafted from behind me.

"Cheesecake's ready, everyone!"

Kaju emerged from the kitchen, holding a whole cheesecake.

As I heard Yanami's cheers, I glanced down at my phone and noticed a message from Konuki-sensei.

...Apparently, regarding the temporary suspension, Konuki-sensei did a lot of behind-the-scenes work for us.

Given the situation, it wouldn't have been surprising if we had been disbanded entirely, but it seems we were lucky that there were people at the wedding from both schools who had connections to Konuki-sensei.

I didn't ask for more details. I'm too scared to know.

"I'll have to thank her properly later…"

That aside, the message from sensei included a suggestion for a home visit.

That makes sense. As our advisor, Konuki-sensei is probably concerned about how we're handling the temporary suspension.

Alright, I'll politely decline the visit and then grab some cheesecake.

Just as I was typing up my response, a new email notification slid down from the top of my screen.

...Huh, it's from Shiratama-san.

The email has an attached file. Judging by the title, it seems to be a novel.

"Nukumizu-kun, hurry up, or the cake will be gone!"

"I'll be there in a minute. You girls go ahead and start without me."

I answered Yanami and clicked on Shiratama-san's file.

*

Literature Club Report

<The Twilight Tenement's Terminator> by Riko Shiratama

From the Sujikai Watchtower on the outskirts of Edo Castle, if you head south down Yatsukoji Street, you'll eventually find yourself at the fish market in Nihonbashi.

A man is diligently moving a brush in a small room of a tenement off the main road.

He's applying a mixture of bracken and persimmon tannin glue to the ribs of a paper umbrella.

Once the glue was evenly applied, the man held his breath and carefully pressed the oiled paper onto the frame.

He stared intently at the paper, then gave a slight nod of satisfaction and reached for the brush again.

Just then, as the sky began to darken, the sound of a bell rang out.

It's 6 PM. The time bell at Ishimachi rang.

Oil has become expensive lately, and it would be a disaster if he made a mistake in the dim light, so the man set his brush down.

"Yunosuke-san, I'm coming in."

Before the words had entirely left her mouth, the sliding door was opened by a petite girl with her hair tied up.

She looks to be around 15 or 16, her well-shaped lips slightly pouting as she steps into the earthen floor entry.

"You came at the right time, Orin-chan. I'm broke at the moment."

Orin's expression remained unchanged as she climbed up to the raised tatami area and sat down.

She began inspecting each of the umbrellas stacked against the wall, opening them one by one.

"Alright, that's three umbrellas."

She said as she wrapped the umbrellas in a cloth and placed a single isshugin coin in their place. [TL: Coin used during the Edo period.]

"Isn't that a bit stingy? I've got debts piling up all over."

"You took an advance the other day. I've deducted that amount already."

Orin's reply was cold, but seeing the look on Yunosuke's face, she seemed to soften slightly.

She pulled another coin from her silk pouch and placed it quietly on the tatami.

"This is just for this time."

"Thank you. Now I can finally buy some rice."

Yunosuke said, tucking the money into his sleeve as he glanced at Orin's face with concern.

"What's wrong, Orin-chan?"

"You promised to teach me arithmetic. Have you already forgotten?"

Orin mumbled, her tone sulky. Yunosuke scratched his cheek in embarrassment.

"…It's better if I don't step foot in Shirataya again."

"Why? If it's about onee-chan, then-"

Orin started to speak but bit her lip and looked down.

...Yunosuke was once meant to become a son-in-law at Shirataya.

Shirataya is a store in Teruteru that sells umbrellas and wooden sandals, and for Yunosuke, the fourth son of a low-ranking Sanshu samurai family with no inheritance, it was an opportunity too good to pass up. [TL: Sanshu, an old Japanese administrative region located in modern date Aichi Prefecture.]

Orin had never doubted that Yunosuke would become her brother-in-law- until her sister, Mino, lost her life.

"There's no place for someone like me in a big store like Shirataya. The previous arrangement was too good to be true."

"Big store is just a name. We're barely managing by selling umbrellas to real big stores to get by."

Orin spoke in a mature tone, clutching the wrapped bundle of umbrellas to her chest.

"…There's talk of marriage for me. The third son of the Sakakiya house."

Yunosuke involuntarily held his breath. He's fifteen years older than Orin and still thinks of her as a child.

Yet here she is, already of marriageable age-

"I see. I hope it goes well."

Sakakiya is a well-known kimono shop in Nihonbashi.

Lately, they have been doing well as purveyors to the shogunate, making them a suitable match by all accounts.

Hearing Yunosuke's indifferent response, Orin quietly stood up.

"…The next batch of materials will be sent tomorrow. Don't be late."

Without another word, she left the room, leaving Yunosuke alone, staring at the shoji door left ajar.

In his mind, Mino remains just as she had been three years ago.

And for Yunosuke, time has stopped at that point as well.

"Oh, Orin-chan's getting married, huh?"

A young man stepped through the door as he spoke.

He set down the small tobacco cabinet he had been carrying on his back and pulled a kiseru pipe from his chest pocket. [TL: Those long Japanese smoking pipes you sometimes see in paintings.]

"Nukusuke, you were listening? You've got a bad habit."

"It's hard not to overhear in this shitty tenement."

The tobacco seller, Nukusuke, lit his pipe and exhaled the smoke with satisfaction.

"That third son of Sakakiya has a bad reputation. Been known for his mischief for years."

"Is that so?"

Yunosuke replied disinterestedly as he began to tidy up his umbrella-making tools.

"The family tried to straighten him out by sending him to a swordsmanship dojo, but it backfired. He ended up falling in with an even worse crowd. Shirataya's master sure got himself a bad one."

Yunosuke's hands had stopped moving entirely. Nukusuke shrugged and extended a hand.

"As a favor to an old comrade, I'll give you a discount if you want me to dig into it."

"You're charging a poor man?"

Yunosuke muttered, but he still reached into his sleeve and handed Nukusuke a coin.

"Thanks. I'll put the rest on your tab."

Taking the coin, Nukusuke slung the tobacco cabinet over his shoulder and turned to leave, but not before glancing back at Yunosuke.

"What's wrong? Why don't you return to what you used to do? The blood on your sword won't wash away just by sitting here."

Yunosuke shook his head and pointed to the swords leaning against the wall.

"The real swords were pawned off long ago. What's left there is just bamboo."

"Is that so? Then again, your eyes still have the same look they did back then."

Nukusuke left without another word, disappearing as quietly as he had come.

…How much time has passed since then?

Once he was sure that Nukusuke was gone, Yunosuke lifted the worn tatami mat, revealing a hidden compartment beneath it.

From within, he retrieved a sword.

It's the Mikawa no Kuni Kanetsugu, a blade given to him by his father when he left their homeland.

The grip, worn from use, fit perfectly in his hand as if it were part of him.

He had vowed never to use it again. Or rather, he had convinced himself that he would never need to.

"…There are things you just can't forget."

He murmured, almost theatrically, as he felt the gears of time within him begin to turn once more.

*

A period novel, huh? It's surprisingly well-written. Well-written, yes, but the characters' names and the setting- it's better not to dig too deep into those. It's a little unnerving…

"Prez, you read my story, didn't you?"

A voice whispered in my ear, making me jump. I turned to find Shiratama-san standing beside me.

"How long have you been there?"

"Who knows? How long do you think?"

She walked around the sofa and sat down next to me, her movements light and graceful.

"It made me happy because I wanted you to be the first to read my work. My first time is yours."

-This girl definitely said it on purpose.

The way she moves, the choice of words- everything about this girl is calculated.

I know that. I know it all too well, and that's precisely why the mature response is to play along.

I'm aware of the sweet, milky scent she's wearing today and the fact that her skirt is just a little shorter than usual. I know all of it. So go ahead, spin me around as much as you like.

But contrary to my resolve, Shiratama-san suddenly adopted a more somber tone.

"...It was such a beautiful wedding that day."

Her usual smile was gone, replaced by a simple, genuinely happy expression.

"Onee-chan and my brother-in-law looked so happy. Seeing them like that made me feel delighted-"

Kaju's pouring tea for everyone at the table behind us.

Shiratama-san glanced in that direction, then leaned closer, whispering softly in my ear.

"I would've been even happier if you hadn't run away, Prez."

…She got me.

But let's not get the wrong idea here. As the president, I was just doing my duty- this isn't to say that my heart was truly stolen.

That said, it's hard not to be a little swayed when an adorable new club member acts like this.

"Oh, by the way, would you like to see a picture of onee-chan?"

Whether she was aware of her effect on me or not, Shiratama-san pulled out her phone and showed me the screen.

Displayed there is a photo of her sister in a wedding dress, standing beside Tanaka-sensei in his tuxedo.

Her sister, who bears a striking resemblance to Shiratama-san, is dressed in a long, elegant gown, standing close to Tanaka-sensei. In her hands is a white bouquet-

"Eh? This is-"

The bouquet held by Minori Tanaka in the photo was the very one Shiratama-san had been making in the clubroom.

We had left it behind at the venue when we made our escape, and yet, here it was in her sister's hands.

Eh? Does that mean her sister knew already? How much does she know…?

I looked up in surprise, only to find myself staring into Shiratama-san's eyes.

"I can't win against onee-chan. She's going to be a tough opponent."

She said this with a light laugh.

After a soft giggle, Shiratama-san's expression turned serious again.

"…I think I've started to understand a little why I feel so calm when I'm around you, Prez."

"Huh? Calm? What do you mean-"

I stammered, repeating her words like a fool, and Shiratama-san's eyes crinkled slightly in a small smile.

"There was an empty lot near our house, filled with pampas grass. When we were little, the three of us would play hide and seek there. In the fall, when the pampas grass withered, it would give off a scent that reminded me of my brother-in-law. Onee-chan and I used to laugh about it."

Shiratama-san sniffed the air lightly, almost subconsciously.

"You smell just like that withered pampas grass, Prez. It's a very calming scent."

…Wait, I smell like withered pampas grass? Am I dying or something?

"Onee-chan has moved out now, and I can't rely on my brother-in-law any more. It feels kind of lonely. So, you know-"

She placed her fingertips gently on my knee and leaned in close to my ear.

"-I would be thrilled if you became my onii-chan, Prez."

Huh, after the older sister play comes the little sister play? I mean, I'm used to being a big brother…

Just then, a chill ran down my spine, like a block of ice had been placed against my back. I sense a thirst for blood!

"...Onii-sama, would you care for some tea?"

"Huh!?'

Somehow, Kaju appeared behind me, holding a teacup and teapot, her smile both sweet and terrifying.

My body felt as cold as winter, yet a single bead of sweat trickled down my forehead.

"...U-Uh, yeah, I'll have some since you made it."

I stammered, accepting the cup with trembling hands. Kaju then began pouring the tea from an unusually high position with an unsettling calmness.

The tea made a perfect arc as steam billowed around us, and a thick fog formed in the air.

The tea filled the cup to the brim, and just when it seemed like it would spill over, Kaju stopped with precise timing.

"Alright, onii-sama. Please enjoy it while it's hot."

"Ah, yes, I'll enjoy it…"

With the tea precariously balanced on the edge of overflowing, I cautiously brought the cup to my lips.

It had been steaming just moments ago, yet somehow, the tea is now icy cold. How is that even possible…?

As I shivered and sipped the frigid tea, Shiratama-san spoke up with a bright smile.

"You care about your brother so much, Kaju-chan. I wish I had an onii-chan like that."

"That's unfortunate. Onii-sama's only little sister is Kaju. Please don't feel too disappointed."

"Well, I guess I'll have to settle for being a kouhai for now."

"Yes, please do your best to endure that. Forever."

"Hehe, you're so cute, Kaju-chan."

Smile, smile, smile. The two of them exchanged warm smiles.

It's supposed to be a heartwarming scene, but why are my hands shaking so damn much…?

Right, those three idiots- if anyone could break the tension, it would be them.

I glanced over, desperate for help, but they were already heading out the door.

"Hold up, where are you all going?"

"Nukumizu-kun, I'm starving, so I'm heading to the convenience store!"

"I've got to get back to practice!"

"N-Nukumizu, make sure you buy the n-next volume of that m-manga."

With those parting words, the three girls waved goodbye and exited the room. These girls bailed on me.

As despair set in, Kaju plopped down onto my lap with a soft thud.

Shiratama-san smiled at the sight, her expression full of cheer.

"Prez, you seem pretty close with Kaju-chan."

"Yes, we are very close. Right, onii-sama?"

"Uh, yeah, right…"

I mumbled awkwardly, my eyes fixed on the surface of the tea.

Riko Shiratama, Class 1-F.

A somewhat peculiar addition to the Literature Club as its fifth member.

And so, the new chapter of the Literature Club began, marking the start of what is sure to be an eventful year.