Vol 3 Chapter 2 (1/2)

Night 2: Granulated Sugar and a One-sided Love

A turbulent, whirling, nant current

A writhing, wavering, unpleasant torrent

“But I don’t understand”

Saibara Mitsuki – Unpleasant Counter-current – stood on one foot on top of a high telecommunication toith a perplexed look on her face She was on a tower deep into the mountains, a small distance away from Kannonsakazaki This area contained numerous telecommunication towers and was completely covered by a dark stretch of forest The only building in the vicinity was a giant mansion, likely owned by some rich person

Although she was assailed by the strong ed to stay where she ith an astounding balance and keptto herself

No Not to herself

Mitsuki and Mina

“Well,” with no need to hide its existence, the head was taken out of the secured bag and looked down upon the world with Mitsuki, “it’s not only Kannonsakazaki that had an increase in the nu up frequently and simultaneously all over the world”

“Why?” Mitsuki held down her hat with the round ears and asked “This has never happened before Why would monsters suddenly multiply?”

“I don’t know – God Mushi+ E However, I must be the reason why monster have multiplied”

Upon hearing this, Mitsuki opened her eyes wide in shock: “So Sis is the culprit – but I trusted you so much –” She then tossed the head upward froly elevated position on top of the telecommunication tower

“Woahhhhhhhh?!!!!!!” Spinning, the head screamed as it flew up into the sky “Hey, you are really stupid! Leta suitable successor! Now Sterilization Disinfection, this ‘role’ that repressesso quickly! This is so scaryyyyyyy!”

Looking at the screaue and poked herself on the head

“Teehee~ Mitsuki didn’t understand and said the wrong thing”

“You’re going to remember this – you witless kid!”

Mitsuki didn’t look up at the head screahts

The numbers of er existed Sterilization Disinfection, as tasked with distinguishi+ng right fro evil, had always annihilated the monsters that appeared in this world

Did the monsters all appear because the ‘role’ of Sterilization Disinfection could no longer be fulfilled?

She could understand the reasoning – however, it was also possible somebody set down a trap in Sterilization Disinfection’s absence Although she didn’t knohat anyone would want to do with monsters, Mitsuki felt an uncanny pre evil intentions

Let’s figure out the ene monsters would be chaos in the world – and the death of humanity

That would mean –

Mitsuki closed her eyes in thought

That would mean – ould it mean?

“Hold on, Ki-chan! What are you thinking about! Did you forget about me?”

“Sis, you’re being very loud I’ to think”

“You did forget me!”

”Donk”

The falling head s her to lose her balance

Wobbling, she tipped over the edge of the steel telecoround

“Huh?”

In the air, she rolled once, twiceand sround

Thump

At a familiar yet uncohtly and looked out from the luxuriously decorated

However, a sharp sound of rebuke quickly flew her way: “Tatsue-san, focus You can’t be distracted by sounds from the outside”

“Yes, Sensei” Tatsue lowered her head and her expression became sullen

The Kuroki family – a subordinate branch family of the Sakaki family who controlled the world – was one of the wealthiest families in japan

Tatsue was the eldest daughter of the Kuroki family Her future was all but secured However, that was also why she could not afford to be lazy, and even had to endure unusual auish

Tatsue had always been a caged bird ever since she was born

Now you are just an ugly duckling, but one day you will become a beautiful swan With such a fairytale preposition frois to reach her full potential However, be it academics, arts, or sports, she could not achieve perfection in any one category, and it hurt every time she was berated for her lack of talent

Kuroki Tatsue was the step-sister of Sakaki Guryū, as born as a swan and will one day soar to the top of the world If he died, or refused to inherit the Organization, Tatsue would take his place in her role as ‘insurance’

Her mother – the lover of Sakaki Ganhō, as the current CEO of the Sakaki Organization – also hoped for this outcome

Fortunately or not, her elder brother Guryū didn’t seeanization There was still soanization in the future

But Mother should have known the truth all this time

I’ I am only a raven without any talents whatsoever Even if I live in a cage, given quality foods, industriously washi+ng my feathers, I could never become as beautiful as I wish No matter how much I am told to “Becoe that as a raven

Tears welled up in Tatsue’s eyes

She wanted to run away from her house many times

I’ very hard too I understand what everyone expects of me But no oal, I remain far from my brother’s perfection

I believe there are fundamental differences between people’s inborn talents

I can’t do this I am a Kuroki I cannot take a Sakaki’s place

“Seriously”

In the sound-proof hed at Tatsue, as practicing her violin She could have said this either intentionally or not, but –

“Her brother could play it better”

This sentence pierced through the ile part of Tatsue’s soul

Your brother isYour brother is better Your brother is more talented You need to look up to your brother, brother, brother, brother

“I…”

With a “baround and lowered her head gloo brother’s substitute!”

“Tatsue-san!” Angered, the tutor stared at Tatsue through her thin glasses: “What are you doing?! Keep practicing!”

A despicable silence ensued

Cold tears dripped down Tatsue’s cheeks as she stared back at the tutor: “If you like big brother thatbrother’s substitute!”

This was her limit

When Tatsue was younger, she had witnessed herattitude

Tatsue is useless That girl won’t es me No one looks at me

I’ve known this for a long time, but I tried my best to pretend that I don’t

“Tatsue-san!”

Outraged, Tatsue glared furiously at the tutor, as stretching her hand towards her

“I hate you!”

She yelled and invoked a tornado The tutor was bloay and smashed into the wall

Tatsue was soain She opened the door of the music room and ran downstairs

She had the ability to control wind, an ability that her older brother did not have

This was the first tiarded as ‘Sakaki Guryū’s substitute”

Tatsue has always been told to follow Sakaki Guryū’s path as closely as possible over the years

No one expected to see Tatsue’s own future No one loved Tatsue No one looked at Tatsue

She realized this –

– And she could endure it no more

– Mos!

– Oh, well done Tatsue Keep going like this, and you’ll beco as your brother

– Mm, I’ll do my best! So, Mom, um…

– What’s wrong, Tatsue?

– Praise me

After watching a horrorscolded by her tutor, after her pet bird died – she would visit that roo sad or painful However, as ti that

It was a large long building next to the Kurokiupon the outward impression of the main house

About forty servants of the Kuroki household resided there

Tatsue carefully sneaked in through the rear kitchen entrance, undetected by anyone She traversed the long corridor and saw the room she wanted

The servants, still busy at their jobs, did not seem to have returned here yet It was quiet everywhere Dinner tio back to the ht

She stood in front of the door labelled “Takaiven a roo

Mitaka was the son of servants, and he was still serving his apprenticeshi+p, often sent to do trivial jobs If she recalled correctly, this was his weekly off-day

“Mitaka –”

Tatsue knocked the door politely Though she was surprised at the lack of responses, she still opened the door slowly: “Are you there, Mitaka?”

As she was about to step into the room, she realized the floor was so messy there was not even a clean spot to put her foot down Her roo never seen such an untidy room, she was scared She looked down and saw the floor covered with urines, and so to do with Tatsue’s world

This rooo

“Wh-what…” Tatsue couldn’t help but blush when she saw a h she had known this for a long time, she did not expect Mitaka to have fallen to such levels

“Tatsue?”

She suddenly heard Mitaka’s voice The roo, but she could not see Mitaka Tatsue looked around her There was a wardrobe, cupboards, a desktop computer and a bookshelf A bed was in the corner of the room

“Honestly, don’t scare me” Mitaka crawled out from under the bed

“Th-th-that’s what I was going to say!” Feeling aard, Tatsue glared at him

“Just where did you come out from, Mitaka? It’s not like you are an insect or a reptile!”

Somehow, Mitaka had a serious expression and beca this He soon shook his head and picked up soazines together He was indeed categorizing rubbish into different bags while tying theto throw them away

“What do you want? I’ht now”

“Tidying – Mitaka –”

Tatsue still did not have the courage to step into the chaotic room She closed the door after her and stood where she was

“Don’t you… like these things a lot?”

“It see about someone else, Mitaka did not stop his movements

“But that person calling herself my mother yells atthese things After all, I don’t have much interest in this, so I did what she asked”

Mitaka was indeed different

Mitaka’s mother – also one of Tatsue’s personal servants – complained that Mitaka was rebellious, rude, and disobedient

Clumsily, Mitaka tied a knot with the plastic robe he used to bundle up the azines, and threw the piles on the bed: “Anyways, whenever I start to tidy up, Mom would look really happy She even cried out of happiness… I feel good when she is so happy”

He had a s Tatsue felt that her heart, frozen by the behavior of the tutor, gradually melted Mitaka’s mother was not the only one as happy to see his transformation

Mitaka looked sideith a puzzled expression at Tatsue, as busy feeling moved

“What are you doing here anyways? Traces of tears are on your face Did someone hurt you? Honestly, I don’t knohat happened to you, but hu!”

“Huh – I, I didn’t”

Tatsue was very happy that he worried about her Tears swelled in her eyes, but her proud heart antly – at the end, she turned her face away

However, she soon couldn’t bear to watch Mitaka’s clu on a whia and dirty clothes and approached his bed

She sat down on his soft bed and went to help Mitaka Tatsue was in a demure dress and had limited mobility, but that couldn’t be helped

“You’re helping ood kid”

Mitaka said this with total seriousness Tatsue tilted her head as she picked up the e compliment”

“Oh? You toldcomplimented in that way, didn’t you?” Tatsue was surprised that he said this in such a casual manner

“That e were very young I’h” Tatsue was soet the memories they shared

They silently tidied up in thisall alone in the Kurokinaked in a snowstorm, but this room contained a warmth that appeased her heart

“There’s really an awful lot…”

Tatsue picked up a a voluh it, flipping through the pages

Mitaka nodded and continued with an e about sohts, ninety percent of his money, and fifty percent of his memories – that’s about how s My o a lot pressure in order to throay such things

“Aweso the book, Tatsue said gloo as you are… then perhaps my life would be different”

Hoould her life co except obedience, striving only because she wanted others to praise her Wasn’t her life so much duller? Wasn’t her life completely empty?

“I should have a hobby and i dolls Sure, I i brother’s, but it is still quite good”

“I see… after all, idols created by huinationWill you show them to me someday?”

Although Mitaka said soe, Tatsue maintained her smile and decided to overlook it

Her radually started to open itself up

“Mmm, I’ll be very happy to”

Just spending time with the person she had entrusted her heart to when they were children was a happiness that seeped all the way into Tatsue’s heart

I wish this could go on forever, she thought

Tatsue did not forget the black flesh she saw beneath his skin the day before yesterday

However, Tatsue felt painful no matter what may have been the reason for his transformation

– A heartache?

Indeed It must be so It surprised even herself She accepted this sentiment It seemed she sincerely cared and loved this rew more and more reliable as time went on – this Takamikado Mitaka

“Mitaka, you’re the only one in this entire house who looks at me as Kuroki Tatsue, whereas everyone else thinks Kuroki Tatsue is ‘insurance’ That makes me very happy”

Tatsue senuinely like a child Confused, Mitaka replied: “I don’t understand Of course you are Kuroki Tatsue I can’t possibly mistake you as someone else Is that so odd?”

“No” Tatsue shook her head and said with a soft voice full of happiness: “I am indeed Kuroki Tatsue That is the correct answer”

Tatsue shtly as well She looked at him, and suddenly felt she wanted to rely on him With tears in her eyes, she said: “Mitaka…”

“I am so touched –”

The door was opened with a ‘bairl covered in blood appeared, as if she was a zoht out of a horror movie

Tatsue was frozen in fear and Mitaka screamed The pleasant atmosphere suddenly disappeared and was replaced with the voice of the indiscreet girl: “What – I snuck up here because I felt a weird scent, but it’s the sa I don’t really knohat’s going on here, buthip-hop-happy!”

With the irl enthusiastically pointed towards the duo with her huge gloves: “Alright Let el, Unpleasant Counter-Current Bringing together lovers should also beexpressing isMe So Excited!”

“…”

“…”

The girl startled as she looked at Tatsue and Mitaka, whoseopen in shock

“Huh? Sis, none of the”

“Ki-chan, anyone would get scared if an energetic girl covered in blood pops out By the way, did you say you’re going to help the the on?” The intact head asked with a puzzled expression

Mitsuki nodded and smiled innocently: “Yep I like a world where everyone is s and everyone is happy I only pray for a peaceful world where Unpleasant Counter-Current isn’t needed”

The girl who called herself an angel waved her hand and yelled

“I Love The World!” She sly

“I Love Huetically and turned her back to Tatsue and Mitaka

“Unpleasant Counter-Current’s greatest wish is not a singular love towards the world or towards humans, but that the world and humans would love each other!”

Finally, she turned around and said: “So I hope you can be together Well, looks like I interrupted you today I’ain in the near future Everyone, everyone, looooooooooooooove, love more! Love the world – love humans – LOVE & PEACE! LOVE & PEACE!”

The incredible girl yelled with an explosive volume as she left

Tatsue looked at Mitaka and recalled what Mitsuki said She couldn’t help but blush

Although she didn’t go back to the ht in his rooe embarrassment

– It’s not as if we love each other

Kannonsakazaki Private High School is an ordinary school without a high university acceptance rate or an excellent extracurricular profile Tatsue’sto study there

After a lengthy debate, Tatsue was allowed half a year for her folly Six months later – in October – she would be h school chosen by her mother

It didn’t less rebellion towards her fah school There was a reason behind Tatsue’s stubbornness and unreasonable desire to attend this school

She knew that Sakaki Guryū – the next CEO of the Sakaki Organization, the company that secretly controlled the world – was a staff member here

This was a widespread fact ale student in the school knew him as well

What was the reason that Sakaki discarded his glorious future, ignored the disapprovals, and kept working at this school? That reason idely known even in the school Was it solely for the girl naawa Rinne? Or was there some other reason?

Tatsue wanted to know that very much

Moreover, what kept Sakaki going?

What held hi the next CEO of the Sakaki Organization, a responsibility that almost suffocated Tatsue? Tatsue wanted to know the reason behind his strength and how he kept living so full of confidence

It was so that Sakaki possessed, but she did not

She sought this thing with obsession

However, contrary to her wishes, Tatsue did not even see Sakaki in the school

After asking some older students, she was told Sakaki hasn’t turned up at the school since last winter, and that his lover Usagawa Rinne had also disappeared

How odd – Tatsue pondered Where could those two have gone? She kept thinking this over After all, she had plenty of tiht her long ago Moreover, in Kannonsakazaki Private High School, where it was coin a conversation with Tatsue, who alore a dress and stood out incongruously

That’s fine I’m not here to study or to make friends

But – if that is true, then why does ly empty?

“There is a shadow behind you~~ - and you turn back to see Saibara Mitsuki!”

Tatsue, as asking after Sakaki everywhere during lunch break, heard the thunderous voice of the girl behind her and autoround

“What – ” Tatsue turned around ide eyes She saw Saibara Mitsuki dressed in the Kannonasakazaki school unifor behind her, complete with that round-eared hat on her head and curly tail on her behind

“In – deed – we ain, and so soon and so unexpectedly I aloves, Mitsuki smiled like a child who successfully carried out a prank It had been teeks since she first saw her However, now she had appeared again, just as she had prophesied yesterday in the servants’ rooms in the Kuroki household

Tatsue was both scared and surprised Unable to irl

“What – what do you want?”

Tatsue took out the fan that she hid in her dress and pointed it e the best she could, Tatsue asked in a shaking voice: “Why… are you following me? And – what… what are you?”

Tatsue recalled Mitsuki’s inhueneration speed as if the latter caa, and also recalled the incredible counter-attack Mitsuki exhibited after absorbing “Dragon’s Breath” Tatsue already knew Mitsuki was not a normal human

Then as Mitsuki?

Yōkai? Monster? Alien?

“M sis said to me…”

“… this isshe carried behind her and smiled “She said since on’t kill you, then we should at least subdue you and use you e need your help”

“Ki-chan, I know honesty is a virtue, but you’re far too honest”

The bag emitted a disappointed sound towards Mitsuki, who revealed all her intentions unreservedly

But that head was asis, then they are sisters?

She was completely lost

While Tatsue kept a reserved silence, Mitsuki s like that”

Then she quickly grabbed Tatsue’s hand and said matter-of-factly: “Let’s be friends”

Tatsue was so shocked she didn’t knohat to say Mitsuki looked at Tatsue with an innocent, genuine s wasfrom it

“I want to know about you, and you want to know about us, right? So let’s be friends We can be honest with each other once we’re friends It’s easy as that”

Sheshould be that way

Be friends? Be honest with each other? Such naïve words – wasn’t it you who fully intended to kill us?

For sohly confused, Tatsue found it impossible to refuse Mitsuki’s innocent proposal

Now Tatsue thoroughly regretted her decision

“A Nirvana of sweetness! An Utopia of taste! A Paradise of sensations on the tongue! Oh, it is prepared so well – I will be damned if I eat any more of this stuff!”

They ithin a dim café named ‘Indian Bar’ close to the school Tatsue had never known this place existed, as it was beyond the route of the tram she took to school

But that wasn’t the important part Suburban cafés like this all had the same taste in their food Besides, they weren’t here to enjoy the food Tatsue didn’t eat snacks, so she'd only ordered a coffee

However…

They were sitting at a four-seat table in front of an ornairl in front of her, the one wearing a hat with round ears, was currently enjoying her chocolate parfait

Tatsue’s curiosity was tickled

In truth, Tatsue liked sweet foods too She whispered to Mitaka, as also sought out by Mitsuki and dragged here, and asked hi of the sa appetite and knew she couldn't finish the large and see of the parfait, so she planned to share it with Mitaka

Just for that o of all her anxieties and doubts towards Mitsuki and only waited for the chocolate parfait to arrive

The shop owner, who looked at them as if they were aliens, finally arrived with another chocolate parfait Before Mitsuki, as laughing and saying how delicious it was, Tatsue picked up her spoon and took an elegant bite - and froze

For ato snap

It was so sweet –

SO SWEET

“Aaaaaaaaaah, uuuuuuurggghhhhhhhh, urrrrrrrrrrrr – so sweet!!!!”

People say spiciness burns the mouth

Now Tatsue realized sweetness can also burn your mouth

Tatsue sla her tear-filled eyes towards Mitaka His reaction, if anything, had been worse, as he was lying on the table and twitching after his bite of this overpowering chocolate parfait

Tatsue rapidly gulped down so to wipe away the infernal sweetness She had to call the shop owner and order a cup of espresso on the spot

“What, what, what is this? This is enough to kill a man”

If anyone everit into a lethal weapon, the ulti like this chocolate parfait The chocolate was very sweet, the creme was very sweet, the ice cream was very sweet, the syrup was very sweet, and the fruits were very sweet

Sucrose bombarded Tatsue’s unseasoned taste sensors and flooded her brain Just one bite was enough to produce this effect Mitsuki, who took one gulp after another – was definitely not human

“Hum?” With chocolate stains all around her mouth, Mitsuki tilted her head and asked incredulously: “What’s wrong, Tatsu-chan? Is it too sweet?”

“It’s not just too sweet! It’s sweet enough to make one insane! If you fed this to uncivilized priar, they will probably die on the spot!” Tatsue yelled, her face all red with anger She looked at Mitaka, who re on the table, out of the corner of her eye He was even er bite of the parfait than Tatsue