Please be aware that the characters may act out of character.
“But since Maito-san is like a mother, I think it’s unavoidable that Hariu would make a mistake,”
Katori tried to back me up, but, if anything, that’s tearing the wound open even more!
Maito-san does all the household chores that we’re bad at.
So, in that sense, she’s like a “mother,” but more than that, she’s a “mother” to me.
…It’s embarrassing, but after I was tortured, I ended up being really spoiled by Maito-san.
Thinking back on it, I want to go back in time and punch my past self!
Ugh, what am I doing? Gross! Even I’m disgusted with myself now!
…No, well, that is, now I can think back on it quite calmly thanks to Maito-san sorting things out for me, but at that time, it was really bad.
Just remembering it makes me panic, or feel like throwing up, that kind of feeling.
What was done to me… I’d rather not say.
Saying it out loud might make it all too real.
…So, I think I was saved by being able to be spoiled by Maito-san at that time.
In that sense, Maito-san is a “mother,” I guess.
“Hmm, I think she’s more like an older sister than a mother,”
And then, after Katori deliberately tore open my wound, Toriumi started saying that.
“I also think of Maito-san as an older sister, rather than a mother.”
Kariya seems to be on the older sister side too.
Hmm, I mean… what kind of feeling is that?
“This guy, rather than an older sister, she’s like a younger sister.”
“The same with Hagasaki-kun.”
Oh, huh? Hagasaki-kun and Suzumoto think of her as a younger sister, huh…
…These two have been watching Maito-san from the moment they came into this world, so maybe that’s why they feel that way.
You see, Maito-san was… ah, it’s a bit harsh to say, but really a burden at that time.
Ah, I mean, in the sense that we had to protect her.
Maybe because that consciousness is strong, they feel like she’s a “younger sister.”
“Hey, hey, hey, hey! What, am I a younger sister?! A younger sister?! …Oh, right, I was one.”
Oh, right. Maito-san did have two older brothers, so in that sense, she might be a younger sister.
“What about President?”
I wondered if President was on the younger sister side, so I asked and got a calm reply.
“I’ve rarely thought of Maito-san as mentally young, so ‘younger sister’ feels a bit off. I’ve always seen her as an equal.”
…Does that mean my mental state is extremely immature?
Yeah, that’s what you’re saying, isn’t it!?
“In that sense, the closest might be a spouse, I suppose.”
President can say things like that so casually. And it doesn’t come off with a sleazy nuance.
I can think it, but there’s no way I can say “spouse.”
“What about Kadomi-kun?”
“…Twins, older… sister, or younger… sister, hmm…”
Kadomi-kun fell silent, lost in thought.
Ah, there he goes, system overload. Gonna have to reboot him later.
“Well, more like Irish twins, right?”
Suzumoto made a sensible remark.
Yeah, we’re the same age, but that’s not what we’re talking about, is it…
“…Actually, what are we again? I remember Maito is in October, but-“
“The first is me. April 8th.”
In response to Hagasaki-kun’s question, Kadomi-kun answered.
I guess I didn’t need to reboot after all.
…Somehow, that seems to make Kadomi-kun happy. His face looked a bit pleased.
“Next would be me, I guess. But I’m June 4th.”
Katori says, but that’s a bit off.
“I’m May 6th!”
In the order of birthdays, I’m the second eldest brother.
So what, you might ask.
“I’m May 10th, so Katori comes after me.”
“No, I’m before Katori. I’m June 2nd.”
Wow, they’re really getting into the details.
“And after President, it’s probably me. I’m August 10th.”
Wow, that’s quite a leap.
“Toriumi was September 10th, right?”
“Yeah. That’s right.”
Two people born on the 10th.
“The last one is me. I’m January 9th.”
So, Kariya is the last.
After a while of thinking, Toriumi looks at me and says something rude.
“Mental age and birthdays don’t correlate, do they?”
…The only complaint I have is about Kariya being the last.
Wait, hey, are you complaining about me? Hey.
After dinner, when Maito-san and President went down to the abyss, Katori spoke to me.
“Hariu isn’t that immature.”
…How does he know what I’m thinking?
“It’s written all over your face.”
Katori said, sitting next to me with a gentle smile.
“Maito-san is a friend, right?”
“Yeah.”
Not a younger sister, nor an older sister, nor a mother.
Everyone knows that.
“Since she’s a friend, I think it’s okay for our ways of interacting to be slightly different.”
I know that too.
But, it feels like I’m the only one being spoiled, and it’s kind of embarrassing.
I know everyone else doesn’t do that, but I feel like I’m being made fun of.
…Ah, that’s definitely not it.
What am I even doing…
“Besides, I think everyone still thinks Maito-san is kind of like a mother.”
Maybe Toriumi and Kariya, perhaps Kadomi-kun too.
“…Suzumoto and Hagasaki-kun are-“
“Those two are just trying to act cool.”
…Ah, yeah. I can see that.
Especially Suzumoto.
“Maito-san, I think, wants to be relied on. She thinks we’re going through a lot and wants to give back a little, I believe.”
Katori’s right… ah, that rhymes… not that, yeah, I think Maito-san overestimates us a bit.
…Why though? I don’t think we’re doing anything that special.
Oh. No, well, of course, we’re fighting with our lives on the line?
But, I think that’s just because we’re dividing the tasks.
…After all, Maito-san, you know, I think her original character is suited for combat… but, since she became a non-combatant, maybe that’s why.
“But including President, those three have a bit of a different approach. So, I think Hariu’s role is important too. You don’t have to change how you interact with Maito-san just because you’re worried about what others think.”
Katori says that with a smile.
“…Katori, are you really the same age as us? Looking at President and you makes me really anxious.”
“Why, what’s wrong?”
“…No, just a feeling…”
Sure, President seems more serious, but still… Somehow… Yeah, I guess I’m more suited to be a younger brother. I’ll pass on being an older brother.
“And, you know, when Maito-san was mistakenly called ‘mom,’ she seemed a bit happy about it.”
Just as I was being hurt from a different angle, Maito-san came back with President, and that’s where it ended.
Then, a few days later, in the morning.
“Ah, Mom… I mean…”
“…Yeah. What?”
“…No, nothing. Forget it.”
I stumbled upon Suzumoto making a slip of the tongue.
…Could it be?
“Hey, Maito-san.”
Since I was curious, I asked Maito-san, who had started preparing breakfast.
“Um, besides me and Suzumoto, has anyone else mistakenly called you ‘mom’?”
When I asked, Maito-san stopped chopping vegetables and smiled brightly.
“Everyone has done it at least once.”
…Eh.
“President too?”
“Ah, sorry. Except for President. The only mistake he made was calling me ‘big sister.'”
Ah, that surprised me. No, that’s still pretty amazing. …Eh?
“Katori too?”
“Yeah. He said, ‘Ah, mom, can I talk to you for a sec?’ and then just naturally continued the conversation without realizing it himself, so he might not have noticed.”
…Ah.
Ah-ah-ah-ah.
Yeah. Somehow, that’s really comforting.
“I see. Thanks. ‘Mom'”
“No problem at all.”
…Yeah, I still think Maito-san seems motherly.
Author’s Note:
If anyone figures out the reason behind the characters’ birthdays, please keep it to yourself.
For those rare individuals interested in matching the answers, feel free to respond in the comments section with Maito’s birthday, leaving out the reasons.
