Anda Kokoro Connect Volume 11: Precious Time

1. Auflage 2020
ISBN: 978-1-7183-2620-0
Verlag: J-Novel Club
Format: EPUB
Kopierschutz: Adobe DRM (»Systemvoraussetzungen)

E-Book, Englisch, 350 Seiten

Reihe: Kokoro Connect

The pro wrestling fanboy, the goofy ditz, the master of snark, the laid-back jokester, and the total girly-girl are now in their third and final year of high school... but don't worry, Fujishima's got a few things hidden up her sleeve to spice things up! Karate, poker, even a three-legged obstacle course - who will win the no-holds-barred Couples' Battle Royale?! But more importantly, can the second-years recruit enough members to keep the club going?! It's a 'Kokoro Collection' of silly and poignant epilogue stories in the final volume of the hit ensemble dramedy light novel from award-winning author Sadanatsu Anda!

Autoren/Hrsg.

Anda, Sadanatsu

Weitere Mitwirkende

Shiromizakana

Lee, Molly

Leseproben

The Rina Report

“Then it’s settled. Next up, we’re paying a visit to Taichi’s place!” Nagase declared, and the other club members all clapped.

Taichi couldn’t remember who originally suggested it, but at some point the CRC decided to periodically start making “house calls” to the homes of each club member. Homes that were too small to accommodate everyone were disqualified, as well as those they’d already visited a number of times, like Inaba’s. Then the remaining candidates played a game of President, and since Taichi lost, his house was chosen as their first destination.

“As soon as you become President, you use your power to invade everyone’s homes? Damn. Sounds like real life,” Taichi snarked under his breath.

“Oh, relax. We’re not — we’re not going to, like, mess it up or anything,” Kiriyama shot back.

“So having friends over is an ‘invasion,’ but visiting house is fine...?” Inaba muttered.

“Oh, I’m so excited to see what Taichi-senpai’s house is like!” Enjouji gushed, her eyes sparkling. And Taichi couldn’t really say no to that, now could he?

“Man, how am I gonna make this work...?”

Obviously he didn’t mind them coming over, but he would sooner die than have them meet his family. This weekend his father was away on a business trip, and his mother would probably be out of the house during the day... That left his little sister, Rina, but chances were good she might go hang out with friends somewhere...

“Well, you’re gonna have to figure it out, because them’s the rules, bro!” Aoki shouted.

“Don’t be a sore loser, Taichi-san,” said Chihiro.

“Pretty sure you’d feel the same if you were in my shoes... Fine, whatever! Bring it on! This weekend, you’re all invited to my house!”

And so it was decided that the CRC would visit the Yaegashi residence.

+++

“I think today’s gonna be a lazy day.”

Saturday morning finds me lounging on the living room sofa in my PJs. Tomorrow I have plans to hang out with my friends, but today I don’t have anything scheduled — I have a backlog of TV shows to watch, and borrowed manga to read, and a mildly excessive amount of homework to deal with. But the biggest reason is that my boyfriend is busy with club activities this weekend. I haven’t seen him in a while... I miss him.

But it can’t hurt to take it easy every now and then. Here in the modern era, we need to consciously make time in our busy schedules for relaxation... or so they said on TV, anyway.

“Then maybe I should get my homework out of the way first... or I could put it off until later...”

Rrgh... Choices, choices...

“Oh, that reminds me. I wonder what Taichi’s plans are.”

I haven’t given him much attention lately, so maybe today is a good day to spend with him for a change. He could help me with my homework! Yeah, I like this plan. I rise to my feet and head for the stairs. If he’s in his room, I’ll just barge in there and throw my weight around.

“Huh? Taichi...?”

I can hear the of the vacuum cleaner. That’s weird... Normally the only person who ever cleans the house is Mom, and yet Taichi’s the only other person at home right now. Skeptical, I decide to check... but sure enough, there he is, vacuuming the stairs!

“You’re doing chores?”

“...Huh? Did you say something?” He notices me and switches off the noisy vacuum cleaner.

“It’s just weird to see you doing chores, that’s all.”

“I just figured I ought to do it every now and then.”

“So you’ve finally grown up. Good job, Taichi.”

He always struck me as the kind of guy who would leave all the housework to his future wife, but maybe he’s turned over a new leaf. Affection meter +2!

“Well, I mean... Oh, did I forget to tell you?”

“Tell me what?”

“My friends from the CRC are coming over today.”

“Oh, interesting. So your friends are coming over...”

Wait... His friends... are coming... to our house? HIS FRIENDS ARE COMING TO OUR HOUSE?

“...When did you say this is happening?”

“Sometime this afternoon.”

I look down at myself. Bedhead, no makeup, and lame, little-girl PJs... If anyone saw me like this, my life would be over! Ruined! Jesus, help me!

“Why didn’t you TELL MEEEEEEE?!”

Do you get off on other people’s humiliation or what?!

After I eviscerate my brother with a lecture, I run into my room and set about making myself presentable. First, I get my hair wet, then style it into waves. Then I put on some mascara and check the clock, and the next thing I know, I’m out of time to eat lunch.

“Taichi, from now on, you need to give me at least 24 hours’ notice before you invite someone over to the house. I have a life, too, you know!”

“Look, I’m sorry I didn’t tell you all the details. But I’m pretty sure you were standing right there when I was telling Mom.”

“No excuses, mister!” My brother is a lot dumber than he looks, so I have to be firm with him.

“...Don’t you think you’re taking this a little too seriously? You don’t need to dress up for this.”

I spin in a circle, showing off my frilly, navy blue dress. How’s that, huh?!

“Your friends are coming over, Taichi! I don’t want to embarrass the family by wearing something cringey! What if they make fun of you for having an ugly sister?!”

“I really don’t think you have to worry about that...”

And yet he seems somewhat pleased to hear it. Knowing him, he’s probably enjoying my extra-special cuteness on top of my regular cuteness. Classic Taichi.

My brother doesn’t usually let his emotions show on his face, but if you pay enough attention, you can gauge his reactions. The average person probably can’t parse it, but I’m well-versed in my brother’s ways, so I can tell.

“Honestly, the easiest solution would be if you just stayed in your room. How about you do that?”

Excuse me?

“What are you talking about? Are you saying you’re to be seen with your adorable baby sister?”

“No, that’s not it. But you don’t to talk to them, right?” he shrugs casually.

How dare you!

“Yes, I do! How could you even say that?!”

God, this brother of mine!

“As your sister, I have to meet all your friends so I can be aware of what kind of people you associate yourself with!”

“What are you, a helicopter mom? Nobody goes out of their way to introduce their friends to their family. And even if they did, that’s not something my should be handling.”

“Uh, hello?! You make it sound like I’m not important or something!”

I’m your precious baby sister, you JERK!

“Your importance isn’t the issue here. This is about whether you need to meet my friends. And the answer is no.”

“So if you get engaged, you’re not going to bring her home to meet the family, is that it?!”

My importance is MOST CERTAINLY the issue here! Who do you think you’re talking to?!

“Okay, now you’re being ridiculous. Friends and fiancées are not the same thing.”

Don’t you roll your eyes at me! You’re treating me like a little kid! God, I hate you!

“I introduce you to friends all the time! But ever since you started high school, you haven’t really brought anybody over, so... Wait, which friends are these again?”

“Clubmates. From the Cultural Research Club.”

Ah, yes, this Cultural Research Club I’ve been hearing so much about! Or “CRC” for short! His club doesn’t seem to really accomplish much of anything, but there have been many times that he’s left the house in the name of “club activities.” Stupid CRC, interrupting our brother-sister time... Okay, maybe I’m getting off-track.

“Then I need to meet them, because I know they’re super important to you! I mean, isn’t it kind of ridiculous that I haven’t met them by now? You’re three-fourths of the way through your second year of high school!”

Of course, he’s shown me pictures of them in the past, and I caught a few glimpses of them during the recent Culture Festival at his school, but I’ve never actually spoken to any of them.

“Don’t you think you’re being a little too nosy? Like the time I introduced you to my girlfriend... Ugh, I don’t even want to remember...”

Ah yes, the war I waged against the woman my brother calls his girlfriend. Obviously I wasn’t going to pull any punches with her. She’s his first girlfriend, after all!

“Come to think of it, Inaba-san is in the Cultural Research Club, too... Does that mean she’s coming over today?”

He mulls over whether to admit it, then finally nods. Oho, I see. So she’s coming, too. In that case, I’d better bring my A-game.

Taichi takes one look at my smile and scowls darkly at me.

“Okay, that’s it. I don’t want you anywhere...