Be Careful, Onee-san ch27

p1
>>It's the season for grilled mochi.

>Christmas was all kinds of hectics,
>but after several nights,

>What the heck!
>Wahaha...

>it's the New Year.

p2
>Let's have a good year.

p3
>To me, New Year's
>is a break from work
>where I can take it easy without any hesitation.

>I listen to the ringing of the bell,
>sleep in until noon and eat mochi.
>Two years in a row now. A new record.

>I'm sure Mom would be mad if she saw me like this.
>Good stuff!

>I really should be going home to spend New Year's with my family,
>>Are you coming home this year?
>>Sorry. I'm a little busy...
>>whimper...
>but I've grown sick of getting ask if I've gotten married yet the moment I get there.

p4
>I wanna at least spend New Year's letting my mind wander.
>I wish I had a kotatsu.

>Who could it be on New Year's Day...?
>Ah.

>Oh yeah, Mom said she'd be sending some food over.
>Coming~

p5
>Maybe it's sea bream and shrimp.
>They are New Year's staples, after all...
>Uhehe

>Happy new year,
>Onee-san!

>Wah!
>Your hair's all ruffled~
>Did you just wake up?

p6
>Why'd you close the door!?

>She saw me in my day-off wear!
>What brings you two here...?

>We were doing New Year's greetings
>and figured we could go to the shrine together while we're at it!

>I tried contacting you but you didn't answer, so we came to see you directly...
>Eh?
>Sorry...

p7
>I was so sick of talking to Mom that I didn't look at it...
>So how about it?

>Were you perhaps busy?
>!!

>Please
>give me five minutes!
>Takes your time~!

>That's a cute furisode, Hitomi-chan!
>Yeah!
>I wanted to wear one too~
>Hmph

p8
>I invited Shino-san too, but she said she was visiting her parents.
>She was in tears.
>I wanted to visit the shrine
>with Hitomi-chaaan!
>Ah... Is that so?

>You didn't go home to your family, Onee-san?
>No. Y'see...

>There's the stuff I don't like about people nitpicking about me,
>but after turning down that marriage interview,
>it's pretty hard to face them.

>Now that you mention it, Yuki-chan didn't come either, huh?
>I guess her family must be busy.

>Houjou-san...
>?

p9
>What's wrong?
>Ah.
>It's nothing.

>Houjou-san had stuff to do with her family too,
>so she turned me down.
>It is New Year's after all.
>I see.
>That's a shame.

>A shame?

>Eh?
>...Yeah.

>I see.
>I guess it is, yeah.
>...?

>What was that about?
>Did they have another fight...?

p10
>Thanks to you, I made it through another year without any serious injuries.
>Thank you.

>I pray that I can spend this year in good health too.
>I'm only visiting today,
>so I won't ask for anything more.

p11
>Ah,
>but if it's possible,
>I'd like to become closer with Mai-chan...
>We can't become lovers, but we can spend time together.
>That's not too big of an ask, is it...!

>You're really praying hard, huh?
>What did you wish for?
>Eh?

>Nothing at all!
>I was just giving thanks for my usual good health!
>Hmm.
>I mean it!!

>Did you wish for something Mai-chan?
>Hmm...

p12
>I did.
>What do you this it is?

>What
>is it...?

>But I hear it won't come true if I say anything, so it's a secret!
>Eeh?

>Ah!
>They've got fortunes! Let's draw some!
>...

>What is this?
>Hurry!
>I'm really curious...!!

p13
>>Fortunes

>I'll pick this!!

>And this year's fortune is...

>>Small Luck

>Small luck.
>Neither good nor bad...

p14
>>Arguments: Leave it to...
>>Romance: Give up on it.

>Hello,
>Honjou-san?
>>Honjou Yuki

p15
>Happy new year.
>...Happy new year.

>I don't usually get a call from you on New Year's.
>What gives?

>I was thinking of visiting the shrine with Onee-san and the others
>and was wondering if you wanted to come too, Houjou-san.
>Huh!?
>You're getting the jump on me again!?

>...My apologies,
>but all my relatives are here for New Year's so I can't slip out.
>I see...

>Well then, I'm busy, so...
>Ah, wait.
>One more thing.

>About Christmas.
>!

p16
>Back then,
>you're the one who sent Onee-san after me, right?

>Thank you.

>...I mean,
>it was Onee-sama's decision to head your way.
>I didn't do anything.

>Well!
>If you insist on thanking me in some way, I wouldn't be against it!
>Yeah.

>I thought the same,
>so I wanted to ask what you'd like, Houjou-san.
>Think of it as a Christmas present from me.

p17
>Anything in mind?
>!

>...
>In that case,

>could you help me get Onee-sama all to myself for one day?
>I could accomplish that by myself,
>but with your help, it'd be a certainty.

>Eh~?
>That's a bit...
>Do you...
>really intend to thank me?

>I do, but...
>...

p18
>I don't think
>I'd like that.

>...

>Why don't we use this opportunity to make it clear?

>How exactly
>do you feel about Onee-sama?

p19
>How...?
>I love her.
>She's kind
>and being with her is fun.

>Is that
>the same kind of "love" you have for Hitomi-san or Azuma-san?

>?
>...
>Yeah.
>My "love"...

>The "love" I have for Onee-sama
>is different.

p20
>She was the first to look at me from the same standpoint.

>She alone told me the exact words
>that I wanted to hear the most.

>She's different from a friend.
>She's "the person I love".

p21
>...On second thought,
>I think I'll pass on that Christmas present of yours.

>I don't need to force some alone time.
>I don't need to rush.

>The way you are now,
>I won't lose.

p22
>Well then,
>if you'll excuse me.

>Mai-chan!
>!

>I got small luck...
>What did you two get?

p23
>Great luck!
>Hmph
>Eh~! How nice!
>I see you got great luck too, Hitomi-chan.

>The stuff mine said was pretty harsh, so I'm gonna go tie this up...
>My wish won't come true and my lost item won't be found...

p24
>Huh?
>Isn't yours great luck, Mai-chan...?
>You should hang onto something that good.

>I also
>didn't really like what it said in mine.

>...
>I see!

p25
>Mine said my health fortune was looking good, though~

>How exactly
>do you feel about Onee-sama?

>>What is this feeling...?