Be Careful, Onee-san ch9

p3
>Table of Contents
>Mon: p4 Chapter 9 - Science - PE - p25 Chapter 10 - Social Studies - Morals
>Tues: Synthesis - p45 Chapter 11 - Math - Home Economics - p59 Chapter 12
>Wed: Music - Japanese - Science - p81 Chapter 13 - Math
>Thurs: Social Studies - p99 Chapter 14 - Drawing - Drawing - p119 Chapter 15 - Homeroom
>Fri - Math - PE - p139 Chapter 16 - p173 Extra - Japanese -p179 Afterword
>Momohana Elementary School

p4
>I'm Honda Tae.
>Aged 23.

>Blubblubblubblubblub
>!?
>Upon reaching this age,
>my dark history has grown ever larger.

p6
>I can't believe I cried in front of a grade schooler...
>I get embarrassed every time I think about it...
>But still,

>Mai-chan didn't come today, did she?
>I wonder what happened.
>Indeed...

>...!
>Don't tell me I did something again...
>Hah
>Hitomi-chan took the day off too, so I doubt that's it.

>It could be an event at school,
>what with the seasons changing and all.

>Or maybe they're not feeling well.
>Eh?

p7
>Hmm...
>I wonder if she's okay...
>If you're that curious, why don't you just text her?

>EH?
>There's nothing weird about a simple text.
>You're way too conscious, Tae-chan.

>I-
>I guess you're right...

>It seems you weren't at the pool today. Are you alright?? I hope it's not a cold or something...

>But y'know, Tae-chan,
>you've changed a little.

p8
>Eh...? You think so?
>Yeah.

>You've become honest, or should I say...
>Until recently,
>you would've never just texted her so easily like that.

>If I had to say why,
>it's because you so stubbornly tried to put distance between you and Mai-chan.
>Y-Yeah...
>I guess.
>It's given me a lot to think about...

>But!
>As an adult, I've made sure to draw a clear line, so don't you worry!
>Fufu.

>Oh, a phone call.
>Eh?
>W-Wah.

p9
>Hello...?

>Ah.
>Onee-san!
>Good afternoon!
>It's already evening, though.

>Thanks for the text!
>I forgot to tell you I wouldn't be there today~ Sorry.
>It's fine.
>I'm just glad you're okay!
>Yep! Fit as a fiddle!

>There was a birthday party today,
>so I took the day off from the pool.
>Hitomi-chan's with me too~

>Ah! So that's what it was!
>A friend's party, was it?

p10
>Nope.
>Mine.
>>Happy Birthday Mai-chan

p11
>Eeeeh? Really!?
>Congratulations!!
>Thank you!
>The party's already over, though.
>We're just having leftover cake...

>So today
>was Mai-chan's birthday.
>I had no idea...

>...But
>Oh my.
>Her birthday...?
>it makes sense.

>I'm not Mai-chan's classmate or anything.
>I'm just someone she knows from the pool.
>She wouldn't tell me her birthday of all things
>if I never bothered to ask...

>We'll have to celebrate next time.
>Really??

p12
>I really
>wanted to celebrate it today.

>Hah

>Wait, what am I saying...?
>I'll have a present ready for you by next week!
>Onee-san.
>Are you still at the pool?

p13
>Eh...?
>Yeah.

>Hold on a moment.

>Heh?

>>Call Ended

>It's Mai-chan's birthday!?
>So it appears.
>Oh my!

>What present should I get her~?
>...

p14
>Why did I
>say something like that...?

>It's not like I wanted to be invited to her party or anything.
>...I

>just...

>Hah

p15
>Hah
>Hah
>Hah

p16
>Mai-chan...
>You came all the way here!?
>I'm sorry...

>It's because I said something weird.
>Y'know,

>I don't like telling people about my birthday.
>It feels like I'm forcing them
>to congratulate me.

p17
>But
>hah
>I wanted you to say it, Onee-san,

>so I came here.

p18
>Mai-chan.

>Yeah.

>Happy
>birthday!

p19
>...Yeah.
>Thank you.

>I fell in love with a grade schooler.

>While the adult in me feels the need to draw a line somewhere,
>another side of me
>wants to know more about Mai-chan.

p20
>I need to be
>careful...

>Hah!

>You came all the way here...
>but I don't have anything I could give you as a present!
>Ahaha.
>It's fine~ Don't worry about it.

>But since you're here and all...
>...Ah!

p21
>In that case,
>is there anything you want?
>I can get it ready for you by next week.

>Eh~ There isn't!
>Just ask me for anything!
>I'm an adult, after all!

>I have a little money saved up too, y'know...
>Anything?
>Anything!
>Even if it's somewhat expensive...

>...Can it be
>something that isn't a thing?
>Yeah?

p22
>...I want to go
>to your house, Onee-san.

>...Heh?
>Spoken in falsetto.