Be Careful, Onee-san ch29

p1
>>Slipping out of an empty room. Her desination is...

>>January
>>Wed

>>Yuki-chan
>>Mommy's gonna be home late tonight as well because of work.
>>Dinner's in the fridge, so please heat it up and eat it.

>I'm heading out.

>Okay.

p2
>Good afternoon.
>Yes, good afternoon~

>New Year's was so busy that I haven't gotten to see Onee-sama...
>I wonder if she's here already.

p3
>It's cold...

>Looks like Onee-sama's not here yet.

p4
>Ah.
>Hey~
>!

>Happy new year~
>Houjou-san!

>Oh, it's you guys...
>Happy new year.
>What gives? It's our first time seeing each other in the new year.
>There's no need to look so obviously disgruntled...

p5
>I'm waiting for Onee-sama right now, so I'd appreciate it if you didn't bother me.
>You can't swim without Onee-san around, after all.

>N-
>Nobody asked you!
>If you wanna learn how to swim,
>you should just sign up for the school.

>Onee-sama promised that she'd teach me.
>I don't intend to learn from anyone else.

>But then Onee-san won't be able to swim herself.
>I've told you before,
>but you shouldn't be a nuisance.

p6
>You think I'm being
>a nuisance to Onee-sama...?

>It's not that.
>I'm not saying to stop having her teach you or...
>Sorry,
>but the Onee-sama I know isn't that shallow-minded.

>Are you sure you're not just saying that
>because my position
>has made you all jealous and gloomy?

>Why would you think that...
>Gather round!

>Go ahead. Don't mind me,
>Mai-san.

p7
>...Geez.
>Hrm~

>Let's go, Hitomi-chan!

>No matter what anyone says,
>I won't hand her over.

p8
>Unlike Mai-san, my house is in the opposite direction.

>I haven't gotten to go inside Onee-sama's house.

>Even if I want to be alone with her, someone always interferes.
>I only ever get to be with Onee-sama when everyone else is there too.

>But
>this time alone is special.

p9
>It's only when she's teaching me how to swim
>that I get to have Onee-sama all to myself.

>It's my special
>precious time.

>!
>Onee-sa-

p10
>Onee-sama!
>Oh, Yuki-chan.
>Happy new year.
>Happy new year.

>...What's the matter, Onee-sama?
>Why the long face...?

>She made a mistake at work and got yelled at.
>WAH!
>Don't tell her that!!

p11
>How long are you gonna be hung up on this for?
>Fufufu
>And right after my time off too...
>I mean...

>You got mad at me too, Azuma-san.
>All I did was go to Hitomi-chan's house.
>That's one thing. This is another.

>U-Um, Onee-sama.
>Happy new year.

>Ah... Yeah.
>Happy new year.

>Let's make it a good one.
>Right...

>I've never seen Onee-sama look so down before...
>Hah...

p12
>Hah~

>Um!
>If there's anything I can do to help, let me know!
>Ah, sure!
>Thank you!

>I guess I can't just be sighing all the time, huh?
>Sorry!

>It's fine...

p13
>To me, this pool
>is a place where I can be connected with Onee-sama.

>Then
>what is it to Onee-sama?

>Onee-san won't be able to swim herself.
>You shouldn't be a nuisance.

>Let's take a break.
>Okay.

p14
>Onee-san's pretty down, huh.
>She must've really gotten an earful.

>You may be right about what you said earlier.

>When Onee-sama's at the pool,
>she devotes all of her time to me
>which takes away from her precious rest time...
>Rest time?

p15
>So you're interested in joining the school?
>No.
>Why not?

>I don't intend to be taught by anyone but Onee-sama.
>That's why

>I just have to become the source of Onee-san's healing!

>I don't hate that weird positivity of yours, Houjou-san...
>Huh?
>The heck is that? It's creepy.

p16
>Well,
>it leaves less of a bad aftertaste than if you were to stop coming to the pool at least.
>I wouldn't do that!

>That
>would be rude to Onee-sama.

>That being said...
>how am I supposed to cheer up Onee-sama?
>Hmm~
>Well,

>if she were to see you swimming on your own, that'd make her happy, right?
>She wouldn't have to keep you under constant supervision too, so it'd be two birds with one stone!
>Wha-

>It's because I can't swim that this is...
>...I've been thinking this for a while, but...

p17
>shouldn't you be able
>to swim for real now, Houjou-san?

>Eh?
>You want to try swimming on your own?

>Yes.
>I want you to see it, Onee-sama...
>I don't mind, but...
>will you be okay!?

p18
>My feet can still touch the ground here.
>I'll be fine.

>If you get in trouble, I'll come save you right away!
>...

>You can swim properly now, can't you?

>I convinced myself that I couldn't swim
>because I wanted to be with Onee-sama...?
>There's no way...

>But
>if I am able to swim here, there won't be a reason for Onee-sama to swim with me anymore.

p19
>I'm scared of my own potential.
>She's really confident...

>I love my swim time with Onee-sama.

>Even if it's considered a nuisance,
>the warmth of her hand as she guides me felt nice.

>But if me being able to swim
>can bring a smile to Onee-sama's face,

>I will gladly
>let go of that hand!!

p20
>Go straight forward
>until I reach Onee-sama.

>The flutter kick is where you move with your legs.
>Hii Hii
>Yeah, that's it!

p21
>For the crawl, make big circles with your arms.
>L-Like this?
>That's it.
>Like you're pushing the water with your palms.

>I'm really...
>swimming.

>Take a breath before it starts to hurt!!
>When is that exactly...?

>Thanks to Onee-sama,
>I can swim!!

p22
>Phwah

>Hah
>Hah
>Hah

>I did it.
>Hah
>Hah
>Finally...

>With this,
>Onee-sama and I are...
>Hah
>Hah

p23
>>Start position

>...?

>What's going on here!?
>>Start position
>Eeeeeh?
>My flutter kicks and crawls were perfect, yet I haven't moved an inch!?

>I swam so much and didn't even move...

p25
>Congratulations!!
>!!

>O-O-O-Onee-sama!?
>You actually swam!
>Amazing!!
>Eep...

>...That's right.
>Regardless of the result, I didn't sink.
>Hah...
>With this,

>I'll no longer swim with Onee-sama
>or hold her hand...

p26
>This is the result
>of all your hard work.

>Next, let's practise together
>so that you can move forward!

p27
>I'm not a nuisance?
>Not at all!!

>Seeing you work so hard always gives me energy, Yuki-chan.

p28
>You're right.
>You were a total downer just a moment ago...
>Geez!
>Don't say that!!

>Wah~ Wah~

>...?

>>What is this haziness shrouding over her watchful gaze...?