184: Rat Poison
『Embrace』
Meaning 1: To hold something by wrapping your arms around it.
Meaning 2: To sleep in the same bed.
※Excerpt from “Sukoyaka Japan Dictionary (Out of print)”.
「I see, so she wants me to put my arms around her and hold her… as if!!」
With a brilliant pitching motion, Rintaro tossed the Japanese dictionary toward the sofa. He put his glasses back on, which had slipped off on the spur of the moment, and held his head in anguish.
「No matter how I think about it, it’s sleeping together!!」
When a woman asks a man to embrace her, that is what she means. It is not a far-fetched poetic expression, but a straightforward request that leaves no room for interpretation.
「No wait, Kuriyama Rintaro. Think, think, think. Would Minato really ask for something like that?」
It was only natural that he would think that way. Compared to the strong members of the Ark Dominion, Minato is not so assertive.
To put it in perspective, she is the type of people who can’t say no to things like futons, fire extinguishers, and water purifiers, and end up buying three or four of them. If she was an animal, she would be like the deer in Nara, who don’t crowd around the rice crackers and just eat the grass on the sidelines.
Would such a Minato really make a direct approach to Rintaro?
「Knowing Minato, I thought for sure she would just say something like “just the feeling is enough” but…」
No, that is why he asked Samecchi, rather than Rintaro himself, to find out what she really thinks. He left it to her, believing that she would be able to draw out Minato’s true feelings, since she was the one who would not make the other party wary.
He was also hoping that, being taken in by the selfless Minato, Samecchi would reconsider her reckless request for a deserted island.
The result was far beyond Rintaro’s expectations, blowing up like a rocket firework.
「Would she tell Samecchi something like that…? “Embrace me”…?」
When Rintaro glanced over at the bed, he saw that Samecchi was practicing breaststroke with both arms and legs fully extended.
「In the bluee~♪ seaa~♪ Samecchi swims, ssuu~♪」
Having completed her mission, Samecchi’s mind had already flown to the deserted island in everlasting summer. It would be absurd to ask her to go back and ask again.
That said, he wondered if he should take Minato’s request as it is in the literal sense of the word.
「Uumu, as expected it’s a bit of a leap for Minato to say “Sleep together”……」
As Rintaro crossed his arms and twisted his head, he was suddenly approached by Samecchi.
「Anikii」
「What is it, Samecchi?」
「What does “Sleep together” mean, ssuka?」
Samecchi, who was flapping her legs on the bed, asked such a thing in a matter-of-fact manner with a twinkle in her big eyes. Children sometimes innocently annoy their parents.
「……It’s that, Samecchi. It means sleeping in the same futon.」
「So that means aniki and Sametchi are sleeping together every day, ssune.」
「You mustn’t tell anyone about that. There’s no room for carelessness or openings.」
Rintaro grabbed Samechi’s cheeks with both hands, and he nodded his head. It would be terrible to have strange rumors spread again.
「So will aniki and Minato sleep together, ssuka?」
「Okay, Samecchi, let’s seal those words now. You never know where or who is listening.」
「That’s absolutely true.」
「「Hyaah!!」, ssu!」
Rintaro and Samecchi jumped up when they suddenly heard a voice. The voice came from just above Rintaro and Samecchi, from behind the ceiling.
As if a part of the ceiling came off like a lid right in front of Rintaro and Samecchi’s eyes, a beautiful silver-haired girl appeared from the ceiling.
「Mayuzumi! How long have you been there!」
「Since the moment God said “Let there be light,” I have been by your side.」
Kirika pulled her head back, and this time, her thin legs, covered by black stockings, sprouted out of the hole in the ceiling. She slowly lowered her body in the manner of a pull-up, and Kirika landed soundlessly on the soft carpet.
Then, as if nothing had happened, she sat up straight.
「Are you a ninja… It’s bad for my heart, so please think about how you appear in the future.」
「Come come, don’t say that. General Tagaraak asked me to plant this all over the secret base.」
Kirika then pulled out a clear plastic bag from the pocket of her jacket. Inside the bag was a myriad of purple round dumpling-like objects.
「Dumplings, ssuka? The color looks kind of bad, ssune.」
「Don’t eat them, these are poison dumplings for killing rats. I heard that rats brought in as pets by someone have escaped and are breeding in the secret underground base.」
「How annoying… but has that been why you’ve been hiding in the attic this whole time? Since I got back, so more than 30 minutes?」
「That is so.」
Kirika answered as if it were a matter of course. Rintaro, however, in disbelief, used the closet as a foothold to look into the ceiling.
「………………」
In the small space of the ceiling, sleeping bags and lanterns were lined up, giving the place the appearance of a camp. In addition to comic magazines and a cassette stove, there was also a small refrigerator and a spot cooler.
Except for the low ceiling and dim light, the living space was comfortable and spacious.
「What’s this? Does anyone live here?」
「……Eh? It’s my room though?」
「Eh what’s with that『……Eh?』. Am I wrong by any chance? Hey, I’m scared.」
Kirika fluttered her silvery white hair and smiled as if she did not hear Rintaro’s words.
「I moved here recently because my room was leaking badly. Don’t worry, I’ve got an electric blanket to keep me from catching a cold.」
「That’s not what I meant.」
「We can also save poison dumplings for killing rats, killing two birds with one stone.」
「Yes, that’s true. I already have a rat, a big one.」
………………
…………
……
At the same time, there was a strangely tall shadow creeping along the corridor.
Her white coat was just a little too short for her, and her hair was long and lustrous. The contrast was too striking to be called a shadow.
「……It’s okay, nothing to worry about…… I’m sure Rintaro will understand if I talk to him……」
Minato stopped in front of Rintaro’s room and controlled her breathing, holding her racing heart.
After having just recently declared war on Samecchi, she was a little hesitant to meet with Rintaro.
It was no longer possible to take back what she had found about Rintaro’s secret. However, if the misunderstanding was not cleared up as soon as possible, it could lead to a fatal catastrophe.
「Uu…… I have come this far, but what should I do…… How should I apologize…… Nn?」
At that moment, Minato noticed that a conversation was leaking from the slightly opened door. Feeling bad about it, she quietly peeked in and saw Rintaro, Kirika, and Samecchi discussing something.
『You know, Mayuzumi, when you deal with rats, the first thing you do is block their escape route.』
『I see… so you corner them and make sure to put an end to their life.』
『Then we should set it up in Minato’s room too, ssune!』
（Hah…… Hauaaaaaa!!!??）
She almost screamed, but Minato managed to hold back, covering her mouth with both hands. She took a step or two away from the door and sat down flat on the corridor.
（Th- th- th- there is no doubt about it, they are trying to get rid of me (the rat)……!! What do they mean, set it up… What are they planning to do…?!）
Minato shook her head and thought that there must be some mistake.
She had a bond with them as a founding member of the same heinous legion. Of course, her ears must have misheard.
Minato got down on all fours, approached the door again, and looked inside.
『In the meantime, I’ll have to think about getting rid of this big rat. What shall we do, Mayuzumi?』
『How about a harsh punishment? Like ■■■ing ●●● and doing ★★★』
『Aniki, what does “●●●” mean, ssuka？』
『Samecchi, forget everything you just heard, right now. Mayuzumi, I will have an important talk with you later.』
（Awawawawa…… T- t- t- to say something so embarrassing aloud!?）
Minato hugged both her shoulders and backed away from the door. Then, her body trembled with fear.
（I-I-I-I-I wonder if a human body could withstand something like that…!!? No, even a m- m- m- mysterious being’s body…!!）
Tension reaches its peak and countless swords spilled out from Minato’s entire body.
Minato hurriedly tried to pick them up and leave the place, but she was no longer able to sit up and put strength into her legs.
Like a caterpillar, she crawled away to her room next door.
Then she locked the door, took off her clothes and took a hot shower in the bathroom, head first. She decided to let the hot water wash away all her worries.
However, Rintaro’s “secret” did not just drift away from her memory, but instead grew ever larger in her mind.
The pain and regret slowly oozed out of her tear ducts.
「Uu…… Uwaaaaan! Rintarooooo, fueeeeeeeen!!」
No matter how much she washed it off, the tears and runny nose were unstoppable.
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