Chapter 249. [A Mountain Of Happiness]

“Alright! Then, how about onee-chan joins that agency too?”

“Why drag me into this? You already have your own agency, don’t you?”

“But onee-chan, it’s lonely being the only one without teammates! It’s unfair for everyone else to have both! Can’t we have both?”

“Huh!? I wonder if that’s possible?”

Indeed, such a thought hadn’t crossed my mind.

As always, Ah-nee had a completely outrageous idea.

There are plenty of contractual issues, such as model usage rights and trademarks. But has anyone actually tried what seems impossible? Except for transfers, that is.

“L-let’s put this discussion on hold! Besides, I plan to start the agency after I graduate!”

“What!?” “Eh!?” “Huh!?”

You can start a business even as a minor.

Otherwise, I wouldn’t have been able to incorporate ‘Translator Girl Iroha’.

However, starting an agency would undoubtedly increase Mai’s workload even more.

And then…

“Mai, you’ll get scolded again by Auntie [Studies come first], you know?”

“Ugh! Th-that’s…”

“So, let’s continue this discussion another time. Besides, we’re short on time right now.”

While Mai hesitated, I ended the conversation.

Just then, an announcement echoed through the airport.

“Oh, that’s my flight. I should go now.”

We won’t see each other for a while.

Next time will probably be much later.

“Eeeek! Iroha-chan!” “I don’t want to be apart, Iroha-sama!” “Goodbye, Iroha-chan! Stay well!”

Mai and Ilyena clung to me, trying to hold me back.

In contrast, Aane was surprisingly light!?

It’s fine, though…

“Can you two let go already? I’m really going to miss the plane at this rate! It’s not like it’s our final goodbye, so be more casual like Ah-nee…”

“Well, unlike these two, I plan to go to America frequently.”

“!?”

Mai and Ilyena were both surprised.

Even I didn’t know about this.

“You know, there are a lot of events happening in America now, right? So, there are more opportunities for recordings over there.”

“Onee-chan, that’s cheating!? Isn’t that unfair!?”

“Iroha-sama, please wait for me! I’ll also get work in America soon!”

“Um, can you two calm down… Ahh!”

They each grabbed my arms, shaking me vigorously.

I shot a resentful glance at Aane and protested, “It’s all because of Aane! Do something about these two!”

“Well, it can’t be helped. Here, let go of Iroha-chan already!”

“Ah!?” “Eek!?”

Ah-nee let go of both of them abruptly.

Then, in a brief moment they were apart, she whispered in my ear.

“Since Mai and the others can’t come, and Ogu seems busy lately… I’ll have plenty of alone time with Iroha-chan.”

“Huh?”

Ah-nee quickly distanced herself and giggled coyly.

That smile made me feel a bit uneasy. Wait, what does that mean!?

“Now, Iroha-chan! Hurry while I’m holding them back!”

“Move, onee-chan! Mai’s Iroha-chan is getting away!”

“No, she’s mine! Please wait, Iroha-sama!”

“…Ugh!”

I wanted to retort, but I swallowed my words due to lack of time.

I started walking quickly towards the gate.

“Iroha-chan! Let’s definitely go to the same high school! We’ll always be together!”

“Yes, Iroha-sama, it’s a promise! Oh, but it’s okay if Mai-san doesn’t make it.”

“What!?”

I overheard their conversation from behind.

I couldn’t help but chuckle softly.

It’s really chaotic until the very end.

Maybe we’ll still be like this even ten years from now.

“Well, take care.”

I waved without looking back and walked away…

During this temporary return, we made two promises.

One was to attend the same high school.

The other was to start an agency.

One of those would be fulfilled much more easily than imagined.

And as for the other one.

I didn’t know at that time that it would never come true.

***

《Seriously, that Oogu…》

I walked alone down the apartment hallway.

Technically, I was accompanied by the exclusive Secret Service who escorted me from the airport.

But the crucial Oogu wasn’t here.

A few hours ago, she seemed adamant about picking me up no matter what

《Could she really be asleep?》

《Oh my. Should I have woken her up? Feeling lonely without her?》

《No, I’m fine without her! But I’ll probably hear complaints from her later!》

《Shall we go with that?》

《Ugh, forget it!》

Ironically, I was the one who said she could sleep.

She must have been exhausted from her busy schedule. I didn’t have the heart to wake her up.

《Well then, thank you for escorting me. Please rest well; I know it must have been tiring to come all the way to Japan with me.》

《We enjoyed the trip too, so don’t worry. We’re looking forward to the next one. See you!》

I bid farewell to the Secret Service at my door and opened it with a click.

Then I groped for the light switch in the living room and turned it on.

《W-what are you doing here!?》

As soon as I returned home, I found myself shouting.

There she was, Anngugu, peacefully asleep. She buried herself under a pile of my laundry.

《Mmm, Iroha, you smell nice..》

Anngugu drooled slightly, murmuring in her sleep – completely unaware.