【A Message from the Author】
Thank you very much for always reading this work.
With the publication of the book version, the title will be changed.
The new title is as follows:
"The Case Where the Person Connected to My 'Red Thread of Fate' Was a Girl Like My Natural Enemy"
↓
"The Girl Connected to My Red Thread of Fate Was My Natural Enemy"
It hasn't changed much, but by changing "Woman" to "Girl," I think it became a bit milder.
I hope to continue releasing information in this way in the future.
Well then, please continue to support "The Girl Connected to My Red Thread of Fate Was My Natural Enemy."
And the next day.
It seems Riran isn't coming to my house today and is getting her yukata fitted at her parents' house.
Riran's yukata, huh... I wonder what color it is.
Red? Black? Gold? Or maybe pink?
...Any of them would suit her. Even if she caught me off guard with a blue-ish color, she'd probably pull it off without a problem.
I'm looking forward to it...
"Onii, your face is gross."
"Can you not diss me so directly?"
I'm aware of it myself.
It seems Kotono has finished her preparations too; she was already wearing a retro-modern hydrangea-patterned yukata with a light blue base and a deep blue obi.
Her hair was tied up with a paper balloon bead hairpin made of blue glass.
It looked like she was going with boots on her feet, as she was wearing socks.
Even without sibling bias, to put it modestly, it suited her incredibly well.
"How is it! I begged Papa for this!"
"Seriously? No wonder I thought it looked different from last year."
"Eh, why do you remember my yukata from last year...?"
"Well, of course I remember it because you were cute."
"...Idiot."
Another sudden diss.
Did I say something weird? Big brother is a little sad here.
Kotono's cheeks, which had mature makeup on, were slightly flushed.
I seriously don't get it. What's the matter with her?
"M-More importantly! Aren't you going to wear a yukata, Onii?"
"No, I thought my regular clothes would be fine."
"...Siiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiigh............ Haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa............"
That's an incredibly long sigh!
Also, don't make that face like you're completely repulsed. Because of your mature look and adult makeup, the pressure is no joke.
"Useless Onii, ah, useless Onii, useless Onii."
"Don't diss me in haiku rhythm."
"That's how much of a failure you are! Listen, Onii. Even though Kotono and Noa are there this time, this is your first summer festival date with Riran-tan. It's a huge event for a girl! The memory of memories! If you show up there in jeans and a T-shirt, those precious memories will be ruined! Do you understand!?"
"O... Ossu."
"Then go change right now! There's no time until the meeting!"
"R-Roger that."
Being practically kicked out of the living room, I headed to the storage room and pulled out the yukata I had stored away.
Good, there's no mold and no smell.
My mom probably maintained it once in a while. I'm grateful.
I threw on the yukata in the changing room and easily tied the obi.
Nowadays, you can just look up how to wear a yukata on the internet.
The fabric had a dark gray base with vertical stripes, and the white obi had a faint checkered pattern.
In my hand, I held a black and white drawstring bag. Inside, I put my wallet and folding fan.
"I'm ready—"
"Yeah. Oh! Nice, as I thought, you look good in a yukata, Onii!"
"I-Is that so?"
It doesn't feel bad to be praised.
...I might as well go with geta today. Since I went through the trouble of wearing a yukata.
I headed to the entrance and took out the geta from the shoe closet.
Since I'm not used to wearing them, there's a slight sense of discomfort, but it's not enough to be a bother.
"Well then, shall we go?"
"Ossu! It was in front of the shrine at 18:00, right? Let's go fast!"
Kotono, wearing her boots, walked ahead while happily skipping.
Watching her, I realized that my own heart was also dancing a little.
This summer festival is quite famous even in the neighborhood.
TV and magazine reporters even come for coverage; it's literally a festival frenzy.
Since elementary school, I'd come as Kotono's guardian, and after entering middle school, Noa joined us as well.
I've never gone with Ryuya and Neika, but... well, those two are probably enjoying themselves together. They are fiancés after all.
The sun was starting to set, and the temperature was dropping, making it a comfortable time of day.
Karan, koron—the geta clattered as I walked through the residential area.
It has a nice atmosphere; it's good to have this once in a while.
I continued walking for a while.
The number of people gradually increased, including people in yukatas.
Groups of friends, couples, married pairs, parents and children. It was varied.
Everyone's goal is likely the same: the shrine's summer festival.
As we got closer, I could hear the festival music, the savory smell of something grilling tickled my nostrils, and the energetic voices of the stall owners could be heard.
This is it. A festival has to be like this.
While I was feeling a bit moved by the sensation I hadn't felt in a year, Kotono shouted, "Ah!"
"Onii, Noa and Riran-tan are already here!"
"I know."
I already knew they were here from the direction the red thread was stretching.
"Wait, huh? Who is that?"
"Huh?"
I looked where Kotono was pointing.
There, Riran and Noa were being accosted by some unknown punks.
...Are they hitting on them?
The moment I recognized that, the blood inside me boiled all at once.
"Hey. What business do you have with my friends?"
"Ah, Akito...!"
"Akito-senpai!"
When the two recognized me, they hurriedly hid in my shadow.
The two punks looked at me and clicked their tongues in annoyance.
"What, he really has a male companion?"
"Wait. There's only one guy. Only one fated partner. That means two of them are extras, right?"
"No doubt. Hey, leave the two girls and disappear, you pretty boy."
Hmm. So they think I'm a pretty boy.
I've been training, so that's a bit of a shock.
"You three, stay back."
I took off my geta to stand barefoot and rolled up my sleeves to expose my arms.
Of course, I won't make the first move. If I'm hit and self-defense is established, I'll fight back, though.
However, to protect my precious people, I'll become an ogre or a demon. I'm serious.
Immediately after, the faces of the two punks who saw my arms lost their color, enough to be noticeable even in the dim light.
"Eh, wait... is that for real...?"
"What's with those arms...!"
"I'm not exactly an amateur when it comes to brawling. Come at me."
I brushed back my hair and took a fighting pose.
Perhaps noticing that something was wrong with us, a crowd began to form around us.
"Ha, haha... Hey, no way. We were just saying hello..."
"S-Sorry about that. Hehehe..."
Spitting out those parting words, the punks were the first to flee through the crowd.
"Hmph. People who can't even fight shouldn't mess with my precious people."