Between the lines 5
"She's moving out!" Yukie whined, tugging at her friend’s arm like a petulant child. “What do I do?”
Minori simply frowned, marginally. "You don’t know anything. Isn't she like twenty-five or something?"
"She’s twenty-one and that's not the point!” Yukie straightened from her slump position.
"Then what is the point?"
"I'm pretty certain she's moving out because of Izayoi."
"Those two still aren't getting along?" It was something that should have been surprising news given how long the siblings had been living together, but somehow it wasn’t given the personality types present.
"It's even worse now." Yukie drew her brows together, sounding puzzled herself. She pulled another petulant face and whined… "I'm a failure as a mother!"
"If you're looking for your dignity, you dropped while complaining." Minori refused to let her annoyance show. Childish Yukie wasn’t a side that often manifested…thankfully…but when she did…oh boy.
It was adorable, in a thoroughly tiresome sort of way.
"This is serious! It feels like I'm losing them."
"You can't make two people like each other. Izayoi and Akiza just have different personalities."
"Don't you think I know that. But it's been two years!"
"It's been fifteen years and I'm still not used to this place." Minori waved a hand about at their surroundings.
"There has to be some way to make them...friendlier."
Minori coiled a smile. "Love potion?"
Yukie’s mouth tightened with irritation. "Not that friendly."
"Dilute it then."
"Minoriiiiiii!"
"Alright, alright. I might have an idea." Minori being an utter troll could be adorable, in a thoroughly tiresome sort of way.
"You do?" Minori stretched her smile. "No!” Yukie boomed. “Anything but that."
"Come on. You know it'll work. Remember when we had that fight in high school?" Yukie did indeed.
"I recall that story ending on a bad note."
"You're old,” Minori said back quickly. “The mind is the first thing to go."
"I don't want to drag my children into this."
"They're already part of it whether you like it or not. It’s only a matter of time before the Obscenity Institute notices them."
"I know that."
The atmosphere around them tightened to a choking intensity.
"I'm surprised they've gotten this far. When I was their age I——"
"——really don't want to remember you at their age,” Yukie interrupted, “thank you very much."
"Come on. It'll be fun." Minori’s excitement rose sharply, a clear red flag.
"No, it won't."
Confusing? Yes.
Chaotic? Most definitely.
Helpful? Almost certainly not.
If past experiences were anything to go on.
"This will bring them closer for sure. Guaranteed!"
"And if it doesn't?"
"Well, then I suppose you should get used to calling your son 'daughter' and your daughter 'son'." Minori had never been the type to give up. Not until she won, no matter the length of the war or the number of casualties. "You don't even have to do anything! Leave it to me. I'll fix those two right up. And I'll even get a laugh in a process. Win-win."
"I don't know..." Yukie said nervously.
"Or you can learn to live with your only daughter leaving the nest for good." Talk about twisting the knife.
"Fine. Just try not to get carried away."
"Me? Never. Perish the thought.” Minori adjusted her chair and leaned back, her smile becoming even more disquieting. “Oh, this is gonna be so much fun. I'm getting wet just thinking about it."
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Yes Votes: 8 100.0%
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No Votes: 0 0.0%
I gotta say, I hope you finish volume 2 soon.
This series is really interesting.
And I love the twists you employ. I bought the novel (digital since there doesn't seem to be a paperback yet) and I'm subbed. Just don't drop this title. I wanna see what happens to these siblings.
Wait, so Yukie was in on it the whole time?
Lol
Just realized she's been trolling her daughter in her son's body calling her 'mom' by accident.
Good show.
I like it.
I like it a lot.
Obviously Minori had her fun with Yukie's children which isn't part of the deal, but it does paint the two adults in very different lighting. Minori really just wants to have fun while Yukie wants to ship Akiza and Izayoi...I think.
It's clear the author has a lot they want to explore. We have Kanata who whammies people for sex, Akiza will freak once the s*x haze wears off and she realizes she broke the law by cumming inside Izayoi.
We also don't know what was up with that artifact Yukie and Minori uncovered.
Plus this messed up world still hasn't been fixed yet.
At least Izayoi and Akiza are closer.