Seraphim is a Bystander

Big Sister’s Home
 

“Big sis? Are you okay?”
“…Huh? Oh, yeah, I’m okay… I think. But—what just happened…?”
When I called out to her, she finally seemed to regain her composure and responded.
Still confused, she stayed seated on the ground and looked up at me, trying to make sense of what just went down.

“Hmm… I only helped because you said you’d do me a favor. Wouldn’t you know more about why those guys were after you?”
“I guess that’s true, but… Are those men even alive?”
“Don’t worry, they’re just unconscious.”

Even though they were just about to kidnap her, she’s being surprisingly gentle.
Seeing her visibly relax at my words, I reached out and pulled her up onto her feet.
“…Anyway, thank you for saving me. I’m Riu Higashikata. And you are?”
“Ahh… I’m Minato Futaba. Nice to meet you, onee-san.”

I figured using the name Seras directly would feel a bit off, so I went with a fake name—though really, it’s just Aoi’s surname and my human name mashed together.
“Anyway, standing around here talking isn’t great. Let’s move somewhere else.”
“Ah, good idea. There’s a nice spot nearby—we can go there.”

With that, we started walking, following the route she suggested.
Along the way, I asked why she was being chased by those thug-looking guys.
“So, onee-san, why were those scary dudes after you?”
“Probably because I’m the only daughter of the president of Higashikata Motors.”

Higashikata Motors? That’s the huge car company that’s always in ads on TV and streaming sites, right?
Come to think of it, the thugs did mention taking her hostage. So it was a ransom thing? But in this day and age, would anyone really try something that stupid? Still…
“Wow! So you come from a rich family, huh?”
“…I guess you could say that.”

Her expression dimmed slightly as she answered.
I couldn’t tell what was going through her mind, but perhaps to shift the topic, she asked me about myself.
“Um, is it okay if I call you Minato-chan?”
“Sure, call me whatever you like~”
“Then Minato-chan, are you okay being out alone this late? Aren’t your parents worried?”

I was tempted to say, You’re one to talk, but honestly, how should I answer that?
I was planning to ask for a place to stay tonight in the first place…
“Ah… It’s fine. I don’t have a mom or dad.”
“…Oh—sorry. That was really insensitive of me.”

“No worries! It’s not like something sad happened or anything!”
“…Really?”
Yeah, really. I don’t have a mom or dad—not in this world anyway.
And I don’t have a home either, so I’m technically not lying.

“By the way, where are we headed now?”
“Ah, right. My family owns a building nearby, and I live there. I figured it’d be a better place to talk.”
“Whoa, do your parents live there too?”

That question made her expression dim again.
I worried for a second that I’d struck a nerve, but she quickly smiled again and replied:
“Nope, it’s just me living there. …Oh! Hey, Minato-chan, if you’d like, you could stay over tonight!”
“Wait, really!?”

It was like a gift from the heavens.
I was already planning to ask for that as a favor, so for her to offer it herself was incredibly convenient.
“Of course! Only if you’re okay with it, though…”
“Absolutely! Yay… Now I don’t have to worry about where to sleep tonight!”

“…Eh?”
My words made her freeze for a second, clearly surprised.
She started thinking deeply about something, her expression serious.
Did I say something weird…?
…Ah, maybe she thinks I’m a homeless orphan girl.
Well, she’s not exactly wrong.

Before I could clear up the misunderstanding, she suddenly grabbed my hand and pulled her face close.
“Minato-chan, is there anything you’d like to eat? I’m actually pretty good at cooking—just tell me and I’ll whip something up!”
“Eh? Uhh… Let’s see…”

Something to eat, huh…
Now that I think about it, all I’ve had today is a skewer of mitarashi dango before the virtual combat session.
Honestly, it’s been a while since I’ve had a real meal.
Oh, I know.
“Maybe… Hamburg steak?”
“Hamburg steak! Got it! Let’s hurry, then! I’m pretty sure I have the ingredients!”

“W-Wait, onee-san?!”
Without even letting go of my hand, she took off running, dragging me along.
I think this onee-san might be the ~Nоvеl𝕚ght~ impulsive type.
She wasn’t listening to me at all and kept half-jogging ahead.
Eventually, after being pulled along for a while, she finally stopped—right beneath the building I’d jumped off of earlier when I first saw her.

“Here we are! I live on the top floor of this building.”
“Uwah… I mean, you did say you were rich, but I didn’t think it was this much.”
Still holding my hand, she walked up to the hotel’s security system, entered the code, and headed toward the elevator.
With practiced ease, she pressed the button for the top floor, and the elevator took off—reaching the top in no time.

“Wow, this place is huge, but there are only two rooms. So, uh… which one is yours?”
“Hm? Both of them are mine.”
“…Come again?”

“I told you, right? I live on the top floor.”
…Yeah, she did say that.
She definitely did.
But still—I didn’t expect this!