Chapter 16

Mother, Father, are you well?

Your daughter, Yuri Nakamura, was reborn into another world.

It was hard at first, but I got used to my new life and made a good friend.

We had our ups and our downs and I regret how things ended with her. I really wanted to apologise for yelling at her, but I will meet my demise before then.

Farewell.

Yuri.

…

Now then.

Sweating buckets and unable to move; what am I supposed to do here?

The heroine can see me and touch me, but can she-?

“I always thought you looked cute from a distance, but your cheeks look so puffy and soft it makes me want to eat them.”

See me!

What?!

Why?!

Raena was the only one who ever could, and the duchess only saw me once I healed Raena before her eyes. And even then, she couldn’t see my face or-!

…Did Yui see me too or can she see me because she’s the protagonist?

Calm down, Yuri.

Don’t do anything stupid - you’ll be fine.

“S-since when could you see me?”

“My, even your voice sounds adorable.”

“Even if you praise me, you’ll not get anything for it!”

“Bright red and unable to prevent yourself from grinning.” Yuri giggled. “I can see why Onee-sama loves you so much.”

My heartbeat accelerated dramatically.

I can’t calm down!

This is bad!

I can’t think!

“You can’t normally anyway.”

Why do you always say mean things to me?!

I felt a finger prodding my cheek repeatedly.

“I don’t think I’ve seen skin this pretty and soft before, except for Onee-sama’s. Little fairy, could you please tell me your name? I’m Yui.”

I know.

I might know you better than you know yourself.

Well, that might have been true once.

…Did I ever know you?

“Oh dear, why do you suddenly look so sad?”

“Eh?”

“Ah, sorry. Am I gripping you too strongly or-?”

“It’s nothing. Ah. I mean, ow, it hurts, so-”

“You’re not a very good actress, are you?”

“Raena says I am!”

“Maybe she meant you’re theatrical more than…Raena?”

Why did the air suddenly get colder?

What’s with that smile?!

Wait, more importantly, where did the light in your eyes go?!

“Onee-sama’s pet calls her by name without honorifics…hmm.”

“Raena said I could!”

Please, let me weak defence work.

“I see.” The cold air slowly lifted as light returned to Yui’s eyes. “Then, that’s okay.”

Oh, God, she’s a sis-con!

I gulped.

“Since when could you see me, Lady Yui?”

“Hmm, I don’t remember when the first time was, but I would sometimes see or hear Onee-sama speaking to herself though I couldn’t hear what she said. I remember one time I was watching my Onee-sama through her study windows, and she broke a quill. I saw a strange light healing her and then I saw you.”

She’s become a full-on stalker!

What happened to you, my cute little heroine?!

“At first, you were just a green ball but then I could slowly see your body and waited for the right moment to try and talk with you. I nearly did at the arena before Onee-sama’s duel with Lord Michael, but we were both very worried about if she’d be okay.” She smiled sincerely at me. “Honestly, it made me so happy to see how much she means to you.”

“Was I really that worried?”

Yui nodded. “When Onee-sama won, you were so relieved that you were the first to rush to her side after she passed out. Even I wasn’t as fast as you.”

Ah, how embarrassing.

What is this? I keep being thrown around by the heroine.

“I had no idea that anyone else could see me like how Raena does.”

“Really?”

I nodded. “We managed to find a way for the duchess to see me, but Raena had to injure herself for that to work.”

“Like what I saw? Interesting. If the ability to perceive you is linked to interacting with Onee-sama, then more people could eventually perceive you completely like I can now.”

Including Yui, there were now 4 people who could see me: only 2 could properly see my body and talk to me directly.

I should probably not mention that Lady Victoria can see me.

This little yandere, stalker sis-con would probably go beyond the point of no return.

Raena would not forgive me if that happened.

“Little fairy, why are you out here by yourself? Where’s Onee-sama?”

“…She’s in her office, probably.”

“I don’t think I’ve ever seen you two apart. Did something happen?”

I told Yui about our stupid fight, but I didn’t say what we fought about.

“Onee-sama’s probably worried sick about you.”

“You don’t think she’ll be angry with me?

“She’ll probably be angrier that you went off by yourself.”

“…She’ll definitely pull my cheeks.”

Yui giggled. “Is that really scary?”

“It really is! You wouldn’t know because-”

“Onee-sama would never punish me.”

“…You sound melancholic about that.”

“I couldn’t be happier than I am now…is a little bit of a lie. Some days, I do wish that Onee-sama would treat me a little bit less gently, but I don’t hate our current relationship. She loves me and dotes on me, and I’m forever grateful for it, but I wonder if I’ll just be a little girl to her forever. Or maybe…I don’t know. Hey, Yuri.” She finally uncurled her hand. “How do you think Onee-sama sees us?”

I couldn’t answer.

What did I mean to Raena and-?

What do I want to be to her?

Yui eventually persuaded me to go apologise to Raena together.

I was sat on her shoulder, gripping onto her clothes very tightly so I couldn’t run.

“Are my eyes still red?”

“Don’t worry, they cleared up a few hours ago,” Yui said just before knocking at Raena’s door. “You look as cut as-”

The doors flew open.

“There’s the oni-face!”

“Where is she?”

“O-Onee-sama?”

Raena’s expression quickly changed. “Ah, Yui, hello. My apologies, but I was looking for something I’d misplaced.”

“Ah, your little fairy friend.”

“…Who?”

Yui giggled. “There’s no need to hide it, Onee-sama. I found Yuri flying near me earlier, so-”

“Yu~~~ri~~~.”

“Eeek! Yep, you’re definitely angry! Oni! Demon! Raena!”

“That last one isn’t an insult,” Yui joked.

“…Eh?” Raena whispered.

“Come on, Yuri, don’t be shy.”

Yui held out her palms and I nervously floated down to sit there.

“U-um!” Raena looked oddly at me. “I’m sorry about earlier!” I bowed my head deeply. “I didn’t mean to-”

“W-What?”

“Raena?”

“I’d like you to accept her apology too please, Onee-sama.” Yui bowed with me. “She really feels bad and-”

“Yui, what are you talking about?”

“Onee-sama?”

“You keep talking about Yuri, but if she really meant she was sorry, she would have come here in person to say it and not hide behind you.”

“Raena? W-What are you talking about? I’m-!”

“Seriously, Yuri, this isn’t-”

“Wait, Onee-sama, Yuri is right here. Look!”

“…Why are you showing me your empty palms?”

“R-Raena?” I felt my blood run cold as I dreaded Raena’s next words. “I-I’m right here! Look!” Desperate, I flew right in front of her face. “S-see?! I-I’m here! Raena, I’m-”

“Yui.” Raena sadly reached the same conclusion I had, but I didn’t want it to be true. “Can you please tell me honestly - is Yuri here right now?”

Yui nodded. “She’s right in front of your eyes.”

Raena tried to reach out and touch me, but she couldn’t do it.

“Raena!” I grabbed her fingers tightly. “I’m here! I’m here!”

“…Can’t you feel her holding you right now?”

Raena, slowly and solemnly, shook her head.

…Why?

The tears wouldn’t stop falling down my face.

Why couldn’t Raena see me anymore?