Epilogue

The morning of the first day at our new school.

Right before we head out, Sherry starts throwing a fit.

“Why do I have to stay home alone!? I wanna go to school too!! Take me with you!!”

“You haven’t even taken the entrance exam, so no way. I’ll handle your paperwork, just chill.”

“I don’t wanna stay home alone!! I wanna go now!!”

“Quit being a brat…”

Sherry stamps her feet, whining loudly.

We explained everything beforehand, and she was fine with it, but seeing us in our uniforms must’ve made her jealous.

She’s suddenly demanding to come along.

“Why do I need to take some dumb exam!? Just pull strings with the military and get me in! Then I can start school right away—let’s do that!”

“That’d make it obvious we’re war vets and draw way too much attention. I just want a normal high school life!”

“That’s not something a triumphant soldier says…”

“Sherry’s saying the same stuff as me~”

Natalie cackles, treating it like a joke.

Help me convince her, damn it.

“Been wondering~ What happens if you run into old middle school classmates besides Rinko-chan and them~? Won’t they figure out you’re a war vet~?”

…Oh.

“Nice one, Natalie-san! Like she said, it’s gonna come out sooner or later, so let’s just use the military! Come on!”

I hadn’t thought of that.

Yeah… she’s got a point…

As I freeze, caught off guard, Nee-san steps in.

“It’s a prep school, so I doubt many of Tak-kun’s middle school classmates are there. From what I know, it’s probably just Fumika-chan, Rinko-chan, and Renji-kun.”

“What about your friends, Nee-chan~? Don’t they know the situation~?”

“Sure, a lot of my friends know, but they’re not the type to blab. Plus, the school buildings are separated by grade, so I don’t think there’s much risk of standing out.”

“Hmm~ Sounds like it’s fine then~ Give it up, Sherry~”

At Natalie’s words, Sherry lets out a weird “Nuga!” sound.

Her sanpaku eyes squeeze shut like a manga character’s.

“Ugh… F-fine! Then give me a goodbye kiss! That’ll make up for it!”

“Huh!? No way in hell! Go lick asphalt, you moron~”

“That’s right, Sherry-chan! No way that’s allowed! I’ll kiss you instead, so deal with it!”

Nee-san grabs Sherry’s head, leaning in for a kiss.

“W-w-w-wait, Nee-sama! S-stop…! I wanted Takashi-kun to—”

“No kissing Tak-kun! You get your big sis’s kiss instead!”

“P-please, have mercy~! Okay, okay, I get it! I’ll stay home quietly, just spare me~!”

Sherry finally breaks, tears in her eyes.

Guess she can’t stand up to Nee-san—she backs down obediently.