Ch. 4: Power of the Fist
At that time, one of the men pushed Kaine out of the way and grabbed my arm…-
Kaine: “OO…-! Don’t touch her!”
Kaine punched the man in the stomach.
Well-Built Man: “Ugh…”
The man doubled over in pain.
Vulgar Man: “Now you’ve done it brat!!”
The other men immediately moved to start beating on Kaine but…
Kaine nimbly dodged their attacks, ducking under their arms and returning with another punch.
Vulgar Man: “Wha…”
The entire thing was so unexpected and surprising that the man was frozen, unable to strike again.
(W-wow…)
My eyes were glued to Kaine.
Ch. 5: To Protect You Someday
Man: “You’ll regret that!”
The men shouted crossly as they ran away.
As I watched them flee, Kaine rushed up to me.
Kaine: “OO, are you alright?”
He looked at me worriedly, and even now his eyes were damp as if he was about to cry.
(It’s like he was a totally different person just now.)
OO: “That was really amazing Kaine.”
Kaine: “Huh…?”
OO: “You were really cool.”
Kaine: “R-really!?”
His eyes immediately started to sparkle.
OO: “You’re pretty strong.”
Kaine: “I went through some pretty harsh training from my sisters. But no matter how much I trained and strengthened my body, I still haven’t been able to grow any taller…”
Kaine’s shoulders drooped in defeat.
Kaine: “You know, my sisters were worried about me, so they taught me taijutsu and how to handle a sword. That’s why I have to protect girls! But I still haven’t been able to beat my sisters…”
(His sisters…)
Kaine: “My sisters are really strict, and they’d make me cry a lot when I was little… but I’m glad they taught me! So I’m going to protect you OO!”
OO: “Thanks Kaine.”
We looked at each other and smiled.
With that exchange, for some reason I felt kind of shy.
Then…-
Kaine: “Alright! I’ll train even more and get really muscley!”
He suddenly looked up to the sky and shouted those words.
OO: “M-muscley?”
Kaine: “Because I have to protect you no matter what!”
He flexed his arms, trying to show off his biceps.
(A muscle-heavy Kaine…)
I looked at the adorable elf-like Kaine, and couldn’t help feeling like it would be a waste.
That’s what I thought as I looked at Kaine, his cheeks flushed as he smiled.
Kaine: “OO, I want you to see me, but not as a younger brother! Because, ever since we met I…”
OO: “Eh?”
I stared at him as his voice trailed off at the end, and I couldn’t hear the end of what he’d said.
Then Kaine looked at me as if he was amused.
Kaine: “I’ll become a proper man.”
That smiling face sparkled and shone like the rays of the sun and…
I felt something stir in my heart.
END