I Became the Final Subjugation Target of That Era’s Light Novel

Time flies during enjoyable moments. Especially since I had more than just school responsibilities, I felt particularly busy.

Kagami found a new job. She started working part-time at a local supermarket.

It seems like while helping us out, there’s some sort of support funding coming through, but Kagami seemed a bit hesitant about just accepting help from Dad and me.

…I want to tell her that it’s okay to just take it easy, but I know she wouldn’t easily accept that kind of talk.

Rather, perhaps because she shed a bit of that mental burden, Kagami’s mood became a bit brighter.

I think Koko played a part in that.

Now, Koko can’t really claim to be ‘clueless’ anymore as she’s learned a lot of different things, but her unique optimistic and innocent attitude hasn’t changed much. Hearing her exclaim “Wow!” or “Huh?” instantly blows away any slight feeling of gloom I might have had.

Plus, Koko really loves to cozy up into the arms of people she thinks are close to her, often hanging onto Kagami. When that happens, Kagami makes a face like she’s petting a cat.

I’m glad I took her in. I genuinely felt that way.

The good thing about living in the same place for many years is that you eventually get used to it.

You get to know the neighbors, chat with them, and participate in community events. You make friends in the neighborhood. Sometimes, I would meet Kagami midway on my way back from school, and we’d go home together.

I liked that normalcy.

I kept in touch regularly with the Sasaki siblings. Neither side cut off their ties, sharing delicious things whenever they had them, and inviting each other over to celebrate on special occasions.

In between all that, Yuka got invited too, and Nanami would sneak her way in.

The normalcy Kagami desired, and the normalcy I yearned for, was right there.

It wasn’t perfect.

There are still beings that threaten us. At the start of the main story, the Sasaki siblings will probably find themselves embroiled in life-threatening incidents, and they’ll continue to encounter Yōkai and get hurt.

I still haven’t told anyone that story.

“…”

Well, I really don’t know.

Now, I’m unsure of what I precisely want.

Do I want to keep myself and the people around me from getting hurt? Or do I merely wish for the safety of my family?

If I merely follow the original work, Sota will definitely get hurt. Shii will suffer watching that Sota, and Yuka will feel guilty in her own way.

With Koko, she could definitely help to some extent. No, rather than ‘to some extent,’ she will surely be of help. She might even be much better than me.

Yet, I feel that I don’t want to drag Koko into this.

I think it’s fine since Sota and Shii are just characters in the novel. Even though I thought of securing safety by relying on them as well.

“Koto Ne?”

I blinked at the sound calling my name.

Koko tilted her head, watching me as I paused while packing.

“Hmm? Ah.”

Receiving Koko’s gaze, I quickly raised my hand to pat her head and said, “No, nothing is wrong.”

Yeah. Nothing is wrong.

At least nothing immensely significant occurred afterward.

Those around fear Koko. Yuka will be going along anyway.

…

And.

After thinking that far, I again wore a blank expression.

I truly don’t know.

The talk about traveling came out just like that, a sudden topic while we were pondering what to do over the break. An idea proposed by Nanami, who knows nothing.

For some reason, Shii’s eyes sparkled at that.

Despite being aware of Nanami while still being cautious of her, Shii is still an elementary school student.

Until last year, we had never really stepped far from Tokyo. Personally, I had ventured out, but typically only when I went out with Yuka to handle nearby Yōkai.

Every summer, we always went to Odaiba Beach. It wasn’t an extraordinarily enjoyable trip, yet Sota and Shii always had fun.

So at first, I thought that was okay. Sota was naturally a nice guy, and Shii was sweet.

However, in this world, there are bound to be MORE enjoyable things.

Shii sparkled with anticipation at Nanami’s words. Sota, seeing such Shii, nodded towards Nanami, suggesting they think about it.

Then, receiving Shii’s gaze and seeing Koko look at me, I simply couldn’t shake my head.

“It’s okay.”

Kagami returned home, her gloomy expression as she shared that event with me, and hugged me tightly while saying, “It’s okay, Koto Ne.”

Kagami said that with a firm expression, as if she had made up her mind.

They mentioned that neither Kagami nor the government could find any traces of Kosuzu afterward.

Monsters aren’t something easily created, despite Kurosawa’s claims. Considering that the invisible Yōkai could also be lost, the thought that Kosuzu will soon come looking for us is hard to entertain.

She may resurface after several years of preparation, but for now, it’s not happening.

“…”

However, hearing such words, I still didn’t settle down.

Haven’t I already encountered a bear on a previous outing? And I believe that bear wasn’t just any ordinary bear.

“Your worries really creep me out,” Yuka said, listening to my story in disbelief.

“No matter what, Yōkai doesn’t show up like a meal, right? Well, it’s not entirely impossible, though.”

Yuka sighed heavily as she heard that and seeing my anxious expression, said, “You said not to worry about things that can’t be resolved immediately, and now you’re worrying about things that haven’t even happened yet?”

She said that.

“I’m here, and if there seems to be a major issue, I’ll handle it somehow. You’re not someone who just lets things happen, right?”

Yeah.

I’m not a complete veteran, but I certainly won’t just let things happen idly. I have… fought quite a bit after all.

So, even in the utterly unlikely event that a worst-case scenario happens, Yuka and I can resolve it. Looking at Kagami’s reaction, there are bound to be people nearby too.

So, it’s fine.

“…Let’s pack our things too.”

“Okay!”

I packed for a trip after a really long time.

Yeah. I don’t need to spoil others’ moods by being overly consumed with contemplation. Even Kagami seems to be looking forward to this trip.

I’m nervous, but I shouldn’t get so worked up that I ruin everything.

Thinking that, I closed my backpack zipper.

*

A road trip is good, and a bus trip is nice, but I feel most at ease with a train journey.

It’s spacious, allowing me to casually see the scenery flow by, and above all, if anything happens, being on a train means there are ways to resolve situations, right? Like there’s a bathroom onboard.

Initially, our family couldn’t fit all eight of us in the car. There’s me, Kagami, Koko, and Dad, making it a family of four. Then, there’s Sota, Shii, Nanami, and Yuka as well for a total of eight people.

If it were the truck we used to ride, we could have stuffed a few in the back, but trying to get onto the expressway would have gotten us pulled over immediately. Moreover, it’s illegal to carry people in that compartment.

That’s why we ended up taking the train.

We decided on a travel destination that isn’t too far. It wouldn’t be good if help from people nearby had to come from too far away in case something happened.

Or could there already be a few people on this train?

Deep in my thoughts, contemplating various things while blankly staring out the window, I felt a gentle tap on my shoulder.

Turning my head, I saw Koko, with her mouth full of snacks, offering me some too.

The long snack had chocolate on one side. It was a treat sold in Korea as well.

I smiled, accepting it with my mouth. Koko returned a smile to me.

Koko understands the concept of family now. She understands what playing means and what resting means. Though, judging by how much she seems to enjoy going to school, she probably doesn’t clearly distinguish those boundaries. Still, she has improved significantly compared to before.

Today is the day Koko is going on a long trip for the very first time.

“…”

I see.

Perhaps I’ve only been thinking about myself. Somehow obsessing over normalcy, I felt like I was trying to create no chances for breaking it.

Meeting Yuka’s gaze from the opposite seat, I found her looking towards me.

Yuka gave a small smile.

As if telling me not to worry so much.

Yuka, who was so prickly at first, is now making such expressions.

Does that mean I’ve become that comfortable?

I looked back out the window.

It was mid-summer, and the sun was blazing. No signs of rain in sight.

I hoped it would stay like this throughout the trip.

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