Having walked in the direction of Maruyama-cho, we ducked into a live music concert and watched "Melancholy Ninja" live performance.
I was really surprised that Naruko was a fan of Kakashi-san's band, it seemed that Naruko really wanted to base the band that Haru and his friend made in the story off of them, so she closely watched the performance, burning the experience into her memory.
I guess part of the reason Naruko invited me on this trip on Christmas Eve especially was to see this band's Christmas performance. The live performance ended, and we were exiting the building.
"Alright."
Naruko seemed to have thought of something, and ran towards a convenience store on the other side of the street.
"What's up with her?"
As I watched her with my hands thrust into my pockets, I saw my sister return clutching two water-filled buckets. With a heave-ho, heave-ho, she slowly walked back to my location. It seems that they were buckets she had borrowed from the shopkeeper…
"Hey Naruko… what exactly do you plan on doing with those things?"
She's not going to go and sprinkle the streets over there, right…?
"Don't tell me you're going to throw all that water on me…"
"Why would I do that?"
I see… I see… as expected, even she wouldn't do something as cruel as that. And then… Splash! I heard the sound of water reverberating through the air.
"Wha-!" The origin of the sound of water was…
"What the hell are you doing!?" I was completely taken aback, and my eyes opened wide in astonishment as I shouted.
Right in front of me, I saw the soaked form of my sister. Her hair clung to her face, and her wet clothes dripped with cold water. It was a tragic sight to behold. The water sound that I heard before was Naruko dumping the buckets full of water on herself.
Completely soaked, Naruko seemed to completely ignore my words and the stares people were sending her way.
"… Haah… haah… "
She settled into the fetal position, with her arms hugging her knees, and began to shiver. Her breath solidified into a pure white in front of her. It was the late of December. The sun had gone down, and the temperature had precipitously dropped. And that water must have been freezing…!
All the guests were also shocked at Naruko's strange action. I have no idea what she was doing! What the hell is she trying to achieve here!? My thoughts had been thrown completely into chaos.
"You big idiot! I'm going to go bring a towel, so—"
"Don't."
"What!?"
Turning around, I showed my teeth, not even trying to hide my irritation. Of course, I had been surprised at my sister's actions, but my anger came before that. I had no idea what reason she had for doing what she did, but she really shouldn't do such stupid things in front of her brother. And what's more, this idiot sister responded like that while she shivered there on the ground… so I was surprised.
"… I-I still don't know what the protagonist was feeling… so just wait a second."
"Don't screw with me! Are you an idiot!?" I shouted on reflex.
Even now, I couldn't make head or tails of what my sister was saying. What? What did you say…? You don't understand what the protagonist was feeling… ?
"What are you talking about?!"
"You're completely soaked and shivering! I have no idea what you mean! Your breath is condensing into such a pure white too… just stop what you're doing right now!"
I can't watch this! Geez…
"… On Christmas Eve, Ruko gets soaked by the rain and waits for her boyfriend even though she knows he won't come… that kind of scene exists… so… "
"Shut up! Come on! Just put this on!"
I took off the jacket I had on, and forcibly draped it onto my sister as she sat there next, I glared at the people around us, trying to chase away the curious onlookers. Fortunately, faced with my serious anger, the onlookers checked themselves and the strange stares and sneers directed at Naruko somewhat lessened in intensity.
"And then a towel… umm… "
Rushing into the convenience store, I quickly bought a towel and returned. And then, I put the towel to my sister's face as she sat there silently looking downwards, wiping her face fanatically.
"W-wait… don't touch me in weird places…!"
"I'm wiping you off, dammit!"
I can't believe she doesn't let up her abusive mouth even in a situation like this. Also what should I do? Her wet clothes are sucking up her body warmth more than I envisioned, and she'll catch a cold at this rate… was there a public bath house around here somewhere?
Completely flustered, I tried to work out a plan, when Naruko began to tug at my sleeve. She called out to me with her face pale.
"I-it's cold… "
"No kidding! You idiot, you were the one who poured water over yourself, so why are you saying that all of a sudden!? You complete dumbass! You didn't think about the consequences of your actions at all, did you!? No matter how serious you say you are, there are just lines you do not cross!"
She even ruined the outfit she had so carefully chosen for today…
"T-the scene where Ruko and Haru first meet… she was sitting after being soaked in the rain… and was found by Haru after he finished with his concert… I thought a scene like that would be interesting… "
She had told me to get hit by a dump truck, and to get amnesia, and those kinds of absurd things… but she really might have been serious when she said all of that. I mean, she's straining herself and doing such unreasonable things to her own body…
In a way, being able to go so far to pursue her goals… that was pretty damn impressive. But I still can't comprehend why she did what she did. I mean, I can't help but be put off by her actions. I mean, honestly, it was a pretty unpleasant situation.
"Hey… l?"
"Hm? I'm thinking about what to do from here, so just wait for a se… what?"
"T-the next place for inspiration… is over there."
"You still want to do that even now…?"
Naruko's voice was firm and she pointed somewhere, and dumbfounded, I turned in the direction she was pointing…
"What the hell!?"
Completely shocked, I bit my tongue. Looking up at the pink building Naruko was pointing at, I began to tremble… I think people familiar with these parts already know, but the area around here was the so-called "Love Hotel City."
"A-are you an idiot!? Why does a brother and his sister have to go into a place like that!?"
"D-don't shout out that we're brother and sister like that!… Achoo ! After Ruto finds Ruko drenched in the rain, it's natural that they would go to a love hotel, right? B-because, besides, there's no other place she can take a shower… Achoo!"
"Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaghhhhhhhhhhhhhh! I should have never come here! I should have never come to Shibuya with you!"