Chapter 18: Missing Big Sis When She's Not Around

"Ow! That hurts, Big Sis!"

Higokumaru clutched her head with both hands, tears welling up in her big eyes as she looked at Yae Sakura.

"I've told you not to call me 'Big Sis.' If you do it again, I'll turn you into roasted fox meat!"

"Roasted... roasted fox meat? I'm sorry, Big Sis! Don't turn me into a roast! Fox meat is yucky!"

At this, Higokumaru burst out crying and hugged Yae Sakura's leg tightly.

"You're really getting on my nerves!"

Big Sis this, Big Sis that, all Yae Sakura could think was how annoying it had become.

"Big Sister, is this really another world? Awesome! I can stay by your side more often now." Higokumaru gently let go of Yae Sakura, then looked around with a happy expression.

... No! This isn't good at all...

Being called "Big Sister" constantly would drive Yae Sakura crazy.

"Big Sister, did you know? I missed you so much!"

"After Schicksal opened its headquarters in the open world, you haven't returned to Yae Village once. It's been over half a year since I last saw Big Sister."

"Every day, I'd wait at the shrine hoping Big Sister might come back, but she never did..."

"I know Big Sister has Love Chan there too, someone just like me who keeps her company, so she's not lonely. But still... I feel so unhappy about it."

"I miss gathering resources and completing quests together in Yae Village..."

With those words, tears began rolling down Higokumaru's cheeks.

Higokumaru loved grilled meat and fried tofu the most, but without Big Sister around, even these foods tasted bland to her.

"Oh dear... There, there! Don't cry anymore..." Seeing Higokumaru truly upset left Yae Sakura feeling helpless again.

It had indeed been over half a year since she last visited Sakura Samsara. She'd spent all her time at Schicksal HQ instead.

After all, there wasn't much left to do in Sakura Samsara, while Schicksal HQ offered more worthwhile activities.

Since it was just a game, Yae hadn't even considered Higokumaru's feelings. She never expected...

Still, Yae could be certain that this was the same Higokumaru from her account.

Oh... wait a minute!

"Didn't we often meet in the Valkyries' dormitory?" Yae realized what must have happened—she had placed one of these dolls in her room!

"Well..." Higokumaru scratched his head awkwardly with an embarrassed grin.

"You're such a big dummy!" Yae smacked him on the head. "Wasting my mood!"

"Forget it," he said quickly. "Just come with me!"

"Yes, Big Sister!"

Yae fell silent.

I'm not five hundred years old...

And besides, even if I were, as a Herrscher from the previous era, you'd be tens of thousands of years old! How can you call me 'Big Sister'? Where's your sense of shame?

But considering how cute you still look... I...

I still can't accept this!

'Big Sister'? Yeah right!

-

First, I took Higokumaru to meet Kikyo.

If everything went as planned, she'd be joining us on missions from now on.

"Hello there, Miss Yae!" When Yae returned to Maple Village with Higokumaru, passing villagers greeted her warmly.

"Hi!" Yae smiled back. With Kikyo vouching for her and a year of helping villagers (by completing their requests), they had grown accepting of the half-demon Yae.

It made sense, really. The villagers held Kikyo in high regard and trusted everything she said. They practically treated her like a deity.

"Big sis is amazing! You're so well-liked even in other villages!" Following behind Yae, Higokumaru looked up at her with admiration.

"..."

"I wonder if these villagers have any spiritual weapons or soul-catching bottles though," Higokumaru mused aloud, eyeing the surrounding villagers expectantly. "It's been ages since I've played around with those."

"..."

No! Don't get your hopes up— not all villages are like Yae Village!

Isn't Yae Village's outrageous black technology just bizarre?

-

Finally reaching Kikyō's side, Yae Sakura quickly explained, "Kikyō-chan, this is my familiar, Hikugomaru... no wait! It's Higokumaru!"

(TL Note: Its a joke that does not really translate well to English but essentially Yae misspoke with the pronunciation of her name.

A direct translation would be something like this ""Kikyo-chan, this is my familiar, Big Fish Maru... no! Scarlet Jade Maru!" Maru meaning ball or circle in a literal sense.

So I played around a bit with the definitions to make it seem like a more realistic slip up from an English perspective. Though expect Higokumaru to be referred to by some variation of fish balls)

"Familiar? Big Fish Ball?" Kaede, standing next to Kikyō, noticed Higokumaru and her eyes lit up instantly.

Fox ears and a fox tail!

How adorable!

"Are you Big Fish Ball? I'm Kaede. Can we be friends?" Kaede hurried over to Higokumaru, looking at her expectantly.

"...Elder... Elder sister?"

Feeling lost, Higokumaru quickly looked up at Yae Sakura.

After seeing Yae Sakura nod, she turned seriously towards Kaede...

"My name is Higokumaru, not Big Fish Ball!"

"Higokumaru? Ohh! I get it now! Higokumaru, can you be my friend?"

"Well... since you're so sincere about it, I'll reluctantly say yes!"

"Really?! That's amazing! Are you a little fox? Can I touch your ears and tail?" Kaede eagerly awaited Higokumaru's response.

"No!" Higokumaru instinctively rejected the offer without hesitation.

Ears and tails are sensitive spots...

Only Big Sister can touch them; nobody else.

-

"An imp? If she won't cause any trouble, it's fine by me!" Kikyō glanced at Higokumaru before looking away.

After a year of interaction, Kikyō had come to fully trust Yae Sakura.

The fact that Kikyō was listed among Yae Sakura's close friends was the best testament to this trust.

Currently, Yae Sakura only had three close friends: Natsuki, Kikyō, and Kaede.

Apart from being able to chat privately with them, Yae Sakura hadn't yet discovered any other features related to her friendships.