If you stay here, Minaho-neesan will do something about it. I can even borrow Jii-chan’s power. I’ll ask him to get you a new identity That’s the reason why I’m a hindrance to Onii-chan
Mana.
I can’t repay anything, and yet you’re doing all those things, I feel inexcusable with myself! It’s enough to have you by my side
I said.
You don’t need to repay anything! Just stay here! You can stay with me forever!
I hug Mana with all my strength.
Onii-chan thank you
Mana speaks in a small voice.
But, I can’t I already made my decision
Mana looks up.
Her big eyes look at me.
No matter how painful it is, you have to do your best on living
What should I do?
If this is the answer, Mana has decided on then.
Do I have to accept it?
But.
I don’t think that Mana will be happy living in Old man Ichikawa’s house with Yukino!
Then, that won’t make you happy It’s inevitable. This is my destiny, I just have to accept it
Is that really the case?
I can’t run away. I’m sure
I
Oh, you can. Or should I say that you should run at full power
Katsuko-nee?
Katsuko-nee enters the room showing a smug smile.
Fuck the reality that’s only pain! You should run towards your happiness with all your best! I don’t need to be happy anymore
Mana tells Katsuko-nee.
That’s something you say because you don’t know what true despair is
Katsuko-nee replies as she shows an earnest look.
Up until now you’ve been spoiled by his warmth, so you came up with such bizarre things. So, if you go to Ichikawa-san’s house with Yukino-san, then it’s too late to taste the true despair. If you lose your escape, then you can’t run away I’m already prepared for it Children aren’t allowed to say conceited things!
Katsuko-nee smiles at Mana.
The ladies in this mansion were all kidnapped and turned to prostitutes but, even after retiring as a prostitute a lot of them chose not to return to their families. Some lost their relatives while captured in here just like Ojou-sama but, even though there are some who still have their families remaining in their hometown, they did not return Katsuko-nee. If they return to their hometown this late after being kidnapped, can they tell anyone how they were until now? If they tell anyone, what would they do? Can you say them that you were made to take customers as a prostitute and got better only in sex?
Katsuko-nee stands by the window and looks outside.
We didn’t pick to become prostitutes. We’re different from stupid high school girls escaping the house to just play compensated dating. But, how can we tell that story? From the perspective of the society, we’re no different from those girls. I wasn’t able to see my girlfriend for a while, but apparently she seems to be prostituting herself in Tokyo, or some kind of rumor comes to the neighborhood then the family has to endure that The society is cold. They can’t return. Especially when your parents are working on a stable company, your brothers and sisters wish to go to college, get to work and get married, etc. They think that it’s better for the family to stay missing instead of going home That might be true for the for the former prostitutes but I I have a place to return to
Mana said.
Oh really?
Huh, Katsuko-nee?
Does Ichikawa-san, and your mother wish for Mana-chan and Yukino-san to return? Would they gladly accept you? That’s
The answer is no.
Old man Ichikawa values his house more than others.
If that’s not the case, then he won’t be considering confining Yukino to a mental hospital.
But, I’ll do my best. I’m their family. I can’t do anything even if it’s painful
Mana looks down again.
We’re blood-related. So they should understand one day. Ojii-chan, Mama, Yukino-oneechan too!
I.
Don’t believe in blood relationship Onii-chan? People don’t save others just because they’re blood-related! That’s just a phony!
I!
Nothing will happen even if you believe that! Blood doesn’t equate love!
Mana looks up at me surprised.
I was abandoned by my mother. My father also gave up on me. He only left a passbook and ceased to exist! I had nowhere to go!
I shouted in a loud voice that even I am surprised.
I lived alone in such a dark house, I didn’t know what to do! Onii-chan
Mana looks at me.
It’s okay. You have us. This is your home now!
Katsuko-nee hugs me from behind.
Everyone’s here for you But, Katsuko-nee. Mana
I embrace Mana with my trembling hands.
Mana’s abandoning me, she’s going away! She won’t go! It’s okay!
Mana looks at me.
You see, his mother never poured any love on him. Then, while he was boarding on his middle school, his mother divorced his father and never came back. Without contacting him at all She’s not my mother!
I speak as if spitting out.
Then, his father disappeared on the high school entrance ceremony Disappeared?
Mana looks surprised.
The adults abandoned him. Even though they left him some money, a high school boy can’t live alone
I remember the dark nights I sleep on the worn out sofa.
This man pours all of his tremendous love to us, his family because there’s a big hole in his heart. This person wants love in reality. But, he doesn’t have much experience of being loved by other people so, on the contrary, he gives his love I. Mana, I beg you, don’t leave me. Don’t abandon me, don’t leave me Onii-chan, I If you’re gone I’d feel sad, lonely, I want you to stay by my side!
I know that this is just my ego.
But.
What will you do Mana-chan? Even though he needs you so much, are you going to someone who doesn’t want you?
Katsuko-nee asks Mana.
I
Mana thinks
Very well. Let’s take a break. Let’s go to the dining area and drink tea. I think that the girls in the garden haven’t returned yet
Katsuko-nee smiles at us.
Katsuko-nee prepares tea in the dining room.
Mana sits down on a chair, still wearing a bathrobe.
Speaking of which, have you two go to the library of this mansion?
Katsuko-nee asks.
Library? There’s one here?
I ask.
There is. Even though it’s a library, it’s just a collection of books all the prostitutes have read
Books for the prostitutes?
There’s nothing to do for everyone trapped in the mansion. Even though there was no internet, you could order books. In the past, it seems that you just make a request on Morimoto-san, the clerk and he’ll order it from a bookstore. There’s book from the Showa era. Well, most of it is manga The manga the successive generations of prostitutes had been reading are still here. Reading or watching movies are the pastime of the prostitutes. There’s a lot of old videotapes and even laser disks. Have you seen a Betamax or VHD? Of course, there are Blu-ray movies here too. This brothel is operational since the fall of last year, in the first place, the number of purchase has decreased since you can watch on the internet on the past few years Katsuko-nee said laughing. Nei-chan hangs out there a lot. Also, Kyouko-san. Both of them love old manga and movies. Margo-chan only views films. She seems to not like Manga
Oh, that’s why Nei knows a lot of strange stories.
Nei’s been in this mansion all the time for the past two years.
You see, when I was brought here, Ojou-sama told me: Make sure to read Glass Mask, Rose of Versailles, and Kingdom’s Crest Huh, why? That’s a necessary knowledge so I could talk with the elder ladies
Haa.
That is a particular book one have to read for work. Back then, the books bought were business and economic books, and manga and movies for the young guests. It’s a necessity for conversation Huh, why? Hmm, Ninja martial art book, or Igasaki Kagemaru, or The father’s soul, or Tomorrow’s Joe, and The giant Star are necessities. My customers were in their youth in the 60s. So I have to study the customs of that era. Also, Golgo 13, and Lone wolf and Cub. Even the presidents of a big company read those It’s a lot of trouble for the prostitutes too. Therefore, well, there’s not only Shoujo manga in the library but also a manga for boys. There seems to be a lot of the ladies who read boy’s comics.