E/D: Castle
T/L: Yurika
Ekaterina’s POV
“Well, that’s very kind of you.” (Ekaterina)
They came all the way here because they cared. They’re good kids.
Just then, a voice called out to me. It was a nice, deep voice.
“What are you doing here? There’s no way you’re in the top ten, is there?”
“…Oh, brother.”
Marina spoke, but her tone definitely plunged two notches and it was icy.
What, big brother?
When I looked at the person who called out to me, I saw a tall young man with magnificent red hair and golden eyes, a macho sportsman type, and he stopped to look at me.
Oh my, this is the same guy who showed me where my brother’s office was when I visited his class a while back. I see…he’s the same skin tone as Marina-chan, and they share the same athletic build…he’s Marina-chan’s brother. So we’re in the same class, sister to sister and brother to brother.
“Oh, duke. You’re in first place again, that’s great. And your sister, too. Long time no see, I don’t know if you remember me, but my name is Nikolai Kruimov.” (Nikolai)
“Long time no see, of course I remember you. It’s been a long time, of course I remember you, thank you very much for your help.” (Ekatrina)
3rd POV
Beside the smiling Ekaterina, Alexei looks at Marina and smiles.
“So this is your sister.” (Alexei)
“Oh, that’s my monkey.” (Nikolai)
Ekaterina’s POV
Nikolai laughed and Marina squealed in anger.
“What did you just say!? If I were a monkey, Big Brother is a big monkey! You are a gluttonous demon beast with the power to destroy two storage sheds, pretending to be a human!” (Marina)
“Who’s a demon beast? You told me to destroy the storage sheds, so you could rebuild them!” (Nikolai)
Eh…but you can tear it down, doesn’t that mean you’re a demon beast?
“You pretending to be a warrior girl is much more painful, how can you even do that?”(Nikolai)
“Oh-ho-ho, I’ve mastered the [Five Cat Strikes] technique handed down from mother, so I have no blind spots!” (Marina)
“… How can you just say Cat Strikes in front of so many people?” (Nikolai)
“Haaah!” (Marina)
Marina stiffens.
Yes, Nikolai-san, what a good point.
So, Marina has five cats? I suddenly imagined her with five cats above her head, like a cat tower. How fluffy, this is so moe isn’t it?
As a company employee who suddenly became a lady, I feel a kinship with her.
(E/N: She’s probably referring to having a hidden alter-ego. Marina looks strong/athletic but actually likes fluffy things, Ekaterina seems like a true lady but actually used to be a company employee.)
So, I’m going to help and make a joke.
“Marina-sama, do you have that many cats? I’m sure they’re adorable.” (Ekaterina)
“Yes, I do!” (Marina)
3rd POV
Marina quickly jumped at Ekaterina’s attempt to ease the situation.
“We run a horse farm, so we have a lot of cats living in the stables. They help us get rid of vermin, and even the roughest horses tend to get along with our cats.” (Marina)
“A cat and a horse becoming friends? How wonderful. Yes, I saw the Kruimovs’ magical beast horse the other day. It was beautiful, powerful, and stunning.” (Ekaterina)
“My, that is very kind of you! Thank you for your kind praise.” (Marina)
Marina felt that she had finally managed to escape, and was pleased with Ekaterina’s words.
Looking around, everyone except for the dumbfounded Nikolai, are smiling and seem to be willing to pretend that Marina got away with it.
Looking at it, the Kruimov siblings seem to get along so well that they could fight and have banter like this.
Ekaterina looked up at her brother beside her and smiled wickedly.
“Big Brother, the two Kruimovs look very close, aren’t they? Compared to them, I think we’re not as close as we should be. Why don’t you try calling me monkey for once?” (Ekaterina)
“No.” (Alexei)
Alexei simply replied.
“Big Brother, you gave up too soon.” (Ekaterina)
“But I really can’t. I’ve never actually seen a monkey, but I’m guessing it’s a tree-dwelling creature that lives in groups in the southern forests.” (Alexei)
