Shingan no Yuusha-Prologue 1

My Former Daily Routine (The normal days on earth)

[—- A log craftsman’s mornings start early.]

This is what the Narrator was saying on a television program.
On a Sunday evening I was in my room laying around while the tv was on that program came on. It’s a documentary program that presents people involved in sports, theater, music, academics and etc.
This time they seem to be showcasing Nakamura Ichirou, a log craftsman.
I just finished reading a manga where someone killed a vampire with a log, so I am currently interested in log craftsmen. (TL Note: So, I think the author is referencing a manga called Higanjima. Where a dude kills vampires with logs. It’s kinda sick.)
I will actually pay attention to the program.

[Nakamura-san is a world-renowned polish log craftsman. He is a famous person who is a recipient of the Important Intangible Cultural Property award, also known as a Human National Treasure. Polishing log crafting uses Japanese cedar and Japanese cypress. When you remove the bark, and it’s polished you can use it for things like an alcove post.] Announcer (TL Host: Yeah this is an actual award in japan giving to people who are considered masters in a certain field. It like the English custom of knighthood, but less fancy and more to recognize abilities.)

Even though he was introduced as being world renowned, I have never heard of him before.
I didn’t even know there was such a job like a polisher log craftsman. I once accidentally found out about log craftsmen chair makers from the net a long time ago.

[Onii-chan, lend me some manga, ‘kay.] (TL Note: I will not be translating certain Japanese words because they are just so predominant that everyone knows them. Also, it loses something in the translation.)

My little sister Maruko opened my door and came inside my room.
Her full name is Maruta Mako and her nickname is Maruko, she is my little sister who is in elementary school. She is in the 5th grade and she love manga.

Her name Maruko comes from her roundish cute face.

[Today the newest volume of the manga that you buy came out today. It already arrived right. I’ve seen right~ through you.] Maruko

The manga I lent to her previously, she seems to be really into it.

[Ah, yeah. Here ya go.] Onii-chan

[Yay, thanks. Onii-chan is the best!] Maruko

Even though Maruko isn’t moving her head, her ponytail is swaying like a dog’s tail.

…What is going on with my sister’s hair? Is there a tail bone in there?

[Don’t only praise me when you are borrowing my stuff. Honestly…what a calculating sister I have.] Onii-chan

[Tee Hee.] Maruko

My sister Maruko stuck her tongue out as she said this.
And as she started laughing said.

[Since you lent me a manga, should I give you some “service”.] Maruko

This is what she said.
For being an elementary school student, she is coming off like a little devil.

[Service?] Onii-chan

As I threw her words back at her, Maruko put her lips right near my ear.

[Yep. You’re cute and adorable sister is going to present some service to you.] Maruko

This is what she whispered to me. And at the end she blew into my ear.
Honestly, a cold chill ran down my spine.

……Recently, my sister has been acting weird. What should I do?

The young girls manga magazine that Maruko reads has increased the number of works geared to older girls, this may be affecting her. She seems to be recently acting like a flirtatious girl.

For me, a virgin whose age also equals how long I haven’t had a girlfriend, I know my sister is only teasing and playing with me.

She probably thinks that since I’m her brother I would be the perfect person to practice these phrases on. The young girls manga magazine’s special “How to become a dangerously cute devilish girl” and other stuff like this.

[Onii-chan. Lay down on the bed.] Maruko

I listened to her invitation and laid on my stomach on the bed.

I had already guessed what my sister’s “service” actually is. It’s probably a massage or something.

Of course, it was a normal massage and nothing sexual, this goes without saying.
Maruko straddled my back.
She is light so it wasn’t uncomfortable.
By the way, when I looked at my reflection in the mirror in my room I could see my sister’s panties, but this meant nothing to me.
It was a stripped pattern, honestly such unnecessary information.
Well I was relieved that my sister is wearing child underwear befitting an elementary school student. If she happened to be wearing adult black panties then as her brother I would be shocked in many ways.

[Oh, my sir, you are so stiff.] Maruko

As my sister Maruko spouted random phrases she massaged my back.
Of course, Maruko had no skills and techniques for massaging me.
To be honest the massage didn’t even feel good, but the shaky massage that she put her all into for me was her form of “service” and I was satisfied with that.
……
After a couple of minutes my sister must have become bored with the massage, because she is now watching TV while randomly massaging my back.
She was half watching the documentary programing presenting the log craftsmen Nakamura-san when.

[Oh, that’s right, Onii-chan.] Maruko

[What?] Onii-chan

[Among my friends, there is a girl whose mother is a yoga instructor. That girl said you can also use logs in yoga.] Maruko

[O, Oh…] Onii-chan

The combination of the mystical like yoga with a log somewhat feels weird.

[It seems you lay on top of the log while doing yoga. It supposed to be good for relieving cricks
in your body, and it has a relaxation effect. It’s apparently called “Log Yoga” and it’s supposed to be pretty popular. Since you don’t do anything every day, if you are interested why don’t you try and take a lesson. They even have trial lessons.] Maruko

[Don’t just go and decide that I am free… even though I am.] Onii-chan

After several minutes passed Maruko’s hands had completely stopped showing she was fed up with doing the massage.
Besides that, she is still sitting on my back and trying to read the manga I just lent her.
……I think it’s about time to get off of me.
Just as he was about to complain, the ending theme song for the tv show they left on in the background started to play.

[Whenever I hear the ending theme song or this show I think that it is the end of Sunday…. hmm.] Maruko

10-year-old Maruko let out a weary sigh.
But for her to not feel this way over the national anime or The Sazae-san show but to feel this over this show’s passionate ending song. What a manly elementary school girl.
……But more importantly my sister. Can you please get of your brother’s back?

[But, Onii-chan is lucky.] Maruko

[What is it now?] Onii-chan

[Since you’re a neet, every day is Sunday.] Maruko

I, Maruta Makoto, am 17 years old a high school student, but currently I am not attending classes. I am a neet so everyday Sunday and a holiday to me.
My sister is still sitting on my back. She started swaying as if she was riding a mechanical bull and happily started singing.

[Everyday. Neet life. Makoto.] Maruko (TL Note: YEAH Persona 4!!)

[Don’t casually call me by my first name and dis me with some strange song.] Makoto (TL Note: Everyone probably knows this already but in Japanese you really don’t call people by the first names unless they are related to you and younger or are super close to that person. Everyone else uses a person’s last name. If it’s family then the staple Onii-chan or onee-san.)

I pretended to be mad and I did a push-up while lying down on the bed.
I tried to shake my sister of my back.
But, sadly Maruko has both great reflexes and motor skills so she quickly jumped down from my back.
On top of that my sister finished with a one liner “Hasta la vista” and she left my room.
…She has been getting pretty full of herself lately.
Well, she still is very cute. But the times she has been teasing me have been increasing. Even though I am so much older than her, she is looking down on her brother.
But the reason for me losing my respected place as the older brother is because I don’t go to school and I am somewhat of a shut in.

[Oh, but don’t worry, Onii-chan.] Maruko

Maruko who I had thought had left my room had stuck her head in gap of the open door.

[…. What?] Makoto

[For my poor Onii-chan who has no social skills, in the future if you become an absolutely useless person, since I have no choice I will support you. But, I will leave the chores to you, just like a wife.] Maruko

[Just who is a poor Onii-chan! Just who is an absolutely useless person!] Makoto

I pretended to throw the book that was next to me.

[Command: Escape] Maruko (TL Note: This one might be Dragon Quest.)

As Maruko laughed, this time she definitely ran back to her room.
……Honestly, what did she mean by supporting me. Ridiculous.
It is true that since I don’t attend class, my future is looking hopeless. But, I can’t even imagine being supported by her. My pride as her older brother won’t allow it. If it is not due to some illness, then an older brother must never be reliant on his little sister.
—-As I thought these things, a bit of me was looking forward to this. I am absolutely hopeless.

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