Monogatari (化物語)

I had last met Sengoku Nadeko more than six years ago.

Thus, I didn't recognize her at first when we met again.

If I had only realized sooner that it was her,

perhaps the story wouldn't have ended like this.

But those regrets don't mean anything to her or the oddity.

That girl just now...

I didn't expect to run into anyone up here.

Especially not a girl that cute.

Whatever, let's keep climbing.

Oh, and watch your step.

Don't mind the bug bites, but this mountain is full of snakes.

By the way, Araragi-senpai...

I know I asked you about it yesterday, but just what are you doing up here?

Oshino gave me a job.

It seems that there's an abandoned shrine up here.

He wanted me to stick an ofuda on its altar.

Can't he do it himself? He's got plenty of free time.

Well, it's my job to do it.

He helped me out, so I owe him.

Don't you owe him too, Kanbaru?

He is a specialist.

He doesn't just lend a hand for free.

Oh, I see.

By the way, did Senjougahara-senpai say anything to you about today, Araragi-senpai?

Not really.

Did she say anything to you?

She told me to try my hardest to act cute.

Oh, and she told me this:

"If Araragi-kun gives you any trouble, give me all the details."

"I'll let you pick which is worse for him: being buried in the mountains or sunk beneath the sea."

She'll let you pick the worse one?!

Oh, that's right, Kanbaru.

Talking about Senjougahara reminded me that it's almost her birthday.

Yeah. It's July 7th.

I've been thinking about the type of party to have. It's our first time, so I figured something lively would be nice.

Perhaps we should invite all our friends and have a small birthday party.

No, I think Senjougahara-senpai wants to spend it alone with you.

She's that fine of a woman?

Hey, Kanbaru.

What, Araragi-senpai?

How's your left arm doing?

According to Oshino-san, it'll heal by the time I become twenty.

That's great. When you turn 20, you can play basketball again.

I guess.

What's wrong, Kanbaru?

I'm a little worn out.

Worn out? Why don't we find somewhere to rest?

There's gotta be somewhere we can sit down.

Never mind that, Araragi-senpai. Why don't we eat?

Eat?

When I'm feeling down, I normally cheer right up when my tummy's full.

Got it.

Okay, Kanbaru. Find somewhere where we have room to unpack the lunch box.

While you're doing that, I'll go place this ofuda.

Sure.

Sorry for making you do all the work.

All right.

I feel like I've met that girl somewhere before.

But where would I have met a middle-school girl? Through my sisters?

Little sister?

This is the altar?

That should do it.

Hey, Kanbaru!

Kanbaru!

Kanbaru? Kanbaru!

Kanbaru?

Oh, it's you, Araragi-senpai.

Come on, what kind of reaction is that?

Sorry.

I just lost my head for a second.

You don't look that good. Are you okay?

If you're feeling that sick, I'll clean off the porch around the altar so you can lie down.

No, that's not it.

Look at that.

Huh?

That was... Sengoku Nadeko?

These two.

This one might be useful.

If you're looking for efficiency, you should try that one.

I'm surprised you asked me to help you pick reference books.

I figured it was about time to focus on my future.

Your future?

Lately, I've been talking about it with Senjougahara.

When I found out about her first choice...

Oh... Senjougahara-san is going to the local national university, right? Doesn't she already have a recommendation?

You know everything.

I don't know everything; I just happen to know this.

So you're aiming for the same university as her?

Don't tell her yet. I don't want her to get any weird ideas.

By the way, Araragi-kun.

What's with the sudden formality?

Weren't you talking about that ruined shrine at school yesterday?

I'm curious about it.

What happened after you found that chopped-up snake there?

Oh, that?

Kanbaru and I dug a hole and buried it, just in case.

But when we took a walk around, we found that the whole place was full of snake corpses.

Full of corpses?

Yeah.

Full of dismembered corpses.

So we left right away, and ate the lunch she made at a nearby park.

I was amazed at how tasty it was. She said her grandma helped to make it.

Well, it must have been pretty tough, Araragi-kun.

Now that I think about it, I'm sure someone was holding some kind of ritual and killing the snakes like that.

After all, it was at a shrine.

Did you know there was a shrine there, Hanekawa?

Yeah, the Kita-Shirahebi Shrine.

Snake, huh. That means...

Yeah, it seems that it's there to worship a snake god.

I don't really know that much about it, either.

Killing snakes at a shrine for a snake god...

It's gotta be some kind of ritual.

I guess I'd better tell Oshino about it.

That's not what I was talking about, Araragi-kun. I meant it was tough for Kanbaru-san.

A-b-o-u-t K-a-n-b-a-r-u-s-a-n.

I said it must have been tough for her.

For Kanbaru? Yeah, I guess.

After all, she did get sick all of a sudden.

I wonder why.

Oh well, I'm glad it was nothing serious.

That's not what I meant. Should you be getting that friendly with your girlfriend's junior?

It's nice to get along, but walking hand-in-hand is pushing it.

I had to. She's touchy-feely.

You think she'll take that for an excuse?

Well, uh...

Come on, Senjougahara said it herself.

"I won't let you be rude to my junior."

Senjougahara told me to help her out too.

I see. Kind of like this?

Here you go.

Like that, right?

Like you were just a breadth away. Right, Araragi-kun?

What are you talking about?

You're pretty waffly, Araragi-kun.

You're kind to everyone, aren't you?

That has to be kind of disturbing to Senjougahara-san.

Disturbing?

She doesn't want you getting along too well with Kanbaru-san, does she?

Am I right? Getting along is fine. If anything, she wants the two of you to get along,

but she wants a clear line to be drawn.

It seems that she wants to be sure you'd pick her out of the two of them.

I don't get it.

It's a dilemma for her too, isn't it?

You're her dear boyfriend, but Kanbaru-san is her dear junior.

Oh well, she's a tsundere, so I don't think you should try to understand everything she does.

You've got to figure out what she really means.

If she's that dear to you, you've got to resist your temptations too.

Being kind to everyone is a bit irresponsible.

I'll take those words to heart.

By the way, Hanekawa. Where are you going to college?

Tokyo, right? Or are you studying overseas?

I'm not going to college.

You're not going to college?!

After I graduate, I'm going on a trip.

A trip?!

I figure I'll take a couple years off and see the world.

I've got plenty of knowledge.

I think I should get some real-life experience too.

Don't tell the teachers yet, okay?

If you do, they'll be shocked.

I think they'll be more than just shocked.

Ow!

What's wrong?

I just have a little headache.

Headache?

Yeah, I'm fine.

Lately, I've just been getting headaches suddenly.

Hey, that's not fine.

I'll walk you home.

No, I'm fine. I'm not going home.

Oh, right.

Anyway, sorry, but I'm leaving.

Later then.

Sengoku?

This is...

Hey, Kanbaru? Mind giving me a hand?

So what do you need?

Do you remember the girl we saw on these stairs yesterday?

Yeah, she was a cute little thing.

I think I recognize her from somewhere.

I figured it out when I saw her at the bookstore earlier.

I think she's an old friend of my youngest sister.

What?!

So she's at the shrine again today?

Yeah, I think.

I need you to, uh...

It's tough to go up to an old acquaintance and say hi.

She might not remember me, so it'll seem like a creepy pickup line.

The self-defense instincts of an adolescent girl are pretty fearsome.

You sound like you know that from experience.

Can't deny that.

And you seem like you're pretty good with younger girls, Kanbaru.

After all, you're the school's top star.

I see. I get what you mean.

I guess I am pretty good with younger girls.

You sure are.

I'm glad I asked you.

If you put it that way, of course I'm glad to help.

But you've taken what happened yesterday into account, haven't you?

Well, I guess.