Sister (Kenshiro)
I like Natsukawa, but I hate summer. Between the bugs and the heat, there’s nothing good about it. Winter is seriously the best; you can solve everything just by layering up. Why isn’t the AC on even though the classroom has it? I’m wilting here.
As I sat there slumping, my pocket suddenly vibrated. I pulled out my phone and peeked at the screen. This is what it said:
[You have 1 new message from Kaede]
Ugh, what is this? I seriously don't want to open it. A message from Nee-chan? This has to be the first time since she sent me out to buy her a nikuman six months ago. I have nothing but a bad feeling about this.
It’s fine, I’m in the middle of class right now. She can’t complain if I just leave her on unread. Especially since Nee-chan has been going to cram school lately, she’ll surely understand—
[You have 2 new messages from Kaede]
I almost threw my phone. That was close; I already cracked the screen once this year. If I do it again, Mom will drag me to my doom. I must prevent that at all costs.
I mean, what is it? "Don't ignore me," is that it? Fine, I'll check what it says. Jeez, she’s a handful.
[Huh? Hey.]
Wait, I haven't even said anything yet. You're too scary. Are you part of some group whose name starts with a "Y"? Is the message function not for communicating with words? The unspoken pressure is way too strong.
Reluctantly, I flicked the screen down and checked the previous message.
[Lunch. Student Council Room.]
Well, I get that I’m being summoned... but does she have some kind of dirt on me? I wonder what'll happen if I don't listen... Well, I'm going anyway. [Wash your neck and wait for me], I sent back.
[Okay. I’m warming up my fists.]
How can you prepare for a fight so casually? I seriously don't want to go. Is there any other pair of siblings out there this bloodthirsty? And why are those four ikemen always sticking to her? She doesn't have dirt on them too, does she?
As I sat there trembling and staring at the phone in my lap, a shadow fell over me.
"Sa-jo-o-kun?"
"I am terribly sorry."
"I won't forgive you."
Well, I guess the world isn't that easy. As I watched the pile of designated assignments stack up, I took another step from boyhood into adulthood.
◆
Where was the Student Council Room again? I wandered around aimlessly, trying to remember the location of a place I'd never been. The time was just specified as "lunch." In that case, it shouldn't matter if I'm a little late. As I was plotting my delay, something strange entered my field of vision.
"That woman...!"
"......"
In front of a certain classroom, a female student was practically biting the window as she peeked inside. She looked flashy with blonde, curly hair. Despite being dyed, the style looked natural on her. I kind of liked that she didn't give off a "gyaru" vibe. That said, I had no desire to get involved. Blonde is a no-go; it stands out too much. Hey, stop shaking your hips while you're peeking; you're going to draw my eyes.
I looked up above this suspicious person and gasped. A sign extending from the door read "Student Council Room." Talk about rotten luck...
But I had to go in. That was an order from my Master—wait, no, the slave mentality has taken root!
Anyway, I had to break past that flashy girl and enter the Student Council Room. Is there some way? Okay, let's do this (instant decision).
[There's someone weird in front of the Student Council Room and I can't get in, so I'm going back.]
I'll snitch. Then I'll stealthily retreat and head for my usual bench in the courtyard. Isn't this the best? Not only do I not have to deal with that weird girl, but I get to turn down Nee-chan's summons and reclaim my peaceful lunch. Thank you, suspicious person. Goodbye, suspicious person.
[Secured them. They're a pain. My fists are warm.]
What is this, a crime thriller? It feels like the start of a story where someone finally captures their long-time rival to exact revenge. In any case, her messaging is way too intense. Dammit, Nee-chan, your language skills have definitely improved since you started cram school...!
And are you some kind of otome game protagonist who builds a reverse harem and gets harassed by rival girls? Please don't drag me into it. It’s okay. Usually, nothing happens to the siblings who aren't handsome characters... right?
[Hey, it’s over. Come here.]
"Over"? Did she finish her?! What exactly is over, big sister?! Isn't your response time a bit too fast?!
My motto is quick decisions. Apparently, the apple doesn't fall far from the tree, as Nee-chan seems to be the same way. I sighed, turned around, and headed back. When I returned to the spot I was at just a moment ago, all five members of the Student Council were waiting for me.
"Good work."
"I'll kill you."
"Hey, watch your language, Vice President."
"Shut up."
Nee-chan walked briskly back into the Student Council Room. As she entered, she jerked her chin at me as if to say, "Get your ass in here." I looked up at the gentle-type ikemen senpai in her entourage as if to complain, and he gave me a troubled laugh. What's with that beautiful smile? I feel like I'm going to melt.
◆
"So, why did you call me?"
"There's a pile of materials to organize for the Autumn Cultural Festival. Help me out. I was at the point where I’d even take help from a cat, but I had no choice but to ask you."
"Don't casually rank me lower than a cat... Didn't you have anyone else to ask?"
"You're good at administrative work, aren't you?"
"Huh?"
"Your part-time job. I know you lied about your age to do it."
"Huh?"
That was back in middle school. Back when I was putting all my effort into doing whatever it took to win over Natsukawa Aika. I had a secret part-time job on the weekends just to get the funds for it. It suited me surprisingly well, and when I tried to quit to focus on my entrance exams, they told me they'd raise my hourly wage if I stayed, so I ended up staying another six months. The reason I eventually quit was because my parents scolded me for going out on weekends when I was supposed to be studying, and I was about to be caught.
I thought I had kept it a total secret. I never imagined Nee-chan knew about it. So she did have dirt on me... Whimper.
"What’s this? Was Kaede's little brother a delinquent?"
"No, I’m just a serious and diligent villager."
"Wait, we’re in the city, though."
When I replied to the energetic-type ikemen—Todoroki-senpai, was it?—a sharp retort came from the gentle-type ikemen. The nameplate on his chest read "Hanawa"—"Hanawa"?! I feel like that name overlaps with a certain someone! I can smell the money...!
"H-Hey, baby..."
"Shut it. Just do this. I'll buy you a nikuman later."
"Make it two."
"Huh? Obviously."
Oh, really...?
Surrounded by the ikemen, I worked while receiving instructions. For some reason, the treatment I received from the second-year senpai—the brainy ikemen, Kai-senpai—was extremely polite. I wonder why this guy uses formal speech with me... Maybe that's just his default.
I thought I’d be forced to watch the K4 sticking to Nee-chan, but everyone, including Todoroki-senpai, was working seriously. Maybe Nee-chan’s reason for calling me really was out of necessity.
After continuing to move my pen with a sweet bun in one hand, it was almost time for lunch to end.
"—See? It was just like I said."
"Yeah... true. I was impressed by how easily you came up with counter-arguments for the application reasons from each club."
"Ah, no, that's..."
The cool-type ikemen—Yuuki-senpai—was full of praise for me. I’m just good at nitpicking, yeah... I didn't survive Nee-chan's unreasonableness all this time for nothing. Well, I’m currently failing to avoid it and dealing with her unreasonableness anyway.
"You're not planning to call me in tomorrow too, are you?"
"I get it. I'll buy you an erotic magazine too. A big one."
"A big one."
What do you mean by "a big one"? Are you talking about my tastes...? Wait a second, if so, how do you know that? It's scary. Doesn't this person have too much of a handle on her own brother? Wait, do girls have this level of information-gathering ability? High school girls are amazing; they’re born to be spies.
A big one...