"Sasaki...? Why are you clutching your head?"
"Whose fault do you think it is...?"
During the break between classes, I had gone to the restroom, and upon returning, I found someone looking quite troubled within my field of vision. He was clutching his head, his upper body sprawled across his desk.
Wait a second, did he just say it was someone's fault? Could he mean mine? No, that couldn't be it. Any trouble that befell this guy was usually related to his brocon younger sister—wait. Sasaki's sister...?
Thank you for the photo. I will become a little girl, too.
"—Ah."
...Was it that? Was it from when I snitched to Yuki-chan while Sasaki was acting like he owned the place, bragging about Airi-chan? This big brother's friend was certainly surprised by that sudden metamorphose declaration. No, surely not! Hahaha!
"...What happened with Yuki-chan?"
"An elementary... no, it's nothing."
"Did I just hear a shocking five-syllable word?"
Sasaki Yuki-chan (fourteen years old). Most of my memories of her involved her clinging to Sasaki’s arm with a beaming smile. When I visited Sasaki's house before, I was happy when she asked both me and Yamazaki for our messaging IDs, but I never expected her to essentially hire me as a spy to report on Sasaki's behavior at school. Even so, if she were my own sister, I'd probably think she was cute... No matter the personality, wouldn't anyone be cute if they were that attached to you? I suppose being the biological brother makes her look different than she does to me.
"That's what you get for cheating on her with Natsukawa's sister, you idiot."
"I am not! It's not Airi-chan I'm after, it's—! ...Ah."
"..."
Sasaki hurriedly bit back the words he had started to say in a fairly loud tone. I understood the reason why immediately. I understood it, and as expected, I felt a sharp chill deep in my chest. That said, I had no intention of laying bare the raw emotions inside my heart.
"............I see."
"What do you mean, 'I see'...? You..."
"I'm not going to complain. If anything, does anyone even exist in this world who wouldn't fall for her?"
"Well, I wouldn't know about that... But you..."
"The person herself is the one who decides. If you take action, Natsukawa is the one who evaluates it. I have no right to get in the way of that. Though I will treat you with extreme coldness."
"You're going to be cold to me?"
"I hate what I hate."
If a guy's shadow suddenly appeared over an idol you were obsessed with, you'd hate it, wouldn't you? If the source of that shadow is right in front of me, I'll tell him to his face that I dislike him. I wouldn't care if we never spoke again. Even if we met and talked, it would probably just feel like an eternal state of awkwardness.
"Sajou, I'm going to go for her for real."
"Why are you getting all fired up?"
"..."
Before I could give him the cold shoulder, Sasaki stood up and left the classroom. As we passed each other, the sight of his eyes, brimming with confidence, burned itself into my mind. What's annoying is that every part of that sequence of movements was just so "handsome guy." Why is it that just by having a well-proportioned face, even a gesture like that looks perfectly executed? In the end, style really does depend on "who's doing it," doesn't it?
The surprising thing was that he looked at me so blatantly like a rival. Shouldn't a rival for a guy as refreshing as Sasaki be someone even more handsome? Targeting someone like me as an enemy will only result in me getting totally wrecked, so I really wish he'd stop...
"Sasaki... huh."
I had wondered if a day like this would come ever since I unilaterally declared "Operation Produce" to make Natsukawa popular. Back when I was constantly hanging around Natsukawa, I was fulfilling a fairly convenient role as a repellent for other men. Now that the repellent is gone, I can't imagine the guys around here would just leave Natsukawa alone when she's broadcasting that much cuteness. I’ve had a premonition about all of this since that moment.
I don't really know if I acknowledge Sasaki or not. He's a friend I've spent time with, messing around and picking fights like a minor villain alongside Yamazaki, saying things like, "Damn you, handsome guy." The usual flow was us getting told we were "annoying" by the girls around us until we shut up. Wait... haven't I been unable to compete with him at all? Also, why is Yamazaki—a tall member of the Basketball Club—on my side of the fence?
I'm no longer arrogant enough to think I could ever be with a "flower on a high peak" like Natsukawa. But if it's not going to be me anyway, I want her to end up with a guy where I can say, "Haha, yeah, that makes sense." That's why, if Sasaki intends to go through with it, I'll find out for myself. I'll see if that guy, who has the looks of a handsome man, is truly a handsome man on the inside. Considering his sister likes him that much, he's probably not a bad guy, but I'll make sure to judge him from the sidelines.
Actually, who cares about that. Sasaki? Who's that?
That's what I thought as I watched Natsukawa fidgeting in front of me. At the shoe lockers by the entrance, my sleeve was suddenly pinched near the elbow. When I turned around, standing there was a Goddess, or something... something cute that defied description. Sorry, but forget Sasaki—who even is this person?
My resolve was like ground meat. Before I knew it, it was just crumbling away. Sasaki felt utterly irrelevant. Too bad for you, Natsukawa, an attack like that won't work on me. I'm a rubber man... at least from the nose down. Hehehe.
"Um... what in the world is wrong, cute—"
"I-I'm not cute!"
She snapped her head away mid-sentence, and that gesture hit me like a bolt from the blue. It was so cute that, in a game of catch, I would have thrown my glove aside the moment I caught the ball, ran to the middle of the field, and screamed like a madman. Please, have some more self-restraint... I feel like flowers are about to bloom from the spot she hit me in her slight sulk. Soon, I’ll become a forest fairy—wait, no, a Mandrake.
Natsukawa didn't let go of my sleeve. This is bad. All my nerves were concentrated right there. My head wasn't working at all. Natsukawa's head was bowed, so I couldn't see her face well. Wait, was Natsukawa always this small? Even when standing next to Ashida, they didn't look like such a mismatched duo...
I leaned down to try and peek at Natsukawa's face and asked.
"...Um? Is this about your sister...?"
"A-Airi... Do you... remember...?"
"Y-Yeth."
I have endured countless attacks from my Nee-chan. I am the man I am today because I survived them all. But what is this? Even though its lethality is incredibly low, I feel like I'm about to die. I feel like I'm being purified and vanishing. Why does this happen just from her looking up at me with a red face? Is it because Natsukawa is a Goddess? Wait, was I an undead monster this whole time?
After declaring that she would absolutely never let me meet Airi-chan, this was a total reversal; Natsukawa must be feeling a considerable amount of awkwardness and embarrassment. I wonder if she'd be mad if I touched her cheek... She would be, wouldn't she? She'd probably call the cops... They look like they'd be so warm...
"Um... is this about when it's going to happen?"
"..."
Natsukawa gave a small nod. She let go of my sleeve, only to immediately pinch the same spot again. Then she let go again, looking extremely hesitant, tried to pinch it once more, and then gave up and dropped her hand. Let's get married.
...Well, for now, I think I can grasp her feelings. If what Ashida said wasn't a lie, Natsukawa considers me one of the people in her "place"—her group. But that's just Ashida's subjective view, and as far as I can see from watching Natsukawa, she seems like she's struggling to admit it.
The reason is that Natsukawa and I are conscious of each other as members of the opposite sex. I have romantic feelings, and Natsukawa has a sense of aversion toward me as a man. But Ashida isn't focusing on that. What she’s talking about is likely something different, like a relationship between comrades.
Friendship can exist between men and women. In fact, that's how it is with me and Ashida. If I were to deny that, I'd have to wonder just how complicated the relationships are in groups of multiple guys and girls. Maybe they’re just in relationships where they try not to be conscious of each other. But if you're going to say that what exists there isn't friendship, then what on earth is it? That's way too dark. It’s just friendship.
Ashida repeatedly said that I was one of the places Natsukawa belongs. And Natsukawa, while rejecting the "opposite sex" part of me, is unable to process these feelings regarding Airi-chan. She’s showing it through her actions, and with all these pieces, what Ashida said probably isn't wrong.
In that case, the thing I can do to wipe away Natsukawa's frustration is—not as a suitor, and not as the opposite sex, but as "Sajou Wataru"—to become a vessel that makes it easy for her to speak her mind.
"...Hey, I really don't mind, you know."
"Eh..."
"About how you wouldn't let me meet Airi-chan until now. You're worried about that, right? That part."
Back when I was full of myself, Natsukawa never hesitated to speak her mind. In that case, if I can intentionally act like the annoying guy from back then—the one who'd say, "I know everything about you (sparkle)"—then Natsukawa can stop overthinking and just be honest.
"I-I'm not worried about—!"
"It's no use. Anyone could tell, looking at you right now."
"Ah, ugh..."
It's not just because it's me; any random person would notice that Natsukawa is acting strange. She's just that cute right now. Honestly, I don't want to show the current Natsukawa to anyone. Wait. Is my possessiveness leaking out?
"If I can meet her, I want to, and I'd be more than happy to. Whenever is fine, just do whatever you want, Natsukawa."
"Ah..."
Honestly, I've wanted to meet her ever since I saw the first photo. No, what am I thinking about a little girl... Am I a thirty-something bachelor getting excited about his first blind date? I'm probably already "out" just for calling someone else's sister a "little girl." Well, considering I can get along with the likes of Yamazaki, I guess that's just the kind of person I am.
"—F-Fine then! I-If you're going to go that far, I suppose I could introduce you!"
"Ohh."
That's it, Natsukawa. If you put it that way, you can say it. You won't have to blame yourself for being stubborn. You can be honest with your own feelings. And you won't have to keep worrying about me. As a man who likes Natsukawa—no, as a fan, I want Natsukawa to be smiling. That is my happiness. For that sake, I'll swallow any amount of frustration. So, I'll cast aside all wicked thoughts—
"—Thanks, Natsukawa."
"Ugh..."
See, now Natsukawa doesn't have to worry—wait, why is she covering her mouth and trembling? Eh, is she laughing? Was my face that weird? Sure, if I get serious about making a funny face, I'm a professional. But I was being serious just now... No, to get that red—wait, what? She's adorable. Ah, my wicked thoughts are—
Aaaaaaagggghhhhh...!