"—So your name is... Mr. Sajou. Wow, you're a student at Kouetsu High School!"
"Eh? Yeah, pretty much. It's close to my house, and it was a solid choice for university prep."
Seeing was believing. I had shown her my student handbook, which I needed for my part-time job contract, just to prove my identity. See? I wasn’t a suspicious person. Look, I was even wearing a polo shirt.
Of course, I could never bring myself to admit that I’d only gotten in because I’d studied like a maniac to follow the girl I loved. Besides, why was I sitting here with the three of us, with Kota-kun in the middle? I had zero resistance to mature women who were even more "older sister" than my own Nee-chan. Well, I suppose this was better than talking to her directly from across a table...
"Kouetsu High is wonderful! The uniforms are so cute and the campus is beautiful—it’s just like a university!"
"Is it... really?"
"It truly is!"
If she, a college student, said so, then it must have been true. More importantly, seeing this maternal older sister acting all giddy was dangerous. What was with that gap? It was a total heart-stopper. Hehehe.
Getting back on track—our school's courtyard was covered in a lawn... but nobody really sat directly on the grass. People usually just used the benches.
Since she knew about my high school, I wondered if she was an alumna. If so, she probably knew some even better spots... Personally, I thought the Azumaya past the woods behind the school building was a real hidden gem. Though these days, it had basically become Aizawa and Arimura-senpai’s love nest.
"Kota-kun’s older sister—Sasaki-san, you're very mature. You’d look right at home on a university campus. I can just picture you sitting on the grass reading a book."
"N-no, not at all... I'm not mature or anything like that."
"No, no. If you aren't mature, Sasaki-san, then everyone else around you is just a child."
"T-thank you... That's the first time anyone has ever told me that. I’ve had a sudden growth spurt recently... up until a little while ago, I really looked like a kid, you know?"
"Haha, I can't even imagine that."
This modesty. I didn't know if she was just playing along with me or if Sasaki-san's natural grace was just that incredible, but simply talking to her felt comfortable. Having someone honestly accept every word I said was the best. Was this what they called "adult composure"? I couldn't think of anything but compliments.
On the other hand, seeing her get a bit flustered and blush was seriously stimulating. I wondered if she was doing it on purpose... Ugh, I didn't want to believe that. Either way, this person seemed like she’d be super popular. Just like Natsukawa, she was the type who was on such a high level that I’d probably taste the bitterness of defeat halfway through. I felt like being around her too much would shorten my lifespan, so I decided to make my exit before I slipped up.
"—Kota-kun, have you calmed down now?"
"Ah, yeah... Thanks, big brother."
"From now on, try not to go to places where your voice might not reach. You'll make your sister worry."
"U-um... I'm sorry."
"Ah, you don't have to apologize. Just remember for next time, okay? Next time."
That was the gentlest voice I’d ever used in my life. I was probably being the best "big brother" I'd ever been. How was I with Airi-chan? I wasn't an older brother; I was a pack mule. Or rather, a dog.
While I was being a big brother—wait, "while I was being a big brother"? What did that even mean? Anyway, I figured I should give this older sister a warning too. Whether she realized it or not, she really drew people's eyes.
"Sasaki-san, please be careful as well. Even if the public safety around here isn't bad, you’re particularly attractive, even to a high school boy like me."
"Eh... E-ehhh?"
"There's always a chance the other person could be a grown man, and there are some middle schoolers with big builds too. I recommend taking the well-traveled paths, even if it’s a bit of a detour. I'd be happy if you just took this as advice from an average guy."
"Y-yes... Thank you very much..."
"Well then, excuse me."
It felt good. I didn't realize that a polite conversation with a beautiful older woman could be this refreshing. I see, so this is where a woman’s social grace comes from. Maybe the world today is even harder to navigate for girls with social anxiety than it is for guys.
◆
Time flew by, and a week had passed since I started my part-time job. I guess you really did get lonely when you stopped seeing the faces you were used to every day. I thought I was more cold-hearted than that, but I wondered if everyone felt this way...?
Even though waking up early was a pain, showing up for a job that was only five hours—or even three hours at most—didn't really require much motivation. I just felt like, "Alright, let's do this." In fact, lately, I’d been coming home from work and napping on the living room sofa, so staying up late didn't even affect the next day.
"Ugh... so tired."
My sister, a third-year preparing for exams, still went to school even during summer vacation. When I thought about how I’d be in the same boat in two years, I felt like my HP was being drained all at once. On top of that, she had the Student Council and cram school—she was a regular paragon of a student. For once, she wasn't just saying it out of habit; she looked genuinely exhausted. I felt like I understood why there was no romance in her life despite being surrounded by all those handsome guys.
"...You, you're up pretty early even though it's summer vacation."
"Because waking up early turns into money. A mere five-hour job pays me, but school doesn't pay a cent... It's crap, isn't it?"
"You're the one who's crap."
"You two shitty siblings, stop using such foul language at the breakfast table."
While I was having a less-than-peaceful conversation with my Nee-chan, my father called us out. We were in the middle of breakfast, after all... My father was about to be tied down to work until night, not just for five hours, so it was no wonder he'd get irritated hearing a conversation like this.
Perhaps sensing my father's mood due to his own extreme busyness, Nee-chan didn't talk back even though she'd been called crap. After all, my father was probably the one working the hardest here. If I were in my father's position right now, I’d definitely go bald.
"It was a Secondhand Bookstore, right? Is it really that easy?"
"The key isn't that it's a Secondhand Bookstore, but that it's a privately owned hobby business. Unlike a chain store where more work keeps falling on you the more you do, once the tasks are done, you're finished."
"So the Student Council was a chain store..."
"That's not it."
She was really hitting her limit. According to what I’d heard, she said they were preparing for the cultural festival during summer vacation while also handling the middle schoolers' Trial Enrollment.
When I let those words slip, she replied normally.
"Huh? Oh... that. The teachers apparently selected some students to be guides and stuff. Like the handsome guys and cute girls."
"I see, so that's why they didn't call you, Nee-chan."
"Ah, yeah, yeah. Good thing I'm not a beauty."
Whoa, she was really hitting her limit... I hoped she wasn't actually losing it... To think she’d just let my teasing slide... Usually, it wouldn't be strange for her to throw a rolling sobatto at me... Wait, what was I even looking for? Hold on... we were both acting weird...
Still, a selection of handsome guys and beauties, huh? A certain pair I saw recently came to mind, but they were probably asked to do it as an extension of their work for the Cultural Festival Executive Committee. Especially Natsukawa. Definitely Natsukawa. Huh? Sasaki? Who's that? I only know Sasaki-san.
"Ah... come to think of it, you were invited to join the Disciplinary Committee, weren't you?"
"Hm? How do you know—ah... that's right, you're an acquaintance of Shinomiya-senpai, aren't you?"
For Shinomiya-senpai, my Nee-chan was her gal friend, if I remembered correctly. Or was it different? Seriously, how did these two even meet...? Given their personalities, I didn't think they were the type who would ever get involved with each other.
"Acquaintances—well, something like that. More importantly, what's the deal between you two? She suddenly asked me how you were doing."
"No, it's not really anything big... I think she treats me like your younger brother. She actually said as much."
"Well, whatever. Are you going to join the Disciplinary Committee?"
"There's no way. No matter how you look at it, filling her shoes would be too much for me."
"Then you join the Student Council."
"...Huh?"
What did she just...? Student Council? Not just some random committee, but the Student Council? That would be even more of a burden. There are so many school events, it’s bound to be busy. And the stuff they do every day sounds complicated... Strange, all I could picture was the rowdy Todoroki-senpai just goofing around.
"Why?"
"Rin said it too, but I really don't want to leave things to someone whose background I don't even know."
What are you, a gang leader? I could practically hear "Best Regards" in delinquent slang at the end of her sentence. She had suddenly shown her former gal side... I guessed the stress really was getting to her. Maybe we should just keep it lit and stay totally "manji." No, but why me...? I’m just a nobody from the Sajou family; I don't have that kind of talent.
"You're good at administrative stuff, it's gross."
"Is that so?"
"Ah."
Don't "ah" me. Now my father had reacted. Which part did he react to? The "gross" part...? I hoped this girl hadn't let it slip that I used to work part-time in middle school... Did she want to recruit me or piss me off? Besides, what did she mean I'm "good at administrative stuff"? Could I even call that a strength?
"I've been made to help out with the Student Council. I haven't gone lately, though."
"You haven't been coming lately. Are you slacking off?"
"In the first place, I'm not part of the Student Council. Also, it's summer vacation right now."
"Buy me something when you get your paycheck."
"Well... I guess I could spring for some convenience store ice cream."
"Make it Häagen-Dazs."
She seemed like she was having a hard time, so I thought I’d be a little nice to her... but she was being way too shrewd. What was with this sister... Even if she hadn't been born a girl, her personality definitely wouldn't have been any different.
"I'm being serious about the Student Council. Think about it."
"Huh? Hey, Nee-chan—"
As I stood there dumbfounded, my Nee-chan pushed that impossible task onto me, left her dishes on the table, and went up to the second floor. Eh? Was she serious? This was a problem even before considering the Student Council or the Disciplinary Committee. Eh? This was a joke, right? I wasn't that kind of guy.
What really ticked me off was the fact that my father just kept on eating as if nothing had happened...
Munch, munch.