It continued.
Once the first ten days of summer vacation passed in late July, a mysterious sense of impatience began to well up, despite the fact that I still had over a month of break left. But this time around, things were actually going pretty well, summer assignments included. My part-time job forced me to wake up early, and a regular lifestyle seemed to breed a strange kind of positive thinking. I’d knock out bits of work during breaks or whenever I managed to flip into a serious mood.
Plus, what made me happiest was that a good deed had actually led to a new social connection.
"Good morning, Sajou-san."
"Good morning, Sasaki-san."
Yours truly, Sajou Wataru. I was currently being doted on by a college student.
She had started dropping by the secondhand bookstore on a whim, and with each visit, she’d begun looking for me. She’d say, "Sajou-san," with such a cool, composed face that my mind would go blank, and I’d end up responding with a curt "Ah, hey," the kind of response that deserved a thumbs-down for its sheer lack of social grace. Couldn't she find a better encounter with a fellow college student instead of a guy like me?
"As always, the summer sun and Sasaki-san are dazzling."
"Ah, there you go saying things like that again. You really are flirty, aren't you, Sajou-san?"
"If I’m flirty, then the extroverts in my class are full-on party animals..."
Since there was no way a guy like me could ever be a romantic interest for a beauty like her, the compliments slipped out quite easily. Even if I tried to woo Sasaki-san, it would only come across as a joke.
"P-Party animals? What are 'party animals'?"
"Ah, no..."
Occasionally, Sasaki-san would demonstrate her nature as a sheltered girl, just as I’d suspected before. It was to the point where I wondered how she’d even made it through middle and high school. Until recently, she hadn't even really known what "flirty" meant. When I told her it was a slightly dated expression and she didn't need to learn it, she flatly told me no. It was hard to explain youth slang in words because it was all based on intuition.
"I feel somewhat bad. I hope hanging out with a brat like me isn't having a negative influence on you, Sasaki-san..."
"That's not true... You aren't a brat, Sajou-san. To Ko-kun and me, you’re a hero!"
"Haha, you're too kind."
...Aren't you being too kind? She praised me so much I almost wondered if she was trying to seduce me. There was no way a secondhand bookstore clerk with a tattered apron hanging around his neck could serve as a hero. I couldn't even do a backflip. If sparks flew from my kicks, I’d be so freaked out my legs would give way. Take this! Sajou Kick! (Weak attack).
"Um, if anything, I'm the one who's socially inexperienced... When I'm in front of you, Sajou-san, I feel like a child."
"Eh, wait, wait, what's wrong?"
If those were pick-up lines, Sasaki-san was certainly laying them on thick. Why was she boosting my ego so much? I didn't understand why a woman who embodied the saying "Standing, she’s a peony; sitting, she’s a tree peony; walking, she’s a lily" would lose her confidence.
"The truth is... I'm stuck with my studies."
"Eh?"
Studies? Did this older sister just say studies? I wasn't just stuck; I was practically veering off the path entirely. Crap, this person suddenly snapped me back to reality—the pressure was immense. I could see nothing but reality now. I was starting to lose the will to go to college...
"Talking to you is a good change of pace, Sajou-san. It makes me feel like I’m a member of the adult world, like I’m actually smart."
"..."
Um, well... yes. You said something quite cruel with a very beautiful smile, didn't you? I see. Because I was displaying my boyishness so openly, it made her feel like an adult? It was so insulting it circled back to feeling good; for a moment, I almost thought we should just keep talking forever. Yeah, tell me more.
No, but wait. Was that the intention behind her visits? Do I really look that stupid? I thought the logic of "talking to someone dumb makes me feel smart" was a bit questionable.
But she was pretty, so I’d forgive her.
Well, she was a college student at an all-girls university—that was an important detail. The level of her studies was probably something that would drain my sanity points just by looking at it. It was only natural she’d get stuck.
"...Heh..."
"Sajou-san...?"
As I chuckled self-deprecatingly, Sasaki-san tilted her head with a puzzled look. Dammit, don't do cute little gestures like that... My heart wouldn't stop throbbing. If that was how it was going to be... Hold on, body of mine... Triple stomach punch!!!
"No, if someone like me can be of any help to you, Sasaki-san, I’ll cooperate as much as you need. By all means, please use me as much as you want."
"Eh...? As much as I want?"
"Yes, as much as you want."
Whether it was Sasaki-san or Natsukawa, there was no greater joy than being useful to a beautiful person. If anything, that was the level of motivation I’d had for my part-time jobs back in middle school. In the end, I hardly ever got to spend that money on Natsukawa... but thanks to that, I was able to buy a lot of games.
"In that case... Sajou-san, you attend a preparatory high school, so do you have any secrets to studying?"
"Ah, I have one that’s very easy to understand."
"Eh!? What is it!?"
Oh, she really bit on that. Her studies must have been going quite poorly.
Tips for studying... My academic ability was decent enough now, no jokes aside, but my motivation was different compared to when I was taking high school entrance exams. Back then, I felt like I could study forever. I had no memory of it ever being painful.
"Well, it's not really a method, just a personal story from my experience..."
"I don't mind...! Please, tell me!"
"It's about having the results of your studies yield immediate feedback."
"Feedback...?"
I didn't care if I sounded totally green. I’d thought I would never say this as long as I lived, but if I was just being used as a tool for a change of pace anyway, then it didn't matter.
"In my case, the more I studied, the closer I got to the school my crush was aiming for."
"Eh...!? Y-Your crush!?"
Originally, my grades were around average. That was when I heard the info that Natsukawa Aika's school of choice was Kouetsu High School. Because I knew that it wasn't impossible to make it if I studied desperately, I tapped into an inexhaustible well of motivation and managed to get into the same high school as Natsukawa. This was undoubtedly a study tip. How's that? Take that, you nerds.
"Do you still like that person!? Could it be she’s already your girlfriend!?"
Wait, um... are you listening? Crap, I might have accidentally tripped her love talk sensor, which women love so much. I felt like the conversation had suddenly drifted far away from studying. She wasn't just biting; she was practically lunging at me with a sparkling face. Her prying was more intense than a group of girls on the night of a school trip.
"No, well, I still like her... but I’ve already given up. I realized after entering high school that she’s way out of my league."
"T-To think there's someone so wonderful... that you'd give up because they’re too charming."
You’re in the same league, lady. Your looks were so refined, yet you were so modest and humble—that was incredibly rare. Why was she being so formal with a high schooler like me? It was almost rude in its own way.
"A-Anyway! You just need to experience for yourself how studying is actually useful. You have a goal you're aiming for too, right, Sasaki-san? You should just imagine the rewards you'll taste once you get there."
"A charming thing waiting at my destination..."
In the first place, what was Sasaki-san's reason for studying? For a job? I’d heard that if you’re aiming for a civil service job, a hellish amount of studying awaits. It must have been tough.
But, for example, what if she thought about how getting a good job by studying would make her beloved younger brother, Kota-kun, happy? After talking to her a few times, I’d realized she seemed to be a bit of a doting sister, so wouldn't that be a source of motivation? Even if not that, well—
"For example, like me... being able to spend time there with someone you like."
"Someone I—!? W-Wait, me having someone I like!?"
"Ah, did you say you had no experience with men?"
"T-That’s rude! Even I have experience with men!"
What did you say?!
Ah, that was a shock. I was seriously discouraged now. So even a beauty like her had experience with one or two guys. That made sense; there was no way a college student this beautiful would be left alone. If I were a beautiful woman, I’d have about ten guys catering to my every whim.
Suddenly, I started feeling sick. I should just finish my work and get out of here quickly... Hm?
"...Um."
"Sasaki-san?"
Why was she pointing at me while trembling? Don't tell me she thought having casual conversations like this constituted "experience with men"? That wasn't good, big sister. If you’re a grown woman, surely you know what "experience with men" actually refers to? You know, something more... erotic.
Right, I forgot—this person was a sheltered girl.
"This doesn't even count as the first letter of 'experience with men'."
"Eh!? Is that so!?"
Ah, crap, I might have said too much. Please stop, could you not look at me with those pure, wandering eyes full of questions? Ah, don't grab my arm, that’s inappropriate conduct between the sexes! Are you making a move on a high school boy? Fine then, bring it on!!!
Look it up on the internet!!!!