I’d somehow managed to set both of them off. Personally, I’d wanted to play it off as a love letter, but I folded under that inexplicable pressure and found myself admitting it was just a "short message." In that moment, I was plagued by a strange sense of helplessness. This is why I can never beat Nee-chan. I felt like I’d just realized something that had seeped into the very marrow of my bones. Time for my savior: Ichinose-san’s letter (the healing kind).
Ashida lost interest and went stone-faced in the blink of an eye. The way she tossed out that "I figured" contained everything terrifying about the female of the species. I swear, Ashida is absorbing all of Natsukawa’s bad traits. Haha, I’m paralyzed here.
During class, I managed to pull myself together and immediately added Sasaki-san and Ichinose-san as friends on the app. Sasaki-san’s icon showed her with three friends, all in their middle school uniforms. I thought about sending something, but I didn't want a notification sound to go off during class, so I held off for now. Ichinose-san’s icon was a slightly surprised face—maybe Yuri-chan-senpai took it. I like it.
"Ichinose-san, I added you. I sent a sticker."
"Ah...!"
When lunch break came and I went over to tell her, she looked a little happy. I’m the happy one here, Ichinose-san...! I was tempted to spam the "Sajou Arrives" stickers. No, she’d probably think I’d seriously lost my mind, and that’s scary... I’d better not.
Ichinose-san hurriedly pulled her smartphone out of her school bag and turned it on. So she’s the type who powers it down at school... The simple look of it, without even a cover, was very like her.
"Wait, a message? You guys exchanged contacts, Sajou-kun!?"
"Oh. What, Shirai-san, you want to exchange with—"
"I-Ichinose-san! Can I, too...!?"
Hahaha, I knew it. If anything, I’m already connected with Shirai-san through the class group. I should add Ichinose-san to it later. Actually, even if I don't do it, Shirai-san and the others will probably handle everything. It was hilarious seeing Okamo-chan looking so frustrated because she was late to the party.
Vrr.
I glanced at my vibrating phone, and a cute little bear sticker—one of the app's defaults—was bowing as if to say, "Nice to meet you." It felt like I was being greeted by someone other than just her. It gave me a little thrill.
Perhaps because the part of me that was her senior at work still remained, seeing Ichinose-san making more friends simply made me happy.
◆
As I headed toward the Student Council Room, I wondered: why am I heading to the Student Council Room again?
After a bit of thought, what came to mind was the incredibly delicious bento given to me by the Student Council President, Yuuki-senpai. It’s weird... I feel like I’m being completely tamed with food. I have absolutely no intention of joining the Student Council... so why is my step so light? Oh, it’s because I’m hungry.
"And those are just leftovers..."
I still can't believe it. Wouldn't Yuuki-senpai be a good match for Nee-chan? I can see nothing but a bright future for myself there. My appetite was trampling over my inferiority complex. I was salivating so much I was probably losing blood volume. I had to eat.
"—Ah... eh!? Sajou!?"
"Mita-senpai."
On the way, I spotted the "guardian" of the Disciplinary Committee mascot, Inatomi-senpai—Mita-senpai. When our eyes met, she started flustering, glancing back and forth between me and the stairs. What was it? Did I stumble onto something dangerous? A guy? Is there a secret tryst going on?
"Wh-What are you doing here!?"
"Well, I was heading to the Student Council Room... Why are you in such a rush?"
"What do you mean, why—! Wait, hurry—!?"
"Oh, if it isn't Sajou."
"Huh?"
Mita-senpai grabbed both my arms and tried to force me into an about-face. Just as I was about to quietly obey her intensity, Shinomiya-senpai emerged from the wall by the stairs, her arm draped possessively around Inatomi-senpai’s waist. She had this total playboy vibe going on... It was a scene that practically screamed "Inatomi-senpai belongs to me." Isn't the discipline of the Disciplinary Committee in trouble? Shinomiya-senpai looked even more handsome than usual today. She was glowing with intensity.
"You come too."
"Fueh?"
Shinomiya-senpai marched over, grabbed my arm, and pulled hard. Wait a second, a sound like a little girl just came out of my mouth. How embarrassing.
I stumbled along and found myself attached to the other side of the wryly smiling Inatomi-senpai. Looking at my right arm, Shinomiya-senpai had it locked firmly in hers. Wait, seriously? I was happy, but what was going on? Was I the side piece now? I’m not even a girl, though.
"Um... Senpai? I was heading to the Student Council Room..."
"What...?"
Setting the jokes aside, I tried to leave for my own business, but Shinomiya-senpai tightened her grip and came to a dead stop. That’s when it clicked. Shinomiya-senpai was in a terrible mood.
I looked at Mita-senpai, who was pressing a hand to her forehead with an "oh boy" expression. I see, so that’s how it is. Wait, was this really such a bad situation? Thinking about it calmly, I was currently linking arms with a beautiful upperclassman. And I was the second woman. Again, not a woman.
"What is the meaning of this, Sajou? Are you planning to join the Student Council?"
I take it back. It was a bad situation. Wait, she's scary...! She was glaring at me so hard! Those sharp eyes were terrifying!
"I-I’m not joining... I have no intention of joining."
"I see."
"Then come," she said, and after being pulled along for three minutes, I found myself standing in line at the cafeteria’s ticket machine. While standing behind Shinomiya-senpai, who was still holding Inatomi-senpai in front of her, I thought about what to eat. My stomach was craving something premium... Shrimp tempura. I’ll go with shrimp tempura.
While waiting, I sent a message to Nee-chan.
[I got caught by Shinomiya-senpai. I can't make it today.]
[Hah? Just escape.]
[She’s in a bad mood for some reason.]
[Ah—fine, after school then.]
And just like that, my after-school hours were booked. It’s weird... why does the thought of Yuuki-senpai’s untouched bento make me not mind it so much? My thoughts are already those of a glutton. Soon enough, I’ll probably be lured in with potato chips and cola.
Still, it was unexpected for Nee-chan to give up the lunch break so easily. Does she have a weak spot for Shinomiya-senpai? This might be a good thing to know.
Carrying my tempura set, I followed after Shinomiya-senpai. As we looked for an empty table, a group of girls proactively got up and said, "Please, take this spot!" They were carrying lunches, but I’m certain they hadn't finished eating. Is it okay for me to be here? Am I safe? Won't I get stabbed by Shinomiya-senpai’s fans?
Inatomi-senpai and Shinomiya-senpai sat opposite me. I sat next to Mita-senpai. Unlike the last time we ate together, we were drawing so much attention that it was incredibly uncomfortable.
"......Sorry for dragging you into this."
"No, um... what's going on exactly?"
"That’s..."
Mita-senpai apologized in a low voice, so I asked her in return, but she just looked down, mulling over something that seemed hard to say. It felt like one of those "don't wake a sleeping dog" situations.
"By the way, Sajou-kun, why were you heading to the Student Council Room?"
"Hm? Oh, Nee-chan’s been calling me lately to help out with some work."
"Even though you aren't joining the Student Council?"
"Uh, yeah... well, Nee-chan seems like she’s having a hard time."
"I see..."
I thought I was answering Inatomi-senpai’s question, but the conversation shifted to Shinomiya-senpai. The pressure was immense. Even though I was just answering, I felt like I was being treated quite unfairly. It felt just like dealing with Nee-chan. There was no way I could say it was in exchange for Yuuki-senpai’s bento.
Still, even though Shinomiya-senpai was in a bad mood, she was just eating plain udon. If it were me, I’d go for something heavy when I’m irritated. Like katsu curry.
"———I’m envious."
"Eh?"
"I’m envious of Kaede. I want a younger brother too."
"I see."
Wait, it’s not "I see," is it? I didn't understand anything. Stop replying on reflex, me. Wait, she wants a younger brother? Is senpai an only child? Well, if that was the case, she should probably talk to her parents rather than me... I mean, maybe they can still make it happen if they try?
"Why don't you become my younger brother for just one day? Also, join the Disciplinary Committee."
"Eh?"
She just said something outrageous.
Wait, Shinomiya-senpai’s younger brother? Me? I might actually hate that. I’m confident I wouldn't last even half a day. I’d hate to be woken up at 4:30 in the morning or something.
Besides, if I became Shinomiya-senpai’s brother, that would mean meeting that eccentric grandfather of hers, wouldn't it? No thanks, that man pries into things in a weirdly unpleasant way. And I don't want to join the Disciplinary Committee either.
"Ah—um... if Nee-chan says it’s okay."
"Understood."
What was I saying?
She "understood" it. What was I saying? Why do I need Nee-chan’s permission? Using my sister as a shield in a pinch makes me look like such a pathetic youngest child... How embarrassing. I didn't want Nee-chan to find out about this. She won't go and ask her right away, will she? I hope everything is forgotten as soon as her mood improves. Nee-chan forgets things like that sometimes...
"Here, Yuyu. Say 'aaan'."
"A-Aaan..."
This is seriously bad.
No, really. Shinomiya-senpai was out of control. Is she in a berserker state? She felt like a regular at a hostess club from a drama or movie. Shinomiya-senpai was the absolute center of the room. This was a massive waste of charisma. Where did the usual Shinomiya-senpai go?
"..."
Mita-senpai gave me a look of pity. When I looked back, her eyes turned apologetic again. Has she always been this much of a long-suffering type...? I feel like Inatomi-senpai, who’s been held onto this whole time, might be even further along. Today, it felt like even she was leaning into being doted on by Shinomiya-senpai. She’s definitely the type who knows how to navigate the world.
I responded to Mita-senpai’s gaze in a low voice.
"No, it's fine. I’m used to this kind of irrationality from Nee-chan."
"Sorry... about—"
"It’s okay, it’s okay. I pretty much get it without you having to say everything."
"No, I doubt even you—"
Shinomiya-senpai, whose intimidation only grew as she got more carried away. Nee-chan, who gave in. The meal of udon. The apologizing Mita-senpai. The unspoken reason. The considerate Inatomi-senpai. The irrationality that reminded me of my sister. This sense of déjà vu—yeah.
"—It’s a heavy day for her, isn't it?"
"You're way too perceptive. It’s actually gross."
"I'm used to it because of my sister."