She looked like an ordinary girl at first glance. However, if you peered into her eyes as she looked up at you, they were pitch black and seemingly bottomless. It felt as though you might be sucked into an abyss if you stared directly into them. Today’s guest, currently directing that Silent Wicked Eye toward me, is the girl who feigns purity while being a total brocon—Yuki-chan-san. It’s a pleasure to have her.
"Excuse me, were you even listening? I asked where my big brother is."
"It’s been a while, Yuki-chan. Not since I went over to Sasaki’s place to play games. How have you been?"
"Where is my big brother?"
I tried a casual greeting, but Yuki-chan-san was as focused as ever. Apparently, she didn't have time for pleasantries right now. Her light brown hair, which flared out like beagle ears, fluttered in a breeze from somewhere, flapping as if to urge me on. I wondered what kind of gimmick kept her straight-cut bangs from moving even a millimeter. I found myself fascinated by Japanese technological prowess.
Sigh...
"...Sasaki said he was going around with the guys from the soccer club."
"Wait, why did you just sigh? I don’t understand you at all."
"At least say hello first..."
Yuki-chan-san spat out sharp words, looking visibly dissatisfied. Honestly, the fact that eighty percent of her conversation so far revolved around "big brother" was abnormal. In terms of pure communication skills, Ichinose-san back when she first started her part-time job might have been better, simply because she actually managed to greet people. And so, today’s talk theme is: "Graduating from a Brother Complex." I cannot guarantee anyone’s safety.
"Um..."
"Ah, Ichinose-san. This girl is Yuki-chan. You know Sasaki in our class, right? She’s his younger sister and a purebred brocon."
"...A brocon..."
"Ah..."
Ichinose-san awkwardly looked away. Seeing her reaction, it hit me—oh right, this girl is a brocon too... I’d forgotten because the vectors of their brother complexes are so different. Well, compared to Yuki, Ichinose-san’s devotion feels like it stays within the realm of a normal sibling relationship. I hope she continues her brocon ways with peace of mind.
"Who do you think you are, calling my big brother 'that guy'?"
"I’m his classmate. I might even spend more time with him during the day than you do, Yuki-chan."
"Huh? Are you trying to pick a fight?"
"You buying? It’ll only cause trouble for Sasaki."
"Gnuuuu..."
"Did you actually just say 'gnuuuu'?"
Yuki looked blatantly frustrated. It might be fine since it was me, but if this had been Ichinose-san, it would have turned into a disaster. Apparently, she has no problem with him having male friends. No problem... right?
Fuming, Yuki stomped her feet on the spot. Please stop damaging our school’s hallowed halls of learning.
Yuki looked up at me resentfully, then glanced at Ichinose-san and asked reluctantly.
"Is that person my enemy?"
It was terrifying that I knew exactly what she meant by "enemy." I wondered what would happen if I said yes... I was a little curious, but I had a feeling it would lead to something far worse than Ichinose-san just crying, so I decided against it.
"She’s not an enemy... Sigh."
"That’s twice. You’ve sighed twice now! Sajou-san, do you have some kind of grudge against me? I’m never talking to you again, you hear? Do you want to be blocked on messages, too?"
"Wait, does that mean I’m relieved of my duties? I don’t have to tell you about 'Sasaki at school' when you ask me for updates? All right!"
"Ah, wait. I’m lying. Hey, why are you happy?! Normally, this is where Sajou-san is supposed to panic and cry, 'Please don't!' Isn't that a bit too cheeky?"
"The one who’s che-e-ky is you!"
"Ngyah?! You’re messing up my hair!"
While I wasn't quite at my breaking point yet, her attitude toward an upperclassman was so insolent that I decided she didn't deserve any more kindness. I didn't care if she was a yandere brocon; I wasn't holding back—it was time for the head-rubbing punishment.
"How could you... What will I do if my big brother sees my hair all messy?!"
"Then have your big brother fix it for you."
"...! That's...!"
Why does this girl have so much emotional range when her default expression is those dark, hollow eyes? Her face and her actions don't match up at all. She’s like Conan dancing the Para Para. I’m afraid she’d actually start dancing if Sasaki ordered it.
"Um, Sajou-kun... we should probably..."
"Right. We have to go meet Sasaki-san soon. I shouldn't be playing around with another family's Sasaki."
"Huh? Did you just call my time with my big brother 'playing around'?"
"I didn't!?"
"Hmph... He wasn't in the classroom. Sajou-san is useless, so I'll just call him myself."
"Good grief... That guy has it rough, too."
Rather than being annoyed at being tangled up with Yuki, I started to feel sorry for the actual brother, Sasaki. Muttering words of pity, I checked my smartphone screen. There were no new messages from Sasaki-san. When I thought about her wandering around the school entrance looking for us, my chest tightened. I didn't have time to waste on a rude, yandere brocon.
I called out to Yuki as she put her wireless earbuds in and stared at her phone screen.
"Well, Yuki-chan, we have someone to meet, so we’re going. Sasaki is with a big group, so he's probably somewhere spacious. Look for him there."
"Wait a moment."
"Oof."
As I spoke with my back turned, a hand reached through the gap at my side and pressed into my solar plexus, knocking the wind out of me. What kind of way to stop someone is that...? I felt like my life was in her hands. Is that some kind of martial art? If our genders were reversed, this would have been an under-boob touch. It would have been sexual harassment, you know?
"What? If you get serious, Yuki-chan, shouldn't you be able to scent Sasaki out easily? Do you even need me?"
"What do you think I am? There’s no way I could do that in a crowd like this."
Apparently, even Yuki finds it difficult to track Sasaki's scent in this mess. Well, with so many people—wait, huh? That sounded like she could do it if it wasn't crowded. I almost nodded along because I’m confident I could track Natsukawa from fifty meters away.
"Fine, fine. What is it?"
"My big brother won't answer my call. What does this mean?"
"Don't ask me like I’m being interrogated. He’s probably just with the soccer club guys and hasn't noticed."
"No, he must be going around with some girl. Unlike Sajou-san, my big brother is handsome. Even someone like Sajou-san is going around with a girl, so there’s no way my big brother would spend his time with only men."
"What was with that comparison? I feel nothing but malice. Is it a crime for me to hang out with a girl while Sasaki hangs out with the guys? Besides, if you love your brother that much, have some faith in him."
"Please don't dismiss my love for my big brother with words found in a dictionary. Not even God can define this emotion."
"Sorry, I’m not interested in joining your religion. Let's go, Ichinose-san."
"Y-Yes... Ah."
"Eh?"
I figured I just had to force my way out. But just as I tried to break away, Ichinose-san let out a small gasp while looking ahead. Following her gaze, I saw a university student walking toward us, looking around the area. Ah... she came from that direction.
"Um... —Ah! Sajou-senpai, and Mina-senpai!"
"Sasaki-san—wait, senpai?"
Sasaki-san’s face lit up with a smile the moment our eyes met. Just as I was about to call back to her, my heart skipped a beat when I realized she’d addressed us differently than usual. Had she always called me "senpai"...? She’d said "Sajou-senpai" before in a teasing way, but...
"She always called us 'senpai' when we talked during work..."
"Wait, really...?"
Ichinose-san explained, as if sensing my confusion. We’d exchanged messages, but we hadn't had many chances to call each other by name... Since I hadn't seen her in person for a while, maybe the nicknames had changed while I wasn't around. She even called Ichinose-san "senpai" using her first name.
...Wait a minute. What do you mean, during work? Ichinose-san, do you talk about me with Sasaki-san while you’re at the bookstore? Now I’m really curious.
"It's been a long time! Sajou-senpai!"
"Long time no see, Sasaki-san. You've grown a bit more mature since I last saw you, haven't you?"
"Ehehe, I borrowed these clothes from my mother today!"
"No wonder you look so grown-up."
Sasaki-san wasn't wearing her Mishirohama Middle School uniform; instead, she wore an autumn-colored bell-sleeve dress. I thought it looked a bit mature for a middle school girl, but it made sense if she’d borrowed it from her mother.
"Seeing Mina-senpai looking so soft and gentle is refreshing, too!"
"S-Soft and gentle...?"
"Your bangs! You usually have them parted so neatly!"
"! A-Auuu..."
"Kyaa! Blushing Mina-senpai is so cute...!"
Perhaps embarrassed that she was showing her bangs for the first time, Ichinose-san covered her forehead with both hands and hid behind me. Sasaki-san started hopping up and down in excitement at how cute she looked.
I can’t process all of this...! First, Ichinose-san! I completely agree that the way you're hiding is adorable! And Sasaki-san! Stop jumping up and down like a middle schooler every time you get excited! There are small children around!
Actually, now that I think about it, Sasaki-san is a middle schooler... but those vertical movements were just a bit too stimulating. The vertical movements.
Sasaki-san and Ichinose-san began playing a game of tag with me in the middle. Every time they circled around, I felt the sheer joy of being touched here and there. I decided to stop hiding this feeling... as a boy in puberty, it would be rude not to be happy about this. I think it’s actually the gentlemanly thing to do at this point.
"Geez, don't run away like tha—oh?"
"...Eh?"
Just as I was starting to recognize Sasaki-san’s innocence as that of a middle schooler and began feeling a sense of fatherly affection, she stopped as she grabbed my left arm while chasing Ichinose-san. And she stopped right there... Don't move, me... If I move even an inch, the fault is mine.
"Could it be... Yuki-chan?"
"Eh, could it be Fuuka-chan?"
Wait, these two know each other?
[Situation Summary]
Yuki and Ichinose are brocons.
Sasaki-san (Fuuka) and Ichinose are friends and share a senior-junior relationship.
Sasaki (Yuki) and Sasaki (Fuuka) are a JC and a JD, and they were classmates.