CH 84

August 18, 2021 graverobber.kun

Since I met Eihashi-san by chance the other day when I went out with Misaki, nothing particular happened and it is now the day of the biggest summer festival in this prefecture.

This festival is the one that I promised to go to with Eihashi-san and the others before the summer vacation so we are supposed to meet up and head there together.

The time is 5 pm. I was at my apartment, preparing to head out with Misaki.

“What do you think Onii-chan? Does it look good?”

“Yeah, it looks nice on you. But you will take it off soon anyway right?”

“Fufun, even for a brief moment, every girl wants to be praised as fashionable, you know! Make sure to praise Reika-san properly okay!”

“Is that the case?”

“YES!”

Before I realized it, Misaki seems to have already exchanged contacts with Eihashi-san. Moreover, even before I said anything, she already made some plans with her for today’s festival.

A few days ago, when I messaged the group to ask what we are going to do on the festival day, I was surprised to find that they already decided that Misaki would join us.

Well, it saved me some time since I was planning to ask them that from the beginning though.

“So, where do we go?”

“Hmm, it’s near the festival venue but……do you know of the kimono shop there?”

The name of the kimono shop written on the smartphone was one I’m familiar with. Well, I have never gone there in person but I know where it is.

“I think I know how to get there. Do you want to go now?”

“Really!? As expected of Onii-chan! I can always count on you!”

“This place was the one that commissioned me and Suzuka for summer posters after all. Well, we should be able to get there anyway, using the GPS right.”

“……since it’s a kimono rental, that means……..”

“It will have a poster of me in front of the store, yes……..”

That’s right it was from my and Suzuka’s shoot earlier this month.

We talked about the festival in the message group and everyone ended up agreeing to wear yukata for today but neither I nor Misaki had any. Of course, Masato doesn’t have one either.

That’s why we all decided to rent one.

Since it’s a place that will be displaying a poster of me, I know where it is. Still, I can understand Misaki’s question since even a girl would rarely remember the way to a kimono shop.

I didn’t expect to visit a store where my poster is being displayed either. The only reason I know where it is in the first place is that I want to avoid approaching it. It would be awkward for me to visit it after all.

“Let’s go! If we don’t hurry then we can’t change into the yukata before the festival starts!”

“Right. Let’s go.”

“FuFun, I wonder if someone would try to pick me up after I change into yukata!? Nee, Onii-chan! What would you do if someone really trying to pick me up!?”

“……I’d like it if you don’t say that kind of joke……I’ve been dealing with a lot of pick-ups lately. Besides, you don’t have to worry. No one would try to pick up a pipsqueak like you.”

“MuMu…….I’m all curious now but the pipsqueak thing is rude okay!”

“Ha, if you don’t want to be called a pipsqueak then you should try to be more like……no, it’s nothing.”

When I was about to give her some examples of someone she should try to be like, Eihashi-san and Suzuka came to my mind. Because of that, I just stopped talking.

Seeing that, Misaki has a grin on her face.

“Who should I try to be more like, I wonder? You were thinking about Reika-san and Suzuka-san right!? Ouch!”

“Shut up. Let’s go already.”

“Che-”

I ignored Misaki and headed off to the meeting place. It seems that they’ve already made a reservation so they shouldn’t be late.

Normally, I would have arrived 30 minutes before the meeting time but since I’m with Misaki today, I should be there just on time.

“Oh, we are first huh.”

“I think so? But they should be able to see us from here so let’s wait!”

“Well, yeah……wait, one’s here already.”

Looking back, I saw Masato whose hair’s waxed today but still looked messy as usual approaching us.

“Long time no see, Seiya. Nn….oh? Is this your little sister? She’s cute, unlike my sister!”

“Hello, Onii-chan’s only male friend! Also, that was sexual harassment!”

Said Misaki as she pointed her finger at Masato. I think she was just messing with him since there’s no one around us but Masato seems to be unexpectedly worked up because of that.

“Wha!? I was just praising you!?”

“You were looking at me suspiciously earlier but when you gazed at my chest, your eyes went ‘Ahh, how pitiful’ right! I will sue!”

“Come on! I didn’t do that alright! Also, the last part was just inferiority complex wasn’t it!”

In truth, Masato didn’t really stare at Misaki but since it looks fun, I decided to play along. Misaki is the only one who’s younger than all of us today so it would be nice if we can break the ice with this.

“Hmm, that was surely a case of sexual harassment. Some compensation at the festival stalls should be able to appease the victim though.”

“You too!?”

“I’m Misaki’s brother after all.”

“Is this the time for you to say that!?”

Is there any other circumstance where it would be more appropriate for me to say that? See? Misaki is nodding too.

“I want cotton candy!”

“Can’t be helped. I will buy one for you.”

“A kebab for me then.”

“You are not getting anything from me alright!”

“……hello…..?”

“Ah, hello, Reika-san! And nice to meet you, Ichinose-san!”

While we were fooling around, I didn’t realize that Eihashi-san and Ichinose-san have already arrived.

Eihashi-san was awkward with her greeting because of our earlier strange conversation but Ichinose-san seems to be the same as usual.

“You get along well as always…….so, this is Misaki-chan, right? Nice to meet you.”

“Well, yeah! I mean, I guess it’s because she’s Seiya’s sister, but she’s a cheeky but a fun girl to be around!”

“Thank you very much! I’m Hiura Misaki! Ah, Please don’t call me by my first name because It would be troubling if you fall for me. Ah, since it will be confusing if you call me by my last name, it would be nice if you do not address me at all.”

“What should I do then!?”

Falling in love just by calling her first name huh. I heard that there is a trope where a guy would fall for a girl if they got called by their first name in some novels but it would be a first if a guy calls a girl by her first name and falls for her instead.

“Misaki, I know that Masato is easy to tease but you don’t have to worry about him falling for you, you know. After all……this guy is a real siscon.”

“…..is that the case?”

“Really? This is the first time I hear it!”

Eh? Eihashi-san and Ichinose-san are looking at Masato strangely now. Well, I just made that up though…..

“I’m not alright!? Who the heck would be into that cranky gorilla!”

“Eh…..does that mean you like someone younger?”

“Eh, so it’s me after all!?”

“Hell no! Argh, what a pain!”

It’s good to see Misaki blending in so well but it’s about time we head into the store now.

“Let’s stop the silly talk and get changed. The festival is about to start.”

“Silly…….just who the heck do you think started this…….”

“Of course, it’s you Masato.”

“IT’S YOU!”