Volume 10 - CH 30

StarChild Asserts

(TLN: Her dominance)

After insisting on a ban on love talk, StarCha changed her hair color to light gray before entering Starbucks.

While feeling bewildered at her hair color change, I walked up to the cash register with my left arm still linked to her right.

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“Welcome! ……..Ah, Akechi-san!”

“Hi, Hi there, Starbucks-neechan.”

“………”

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For a while, I thought that she might be into me but such hopeful thinking was long vanquished when Takeru told me he saw her with her boyfriend on the train. It seems she’s in charge of the cash register today.

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“It’s been a while! I’ve been waiting for Akechi-san to come visit again you know!”

“A, Ahaha….. I joined a club at the academy so I haven’t had the chance to stop by at Starbucks recently you see.”

“………..”

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Actually, I lessened my frequency of visits to avoid her after Takeru told me that she has a boyfriend…….

Incidentally, Seiko is also acquainted with her since I sometimes visit this place with my usual group of friends.

Well, since she’s StarCha today, she will probably act like this is their first meeting though……

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“My, so you joined a club! What kind of club is it!?”

“Ahh, it’s the Literature club.”

“………..”

“Hmm! I was in the literature club in high school too! What a coincidence, no, destiny! By the way, I want to try going to Destinyland with you, Akechi-san!”

“That sounds nice! I want to go to Destinyland with you too, Starbucks-neechan.”

“……….”

“Who are you with today? Your sister perhaps?”

“Y, Yeah. Well, something li–……”

“Girlfriend!”

“…..eh?”

“…..eh?”

“I’m Hideyori-san’s girlfriend!”

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You said no love talk in Starbucks but I’m your boyfriend now!? Are you alright with this StarCha!?

There’s nothing wrong with being my little sister right, StarCha!?

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“Right, Hideyori-san. We’re on a lovey-dovey date today right.”

“A, Akechi-san……”

“S, Starbucks-neechan……..”

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Starbucks-neechan looks at me with an imploring gaze but I don’t even know what StarCha is playing at here…….

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“What will you get today, Hideyori-san?”

“I’ll have Mocha.”

“Mine will be caramel macchiato then.”

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When I tried to take out my wallet, StarCha stopped me and took out her smartphone, and promptly completed the checkout.

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“Akechi-san, is a pimp…….?”

“No!?”

“I’m always in his care so I’m treating him today.”

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StarCha, who probably has way more disposable income than me, explained to Starbucks-neechan in a taunting manner.

It’s pathetic that my little sister is paying for me but it’s not like I let her treat me every time okay?

There are times when we split the bill or when I treat her myself too.

Rather, this is the first time she paid everything for me like this.

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“Of, Of course, coming right up.”

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Starbucks-neechan’s eyebrows seem to be twitching as she left the coffee-making to her colleagues behind her.

On the other hand StarCha seems to be enjoying herself.

The air became pretty awkward and no one said anything…….

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The mocha and caramel macchiato was shortly served and StarCha and I carried our own cup away from the cash register.

From what I can see, it appears that my little sister is not too fond of Starbucks-neechan.

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While we were picking our seats, my phone vibrated so I took it out. 

Looks like I got a message from Starbucks-neechan. Let’s see, [S– is on the table you know ♪(/ω＼*)].

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What’s that S– thing!?

Does this mean she doesn’t want to break up with her boyfriend but she still wants to S– me!?

That’s so bold…….

To not escalate this further I sent her a sticker and gently declined.

If she’s serious about me I might have given her an OK since I’m still free though.

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When I put my phone away, StarCha said [Let’s sit here] and I followed her to her chosen seat.

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[[Look, Look, Mitsuki! This is so cute right!?]]

[[It is, is that cat imitating a tiger doing a Souran Bushi!?]]

[[No, Mitsuki, it’s imitating a lion.]]

[[Eh? That’s a tiger’s move, right? Is it really imitating a lion?]]

[[It’s king of the wild!]]

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When I turned to look at the familiar voices from a nearby seat, I spotted Eien-chan and Mitsuki having a good time watching something on their phone.

The last time I ran into them at Myacdonald was when I was with Risa, this time it’s with StarChild at Starbucks huh?

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[[Eh? Isn’t that Hideyori over there?]]

[[Ah, it’s him! Hideyori-sa~n!]]

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Mitsuki noticed my gaze and Eien-chan called out to me.

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“……….”

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StarCha glares at me, asserting silent pressure.

Uuu……, I’m supposed to help StarCha hide her identity here, it’s obvious she would be angry when we run into someone who already knows about it huh…….

While feeling myself getting smaller before my little sister’s pressure, I approached Eien-chan’s seat.

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“Hmm? Hideyori-san, who are you with today?”

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Eien-chan seemed surprised when she saw the light-gray-haired StarCha who is silently walking behind me.

Gray hair is certainly rare even in this world which is already rather rich in hair color after all…….

In the first place, I don’t know anyone else with gray hair other than Ennoia, Gainen-san’s true form……

It’s doubtful if I can even count a god as an acquaintance though…….

In the world of my previous life, most people in Japan have black hair while in other parts of the world you would find people with brown or blond hair at most.

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Even Takeru, the protagonist of the game, has black hair.

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“Come on, Eien-chan did you forget, this is–”

“I’m Hideyori-san’s Girlfriend!”

“Eh?”

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StarCha stepped in front of me and stated so in front of Eien-chan and Mitsuki.

With that, the atmosphere around the four of us suddenly turned frosty…….

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Author Note:  Starbucks-neechan with a charming dimple.

Real name, unknown…….., to be precise, I haven’t decided on it yet.

She’s 18 years old and a freshman in college.

She works part-time at Starbucks and is in love with a high school freshman who was a middle schooler until just recently.

Informed by Takeru, the members of the Western Army know of her existence.

She has Hideyori’s number.

Age = the number of years without a boyfriend.

She said she was in the literature club in high school but she was actually in the volleyball club (She lied to match with Hideyori)

Hideyori says that her dimple is quite charming but personally she thinks that her charm is her long eyelashes.

On the first day of her part-time job, she was helped by Hideyori.

Writing her in the same chapter as StarCha was pretty confusing.

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This is her first appearance but it’s the second time she was mentioned.

For those who forgot about her, please see V9C16.

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When Hideyori doesn’t want to run into his acquaintances, he often visits Starbucks instead of Master’s coffee shop……….he still meets his acquaintances there quite often though.

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Next up, how will the three combat StarCha’s frosty atmosphere……?