Chapter 884 Growth

Chapter 884 Growth　　“This is unfair. Injustice. How did this happen?” Sumire muttered to herself as she meekly sat between Chii and me. Compared to the other times that I encountered the girl, she looked like a little animal as she tightly hugged her bag to prevent Chii from groping her again.

“Sumimin, stop sulking. Aren’t you like, happy that we’re reunited? I missed messing with—I missed you!”

“You don’t have to reword it! I heard it loud and clear, Chii-chan-senpai!”

“What might you be talking about? Is it bad to miss my precious junior?” While keeping a playful smile on her lips, Chii continuously poked Sumire’s puffed-up cheeks.

The fake gyaru was clearly enjoying messing with this junior of hers. Watching that exchange between the two girls, not just me, even the other passengers on the train were widely amused. The two girls being cute and beautiful even amplified that. Making those other passengers writhe from their seats or where they’re standing.

And with my presence serving as a deterrent, no one managed to disturb their moment.

Anyway, from what I heard from Chii, she’s from the same club as Sumire during middle school. And even without telling me their connection, it’s easy to guess. She’s the playful senpai who loves to mess with her juniors. Apparently, even Umi, Sumire’s soft-spoken friend, was also afraid of Chii.

“Oh right. I’m intrigued, how did you know about Ruki?” Seeing as the girl would just continue to turtle up on her seat if she continued teasing her, Chii switched to interrogation.

But this girl… I already told her about Sumire. She’s aware that I got to know a junior from their middle school who’s an avid Asahi fan.

She just switched her mode of teasing the pitiful junior. Should I rescue her now? No. I better watch them for now.

Besides, since I planned to walk Chii up to their doorstep, I would be leaving the train with them when it reached their station. That’s when I would rescue her.

For now, watching Chii enjoying herself and Sumire not being an Asahi preacher was a refreshing sight.

At least, for me.

“Uh… I chat him up on this very train when he’s about to go on your date.” Sumire honestly answered but hearing the word ‘date’, Chii looked at me, her lips pouting.

Right. She’s unaware of my date with Himeko. Well, not really unaware, she just lacked the details.

“Oya? Aren’t cha bad at strangers, Sumimin? How come you managed to chat him up?”

“I-it’s Asahi’s concert. I—I thought he’s also a fan.” Sumire meekly answered.

In that line of questioning, Chii gradually stitched the whole story of my encounters with Sumire. At times, Sumire would look at me, her eyes pleading for rescue. However, before I could even offer a word of advice on how to free herself from Chii, the fake gyaru would pull Sumire’s attention back to her with more questions.

In the end, just like when she got caught by Chii, Sumire succumbed to her fate of not getting the rather clingy gyaru on her back.

By the time we reached their station, Chii was all over Sumire, rubbing her cheeks and head while the poor girl had an ‘I’m done’ expression written all over her face.

As we walked out of the station, Chii finally let go of the girl to walk next to me. She already had her fun.

Now, I feel a little bad for not rescuing her earlier. Her normally cheerful aura was replaced by a depressing gloom as she maintained a distance from Chii.

“Heh… Sorry, Sumimin. Are you angry at me?”

“Do I look happy, senpai?” With a sigh, Sumire slumped her shoulders down as she energetically took her steps. “I also hate you, senpai. You left me in Chii-chan-senpai’s mercy.”

“Uh. I thought you’re getting along well, am I wrong?” I scratched my head and acted obliviously. With Chii messing with her, the question that she ought to ask me was never brought up.

Well, I’ll answer her about it the next time she runs into me.

“Ugh… This shameless couple.” Sumire facepalmed.

“Now, now, Sumimin. I’ll apologize. Do you want a crepe? My treat.”

And like an owner to her pet, Chii grinned and offered a treat to the girl. However, Sumire only gave the crepe store a passing glance before weakly shaking her head.

“No. I just want to go home.”

She’s really spent, huh? Well then, I guess it’s better to cheer her up rather than let her go home like that.

“You overdid it, Chii. Look at your cute junior.”

I patted Sumire’s head to comfort her. She slapped it right away though.

“Senpai, stop acting. You’re also amused at my plight and your earlier answer already outed you. You don’t need to cheer me up… I’ll just – H-huh?!”

Amidst her gloomy monologue, Sumire’s eyes suddenly widened in surprise as she stared at me. Following that, she grabbed her phone from her pocket and put on the earpiece. In less than five seconds, Chii and I watched the girl transition from being too gloomy to someone who found bliss.

Right… I sent another voice message to her. Although it’s not a new song, it’s still Yue’s singing voice.

Well, I was trying to dodge her questions yet I somehow felt really bad seeing her down in the dumps.

As though she found heaven, Sumire started hopping and skipping as she ran ahead of us. Around ten steps later, she stopped and turned around with a bright smile on her lips, “Senpai, I don’t know how you got these recordings but I’ll let it pass today! See you! And Chii-chan-senpai, I hope you tripped! Just kidding!”

After saying that, Sumire stuck her tongue out cutely before dashing out of our view.

Since Chii didn’t know what exactly happened, it became her turn to be dumbfounded. “W-what just happened, Ruki? Care to explain?”

“I gave her a candy.” I vaguely answered as a smile lined my face.

Even though encountering that girl was a strange coincidence. Knowing that she has a connection to both Yue and Chii as well as that feeling of relaxation I was getting whenever I would run into her, I already found myself being fond of that junior.

But of course, I would still dodge her questions about the recordings next time.

Anyway, since I vowed to keep up to my promise, I still explained to Chii what exactly happened. And when I was done with that, Chii admitted that she also felt a little bad for messing with the girl too much. She said she forgot to tone it down because apparently, Sumire was her favorite junior.

“Did I act childish, Ruki?”

“Hmm? Why do you say so?”

“Well, Sumimin sent me off during our graduation ceremony while crying. And now after meeting her again, I couldn’t hold myself back.”

“I see. She’s that close to you. I don’t think she’ll hold a grudge. She’s also glad to see you again, you know? Have you seen that smile of hers while cursing at you?”

“While cursing… That’s ominous… But you’re right. I’ll go and surprise her next time. Hehehe…”

This girl, her words were fine until she laughed like an evil villain hatching a devious plan.

“Whatever surprise you’re planning, please don’t. You might traumatize your junior.”

“Eh? I’m not planning anything! Besides, you know how shy I am.”

“Really? I didn’t see the shy and unconfident Chii earlier. You seem genuine, you know? You’ve really come a long way… I’m glad.”

That’s right. Even though she’s interacting with Sumire in her gyaru front, everything she showed seemed all-natural. The Chii from grade school has already evolved into this confident and cheerful girl. Well, she’s still a little clumsy but that’s it. I love seeing the growth in her character.

“Y-you… Don’t just throw a compliment like that.”

“It’s not a compliment but a proper observation,” I answered her before grabbing her hand as we continued our walk to their house.

I already went there before so I intentionally made our pace rather slow to savor this moment with her. Although I felt the urge to stop somewhere where we could be more intimate, I restrained myself from doing so. There’s a better time for that.

When we reached her house, I greeted her mother who opened the gate for her before excusing myself.