Volume 1 - CH 5.1

Encounter with the Shimizu Sisters 1

“I have a mission for Onī-chan today.”

“What’s wrong, Teruno?”

On holiday, as I was returning to my room after breakfast, I found my sister Teruno standing in front of my room with her arms crossed.

“Didn’t you hear what I said? I have a mission for you.”

“You mean you want me to do something for you? “

“You’re very perceptive. That’s right.”

Teruno nodded in satisfaction.

“So what do you want me to do? “

“Thank you for asking. I want Onī-chan to go to the shopping mall.”

“The shopping mall?”

“Yes. I want you to go there and pick up the game I had reserved.”

When I asked what she wanted me to do, it wasn’t a particularly difficult request. The only question I had was.

“That’s fine, but aren’t you coming with me, Teruno? “

“Well… um, I have exams to study for…”

Teruno’s eyes wander around. Perhaps studying for exams was just an excuse, and she actually didn’t want to go to a crowded place during the holiday. I know that Teruno has such a tendency to be unsociable.

When I look at Teruno again, I see that she has an anxious look on her face. It seems that she knows that her true feelings have been exposed to me. Now, what should I do?

“Okay. I’ll go. Can you tell me the information I need to pick up the game?”

“Yes! Thank you, Onī-chan!”

Teruno nodded happily. Maybe I’m indulging Teruno a little too much, but I just couldn’t refuse my sister’s selfish request.

After getting detailed information from Teruno, I prepared myself and left the house.

* * *

“I’m glad I was able to safely buy it.”

About an hour after I left home, I successfully completed the given mitzvah.

There were no major problems, and I was able to smoothly pick up the game Teruno had reserved at the electronics store. The game came with a limited edition bonus, and it seemed like Teruno had reserved it because she wanted that bonus.

Since I didn’t particularly want anything today, I was thinking of just heading back home. However, I unexpectedly spotted someone.

“Oh, Shimizu-san?”

“…Hondō? What are you doing here?”

When I called out, the person was indeed Shimizu-san.

Shimizu-san was wearing a navy jacket over a white shirt and jeans. I had never met Shimizu-san outside the school before, so it was refreshing to see her in her casual clothes.

“I knew it, it was Shimizu-san. Is Shimizu-san shopping, too? “

“Yeah, what about you――”

“Hondō? Are you that Daiki Hondō? Wait, really? Is it the real one?”

When I asked a question, a person I was not aware of called me by name. I turned my eyes in the direction of the voice and saw a woman a little shorter than Shimizu-san standing there. She had slightly brownish shoulder-length hair, a light blue V-neck knit top, and a long white skirt. From her appearance, she appeared to be the same age as me or slightly older.

(Not an image from the chapter)

“I am indeed Daiki Hondō, but I am sorry, who are you?”

“What? Don’t you know me? “

“I’m sorry… I don’t know you at all.”

“From her reaction, I guess she is the same age or older than me, but I have no idea who she is.

“Ai, aren’t you a bit overshadowed? (not well-known) “

“Well, maybe. Anyway, let’s go somewhere brighter.”

“Don’t try to make your shadow physically darker.”

From Shimizu-san’s light-hearted banter, it seemed that the woman called Ai had a close relationship with Shimizu-san. I replay the past conversations with Shimizu-san in my brain. Then I remembered something.

“Could you be Shimizu-san’s older sister?”

“Oh, you actually knew about me. Yes, I am. I am Shimizu Kei’s sister, Shimizu Ai. Please feel free to call me Ai.”

“Okay, nice to meet you. Ai-san. “

I had heard from Shimizu-san before that she had an older sister, but I didn’t recognize her because the atmosphere was so different from her.

“By the way, Ai is the vice president of the student council of our high school.”

“Oh, really?”

I look at Ai-san. Ai-san noticed my gaze and winked at me for some reason.

“Yes, not only am I Kei’s older sister, but also the vice president of the Hyper Ultra Student Council of your high school.” (haipāur utora, hyper ultra)

“Don’t unnecessarily use foreign words.”

Shimizu-san quipped with a look of exasperation on her face.

“Well, isn’t it catchy? Anyway, forget about that. So, what are you doing here, Daiki-kun? “

“My sister asked me to do some shopping for her.”

“Oh, so you have a sister. Are you going to do the shopping now?”

“No, I’ve already finished shopping.”

I showed Ai-san the bag of games I was carrying.

“I see. Daiki-kun, do you have any plans for the rest of the day?”

“I was going to leave now that I’ve finished my business.”

“In that case, why don’t you come with us?”

“Yes? “

The invitation is so sudden, and my mind can’t keep up with her.

“Hey, what are you saying on your own, Ai?”

Shimizu-san joined the conversation after hearing Ai’s sudden invitation.

“Because I want to talk with Daiki-kun. It seems Daiki-kun has some time, so it’s fine, right?”

“It’s bothersome for Hondō if you suddenly invited him like that.”

Shimizu-san meets my gaze. I feel like she’s subtly telling me to decline.

“It’s not a problem, right, Daiki-kun?”

Ai-san also looked at me. I feel like she’s subtly telling me to accept.

“Well, um…”

I thought I was someone who didn’t hesitate much when making choices, but this dilemma is extremely difficult. Whichever option I choose, I have a feeling that the other one will say something to me later.

“Hondō”

“Daiki-kun”

Time seems to be running out. Then I made up my mind.

* * *

“I’m glad it wasn’t too crowded.”

The Shimizu sisters and I were at a family restaurant in a shopping mall. Perhaps because there was still some time before lunch, we were able to sit down without waiting in line.

Shimizu-san and Ai-san were sitting next to each other, and Shimizu-san and I were facing each other.

In the end, I decided to accompany the Shimizu sisters for shopping. Partly because Ai-san is older than me and partly because I thought that Shimizu-san would forgive me.