Volume 4 - CH 13

Although summer break ended, the summer heat didn’t vanish in time. It only really starts to cool down in the second half of October. That means the summer uniform will still be around for a while, hell yeah. I can enjoy Natsukawa’s white and slender arms for a bit longer. Ahh, what a wonderful season this is. It’s like an entire season of fanservice, which I very much welcome. Maybe I really should pay Natsukawa…

“……Hm?”

It was the first day of the second school term. I arrived a bit late at school, when I saw some ruckus going on in front of the school gate. Looking over, some male student I didn’t even know was grabbed by Shinomiya-senpai. Close-by, I saw the big-breasted public morals committee member Mita-senpai, as well as the public morals committee mascot Inatomi-senpai. They had a red armband on their arms, with ‘Public morals’ written on it with white text, so they might be checking uniforms according to the dress code.

Well, that guy had some of the shirt unbuttoned, showing off the shirttail, so I shouldn’t be in any trouble.

“Mm, Sajou?”

“Ehhh…!?”

When I approached them like I normally would, Shinomiya-senpai called out to me without giving me a glance. It was so absurd, I subconsciously returned a dumbfounded voice. She must have confirmed my existence thanks to that, turned around on her heel, and showed a beaming smile. Ah, so cool…It’s like she’s even more of a hottie compared to before…

“Morning there. It’s been a while, Sajou. You got a bit of a tan, huh?”

“Good morning. Maybe a bit, I guess? …But, how did you know it was me?”

“Because of your presence.”

“Presence.”

I forgot for a second, but Shinomiya-senpai is on the martial arts side of things, right. She called it spiritual arts or something. The impact of that day was so huge, it’s like my memories of back then were engraved in my head. But, how can she guess the presence of other people? I feel like she was born into the wrong world.

“Is a presence different from person to person?”

“Completely different, of course.”

Presence, huh…Maybe color? I was a bit sad that summer break ended, but I was still looking forward to the new school term. I was a bit excited, so maybe my color was a bright one? Like, lemon?

“What kind of color does my presence have?”

“Your color is tawny.”

“Tawny.”

“Ah, no! Brown!”

“Brown.”

Eh, what, was she being considerate of me there? It’s pretty much the same anyway. So it’s brown, huh? I could go for some dirty bean water coffee right now. I am pretty skilled at doing an ice coffee now thanks to Big Sis always forcing me. I just hope that brown doesn’t mean anything bad…

“Oh, it’s Sajou.”

“Sajou-kun!”

Mita-senpai and Inatomi-senpai spotted me as well. Because of their sudden greeting, I twitched in shock. Because it’s been a while, the stimulus of their mini skirts was a bit too much. I’ll end up staring, you know. Especially at Mita-senpai’s upper part as well.

“Don’t you think I’ve changed a lot!?” Inatomi-senpai suddenly asked a question that could insta-kill any man depending on the answer.

In order to save my life, I just randomly said ‘I feel like you’ve grown’, to which she jumped up in joy—or so I thought, but I was wrong. In reality, she bought a new red ribbon. Because of my blunder, Mita-senpai stabbed one finger into my ribs, and I got a disappointed gaze from Shinomiya-senpai. Stop it, will you?

*

“Ah…Ahh, Sajou-san.”

“Eh…? Woah, Ichinose-san!?”

In the hallway I would always turn left, someone called out to me from the right. Turning around, I saw Ichinose-san carrying her student bag in her arms as she peeked out her small head from the corner. I was wondering why she would be standing there, but there can only be one reason.

“Morning. You don’t have to hide like that, you know…”

“B-But…”

Before summer break started, when I was feeling like it and headed to school earlier than usual, Ichinose-san was always there. Since she’s that early type, I bet she was there faster than anybody else. Yet, she kept carrying her bag, hiding over here this entire time.

“It’s not weird at all. Be a bit more confident, will you.”

“Auuuu…” Ichinose-san gave me a flustered voice devoid of any confidence.

She looked at me in anxiety, and I could see both of her eyes clearly. I still remember her red face from the day before yesterday. The following day after the whole incident with Bear-sansenpai, Ichinose-san went to a beauty salon, and got her long bangs cut for good. Apparently, the tension and nervousness got the better of her, which is why she only said to cut them, but didn’t give any directions.

They added some special service where they not only cut the bangs, but showed some of her forehead as well. Great job, hairdresser-san. And great on you for showing this courage, Ichinose-san. I’m glad I praised her like that.

No, well, she’s so cute, I found myself stuttering. From what I heard, she was bullied a lot for having a big forehead, being called bald and all that, which is why she kept her bangs long like that. Pretty much what I expected, huh. Still, her looking up at me is making my heart race. Can I just crouch down and meet her gaze with mine? Also, seeing her in the normal school uniform is super fresh of a feeling.

When I heard her out, she seemed to have been too embarrassed to go into the classroom alone, and waited here for me. Then again, she’d follow me naturally without me having to drag her after me. She was showing her forehead just fine throughout our shifts, so what is she getting embarrassed for now…Well, we’ve met each day.

“Come on, let’s go.”

“Y-Yes…”

“I’m not your Senpai anymore.”

“Ah, y-yeah…”

On the final day of my work, I handed Gramps the apron I was using. Despite me only working there for a month and a half, he was acting pretty gloomy. As gratitude, I got a cute apron from his wife at least. She apparently wants me to use that at home. Maybe I can use that for when I make cup noodles or some ice coffee? I bet Mom is going to use it tomorrow, though.

Surprisingly enough, Ichinose-san was tearing up. It felt like I was reliving my trauma again. In utter silence, she touched my arm with her fingertips. What kind of reaction is that? I subconsciously gave her a handshake. When I said ‘See you tomorrow’, she showed a blooming smile. What destructive force, really. Gramps, you better protect her.

It seems like she told the two Senpais that she’d continue working. But, I wonder how their relationship is looking right now. She at least stopped avoiding them, I heard. However, when I asked if she was still reading books while leaning against Senpai’s warm tummy, she said that she declined. Cheer up, Bear-sansenpai. You’re much closer than most siblings in this world.

I’m not her Senpai anymore, so she just nodded quietly. I can’t even imagine what we would talk about at school now. Well, things will work out, surely.

“I’m opening it.”

“Eek.”

“Opening it for real.”

Arriving at the classroom, I signalized that I would be opening the door, to which I heard a terrified voice. Should I just keep the door closed and we skip class? I swallowed these protective desires, and opened the door.

“Sup~”

“Ah! Morning, Sajocchi!”

“Morning.”

“Yo, Ashida, Natsukawa.”

Right upon opening the door, my seat was to the left. Behind there sat Ashida, and Natsukawa was standing next to it. Seems like they got here before us, and were talking. The summer uniform…Ahh, Natsukawa! Ahh!? She has a bit of a tan! How nice…Hm?

“Doesn’t feel like it’s been a while because we were texting each other all the time……Wait, huh?”

“W-Wataru, that girl…”

“Ah, oh, right…She’s a protective house deity.”

“As if!?”

Ahh, the second we opened the door, Ichinose-san’s tension must have gone up ten-fold, because she clung to me like crazy, allowing me to feel her heartbeat touching my back. She’s basically glued to me…My back feels hot. I get how she must have felt with Bear-sansenpai at her back.

“I-Ichinose-san…”

“Eh!? That girl’s Ichinose-chan!? The girl sitting next to you!?” Ashida raised a loud voice, filled with shock and confusion.

Hey now, everyone in the classroom is staring at us. You’re going to make Ichinose-san run away…Actually, that’s not as bad…A flustered reaction wouldn’t be too bad…Or, she could cling to me even more?

“H-Hey…!”

“Eh?”

Right when I was healed thanks to the warm sensation at my back, Natsukawa approached me with a pouting face.

“Y-You can’t do that…”

“Ah, okay…”

Natsukawa put her hands between me and Ichinose-san. I was pushed towards the blackboard, away from Ichinose-san. In the end, Ichinose-san stood still, unsure of what to do. Turning around towards them, both Natsukawa and Ichinose-san showed me dubious gazes. Don’t ask for help from me, Ichinose-san…You need to convey the message yourself.

“Ah!? Ichinose-san cut her bangs!”

“Oh! You’re right! So cute!”

“That looks so much better!”

A girl raised a loud voice after catching on to Ichinose-san’s image change, to which Shirai-san and Okamocchan came running with a smile. I guess that girls get excited about fashion stuff and so on. I’m pretty sure nobody would care if I cut my bangs, which is pretty sad.

Both Shirai-san and Okamoto-san seem to be the literature type of girl, so I feel like they could get along just fine. At least better than the customers that stop by at the bookshop. There, I got another gaze from Ichinose-san, asking for help. Not happening, okay? I definitely ain’t breaking between you group of girls. Just give up, and be surrounded.

Right as I was enjoying the sight, Natsukawa came talking to me from the right.

“…So that girl at your part-time job…”

“Ah…W-Who knows? I don’t, Sanjou not knows no nope.”

I did tell both Natsukawa and Ashida a lot about Ichinose-san. I definitely cannot let them find out that Ichinose-san is the person I was talking about. If they find out, I have lost my right to live. I will die.

“You know, I’m suffering from dementia.”

“……”

“………Um.”

So…I guess I gotta jump out of the window after all?