Chapter 1 Now the guy who manages it has become a dead server
April 6th — At last, the first day of school as a second-year student had arrived.
A quick glance outside revealed cherry blossom petals dancing in the air. Surely, these blossoms would beautifully adorn tomorrow’s entrance ceremony. I hoped they’d create a pleasant memory for the new students, though I gave a wry smile, thinking that high schoolers probably don’t get that excited about cherry blossoms anymore.
“Dad, Mom — I’ve become a second-year.”
After finishing my preparations for school, I stood before the family altar. Facing my parents’ photos, I reported my advancement to second year. Naturally, I’d grown quite a bit compared to when they were still alive, but it still felt a little lonely that they couldn’t see it for themselves.
“…Guess that’s a bit too much to ask for, huh?”
After gazing at their photos for a while, I left the house and headed to school. The end of spring break marked the start of a new life. Even though the route to school hadn’t changed one bit, it somehow felt fresh and new.
“Oh, good morning.”
“Good morning!”
I exchanged greetings with an elderly couple out for a walk as we passed each other. Continuing on, I walked by the Shinjo family’s house and soon met up with my friends.
“Hey, Hayato!”
“Finally showed up, huh?”
“Not like I’m that late… Good morning, you two.”
Grinning widely, these two were my precious friends — my closest guy pals. Sota and Kaito. They knew about my family situation and always looked out for me. Truly kind friends.
“Hey, do you think we’ll end up in different classes?” Sota asked.
“There’s definitely a chance,” Kaito replied. “Honestly, it’d be a miracle if we stayed together.”
“…Yeah, fair point.”
With the class reshuffle, we’d likely be surrounded by completely new faces this year. We might get split up, or maybe I’d end up with Arisa or Aina — or one of them, at least. If that happened, even though our relationship was a secret, I might get to talk to them more in class than I did last year.
“By the way, we didn’t hang out much during spring break. What were you two up to?” I asked.
Their answers were, in a way, exactly what I’d expected.
“I was watching anime and reading manga!” Sota said enthusiastically.
“I hit the gym and stuff,” Kaito added. “Gotta maintain this physique, you know!”
Sota had fully indulged in his otaku hobbies, while Kaito had been training to keep his prized body in shape. Naturally, after asking them, the question came back to me.
“What about you, Hayato?”
“Yeah, you were the only one slow to reply in the group chat. Were you that busy?”
…How was I supposed to answer this?
My spring break had mostly been spent surrounded by Arisa and Aina, with Sakuna-san joining in too, making it incredibly lively. Studying for the new school year, going out to have fun like typical students, and receiving enough warmth to blow away my loneliness — my break had been colored by them in every way imaginable.
“Well, it was pretty damn great,” I said.
“…I see.”
“Haha! I’m curious what you were up to, but if you’re smiling like that, it’s all good!”
From their reactions… had I made them worry, maybe? The thought made me happy — how kind could these two be? Overcome with affection, I threw my arms around their shoulders.
“Jeez, if you wanted to hang out, just say so!”
“Then how about we go somewhere after school today? It’s only a half-day anyway!”
And just like that, a spontaneous plan for after school was set. We didn’t keep walking with our arms around each other, though — the area was already filled with people commuting or heading to school, so we quickly separated.
Walking with friends down a path lined with fluttering cherry blossoms… I secretly thought that if I saw Arisa and Aina walking this same road, it’d be a sight so beautiful I’d want to capture it in a photo. And just then, I spotted them ahead of us.
“Hey, look at that,” Sota said.
“…They’re ridiculously pretty, huh?” Kaito added.
“…”
Arisa and Aina were walking with their own friends, oblivious to us as they headed toward school.
“This year… this year, I have to get a girlfriend! I want someone as gorgeous as those sisters!” Sota declared with conviction.
Curious, I couldn’t help but ask, “If you did get a girlfriend, what would you do with her?”
I was genuinely interested. With Sota — and Kaito too, for that matter — I wondered how they’d spend time with a partner if they actually got one.
Sota blinked at my question, then crossed his arms, deep in thought.
“…”
After a long silence, he let out a disappointed sigh. His eyes filled with despair, he spoke weakly.
“I… I don’t even know what I’d want to do with a girlfriend. I’m an otaku — I don’t have the confidence to handle a relationship…”
“Hey, don’t cry, Sota!” Kaito said, alarmed.
“Yeah, exactly! You’ll find someone who accepts all of that!” I chimed in.
We both tried to comfort Sota. Even though he always talked about wanting a girlfriend, facing the reality seemed to hit him hard. But seeing him like that apparently got Kaito thinking too.
“…I’m the same, man. I’ve never had a girlfriend either. Back in the day, I was just a punk who got into fights. I don’t have any redeeming qualities…” Kaito muttered.
“You too?! Don’t turn the new semester into a downer this early!” I snapped.
I couldn’t keep up with their moping! Other students started staring, wondering what was going on, so I quickly told them, “Let’s go already,” and smacked their backs to get them moving.
“Sorry, dude. This is just what happens when we face reality…” Sota sighed.
“Yeah, reality hits hard…” Kaito echoed.
“…”
I decided not to say anything more or poke fun at them — it’d just tire me out. Meanwhile, Arisa and Aina, walking ahead, had noticed me thanks to the commotion and were laughing at how chummy I was with my friends.
“See? You guys made us the center of attention,” I said.
“Oh… even the Shinjo sisters noticed us,” Sota remarked.
“…They’re seriously stunning even when they laugh,” Kaito added.
Of course they are — they’re my amazing girlfriends, after all. I wished I could say that. It’d be cool in a situation like this, right? But then again, that’d just be praising them, not me, so it’s not like it’d make me look impressive…
Soon after, we arrived at school. Our first stop was past the shoe lockers, at the bulletin board where the class assignments were posted.
“…Oh.”
“Hell yeah! We’re together again!” Sota cheered.
“Looking forward to another year, man!” Kaito grinned.
As they said, the three of us were in the same class again. But there was one more important detail: I was in the same class as Arisa, but not Aina.
“Yes!” Arisa exclaimed.
“…Lucky you, Nee-san,” Aina said enviously.
Arisa beamed at the class list, while Aina looked on with a hint of jealousy. Only Aina knew why Arisa was that happy — her friends seemed puzzled by her excitement.
(She’s probably thrilled to be in the same class as me, right?) I thought. Was that too self-absorbed? Maybe, but I was happy about it too. Still, it was a shame Aina and I were in different classes. For a while, I’d have to deal with both a delighted Arisa and a disappointed Aina.
“But man, same class again, huh!” Sota said.
“Heh! We can chill together — score!” Kaito added.
Their spirits soared as they checked the class list. Plenty of other students were just as excited — behind and beside me, guys were celebrating being in the same class as Arisa or Aina.
“Let’s head to the classroom,” I urged them, and we made our way to the room where we’d spend the next year.
About half the students were already there. Some were from last year’s class, others were new faces — a sight that sparked a bit of excitement. I checked the seating chart on the blackboard, parted from Sota and Kaito for a moment, and headed to my assigned seat with my bag.
“…Phew.”
I took another look around the classroom. As I’d noted, only about half the students were present so far. These were the people I’d be studying with for the next year.
“Good thing I’m in the same class as at least one of the Shinjo sisters this year!” a guy nearby said.
“Yeah! I’m not delusional enough to think I could date her, but… getting a little closer would be nice,” another added.
“You’re not gonna say you want to date her?” a third teased.
“No way I could! I mean, what kind of perfect guy could date someone that gorgeous? The popular crowd would definitely have their eyes on her.”
“…True.”
That conversation unfolded among a group of boys nearby. Sure, other girls came up in chatter too, but Arisa and Aina were clearly the stars of attention.
“Hey, Domoto. Looking forward to another year,” a voice called.
“Yeah, you too,” I replied.
It was a guy from last year’s class sitting nearby. We hadn’t interacted much, but a greeting like that still felt nice. Sota and Kaito were already chatting with some guys near them, blending in quickly, which put me at ease.
(…What am I, their babysitter?) I thought. When I first met those two, I couldn’t just leave them alone, huh…
As I reminisced about last year, someone tapped my shoulder. It was Irie-kun, the guy who’d just greeted me, sitting next to me.
“Hey, Domoto.”
“What’s up?”
“…Are you, uh, interested in kendo or anything?”
Kendo. My expression probably shifted noticeably at that word. Why bring up kendo out of nowhere?
“So, I’ve been kinda curious about kendo lately,” he explained. “Our school has a kendo club, right? It’s small — more like a casual group — and I’ve been thinking it sounds kinda cool.”
“Huh.”
“There’s only three members, I hear. Not sure if they even really practice, but… I dunno, it just feels kinda badass.”
“Hmm.”
“Judging by your reaction, you’re not into it, huh?”
“Not completely uninterested, but I’m not planning to join any clubs.”
“Oh… that’s too bad.”
Irie-kun looked visibly disappointed. Kendo — I’d done it in middle school and even competed in nationals. But with my family situation and all, I hadn’t intended to join any clubs in high school. Thanks to the Shinjo family, I had plenty of emotional leeway now, but still… I figured I didn’t need to bother with club activities.
“Oh…”
Just then, Arisa entered the classroom. All eyes turned to her. Some guys even cheered out loud — her popularity was undeniable. She checked the seating chart, glanced at me, and started walking over. And guess what? Her seat was right next to mine, on the opposite side from Irie-kun.
“This is my seat… Ha—” she began.
“Arisa~!”
“We’re in the same class again this year!”
Before she could finish, a group of girls — probably her friends — swarmed her. She chatted with them happily, occasionally sneaking glances my way.
(Last year we were in different classes, but this year we’re together… We’re a lot closer now, huh?) I thought. Shinjo and Domoto — not as far apart as you’d think. Honestly, I wanted to tell the guys glaring at me, jealous of my luck, to quit it already.
(But… we really are dating. Both of them, at the same time. The beautiful sisters everyone in class — no, the whole school — is obsessed with.) I couldn’t help feeling a slight sense of superiority. Still, I’d never let it slip and get cocky. I wanted to protect my relationship with them, and above all, I didn’t want to make Arisa or Aina sad. That was the core of it.
“Alright, Arisa, we’ll head back to our seats.”
“Okay. See you later.”
While I was lost in thought, their conversation wrapped up. Her friends waved lightly and returned to their seats. I was still worried about Aina in her separate class, but having Arisa this close made her presence even more striking.
“…It’s because she’s so close, huh,” I muttered under my breath.
That’s when Arisa spoke to me.
“Domoto-kun.”
Her gentle tone startled me, but I turned to face her. Ignoring the stares from around us, she looked straight at me and continued.
“We’re neighbors now, so I’d be really happy if we could get along this year.”
Her smile was the same one I saw at home. Our relationship was something we could never let slip, but being seated so close meant it wouldn’t be strange for us to get along in class.
“Yeah. Looking forward to it… cough, Shinjo-san.”
“…Hehe♪”
She giggled when I almost slipped and said her first name. Covering her mouth to stifle her laughter, she was as adorable as ever. Seeing her like that almost made me call out to her like I usually would, but since no one was too close, I said quietly enough for just her to hear:
“Looking forward to it, Arisa.”
She nodded with a soft “Mm-hmm” in response.
“Yes. Looking forward to it, Hayato-kun.”
Calling each other by name was normal in private, but doing it at school made my cheeks loosen into a grin. Our little exchange, kept quiet, was a secret just between us. As guys kept staring at Arisa, I felt that faint sense of superiority again.
“Since we’re neighbors now, I’d love to get closer. Oh, and my little sister will probably stop by a lot, so please take care of her when she does.”
“Ah… yeah, got it.”
“Thank you♪”
If Arisa is here, it wouldn’t be strange for Aina to show up in this classroom too. Every time that happens, I’d get to interact with both of them at school and enjoy these new days to the fullest… Yeah, that’s not bad at all. In fact, it’s exciting enough to make my heart race.
As I exchanged casual words with Arisa like that, our homeroom teacher arrived, and the morning assembly began. Being the first day after moving up a grade, it was a slightly longer-than-usual assembly. The teacher talked about tomorrow’s entrance ceremony, some basic decisions for the class, and other things that truly felt like the opening curtain of a new chapter.
“…?”
While listening to the teacher, I felt fleeting glances from beside me. My seat — and Arisa’s next to me — was at the very back of the room, the spot least likely to catch the teacher’s eye. That’s exactly why I could talk to Arisa without being noticed.
“…What’s up?” I asked in a hushed voice.
Arisa wrote something down and tilted the edge of her notebook toward me.
“What are you doing after lunch?”
The moment I saw it, a jolt ran through me. Because… because this was the classic “passing notes” thing, wasn’t it?! A way to communicate in a situation where we couldn’t talk directly… And doing it with my girlfriend? I was oddly moved by it.
“I’m hanging out with friends after lunch. Sorry, Arisa,” I wrote back quickly.
Arisa visibly slumped when she read it, but she nodded with an “Mm-hmm,” switching gears almost instantly.
(…Seeing that kind of face makes me want to prioritize her… But I really don’t want to break a promise I made first.)
Since I’d already promised to have dinner at the Shinjo house tonight, I wrote that I’d make up for it by being extra affectionate from the moment I got there until I left. Arisa’s face lit up with a bright smile.
(I wondered if “extra affectionate” was pushing it, but having a girlfriend who lights up like this makes me one lucky guy.)
But this promise kind of included Aina too, even though she wasn’t here. Knowing Aina, I could easily imagine her clinging to me to make up for being in a different class — and that was something I was looking forward to as well.
There were no classes today, but naturally, there were breaks. Which meant it was inevitable that Aina would show up during one of them.
“Nee-sa~n!”
“Oh, Aina?”
The moment she stepped into the classroom, Aina effortlessly captured every guy’s attention — as expected of her. She made a beeline for Arisa, and seeing the two of them side by side, even I couldn’t help but stare.
“…Hmph.”
But when our eyes met, Aina shot me a pouty, dissatisfied look. I instantly knew it was because of the class split, but there was nothing I could do about it even if she gave me that face…
“Aina, stop that,” Arisa said firmly.
“…Yes, ma’am.”
Aina was properly scolded by her sister. With the two of them together now, their mutual friends started gathering around.
“A~risa!”
“A~ina!”
Friends they often hung out with approached, and soon others joined in, turning the spot into a full-on girls’ hangout.
“Whoops.”
In the midst of it, a flashy girl plopped herself onto my desk. It was undeniably bad manners — I couldn’t help but think, Really? Sitting on someone’s desk when they’re right here? Arisa, however, didn’t let it slide.
“That’s pretty rude. Maybe you should stop?” she suggested.
“Oh… sorry, my bad.”
Warned by Arisa, the girl hopped off right away. I’d half-expected her to scowl, but she didn’t. She even clasped her hands together and said, “Sorry!” sincerely, so I smiled and assured her it was totally fine.
“Uh… thanks, Shinjo-san.”
After thanking her for stepping in, I started heading toward Sota, who looked bored out of his mind — but then Aina stopped me.
“Wait a sec, Domoto-kun!”
“Hyah!?”
Caught off guard by her sudden call, my voice cracked embarrassingly. There was no covering up that lame response now, so I gave up and looked back at her. Aina grinned mischievously and continued.
“I was thinking back to when we talked before, and like, both me and Nee-san are Shinjo, right? Wouldn’t it be easier and better if you just called us Arisa and Aina instead?”
“…”
I’ll say it outright — Aina was definitely enjoying messing with me in this situation! Arisa shot her a deadpan look, but Aina ignored it completely, staring only at me.
…Fine then. I’d rise to her challenge with everything I’ve got!
“Got it, Shinjo-san!”
“You’re sticking with that after all this!?”
Seeing Aina’s genuinely shocked reaction filled me with satisfaction. Arisa and their friends, who’d been watching our exchange, laughed heartily, so it seemed my response wasn’t a misstep. Though… I did earn some painfully sharp glares from the guys around us.
“…You’re a tough one, Domoto-kun,” Aina muttered.
“This time, Aina loses,” Arisa said. “Also, the bell’s about to ring. Get back to your classroom.”
“…Yes, ma’am.”
She trudged off reluctantly. Relieved that the storm named Aina had passed, I forgot about going to Sota and just sat back down. Arisa quietly spoke up.
“Sorry about her. She’s really lonely, you know.”
“…I get it.”
Honestly… I couldn’t help but think again how much better it would’ve been if all three of us were in the same class.
Time flew by after that, and soon it was 11:30. The first day of second year ended, and as everyone packed up to leave, Aina zipped back into our classroom. Knowing through Arisa that I wouldn’t be coming over until evening, she puffed out her cheeks, making no effort to hide her “I’m upset” expression — just like during break.
“Aina,” Arisa said sternly.
“I know, I know… But when we get home, I’m gonna cling to him like crazy!”
It should’ve been a happy thought, but it sent a slight shiver down my spine for some reason. Some girls invited them to hang out, but they declined, saying they’d spend the day relaxing at home as sisters. However…
“How about we all go to karaoke to bond? The girls are coming too, right?” a guy piped up.
But the “everyone” he meant seemed to only include his close-knit group of guys, not the whole class by any stretch.
“You in, Hayato?” Sota asked.
“Yeah,” I nodded.
“I’m starving, so food first!” Kaito added.
As the three of us headed out, Arisa and Aina happened to be leaving too. Sota and Kaito stopped to let them go ahead, so I followed suit and paused as well.
“Hehe, see you later,” Arisa said with a slight bow.
“Bye-bye!” Aina added, waving playfully.
The two guys beside me stammered out tense replies. Right after, the guy who’d suggested karaoke called out to the sisters.
“H-Hey, wait up! Why don’t you two come to karaoke with us? We can chat and eat together — it’ll be fun!”
Sota muttered under his breath, “Freaking extroverts,” with a resentful edge. The sisters glanced at me briefly but showed zero interest, shaking their heads.
“Sorry, but we generally don’t hang out with guys,” Arisa replied.
“Yeah,” Aina agreed. “Maybe give up on us and ask some other girls? Plus, I’m in a different class anyway.”
“Don’t say that… Even if you’re in another class, Aina-san, you’re totally welcome! Come on, let’s all have a blast together!”
Even leaving aside familiarity, pushing again after being turned down once was a bit much. It could’ve ended there, but when he reached out toward them, I grabbed his arm.
“They said no once already, didn’t they?”
“Huh? Don’t get in my—”
“They want to relax as sisters today. You’re still gonna push it?”
“…Well…”
He’d glared at me at first, but his momentum faded. The two of them were known as the “beautiful sisters” — I’d seen them get hit on plenty of times. But when it got this persistent, I couldn’t just stand by. Sure, as their boyfriend — unofficially — it was natural, but there was definitely some possessive “hands off my girls” vibe in there too. Of course there was.
“We’re heading out. Wanna walk partway together?” I asked them.
“Hayato?” Sota said, surprised.
“Dude, you just casually invited them? That’s insane…” Kaito whispered.
…Oh, right. I’d invited them like it was second nature. Arisa and Aina nodded immediately and started walking as if the guy never existed.
“…Tch.”
He clicked his tongue in frustration but gave up and turned back. I couldn’t help but think clicking his tongue so obviously in front of girls wasn’t a great look, but it made me resolve never to do that in front of my girls.
(…I don’t even get mad at them, huh… I probably won’t ever click my tongue in my life.)
With that thought, the five of us headed to the shoe lockers. While Sota and Kaito were visibly stiff with nerves, I didn’t hold back with the girls. I was careful not to hint at our relationship, but Aina kept nearly touching me, only to pull back at the last second — adorably flustered.
“Well, see you three later,” Arisa said.
“Bye~!” Aina waved.
We waved back as they walked off side by side. Then we started heading out too.
“Hey, Hayato,” Sota said.
“Yeah?”
“You helped out Shinjo妹 before too, right?”
“Yeah.”
“Stepping in to protect them like that so naturally… Honestly, it’s cool.”
“…You think so?”
I was caught off guard by Sota calling me cool, but Kaito seemed to agree. He crossed his arms, nodding thoughtfully before speaking.
“Nah, we knew you were a solid guy, but lately it’s been next-level. It’s not like you’re trying to impress girls — it just looks like that’s how you are.”
“Oi, stop with the deep analysis — it’s making me squirm.”
Squirm? More like embarrassed! After that, we grabbed lunch at a family restaurant, then hit up bowling and karaoke. It wasn’t much different from usual, but it was definitely a fun time.
At dusk, after hanging out all afternoon, we stood facing each other to say goodbye.
“Here’s to another great year in second grade!” Sota said.
“Hell yeah!” Kaito grinned.
“Let’s make it a blast!” I added.
Like a scene straight out of a shonen manga brought to life, we exchanged those words and parted ways.
▼▽
“Nee-chan’s so lucky… So lucky!!”
“Ugh… Quiet down, Aina.”
It was already evening — about time for Hayato-kun to show up. Mom would probably be home soon too, and we needed to start preparing dinner and the bath, among other things. But Aina kept clinging to me from behind. Honestly, she’s such a handful…
“Are you that jealous?” I asked.
“Of course I am! Switch classes with me!”
“No way.”
“…Hmph!”
No amount of pouting would change our classes. Sure, it’s an exaggeration, but even if someone offered me a fortune, I wouldn’t trade. Being next to the person I love… It’s something I’ve wished for since last year.
“It can’t be helped, right? Besides, aren’t you glad it’s me next to Hayato-kun and not some other girl?”
“That’s true… Sigh, I guess it’s better that it’s you.”
But… even if I’d been in the same class, I might’ve gotten jealous if another girl was next to Hayato-kun. So I’m really glad it worked out this way!
“Still, Hayato-kun really saved us on the first day of second year, huh?” I said.
“Oh, yeah… Doesn’t that guy realize how pushy he was being?” Aina replied.
“He wouldn’t be pushy if he did. Honestly, his suggestion wasn’t that weird in the grand scheme of things.”
“Sure, but… Like, I get big group hangouts after the sports festival or culture festival. Joining a clique of guys and their buddies? No thanks.”
I agreed with her there. I value getting along with classmates, but I’m not about to force myself into uncomfortable situations just to fit in. That’s one belief I’ll never budge on.
“Pushy guys aside, though, I’ve got some friends from last year in my class, so that’s nice♪” Aina said.
“True. I talked to some new girls today too, and they all seemed lovely, which is a relief.”
“Yeah, yeah♪”
It’s reassuring that neither Aina nor I have to worry about our friendships. Now… isn’t it about time, Aina?
“Aina, let go already.”
“Ehh~ Let’s stay like this a little longer~”
“Don’t be selfish.”
“It’s not selfish! It’s just a little sister wanting to cling to her beloved Nee-chan!!”
“Kyaa!?”
Being hugged from behind was one thing, but when she suddenly grabbed my chest hard, a weird squeak slipped out of me.
“…”
“Nee-san?”
She’d groped my chest… I knew with Aina it was just her way of being affectionate. But it reminded me of something — that time when Hayato-kun had touched our chests of his own accord. It was only a fleeting moment, but the sweet, tingling sensation from back then was unforgettable. Having my body touched by the person I love… especially a sexual part like that, it made the woman inside me rejoice. The part of me that submits to Hayato-kun, my “master,” screamed for him to take both my body and soul.
(That’s what I want… But… but does my body reacting so lewdly to this mean I’m some kind of naughty girl?)
As I mulled that over, Aina squeezed my chest again. The sudden jolt snapped me back to reality. Fed up and unwilling to lose to my little sister, I shook off the completely off-guard Aina and flipped her onto her back.
“Kyaa!?”
Aina let out a cute yelp but didn’t glare at me. Instead, she met my gaze with a challenging smirk.
“Not bad, Nee-san.”
“You let your guard down — that’s your mistake. Now, how should I deal with you?”
“Nee-san, you’ve got a super evil look on your face!”
“It’s your fault… all your fault!”
“Is that a manga line?”
I wouldn’t know — I don’t really read manga or watch anime. I leaned forward, bringing my face closer to hers. It looked almost like I was pinning her down, but my heart was racing at the rare chance to take the upper hand like this!
“Nee-san, you’re really giving off bad vibes!” Aina teased.
“Even I can make a face like this sometimes. Doesn’t it feel nostalgic? Back in the day, we used to have these little sisterly battles over pride — not quite fights, but close.”
“And you lost every time, Nee-san!”
“Be quiet!”
This was my moment to show her my authority as her older sister. I don’t usually look down on people or act superior, so being in this dominant position felt refreshingly new.
“Now, what should I do with you?” I mused.
“Oh no~ Nee-san’s gonna do this and that to me~”
Aina didn’t seem the least bit cornered. Instead, she taunted me with a playful tone… No, that’s not how this works! I’m the one pinning you down right now, so stop looking so smug about it!! Maybe her teasing got to me, because I did the same thing she’d done to me — I pressed my hand against her chest, which had grown just as much as mine.
But… that’s when tragedy struck.
“I heard you two talking…” a voice said.
“Strange… Arisa? Aina’s back too, right?” another added.
The living room door creaked open with a click. There I was, pinning Aina down and groping her chest, while she lay there unresisting, letting me do it. Hayato-kun and Mom caught us red-handed, their eyes wide and mouths agape in shock.
“…Sakuna-san, need any help?” Hayato-kun asked.
“Could you peel the carrots and such, then?” Mom replied.
“React a little, at least!” I blurted.
“Yeah! You’re making it worse for us!” Aina added.
It was my fault, sure, but their total lack of reaction stung… After that, I explained how we ended up like this, and Hayato-kun and Mom nodded with understanding, chuckling.
“Still, it was a rare sight — kinda refreshing. I didn’t know you’d do that to Aina, Arisa,” Hayato-kun said.
“It made me nostalgic too,” Mom added. “You two were like that when you were little.”
Their warm, amused gazes made Aina and me look away in embarrassment. True, it did feel nostalgic, and I’d felt driven to assert my big-sister authority over Aina. But not noticing Hayato-kun and Mom come home was a careless slip on my part, and I reflected on it.
“…I’ll go prep the bath,” I said, leaving the living room to cool off.
I rolled up my sleeves to keep them dry and started cleaning the bathroom so everyone could use it comfortably. That’s when—
“I’ll help,” Hayato-kun said.
“Hayato-kun?”
He appeared out of nowhere and jumped into cleaning. I was startled, but being alone with him made me happy.
Time passed, and after dinner, we kept the promise we’d made at school — to be extra affectionate. I snuggled up to him.
“Hayato-kun♪”
“Hehe, this is the best, right♪” Aina chimed in.
Of course, if I was cuddling him, Aina would dive in too. Hayato-kun’s arms were pinned by us sisters, leaving him unable to move… but that’s fine, right? He didn’t seem to mind — in fact, he looked happy.
“Arisa’s in the same class as you, but Aina’s not, huh? I feel bad for Aina, but it can’t be helped,” Mom said.
“Haha… Yeah, I thought it’d be great if Aina were with us too,” Hayato-kun replied. “Having just Arisa is still a blessing, but if Aina were there, it’d be the ultimate perfect days.”
Hayato-kun and Mom chatted cheerfully, but his words kept making my heart flutter. I feel the same way… I’d always thought that. I wanted to be in the same class as Hayato-kun, sitting next to him, feeling his presence all the time. Like a little kid with her first crush, that’s what I’d been longing for.
“I wanted to be in the same class too…” Aina whined.
“Give it up, Aina,” I said.
“Ahh! You’re smirking!!”
Aina glared at me as I puffed up with pride. Hayato-kun and Mom watched us with exasperated yet fond smiles… Ah, I really love this atmosphere.
“Fine, fine! I’ll just make up for it by cuddling like this!” Aina declared, hugging Hayato-kun even tighter. Not to be outdone, I pressed my whole body against him too. He still gets shy when we do this… Hehe, he’s so cute.
“Sakuna-san,” Hayato-kun said.
“Yes?” Mom replied.
Aina and I were savoring his warmth when he spoke up in a serious tone. Still clinging to him, we straightened up a bit.
“As a second-year, with new days ahead — as Arisa and Aina’s boyfriend, I’ll protect them no matter what. Of course, they’re both so kind that it won’t just be me protecting them one-sidedly… That’s why I want us to work together to make fun, happy days.”
…Hayato-kun… Do you realize? The way Aina and I are gazing at you with burning eyes after hearing that… How could we not be overjoyed? I’m so happy I can’t stop grinning.
“…?”
But then I noticed Mom blushing at Hayato-kun’s earnest demeanor. When our eyes met, she coughed awkwardly to cover it up, but Hayato-kun pressed on.
“Oh, and of course, in private, Sakuna-san’s included too! I want her to be part of the happiness I share with Arisa and Aina — because seeing Sakuna-san smile makes me even happier!”
His face shone with a dazzling smile… And Mom, facing it head-on?
“Y-Yes… Yes!” she stammered, clearly smitten as she answered with a beaming grin.
“Hey, Nee-san,” Aina whispered.
“What?”
“Hayato-kun’s dangerous, in a way.”
“True. He’s got a critical hit effect on our bloodline.”
“What are you two saying…” Hayato-kun muttered.
He needs to realize it — his charm is a critical hit not just on me and Aina, but even on Mom.
“Uh, crap, it’s getting late,” he said, glancing at the clock.
“Oh…”
“…Right.”
Aina and I visibly slumped at his words. It wasn’t a sleepover night, so it couldn’t be helped. Even though we’d see him tomorrow, parting still felt lonely.
“I’ve been holding it in this whole time, but… I’ll be right back — bathroom,” Aina said.
“Take care,” I replied.
Apparently, she’d been holding it in because she didn’t want to miss a second of clinging to Hayato-kun. She dashed off, promising to be quick, and I turned to him.
“…Hey, Hayato-kun.”
“Yeah?”
“What you said earlier… It was really cool.”
“…Was it? I started thinking it might’ve been too cheesy after.”
“Not at all! Aina, me, even Mom — we were all thrilled, didn’t we?”
Honestly, anything he says makes me happy anyway. He gave a shy “Really?” and a small laugh. I pressed my cheek to his chest, hugging him, and he wrapped his arms around my back in return.
“Hayato-kun — another year ahead. Take care of me, okay?”
“Of course. Same to you, Arisa.”
Until now, I’d had mixed feelings about new beginnings — excitement, sure, but also dread at being ogled again. This year’s different, though. Hayato-kun’s by my side at school… Not just in the same class, but right next to me. I’m genuinely grateful for that miracle.
“Hayato-kun, I love you.”
This year’s going to be more fun than ever — I’m certain of it. So, Hayato-kun — as your seatmate, I’m counting on you, okay?
Post a Comment