Chapter 104: Just the Two of Us [side Tendou Airi]
We enter the restaurant, greeted by the waiter's quirky welco, and are shown to our seats.
Waiter: "Welco, is it a table for two?"
Kousuke: "...Two. Do you see a third person?"
Tachibana: "Haha! I was just talking about ghosts like that with my little brother the other day... Oh, sorry, nice to et you. I'm Sho Tachibana, Kousuke's friend."
The girl bumping fists with Kousuke-kun—she's Kousuke-kun's...?
The usually quiet Kousuke-kun sotis talks happily about this close friend of his.
At first glance, he just looks like an ordinary, slightly fresh-faced boy.
"Nice to et you, I'm Airi Tendou, a senior from Kousuke-kun's club."
Tachibana: "I've heard much about you, thank you for always looking out for Kousuke. I hope we can keep getting along."
Even though I heard they're best friends, Tachibana-kun smiles and bows, then puts down the nus and heads back toward the kitchen.
Kousuke: "...He's always had that guardian look on his face, ever since we were kids."
Kousuke-kun murmurs, sounding both happy and embarrassed.
"Aren't you the sa, Kousuke-kun? Worrying about Tachibana-kun, looking out for him."
Kousuke-kun blushes,
Kousuke: "...We've always been together since we were kids..."
As he talks bit by bit about his best friend Tachibana-kun, he opens the nu.
It looks delicious! But... this limited-ti nu... isn't it an incredible deal?
??? "Kousuke-kun! Long ti no see!"
While we're looking at the nu, suddenly a girl calls out to us!
She's a stunning girl with striking eyes and an unusually well-proportioned face,
With long, shiny black hair, refined features, slender and astonishingly pale—a true beauty!
But her eyes are powerful! The kind of gorgeous girl you'd never forget after seeing once!
...I an, I don't think I'm losing, but this girl is amazing.
Kousuke: "...Hello, Kureha-san."
Kureha-san? Kousuke-kun sure knows a lot of cute girls, huh?
Seriously, there's never a dull mont...
Is he the protagonist of a romantic cody or sothing, with cute girls flocking to him even if he doesn't try?
That shockingly beautiful girl gives a big smile,
Kureha: "Beautiful older lady, don't worry! I'm Towa Kureha, and I'll be Sho-kun's girlfriend from earlier♪ ...If we both beco each other's boyfriend's girlfriend, we'll get to et more, right? Let's get along♪"
She's otherworldly beautiful, but when she smiles, she's super cute!
"Let's get along, okay?"
Kousuke: "Kureha-san, Sho's glaring at you?"
Kureha: "Ah, oops!"
Tachibana-kun cos over,
Tachibana: "Don't make stuff up! Puppy house!"
Kureha: "Sulking. Oh, for the nu, I recomnd the limited-ti 'Shin-kun Set'! See you!"
Waving her hand, Kureha-san heads back to the table at the very end.
Apparently, it's a special set to celebrate the long-awaited birth of the manager's child.
While we order two of those from Tachibana-kun and wait, Kousuke-kun starts talking.
Kousuke: "...Sho's always liked soone since elentary school."
He gives a quick rundown about his best friend and his crush—how that Kureha-san was saved by his best friend after they beca high schoolers, and she's been chasing after him ever since.
*It's the sa story as what happened to with the class rep in the main plot.
Kousuke: "Because of how attached and loyal she is to Sho, she gets treated like a puppy. But... I can't help thinking that girl won't ever get what she wants... Also, she's always here whenever we co—how does that work?"
As I listen to the story about Kousuke-kun's best friend and the frail, sheltered Kureha-san,
My thoughts turn to Kousuke-kun himself.
In such a short ti, the girls he liked and even his girlfriend both betrayed him.
I'm sure Kousuke-kun distrusts girls now, and what he wants from them is probably sincerity and trust, right?
...I wonder... what kind of place do I want to have in Kousuke-kun's life?
Anyway, I want to show him that not all girls are like that! There really are girls you can trust!
Since he's going to keep interacting with girls from now on.
The topic changes to school.
We talk about the special advancent class, the second-year curriculum, and all the changes coming up,
About new underclassn joining the club, how I'll be a third-year soon!—that sort of thing.
Kousuke: "...The training camp als, and the yakisoba we had the other day, were so good."
"Don't bring up the yakisoba..."
It almost beca one of Hokusho High School's Seven Mysteries, you know?
The sobbing beauty at the yakisoba food stall...
Do you really think just adding 'beautiful' to everything makes it okay?
While I'm grumbling, Kousuke-kun narrows his eyes and laughs.
"Hey! Don't laugh!"
Kousuke: "...Senpai, you're so cute...!"
Thump!
My heart just skipped a beat!
That doki-doki mont from shojo manga really does happen!
Reflected in the glass beside us, Kousuke-kun and I look just like a couple.
No one would ever guess we're just senior and junior from the club.
Tachibana: "Alright, thanks for waiting!"
The Shin-kun Set cos with original curry and original hamburger steak, bread or rice, salad, soup, and dessert.
Such a huge portion! Normally 2,780 yen... but right now it's only 1,480 yen—so cheap!
It's a massive serving, but what about the taste...!
"Wow, it's delicious!"
Kousuke: "Right? Even though it looks like a regular family restaurant, the spice curry is super authentic and the hamburger steak uses aged at...!"
I like things a bit spicy, so I upped the heat, but at a lot of places, it just gets too spicy and loses its flavor...
This has amazing umami, and the aroma of the spices that hits your nose is just irresistible!
I thought it might be too much, but both Kousuke-kun and I can't stop eating!
In a certain mont, our eyes et...
""Ahaha!""
We end up staring at each other at the exact sa ti, and then laughing at the exact sa ti!
"It's so good, huh?"
Kousuke: "...Did you like it?"
Kousuke-kun's shy, smiling face is so cute, I turn red.
What do I do, I thought I'd treat him as just a little brother.
...My heart's pounding.
Is it because of the curry?
In the end, even the nu I thought might be too much—we almost finished it...
But with the dessert left, I just can't fit the last bit of hamburger and bread...!
I hate leaving food unfinished.
I an, if I made sothing and it got left, I'd feel sad and lonely.
Just as I'm wondering what to do about these last bites,
Kousuke: "...Senpai, if you're not going to eat it, can I have the hamburger and bread?"
Seeing stuck, Kousuke-kun smoothly asks if he can have them.
That thoughtfulness makes happy.
You noticed because you were watching , right?
He pops the leftover hamburger into his mouth and finishes off the bread.
Boys really can put away food, huh.
I really enjoy watching that.
...I wonder if he'd eat a bento if I made one for him?
!!
No, no, I can't.
Think about my position!
...But, even if being lovers... is impossible, I could be an older sister.
I don't have any siblings, so maybe that's why, but I've always admired having a brother or sister.
Kousuke-kun is a little brother...!
That's it! I just have to think of him as a little brother!
As I slowly nibble on my after-al ice cream, I enjoy my conversation with my adorable little brother so much that I savor my ice cream even more.
Ah, it's gone.
I say goodbye to Kureha-san and stand up from my seat.
Even though that girl is so skinny, she ate a whole table's worth of food all by herself!
...Where does she put it all?
When we paid, we did it "splitting the bill between the two of us," that kind of thod.
Tachibana: "...Kousuke, because you're so quiet and expressionless, people misunderstand you sotis, but he's a really good guy. Please look after Kousuke."
"Kousuke-kun is hard-working, so he'll be fine!"
Tachibana-kun smiled with a smile and bowed his head.
"Ah—! I'm so full♪"
It's not very ladylike, but with this fullness and satisfaction, I can only walk slowly.
...Basically, I just feel reluctant to part ways with adorable, little-brother-like Kousuke-kun.
"That's why I said we should walk, isn't it?"
Kousuke-kun smiles while even carrying my bags for .
When we arrive at Toko Station, it's ti to say goodbye.
Well, I'll see him at club activities tomorrow anyway, right?
The train going down the line cos right away.
I'm headed up, and Kousuke-kun is headed down.
Ugh, what an inconsiderate train.
You should go soon, it's perfect timing for you to get on, right?
Then,
Kousuke: "...Huh? I'll go all the way to the terminal station, you know? I'll see you off until you get in your car."
Did he do this for his ex-girlfriend, too?
That makes my heart skip a beat.
For a little brother, he's such a flirt!
But I'm fine, you know?
Unable to say that, I let myself be spoiled and have him see off all the way to the terminal station.
Before we arrive at the terminal station, I contact the housekeeper and have her co pick up.
(...I kind of hope she takes her ti... you know?)
Yep, our housekeeper is so good that she was already waiting at the pickup area!
"Thanks for today! I really feel refreshed."
That's the truth, so I look Kousuke-kun in the eyes and thank him.
I figured it would be fun, but it ended up being even better and more enjoyable than I expected.
Kousuke: "...Thank you for spending ti with today..."
I just can't help finding my junior, who insists on making it sound like I was doing him a favor, absolutely adorable.
...Will I be okay? Can I really keep thinking of this cute junior as just a little brother?
While I'm thinking that,
Kousuke: "...Thank you for always handling the manager duties, taking care of the club mbers and equipnt, and helping with my training. Please use this."
Did he buy it at the station building earlier? Kousuke-kun gives a hand cream set as we part ways.
What's with that! Isn't he way too used to dealing with girls?
Even after parting from Kousuke-kun and getting in the car, I can't stop smiling.
I stroke the cute hand cream's wrapping paper, and the housekeeper teases .
Before the car circles around to the parking lot, I have her drop off, and I head ho in a great mood.
Sahori: "...Airi...!"
There's Senpai.
"...We've already broken up, so please go ho."
I feel like I've just had a bucket of cold water dumped over my head...
My high spirits from earlier just plumt.
I make a point of sounding cold as I speak.
Sahori: "...Haha, everyone laughs at , even the girls... none of them will talk to anymore..."
"Isn't that your own fault? I warned you back then, didn't I?"
Sahori-senpai's tears start falling, one after another,
Sahori: "...Yeah, you're right, Airi was the only one who warned ... ...I have... I have no one but Airi...!"
"...Don't say such selfish things! ...It's already over..."
I pass by him and try to go inside.
When I get close, Senpai tries to hug !
I shake him off and dash into the house.
Sahori: "...Airi, Airi, Airi... u, u, uwaaaah..."
Even after I close the door, I can still hear Senpai crying...
Just a little while ago, I was so happy, and now I'm tornted by self-bla and guilt again...
Ah, I was finally in a good mood, and now look.
I don't have feelings for him anymore, but seeing the lingering attachnt of the Senpai I once liked just makes sad.
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By the way,
Housekeeper: "...Airi-san, there was so trash hanging around, so I chased him off♪"
Our housekeeper's big sister absolutely hates Sahori-senpai.
Apparently, whenever she spots him, she drives him off.
This ti, she used the hose to spray water. That's super effective in the freezing February air!
Sahori ran away!
☆ ☆ ☆
Yukari's weight-guessing quiz winner, Kausan's request—
"Kousuke's Spring, Airi-senpai, and the footsteps of NTR?" That's what it was, lol
Congratulations to the winner.
If we have another event, please join in, everyone.
The end
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