Chapter 48: CH 48

Morning commuter train.

I was on the usual train ‒ at the usual time ‒ at the usual station.

I was at the front of the first car.

This was how a morning should start for Kazuto Sasamiya.

Otomizu had been working with a different team since July.

Naturally, I thought … that I would lose my LINE texts every morning, but …

—Sasamiya-san, good morning! I have a meeting with Zany today! I’m so nervous! Please give me courage!

It was like this every day.

The same squeaky messages were still covered with stickers.

But I also matured..

In the beginning of the month I had a hard time with these messages, but now I could comfortably respond to them.

—If I have any courage left in my inventory, you can take it.

Then I sent a delivery sticker.

I was embarrassed when I first sent the stickers, but once I started using them, I became used to them.

I wish there were more business-oriented stickers available, but maybe that was just me.

Otomizu sent me another message.

—Does that mean I can go to Sasamiya-san’s house? You’re so bold this morning.

—What you want is courage, right?

—I want love, too.

—You…

An Anpan hero1 would have fulfilled all of Otomizu’s hopes, but I can’t fly, you know.

As I put my phone in my bag, a high school girl I knew well called out to me.

“Good morning. Onii-San.”

“Hey. Hi, Yuuka.”

Yuihana stood next to me and rested her back against the wall.

Then she rubbed my arm twice.

Apparently, I was able to fulfill the role of stanchion pole again today. I’m honored.

As I saluted her in my mind, Yuika asked me, “Are you on LINE with your junior?”

“Yeah. It’s nothing, though.”

It was quite embarrassing to see the expression on her face when I was sending a message.

I tried to talk about something else to cover-up my embarrassment, but I couldn’t think of anything, so I said, “…” in a weird voice.

“Oh, he’s embarrassed. My unsociable Onii-San is embarrassed. It’s amazing. It’s disgusting.”

“Can’t you do something about the way you say it?”

No matter how long it took, Yuika would never change.

Even if she were to become an honest high school girl now, I would only be confused.

“Hey. Do you have any pictures of your junior? I want to see what she looks like.”

""

Today’s topic was Otomizu’s appearance.

Come to think of it, for some reason, Yuika had never met Otomizu.

“I don’t usually take pictures of my coworkers.”

“Any company trips?

”This year is still undecided.”

I thought she would have given up with this, but Yuika asked another question.

“What about her hairstyle?”

“You know, the one that the girls often do, where they tie it up at the back and put it up.”

“Oh, it’s a bun. That’s right. I think I’ll try it.”

“Aren’t they a little short?”

“It’s not impossible, but …. Hmmm. Maybe I’ll grow them out during the summer vacation.”

Medium short, a little above shoulder length, Yuika twirled her fingers through her own hair.

I could tell just by looking at her hair that it was silky smooth.

She must be taking good care of it.

While fiddling with her hair, Yuika glanced up at me.

“Hey, …, you know, …”

“Hmm?”

“Whose hairstyle do you like better? Mine or your junior’s …”

Yuika sometimes asked me crazy things.

To be honest, not everyone would suit that hairstyle.

Before that, I didn’t really pay that much attention to women’s hairstyles. (T/N: Same dude.)

“I am not proud of it, but I don’t follow trends.”

“Yeah, I’m aware of that.”

“I guess I’ve been found out.”

""

“I was just wondering which one Onii-San likes better.”

It was hard to answer.

I would like to see another hairstyle for Yuika.

However, I also wanted Yuika to stay like this.

In that case, I would pick her haircut.

“Well, I dare say I like Yuika’s hairstyle better”

“Really?”

“What do I get by lying to you?”

“Fufu… I see.”

Laughing softly, Yuika happily rubbed my arm.

She seemed to be in a very good mood.

If it wasn’t for me, I would have missed it.

“Hey, say it again.”

“Say what?”

“Whose hairstyle do you like better?”

I answered, fiddling with my bangs.

“I’m embarrassed to say it again …”

“It’s funny to watch you get embarrassed.”

“Jeez.”

“Happy?”

“Sad.”

“Now tell me, which do you like better?”

Oh, dear.

I didn’t think she was foing to let me go unless I answered her.

“I think I like yours better, Yuika.”

I said it, holding back my embarrassment, but there was no reaction from Yuika.

When I looked at her, she had a smile on her face.

“What are you looking so happy about?”

“I’m not.”

“Lies. It’s all over your face.”

While we were playing around, we arrived at Seijyo Gakuenmae Station.

As the train doors opened, Yuika waved at me.

“See you tomorrow, Onii-San.”

“Yeah. I’ll be waiting for you.”

I raised one of my hands to send her off.