Chapter 102Her First Visit Since Then
Ichinose-san's situation—, that she told to me so frankly, was something that stimulated the destructive impulse inside me. I felt more compassion for Ichinose-san than calling myself a b*stard. This "I need to break away from Big Bro" excuse is indeed too serious. The NTR* stuff is really bad..., though it can't be said that way entirely.
(TL Note: I'm sure you already know about this, but I'll explain it again. NTR stands for Netorare, it's a story about a person whose partner was stolen or taken away by someone else, and the culprit could be someone close to the victim as well, but the partner in question is already in a relationship, such as marriage, engagement, or dating, if it's just a crush, it doesn't count as this category).
From then on, Ichinose-san found it difficult to see her Big Bro and stopped talking to him properly. Even so, when she felt lonely, she thought that she couldn't go on like this and had to do something, so she decided to work part-time at this second-hand bookstore.
"You should be an independent person, like that, huh?"
"Y-Yeah..., ...That's right."
I understand. To me, it was like a home run in a softball game, it exceeded my expectations. That's why he felt the need to break away from her Big Bro. If I found Big Sis in the same situation, I would probably start saving money and start living alone somewhere else.
Oh, wait a minute, I'm getting more and more excited as time goes by. Yuri-chan-senpai, you're very aggressive, huh...? ...I've gotten a glimpse of that since I went to school that time... ...Wow, I envy you, Bear-san-senpai! But I wonder what kind of feeling it is that I can honestly congratulate him... ...Whether he's handsome or not, it doesn't matter.
Well, no! Work, work! Today—No, I've had a lot of dirty thoughts since yesterday! I need to distract myself!
♦
From then on, Ichinose-san's work was simply amazing, she moved nimbly and agilely. Sorry, I couldn't help but smile when I saw her.
I knew that this was Ichinose-san's independence — Well, it might not be just independence, but I understood how much she was ready to detach herself from her Big Bro. I was completely dragged into this story, all my bad feelings for Ichinose-san disappeared due to this unexpected event. After hearing such a story, I wanted to support Ichinose-san to break away from her Big Bro. Otherwise, it would be too difficult for her...
I felt a strange sense of solidarity had been created. I congratulated Bear-san-senpai, but on the other hand, "What a b*stard of a big bro!" I'm sure there's that kind of feeling in my heart too. I guess that's probably what I have in common with Ichinose-san.
"I guess you can serve customers today."
"Serving customers..."
Ichinose-san was somewhat surprised at the words that came out of my mouth. The strange incident that happened yesterday—She's probably still traumatized by the creepy old man from yesterday. No matter what, he was creepy, but there were still some customers who seemed a bit annoying.
"You should be more close and friendly with them... ...If there are customers like yesterday, let me take care of them when they come in, so I'll keep an eye on you until you get used to them."
This way, it won't take her long to get used to it. I don't care if she started working part-time just for fun, but if she has a reason and is determined to continue this part-time job, I can support her by saying, "A-Alright... ...then.". I mean, I can't deny that it's getting harder and harder to point out. Yeah, I think that so far, she's been doing well today, so I think it'll be fine.
"Oh..., ...Customer—Dear Customer!"
"Eh? W-Welcome to this second-hand bookstore-!"
I think she just said "Customer" instead of "Dear Customer", so Ichinose-san repeated the word while pointing behind me. I turned around to greet them if there was a customer, but I was speechless when I saw her face. I guess she hadn't visited this bookstore again since we met in my high school last time, so I greeted her again.
"Welcome. Sasaki-san."
"U-Um... ...Yeah."
Is this because Ichinose-san's there?
Does this seem awkward? She approached me slowly with a very uneasy feeling. Did something happen when we met last time...? Didn't she say goodbye to me first? She still looks like an adult, and I still can't believe that she's still in middle school looking like this—Oh...
I started talking to her very frankly because I already knew that she was a middle school girl. Before, I thought she was a college girl, so I was very polite to her. I wonder how Sasaki-san will feel if I change my attitude like this... I don't know about it myself.
"Oh-, ...So that's it. It turns out... you're younger than me, huh?"
"...!?"
"Oh..., it's okay, I hope you don't have to worry too much, I think it's normal..."
"I-I see..."
"Hieh, can you stop doing that to me...?"
When I told Sasaki-san that she was younger than us, Ichinose-san suddenly started hiding behind me. I understand the feeling, no matter how Ichinose-san sees it, but there is indeed a beautiful girl in front of us. Isn't it great that I'm older? When a girl younger than me pretends to be an Onee-san and treats me like I'm younger than her, it's easier to get excited. Yeah, it's easier to get excited.
"Oh... ...is this okay?"
"Oh... ...Yes!"
Middle school student, middle school student..., this girl is still in middle school, you know. Just because she's dressed like an adult with a light pink blouse and white skirt, doesn't mean she doesn't look younger. Don't worry, it's my malicious intention that makes me want to tease a girl who's older than me by talking to her as if she's my friend. I can do that... ...from today on, she's like Mount Fuji...!!!
"Um, T-Today, me! I came here to clear up the misunderstandings..."
"Eh? Misunderstandings?"
What misunderstandings? Was it that I had a strange impression of Sasaki-san..., I thought she was older than me, but is she really in middle school? Huh!? You don't think that she and her three friends at that time were college students cosplaying in middle school uniforms, do you!? Oh, come on, seriously, but I didn't recognize them at all!? (Cheering happily!)
"Sasaki-san..., I was completely deceived."
"Eh? I-It's not like that! I'm not a bad speaker and I don't just read shoujo manga, either! I also like to read light novels, you know! M-Most of them are romance..."
"Eh?"
Eh, about that? Not about you being a college girl?
"D-Despite that, my teacher recently said to me, "Are you finally starting to adjust your appearance according to your age?" Even in terms of clothing, I've stopped wearing clothes with animated characters and started looking for something more mature —Like that...!"
"Oh, yeah."
E-Eh? Maybe she's starting to feel more and more uncomfortable when I talk to her as if she's my friend. Does Sasaki-san have a real character like this? I thought she was much calmer... ...Yeah, I don't think that's strange at all for a middle schooler.
No, wait, I'm the one who should stay calm. It doesn't matter whether Sasaki-san is a middle school girl or a college girl. It's all about the girlish innocence inherent in adult women — This is everything. Is she wearing clothes with animated characters? Please don't wear them anymore!!!
"—No need to worry, you know. Sasaki-san seems to be very mature."
"Eh-! R-Really? —Oh, but that doesn't mean I want you to treat me like that... ...I want Sajou-san to treat me like a kouhai...!"
"You are indeed a kouhai. That's right. So it's okay to do that, yeah."
"That's good, isn't it?"
Yeah, it is. It's just that I get the impression that she's a kouhai, a middle school girl who has the style of a college girl but acts like a child on some occasions. It's okay, I'll make a badass of myself if I think too much. I'll calm myself down. I looked to the side and Ichinose-san said, "What do you mean?" She watched the exchange between me and Sasaki-san with that look on her face.
"Ichinose-san, let me introduce you, this is Sasaki-san. Believe it or not, she's still a middle school student, but she's like a college girl planning to take the entrance exam to our high school next year."
"Eh?"
"Sorry, I think I misspoke."
Yeah, she does look like a college girl. If I don't treat her as a kouhai at all. If I let my guard down, I'll act as if I'm younger than her. I have high instincts as a younger brother. I wonder if I can pass this controlling obsession.
"I-I'm still in middle school, you know! Sajou-senpai!"
Sasaki-san hurriedly corrected me. Wait, eh? Sajou-senpai? I've never been treated like an older person before, so that makes me happy. I'll be nice to her. Hey, is that a common thing among the youngest children...?
"Middle school girl..."
Ichinose-san looked at Sasaki-san from toe to hair from a place a little far behind me. Don't just stare at her! Introduce yourself, okay? Stop making faces like you're feeling inferior. I feel like that too. In many ways, of course.
"Sasaki-san, this is Ichinose-san. She's the new part-time worker here, and she's my classmate."
"S-So are you Sajou-san's classmate? Nice to meet you! Ichinose-senpai!"
"Oh... ...U-Um..."
Sasaki-san gradually began to show somewhat more of her personality as an energetic middle school girl. But apparently, she still seemed too much for Ichinose-san to handle. Perhaps Sasaki-san was relieved by Ichinose-san's body size. This way... ...there's no pressure, right, Ichinose-san.
Hmm..., if the two of them talk to each other, a close relationship between them maybe will be formed... ...Well, this seems interesting. I want to see Ichinose-san act somewhat like a senpai. Speaking of Ichinose-san, she looked down, perhaps still embarrassed to be called "Senpai", fidgeting like Sasaki-san when she first met me again. Sasaki-san does seem very mature... ...somehow I can understand that strange feeling.
As if she didn't mind that, Ichinose-san stepped forward, right in front of Sasaki-san at the same time I introduced herself.
"—I-It's a pleasure to meet you, ...Kouhai."
"Eh?"
Wait, Miss!
Author's Note: Stop!
TL: Reeze27
ED: Reeze27
PR: Reeze27
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