Chapter 108Ichinose Siblings
Cheating is the worst thing we can do. No one is happy when everything is revealed. It's unethical, and if that's the case, then we shouldn't have done it in the first place. If the person we're cheating on and the person we're in a relationship with is a close friend of ours, it can certainly make things worse. There are various cases where we might get caught - someone peeking into our smartphone, looking at the notification screen, saying our name in our sleep, investigating and suspecting us, telling our friends... ...and so on.
"Oh... ...Sajou-sa—Eh?"
Then... "Finally we're reunited" is one of the patterns here. Ichinose-san, who came out of the second-hand bookstore after finishing her part-time job, looked at me, realized that someone else was there, averted her gaze, and then fell silent.
The Ichinose siblings' eyes were directed at each other. Senpai was looking at his little sis with the meaning of "Finally we're reunited again". That's when I realized. Come to think of it, this wasn't an affair or anything like that, it was just a reunion between a big bro and his little sis. We hadn't even been dating since the beginning, and I wasn't sure if we could be considered friends. That's right, the two of us are just a senpai and a kouhai working part-time at the same place. In other words, just strangers. So can I escape from here right now...!?
"..."
"Mina...., so you work part-time here. I think Mom wanted to keep this a secret from me, so I couldn't help but find out on my own and it was difficult."
Senpai, who started the conversation, spoke to Ichinose-san in a gentle tone. If that was all, then he was just a kind-hearted big bro... ...However, he was sweating a lot perhaps because of the scorching sun, or perhaps because of his bear-like body type, and the situation that awaited him outside suited him to the extent that I almost felt this situation... ...I'm a very suspicious person.
No, I know him, you know? Because he is the Disciplinary Committee member with the darkest skin and a reliable senpai. He did sweat a lot, even when he was carrying heavy things at that time, but he showed a strong side that was reliable, and he was indeed a senpai that I respected and treated me well which was commensurate with his strength. Well, he did have all the elements to be popular.
"Huh...? ...Huh...?"
Please wipe off your sweat first. Why did you come here wearing jeans when the season is so hot?
Honestly, I envy his bear-like body type, because he's big and reliable, and I think that's the reason why he's popular, but under the hot summer sun, I'm not so sure about that advantage. Maybe if it was winter and I wasn't here, that would be the best situation.
"I think it's really hot right now, isn't it? Y-You see..., maybe it's good that we can all go somewhere else to eat once in a while..."
"No...!"
"Whoa, wait!"
You are a boy, Sajou Wataru. For the first time in my life, a girl from another family was hiding behind me. She was also holding my clothes. This was a completely different kind of tension from when Big Sis holding my clothes. I could not escape. I repeat I could not escape from here. I have no choice but to scream so right now...
"Mi-Mina...!"
"Oh, that's right, we're not what you think, are we? Your little sis and I are just senpai and kouhai, okay, we're classmates at school and we're the same age. But we're senpai and kouhai at this part-time job at the second-hand bookstore. Please don't misunderstand our relationship!? I would never have such a relationship with your little sis without telling you who was very considerate of me a few days ago, so... —Oh no, I just said that! Using the Kyoto dialect, I was just joking, that's all!"
"I'm sorry, Sajou-kun, but can you step aside for a moment?"
"Oh, okay.—"
That's right. I couldn't step aside because she was holding me back. Look, Ichinose-san, he's your beloved big bro, right? Since your big bro has come all the way here to see you, perhaps you can take this opportunity to make up with him. — Whoa!? Don't look at me so tearfully! Wipe your tears...! You forgot to take the hairpin off your bangs again! Oh, your eyes are so wide!
...Eh, wait a minute, which side are you on, Sajou Wataru? Why would Ichinose-san hide behind you, huh? She should love her big bro so much, but she reacted like this. I can't just walk away and say, "Go ahead", that won't help, right? Which side should I be on? It's hot, it's really hot here.
"...Eh, can we move to a cooler place?"
"Sajou-kun now is not the right time to.—"
"Honestly, if you talk here, it won't lead to anything. Besides, are you sure you want to let your little sis be exposed to the hot sun?"
"...I understand."
"Let's get out of here. I know, there's a place where we can stop by."
♦
I had originally thought of going to a family restaurant, but due to various circumstances, I decided to go to a food court on the second floor of a convenience store. We were lucky because convenience stores like this were the only ones near the station. Sorry, but I asked Senpai to go up there first, and Ichinose-san and I followed later. It's really bad to leave these siblings alone right now.
"—Senpai, please wipe your sweat with this for now."
"Oh, okay..., ...thank you. I'll reimburse you later."
"...Yeah. Oh, no,—it's fine, not being reimbursed is fine, you know!?"
I was sweating so much that I couldn't even watch this. At that time, it was in the afternoon and there were only a few people here, and the businessmen seemed to be having business in the smoking room in the corner, so I asked them to wipe themselves with the towel I bought. It would probably be uncomfortable for her to sit here, so I decided to ask Ichinose-san to sit next to me for the time being, and I stood there while fanning myself, saying "It's hot, isn't it?". The AC was working.
"I'm sorry, Sajou-kun, ...You see, I kind of lost my composure."
"No, there's no need to worry about that."
I'm not used to formal language, so I ended up saying it strangely. Nonetheless, Senpai apologized to me sincerely. Although he felt sorry, I'm sure in his heart he wanted to talk to Ichinose-san as soon as possible.
As I considered Senpai's actions, my eyes met Ichinose-san's.
"Oh..."
She took her seat, glanced at Senpai, and looked like she didn't know what to do. I don't know what to do either...
Senpai said that he was fine now. The sweat is gone and Senpai is back to being a handsome bear. One table at this eatery could only seat two, so I asked Senpai to sit across from Ichinose-san. I took the empty seat and sat next to them. I didn't know what the conversation between the two siblings would be like, but I felt that I couldn't bring myself to just let them be. Well..., outsiders have their way of behaving, so maybe there's no need to worry about that.
"The senpai that was in charge of leading the transportation team at school a few days ago.... ...I think Senpai is dating her, right?"
"...!"
Senpai was stiffened. No, no, why is the situation going crazy? Why is Senpai acting like he just got caught? Haven't they been making out a lot at school...!? It's so intimate (that I'm jealous), not only are they dating, but they're getting attached! If Ichinose-san got to see "that scene" firsthand, it's a bit late for that, don't you think? It's a very wet scene. Oh, no, I'm really worried about them.
"—That's right... ...I've been going out with Yuri-chan for over a month now. From the looks of it, it seems like Mina already told you, huh?"
"Oh, no, hmm, I mean... ...Yeah."
I already knew from the atmosphere, but I knew that it didn't start from Ichinose-senpai's side directly. I'm sure Yuri-chan-senpai fell in love with Ichinose-senpai due to a combination of factors. You can tell he's a good guy even if you don't know him very well. I think that's how I feel...
"Do you know why Ichinose-san —Oh, no, your little sis started working part-time?"
"I haven't heard directly from her, so I don't know exactly... ...However, I know the general idea."
"...Perhaps, you guys haven't talked to each other for a long time, huh?"
"..."
That sounded about right. Ichinose-san hasn't spoken to Senpai since she started working part-time. I wonder how she can do that when they live in the same house... ...That their parents wouldn't scold her. No, she said that she didn't tell Senpai about the part-time job. Senpai said his mom wouldn't tell him anything, so maybe their parents are good at keeping them together.
Ichinose-san has been working hard lately, in a positive way, and I never thought that the situation in her family was like that.
"..."
When I heard Senpai put up a silent front, I looked at Ichinose-san, and she suddenly turned her face away from me. I think Senpai was actively trying to talk to her, so maybe Ichinose-san was avoiding him. No, I understand her feelings. But this reaction made me feel guilty. I know this because I've seen a similar face several times. It must have felt very awkward. I don't like this either.
"...Should I leave from here?"
"Sorry... ...I'm sorry about the previous incident, so can you stay here for a while?"
...Okay.
TL: Reeze27
ED: Reeze27
PR: Reeze27
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