"So, you promised the Archery Club President to accompany her tomorrow. You not only offered to sponsor her club, you even did that. Incredible." Shizu enurated what I just shared with them as we walked out of the school gates. "On top of that, you went and probed the Track Club for your ’friend’ Yanagi Kaede. This is why you cannot even find ti to rest."
On my other side, Haruko was looking at like I was a hopeless case, while Maaya and Komoe simply stared at , waiting for my response.
I scratched my head and smiled like a fool caught stealing candy. "Well, when you list it all out like that, I do sound kinda busy, huh?"
Shizu flicked my forehead hard. "Kinda? Blockhead, you’re running yourself ragged trying to please everyone. How many tis do we have to scold you for this?"
"Give it up, Sister Shizu. It’s hubby we’re talking about. If you were with him when all he could think of was to satisfy his desire, it was worse than this. One mont, he’s with you. The next mont, he’s sowhere else, setting his sights on a new target." Haruko sighed dramatically but I could tell she was having fun sharing these story tidbits with them.
Shizu just rolled her eyes while Maaya scoffed, "I can tell he’s always that shaless."
"Uhm, I think it’s normal for Ruki to..." Komoe started ekly, then trailed off when everyone turned to stare at her. She shrank back slightly before rallying with surprising conviction, "I an, he’s always been like this! Even when I first t him, he wouldn’t leave, no matter how much I told him I wasn’t going back to school. Instead, he sat down on the floor next to my bed, started sharing stories."
"In short, Ruki is the type who commits to sothing or soone once he sets his mind to it," Komoe concluded, her cheeks tinting pink as she realized how passionately she’d defended .
Shizu studied her for a mont before exhaling through her nose. She naturally wouldn’t refute Komoe’s words. She also experienced the sa thing when our relationship started with her testing , and I successfully made her fall in love with .
Still, although what Komoe said was a little off-topic, or rather, didn’t have any relation to how I kept exhausting myself by trying to please everyone, everyone understood what she wanted to say.
Haruko patted Komoe’s shoulder and gave her a thumbs up before saying, "Hubby is truly wonderful. The fact that we’ve all fallen for him and are okay with each other’s existence is proof of that."
"Sister Haruko, his head is going to swell if you keep feeding his ego," Maaya muttered.
At this point, we have already reached the nearest bus stop.
"His ego can’t get any bigger anymore. It has been inflated to its maximum, don’t worry." Haruko mischievously grinned.
"Yeah. Right. With how shaless I am, no amount of ego can fit in this head anymore," I shrugged before walking over to Komoe, "Well then, wait for here. I’ll just walk Komoe ho."
"Co back soon, blockhead." Shizu reminded.
I nodded before grabbing Komoe’s hand. The girl waved at the three, promising to send back quickly.
Since the walk to her house wasn’t that far, we arrived in just a few minutes.
This ti, their gates opened the mont we stopped in front of them. Then, from inside, her older sister, Miura Kotone-senpai appeared. She’s already out of her school uniform and has already changed into a more comfortable outfit: sweatpants and a loose t-shirt. Her hair had been let down but her glasses remained perched on her nose.
Upon seeing , a pleasant smile spread across Miura-senpai’s lips. "Handso-kun, thank you for always taking care of my little sister."
Her gaze alternated between us before eventually landing on our joined hands.
"Un. I still can’t believe it. I lost to my shut-in little sister when I’m always flirting with you whenever I get the chance," Miura-senpai sighed dramatically, adjusting her glasses with exaggerated lancholy.
This girl... Serious or not, she’s intentionally trying to get a rise out of Komoe. And predictably, Komoe tightened her grip on my hand, her cheeks puffing up slightly. "N-nee-san! Stop teasing Ruki!"
Miura-senpai chuckled, reaching out to ruffle Komoe’s hair affectionately. "Ah, my little Komoe-chan finally grew bold enough to scold ? How nostalgic~"
"Ugh... Ruki, she’s bullying ." Komoe pouted, pressing closer to my side as if seeking shelter from her sister’s teasing. I squeezed her hand reassuringly while Miura-senpai’s grin widened, her glasses glinting mischievously in the fading sunlight.
"Oh? Is my little sister tattling to her boyfriend now?" Miura-senpai leaned against the gatepost, crossing her arms. "Handso-kun, you should scold her for being so spoiled."
"Nee-san! I’m not spoiled!" Komoe’s face flushed crimson as she stomped her foot, "Uh. Ruki, I’m already fine here. The others are waiting for you."
Miura-senpai just smiled to the side, watching her sister shut the gate. "Geez, now she’s being disrespectful."
"Co on, senpai. You keep teasing her, after all. " I refuted. "Well then, I should get going."
"Wait, Handso-kun, not so fast." Miura-senpai’s hands wrapped around my wrist before I could turn away, "Let’s wait for a few seconds."
I raised my eyebrows as I looked at her, trying to figure out what her deal was.
The last ti we interacted, she was very open to flirting with but despite that, she also knew not to be overly aggressive, especially when we’re out in the open.
"Hmm? Is there sothing else, senpai?" I asked.
She t my gaze and appeared a little distraught before forcing a smile, "Not exactly, I just thought I should also take a little chance for myself, right?"
"A little chance... Behind Komoe’s back, huh? You’re not being very honest, senpai. Co on, we’re not strangers anymore."
"Pfft. Yeah, right. I know you can see right through . How should I say this..." Miura-senpai’s fingers lingered on my wrist, her usual playful deanor cracking just enough to reveal sothing more vulnerable underneath.
She exhaled sharply through her nose, glancing back at the house where Komoe had disappeared. "Handso-kun, you know about it. Nishimura, he... he’s been asking out for so ti now. It seems he has gained enough courage to confirm if we’re actually dating when you started coming over for Maaya-chan."
Oh... The President of the Ga Club finally got the balls not to just live in his delusion, huh? And knowing Miura-senpai, who didn’t actually see him in that way, I could instantly understand the problem now.
Now, she’s probably going to ask for help. Or maybe a piece of advice on how to deal with him.
"Co on, don’t just stare at like that, Handso-kun. Say sothing." Miura-senpai tugged my sleeve impatiently, her fingers tapping against my wrist like Morse code betraying her anxiety.
"You want my honest opinion? Tell him straight. Nishimura-senpai’s not stupid. He just chose to be willfully blind. The longer you humor him, the worse it’ll get."
Her shoulders slumped slightly. "I know that. But he’s... persistent. Like a cockroach that survives nuclear winter. He’s inviting to accompany him on a tour during the Cultural Festival. If I turn him down, he’s going to be gloomy."
Miura-senpai’s fingers twitched against my sleeve. "And if I say yes, he’ll take it as encouragent. Lose-lose situation, right?"
I exhaled sharply, rubbing my temple. "Senpai, you’re overcomplicating this. Just say you’re already accompanying during the festival."
Her glasses slid down her nose as she blinked rapidly. "Wait, what?"
"I’m kidding," I smirked, flicking Miura-senpai’s forehead lightly. "But seriously, I think we need to sit down and brainstorm a solution for this. I’m willing to help but now’s not the right ti."
Miura-senpai’s fingers tightened briefly before she released my wrist while flashing a relieved smile. "Fine, fine. I knew I could count on you, Handso-kun. I feel better now."
"Well, you’re Komoe’s older sister and... I feel like I owe you for always being good to ." I said, rubbing the back of my neck. Miura-senpai’s expression softened before her usual teasing grin snapped back into place.
"Oho? So my little sister’s boyfriend is going to help her poor, lonely Nee-san?" She pressed in closer, making my arm feel that elastic softness of her chest, "Careful, Handso-kun. Keep being this sweet and I might jump at you soon."
"You’ve already jumped at a few tis, senpai." I countered.
"Oh. That... That was playing with you!" Miura-senpai blushed as if the embarrassnt she should have from all those attempts to flirt with had just reached her.
"Sure. Sure. Well then, let’s talk about that problem of yours one of these days. Just delay it for now."
Upon saying that, I stepped back, ready to leave before I could even be tempted to shalessly accept what she’s currently offering.
The girl laughed as she watched retreat, "Running away, Handso-kun? And here I thought you had no sha."
"I am shaless but I also know when to attack or retreat. Save it for later, senpai." I winked at her before turning on my heel and striding back toward the bus stop. I didn’t miss Miura-senpai’s breathy chuckle behind .
And when I glanced back, she waved at along with Komoe, who probably heard our conversation.
Yep. She also understood her older sister, after all. She created that opportunity for her to approach .
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