A Hard-Boiled (Self-Proclaimed) Guy Like Me Doesn’t Suit a Romcom-Style Youth

Chapter 21: Classmates

Homeroom ended and the first period class began.

Entering the classroom to replace Kuki-sensei was Yonezawa-sensei, who treated me as a suspicious person yesterday. Today, he’s wearing a normal suit instead of a jersey.

A good-looking, tall male teacher who is the tennis club advisor. He must be popular with girls. Or so I thought, but a silver ring shone on his left hand.

“Oh, everyone’s finally here!”

Seeing my face, Yonezawa-sensei, the refreshing teacher flashing his white teeth, nodded lightly to me.

After the customary greeting in English for English class, we sat down.

“Well then, Asou. Right off the bat, but please try reading this English passage on page 25 of the textbook.”

“Yes.”

My first class began, but I was called on suddenly. I read aloud the specified part of the textbook.

The meaning was a conversation between a housewife buying tomatoes and carrots and a greengrocer. I read it aloud cheerfully, as if reading a picture book. Having done V-Tubing, I’m good at this kind of reading aloud.

“Okay. As expected of a returnee. For the sake of the guy reading after you, please go a little easy on them.”

When the teacher stopped me, for some reason applause broke out in the classroom.

I bowed to my classmates in response to the applause and sat down.

“That was kinda amazing.”

“Yeah. It was different from what we usually hear, right?”

“I couldn’t catch it at all though…”

“I feel like it was super sexy.”

“I get it. English pronunciation usually feels cool, but somehow that was voluptuous or something…”

It seems my classmates also felt a subtle sense of incongruity with the English I spoke. Actually, there is a reason for this.

“Even so, your Latin accent is too strong, isn’t it? Putting out too much unnecessary sex appeal just to sell tomatoes. ‘Carrots’ sounded like something dangerous you can’t mention here, you know?”

As expected of an English teacher. He seems to have noticed the accent in my English. However, over there this is normal, and since it gets across normally to English speakers, I don’t worry about it much.

However, I didn’t intend to put out any sex appeal. What on earth did this teacher imagine with carrots?

“I usually used Spanish over there, so inevitably.”

“Come to think of it, you were in South America. I took Spanish as a second foreign language in university, but my grades were hopeless, so I’m envious. Everyone, I think you’ll learn a second foreign language if you go to university in the future, but I recommend Spanish. Because there are many countries where you can use it. Though you get fed tacos excessively.”

Laughter leaks out in the classroom.

“Then, Ikoma, read the continuation.”

“Fueeee!? Wait, Asou-kun! Up to where did you read!? Or rather, was that English? I couldn’t catch it at all!?”

That’s not cool, Señorita. It might be hard to catch because of the accent, but I don’t think the content was that difficult?

“Geez, classes at this school are tough for sports recommendations!”

“What are you saying, Ikoma. If you’re continuing tennis, English is essential, you know? If you get a failing grade, I won’t take you to the summer training camp.”

“Fueeeen! Help me, Asou-kun!”

Geez, can’t be helped. Makota-kun.

“Here, this part.”

“Ah, yeah. Thanks.”

Incidentally, Ikoma-san’s pronunciation was magnificent Japanese station-front English.

When class ended and break time came, classmates gathered around my desk. From their perspective, I’m like a transfer student. Moreover, with the added value of being a returnee, there must be many things they want to ask. Being surrounded like this is an unavoidable template.

I experienced transferring schools once in elementary school, and I remembered it was like this back then too.

Come, ask any question. Since I want to live a mundane and quiet student life, I’ll handle them appropriately and lightly.

“Hey, you.”

The first to take the front position were a plain face of average height and build, and a tall boy who looked over 180 cm.

The plain-faced one opened his mouth as if looking down on me sitting in the seat.

“What is your relationship with Miyazu-san?”

Ha?

“With Masaki-san too! You came to school together today, right? Why are those two with someone like you!”

Acha~.

I suppressed the urge to slap my forehead.

This situation. Isn’t this the rom-com template where a dull boy friendly with the school idols gets picked on!

I let my guard down. Even though Jimmy showed me rom-com works endlessly.

I look around, but no one seems willing to help. Rather, they are pricking up their ears, seemingly full of curiosity about how I will answer.

While slightly annoyed at the current situation, I open my mouth calmly.

“¿Quién eres? No entiendo lo que estás diciendo. (Who are you? I don’t understand what you’re saying.)”

“No, you can speak Japanese, right!? Don’t play dumb!”

“¿Por qué estás enojado? (Why are you angry?)”

“You bastard!”

I provoked him with Spanish with all my might.

Because, you know. I have no obligation to answer. And his high-handed attitude pisses me off.

I looked them in the eye and said firmly.

“Sorry. So, who are you guys?”

“O-Oh. I am Sato Masato. Virgo, Type A blood. Remember it.”

Hoho. Sato-kun is Virgo Type A, huh. I don’t care!

“I am Fujisawa Yukiya. 181 cm tall, basketball club.”

Standing next to the plain-faced, Virgo Type A Sato-kun is Fujisawa-kun from the basketball club. The height boast is unnecessary, but atmosphere-wise he seems a bit more decent than Sato-kun.

“I said it earlier, but I’m Asou Ayataka. Born April 8th, Aries, blood type AB RH positive. Height 5 feet 8 inches. Club activity planned is the Go-Home Club. Nice to meet you.”

“O-Oh…”

“How much is 5 feet?”

“Perish, Yard-Pound…”

Sato-kun became quiet at my polite self-introduction. By the way, 1 foot is about 30.5 cm, and 1 inch is about 2.5 cm.

“Yes, yes! I am Suzuhara Himeyo. Height 148 cm, Libra, D-cup. Nice to meet you, Asou-kun.”

Saying that and entering from the side was a petite girl with tsurime (upturned) eyes and twin-tails. If I recall, she was the girl giving commands during homeroom.

If Jimmy saw this girl, he would definitely mutter this. Oh… Azu-nyan!

“Um. Class Rep, right?”

“That’s right! I took it on thinking it would be advantageous for getting a recommendation to a good university. So, I saw it, you see. You were with Miyazu-san and the others after school yesterday too, right? Why? Are the three of you acquaintances?”

The petite, twin-tail, D-cup Suzuhara-san asks with momentum, pushing Sato-kun and the others aside. On top of that, she’s the Class Rep and black-hearted. Isn’t this girl causing a traffic jam of attributes?

“What!? What does that mean, explain!”

Said the plain-faced Sato-kun, whose voice and attitude are unnecessarily loud.

“You, two weeks since entrance, and you’re already sandwiched between Masaki-san, rumored to be the school’s number one beautiful girl, and Miyazu-san, said to be the number one girl people want as a girlfriend. That’s amazing. I’m impressed.”

Said Kakizaki Kyouhei on my right. He seems completely amused.

I admit Masaki-san is a beautiful girl, but Mirai is the number one girl people want as a girlfriend? Seriously? I was almost crushed to death by her futon this morning, you know?

To want that as a girlfriend, are the boys in this school extreme masochists?

Speaking of Mirai’s good points, she’s caring, domestic, and a good cook. I don’t know her current grades, but in the past she did well in both studies and sports. Even now she probably isn’t below average. Her face is cute too, and she has an outstanding figure with child-bearing hips. Her family runs multiple inns and hotels, so if you marry her, it’s a reverse Cinderella story (Gyakutama).

…Huh? Does Mirai have almost no flaws?

It applies mostly to Masaki-san too, but she seems to be playing the cat (acting innocent) at school and passing as a Yamato Nadeshiko. In her case, her appearance embodying a Yamato Nadeshiko and the image of a “flower on a high peak” (Takane no Hana) coming from being born in a distinguished family are too strong, so ordinary boys probably pull back.

Those thinking of making her their girlfriend are either considerable narcissists or guys who haven’t seen themselves in a mirror.

“Mirai and I are childhood friends. Since my grandmother ran a tea ceremony and calligraphy class, I’m acquainted with Masaki-san too. Also, since my parents are overseas, I asked Mirai’s father, with whom we’ve had a relationship since long ago, to act as my guardian while I’m in Japan. Yesterday I stayed at Mirai’s house, so we came to school together. That’s all.”

Family circumstances aren’t something to hide. So I said it honestly, but the reaction was beyond expectation.

“””””Haaaaaaaaa!?!?!?”””””

A voice as if a nuclear reaction occurred echoed in the classroom.

“That’s not ‘that’s all’!”

“You called Miyazu-san ‘Mirai’! You’re on a first-name basis!?”

“What do you mean you stayed over!?”

“The house I’m going to live in isn’t ready yet, you see. I’ve often been taken care of at Mirai’s house since long ago, and now Masaki-san is lodging there too, so it’s not like we were alone together.”

“””””Whaaaaaaaaat!?!?!?”””””

A voice as if nuclear fusion occurred echoed.

“Not just Miyazu-san, but Masaki-san too!?”

“Did you eat together and take a bath together or something?”

“We ate, but there’s no way we’d take a bath together. That was only when we were kids, you know?”

“You did it when you were kids!?”

Crap. I regretted slipping and saying something unnecessary, but it was too late.

“It was so long ago we could go into the women’s bath. Mirai’s family runs an inn, so sometimes we were thrown in together. I played with Mirai doing sumo or turning over curbstones to catch bugs, always getting covered in mud.”

“Um, Miyazu-san is the young lady of a high-class inn, right?”

“That’s right, but she’s quite mischievous, you know?”

Since Suzuhara-san seems friendly, I thought she knew about Mirai or Masaki-san’s true personalities.

It seems not only Masaki-san, but Mirai is also playing the cat at school.

“Bath together…”

“Sumo…”

“Naked relationship…”

No, we don’t have a naked relationship.

“As expected of a Latino. Things progress too fast, amazing.”

Wait, Kakizaki Kyouhei. Latinos have an impression of being womanizers, but they are basically gentlemen.

Also, the me back then was a normal kid living in Japan. Even now, regarding the treatment of women, I’m not even at the feet of authentic Latin boys.

“I don’t know what you’re imagining, but Mirai and I are really just childhood friends. It’s just that Mirai was more naughty than the boys around th— Ouch!?”

Impact on the top of my head. Needless to say whose work it is.

“Hey, Ayata. Don’t blabber about people so much.”

Perhaps unable to watch any longer, the person in question, Mirai, put out her mouth and fist. One knuckle sandwich to the head. Masaki-san is with her too. She has a composed face, but inside she must be amused and laughing.

“Ayata.”

What is it, you guys. Don’t say Ayata.

The classmates seemed bothered by the way Mirai called me “Ayata”.

“What is it, Kakizaki.”

For now, I’ll just check Kakizaki Kyouhei on my right.

“Sorry. Please don’t call me by my last name.”

I suppose so. I can imagine he’s been teased endlessly about it. The steak thing. (Note: Likely a reference to “Ikinari Steak” or similar brands/puns involving Kakizaki/Steak).

“Ayata. Leaving me aside, don’t spread the word about Nako’s lodging too much. What if stalkers appear?”

“Ah. You hadn’t told anyone else about Masaki-san’s lodging? Sorry.”

Now that she mentions it, it’s personal information. I reflect on my careless remark.

But immediately, Masaki-san shook her head.

“Ah, it’s fine. I don’t intend to hide it even from classmates, and I intended to answer if asked.”

“Does that mean no one asked you until now?”

“Yeah. Well, that’s right.”

I look at Sato-kun and Fujisawa-kun who pressed me. It’s been two weeks since entrance. In that time, it wouldn’t be strange if the fact that Masaki-san is lodging at Mirai’s house while working part-time had spread.

Despite coming at me aggressively, it seems they haven’t been able to make any approach to Mirai or Masaki-san. They had just been watching the two from a distance until now.

“I think it’s misplaced to complain to me without making any move yourselves, though?”

“That’s…”

“Because, you know…”

Sato-kun and Fujisawa-kun lost their initial momentum.

“An?”

“Fufu.”

They looked at Mirai and Masaki-san, but were just glared at by Mirai and smiled at (scarily?) by Masaki-san, only turning bright red.

Good grief, you guys are too innocent. Learn a little from Latin boys.

Chapter 22: Lunch Break

And so, morning classes ended and it was lunch break.

Since 4th period was PE, everyone was starving. The girls use the changing rooms in the gymnasium, but the boys, who change in the classroom, spread out their bento as soon as they finish changing. Incidentally, Toto High doesn’t have a cafeteria, but since bread is sold, some students run to the store.

“Asou. Want to eat together?”

Kakizaki Kyouhei, whom I’ve come to talk to reasonably well, invited me along with several boys, but unfortunately, I have a prior engagement.

“Ayata—! Let’s go—!”

I raise my hand to answer the voice calling from the hallway.

“Sorry. That’s how it is.”

“I see. Sorry for intruding then.”

Kakizaki Kyouhei is grinning. Leaving the dumbfounded boys behind, I met up with Mirai and Masaki-san in front of the classroom and headed to the club room with my bento wrapped in a furoshiki.

Was I the only one scared by the classmates going silent during that time?

Sato-kun. Please don’t glare like that.

Now then, it goes without saying for Masaki-san, but even the energetic girl Mirai is a beautiful young lady if she keeps silent. As befitting a tea ceremony club member, her figure walking down the hallway with good posture is truly a lily flower.

Not just boys, but girls unintentionally follow them with their eyes. It seems such a beautiful girl combo, one of the best in Toto High, always eats lunch in the club room.

I’ll speak of what just happened as it is.

What do you think the two did first upon entering the club room?

“””Hottt—!”””

Just as I thought they screamed, they surprisingly threw off their skirts and blazers. They loosened their ribbons and undid the buttons of their blouses down to the second one.

Just to be safe, I’ll say they are properly wearing bloomers underneath. It’s not panties, so it’s fine. No problem.

“Puhaa~, the club room really is relaxing after all.”

“Funya~, yeah. It really helps that there’s a club room.”

Taking off even her socks to be barefoot, Mirai sits cross-legged on the tatami mats and pours bottled tea down her throat.

Masaki-san lies down with a plop.

Behold. This is the true nature of the number one beautiful girl in Toto High and the girl people want as a girlfriend!

It’s a sight that absolutely cannot be shown to other students.

I swear to Cuniraya to keep their true nature and their healthy bare legs locked within my heart.

“I’m starving! Ayata—! Bento!”

“Yes, yes.”

Mirai bangs on the tatami.

Are you an old man!?

Retorting internally, I place the bento I was holding. When I untied the furoshiki and spread out the jubako (tiered boxes), Masaki-san, who had been lying down, got up, so the three of us gathered around the jubako.

I have disposable chopsticks, but Mirai and Masaki-san each have their own personal chopsticks (“My Hashi”). Even the cases are wooden and very beautiful.

I have to buy chopsticks too. I’ll buy a matching pair for Kuu and send them.

In front of the bento, Mirai and Masaki-san sit properly in seiza on the cushions. Their thighs stretched tight against the fabric are a very fine sight.

“Isn’t seiza tough for Ayata? You don’t have to force yourself to match us, you know?”

“No, then I won’t have a face to show Grandmother.”

Mirai was being considerate, but I also have my pride as Asou Shikiko’s grandson.

Immediately, Mirai shows a mischievous face.

“Hoh? If you stagger when standing up and do something cliché like clinging to us, I’ll throw you, okay?”

“You’re terrible as always.”

“Because our family motto is to take firm measures against sexual harassment. Nako, you don’t have to show mercy either, okay? If you’re touched, send him flying without mercy.”

No, no. Staggering from numbness is force majeure. Also, don’t coerce Masaki-san too.

“Geez! Mi-chan! What if Ayataka-kun gets hurt doing that? It’s fine. I actually have quite a bit of strength, so I’ll support him properly when it’s dangerous.”

“Good grief. Nako is soft.”

“Got it. So I don’t cause trouble, I’ll make sure to fall backwards.”

“Then let’s lay cushions behind you.”

“Oh, that’s good.”

At Masaki-san’s suggestion, several cushions are laid behind me. Well, just in case. Pride and stubbornness exist, but they can’t replace safety.

“Then, put your hands together (Gassho)!”

Mirai gives the command. Masaki-san and I put our hands together in sync with her voice.

“Itadakimasu!”

“””Itadakimasu!”””

Mirai and Masaki-san immediately bite into rice balls, and I extend my chopsticks to the rolled omelet (dashimaki).

“Did you like it? You were eating it deliciously this morning too.”

“Because it was good. I definitely wanted to eat it again.”

Even cold, Mirai’s rolled omelet was delicious after all. The sweet and salty taste permeating my mouth is irresistible.

“Nn. But you have to eat vegetables too.”

“I know.”

Are you my mom?

Without needing to be told, I pop a tomato into my mouth.

It’s a slightly expensive brand tomato. About halfway between a normal tomato and a cherry tomato in size, with little grassy smell or sourness, and sweet.

“Nako! 3 nuggets. Other side dishes are 2 per person, got it!”

“I know.”

Before they could be eaten by Masaki-san, I stuffed another piece of rolled omelet into my cheek.

Growing high schoolers. Also because 4th period was PE and we burned calories, the eating pace of all three is quite fast.

But, they are high schoolers in the prime of youth after all. The chatting doesn’t stop either.

“Come to think of it, PE earlier. Why was Ayataka-kun running alone when the other kids were playing soccer?”

PE is held jointly with two classes, separated by gender.

Boys played soccer on the ground. Girls played basketball in the gym (both were left alone with balls after warm-ups).

“Did Ayata screw something up?”

“I didn’t screw up. Physical fitness test. Since I was the only one who hadn’t done it yet, I was made to do it. After school, I’m scheduled to do body measurements in the infirmary.”

The two seemed to understand my words.

“I see. We did it right after entering school, didn’t we.”

“How many seconds was Ayata’s 100 meters?”

Curious about running speed, are you an elementary schooler?

It’s not something to hide, and when I said a number in the 12-second range, the two looked surprised together.

“To put a 1-second difference on Nako… Is it really that slow Ayata?”

“I lived in a village at 2500 meters altitude. I was trained.”

“Weren’t you invited to the track and field club by the PE teacher?”

“I was. I declined, though. Masaki-san too?”

“Yeah. I declined too.”

“Nako is faster than the track clubs around there, you see. You’re still persistently invited, right?”

Masaki-san, with a 100-meter time in the 13-second range, smiles wryly. It seems her high physical ability hasn’t changed since I met her as Masaki.

“But for endurance running, Mi-chan is faster.”

“Mirai hasn’t been invited?”

“Nn. I didn’t have that good a time.”

“That’s because you forgot your sports bra and ran holding your chest the whole time, right?”

“Pfft!”

“An?”

I burst out laughing unintentionally and get glared at by Mirai.

Okay, I heard nothing. I signal with a gesture.

It seems various things are tough due to her body developing, but Mirai’s monster stamina seems to still be alive and well.

“Are you two not joining sports clubs?”

“I’m already in the tea ceremony club.”

You’re not active though.

“I thought it was a waste since you have good reflexes.”

Both Mirai and Masaki-san are masses of potential. Surely they could be active in sports too. Even if they don’t go as far as the Olympics, they have enough potential to become instantly popular on the net as “too cute [athlete]”.

Well, I don’t like net fans because I have the impression they just get in the way of players rather than cheering.

“I’m told that often. I don’t dislike exercise, but both Nako and I are barely getting by with studies, tea, and part-time jobs right now.”

“That’s right. Even if we join a sports club, if there’s a tea gathering or family circumstances, we have to prioritize those.”

I see. That’s a circumstance unique to young ladies.

Besides, it’s better than being exposed poorly on the net.

Thus, having emptied the jubako, we say “Gochisousama” again at Mirai’s command.

It’s nice. This kind of thing.

“Nn!”

Mirai stands up and stretches greatly.

Well-fleshed thighs extending from dark blue bloomers. My gaze is unintentionally sucked toward her chest which greatly swells out her blouse.

I want you not to call me a pervert. It’s something like instinct.

“Nn? What is it? Ayata?”

“No, I just suddenly wanted to eat fried chicken (karaage). Can I request it for dinner?”

I glossed it over instantly. The reason it’s fried chicken is because I was thinking about breast (mune) and thigh (momo).

“Hmm. Which is better, breast meat or thigh meat?”

“Thigh meat.”

“Salt faction? Soy sauce faction?”

“Soy sauce.”

Mirai’s moderately tanned thighs.

Masaki-san’s thighs which the word ‘fair-skinned’ suits.

Each has its merits, but my preference is Kuu’s amber-colored thighs.

Masaki-san, who surely read my wicked inner thoughts, turns her back and her shoulders are shaking.

“Even though you just ate, you’re a glutton. Got it. Let’s have fried chicken tonight.”

“My bad. Making requests even though I’m a freeloader.”

“No, it helps if you tell me a specific menu you want to eat. Is Nako okay with it too?”

“Yay. The fried chicken Mi-chan makes is delicious.”

“I see. Looking forward to it.”

Now then…

I tried to stand up, but there is no sensation in my legs.

Following gravity, my body tilts against my consciousness.

Crap…

“Ayata!?”

“Ayataka-kun!?”

“My legs went numb, it was no good.”

I collapsed backward. Seriously, laying the cushions was the correct answer. At the development that went as expected, Mirai and Masaki-san laugh loudly.

“Even if he became able to do sports, Ayata is still Ayata after all!”

Shut up.

Chapter 23: After School

After school. After finishing physical measurements and such, it got quite late. Thinking Mirai and the others might still be around, I peeked into the tea ceremony club room, but the room was dark and locked, with no sign of anyone inside.

A sticky note was pasted on the door.

Going home first. Mi- & Nako.

And here I wanted to brag that I grew taller.

I got measured in the infirmary earlier, and I was 174 cm. I had grown more than 1 cm since the last time I measured.

The Republic of Cicymel, which was once an American colony for a period, is one of the rare countries in the world that uses the Yard-Pound system. When I said the numbers from my previous measurement, I confused the infirmary teacher. The metric system is easier to understand after all. Perish, Yard-Pound.

Checking the time on my smartphone, it was 16:40. Mirai and the others must have arrived home by now.

There are zero incoming calls on my smartphone. Well, currently only Yousuke-san is registered in my phone book, so it can’t be helped.

Thinking I should at least exchange contact info with Mirai for the future, I leave the front of the club room.

While walking through the school building enjoying the tone of youth just like yesterday, I was suddenly called out to, “Asou.”

It’s the guy who asked if I had a girlfriend during self-introductions. His last name is Owari, but I don’t know his first name.

“Um, Owari-kun, right?”

About 170 cm tall, mushroom hair. Slender, fair-skinned, and with androgynous features; he’s beautiful enough that I’d believe it if told he was actually a girl. But because of his attitude during self-introductions, I currently can’t hold a good impression of him.

Next to Owari-kun is a female student linking arms with him in a lover’s hold. It’s not a line I should say, but I’ll dare say it. Normie scum (riajuu).

“Ah, the rumored returnee?”

“He’s pretty cool, right? Can do English and his specs are quite high.”

“Hmm.”

The female student looks at me with eyes as if appraising me.

A face I didn’t see in class. She has a flashy vibe for a Toto High student, with permed ends and hair dyed Bordeaux in a shade that barely avoids violating school rules. At a glance, she looks like a beauty, but since her makeup is heavy, I can’t tell what she looks like naturally.

Her body is also slender, and stick-like white legs peek out from a short skirt. Her chest is completely flat too.

Are you eating properly?

And the next words uttered by the female student went straight through the bottom of my imagination.

“Is your family rich?”

Talking about money right off the bat is out, surely.

Is her intention to switch to me if I’m rich? She has some nerve saying that in front of her boyfriend.

Or is she planning to extort money (katsuage)?

The old me might have been scared, but the current me is confident I can handle it even if they resort to violence. After all, my fighting skills are PMC-trained. I don’t feel like I’d lose to run-of-the-mill students even two-on-one.

Or rather, against this Owari-kun who looks like an Enoki mushroom and a Gal-chan who’s just all bark, wouldn’t even Mirai or Masaki-san win?

“My parents are teachers, so we’re an ordinary household. Even if you say we lived overseas, it was deep in the mountains of a developing country.”

Truth be told, we are reasonably wealthy. I have a decent amount of money I can use myself. But I have no obligation to tell them that.

“Hmm.”

The female student entwines herself around Owari-kun as if fawning. Don’t tell me she really intends to make him extort me?

“Oi, stop it. I didn’t call out to Asou for that purpose.”

As expected, Owari-kun intervenes to scold her, but that means there are cases where they call out to people for that purpose.

I raise my vigilance against the two to combat readiness. If this were Cicymel, I would have been halfway to drawing my Colt Defender.

“So, what’s your business?”

“Ah. I’m doing You-Tubing with my group, but won’t you join us too, Asou?”

“Heeh, what kind of things do you do?”

My true feeling is to refuse immediately, but I got interested in Japanese high schooler You-Tubers. Refusal is certain, but I thought I’d see what level they are once.

Owari-kun operates his smartphone and plays a video. Amidst upbeat, noisy music, a trio of a buzz-cut guy, a macho guy, and an ikemen (Owari-kun) are dancing.

The channel name is “High-Mad” (Hai-Maddo). 80 subscribers. That said, seeing there are only 3 videos uploaded including this one, it’s probably not a bad number.

They are wearing T-shirts written “Ash Mud” (Hai Doro) in different colors and half-pants. The background is a coast, and they seem to be taking care not to reveal their school or identity.

The buzz-cut guy’s dance is sharp, the macho guy has the appearance of a sportsman, and he’s an ikemen of a different vector from Owari-kun.

That said. In the end, it’s just high schoolers’ try-hard dancing. Honestly, I couldn’t hold any particular interest in the dancing trio.

“The filming is good. Outsourced?”

The dance itself is of a quality that will likely become their dark history in the future. However, the filming and editing are good. Thanks to that, it’s finished as not bad for an amateur promotion video. That just slipped out of my mouth.

“No, the one filming is one of our buddies too. You have a good eye.”

“Just my frank impression.”

“Haa? Why there? Normally you’d praise the dance, right?”

“Fact is, Maki’s filming is skillful. Saru’s choreography is iffy, right? Ah, don’t tell him what I just said, okay?”

“Well, if Reita says so.”

Owari-kun’s first name seems to be Reita. He doesn’t seem to intend to explain or introduce anyone. He proceeds with the conversation leaving me behind.

“So, what will you do, Asou?”

“Sorry. It’s a nice offer, but I can’t dance with my face shown.”

If the mafia saw me doing this try-hard dance, they’d definitely take it as a provocation and come to kill me!

When I refused, Owari-kun seemed to accept it readily with a “Hmm.”

“Eeh? Even though Reita went out of his way to invite you!?”

“It’s fine, Ena. I haven’t told Yugo-san about inviting Asou yet.”

The Gal-chan’s name is Ena-san, huh. So? Who is Yugo?

“Eh? Isn’t that dangerous? Yugo-san definitely wouldn’t have let him in.”

“Well, like, if I get the OK ex post facto, it’s lucky?”

Apparently, Owari-kun was soliciting me on his own judgment without telling his group.

This would have become quite awkward if opposed later. As I thought, I dislike this guy. He underestimates others too much.

Probably Yugo-san is the leader of their “High-Mad”. Since he calls other members by nicknames like Maki and Saru but uses “-san” for only one person, he might be an upperclassman.

Filming is Maki. I guess the buzz-cut guy is Saru, and the macho guy who looks older from his features is Yugo.

“Well, tell me if you change your mind. I’ll mention it to the group.”

I swallowed the words “I refuse” and showed a vague expression. Owari-kun doesn’t seem to care at all, but his girlfriend seemed to guess my inner thoughts and glared at me.

“Ena?”

“Hmph! Let’s go!”

I watch the two leave, taking the girl leaning on his shoulder with him.

“Stinks.”

After the two left, from the strange smell mixed with cologne, I guessed why those two, who don’t look like the type to work hard at studies or club activities, remained at school until this time and what they were doing.

Good grief, they’re no-good people in a sacred schoolhouse.

Let’s try not to get involved with them in the future. Deciding so in my heart, I left the school.

“Welcome home!”

Returning to the Miyazu house, I was greeted by Mirai’s energetic voice as she poked only her head out from the kitchen.

“I’m home.”

I reply, align my shoes, and enter.

Mirai is busy preparing dinner.

Sweatshirt and half-pants. Rough style with bare feet in slippers, equipped with a rape-blossom colored apron, ponytail bouncing, slippers pattering.

Is this the best?

Only Mirai is preparing dinner; I couldn’t see Masaki-san.

“I’m home. Just you, Mirai?”

“Yeah. Nako went to her waitress part-time job.”

“I see. Then, I’ll help today too.”

“Oh. But first gargle and wash your hands. Change clothes and then come here.”

“Okay.”

After gargling 3 times and washing hands in the washroom, I return to my room and change into the shirt and jeans that were washed and hung dry. It’s the same as what I wore yesterday, but I don’t have other clothes right now.

“Can you cook, Ayata?”

“Well, technically I did everything once.”

Father was unexpectedly good at cooking, and Kuu and I helped Father every day.

Besides, cooking videos are popular content. I’ve made famous Andean dishes many times in videos. I won’t say pro-level, but for home cooking, I’m confident in making something decent.

“Hmm. What kind did you make over there?”

“Mainly corn and potato dishes, I guess. Also llama and guinea pig…”

“Got it. Please peel the potatoes.”

“Leave it to me.”

Apparently we’re making pork soup (tonjiru) in addition to fried chicken. Beside me using a peeler to skin potatoes, Mirai is cutting carrots and onions. The sound of her wielding the kitchen knife with a good crisp tempo is pleasant.

“How was school?”

I smile wryly inside at her asking something like a mother in a drama.

“It was super fun.”

“Is your vocabulary level elementary school?”

“It’s been 5 years since elementary school. Going to school. I couldn’t attend elementary school over there at first because I couldn’t speak the language properly, and there was no junior high in the village.”

“Was Ayata the type of guy to get excited about going to school?”

“I think I was different.”

The me of the past was a normal elementary schooler who didn’t like school that much. A normal child who went to school every day without question because it was natural for children to go to school.

In the end, it’s the common story where you only understand the value of something that was naturally there after it’s lost.

Japanese school after a long time. The time spent with my same generation was super fun.

Sato-kun is a pain, and Owari-kun is creepy, but honestly, it’s at a level where I don’t care.

Mirai finished cutting vegetables and put them in the pot. Seeming to have reached a stopping point in cooking, she takes off her apron.

“I’ll do the rest to match the time Nako returns, so you can rest, Ayata. Dinner will be around 7:30, so I’ll call you again then.”

Looking at the clock, there’s still over an hour.

“Got it. So…”

Tell me your contact info. For some reason, that didn’t come out smoothly.

“What’s wrong?”

Mirai with a puzzled face. Me with swimming eyes.

“Um, uh… Please tell me your contact info.”

For some reason, polite language came out. Moreover, my voice was quite hoarse at the end and didn’t come out well.

“Wait!? Getting nervous about asking for a girl’s contact info, are you a junior high student!?”

Thus, I was able to successfully get Mirai’s contact info.

Also, I register for the most major messaging app in Japan.

The first message after group registration was “Yoroshikuma (Nice to meet you-bear)” with a bear stamp.

Chapter 24: Family

Returning to my room, I boot up my tablet.

There are 3 incoming emails.

Senders are Kuu, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Father.

I hurry and open the email from Kuu.

FRANCA TO ELISA NI BOKU GA KUNYAN DATTE BARETA (Franca and Elisa found out that Boku [I] am Kunyan.)

Ah. So they found out.

It seems Kuu’s roommates were viewers of “Olala”.

Among “Olala” fans, it’s widely known that the person inside Souta is a Japanese person named Ayataka Asou, so the reason they found out is because I gave my name yesterday.

Well, there’s also the fact that Kunyan’s visuals are exactly Kuu.

It’s fine. But just be careful not to upload your real face to the net.

As soon as I replied with that, a response came.

FUTARI GA ANI NI AITAI TTE ITTERU (The two say they want to meet Big Brother.)

The two say they want to meet me?

They are the first friends Kuu made after coming to Japan. As her brother, I also have the feeling of wanting to see what kind of people they are, so I convey my consent.

Sure. Around when?

The plan is for Kuu to come here during the Golden Week holidays in May. If they are coming with her, I’ll have to have them stay at Grandmother’s house. As expected, it’s impossible to book an inn starting now.

SHICHIGATSU NI SOTSUGYOU RYOKOU DE (In July for graduation trip.)

July? I see, so they’re coming here for a graduation trip.

The graduation ceremony of the international school Kuu attends is at the end of June. That’s a weekday here, so if we’re to meet, I need to adjust my schedule.

Got it. Let’s talk about it next time.

RYO (Roger)

Ryo? I thought it was a typo, but realized it’s gal-speak abbreviating Ryoukai (Roger). She probably learned it from her two roommates.

Ending the email with Kuu there for now, next I open the email from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

It’s from the Japanese Embassy in Cicymel. The content is thanking me because, thanks to me, they were able to win the orders for the airport expansion and cable car installation projects.

The Japanese government had been competing with China over the airport expansion construction. It was said to be quite disadvantageous, but apparently, with the collapse of the Ferrero Family, many assembly members connected to the mafia fell from power. It seems that decided the great turnaround.

It means if you’re going to associate, choose a decent partner. It must have been a good lesson.

And the construction of the cable car.

The people living in the settlements deep in the Andes, which could be called isolated islands on land, had long yearned for a cable car to make travel to and from the foot of the mountain easier.

The settlements where descendants of the dynasty who escaped invasion from Europe live retain many lost cultural aspects and valuable ruins, possessing high potential as tourist destinations. Therefore, even if a cable car was installed, it was considered that it would be sufficiently profitable. Despite that, the reason the construction plan didn’t progress was because the human trafficking organization, which didn’t want to lose a convenient “human ranch”, teamed up with the mafia to apply pressure.

It’s laughable that the mafia opposed it claiming environmental and cultural protection.

It will probably still take time for the cable car to be completed. But, finally one step forward. If the isolation of the settlement is resolved, it will become harder for the human trafficking organization to operate too.

With deep emotion, I reply with content like “Congratulations on the order. Please take care of the cable car.”

Finally, I open the email from Father.

“What is this?”

The email title is a single word: “Sorry”. And attached was a lecture exceeding 5000 characters, starting with the title “Good grief. Men are…”, which Nagisa-san had sent to Father.

Don’t give me ‘Sorry’! Don’t send me this kind of thing!

I write “Reap what you sow” (Jigou-jitoku) and reply.

After that, reporting recent events to the village. Watching the updated “Olala” stream and sending impressions, I passed the time until I heard Mirai’s voice.

“Ayata—! It’s dinnerrrr!”

That night, holding a single sheet of paper I received in the staff room, I visited the living room of the Miyazu house.

In the living room, Yousuke-san and Nagisa-san, who had finished today’s work, were just having a drink with the dinner’s fried chicken as a snack.

The fried chicken Mirai fried was, simply put, delicious. While saying hafu-hafu, I shoveled down rice together with the freshly fried chicken from which meat juices seasoned with garlic and ginger oozed out juwa.

The pork soup (tonjiru) was also exquisite, and needless to say, I ate too much. After the meal, holding my pon-pon swollen belly, the three of us ended up lying down together to pass time.

“Would you like to join us, Ayataka-kun?”

“Fufu, dear?”

Nagisa-san admonishes Yousuke-san, whose face is a little red, as if it were routine.

Having developed the habit of drinking alcohol if offered, I almost said “Itadakimasu”, so I was saved by Nagisa-san stopping him. Leaving Cicymel aside, alcohol under 20 is not good in Japan.

Honestly speaking, I still don’t understand the taste of alcohol. Kuu is strangely particular about the taste of Chicha, though…

“Sorry to disturb you while you’re relaxing. Actually, there is a document I would like to ask you to sign and seal.”

I hand one document to Yousuke-san. Of course, I didn’t forget to prepare a ballpoint pen.

“Fumu. Understood. You’ll be careful enough, right?”

“Yes.”

Yousuke-san reads through the written content and signs with the ballpoint pen. He stamps the seal with the seal Nagisa-san brought.

“Thank you very much.”

It was a permission form regarding obtaining a motorcycle license.

Toto High does not prohibit obtaining licenses in school rules. Because the prefecture where Toto City is located is a car society where you can’t even job hunt properly without a car. If you turn 18, you don’t even need school permission, and it’s natural to go get one on your own. However, regarding obtaining a motorcycle license under 18, it was stipulated to get school permission.

“Nice. Have you decided what kind you’ll ride?”

The one who took the bait was Nagisa-san. Surprisingly, she loves bikes, and her Hayabusa is placed in the Miyazu family garage.

“That’s of course a Cub.”

Nagisa-san makes a slightly bored face at my words.

No, even if you make that face…

As someone who will live alone at Grandmother’s house from now on, I desperately want legs (transportation) usable in daily life. Naturally, I want to carry luggage too, so the first choice for vehicle type is a Cub.

“I want to go touring together, you see. This person absolutely won’t ride a bike, so it’s boring.”

“Bikes are… scary, aren’t they?”

“Geez. He’s like this.”

It seems Nagisa-san wants a biker buddy.

But even so, why do I have to go touring with a classmate’s mother…

Actually, besides the Cub, I was thinking of buying a normal bike too. In July, Kuu will come to live here too. Because I want to ride with her on the back. But since I don’t want interference in choosing, I decided to keep silent about that. (I didn’t know yet at this time that you can only ride two-up one year after obtaining the license.)

“Ayata—! Bath is open—!”

At that moment, a voice came from the hallway. Mirai, who had taken a bath first, must have called out thinking I was in my room.

Then, the sound of two pairs of slippers going peta-peta was heard, and Mirai and Masaki-san, fresh out of the bath, appeared. It seems these two say waiting for the bath is a pain and always enter together.

“Oh, Ayata was here. Bath is open.”

Saying that, the two headed to the kitchen. They poured coffee milk, known as the secret ingredient of GSDF curry, from the fridge into glasses and gubi-gubi-gubi.

“””Puha!”””

With hands on hips in perfect form, they empty the glasses in one go.

“Then, I will go take a bath too.”

“Ah. Go soak slowly.”

“Yes. Thank you very much.”

Mirai and Masaki-san fresh out of the bath are hazardous materials. Permission form in hand, I try to leave the living room hurriedly.

“Ayata? What’s that?”

Mirai sharply spotted the permission form in my hand. The moment she bent down to peek, her nape was largely visible from the collar of her yukata.

When I instinctively looked away, I witnessed the moment Masaki-san snatched a piece of fried chicken from Yousuke-san’s plate hyoi-paku.

These two are truly little devils.

“Ayata’s getting a license? Nice~! I want to get a license too!”

“Mirai too, once you turn 16.”

Incidentally, Mirai’s birthday is July 17th, about 3 months apart from me, born April 10th.

Mirai, who wants to act like an older sister to me, was always in a bad mood on my birthday. Saying “Don’t get carried away just because it’s only three months difference!”

“Damn it—! Don’t get carried away just because it’s only three months difference! Ayata is banned from getting a license until my birthday!”

“Unreasonable Gian again.”

Please do something about your daughter.

I direct such eyes at Yousuke-san and Nagisa-san, but…

“Here it is, here it is. Heard it for the first time in a while.”

“Oh my, oh my. Nostalgic.”

This couple hasn’t stopped their daughter’s barbarism toward me since long ago. They just always watch amusedly. If she does something that troubles other people, they get angry, but in that case, I end up getting scolded together.

“Geez, Mi-chan. Don’t trouble Ayataka-kun.”

The one who admonished Mirai, who activated Unreasonable Gian mode, was Masaki-san.

“I want to ride a bike too, so let’s go get it together during summer vacation.”

“Nako is getting a license too?”

“Yeah. Seeing Nagisa-san riding, I thought it was cool.”

Masaki-san’s birthday is May 5th. I feel like she could get it before Mirai’s birthday comes, but since the person in question probably knows that best, I don’t voice it.

“Oh, isn’t that nice. If you get licenses, let’s go touring with everyone.”

“I want to go!”

“I want to go too!”

“But Nako. Is your family okay with it?”

“Hmm. I don’t think they’ll oppose, but…”

“It’s fine. I’ll cooperate in persuading your parents.”

“Thank you very much. Please do.”

The women began to have a lively conversation about bikes. Watching that, Yousuke-san mutters quietly.

“I wonder if Nadeshiko-chan would come as Mirai’s bride (yome – imply marrying into the family/marrying Mirai?).”

“If that happened, she’d likely take everything, you know.”

“Ah!? My fried chicken!?”

It seems he finally noticed that the fried chicken in his plate was down to the last one.

Ignoring Yousuke-san sighing dejectedly, I left the living room this time for sure.

Chapter 25: Grandmother

Saturday.

Today is the day I go to meet Grandmother. Mirai and Masaki-san are coming with me, but meeting her directly for the first time in 5 years, I am glad but also somewhat nervous.

I wash my face and leave the washroom. There, I ran into Masaki-san dressed in going-out clothes.

Her wet-crow-feather-colored (nureba-iro) hair releasing iridescence as it catches the morning sun leaking from the window. A white blouse and a pale cream-colored cardigan. The beige long skirt suits Masaki-san, the very child of purity (seiso), well.

“Good morning, Masaki-san. Those clothes look good on you.”

“G-Good morning, Ayataka-kun. Ayataka-kun is… as usual.”

“Because I only have this. Once we go to Grandma’s place, I have to go buy various things.”

“If so, we’ll accompany you too. I think we can tell you about shops and such.”

“That helps.”

“S-So, um…”

“Yeah?”

Come to think of it, Masaki-san has shown a strangely nervous demeanor since greeting me.

It’s rare for Masaki-san, who is always composed.

Did she get shy from being praised for her clothes? No, no, a beauty of Masaki-san’s level would be used to praise and wouldn’t get shy now. Before, when I praised her in Japanese clothes (wafuku), I was even laughed at in reverse.

Looking at her face, it’s a little red; is she feeling unwell?

“Masaki-san? Could it be you’re feeling unwell?”

“No. It’s not like that, but…”

Shrugging her shoulders and fidgeting (moji-moji).

Glancing at my face with upturned eyes.

Gripping the edge of her skirt and fidgeting (iji-iji).

Th-This is surely…

The two characters for Confession (Kokuhaku) cross my mind.

No, no, no. Surely not. It’s practically only been a few days since meeting her. And in front of the washroom is too lacking in mood.

Besides, I have Kuu. I can’t respond to her feelings.

“Ayataka-kun. Um, you see…”

“Y-Yes!?”

Even though I already have someone decided in my heart, it’s impossible not to be nervous in front of a peerless beautiful girl with flushed cheeks. I unintentionally raise a pitched voice.

“Um…”

“Yes.”

Just as she seemed to make up her mind and started to open her mouth.

“What on earth are you doing just to ask for contact info?”

It’s Mirai. Her plain clothes are a black shirt and blue jacket. With denim short pants, she looks exactly like the child of energy, and as expected, it suits her well.

“Good morning. Your plain clothes suit you too, Mirai.”

“Morning. Yeah, I know.”

After finishing the morning greeting curtly, Mirai closed in on Masaki-san with her smartphone in hand.

“What are you dawdling for. We’re registering the group quickly.”

“But, it’s my first time exchanging contacts with a boy.”

“Getting nervous about asking for a boy’s contact info, are you a junior high student!? …Nn? Somehow, I feel like I said the same thing before?”

Yes. That was me.

I see. So that was the cause of the fidgeting Masaki-san.

I understand the feeling well. Because I was super nervous when asking for Mirai’s contact info too.

Anyway, I’m glad it wasn’t a confession!

Then I exchange contacts with Masaki-san. We also create a group on the messaging app with Mirai, Masaki-san, and me.

The first message from Masaki-san. I understand “Nice to meet you” (Yoroshiku onegaishimasu), but why is the stamp Kintaro?

Then immediately, “Don’t compete in weird places!” came a tsukkomi from Mirai, whose favorite is bear stamps, and my face relaxed.

The three of us finish breakfast and grooming and leave the house. Mirai and Masaki-san seem to have business with Grandmother too, holding a package containing onsen manju (steamed buns).

We travel by bus to the nursing home where Grandmother lives. If it were just Mirai, she would seemingly go by bicycle, but Masaki-san and I don’t have bicycles.

I add a bicycle to the shopping list. Either way, I’ll need it to attend driving school from now on.

“Are you really going in that outfit?”

“Can’t be helped, right. Because I only have this.”

Poncho and ten-gallon hat. Canvas bag on the shoulder. Mirai grimaces at me in my usual Andean style.

True, it stands out, so I also think I should think about it a little.

“We’re going to buy clothes on the way back, right.”

“Heeh. Then, let’s suppose we’ll choose something nice for you.”

“Yeah, yeah. Ayataka-kun has good material so he’s worth choosing for.”

“…Please go easy on me.”

In front of the two with sparkling eyes, I think I was making a face like a degu in front of a bird of prey.

The nursing home Grandmother moved into was a brand new one-story building, a modern structure with all private rooms. The fees seem quite high, but Grandmother has saved up quite a bit so it shouldn’t be a problem.

We go through the visitation procedure and proceed inside, but there is no smell mixed of filth and disinfectant peculiar to old folks’ homes. Proceeding down the clean corridor smelling of wood to the room where Grandmother waits.

Kon-kon-kon, I knock on the door.

“It’s Ayataka.”

“It’s Nadeshiko.”

“Grandma-sensei—! We’re here—!”

We had conveyed the rough arrival time beforehand. When we called out from outside, a reply was heard.

“Come in.”

I open the heavy sliding door. A sunny room of about 12 tatami mats in size with a toilet and mini-kitchen. There was the figure of Grandmother sitting in a wheelchair.

Dressed in Japanese clothes with her hair perfectly arranged, her dignified atmosphere is unchanged, but she looked smaller than seen through the monitor.

“Grandma. Long time no see.”

“Ayataka-san… You did well to come home.”

I think Grandmother was tearing up a little.

“I caused you worry.”

“Yes, truly… Come here and let me see your face better.”

“Yes.”

I walk up to Grandmother and crouch down a little to meet her eyes.

Tears spilled from Grandmother’s eyes.

Before I knew it, the figures of Mirai and Masaki-san had disappeared.

Then, I told Grandmother what happened in the last 2 years.

That Father took Kuu in and formally adopted her. I had already told Grandmother about daily life and activities as a YouTuber, but I hadn’t told her about the battle with the mafia targeting Kuu’s life.

Grandmother’s disciples and grand-disciples are all over Japan, and she has influence with politicians and bureaucrats. If I had told her, I would undoubtedly have been forced to return to Japan. That’s why I couldn’t tell her.

So after the emotional reunion, I was scolded severely.

“Ayataka-san! Sit there!”

Made to sit in seiza on the floor, I was lectured plenty.

“Good grief. To become numb and unable to stand with just this much is pathetic.”

Told by Grandmother, who was still fuming, to go call Mirai and Masaki-san, I wobble and open the door.

At this rate, Father will also be scolded considerably.

Later, there was a report that a letter from Grandmother with a lecture written with a brush extending to 10 manuscript pages arrived at Father’s place.

I think it would be good to decorate the household Shinto altar with it?

Now, speaking of what Mirai and Masaki-san were doing while I was being scolded—

“Look, I can juggle up to 4 now.”

Mirai was playing beanbags (otedama) with the old ladies.

“Oh my, you’re skilled.”

“It’s like a circus.”

Mirai skillfully juggling four beanbags. The child of energy who is good at sumo and sword fighting (chanbara) is unexpectedly good at girls’ games too. And as for the child of purity Masaki-san, she was peerless in arm wrestling against the old men.

“Damn it—! Lost again!”

“Next is me! I’ve been training with dumbbells every day so I won’t lose today!”

“Yees. Tanaka-no-Ojiichan, I heard that before.”

Both are showing their true selves that they don’t show at school and seem to be having fun.

“Mirai, Masaki-san. Grandma is calling.”

“Haaai! I’m practicing to juggle 5 now so wait, okay.”

“Then, please train more by the next time I come, okay.”

When I went to call them, the gazes of the residents gathered in the common floor poured onto me.

“Oh my, is he Mirai-chan’s good person (partner)?”

“Isn’t he a handsome man. They look good together.”

“Kuuuuuh! To be sandwiched between Mirai-chan and Nadeshiko-chan! Who is that man!?”

“Is he the bon (son/grandson) of the Asou teacher’s place. Hmm… about the same as my grandson.”

Someone like Sato-kun spawned here too. Before getting entangled with the troublesome-looking old men, I just bowed lightly and fled to Grandmother’s room.

“Grandma-sensei. Shall I make tea?”

“No, Mirai-san. I will do it today.”

Making us sit at the table, Grandmother pours tea for the number of people with an electric kettle and teapot with a practiced manner. The tea snack is the onsen manju Mirai brought.

The tea, intentionally served lukewarm, settles nicely in the throat. The compatibility with the bun is also good, and I felt my heart soften in relief.

Mirai, Masaki-san, and I narrow our eyes like capybaras in unison.

“Come to think of it, what is Mirai’s business?”

When I felt relieved and broached the subject, Mirai seemed to remember the original purpose too.

“Ah, actually. I came to ask you to let Nako and me live at Grandma-sensei’s house during the holidays.”

Ha? What’s that, I haven’t heard of it.