A Young Male Hairdresser, Assigned To help Out At The Branch, Finds Himself Bothered By The Playful Antics Of A Lively High School Gal Model Who Seeks Attention. - Chapter 28: Coincidence and rivalry.

Coincidence and rivalry.

“Taxi is taking forever to come…”

Shuuto, who carried the sleeping Nonoka on his back with gentle snores in the background, was having trouble finding a taxi just when he needed it. The situation seemed to be testing his luck.

“If only I had called a taxi in advance… Today is just full of regrets.”

Despite regretting his miscalculation, it was already too late. Even if he were to call now, it would take around 15 minutes. While ordering one would provide certainty, the chances of finding a taxi within 15 minutes were higher.

“Well, let’s at least change our location… We’re attracting too much attention here.”

Despite the circumstances, having an adult male piggyback an adult female was drawing stares. Though it was late at night, the lack of pedestrians didn’t prevent the onlookers from focusing their attention.

To change the situation and with the intention of finding a taxi, Shuuto decided to walk while carrying Nonoka on his back. Unexpectedly, something happened.

“—I told you I would be late today. I did inform you, right? Me.”

A girl with a batched marine cap, a black mask, a white hoodie paired with a beige skirt, and sneakers with a shoulder bag walked towards them, talking on the phone.

“Yeah, yeah. I told you I was going to karaoke. Now? I’m heading back. I can’t sing alone for hours.”

Seeing the girl talking on the phone with her clear and beautiful voice, Shuuto turned his face to hide it. He recognized the girl from the voice and the phone call.

“Yeah, yeah. Ice cream on the way home? Häagen-Dazs is too luxurious… Okay, I got it. So, I’ll stop by the convenience store. Alright then, see you.”

The phone call ended just before they passed each other.

“Phew, it’s over. The call..”

Putting her phone back into her pocket, the girl abruptly stopped in front of Shuuto.

“So, what’s Onii-san doing in a place like this? I’m kind of surprised too, you know? It’s such a coincidence; we bump into each other, and it looks like I’ve stumbled upon a kidnapping scene.”

“Uh, excuse me… Is there any chance you might have misunderstood something?”

“Huh? Pretending not to know? Are you seriously kidnapping someone? I’ll report you to the police, you know?”

“Sorry…”

With no other option, Shuuto faced her and revealed his identity. It was none other than Rikka, a model with characteristic pink-streaked black hair, with whom he exchanged messages at least once a day.

“By the way, why are you in a place like this, Rikka-san?”

“I went to the gym, then karaoke, and now on my way back. I was just bored, as usual.”

“I see.”

“Well, it’s my turn next time. I have lots of things I want to ask…”

With narrowed red eyes, Rikka shifted her gaze to Nonoka, who was being carried piggyback.

“…Well, for now, how about I search with you? A taxi. It can be lonely or embarrassing to be alone, right? In that condition.”

“Is that okay?”

“It makes it easier for me to talk to you as well. Well, being seen as a guy carrying a woman and a high school girl walking next to him might attract attention like ‘Who are those people?’ But…”

“Th-that’s true. But I appreciate it. It won’t feel as lonely.”

Taking Rikka’s considerate words at face value, the tone of voice suddenly changes, and there is a touch on the shoulder.

“So, what’s the matter? That lady. She’s really beautiful. And she has big breasts too.”

“Hey…”

“Did it happen because of alcohol?”

“Y-yes…”

“Don’t tell me you forced her to drink or something? Were you trying to take her to a hotel or something like that, Onii-san?”

Making a mischievous suggestion. Despite the cold gaze, there’s no denying that it might be perceived that way.

‘I wonder if someone misunderstood?’ Trying to shake off that thought for a moment.

“You know, there’s a saying about not eating the food that’s been served to you.”

“N-no, it’s not like that. I’m actually planning to escort her home from here. She seems a bit too out of it to go back alone.”

“Well, that’s okay then.”

A bit of a pout and a sharp response came back at me.

“But still, you’re quite something, Onii-san. Drinking with such a beautiful lady. There must be guys who fall for just her sleeping face, definitely.”

“A-ahahaha…”

What Rikka is saying might not be entirely wrong. All I can do is smile wryly at that.

“By the way, drinking buddies? Or someone you met at a social gathering… or something?”

“Well, she’s someone I’ve talked to before. She’s a beautician at Charlotte, and she’s Rikka-san’s older sister’s stylist, Nonoka-san.”

“Eh!? S-so, this beautiful lady praises Onii-san a lot!?”

“W-well… she might have a good impression of me. Especially after today’s celebration.”

Come to think of it, she did mention that… As I recall, my body starts to feel a bit warm.

With alcohol involved, I feel even more embarrassed than usual.

“So, basically, Onee-san, celebrating,  got drunk and fell asleep?”

“T-that’s about it. Even though she’s not good with alcohol, she said, ‘You probably haven’t had enough to drink,’ and kept me company. Her kindness kind of backfired.”

“I feel like you would have stopped her properly, but did it feel like you forced her to drink?”

“N-no, I didn’t know she couldn’t handle alcohol… And, um, I didn’t know that she gets sleepy when she drinks.”

I didn’t ask the important questions upfront. Saying it out loud makes me feel even more embarrassed.

“W-were you two drinking together by any chance?”

“Yeah, at a nearby izakaya.”

“Hmm…”

For some reason, I’m slapped on the shoulder with an annoyed expression. But it’s just like Rikka.

She adjusted her actions kindly to avoid waking Nonoka up.

“W-why did you hit my shoulder?”

“…Because it felt like cheating. I still can’t drink alcohol.”

“Even if you can drink alcohol, it’s not necessarily a good thing, you know? There are more things to be careful about.”

“The worst part is sneaking out with Onii-san alone, even though you work in the same place…”

“E-even if you say that. We already made plans to hang out together on our next day off, right?”

“I just feel like I lost someone who would pay attention to me.”

With a resentful expression, Rikka looks at Shuuto, then shifts her gaze to Nonoka, who is making an innocent sleeping face, sending hostility towards her.

“Well, I complained a lot, but I’m glad I got to see you today.”

“Because we could meet face to face?”

“That too, but I also realized I can rely on you more. Next time we hang out, I’ll be even more dependent on you.”

She smirks and lifts the corners of her mouth, then adds a veiled threat, “Get ready, okay?”

“Well, I’m not going to give you a piggyback ride, right? It might affect the modeling job you decided to work hard on.”

“I’m not asking for a piggyback ride… It’s embarrassing.”

A whispered true feeling.

“As expected of Miss Innocent.”

“I’m not innocent!!”

“Haha, but I’m looking forward to hanging out with you, Rikka-san. I sent you an  message saying that I wanted to take a break.”

“If you’re lying, I’ll be mad, you know?”

“I’m serious, so it’s okay.”

“Hmm. Well, I’ll let it slide then.”

Rikka’s tone lightens. Looking at her profile, she seems genuinely happy. Grinning.

Seeing her like that fills me with joy, and I involuntarily let out a small “Ah.”

“Taxi spotted!”

“Oh, you’re right.”

It’s slowly approaching us. Rikka steps closer to the curb and raises her hand.

“Well, for now, let’s say goodbye here.”

“But Rikka-san…”

“I couldn’t possibly accept your invitation, right? If this beautiful Onee-san wakes up, she’d be confused, right? Definitely. She’d be like, ‘Who’s this girl?'”

“Y-yeah, but… as an adult, this doesn’t sit well with me.”

Leaving a Rikka alone at this late hour, it just feels awkward.

“You don’t need to worry about that. Originally, I was planning to walk home for exercise and relaxation purposes.”

“R-really? I feel kinda bad about it.”

“If you let me take the lead in planning our next hangout, Rikka-chan will be thrilled, you know?”

While making such a request, the taxi arrived.

“Hahaha, understood. Well then, be careful on your way back. Let me know once you safely reach home, okay?”

“Y-yes. But you’re being overly protective. Come on, get in the taxi quickly.”

“Y-yeah.”

Encouraging her to avoid causing any inconvenience, Rikka sees off the taxi until it departs.

And so, alone now, Rikka adjusts her hat, takes a deep breath, and sighs heavily.

“Haah. Nonoka-san… She’s too beautiful.”

An honest evaluation without flattery.

“Darn it… She looks so happy sleeping… Well, I’m going to rely on him a lot from now on.”

With a burning sense of rivalry, she decides to show even more dependence.