I Want to Know Everything About Love

About six months ago.

This is the story just before Ootsuki-kun transfers to the high school where Yuki-chan and the others attend.

【This is from Ootsuki-kun’s perspective.】

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――UOON E01 Branch Office Administrative Building, Fifth Office

I came to hear the explanation about the next mission from the staff.

The more I hear about it, the more my stomach hurts.

“──So, the next mission is to bring two girls to UOON. Please take care of it.”

“…Understood. Well then, I will take my leave.”

I step into the hallway and gently close the door.

Haa…

The next one seems incredibly difficult. I’m feeling down.

I have taken on every mission that has come my way so far.

In the flow of things, I agreed without thinking, but I’m already starting to regret it, wishing I had refused this time.

I don’t have parents.

My parents were staff members at UOON, so through their connections, I was taken in by my uncle who is a professor at this organization.

So, it’s not an exaggeration to say that UOON is my entire world.

UOON covers all the expenses related to food, clothing, and housing, and if I ask, they even give me an allowance. They never hesitate to spend money.

I feel like I’ve been indebted to others, so I want to be as helpful as possible to repay them.

I’ve completed quite a few missions I wasn’t really keen on, but this time it’s a top-class weird, and unpleasant mission.

Everyone around me is an adult, handling much more difficult tasks than mine. Compared to that, my mission is probably quite simple.

However, I know that I am not such an outstanding person.

Transferring to a school I don’t know?

Send a love letter to a girl I don’t know.

Confess my feelings??

That kind of mission is impossible, obviously.

In the first place, can that even be called a mission? It’s absurd.

I’ve never even had a girlfriend, so there’s no way I could confess my feelings.

Moreover, a one-year mission period is way too long. This is just crazy.

What the hell is this mission?

When my heart feels restless, I just drink some tea.

Today, I can’t go on unless I bring out my special tea leaves.

…

I decided while taking a break. This time, I’ll pass on the mission.

Even if I think about it calmly, there’s no way it can work.

It’s not mandatory or anything, and I think people will just be a bit disappointed.

The problem is how to decline.

After all, it would be rude not to speak directly.

Compared to the next mission, turning down this one is a piece of cake.

…No, it’s more like after lunch.

Even though I feel uncomfortable doing anything, I was able to get time to consult tomorrow right away.

■■■■■

At the exact scheduled time, I arrived at the same office as yesterday.

I knocked on the door and I timidly entered the room.

“Hey, Ootsuki-kun. Long time no see. I heard you wanted to talk about something?”

A voice like an elementary school girl. I can tell who it is in an instant.

The person sitting in the expensive-looking black leather chair is not the usual staff member.

It’s the branch manager, Eva Sukoa.

I think she is older than me, but she is only as tall as an elementary school student in the middle grades. Even now, it looks less like she is sitting on the chair and more like she is perched on top of it.

Since she has maintained the exact same appearance since the first time we met, some kind of observation fission’s power must be at work.

Even though she must always be busy, she always seems relaxed and happy. Since she is not someone I can just meet whenever I want, the last time we met was about three months ago, I think.

Anyway.

By the time she showed up, my intuition sensor had already detected a feeling that I wouldn’t be able to refuse.

But I’ll say it. When I say something, I mean it.

“It’s been a while, Branch Manager Eva. I’ll get straight to the point. Please allow me to decline the next mission. Thank you.”

She twirls her hair, which reaches her waist, with her index finger while making a troubled expression.

“Eh? What a waste. I thought this mission would be perfect for you, Taiyou-kun… Even though this branch has been gradually increasing the number of students lately, we’re still short on staff. Do you understand what I’m trying to say?”

“I think I understand. However, it’s also important to say that something is impossible when it truly is.”

“This was a personal mission for you. Have I ever asked you to do something you couldn’t handle yourself?”

“…No, there isn’t.”

Although her tone is slightly relaxed, there is an unwavering core in those words. I know there’s no way I can win against the branch manager with just words, but even so, I have no intention of backing down now that I’ve come this far.

“When you complete the task I’ve assigned, everyone will be happy. There will be nothing like what happened to your parents as long as I have breath in my body. Or what, you don’t trust me?”

“That’s not it. I can’t trust myself. I can’t meet the branch manager’s expectations…”

“I see! So, Ootsuki-kun doesn’t want to refuse the mission. In other words, you want some motivation!”

──No! Branch Manager Eva!!!

I just want to decline, and I don’t need any motivation right now…

“Well then, for Ootsuki-kun, I’ll tell you something special. A good thing.”

“That’s not right…”

“The type of girl you like, Ootsuki-kun, is someone who’s smart, keeps you entertained with unpredictable actions, and is a bit naughty on the side, right? If you take on the mission, you could get close to a girl like that! Who knows, you might even end up dating!”

Wait a moment.

I missed the chance to decline, and there’s too much information.

First, it was discovered that the personality of the girl I like had been leaked from somewhere. I can’t deny it because it’s spot on.

They are probably gathering information about me using their subordinate observation units.

This is the worst.

“Oh! Sorry. I know you don’t want to date girls with ulterior motives. But boys are just like that, you know? I know.”

With an innocent smile, what are you saying?

I wonder how old this person really is.

“But you want a girlfriend, right? I know. Personally, I thought it would be great if you ended up with Kokonotsu-san, but it seems like that’s not your fate right now. That girl really has no luck with men, I’m worried about her future.”

When I don’t know what to say, it’s best to stay silent. Silence is golden.

“So, Ootsuki-kun. Are you feeling motivated?”

“No…”

“Why can’t you get that motivated? State your reason for not wanting to do it in five seconds. Five, four, three──”

Why didn’t I want to do it again?

I can’t think of the right words on the spot, but staying silent is not good.

As a result of trying to resist even a little, I ended up saying words I never intended to.

“──Two, one.”

“Ah, advice! Please give me advice!”

──It’s over…

At this rate, it’s as if I have already accepted the mission.

When I expressed my disappointment in not being able to refuse, the branch manager Eva started saying incomprehensible things with a big smile.

“Advice is my specialty, so of course, I’m happy to help. Hmm… how about having someone else send a love letter to that girl, and then you send one on the same day? It’s quick and it doubles your chances, so you can send two love letters at once. Oh, and let’s put a thousand yen in the love letter to win some favor. Hahaha!! This is getting interesting!”

“Are you just saying that casually?”

“Don’t tell me. You said that if I believe in you, everyone will be happy, right――”

“──It’s okay. Trust me and my observation fission.”

――!!

“Yes. Understood…”

At this point, there’s nothing more to be done with such a definitive statement.

Thus, the mission refusal operation ended in complete failure.

…

“Well then, I’ll take my leave now.”

“Wait a moment. There was one last thing. If you don’t take off your shoes in front of her, she might not open her eyes.”

Ah, geez. I really don’t understand this at all!!

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