In This World That Favors Men, I... ~Starting a Sweet School Life in a World With a 1:8 Gender Ratio~ - 124

Chapter 124: After the Takopa

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When Saki Tawara returned home from her summer prep school class, for some reason, her younger sister Sanae was waiting at the front door. And she was in a rather strange position.

“Sanae, why are you kneeling like that at the entrance?”

She asked, suspicious of the bizarre scene.

“I’m so, so sorryyyyyyy!!”

Sanae suddenly shouted an apology.

“What’s that about? Are you apologizing to me? And on your knees, no less. I don’t even know what it’s for, but stop it. You’re making me look like some kind of demonic older sister.”

Saki and Sanae didn’t usually have bad blood with each other. Saki, being two years older, was a bit stronger-willed, and at most, they had light arguments now and then. Even those didn’t last long because Sanae always gave in quickly and yet here she was, groveling. Just what had her little sister done? Saki wondered, but seeing her like this, she felt ready to forgive most things.

“I-I thought I should apologize with sincerity first… Anyway, I’m really sorry! I’m really, really sorry!”

Glancing up at her big sister’s expression, Sanae repeated her apology. But she still showed no sign of standing up, remaining in full dogeza position. Her fear was clearly not normal. That was when Saki finally realized. Sanae must have done something truly outrageous, something that hit Saki’s biggest nerve dead-on.

“First, get up. I’m exhausted. I don’t want to stand here listening at the entrance. Let’s go to the living room and I will hear why you’re groveling.”

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“Um, so. To explain in order… After you left this morning, Yui-chan messaged me.”

“Hmm, what did she say?”

“She said they were doing a takoyaki party at home, and asked if I wanted to come over around lunch.”

Saki knew Sanae was good friends with Yui, the prince’s little sister. They often went to school together in the mornings.

A takoyaki party while I was studying? 

She couldn’t help but think that, but there was no point being jealous. After all, they weren’t even in the same grade. Still, she figured she might as well hear the details. That was what she thought at that time. 

“A takoyaki party, huh? Sounds fun. Good for you. You’ve just been lazing around at home during summer break anyway. But since it was at Yui-chan’s house… That means the prince was there too?”

“Y-Yeah. Yui-chan said Takeda-senpai would be there. At first, it was just supposed to be the four of us: Yui-chan, Takeda-senpai, me, and Haruka-chan. That’s what I was told, and I was excited to go. It really, really, really was supposed to be just the four of us.”

Sanae kept stressing that point so insistently that even Saki began to sense something was up.

“So ‘at first’ means there was someone else there when you got there?”

“…Yeah.”

“And that’s why you were doing a dogeza at the entrance?”

“…Yeah.”

“In other words, someone who would set me off was there.”

“…………Yeah.”

Saki had already more or less guessed the answer. She should’ve been able to stay calm and just listen. But the images forming in her mind wouldn’t allow it. The impulse hit her to slam her fist on the table and shout. She couldn’t resist it.

THUD!

“Spill it! Tell me now. What exactly happened at the prince’s house? Who did you see? And what fun little event took place? I want to hear everything, right now!”

“I’m sorryyyyyyyy!!”

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“So, um… When we got to Yui-chan’s house, she said one more person had joined… And that person was… Yuu-…”

“I can’t hear you.”

“Y-Yuuki… -senpai was there.”

“Why? Why was Yuuki-kun there? What was the reason?”

“She said she bumped into him in the park while out shopping.”

Sanae briefly explained the chance encounter Yui had mentioned, making sure to emphasize it was purely by coincidence.

“I see. So he wasn’t invited ahead of time.”

“That’s right! Since it was lunchtime, she invited him, and he decided to join…”

Now that she heard the full story, it was obvious that Sanae hadn’t done anything wrong. What was still bubbling inside Saki was just pure jealousy. She felt that if she didn’t forgive her after all these apologies, she’d be a pretty petty older sister. So she decided it was time to let it go.

“…Well, I guess it can’t be helped. Aww man. Takoyaki, huh. I wanted some. I bet it was super delicious.”

“Wanna eat some? I brought you a souvenir! Yuuki-senpai’s homemade takoyaki.”

“For real? Homemade? Yuuki-kun made it?”

“Yup! He’s really good at making takoyaki. He cooked a ton—more than we could finish. So he gave me two packs to bring home for you.”

“Sanae, well done! I commend you!”

“Hehe. You haven’t had dinner yet, right? If you want some now, I’ll reheat it. How about it?”

“I’m eating it. Of course I’m eating it!”

Before she realized it, she had eaten all 16 pieces—8 per pack—by herself. She was absolutely stuffed.

“Maybe I ate too much, but it was so good. Yuuki-kun’s takoyaki… It was really, really good.”

Takoyaki handmade by the one she loved. Even if it was just leftovers, that special spice of love made it taste all the more exceptional.

“It was just like the ones you buy at food stalls. The way Yuuki-senpai flipped the takoyaki balls was like a pro. His technique was so smooth, I was genuinely amazed.”

“Thanks for the meal. Ugh. I’m so full I might burst.”

“…Actually, I have one more souvenir for you, Onee-chan.”

“What? I can’t eat another bite, you know.”

“It’s not food, so don’t worry. Here.”

With that, Sanae handed over a small card framed in a stylish frame. The card itself was about the size of a business card, with a cute floral border. It looked like any other message card you could find anywhere. But for Saki, the problem was what was written on it.

「To Saki-san

Cheering you on for your exams.

— Ren」

“What is this?”

She couldn’t take her eyes off the card or the words on it.

“A handwritten message for you from Yuuki-senpai.”

A message card from Yuuki, who was famous for never writing replies to letters. SSR—Super Special Rare… No, UR—Ultra Rare. Maybe even LR—Legend Rare. Either way, it was undeniably a super-rare item. For a girl in love, it was an incredibly precious treasure.

“Yuuki-kun gave this to me?”

“Yup. I asked Yuuki-senpai if he’d write a message for my big sister, and he kindly said yes. He said to say hi to you too.”

“Sanae~! I love you so much. You’re amazing! You’re truly the perfect little sister!”

“Hehe. I’m glad you’re happy.”

With the takoyaki and the message card from Yuuki, Saki felt warm inside and out. After her rush of joy settled, she suddenly realized something.

Wait. Isn’t this kinda like cheating?

“Sanae, this message card… This is the only one, right? You didn’t get one for Mika too… Right?”

“Ah! Sorry. I didn’t think that far ahead. It’s just this one.”

She could excuse the takoyaki—it was summer, after all. But the card… She had a feeling word would get out somehow, and it’d be impossible to keep it hidden from her friend, Mika.

“What am I gonna do~? How am I supposed to apologize…”

Now it was Saki’s turn to worry, in stark contrast to Sanae’s now bright and cheerful expression after being forgiven. She clutched the message from Yuuki close to her chest while thinking how she should apologize to Mika.

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While Saki was racking her brain over how to explain things to her friend, Sanae, having just wrapped up a task, was already about to report back to the friend who had given her the idea.

Onee-chan was so happy. I’m really glad I worked up the courage to ask Yuuki-senpai. I was super nervous at the time, though.

“Sanae. I’ve got a good idea so you won’t get grilled by Saki-senpai. Try using this.”

With those words, Haruka held out a message card with a cute, girlish design. It was the kind of card friends used to write small thank-you notes or exchange contact information. Knowing how unexpectedly meticulous Haruka was, it wasn’t strange at all that she had something like this on hand.

“What do I do with this?”

“We ask Yuuki-senpai to write a message. An encouraging note for Saki-senpai, to be precise.”

“Do you think he’ll write one?”

“It’s worth a shot, right? Let’s give it a try. Even if it doesn’t work and Yuuki-senpai finds it annoying, at least Takeda-senpai will see you as someone who really cares about her big sister. So there’s nothing to lose from your side, really.”

“That’s true.”

“Exactly. And if, by some miracle, it works, that’s a huge win for you and your big sister. If we get this, you’ll be able to go home with your head held high.”

“Right… If it means I can go home in peace, then… Yeah, I’ll do it.”

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“Please!”

When she said that and held out the card to Yuuki, her hand was trembling.

For the sake of my place in the family… No. It’s not an exaggeration to say my life is on the line here.

She was desperate to get the handwritten message from Yuuki and maybe her honest feelings got through to him. 

“Sure. If something like ‘Good luck!’ is enough, then sure.”

Yes!

On Haruka’s advice, she bought a frame for the card to make it feel more like a present. That might have helped, too.

《Thanks to Haruka-chan’s idea, everything worked out for the best! Thank you!》

After sending that message to her friend, Sanae’s hectic day finally came to a peaceful close.

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