Chapter 11 – A Hug in the Middle of the Street

If Souichi is the ace of the ping-pong club, then I’m the ace of the go-home club.

A club like that doesn’t actually exist, and yet it’s universally recognized that students with no club affiliation are in the “go-home club.”

I’d like to meet the founder who came up with that name.

Though it’s unofficial, I’m currently engaged in go-home club activities. In other words, I’ve left the school gate and am heading for the bus stop.

There’s a saying that when you’re absorbed in club activities, you can forget your troubles, and for a moment, I could actually forget the irritation from the third conference room.

“Aki-kun, I was waiting for you.”

Nee-san was at the bus stop.

I was about thirty minutes later than usual, so I’d figured she’d have gone home long ago… It seems I underestimated my sister.

Five other male students from our Seimei High School were at the bus stop, glancing over at Nee-san while fiddling with their phones.

You can’t blame a guy for being captivated by a beautiful girl.

“You’re late today. What were you doing?”

“I was just talking with my homeroom teacher. She wouldn’t let me leave.”

“Oh, right, Matsumaru-sensei…”

I have a bad feeling about this.

“I wonder what you two were doing for twenty-seven minutes and fourteen seconds?”

“That time includes walking here, so to be precise—”

“Nope. I calculated that it takes you three minutes and twenty-three seconds to walk from school to the bus stop at your pace, so I subtracted that to get the exact value.”

My sister is smart.

Come to think of it, Nee-san’s a brilliant student in the second-year science track, one of the top five in her grade.

“I was just talking about English with Matsumaru-sensei, that’s all.”

“Aki-kun, do you really think your Onee-chan can’t see through her little brother’s lies?”

I do not.

“You’re lying about the English thing. You were talking about something lewd, weren’t you?”

“It’s not like I wanted to…”

Nee-san gently pulled me into a hug.

To have this happen in the middle of the street… It’s embarrassing, including the fact that I couldn’t resist the soft sensation.

The guys nearby are staring at me with envious eyes.

I’m her little brother, so give me a break.

Nee-san stroked my head over and over, pressing her ample chest against me.

“That must have been rough. This is sexual harassment from a teacher, isn’t it? Your Onee-chan will file a complaint for you.”

I can’t deny that it was sexual harassment.

“It’s fine, for now. Just calm down.”

“Don’t worry, I am calm. You’re the one who isn’t, Aki-kun. Your heart’s pounding because your Onee-chan is hugging you, isn’t it?”

“Could you let go soon?”

“Aki-kun, you’re just playing hard to get.”

Nee-san still wouldn’t let her little brother go.

It seems that because of this restraint, she hasn’t noticed we’ve missed a bus.

As I was held in her arms, my resistance futile—

“Akira-kun?”

“H-Hayasaka-san—!”

I want to fall into an eternal slumber.

For Hayasaka-san to see me like this… disillusionment doesn’t even begin to cover it.

I forcefully broke free from Nee-san’s arms and faced Hayasaka-san.

Hayasaka-san is about the same height as me.

Considering I’m 167 centimeters, she must be at least 165 centimeters tall.

“You’re late today. You’re usually… home before anyone else.”

That’s a given, since I take pride in being in the go-home club.

That said, the fact that she’s not mentioning the hug at all is what makes this so awkward.

“What about you, Hayasaka-san? Why are you here so late?”

“I wonder. Maybe because I wanted to talk to you, Akira-kun?”

Hayasaka-san tilted her head, pressing her index finger to her lips.

Even if you ask me with such a cute face, I have no answer.

And if I said that out loud, there’s no way Nee-san would stay quiet.

“Aki-kun has to keep his beloved Onee-chan company, so please don’t talk to him anymore.”

“No, feel free to talk to me whenever you want.”

“Aki-kun!?”

“Don’t worry about Nee-san.”

Hayasaka-san smiled.

I feel like she’s thinking, “That’s some sister you’ve got, huh?”

“By the way, Akira-kun, I still haven’t heard your answer to my question.”

“Answer to my question?”

“The one from yesterday, about ‘virginity’.”

Nee-san froze.

She grabbed my arm and pulled it forcefully against her chest.

My arm was sandwiched between two soft mounds.

“Aki-kun? You were talking about something like that with this girl, who seems kinda flirty?”

“No, that’s not it—”

“Is ‘virginity’ a dirty word?”

Could Hayasaka-san actually be that innocent? It doesn’t feel like an act, so there’s a real chance she might genuinely not know the word.

“Ah, the bus is here. Hayasaka-san, see you tomorrow.”

The bus came at the perfect time.

Between the school bell and now the bus, my timing has been perfect.

“I’m on the same bus.”

Right.

Okay, so the timing is less than perfect.

We cut the conversation short and boarded the bus.

It wasn’t rush hour, so there were plenty of open seats.

But I have my own rule when it comes to seating.

If it’s free, I sit in the single seat at the very front. If it’s taken, I’ve decided to stand rather than sit anywhere else.

“Aki-kun, let’s sit together.”

“You know I never sit in the two-person seats. Sorry.”

I won’t compromise on that.

More forcefully than usual, I sat down in the single seat.

“Akira-kun, what is ‘virginity’?”

Now it’s Hayasaka-san.

She’s asking on the bus, too?

Even though there are plenty of other seats, she’s sitting in the two-person seat right behind me. And, reluctantly, Nee-san sits down next to her.

“I don’t want to say it myself, so ask Nee-san.”

“Onee-san, what is ‘virginity’?”

“Onee-san? I’m Aki-kun’s Onee-chan, not yours!”

“Umm…”

“Karin! You can call me Karin-sama.”

“Karin-sama.”

“Hmph, that might not be so bad.”

It’s a relief that they seem to be getting along.

I wish they’d just hit it off and forget all about me.