My Mental Choices Are Completely Interfering with My School Romantic Comedy - Volume 3 Chapter 3.2:

Volume 3 Chapter 3.2:

Lunchtime.

“Amakusa-kun, do you have a moment?”

A second-year girl from the student council had come to see me. She was the same one who had delivered the order form for the previous competition—not particularly eccentric, just an ordinary person, which made her easy to talk to.

“…What’s up?”

That being said, her personality had nothing to do with the student council’s (or rather, the president’s) schemes. I instinctively took a small step back, wary of yet another bizarre event they might be roping me into.

Noticing my caution, she gave a wry smile.

“Now that’s too much, this time it’s normal good news.”

“Good news?”

“Yep!” She nodded, then pulled a sealed envelope from her pocket.

“Here you go.”

She handed it over.

“What’s this?”

“You guys from the ‘Reject Five’ won the competition the other day, right? This is your prize.”

A prize? They never mentioned anything about that beforehand.

Feeling a bit skeptical, I opened the envelope.

“This is… a ticket?”

In the center, bold letters read: “Aqua Galaxy.”

That was the name of the massive water park that had opened last year. From the text, it looked like a full-day free pass.

“Ooooh! Does this mean I get one too?”

Yuuouji popped her head over my shoulder with an eager grin.

“Of course! There are five tickets—one for you, one for Hakoniwa-san who helped out, one for Chocolat since she participated as a substitute, and two more.”

“Oh! That means I can go too?”

Chocolat’s fluffy tail wagged excitedly.

“Hey, Amacchi, this place is huge. It’s more like an amusement park where you wear swimsuits than just a regular pool!”

Yuuouji’s eyes sparkled as she spoke. Now that she mentioned it, the place had been all over the news when it first opened.

“Well then, enjoy yourselves!”

With a small wave, the student council girl left.

“Mufufu… My instincts for fun are tingling!”

“This sounds exciting!”

Yuuouji and Chocolat both reacted with pure joy.

“Ara? What’s got you two so worked up?”

Yukihira had apparently noticed their excitement and approached. I gave her a quick rundown of the situation.

“A pool, huh…?”

But the moment she heard the location, Yukihira’s expression clouded ever so slightly.

“What’s wrong?”

“…It’s nothing.”

Her response felt a bit too curt. Sure, she wasn’t the type to get hyped up over things, but something about her reaction seemed… off.

“Sensei, sensei! Do bananas count as snacks?”

Meanwhile, Yuuouji struck a dramatic pose, hand raised high, like a grade-schooler asking an important question.

“You seriously planning on bringing bananas to a pool? Wait, hold on…”

Just as I sighed at her antics, my phone suddenly vibrated.

Checking the sender, I saw the name that had become all too familiar.

‘God.’

Another mission.

Well, I figured it was about time for another one, so I wasn’t exactly surprised that a mission had arrived. The problem was what it said.

Hoping it was something simple this time, I opened the message.

[On June 9th (Sunday), at Aqua Galaxy, take a photo of Ouka Yuuouji’s crying face.]

…Yuuouji? Crying?

Does that even happen?

***

Lunchtime, the next day.

“O-Onii-chan and I at the pool doing ○○○?! Of course I’m going!”

“…Yeah, let’s pretend this conversation never happened.”

“Wah, w-wait, it was just a joke! I’ll settle for ●●● instead!”

“THAT’S EVEN WORSE!”

This girl, blurting out banned words at full blast without a care in the world, is none other than Hakoniwa Yuragi. My childhood friend and self-proclaimed little sister.

Well, not just my little sister—she outright claims to be the little sister of all mankind. She treats people as siblings regardless of age or gender, making her… well, a bit—no, extremely—twisted in the head.

To put it simply, she’s from the same species as Yukihira and Yuuouji. In other words, there’s absolutely no need to take her seriously. I should just hand over the ticket and get the hell out of—

[Choose:

① “Haa… Haa… Y-Yuragi, lick your onii-chan’s feet.”

② Become real siblings with Yuragi.

③ “Just being ‘onii-chan’ isn’t enough anymore. Call me something different.”]

…A three-way choice this time.

There’s way too much to unpack here, but let’s analyze them one by one.

First, ①. It’s just a line of dialogue, so there’s no actual force making it happen. I could just say it and be done with it… but knowing Yuragi, she might actually do it. Nope. Too risky.

② is out of the question before I even think about it. Unlike the first option, this one isn’t just a line. If I pick it, reality will definitely warp to make it true.

If Yuragi and I become real siblings, the world will probably rewrite itself so that we live in the same house… Just imagining it sends chills down my spine.

…Wait. Maybe I should change my perspective. If she really became my biological sister, maybe she’d stop clinging to me so much—

No, no way. It’s Yuragi we’re talking about. She’d just go, “Love is all that matters, right~?” and keep doing whatever the hell she wants.

Besides, changing someone else’s fate isn’t something I can just do lightly.

Which means… ③ is the only option left.

…Though this one reeks of danger too. But I have no choice.

“Just being ‘onii-chan’ isn’t enough anymore. Call me something different.”

For a moment, Yuragi blinked in confusion. Then, her face lit up like a Christmas tree.

“O-Onii-chan finally dere’d!” (T/N: He finally went all over her(like a simp))

…Crap. If I don’t do something, this is gonna turn into a huge hassle.

“No, I did not dere. I just worded it badly. Look, let’s ditch the whole ‘onii-chan’ thing—”

“Aniki! Onii-sama! Onii-tan! Onii-chin! Onii-ni-maro… Ahh, which one should I pick?!”

…She’s not listening at all.

“Oh! I just remembered! Now is the perfect time to reveal that!”

As if struck by inspiration, Yuragi clapped her hands together. Before I could even react, she was already talking.

“Actually, I’ve been thinking about this system for a while now. It’s like a ‘shusseuo-niichan’—where your title as ‘Onii-chan’ evolves throughout life, just like a shusseuo fish!”

…That sounds awful.

Well, not like she’d stop even if I told her to. I’ll just let her say her piece.

“First, when you’re born, you’re ‘Akachan Onii-chan’!” (T/N: Baby Onii-chan.)

I already don’t understand.

“Then, when your younger sibling is born, you become ‘Onii-chan x Onii-chan’!”

“That just makes it sound like some weird self-pairing!”

“After that, you take your first steps as a child actor, landing the lead role in the musical ‘Onii’!”

“Don’t say it like it’s Annie!”

“However, your acting career crashes after that one success. With your path as an actor cut off, you fall into despair, lose all motivation to attend school, and begin walking the path of the Oni-neet!”

“That is the most forcefully made-up term I’ve ever heard!”

“Years later, exhausted by life, you find yourself wandering through Shinjuku Ni-chome. There, a mysterious figure places a hand on your shoulder and sets you on a new path… as ‘Onee Onii-chan’!”

“This is getting way too complicated!”

“Several years after that, after many twists and turns, you return to normal, marry an ordinary woman, and—since you were adopted into her family—you take on a new last name, becoming the confusingly named ‘Anegasaki Ani’!”

“Why am I suddenly marrying Ne○e-san?! I mean, I wouldn’t mind, but still! And my first name isn’t even Ani!”

“A few years later, you try to name your firstborn child ‘Imouto Suki Haa Haa,’ but the government promptly rejects it.” (T/N: I love my little sister with some heavy breaths.)

“That’s not just a flashy name—it’s a whole crime!”

“At age forty, your long-dormant passion reignites. You audition for ‘Onii’ once more… only to fail spectacularly.”

“Of course you did! How did they even let you audition?!”

“Finally, your first grandchild is born, and you become… ‘Jijinii-chan’!” (T/N: Grandpa Onii-chan.)

“Why are you saying it like ‘Chichii-nii-chan’?!” (T/N: Daddy Onii-chan.)

“And when you die, your name will be immortalized as… ‘Onii-son’!”

“You’re gonna get smited!”

…What even was that? That was nothing but a minefield of things to call out. But at least she got it all off her chest.

“So, satisfied now?”

As I stood there, completely drained, Yuragi pouted at me.

“Buu, you’re no fun. You’re the one who told me to change how I call you!”

“Yeah, but I meant for you stop calling me Onii-chan.”

“Then what should I call you?”

“I dunno. I’m a year older than you, so wouldn’t something normal like Amakusa-senpai work?”

“Ehh, that sounds so unwholesome.”

“How is that unwholesome?! If anything, calling me Onii-chan when we’re not even related is way more questionable! Just try it once.”

When I urged her, Yuragi reluctantly muttered in a low voice—

“…Amakusa-senpai.”

“…!”

For a moment, my whole body froze.

Whoa… This might actually be kinda nice. No, it’s not about Yuragi or anything—it’s just that being called senpai by a cute (visually) underclassman is every guy’s dream.

“See? Yuragi, you can do it. From now on, just keep calling me—”

“Uweeeeehhh!”

“Wha—?! What happened?!”

Yuragi suddenly clutched her chest and started dry heaving.

She didn’t actually throw up, but her strength drained from her body, and she collapsed onto all fours on the ground.

“A-Are you okay?”

I hurriedly rubbed her back. Her face had turned deathly pale, and she was breaking out in a cold sweat. What the hell just happened to her?

“Ugh… No, it’s just… If I don’t use ‘Onii-chan’ or ‘Onee-chan’ when addressing someone, the sheer disgust overwhelms me, and I feel like throwing up…”

“HOW BAD IS IT?!”

I couldn’t deal with her anymore, so I just shoved the ticket into her hands and headed back up to the second floor. Seriously, why do I have to be this exhausted just from inviting someone to the pool?

…Now that I think about it, why a pool in the first place? I never heard anything about extra prizes being given out before the competition. It’s weird that they suddenly introduced it out of nowhere.

“Geez, what is that president even thinking—”

“Oh my, did you call for me~?”

“UWAAAH!”

A voice suddenly came from behind me, and I nearly fell on my ass.

“K-Kaichou…”

Standing there with an elegant smile was none other than Seira Kokubyakuin, the student council president and the undisputed number-one girl in the official rankings—the pride of Seikou Academy.

“W-When did you get behind me…?”

There hadn’t been the slightest hint of anyone’s presence before this. It was as if she had simply materialized out of thin air.

“Well, I just had a feeling that Amakusa-san was calling for me~”

“…That’s not an answer at all. And I wasn’t calling you.”

“Ara ara, how cold~”

No, that’s because you’re way too shady.

Pretending to have some fake affection, making cryptic remarks about the ‘curse,’ never revealing her true intentions… I had no idea what she was after.

“Kaichou, what’s the deal with these pool tickets?”

I shot her a slightly accusatory glance.

“Ara~ You didn’t like them?”

She responded with a carefree smile, completely unfazed.

“I just thought it might cheer up poor Amakusa-san, whose life is… less than ideal~”

“…Could you not just casually declare my life ‘less than ideal’?”

“But really, if it were me, I’d never survive introducing myself completely naked on the first day of school~”

“I DIDN’T GO THAT FAR!”

“Then how far did you go~?”

“Well, by process of elimination, I ended up introducing myself with my ass half-out—wait, MY LIFE REALLY DOES SUCK!?”

…Honestly, I’m amazed I didn’t just drop out after that. Good job, past me.

“Anyway, back on topic. What exactly are you planning by sending me to the pool?”

“Your happiness, of course~”

“…That’s a lie, isn’t it?”

“It’s a lie~”

…Yeah, she wasn’t going to tell me anything.

“Fine, new question. Yesterday, Chocolat was acting weird. Do you know anything about that?”

“Ara~ So she’s usually normal?”

Her response was somehow… off.

“No… She’s always weird.”

“Then isn’t she just acting as usual~?”

…Yeah, she definitely wasn’t going to tell me anything.

After that, I tried asking some pretty direct questions, like “Are you the god sending me these choices?” and “Why do the choices disappear when I kiss someone?” But, as expected, she dodged every single one with elegance.

Trying to get any meaningful information out of this woman was a mistake to begin with. If I wasn’t going to get anything useful, I had no reason to stay here.

“Well then, I’m heading back to class.”

“Ara ara~ I’d love to chat a little longer, but… I do have something to deliver to Yawakaze-san and Reikadou-san. I suppose I’ll leave it at that for now~”

Yawakaze and Reikadou… The two who participated in the last competition as part of the official rankings. I don’t know what she’s planning to give them, but I guess that’s why she came all the way down to the second floor.

“Well then, I hope something fun happens at the pool~”

With those parting words, Kaichou strolled away with her usual airy, graceful steps.

“Fun,” huh? Given the people involved, the mission, and everything else… there’s no way that’s—

【Choose:】

① At Aqua Galaxy, become the ultimate riajuu… and then explode.

② At Aqua Galaxy, your thoughts will randomly come out of your mouth.

③ To the galaxy beyond…

…Yeah, I knew it. No chance in hell this ends well.

I dragged my feet back to the classroom, my mood plummeting.

Seriously, what is that lineup? I can’t even begin to predict what the hell happens in ③, and ① is an obvious death flag. I can already picture the scene—me basking in attention from girls, feeling all high and mighty, right before a literal bomb drops.

That leaves only ②, but depending on the situation, that could be a catastrophe…

“Yo, Amacchi! How’d Yuragicchi take it?”

Yuuouji’s voice snapped me back to reality. Right, that’s what I originally went to check.

“Ah… (Unfortunately) she’s coming.”

“Yay! That means we can all play together!”

Chocolat and Yuuouji cheered excitedly, just like yesterday.

“Hey, can I say something? About that pool.”

A calm voice interrupted them—Yukihira.

“What’s up?”

“Sorry, but I’ll be sitting this one out.”

Her tone was oddly firm, more so than usual. Now that I think about it, she was acting kind of strange yesterday, too.

“Sitting out? Do you have something else planned that day?”

That would be a huge problem. The mission is scheduled for Sunday—no matter what, I have to be at the pool then.

“Unfortunately, it’s not a matter of plans or anything like that. Just… count me out this time.”

“? I don’t really get it, but… is there some reason you can’t go to the pool or something—”

“Because… I can’t swim.”

“…Hah?”

Yukihira muttered something under her breath, but it was too quiet to make out.

“…And if I stand next to Chocolat-chan and Ouka-chan in a swimsuit… my small chest will stand out even more…”

“Huh? What was that?”

Her voice was barely above a whisper—I couldn’t catch a single word.

“…Nothing.”

I didn’t really get it, but if she didn’t want to talk about it, pressing her for answers probably wasn’t the best idea. She seemed pretty reluctant to say anything, after all. Well, at least it wasn’t a scheduling issue—so that was a relief for me.

“I see… In that case, it’d be a waste. Maybe we should invite someone else instead.”

“…You could at least try a little harder to convince me…”

…Still couldn’t hear her.

Honestly, this wasn’t the first time Yukihira’s done this—mumbling to herself in such a tiny voice. Maybe it’s just a habit of hers.

“Hey, Yukihira, mind saying that a little louder?”

“…I said, it’s nothing.”

She repeated the same phrase, then fell silent, looking down. No way that’s actually “nothing,” but…

As I debated what to do, Yukihira suddenly lifted her head.

“…Well, since I have it, I might as well take this.”

With a swift motion, she snatched the ticket right from my hand.

“Oh? So you are coming after all?”

“No. I’ll be using it… as food for my beloved goat.”

…Goat? Goat? You have a goat?!

While I was still frozen, struggling to figure out how to react, Yukihira turned on her heel and strolled away.

“…Seriously, I don’t get her at all.”

“Aww, Furanocchi’s not coming? That’s too bad.”

“I think it would be more fun if everyone was there…”

Chocolat and Yuuouji looked genuinely disappointed.

“Well, she did take the ticket. Maybe she’ll change her mind later. Let’s ask her again.”

For now, I set aside the Yukihira situation and shifted focus to more pressing matters—our plan.

“The real issue is how we’re getting there. Normally, we’d just take the train, but…”

Aqua Galaxy was outside the prefecture. From the closest station to our school, we’d have to take multiple transfers—about an hour and a half total. Even though we’d get free admission and rides thanks to the pass, travel costs weren’t covered.

With Chocolat and me both needing round-trip tickets, the expense was far from negligible. Sure, my parents gave me enough for living expenses, but my monthly allowance was another story. And considering I didn’t have a part-time job… yeah, this one was gonna sting.

“Hmm… That’s a bit rough,” Yuuouji murmured.

Despite being the daughter of a major company’s CEO, she only got a reasonable allowance thanks to her parents’ strict policies. Even she looked concerned.

And as for Yuragi, who lived alone in Japan while her parents were overseas… well, I could guess her financial situation wasn’t any better.

“And it’s not like we can bike there…”

As I mulled it over, a voice suddenly spoke up behind me.

“Amakusa, I’ll handle the transportation.”

I turned around—and there she was.

Our one and only homeroom teacher, Utage-sensei. Our loli homeroom teacher.

“…Sensei? What do you mean by ‘handle’?”

“Tch, you’re slow as hell. Obviously, I mean I’ll drive.”

“Wait… Sensei, you’re allowed to drive?”

“…You tryna pick a fight, punk?”

Before I could react, she grabbed me by the collar. Holy crap—scary.

“S-Sorry!”

It was easy to forget, given her incredibly childlike appearance, but she was a full-fledged adult. I mean, she had to be—she was a teacher.

…But even if her age wasn’t the issue, would she actually be able to reach the pedals with that height?

“Oi. You’re thinking something real damn rude right now, aren’t you?”

I waved my hands frantically, still dangling from her grasp.

“N-No, nothing like that…! But, uh, you’d really go out of your way to drive us?”

“You think I’m doing this for you guys? What do I look like, a damn charity worker?”

Utage-sensei finally let go of my collar and pulled something out of her pocket.

It was… a ticket.

The same Aqua Galaxy ticket we got.

“…Where did you get that?”

“Swiped it from the student council.”

“Hah?”

“Think about it. Out of the five winners in that competition, four were from my class. Meaning, in a way, I won.”

No, that’s not how that works.

“So it makes zero sense that you guys get tickets, and I don’t. What’s yours is mine.”

…This is true Giant-ism.

“But hey, I’m just messing with ya. The real reason is, one of the third-years, Yumejima, didn’t want his ticket and declined it. So I just… claimed it.”

…Not sure what part of that sounds “legit,” but okay. And why is she looking so damn smug about it?

Still, considering how that senpai bailed on us mid-match in the worst way possible, the fact that the student council even bothered to prep a ticket for him… wow. They’re way too generous.

“Alright, listen up! Ouka! Doggo! Time to get HYPED!”

“OOH!”

“Ooh desu!” (T/N: Chocolat here.)

“POOL TIME, BABY! LET’S GOOO!”

“LET’S GOOOO!”

“Jōtō desu!”

…Why the hell does this sound like some biker gang rally?