My Popular-as-Hell Best Friend Is Annoying, So I Want to Get Him a Girlfriend and Shut Him Up

Chapter 133: A Natural Question

“Thank you for coming all this way.”

Uryu spoke gently to everyone stepping off the microbus. Normally, someone might be captivated by Uryu’s charm, but all eyes were on the beautiful girl beside him.

I get it. You can guess from her appearance, but if someone said she was his girlfriend, you’d be floored.

“Let me introduce her first. This is my sister, Tsuyu. She said she wanted to meet everyone today, so I brought her along. If she’s in the way of studying, just let me know.”

“I’m Aoyagi Tsuyu! Thank you for always looking after my Onii-chan!”

With a genuinely delighted smile, Tsuyu gave a slight bow. She might be thrilled that so many of Uryu’s friends gathered here.

But shortly after my calm analysis—

“So cuteeee! Ururun’s sister is insanely cute!”

The first to close the distance with Tsuyu, heedless of personal space even at their first meeting, was Kamishiro Haruka.

“Thank you! But I think you’re much prettier, Kamishiro-san.”

“Huh? Wait, how do you know my name?”

“I was told everyone’s names and traits in advance!”

“Wow, so smart! Hey, Ururun, isn’t your sister just too perfect!?”

Tsuyu received Kamishiro Haruka’s compliments, but I noticed her eyes occasionally glinting as if sizing her up. It’s fine to go full overprotective mode from the start, but that one’s not a target, so you can ignore her.

Still, Kamishiro Haruka’s approach seemed to make it easier for others to chime in.

“Huh, so you know me too?”

“You’re Natori-san, right? Your hair color is really cool!”

“Hi, Tsuyu-chan, how many years apart are you and Uryu-kun?”

“Two years! I’m a third-year middle schooler now!”

“Middle school third year…? Wait, no way, third year?”

“That’s right, is something weird?”

One after another, people started talking to Tsuyu, and in no time, a crowd formed around her, blocking her from view.

I wanted to complain to Tsuyu about the camp, but it can wait. I turned to Uryu.

“Hey, Uryu, introduce the madam over there.”

“But everyone’s still talking to Tsuyu.”

“It’s fine. I want to talk to the madam. If you need to introduce her to everyone, do it twice.”

“Got it. It’d be rude to keep her waiting.”

With that, Uryu gestured to the woman in the kappogi apron standing on the opposite side of Tsuyu.

“This is Toritani-san, who manages and cleans our villa.”

“I’m Toritani. Thank you for coming all this way.”

“No, thank you. I’m Hirose.”

Toritani-san greeted me with a warm smile, her cheeks softening and eyes narrowing. Her friendly vibe felt really comforting.

“Toritani-san will be preparing lunch today and breakfast tomorrow. It’s seriously delicious, so look forward to it.”

“Uryu-san, raising expectations like that puts me in a tough spot.”

“Hey, hold on a sec, Uryu.”

As Toritani-san placed a hand on her cheek in mock distress, I stepped away from her and whispered to Uryu.

“What’s up all of a sudden?”

“Don’t ‘what’s up’ me. Isn’t it obviously unfair to have her prepare two meals?”

I hadn’t thought too deeply about it since I’d stepped back from organizing the study camp, but I assumed we’d cook for ourselves or eat out. It’s a one-night, two-day trip—everyone should understand that food costs are on us. I didn’t plan to burden the Aoyagi family that much.

Or so I thought.

“I get how you feel, but it’s fine. When I brought this up to Toritani-san, she said she wanted to cook for us herself. It’d be rude to turn that down, right?”

When she says something that generous, refusing would indeed be tactless, as Uryu pointed out.

“We only use this villa a few times a year, so Toritani-san wants to show off her skills. It’s a win-win, so don’t overthink it.”

“…I see.”

If that’s the case, I won’t say anything more. I’ll just gratefully accept the hospitality.

“Toritani-san, thank you for the next two days.”

“Thank you as well.”

I bowed politely, and Toritani-san mirrored me. I felt lucky that she’s the one managing the villa. Between her and Makino-san, the Aoyagi family’s talent-scouting skills are impressive.

“Onii-chan, introduce Toritani-san to everyone else too!”

The girls’ conversation seemed to have calmed down, and Tsuyu called out to Uryu. You’re the ones who started chatting and messed up the order, but Uryu didn’t complain and began introducing Toritani-san to Kamishiro Haruka and the others. Damn you, Tsuyu, I wanted to talk to Toritani-san more, and you interrupted.

“Yukiya-san!”

As I thought that, Tsuyu approached me, replacing Toritani-san. She looked happy, probably satisfied with talking to our group.

“Hi! I knew you’d definitely come!”

“You little—getting my dad involved and acting all innocent…!”

“Ehehe, I’m sorry!”

Yeah, right. At least sound a bit more serious. Who apologizes while sticking out their tongue? No matter how cute your antics are, I’m not falling for it.

“By the way, Yukiya-san, I have a question.”

Just as I was about to give her a lecture, Tsuyu’s expression turned serious, and she whispered.

“…Something up?”

Sensing from her tone that it was a serious matter, I quietly urged her to continue. Thinking that trouble was already brewing before the study camp even started felt like a bad omen, but then—

“…Ururun refers to Onii-chan, right? It’s just so far off, I can’t wrap my head around it. Is he really called that at school?”

Tsuyu’s earnest gaze triggered my laughter. What’s this, big brother? Your little sister’s worried about your nickname.

Chapter 134: Tsuyu’s Inspection

“Well, that doesn’t really matter!”

Just when I thought she was frowning seriously, Tsuyu stepped back from me slightly and spread her hands lightly. So it doesn’t matter, huh, Ururun? Even though your big brother’s being called by a weird—er, lovely—nickname, Ururun.

“What do you think of my outfit today!? I put in a bit of extra effort!”

Saying that, Tsuyu spun around to show me the full view. Her dress caught the air, fluttering up and shamelessly revealing her healthy thighs. Yup, she’s not wrong about putting in the effort.

“It suits you insanely well. I thought it might be a bit childish, but it surprisingly matches your innocence, Tsuyu.”

When I gave my honest opinion, Tsuyu’s eyes widened for a moment before she smiled shyly, a bit embarrassed.

“Ehehe, hearing that makes the effort worth it.”

“What, you’re forcing yourself?”

“I just thought the skirt might be a tad short.”

“Really? It’s not much different from your school uniform, is it?”

“The uniform’s fine! It takes courage to wear a skirt this short when it’s my own choice!”

“Is that how it works?”

Sure, a school uniform is mandatory, so you’ve got no choice but to wear it, but they’re usually supposed to be longer. I don’t know if she’s folding it at the waist or what, but it’s odd to say a self-chosen outfit feels different when she’s tweaking the uniform’s length herself.

“Well, if it’s too much, why not change? You’ve got spare clothes, right—”

“What are you talking about!? There’s no way I’d change out of an outfit Yukiya-san praised!”

“R-Right.”

I suggested changing for her sake, but Tsuyu went full sulky anger mode. I just thought positively that if she didn’t like the revealing outfit, she could switch, but it seems that didn’t sit well with Tsuyu-san.

“Jeez, Yukiya-san, you don’t understand a maiden’s heart at all.”

“I’m not trying to. I’m not a girl, so thinking about it’s a waste of time.”

“That’s not what I meant, but fine…”

Tsuyu, exasperated by my words, let out an exaggerated sigh while looking down. It’s hard to know how to respond when she acts so openly dejected, but then she suddenly snapped back, raising her face.

“That was close, I almost forgot because I was so happy about Yukiya-san’s compliment!”

“What are you talking about?”

When I asked, Tsuyu leaned in close again, whispering so only I could hear.

“It’s about Onii-chan’s potential girlfriends. Are all the girls here today candidates?”

“Oh…”

Glancing at the girls talking with Uryu and Toritani-san, Tsuyu asked me with an unexpectedly serious expression.

As far as I know, everyone except Kamishiro Haruka and Ai-chan fits that description. Kamishiro Haruka has a boyfriend, and Ai-chan is probably just here as Rando-dono’s plus-one. That said, I don’t know Ai-chan’s true feelings. If she actually likes Uryu, that’d be a shock. I want Ai-chan to stay the Ai-chan that belongs to just me and Rando-dono.

“Whether they’re girlfriend candidates or not, what’s your first impression?”

“They’re all beautiful, right? I think they’d look good standing next to Onii-chan.”

“So it’s all about whether they look good next to Uryu, huh?”

“Of course! Onii-chan’s so good-looking, he could outshine even an idol!”

Seeing Tsuyu declare this without a hint of shame, I couldn’t help but think her brother complex is in full bloom. The youngest Aoyagi sibling adores her older sister and brother.

That said, the phrase “looks alone” felt a bit barbed, but I’ll let that slide.

“Speaking of which, Tsuyu, you care about appearances?”

“Of course. I don’t mind if they’re cute or beautiful, but anyone obviously overweight gets points deducted. It shows they’re neglecting self-care.”

“I see. By the way, last year around this time, I was about 10 kilos heavier than I am now.”

“Knowing you, Yukiya-san, that was probably a phase where you were obsessed with bodybuilding or something, right? That’s not unhygienic, so it doesn’t count.”

“Uh, yeah.”

I was momentarily speechless as Tsuyu casually nailed the truth. Are my motivations that transparent? It’s starting to feel like she’s subtly mocking me, and I’m getting a bit frustrated.

“From talking briefly, everyone seems fine, but you can’t really know without getting closer. Today’s a rare chance, maybe a once-in-a-lifetime one, and I’m absolutely going to make it count!”

“Make what count?”

Tsuyu raised her right hand, clenching it into a fist. Her eyes burned with determination, radiating a strong resolve to step up for her beloved brother.

…Though, for Uryu, this is probably an unwelcome favor.

“To do that, there’s something I absolutely have to ask everyone.”

“What, like how many kids they want?”

“Close, but no.”

“Close?”

I said it as a joke, but her serious response threw me off. What does she mean, close? What exactly does Tsuyu want to ask? As I was gripped by vague unease, Tsuyu said with a dead-serious expression:

“If their family wants a matrilineal adoption, that’s a dealbreaker. Onii-chan’s meant to carry the Aoyagi family name.”

“Alright, Tsuyu, you’re staying in your room the whole study camp.”

“Eh!? Why!?”

Listen, Tsuyu-chan, scaring people off before they even start dating isn’t a good move.

Chapter 135: Just Be Normal, Please

“Hey, you guys, let’s head inside already!”

Having finished introducing Toritani-san, Uryu waved at us while we were talking a bit away.

“Wait, hold on! I’ll guide everyone!”

Startled by her brother’s call, Tsuyu hurriedly dashed toward the group. She might want to maximize her chance to interact with people from our school, but she’s such a busybody.

“This way, please! Take off your shoes here. We’ve prepared slippers.”

Under Tsuyu’s guidance, we entered the Aoyagi family villa’s entrance. The building might’ve originally been a lodge, as the entrance lobby was spacious enough to fit three regular living rooms. A large wooden table stood in the center, and I realized this was where we’d study.

“There’s a wide lounge space next door, so use it for breaks or studying together.”

As we slipped into slippers and moved inside, Tsuyu explained everything step by step. This large villa had a bath and dining room deeper in from the lobby, with guest rooms further beyond. The second floor was mostly guest rooms, but we wouldn’t use them this time. Apparently, even when the Aoyagi family stays here, they rarely use the second floor. It feels like a waste, but then again, villas aren’t used that often to begin with.

“Um, Hirose-kun…”

While listening to Tsuyu’s explanations from a bit behind the group, Kirita Akari called out to me from my side.

“What’s up? If it’s the bathroom, it’s next to the bath—”

“Why would I ask you where the bathroom is…?”

Apparently, she wasn’t holding it in. Her expression was so glum, I was almost certain that was it.

“Then what is it? If you’re wondering if Makino-san and Toritani-san have some scandalous relationship, I can’t help you there.”

“Your imagination is clearly on a different level from normal people…”

“Haha, saying that makes me kinda shy.”

“I’m not complimenting you at all.”

That’s weird. I’m getting an even colder stare than before. This was supposed to be about respecting the depth of my imagination, so how did it come to this?

“That’s not it. I just thought you two seemed close.”

“Close? Who and who?”

“Um, you and Aoyagi-kun’s sister.”

“…Oh.”

I finally understood why Kirita Akari approached me.

In short, she was curious why Tsuyu and I, who should’ve just met, seemed so friendly.

As expected of my disciple, she’s got a keen eye. Tsuyu’s interested in what kind of people Uryu’s potential girlfriends are, so making a good impression on her is crucial for building a foundation. If I’m close with Tsuyu, Kirita Akari probably thought I could act as a bridge. Getting along with Tsuyu would mean more chances to get closer to Uryu. Yup, that’s a commendable strategy.

“We’ve hung out when I visited Uryu’s place, so I’d say we’re on pretty good terms.”

I said that, waiting for Kirita Akari’s inevitable “Please help me get closer to Tsuyu” response. If Tsuyu and I aren’t just casual acquaintances, we can execute the “Get Close to Tsuyu and Build the Foundation Strategy.” That’s what I thought, but—

“I-I see…”

Kirita Akari gave a troubled smile, completely opposite to what I expected.

What’s with that look? This is where you’re supposed to be happy. Why do you look so down?

“Hey, Kirita Akari, is something—”

“It’s fine, it’s fine! This is where the real work starts! I’ll switch gears and do my best!”

“Uh, huh…?”

I tried to ask what was up, but Kirita Akari shook her head vigorously, pulling herself together. When she looked at me again, her expression seemed more determined than before. Her emotions were so intense, I couldn’t keep up.

I wanted to ask if she was really okay, but Kirita Akari moved forward to listen to Tsuyu’s explanations.

Hmm, what did Kirita Akari want to know? I thought she wanted to get closer to Tsuyu, so I’m a bit let down.

※

After the building tour and dropping our bags in our rooms, we moved straight to lunch.

It was just past noon, and my stomach was fully ready.

To put it simply, Toritani-san’s cooking, prepped since yesterday, was phenomenal. I’d always believed Dad was the ultimate chef, but someone’s threatening that title without mercy.

The main dishes—sashimi and fried foods—were superb, but even the appetizers and miso soup showed meticulous care. Everything vanished from the plates in an instant. When I saw the ayu fish mixed into the rice, I reflexively started drooling. Toritani-san’s dramatic presentation of the ayu before mixing it in makes her a sly woman.

“Hey, Uryu, are you sure about not paying for this?”

“Kids shouldn’t worry about that stuff.”

“We’re the same age.”

The fact that this incredible meal was free is absurd, and I was sweating, half-expecting some terrifying catch later.

※

“Hirose-senpai, got a sec?”

Right after finishing lunch, Rando-dono called out to me. Ai-chan was just behind her—those two are always together.

“Uryu, the study session starts at 1, right?”

“Yeah, meet in the lobby.”

It was 12:41. Rando-dono, Ai-chan, and I must’ve finished eating early, as the others were still at it. I could’ve sworn Kamishiro Haruka was vacuuming up Tsukikage Miharu’s share too, but that’s probably my imagination.

“Alright, let’s head to the lounge.”

“Yes!”

We took our trays to the kitchen, left the dining room, and went to the lounge. Sitting across from each other at a table, we started talking.

“So, Rando-dono, calling me now means this is about Uryu, right?”

“As expected of Hirose-senpai, exactly.”

“Um, you two…”

Rando-dono and I leaned on the table, fingers interlocked, chins resting on our hands, staring at each other. Ai-chan, flustered by the intense atmosphere, was adorable.

“Thanks to the opportunity you gave me, Hirose-senpai, I’m determined to make this a success.”

“Hm, that’s a great mindset.”

As expected of Rando-dono, she’s charging toward winning Uryu without me saying a word. Some second-year girls should take a page from her book.

“So, I came up with a strategy.”

“Oh…!”

She’s already got a plan? I thought she wanted to brainstorm together, but this girl’s way ahead of me. That’s something to celebrate.

“I called you because I need your help with something.”

“Uh-huh. If it’s something I can do, anything—”

I stopped mid-sentence, recalling a certain lunch break.

Back when Rando-dono was still wary of me, we were thinking about how to win Uryu over.

She came up with an idea and said she needed my help, and then…

“The strategy’s called ‘Dashing Study Rescue Operation’!”