Vol 2 Chapter 9 – A Matter of Perspective【Volume 2: The Flirting-All-Over-the-Place Second Semester Arc】

“Onii-chan, you had kind of a… pervy look on your face just now…”

It seemed Miki had caught him right before he managed to shake off the indecent thought.

That was what she said.

Sandai cleared his throat to cover his embarrassment and forced his expression into something resembling calm.

“That lingerie is… I think it might be a little too grown-up. From Onii-chan’s perspective.”

“You think so? It sounds more like Onii-chan just had a weird little fanta——”

“——A-Anyway. Let’s go with something a bit more normal.”

“I think this one’s perfectly normal, though… It’s just a matter of how you look at it.”

When she put it that way, it suddenly felt like not choosing this particular set would only prove that his mind had been in the gutter all along. Strange how that worked.

Sandai chewed his lower lip, thought it over for a moment, and made his decision.

To prove he hadn’t been thinking anything indecent, he would purchase the very set Miki was holding.

“…You know what, Onii-chan thinks this one is the right call after all.”

“You changed your tune pretty fast, huh?”

“No, I didn’t. Looking at it again, it’s actually cute — and I think it’d suit Shino, too. That’s the reason.”

“…Sure, whatever.”

Miki shot him a long, knowing look — but she must have figured out what was going on, because she didn’t push any further.

Well, regardless, all that was left now was to pay and head home.

Sandai made his way briskly to the register.

“Here you go.”

“Of course. That comes to 24,580 yen.”

Sandai’s eyes went wide at the number the clerk quoted him.

He hadn’t checked the price tag.

He simply hadn’t expected it to cross the ten-thousand-yen mark.

What Sandai didn’t know was this: lingerie in larger cup sizes came in far fewer styles, and anything with a decent design commanded a premium price.

“Is everything alright?”

“Y-Yes… it’s… fine…”

But if this was what it took to see Shino’s happy face — he steadied himself, pulled out his wallet despite the mild shock, and paid.

Since it was a gift, he also had the clerk wrap it for him.

“Onii-chan, why are you tearing up…?”

“I’m not…”

Living alone, Sandai received a fixed allowance from his parents deposited on the same day every month.

It was never a generous amount.

This unexpected departure of a ten-thousand-yen note meant tomorrow — and the days after — were going to be a little tight.

Still, Sandai had zero regrets.

If it meant seeing Shino’s face light up, it was worth every yen.

(Somehow… I’m starting to feel like I should get a part-time job…)

The thought crossed his mind out of nowhere.

The winter break was coming up soon, and it was almost certain that talk of going somewhere — maybe somewhere a little farther than usual — would come up before long.

That costs money, naturally.

(Maybe I should start looking into part-time work…)

☆

And so, after that.

Back at the apartment, he tucked the wrapped present away in the closet — and that was when Miki announced she was heading home soon.

It wasn’t even noon yet, so it was quite the early departure, but apparently Miki had gotten everything she came for and was perfectly content.

Where exactly the fun had been, Sandai couldn’t quite figure out — but if she was leaving, he had no reason to stop her.

She was a little kid. Better she got home while it was still light out.

“…Oh, by the way — keep it a secret from Onee-chan that Miki came over today, okay?”

On the way to the station to see her off, Miki brought this up.

She’d come without permission, and if Shino found out, there’d be trouble — so she wanted it kept quiet.

Sandai had no intention of saying anything anyway, especially after all the help she’d given him.

So he nodded. “Got it.”

Miki let out a relieved breath and smiled.

“Okay then, see you later, Onii-chan~.”

“See you.”

The doors slid shut, and the train slowly began to move.

Sandai waved until she was out of sight.

“Well, I’ve got some time now…”

He made his way back to the apartment and immediately got started researching part-time job options.

One promising listing after another caught his eye as he scrolled through.

By the time he looked up, the sky outside had turned a deep shade of evening orange.

He checked the clock — just a little past five in the afternoon.

Shino’s shift ended at five-thirty today, so she’d be wrapping up right about now.

Sandai got ready quickly and headed out to pick her up.

Vol 2 Chapter 10 – Something to Look Forward To【Volume 2: The Flirting-All-Over-the-Place Second Semester Arc】

“Oh, there he is — the boyfriend.”

“Hey.”

“Right this way, right this way — Shino-pippi’s almost done with her shift, so just wait right over here~”

“Sure.”

When he arrived at the café, he was swiftly guided to a corner seat, and almost immediately a small plate of sweets and a cup of tea appeared before him — the exclusive boyfriend treatment.

He savored them slowly, and while he waited for Shino to emerge, his eyes drifted idly around the interior.

The sun had already started to set, so the lights inside were on — a warm, amber-toned glow, kept deliberately dim and cozy.

Jazz played softly in the background.

Sandai wasn’t particularly well-versed in this kind of music, but he recognized the melody of the intro right away.

It was the ending theme from a certain famous anime — “Ha○mete no Chuu.”

He vaguely remembered seeing something online a while back about a jazz arrangement of it that had gotten some attention overseas.

But actually hearing it with his own ears was a first.

Listening to it now, he realized just how genuinely charming and heart-fluttering it was.

“Thank you very much~”

Out of the corner of his eye, he caught a glimpse of Shino working in the distance.

She looks like she’s doing well — he thought, just as the clerk who had shown him to his seat leaned over to whisper something in Shino’s ear.

Shino immediately glanced over in his direction, broke into a smile, and gave him a small wave.

It seemed the clerk had let her know he was there.

☆

“Sorry, did you wait long?”

“Not that long.”

They stepped out of the café and started walking home hand in hand.

Their destination was the apartment, and along the way, Shino spotted a taiyaki stand selling what was apparently the next big thing, and bought one.

“Hey, hey.”

“Yeah?”

“Say ‘ahh’ and let me feed you!”

Sandai had been handed the taiyaki, so he did as he was told.

“…Here. Ahh.”

“One more time!”

As many times as you like, Sandai decided, and kept going until Shino was satisfied.

She was surprisingly clingy, when it came down to it.

When her little sister Miki was around, she tended to put on a more composed, responsible front — but the moment it was just the two of them, she turned the please spoil me aura all the way up.

She was probably always holding herself together, and this was how the tension released.

He could easily imagine it: at home she played the responsible older sister, and out in the world she was constantly on guard around men she wasn’t comfortable with. The only time she could truly let her guard down was when she was alone with Sandai.

That was why Sandai had made it his policy to spoil her as much as possible.

She worked hard every day. She deserved time where she could just lean on someone.

“There you go. …You worked hard today.”

“I did!”

When he patted her head and said so, Shino beamed like it was the best thing she’d heard all day — but that was only because it was Sandai doing it.

If anyone else had done the exact same thing, the result would have been entirely different.

What mattered wasn’t the gesture itself — it was who it came from. And that said everything about how much space Sandai had come to occupy in Shino’s world.

“— Christmas is almost here! Are you ready to make this year’s celebration one to remember~?”

As they walked through the shopping district, a giant screen advertisement caught their eye.

A promotion for the upcoming Christmas — next month. Both Sandai and Shino slowed to a stop without quite meaning to.

“…Christmas.”

“Yeah.”

“I picked up a shift on the 25th so I could take the 24th off. Let’s spend the whole day together, okay?”

“Deal. …Actually — I’ve already got a present for you. Look forward to it.”

The instant the word present left his mouth, Shino’s ears gave a little perk.

“Wait, really? You’re getting me something?”

“Well, it is Christmas.”

“I’m so excited! Oh — and I was already planning to get you something too, so you’d better look forward to it as well!”

Sandai had always spent Christmas alone.

Nothing to do but study, the same as any other day.

But this year, Shino was here.

He had the feeling this was going to be the most joyful, warmest holy night he’d ever had —

That quiet certainty settled gently into his chest and filled it completely.