The Story of a Man Who Vowed to Not Let Any Man Come Between Yuri, Only to Find Himself Caught in Between Them - Chapter 01: The man caught between Yuri was doomed to die

Chapter 01: The man caught between Yuri was doomed to die

Yuri’s great, and I love yuri.

Yuri’s a romance between two women, and I found a beauty there that could never be found in a romance between a man and a woman.

“… I knew it should be yuri.”

“There you go again…”

My friend walking beside me responded with exasperation. 

“Sorry, sorry. I’m trying to be careful, but when I talk about things I like, I tend to get talkative.”

“Well, that wasn’t really talkative, was it?”

“Well, maybe not.”

“It’s fine. I’m the same way. When I talk about things I like, I can’t stop.”

“… hehe.”

“Haha.”

We both raised our hands and gave each other a high-five, making a crisp, satisfying sound.

“Well, I’ll be going here. Good luck with work.”

“Alright, see ya!”

After saying goodbye to my friend, I started to run, realizing that I was in a hurry.

Now, I know this might seem sudden, but my name is Sakuya Ihomote, and I’m a second-year high school student who’s just an average guy.

I don’t really have any exceptional talents, but I do have a decent academic record, enough to not worry my parents or teachers, and I have an insatiable curiosity about Yuri that no one can match.

Also, thanks to my younger sister, who loves martial arts, I’ve become somewhat strong myself, as I’ve been practicing techniques with her.

“Let’s just finish work quickly and then… guhehe.”

The yuri game that was released just the day before yesterday is waiting for me, so I had to finish my part-time job quickly and play the game.

As for why I like yuri so much? The reason is simple, I just like romantic relationships between girls.

“There’s something special about a romance between beautiful girls, you know… It’s like, sacred! Sacred!”

Not just in 2D media like games, manga, and anime, but also in the world of VTubers, which has recently become popular, there are communities where people laugh and giggle at the interactions between girls. So yuri is truly a genre loved by many people.

Well, even though I don’t have that intention, when I see viewers who keep using the word ‘precious(Tei-tei)’ in their comments, it does start to feel a bit persistent.

“As a gentleman who loves yuri, it is outrageous to embarrass a girl.”

Anyway, I have to finish my job quickly and play the game!

“Hello!”

“Yo, Sakuya! You’re here!”

My part-time job is at a certain department store, where I wear a mascot costume and hand out tissues and balloons. 

It’s a cute job, and while I’ve almost suffered from heatstroke a few times during the summer, it’s perfect for me because I have the stamina for it and it pays pretty well.

(Well, mostly just disappear into games and stuff, though…)

All of this was to supplement my yuri intake with games, manga, and anime.

“No one wants to do this, but thank God Sakuya’s here.”

“Well, it does get smelly.”

“Yeah, I know. So, I’m counting on you, Sakuya.”

“Sure thing~”

Despite being an old man who was two decades older than me, we get along quite well.

After seeing the old man off as he left the shop, I put on my usual battle attire.

It was a costume that looked like a white bear and was named Tsukki. It was a costume that was quite motivated as it aimed to participate in the Yuru Chara Grand Prix soon.

(… They even asked me to be the person inside the costume during the Grand Prix, but come on, don’t ask a kid like me to do that.)

Well, even so, I liked being relied on, so I might do my best.

“Alright, let’s go then.”

I, who had transformed into Tsukki from my usual student appearance, went outside.

By the way, even in this state, it was okay to speak out loud, and I was quite familiar with the people who came to the department store and its vicinity… as Tsukki, of course.

“Ah! It’s Tsukki!”

“Oh my, really. Are you starting work now?”

Two people, a mother with her child, who I often met approached me.

“Yes, I’m starting work now. Hey hey, you’re energetic today too. So, let me give you some candy.”

“Wow! Thank you, Tsukki!”

“Thank you very much.”

Tissues and flyers are handed out to adults, but I respond flexibly to small children by giving them candy.

Originally, the candy was something I had made, but before I knew it, the children had become quite fond of it. Word had spread to the point where they said they would make it if I didn’t, and now there is a large stockpile of snacks for children.

“Hey Tsukki, you’re working hard today!”

“I’m going shopping over there again. Good luck!”

“Piggyback ride, Tsukki!”

“Play with us, Tsukki!”

Good grief, it’s hard being popular.

I am popular around here as Tsukki, but I have never shown my true identity in front of them. Only my father, mother, and the friend from earlier know. Even my sister doesn’t know that I’m doing this kind of part-time job.

“…Yuri, yuri, yu~ri yuri♪”

While humming the strange song I had made myself, two girls walked in front of me.

(Ah…)

Those two girls were none other than the ones I knew.

(Minase-san and Aizawa-san.)

Yuka Minase, who has a sharp atmosphere, and Mai Aizawa, who has a gentle atmosphere… both are popular beauties at my high school and are my classmates.

Both of them have different types of beauty and have voluptuous figures that gather the desires of men. Above all, there were rumors about the two of them.

(These two… they must be dating, right!? Please tell me it’s trueeeeeeeee!!)

The two of them walked arm in arm and even fed each other ice cream that they were holding. It was really like a couple’s appearance. 

Actually, they hadn’t publicly declared their relationship with each other, but there were whispers that maybe they were dating.

Yes, it was a real yuri!

“Heh…”

Oops, I just had a sickening laugh. I should control myself.

(But this is definitely the case…)

My yuri sensor is on fire, so there’s no doubt about it.

Although many guys have confessed to them, there hasn’t been any news of them getting together. No matter what they do, these two are always together, to the point where they warn others not to come between them.

(I always thought that real-life yuri was just a pipe dream, but when it comes to these girls who are really close and also happen to be beautiful, it’s a feast for the eyes.)

Although I have no connection with them whatsoever, just looking at them like this gives me daily energy and even motivates me for my part-time job.

I thought I’d work hard for the rest of the time, but… there was a guy who approached the two of them.

“Hey, you two seem to be getting along well. How about doing something fun with me from now on?”

“Huh… who are you?”

“…Yuka.”

At first glance, it was obvious that he was trying to pick up girls and it was a bothersome, unoriginal type of pick up. 

Even though the area was fairly crowded and the police were constantly patrolling, which meant that if there was any trouble, things could quickly become a hassle, he was a courageous man. 

However, within me, there was an unnecessary burning sense of justice.

“Hey, what the h**l is that scum trying to do?”

They probably just think of me as a classmate, but I am a watcher and guardian protecting the Yuri Garden —in other words, I was angry.

“Tsukki, here.”

“Hmm? Hahaha, thanks.”

“Go get him, Tsukki!”

I receive a baseball bat from a kid who has been standing by my side for some time, and I start to walk away.

Of course, I won’t hit him, that would be a crime.

▽▼

Suddenly, it appeared in front of the man.

“W-who the h**l are you ……”

It was a white bear.

Adorned in clothing with numerous fantasy elements, this white bear was known as Tsukki and was a popular mascot in this area.

“Are you…?”

“Tsukki?”

Yuka and Mai, to those he had come to protect, also knew about Tsukki.

Because they often passed through this area, they often saw Tsukki, who was popular among children, and it was not uncommon for them to want to hug him as much as they could if they were a little younger.

“Who do you think you are to be talking to these two?”

“You ain’t got nothing to do with…!”

“It’s definitely relevant to me, you scum. I’m Tsukki, also known as the Guardian of the Yuri Garden – self-proclaimed, that is.”

They might not realize it, but the person inside the Tsukki suit was pretty angry, and his intense energy was making the man tremble as if it was visible. 

Though he was wearing a friendly face to appeal to children, the two red eyes (just some fluorescent stickers) in the suit look like they could devour everything.

“I’ll let you off this time. Get lost now.”

“You son of a—”

“Disappear.”

With a light wave of the bat, the guy let out a small scream and ran away.

“Don’t try to get in the way of Yuri, got it? You okay?”

“Ah.”

“Yeah.”

Tsukki turned around and spoke with a gentle voice.

(…What a pleasant voice. It makes my heart beat faster.)

Yuka, who had a secret fetish for voices, was getting excited by Tsuki’s voice.

This unexpected encounter was, in a way, a beginning, and the person inside the Tsukki suit never imagined that it would lead to such a series of events.