The Story of a Man Who Vowed to Not Let Any Man Come Between Yuri, Only to Find Himself Caught in Between Them - Chapter 17: Close at School

Chapter 17: Close at School

As I reminisced about the day Yuka and Mai started working part-time with me, I never imagined it would happen. 

Although I didn’t have any say in their personal lives, it was different when it came to two girls who had recently started talking more often, you know?

“But…it’s actually nice.”

I didn’t have romantic feelings for them, but having good classmates and friends nearby during a part-time job gave me a different feeling. It made me feel lighter and more relaxed, and I enjoyed my job more than usual.

“Well, as long as we’re having fun…oh!”

Lost in my thoughts, I accidentally bumped into another student at the end of the hallway. It was the same female student who had a history of saying various things to Yuka and Mai.

“You…ugh.”

As soon as she realized it was me who bumped into her, she clicked her tongue. Although she clearly disliked me a lot, I didn’t think much of it.

“I’m sorry.”

As soon as she realized it was me who bumped into her, she clicked her tongue. Although she clearly disliked me a lot, I didn’t think much of it.

“…What an unpleasant feeling.”

I couldn’t help but think about it for a while. After watching her disappear into the distance, I let out a sigh and returned to the classroom.

As soon as I returned to the classroom, Yorihito asked, 

“What’s wrong? Did something happen?” I replied with a wry smile, “You saw right through me. Yeah, you’re right.”

I had to respect Yorihito’s ability to sense even the slightest changes in my expression and atmosphere, considering we had been friends for a long time.

“Recently, you seem to be having a lot of fun. It’s the talk of the town that you’re close with those two beautiful girls, you know?”

“Well, we’ve been talking more in class, so I guess it makes sense.”

I couldn’t help but think that being involved with beautiful girls can have negative effects. However, I knew about their relationship and didn’t want to distance myself from them despite what others were saying.

“This is the first time, you know.”

“Yeah, Sakuya-kun is the first.”

Their words could be easily misunderstood, but I was genuinely happy to hear them.

I had learned about their circumstances and how they had opened up to me, a guy whom they should be wary of, so I couldn’t tell people to stop looking at us recently.

“But then again, it’s not like I wanted this attention in the first place,” I thought.

Having the chance to talk with beautiful girls was something I couldn’t let slip away.

“I don’t have any sense of superiority or anything like that, you know?”

“I know. Besides, I know that Sakuya isn’t the type to get happy about that sort of thing. You’re the kind of guy who would skip class to help your little sister, right?”

“Hey… don’t bring that up.”

That was an incident where my siscon tendencies completely awakened. 

It happened when Sangou and Rito got into a fight. If my little sister sends me a message saying ‘help me, Onii-san,’ then of course, I’m going to skip class.

“Hmm?”

While we were talking, my phone vibrated, and I received a message from Sangou at just the right time. I checked the contents, wondering what it could be about.

: Onii-san! Rito’s really cool for some reason. Like, I don’t really get it, but it’s like he’s in some sort of wise man mode. He said that the game he played was so great that he can’t get over it!

“Can you even call that cool?” I thought, amused.

“Hey, is everything all right with your little sister?”

“I’m not entirely sure.”

Well, Sangou tends to be protective of Rito, so…

“What are you talking about?”

“Um, about my sister…huh?”

Suddenly, I heard a voice from behind me. I turned around to see Mai beaming with joy while Yuka was probably in the restroom.

“Mai, huh?”

“Mai, huh, that’s rude. I came here to talk to you, Sakuya-kun!”

“… That’s what I meant.”

“What do you mean by that?”

“…”

“I can’t have a conversation with these girls, they’ll just throw me off my pace,” I thought to myself. 

As Mai gently placed her hand on my shoulder, she asked, 

“Is it okay if I came over like this? If I’m interrupting, I can leave right away.”

“No, it’s fine.”

“Ah, I see. It’s great that we can finally have a conversation like this. Nice to meet you, Aizawa-san.”

“Nice to meet you too, Kusakabe-kun.”

Mai seemed curious about the conversation that Yorihito and I were having face-to-face. After exchanging glances, we decided to share it with her.

“It’s not a secret or anything. I just happen to be very fond of my little sister.”

“You’re admitting it?”

“Well, I suppose the term ‘siscon’ tends to catch people’s attention, doesn’t it?”

Without delving into too much detail, we explained that I had left the classroom earlier because of something related to my sister, whom I cherish deeply.

“Oh, Sakuya-kun’s sister. I’ve heard of her before. Have you met her, Kusakabe-kun?”

“I have. I’ve visited Sakuya’s house a few times, and we even went to the summer festival together last year.”

“That’s nice.”

I pulled out my smartphone and showed Mai a photo of my sister.

“Here, this is my sister.”

“Awwww!!”

Mai grabbed my phone eagerly and stared at the screen with such enthusiasm that I worried she might break it.

“I’ve heard about her before, but she’s so little! And cute, really cute!”

“Haha, yeah, my sister is definitely adorable.”

It felt good to receive compliments from someone close to me about my sister. I’m sure I had a big smile on my face, but there was something I needed to tell Mai.

“Mai, if you see my sister, could you avoid calling her small, please?”

“Is she sensitive about her height?”

“No, it’s not about her height, actually…”

“What is it about?”

Uh oh, did I just dig my own grave? Sangou is a bit self-conscious about her height, but the real issue is related to a certain aspect of women’s development.

“…it’s, umm…”

Simply put, it means that even if you unconsciously say that Mai, who has huge breasts, is cute because she is small… It’s hard to honestly convey that feeling. 

Yorihito looked amused watching me panic… damn it, where’s my ally when I need one?

“Oh, I see.”

Mai claps her hands and tilts her head adorably while placing them on her ample chest.

“…”

“Haha, I understand. I’ll be careful, captain!”

It’s fine if you understand, but please stop already! After that, not only me but Yorihito also blushed at what just happened, and Yuka came back and looked at us puzzled.

“What did Mai do to cause trouble again?”

“Hey, Yuka!? Why would you say that?”

“How many years have you been together? You should know by now whether your partner can handle that kind of thing.”

“Uh… Yuka♪”

Ah~ It’s very pleasing to the eye, but I wish they could keep it to themselves… Yorihito seems confused by the word “partner,” though.

“But anyway, Sakuya and the two of them have really become close, right?”

“Yeah… it’s really wonderful.”

As we talked, Yuka and Mai suddenly chime in:

“Because Sakuya-kun is such a wonderful person, you know?”

“Yeah♪ There’s no reason why we couldn’t have become close by getting to know Sakuya-kun, right?”

“…”

So, they’re both like that, huh? 

By the way, it feels like my face was really red just now.