What's Wrong With Interfering With My Childhood Friend's Love? - Chapter 10 : Acquaintance?!

Chapter 10 : Acquaintance?!

Because of the rain, it was hard to see far into the distance. The road to Nishikiba Girls’ High School was complicated.

It was the right decision to come pick her up. Just as I thought that, I saw a man and a woman arguing in front of the school gate.

Their faces were obscured by umbrellas, and their voices were drowned out by the sound of rain.

When I tried to ignore them and call Miumi, I faintly heard a ringtone. 

It was coming from the girl in front of me.

I hurried toward the arguing pair.

“Huh? You had an umbrella?”

“Ah! Riku-kun… this is just a spare. I thought I’d step out to the school gate with it.”

“I see… And this guy here?”

As I asked Miumi and turned my face toward the man, he looked flustered. 

The way he was acting was suspicious.

“Well, I was just trying to hit on her a little…”

“Hit on her? On a rainy day like this?”

“The weather doesn’t matter. Still… tch, someone this cute, I get it now—”

“Listen to me.”

“But if she’s waiting for a guy, she could’ve just said so. That’s a letdown.”

At least let me complete my words!

As the conversation faltered, I had a strange sense of déjà vu about the man’s face.

A flashy, blond-haired man who looked like a college student. He seemed vaguely familiar.

Was it just my imagination? I shouldn’t have acquaintances like this.

Although he acted nonchalant, hitting on someone on a rainy day didn’t seem normal. 

I see, so there are guys like this in the world.

I was glad I didn’t let Miumi go home alone after all.

And this guy… does he think I’m Miumi’s boyfriend? I’ll just smooth things over for now.

“She’s not my girlfriend. She’s my sister — wait, huh?”

“Huh? Oh, you’re…”

“Have we met somewhere before?”

“You’re that bastard who came out because of Iyo!”

Iyo was a classmate of mine. She was the girl who threw a tantrum after being rejected by Akito.

This guy was her brother. I really did know him, though I couldn’t recall it at all.

In my mind, I referred to him as “the guy who makes easy promises.” And now he’s trying to hit on someone? Looks like neither the sister nor the brother is ordinary.

“Do you know him?”

“…We’ve been through some things before.”

“Haha, what’s this? You used to tell me to stop doting on my sister, but aren’t you the same kind of guy?”

The random excuse I made backfired. Calling her my sister was a huge mistake.

Now, in his mind, I probably look like I’ve been hit with a boomerang of my own making.

I used to call this guy a brother who couldn’t detach himself from his sister, and now I’m being seen in the same way.

“But wait… could it be that you’re the friend of that cowardly good-looking guy she liked?”

“…I’ll leave it to your imagination.”

“Iyo us cute, but her personality is a problem. I guess it’s understandable that I lost to her.”

“There’s no winning or losing in love.”

I wish he’d stop making assumptions. Is he the type to jump to conclusions?

For now, I switched to polite language, since he was technically a senior.

Still, what he said wasn’t entirely wrong. 

Eventually, Miumi might become Akito’s girlfriend. 

Considering that possibility, it’s better not to deny it outright.

Also, if he thinks his sister is cute, he should at least act more considerate. His lack of restraint is confusing.

I doubt I’ll ever see eye to eye with this guy.

“Heh… I have a weakness for cute girls, but I’ve never actually been in a relationship, so I wouldn’t know.”

“So, is your flirting harmless or just plain annoying?”

“If it’s just for physical pleasure, it’s annoying, right?”

“…..”

“Don’t make that scary face. I wasn’t hitting on her with bad intentions.”

“Then, what were your intentions?”

“I just wanted to grab some tea together.”

How did he even manage to hit on someone?

He acted bold toward a younger girl, but he’s probably just bad at flirting.

And that line about tea? It was definitely a lie.

Inviting someone out for tea on a rainy day is ridiculous. He’s just saying whatever to avoid being reported to his sister.

“…You’re not very convincing.”

“I swear, I didn’t mean anything by it!”

“Sigh…”

“I am presumed innocent, okay? Just let it slide for now.”

“You don’t need to be so scared. I won’t tell her about this incident anyway. We’re leaving now.”

His sister looks down on me, so I already find it hard to talk to her.

“Phew, for real? Thanks for being quick about it.”

“Oh, by the way, could I get your contact info?”

“Sure, but why?”

“Lately, your sister’s been giving me scary looks.”

This was just a precaution. Having a way to show I’m connected to this guy might act as a deterrent against her.

“Iyo? Oh yeah, lately she’s been like that.”

“Don’t just casually agree!”

“She’s been irritable at home too. I didn’t think she’d be calm outside.”

“Don’t say that like you’re proud.”

“What was it again… oh, contact info. Sure thing. If Iyo causes trouble, leave it to me next time.”

“Can I really rely on you? You seem like a siscon.”

I’m worried. Extremely worried. My evaluation of him is rock-bottom.

From his attitude alone it sounds like he’s joking. I wish he would at least give me some reassurance.

“Fine, I won’t deny I’m soft on her, but I have my dignity as her brother!”

“That’s one way to put it.”

“If she makes a girl cry, I’ll teach her a lesson. That’s what being a big brother is about, right?”

“Sure, if you say so.”

“Well, I hope we never meet again, junior.”

After exchanging contact info, he left with a fake senior attitude.

Miumi looked stiff with a blank expression.

I came to pick her up, but I’d left her alone.

“I-I’m sorry! You told me to wait, but I…”

“It’s fine. That guy showing up was just a coincidence.”

“Yes. Oh, the umbrella…”

“The one I brought looks bigger. Why don’t you return that one?”

“All right.”

After Miumi returned the spare umbrella, we started walking home.

The sky was pitch dark now.

The sound of rain made it hard to talk, and silence lingered for a while.

When I tried to walk ahead, Miumi stuck close to me, matching my pace. Eventually, she broke the silence.

“Um, can I ask you something?”

“What is it?”

“…Why did you call me your sister?”

“Huh?”

“You introduced me as your sister, didn’t you?”

What a strange question. I’d said it to deny any romantic relationship, but had it upset her?

Sure, claiming to be her boyfriend might’ve been more effective against that guy, but it’d only cause problems later.

Besides, the person I want to call my girlfriend isn’t her.

“Well, since we live together, we’re kind of like family.”

“Family… huh.”

“Yeah. You’re my cousin, so we’re relatives. You’re basically like a sister, right? Even if we’re the same age. Did it bother you?”

“No, not at all.”

From Miumi’s perspective, it must seem odd.

She’d suddenly come to stay, and there was a chance I wouldn’t accept her. Her boldness must’ve stemmed from those fears.

“Miumi, when you came yesterday, you tried so hard not to bother me. You quickly adapted to living here.”

Her notebook had more than just phone numbers; it had her own plans for living.

There were notes about cooking, budgeting, bath schedules — she’d put a lot of thought into it.

“But there’s a limit to what you can do alone.”

“A limit…?”

“If you don’t rely on me, it makes me feel like you see me as useless.”

“Is that how it is?”

“Yeah. You’re serious, but that also makes you seem reckless at times.”

“That’s not true…”

“If I hadn’t arrived earlier today, you would’ve tried to deal with that guy by yourself, right?”

“…Yes.”

“What if he’d been dangerous or had friends? Could you have handled it?”

“…No. But Aunt said she’d help if it got dangerous.”

Why bring up Mom here? And when did her parents even leave for overseas?

Did she secretly install a GPS tracker?

Mom’s just a con artist, not a superhuman or teleporter.

“Like I said yesterday, don’t trust everything that my Mom says.”

“Understood.”

“So, maybe you should rely on me more, how about it?”

“I didn’t want to trouble you…”

“Even if it’s a bother, I don’t mind.”

“Really?”

“Well, maybe sometimes. But since we live together, just tell me. It’s a new house rule. I just made it up.”

Even the shared bedroom was Miumi’s suggestion.

I wasn’t trying to act like the head of the household.

If she messed up without me knowing, it’d be troublesome. Like refusing visitors with appointments.

“I understand… I’m really sorry.”

“You don’t have to apologize.”

“But…”

“That sounds too formal again.”

“I’ll work on it. But, um…”

“But what?”

“I just remembered I didn’t plan time to cook dinner.”

Ah, so we didn’t have dinner. I was also in a hurry and didn’t notice it.

But we always have emergency food at home for times like this.

There’s no need for Miumi to feel guilty.

“It’s fine. We have instant noodles. Let’s just eat that today… huh? What’s wrong?”

Suddenly, Miumi stopped in her tracks.

She looked at me with an expression that said she had something to say.

“That won’t do. Absolutely not.”

“Eh?”

“Letting Riku-kun eat such unhealthy food would damage my reputation.”

“Reputation? Isn’t that an exaggeration?”

“So, let’s go to a restaurant.”

In the end, she grabbed my hand and dragged me off.

Even though she’d listened to me so well earlier, she wouldn’t budge on the matter of food.

Come to think of it, I remembered seeing a strange page in her notebook.

It was filled with the same word written in romaji over and over.

I only caught a quick glimpse, but I think it was Miumi’s name.

Her handwriting was neat, so maybe she was practicing writing the alphabet neatly?

What was that about?

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TL : zenon_xt