When I Brought The Lost Little Girl To Her House, The One Who Came Out Of The Front Door Was The Most Beautiful Girl In The Grade. - Chapter 4

When I woke up in the morning, I doubted whether the events with the Shirakawa sisters were just a dream.

However, I remember them vividly, as if it wasn’t a dream at all.

Yes, vividly—the mischievous smile, the innocent grin of Shirakawa’s younger sister, the slightly wry smile of her sister, the gestures and actions that made it clear that she is indeed an older sister.

The memories are etched in my mind.

While thinking about this, I munch on the sandwich placed for breakfast.

Today marks the third consecutive day of sandwiches. Well, I don’t mind much, but I hope I”ll get scrambled eggs or corn soup tomorrow, at least.

After finishing breakfast, brushing my teeth, and fixing my bedhead, I finally head to school.

Going to school is tough. Especially after the weekend, there’s this weariness that I can’t do anything about.

It’s not that I hate school itself.

I don’t hate it, but if I had to sum it up in one word, it’s “troublesome.”

In this state of mind, I unintentionally mutter, “Ugh, so tired,” and suddenly, I find myself in front of the school gate. There, the disciplinary teacher is looking at each student with a stern face.

That’s Sasano, also known as the Sasano The Demon .

He’s famous for being strict with disciplinary matters. I’ve been caught by him twice since becoming a second-year student.

“You all! Are you getting careless just because summer vacation is approaching?!”

Oh, right, summer vacation is almost here.

I completely forgot. We’re already in the middle of July.

Lost in my thoughts, I am urged by Sasano to hurry up and pass through the school gate.

***

“Sigh, Shirakawa always looks so cute, doesn’t she?”

“Yeah, that’s true.”

Stretching his lips while saying she’s cute is Mimura Shin’s usual habit, so I give a casual response.

“But you know, there’s a rumour that she’s dating Yamane from our class?”

“Huh? Yamane?”

“Yeah, that Yamane.”

Yamane is, to put it simply, good-looking but a bit too laid-back and, well, a bit of a player.

“Well, with her being so cute, she’s probably got a boyfriend or two.”

Shin seems a little sad.

Suddenly, the class starts buzzing. Everyone’s attention is on the door at the front of the classroom.

I also look towards the front and see Shirakawa glancing around as if searching for someone in our class.

Feeling a bad premonition, I quickly avert my gaze, but it’s too late.

The moment she spots me, Shirakawa smiles and walks toward me.

She looked stunning just walking, like a painting.

As for Shin… he’s bleeding from his nose, wearing a creepy grin.

“Kuroda-kun, here, this is for you.”

Saying that, she hands me a cookie wrapped in a cute package.

“Huh? What’s this?”

“Don’t you know about cookies, Kuroda-kun?”

“Well, of course, I do, but why are you giving it to me?”

I know what cookies are.

What I want to know is why she’s giving me a cookie.

“It’s my way of saying thanks the other day! Make sure you eat it, okay?”

With that, she half-pushes and goes back to her classroom.

I couldn’t get a chance to ask her the reason properly, and I could only manage a light “Oh, yeah” in response.

“That cookie looks good, Kuroda…”

“Uh, yeah.”

“By the way, about the other day?”

“Huh?”

By the time I realized it, it was too late.

I should have run away. My classmates turned into a pack of wild beasts, one after another, and they took the cookie, ate it, and by the time I looked back, my share was already gone.

The Shirakawa bodyguards are truly fearsome.

***

After school, feeling down, I head home.

As I approach the park where Shirakawa’s younger sister was playing, I notice a woman sitting on the brick-like fence outside the park.

With my good eyesight, I somehow recognize her as Shirakawa.

The evening sun shines on her, and her beautiful black hair reminds me of the romantic final scene in a movie.

“What are you doing here?”

Before I realized it, I called out to her.

Startled by the sudden voice, she widens her eyes. But then, she softens and smiles.

I can’t help but feel a flutter in my heart.

“Um, I’m on my way to work. Oh! Did you eat the cookie?”

“Uh, well…”

“Hmm?”

She peeks into my face with a sly smile.

I’m unsure of what to do. Should I tell the truth or lie? Either way, I’m afraid it might hurt her feelings, and I feel a bit anxious.

“Yeah! Of course, it was delicious.”

“…Is that so? Thank you.”

Somehow, I felt like her spirit dropped when she heard my words.

Her forced smile afterward made my chest tighten.

“Oh, open your mouth.”

Even though I’m perplexed by her sudden request, she urges me.

“Just do it! Hurry!”

“I said, why… Mmgh?!”

Something is stuffed into my mouth.

I chew and feel a crunchy texture with a hint of sweetness.

Is this butter?

“How is it? What do you think of the cookie?”

Apparently, Shirakawa already knew that I hadn’t eaten the cookie.

Was my acting that terrible…? Perhaps I should have been honest from the start and said that I had eaten it.

Even though there are still bits of cookie in my mouth, I respond to Shirakawa’s question.

“It’s… delicious.”

The words come out smoothly.

It’s an honest impression, without any lies.

“Yes, truly delicious! Thank you!”

Her smile at that moment was incredibly beautiful.

With the evening sun as her backdrop, she looked like the star of the show.

After that, Shirakawa hurried off to her part-time job, and I savored the faintly sweet aftertaste of the cookie that remained in my mouth.