Source
https://kakuyomu.jp/works/16818093087122434729/episodes/16818792437509299028
“Poke…”
The ball game tournament was over, and a normal morning had arrived.
First thing in the morning, I was woken up by my alarm clock and lay in bed. Looking up at the ceiling, I was overcome by an indescribable feeling.
“…I don’t feel like doing anything.”
Was it burnout syndrome? My head felt foggy and my body felt heavy.
“I don’t seem to have a fever or anything, so I guess I’ll have to get up.”
I lifted my heavy body and folded my futon neatly.
Then there was a knock on the door.
“Senpai, you’ll be late if you don’t get up soon.”
“Shiramine-san!?”
My heart leapt in surprise. I was startled because she caught me off guard.
“Is something wrong?”
Perhaps because it had been getting hotter lately, she wasn’t wearing her usual blazer, but a short-sleeved shirt with a checkered ribbon and summer clothes.
“…Cute.”
Before I knew it, those words had slipped out of my mouth.
“Is that so? To be honest, I’m a little embarrassed because it’s a bit revealing…”
Saying that, Shiramine looked away and blushed. …Huh? Actually, isn’t the nosy junior who is currently staying at my house the cutest girl in the world?
“Shoo, haa…”
No, this is no good. Something is wrong with me.
When I look at Shiramine, I get nervous about her every move.
“… Ahem. I’ll be right down.”
“Okay. I’ll be waiting.”
The door closes.
For now, I’ve gotten through this situation. Or rather, what is it about Shiramine being here that has become a part of my daily life?
To be honest, as a healthy young man, it’s a little…
“Well, it’s okay. My sister is here too.”
I change into my uniform and go down to the living room.
It’s later than usual, so breakfast is already on the table. Apparently, Shiramine made it.
Miso soup, grilled salmon, and a small bowl of boiled vegetables. It’s a Japanese meal that looks comforting.
“Thank you. I’ll eat now.”
“Yes, I’ll eat too.”
We were eating breakfast facing each other.
“Um, good morning…”
My sister, who looked like she had a hangover, came into the living room.
She was wearing a camisole and only shorts.
“What!?”
Shiramine choked. Not me, but Shiramine.
“Ajisai san! Clothes! Put some clothes on!”
“Ah, Hisui-chan. Ahaha… Uh…”
Shiramine forcibly took her away, and my sister Shikibu was taken into custody.
After that, she was made to wear a shirt and long underwear, and then she came back.
“Oh, sorry, sorry. It’s been so hot lately…”
“Please be careful, okay? There is senpai around.”
I felt her gaze on me. …No, she’s my sister, right? Sure, we’re not related by blood, but sisters are a different species altogether.
No matter how good her figure is.
“What? I don’t think he is looking at me like that.”
“That may be true, but… well, even close ones should be polite to each other.”
After the three of us finished breakfast, Shiramine and I headed to school as usual. My sister went to her lessons.
Then, when we arrived at school.
“See you at lunch, senpai.”
“Yeah, see you.”
I said goodbye to Shiramine and headed for my shoe locker.
But there…
“Damn it! There’s nothing in it! Nothing… It’s gone!” “Gwaaaah! You idiots of youth!”
A hell of screams and cries? No, no, it’s not that mild.
If I had to compare it to something, it would be…
“…a sad world.”
The cries of countless boys. Tears flowing and knees buckling like dominoes.
The end of the sports festival meant that a result had been decided.
“Hey, guys.”
“So that means…”
“Huh? What are you talking about by yourself?”
“No, don’t worry about it. I was just mentally calculating Fermat’s Last Theorem.”
Of course, that was a lie. There’s no way I could defeat the final boss who had defeated so many geniuses just by mental calculation.
“Oh, okay, good luck… is that okay?”
As he said that, Aota opened his locker. Then, a large number of letters fell out like an avalanche.
“Whoa! That was a surprise…”
“As expected of Aota. You’re so popular.”
It was obvious that these were love letters. After all, they were in cute, light pink envelopes and sealed with heart-shaped stickers.
After the sports festival ended, this was what began. This was the current situation.
Let’s call it the “love at first sight period.”
Students who had performed well and shown off their cool side received love letters like these.
“I’m grateful, but I’m not used to this kind of thing.”
Don’t lie. You received just as many last year. In fact, you’ve received countless love letters since middle school.
Aota carefully picked up each letter that had fallen and put them in his bag. Yeah, I guess it’s these little gestures that make him so popular.
“Well, then…”
Being popular is tough, I thought to myself as I opened my locker.
“…Oh?”
There was a piece of paper inside.
“Oh, I guess they came to your locker too. Well, I guess that’s to be expected after showing off like that.”
“No, wait, wait.”
I wanted to believe that couldn’t be true.
I cautiously picked up the paper. It’s not a trap, is it? It’s not a prank, is it?
I glanced at it, and immediately realized.
“It’s a love letter, isn’t it?”
It was, so to speak, a postcard. It was like a postcard, but it was definitely not a mass-produced one.
“Is this… me?”
What was drawn there was a soccer player wearing a green bib and kicking his leg up.
It wasn’t printed; the texture on the surface indicated it was painted with paint.
“Wow, that’s an amazing drawing.”
“Yeah.”
It was as accurate as a photograph, yet it possessed the vibrancy and depth inherent in a painting.
It was a small work of art. And anyone could tell that the person who created it was no ordinary individual.
“Hmm, Ren. There’s something written on the back.”
“Oh?”
Flipping it over, it read, “Waiting in the art room after school.”
There was no recipient’s name, nor any other message.
It certainly didn’t seem like a confession, and it even gave off an unpleasant vibe.
“—I have no choice but to go, I guess.”
Unfortunately, it felt better to go and get involved in something than to stay and feel uneasy.
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