CH 7

Chapter 7 – Questioned by the Older Sister

Fujisaki Kotone. That’s the name of the junior girl who became my girlfriend. By the way, she’s in the first grade.

She became my girlfriend, but only for the price of keeping quiet about her part-time job, which is forbidden at the school. Unfortunately, it’s not a sweet and sour reason like in romantic comedy mangas.

It’s Kotone-chan who’s done the wrong thing. But I’m aware that I’ve done something even worse than that.

My relationship with Kotone-chan as boyfriend and girlfriend is only until before the summer holiday. I was being kind by making it limited-time, and it was because she understood my kindness that Kotone-chan granted me that favor. I intend to keep my promise.

Because of those circumstances, I don’t think I could tell other people the details.

“Aida-kun… What is your relationship with my sister, Kotone?”

So why has Fujisaki-san found out?

I exchanged contact details with Kotone-chan, and soon after we entered the classroom in high spirits.

When I took my seat, the older sister Fujisaki, who was sitting next to me, stood up suddenly.

She is so beautiful and has such a strong presence. It was only natural that my gaze was drawn to her.

But I didn’t think I had anything to do with it. When I was looking at her, wondering where she was going, she turned her body towards me.

She was standing with her arms crossed. She said the above line with an air of intimidation.

“Don’t be silent, answer me.”

Her voice was sharp. It contained an anger you wouldn’t expect of a school idol.

At any rate, I could guess that she must have heard that Kotone-chan and I were dating.

But where is this information coming from?

Me and her sister being lovers… Whatever the reason, it was only yesterday that we started talking about having that kind of relationship. That makes Kotone-chan the most likely candidate for the source of information…

If Kotone-chan were to confide in her sister, she would have to tell Fujisaki-san about the part-time job she’s keeping a secret, right? But wait, since she’s Kotone-chan’s sister, shouldn’t she know about it? In that case, Fujisaki Ayane is just as guilty as me.

But if Kotone-chan confided in her sister last night… If Fujisaki-san knew, Kotone-chan wouldn’t have made my lunch, would she? The mere presence of Fujisaki-san like this is enough to crush my existence.

“W-What are you talking about?”

After some thought, I decided to blurt that out.

I can’t be sure that Kotone-chan really revealed it. I felt it would be more dangerous to say something bad.

Fujisaki-san’s eyes remained stern, but she spoke in a somewhat calm tone.

“…I heard that Kotone was threatened by Aida-kun and made to make lunch.”

Isn’t everything exposed already?

N-No, calm down. I threatened her to be my girlfriend, but I never asked her to make me lunch. It was Kotone-chan’s sole decision. I’m not to blame here.

“W-Who said that…?”

I managed to smile and continued to play dumb.

Fujisaki-san took her gaze away from me and answered.

“It’s Ide-kun.”

I-IDEEEE!?!?

I followed her gaze and saw Ide, who had taken his seat and was absent-minded. While I was exchanging contact details with Kotone-chan, he seemed to have arrived at the classroom first.

Ide was muttering something with a disinterested look on his face.

“It’s impossible, no way it’s possible… I can’t believe Yuji has Fujisaki-san’s sister make him a lunch box… There must be some kind of mistake… Yuji must have blackmailed Fujisaki-san’s sister into making it for him…otherwise she wouldn’t be acting like such a lover…”

I could hear him saying things like that and it was on endless repeat. It would be fine if he said it in a low voice, but it was loud enough that anyone could hear it without straining their ears.

I see. So Fujisaki-san heard his mutterings and believed him. I’ll have to tell Ide later. We’ll clear up the misunderstanding physically, of course.

“How can what Ide is saying be true?”

“So he’s lying?”

“Yeah.”

“But I saw Kotone prepare one extra lunch box in the morning.”

Damn it, they’re sisters living in the same house, so it wouldn’t be strange if Fujisaki-san saw it.

“I’ve been wondering why. When I asked Kotone the reason, she wouldn’t answer. But when I heard Ide-kun’s words, I was convinced.”

No, no, no, don’t be convinced! Don’t just accept the words of such a clearly absent-minded boy!

“So, did you receive a lunch box from Kotone?”

“Ugh…”

That is a fact and cannot be denied.

But if I nod yes, it could result in her saying, “I knew you were threatening Kotone!” That’s how suspicious I feel. I’m not guilty! …Though I can’t really say that.

Can I give any excuse? I racked my brain, and my mouth started moving.

“It’s for thanking me.”

“Thanking you?”

I nodded back at Fujisaki-san, who was tilting her head.

“Look, I lent my umbrella to Kotone-chan the other day, right? She’s thanking me for helping her…”

Fujisaki-san put her finger on her well-shaped chin. She was silent for a while, as if she was thinking about something. Meanwhile, I was sweating cold sweat down my back.

“…Is that so? I’m sorry I doubted you. I was rude to you, Aida-kun.”

“Never mind it. We don’t have any contact with each other to begin with, so it’s no wonder you’re suspicious of me.”

She seemed to believe my defense. Fujisaki-san apologized once more and took her seat.

Phew, I made it through.

I’ll have to send a message to Kotone-chan so that we can arrange a meeting later. It helped that I got her contact details straight away.

But that Ide… He needs to be silenced immediately. It’s bad enough that he’s giving half-correct answers, probably because he’s known me for a while.

The moment I got up to go to Ide, the chime rang. At the same time, my homeroom teacher walked into the classroom. I sat back down and Ide came back from his trance.

I thought I could brag as much as I wanted if it was just Ide, but I don’t know where the truth will come out from. It’s not like Kotone-chan and I are a common, normal lover, so I’d better avoid any careless words or actions.

“Kotone-chan, was it…?”

I thought I heard something and turned to Fujisaki-san. She was facing forward. The teacher started the lesson, so I faced forward, too.