CH 3

No pumpkins on hand, which means nothing will happen

To say I was bored would be disrespectful to the teachers who taught me how to study, but I was glad that school hours are finally over.

My friends invited me to go out for karaoke, but after what happened yesterday, I wanted to relax and rest for a little more.

“Well, if you say, so be it.”

“Got it. Though I didn’t mean to be insensitive.”

Of course, I know.

I was one of those in the middle of it all, but there was no way that they knew that. But I guess they invited me to hang out with them to help me forget about the incident that happened nearby, no matter how unrelated I was to it. I was really glad for their thoughtfulness, and I was truly grateful that they were my friends.

I left them with the promise that I would spend Halloween weekend at their house and we would play as much as we can at that time without a care.

“Hmm, it’s not quite winter yet, but it’s getting cold. I should check the convenience store to get something to warm myself up… eh?”

I was thinking about buying a hot cup of coffee at a convenience store when I saw Arisa-san following the boys in front of me.

A man and a woman, after school, possibly heading to the rooftop, these three keywords sort of gave me an idea of what was going to happen.

“I just had a horrible experience yesterday, so give me a break…”

Walking with Arisa was a handsome guy from the soccer team, I think he was in the same class as the sisters?

Seriously, if it hadn’t been for what happened, it would have been a confession or better luck next time, but despite feeling bad about it, I was curious.

“…Well, it could also be some kind of fate.”

I followed them, trying not to get caught. As I expected, they headed for the rooftop, where the boy turned his body toward Arisa with serious expressions on his face as if he had made up his mind.

I was thankful that the door was battered, which made it to be slightly opened, so I decided to watch hoping that nothing strange would happen.

“Arisa-san, will you go out with me?”

See, I knew it, it was a confession.

That boy must have been quite popular, and there must have been a few girls in my class who had a crush on him. However, the reply to the confession from such a handsome guy was a straight no.

“I’m sorry. I can’t go out with you because I have someone in mind.”

“…What?”

Fu—n?

Aside from his incredulous expression, I didn’t think Arisa would respond that way. Who’s that idiot who spread rumors about her being an extreme man-hater… when she already has her eyes set on someone.

“Was it a way of saying no?”

“No, it’s actually true.”

Seriously, that’s great information… Wait a minute, who was that voice? With an awkward smile I slowly turned around to hide my impatience. Standing there was a girl as pretty as Arisa, Aina-san, whose crimson eyes reflected my figure.

“…!”

“Quiet. If you make a sound, they will notice.”

Aina gently put her index finger on my lips, trying to make me not make a sound. I was confused by this act itself, but thanks to it, I was not startled and didn’t accidentally raise my voice.

“Nee-san said she’d be right back, but as her sister, I can’t help but worry. Though I knew it was going to happen.”

Saying, “that man has no chance”, she snickered. Then she turned her face to me again.

“And what are you doing here?”

“…Erm~”

I was prepared to be told at least that much, that peeking was disgusting, but for some reason, Aina kept looking at me with a smile.

I was a bit hesitant to say anything, but decided to be honest and tell her what I came here to do.

“I know you had a tough day yesterday, right? So I was wondering what it would be like to be suddenly confessed by someone today.”

“I see. That’s so kind of you.”

“…It’s strange for me to ask but why did you believe it so easily?”

“You can be trusted. Somehow that’s what I think. And it’s better than being suspected, isn’t it?”

“That’s true.”

That’s far better than being suspected, that’s for sure.

While I was having that kind of conversation with Aina, it seems that the situation back there was becoming quite dramatic.

“I was not in the least bit happy to hear of what happened yesterday! It was hard for me thinking that something bad happened to you! That’s why I’m going to protect you so that that doesn’t happen again!”

Is he a good looking guy with a good personality?

As I gaze through the slightly opened door, Aina, who is behind me, suddenly approaches as if she is about to peek in, maybe she was wondering what Arisa will say back to the boy who was struggling.

“!?”

But suddenly she hugged me from behind, and she generously pressed her voluptuous plums against me.

“No matter what he says, Nee-san won’t shake her head vertically, I feel like pointing my index finger at him and laughing, saying he has no chance winning her heart.”

“…Um, Shinjo-san.”

“Are you embarrassed that my b***s are pressed against you?”

Seriously, this girl is surprisingly blunt with me! And also they are hitting my back and changing shapes! Though she is wearing a shirt and a cardigan, and despite me not touching them with my hands, somehow I can feel its firmness vividly.

“I’d appreciate it if you’d stay away from me.”

“Then I won’t be able to see!”

Hahhh… Do as you wish… though I think she was trying to make fun of me even if a little.

Then, Aina, who giggled and pulled her body away from me, said sorry, sorry, and said something…

‘Me and my sister have the same last name, so why don’t you call me by my first name? In return, will you let me call you by your first name too?”

I don’t mind to be honest, but I can’t help but feel a bit intimidated by her. I thought there might have been something behind it, but what she has on her face right now is a pure smile. I can’t see the truth behind her smile, but there’s no use doubting her, so I decided to trust her.

“Okay, so… nice to meet you, Aina-san.”

“You can say just my name.”

“…That’s a bit.”

“Fufu, it’s alright. Think about it later, okay?”

Somehow I’m at the friend level of calling her out by first name.

I’m really not close enough with Aina for us to be considered friends, and the reason that we had this kind of conversation in the first place was a result of a series of coincidences. So I don’t think we will have a chance to talk that much in the future.

“Then it’s my turn. Nice to meet you, Hayato-kun.”

“Ahh… that?”

“What’s wrong?”

“No, I was just wondering why you knew my name.”

I know Aina’s name because she is famous as one of the “beautiful sisters”. But in my case, I am just an ordinary person, like a mobster. I was surprised that she knew my name.

“You know, we may be in different classes, but we’re still batchmates. Isn’t that normal?”

“I’m sorry… There are a lot of people who don’t know my first name.”

“Ahaha, why don’t you make an effort to make them remember you from now on?”

She certainly has a point. I nodded.

Well, talking to Aina like that made me distracted from what was happening on the rooftop.

“No matter how many times you say it. I can’t go out with you.”

“…I understand. Thanks for coming.”

Damn, he’s running to the exit.

I had to hurry and hide, and Aina pulled me in when I was about to do so. I was surprised by the suddenness of the situation, but just as the door opened, I was in a blind spot out of sight, so the guy who confessed to Arisa didn’t see me.

“……”

“……”

“That was close♪~”

We too were so close to each other that I couldn’t resist distancing myself from her. I take a light deep breath to catch my breath, and Aina opens her mouth as she faces the door leading to the rooftop.

“Well, then, it looks like the hapless confessional drama is over, well then, I’m off to my sister’s side now. Thanks for watching over me, Hayato.”(E/N: Hapless – unfortunate.)

“I don’t know how I watched over you, but I get it. I’m leaving now.”

“Yeah, see you later♪”

With a flutter and a wave of her hand, Aina headed toward Arisa.

I walked away and was glad it didn’t turn out to be anything weird, Anyway… it was soft and smelled good, I thought like a highschool boy in puberty.

*POV changed

“…Yuck, that was disgusting! Disgusting, disgusting, disgusting, disgusting!”

“A~ah you’re looking a little rough, Nee-san.”

Aina smiled bitterly at Arisa, who seemed unable to hide her disgust at the boy who had just confessed his feelings for her. However, Arisa’s feelings are something that Aina can fully understand, because she hates men too.

“I already got confessed by a lot of boys, but it’s really disgusting. I don’t usually talk to him at all, but I wonder if he thinks that he thought he even had a chance.”

“It’s true. Men are savage, vile, vulgar creatures.”

“Yes, yes, yes. Aside from our father, I wonder if any other man is worth being around.”

“There aren’t any.”

Arisa was quick to respond to Aina’s words.

Aina laughed at how fast she responded, but urged Arisa to go home as soon as possible.

“I do hate them, but Aina, you hate men a lot, right? You’re even disgusted by their touch, aren’t you?”

“Because they’re filthy.”

Unlike her older sister, Aina always has a bright smile on her face, but there is another face hidden beneath that smile. Only Arisa and her mother know about it.

“And Aina can’t even remember the names of the boys in her class, right?”

“I don’t need to in the first place.”

She has the last name in her head, but she doesn’t care to remember their first name at all, and even if she did hear it, she’s disinterested enough to get it out of her head right away.

“Anyway, I had a s****y time, so let’s get the h**l out of here.”

“Yes.”

Following Arisa, Aina also heads for the rooftop exit.

Halfway there, Aina suddenly stopped. She stared at her index finger, the tip of the finger she had pressed against Hayato’s lips earlier.

“… *paku.”

What was in her mind when she put that finger in her mouth?

She crawled her tongue around as if she was licking a candy. She kept licking while making slurping noises. Though she was careful not to make Arisa think she was acting strange.

“…Would be so much better if I could just get pregnant with this.”

Such whispers from Aina melted away in the air.