Chapter 22

「Ah, good morning, Shou-chan.」

「Ah─ …morning…?」

It wasn’t unexpected, but as I thought, my childhood friend was here again today. I reply to her morning greeting while still half-asleep. Having your childhood friend come to wake you up even in high school, what is this, a light novel? I’d like to say, but as someone who’s not a morning person, I can’t exactly tell her not to come.

And this is just my guess, but I think she’ll be coming every day from now on. She’s actually been coming every day since then.

「Come on, breakfast is ready, so go wash your face quickly.」

「Yeah…」

I felt like retorting, “Are you my mom?” but my body still felt a bit sluggish from just waking up, so I just gave a lazy response and headed to the washroom, passing through the living room just like yesterday.

「Good morning. Shou-niisama.」

「Morning… ue?」

I unintentionally let out a weird sound.

Why are you in my house?

「What’s the matter? You look like you’ve seen something strange. As if to say, “Why are you here?”」

「As if, it’s exactly that. Asaki, why are you in my house?」

In Natsu’s case, she lives nearby, and it’s not out of the way for her to come by on the way to school, so I can kind of understand.

No, she’s going out of her way to wake up early and prepare breakfast, so whether that’s natural or not is another question.

But in Asaki’s case, she has to cross the academy to get to my house.

Yet she’s here in the morning, did something happen?

「I thought I’d take the opportunity to go to school with Shou-niisama.」

There was no problem. Well, in a way, it’s full of problems. This isn’t just going out of your way.

「No, my house and Asaki’s house are on opposite sides of the academy, right? So why are you going out of your way──」

「Oh my, is Shou-niisama unhappy about going to school with me?」

She asks, tilting her head and putting her index finger on her cheek in an exaggerated manner. This must be what they call being sly.

「It’s not about being unhappy…」

「Shou-niisama, either way, if you don’t get ready soon, you’ll be late.」

You damn Asaki, you bastard.

「Ah, Shou-chan, you’re still here!! Come on, go wash your face and eat breakfast. You’ll really be late, you know?」

「No, Natsu. Don’t you think it’s strange that Asaki is here?」

「Eh? But you made a promise with Asaki-chan, right?」

「Ha?」

That’s strange. I never made such a promise──

「It seems Shou-niisama doesn’t remember. Asaki is sad.」

「Shou-chan, that’s mean…」

「Wait, wait, I don’t remember making any such promise──」

「I think I have mentioned it when we transferred to the academy, though?」

Eh? That long ago?

I try to recall, but I still don’t remember making such a promise.

「No, I still don’t remember promising to go to school together…」

「That’s strange. I’m sure I said it. “Won’t you go to Kujou Academy with me?”」

「Ahh, I do remember that… wait, that’s what you meant!?」

I do remember those words, but I took it as Asaki asking if I would attend Kujou Academy with her since she was transferring.

But indeed, it could be interpreted as going to the academy together. It could be, but who would read that deeply into it at that time? Normally.

「Well, well, since I’ve already come there’s nothing to do about it, so for now, Shou-niisama, please hurry up and get ready.」

「And you’re surprisingly harsh, oi.」

But it’s true that time is running out, so I give up on arguing and head to the washroom. I know I can’t win in a verbal battle with Asaki anyway.

I quickly wash my face and brush my teeth in the washroom before returning to the living room.

When I returned to the living room, as yesterday, breakfast and café au lait were prepared on the table, so I ate the prepared breakfast while being watched over by Natsu and Asaki. I feel like I’ve been drinking café au lait a lot lately.

I don’t understand what’s fun about watching someone eat, but since it’s not an unpleasant gaze, I just feel a bit embarrassed as I finish my breakfast.

「Thanks for the meal. I’ll go change quickly.」

I gulp down the slightly cold café au lait and head to my room to change into my uniform.

I took off my pajama T-shirt and was about to take off my jersey bottoms when I felt a gaze, and when I looked towards the entrance of the room, Asaki was standing there.

「What’s the matter? If you don’t change quickly, you’ll be late.」

「Yeah, but that’s not the point, why did you follow me? And didn’t Natsu stop you?」

「Natsu-neesama is over here.」

「Wah, Asaki-chan!! Shhh!!」

I thought Natsu would stop her, but it seems I underestimated Asaki.

She probably said something clever and won her over, right?

「Anyway, I’m going to change, so get out.」

「If you want, I can help.」

「Just get out!!」

Half-naked, I push Asaki and Natsu out of the room and lock the door. Seriously, there’s no room for carelessness…

This time, I took off my jersey bottoms and changed into my uniform, then checked the contents of my bag just to be sure.

「What should we do, Asaki-chan? Shou-chan got angry…」

「Natsu-neesama, it’s okay. That was surely just him being shy. Right now, Shou-niisama is excited about being seen changing by two beautiful women──」

「B-Beautiful women, you say? I’m not──」

「Don’t be modest, Natsu-neesama. Like Hikari-san, Natsu-neesama is plenty cute.」

Asaki was trying to win over Natsu, so I quickly finished getting ready and left the room. Rather, they don’t have to have this conversation right outside my door.

「Come on, I’m ready.」

「Oya, that was quicker than I thought. I thought for sure──」

「Thought for sure?」

「That you were relieving your youthful lust after seeing us in the morning──」

「Y-Youthful lust? Relieving…!!」

「Idiot.」

Natsu’s face turned bright red and she was flustered by Asaki’s words. I thought it was interesting to see this, but I could see that if I retorted, I’d get counterattacked again.

So I deliberately ignored the two of them, picked up my bag, and headed for the entrance in silence.

The two of them, seeing me like that, hurriedly followed. They seemed to think I was angry. Well, I was thinking, isn’t it okay for me to be angry inside?

We left the house and walked silently along the way to the academy for a while.

「Um… Shou-chan. Are you angry?」

「Shou-niisama. U-Um…」

I could hear their anxious voices. Honestly, I understand that Natsu got caught up in Asaki’s pace, but it’s joint responsibility.

But if they’re reflecting on it, there’s no reason for me to keep pretending to be angry, so I turn to face them.

「Did you reflect on it a little?」

「I did, I did. Sorry, okay?」

「I apologize…」

The two of them apologize with slightly downcast expressions. If they properly reflect and apologize, I don’t want to make them feel worse.

「Especially you, Asaki. It’s fine to tease, but don’t involve others.」

「Fou hiii hama (Shou-niisama), hihai hef (It hurts).」

As a light punishment for the culprit, Asaki, I pinch her cheek lightly. Even if someone says it’s violence against a girl’s face, or that it’s violent, crime deserves punishment.

Just because you’re close doesn’t mean you can do anything.

「Let this be a lesson to you, and take it easy from now on. Natsu, even if it’s Asaki, don’t get swept away too much.」

「Uhh… understood.」

It’s not quite a scolding, but after advising them, I lightly place my hand on their heads. Since it was embarrassing to pat their heads, I quickly removed my hand after placing it.

Surely it’s only handsome guys like Daiki who can do these things without embarrassment.

「Then, let’s get back on track and go.」

「Yeah!!」

「Yes!」

It was a bit surprising that even Asaki responded energetically, but with the two of them in a good mood, we headed to the academy while having trivial conversations.

I felt like I was gradually getting back to my daily life, and somehow my steps felt lighter as we headed to the academy.

「Oi, that guy again…」

「That girl is the one who transferred last week, right? Why only him?」

──But in less than a few seconds, I felt my steps getting heavier. I mean, this situation isn’t my fault, right?

It seems I’ll be the subject of rumors for a while again. I let out a light sigh in the morning.