Chapter 22: The Raging A-ko
432: Hakase
A-ko seems scary…
433: Anonymous Combatant
What happened? Did you tease Eres again?
434: Hakase
Unnya, I thought I got a phone call out of the blue, but then A-ko said:
“Please come to my school right now. I’ll call Big bro too.”
Me: “Eh? I’m at work.”
A-ko: “Right now, please! Fiona is waiting too! Ah, please don’t get too fired up! Keep it natural, okay!”
What’s going on…?
435: Anonymous Combatant
Sounds like he did something.
436: Anonymous Combatant
It’s the Hakase, so he probably made her angry somewhere weird.
437: Hakase
Showing my deep, burning trust in me.
Since Big bro was also coming, I put off my paperwork for now and headed out.
It’s a chance to see Fiona too.
438: Anonymous Combatant
The acting commander-in-chief losing to a former soldier…
439: Anonymous Combatant
By the way Hakase, you’re basically weak against younger people.
440: Hakase
I’m honestly aware of it. As you said, on my way to the school, I ran into Big bro.
Big bro: “Over here, Hakase.”
Me: “What’s up. Did A-ko call you too?”
Big bro: “Yeah. Seems she was unusually angry for some reason.”
Hmm, it’s pretty rare for her to be in a huff against Big bro too.
As we walked while chatting, we spotted Fiona and A-ko by the school gate. Along with some of their school friends too, it seemed. A group had gathered.
When I went to greet them, A-ko introduced us.
Then for some reason, those kids suddenly collapsed to their knees.
Some were even groaning dramatically.
441: Anonymous Combatant
But why!?
442: Anonymous Combatant
Hakase, what did you do!?
443: Hakase
I didn’t do anything!?
To get called out like this and interrupt work…what is this…
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That night, Sayuki was gazing at her smartphone on her bed.
Haruhiko: [I didn’t make you listen to silly stuff, did I?]
Sayuki: [No, it was very fun.]
Haruhiko: [I’m relieved to hear that. Well then, good night Sayuki san.]
Sayuki: [Yes, good night Haruhiko san.]
She reread the “good night” text from Haruhiko over and over.
To avoid being embarrassed, they only messaged every three days or so.
“Heheh…”
Even though it was just casual chat like “this is what happened today”, her cheeks couldn’t help but loosen up. Especially after becoming aware of those feelings in her heart.
But it was her first experience, so she couldn’t move forward easily.
She wondered if there was anyone she could consult. Then a certain person’s face came to mind.
That’s right, her senpai Eiko Kutani, one year above her. Eiko has known Haruhiko for a while, right?
“Huh? You like him? You mean Haruhiko, that Haru san?”
The next day, Sayuki promptly consulted Eiko.
Apparently the master of the Nil tea shop used to be an executive at Haruhiko’s company, and through that connection Eiko had been close with Haruhiko for a long time. Sayuki felt a tinge of jealousy, but Eiko was undoubtedly the best person to ask.
“Y-Yes. Actually…”
“Ehh… are you sure, Sayuki? You’re not being tricked? Haru seems like a gentleman at first glance, but he’s actually an eccentric.”
How mean.
“But you used to praise him too, Senpai.”
“W-Well, yeah. Haru is earnest, kind, and absolutely brilliant too, I’ll admit. But he walks that fine line between idiot and genius, doing hilarious things.”
Extremely mean.
“He’s cool and amazing and reliable, sure. But as a romantic partner? Uh, no. He drinks in just his underwear, he’s insensitive, does weird stuff out of nowhere, overthinks things too much.”
She folded her arms with a groan. It seems Eiko’s assessment of Haruhiko was quite mixed.
“He’s just a weird guy, you know?”
“Yes, I know he’s a bit off-kilter. But I find that cute in its own way.”
“Love makes you blind, I guess. Well, I’ll support you, but it’ll be tough. Knowing what I know about Haru’s circumstances.”
I couldn’t quite hear the last part, but it seemed Eiko wasn’t very supportive.
A bit disappointing. In the end, the consultation didn’t really go anywhere.
Of course, that wouldn’t change anything between them. Since the Nil tea shop was closed that day, Sayuki ended up walking home with Eiko.
But on the way, they were stopped by a group of boys and girls from the same class.
“Oh, if it isn’t Kannazuki! Heading home? We’re gonna go hang out, you in?”
“Whoa, Kutani-senpai’s with you!? How about you, Senpai?”
The boys seemed very excited.
Against her will, Sayuki’s name Kannazuki Sayuki was rather well-known at this school.
As the daughter of the president of a major nationwide department store chain, she was viewed as an unusually elegant beauty for modern times, though she herself disliked sounding conceited.
Plus, Eiko was considered one of the top five beauties at the academy. The boys practically forced their invitation onto them, trying to get close.
“No, we’re…”
“C’mon, let’s just go with ’em, huh?”
They wouldn’t take no for an answer.
Thanks to her looks and usual demeanor, Sayuki’s classmates treated her favorably overall. But she wasn’t universally liked. One flashy girl in the group was eyeing Sayuki with contemptuous eyes.
“You might as well give up, Kannazuki’s into old geezers.”
That girl probably disliked Sayuki. She spoke in an extremely harsh tone.
“Huh, into geezers?”
“Yeah, yeah. I overheard it before, y’know? Kannazuki’s got a thing for some 26-year-old creep.”
Earlier, Sayuki had briefly mentioned Haruhiko when the class gossiped about crushes. It must have gotten around to that girl.
“No way, seriously?”
“Whoa, you can’t judge a book by its cover.”
“Right? A hot chick like her, into some lame old man? Gross.”
“Oh yeah, doesn’t Kutani-senpai hang with that old store manager at her part-time job? Ew, guess they’re both into geezers.”
Everyone snickered. It was an extremely uncomfortable, unpleasant feeling.
Then one of them, a boy who often hit on Sayuki, stepped forward.
Apparently he was a soccer player, persistent to a fault though popular with other girls for being handsome.
The flashy girl kept glancing at him. Maybe she liked him and was jealous of Sayuki getting invited.
“Kannazuki. C’mon, let’s go out.”
“No thank you, I’ll be heading home with Senpai.”
“That creepy old guy? Nah. You’re better off hanging with guys our age, getting a proper boyfriend and stuff.”
“…Please just leave me alone.”
I didn’t like him implying there was something improper about my relationship.
cold tone came from irritation, but the boy remained undeterred, pressing further. Apparently peeved too, the flashy girl glared at Sayuki with contempt.
“Just give it up, she clearly prefers that gross old creep.”
“But c’mon, no way Kannazuki would actually date some perverted stalker geezer, right? Don’t worry, I’ll set him straight if he tries anything.”
The soccer boy’s comment grated on me.
And then Sayuki—
“Haru? Hello, could you please come to Nedora Academy right away? I’ll call Zero-san too.”
[Ah, Eiko. What’s going on? Did something happen?]
“Yes, right now please! Sayuki is waiting too! Whatever you do, don’t get too fired up! Keep a natural demeanor, okay!”
[Well, I happen to have some free time, so it’s fine.]
—For some reason, Eiko reached the peak of anger before Sayuki did.
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