Autumn was busy as usual with the Athletics Meet and the Learning Presentation, you see. Emperor who was the anchor for the baton relay, managed the shocking achievement of pulling the class from last place to 1st place, so it’s been really noisy with the squealing of the girls.

*imouto*

*imouto*

“It was a shame about your class wasn’t it, Akizawa-kun.”

Akizawa-kun’s class had been 1st place until Emperor overtook them.
What’s more, Akizawa-kun was the anchor.

“We were up against Kaburagi-kun so it can’t be helped. Maybe it might have been different if Enjou-kun had joined in though.”

The truth is, Akizawa-kun and Enjou are actually in the same class.
This time Enjou injured his leg before the Athletics Meet or something, so he couldn’t participate in the baton relay or any of the other main events.

“But you were the anchor, so you are fast too, aren’t you. As I recall, you participated last year as well, did you not?”

“I only got chosen as the anchor right as it started though, thanks to Enjou-kun’s injury. But running isn’t a bad feeling. When we enter the middle school section, I want to join the track and field club.”

“Oh, I see.”

I haven’t thought as far as middle school yet.
To begin with, I guess there isn’t anything I want to particularly do. Maybe if I had to say something, then eating a lot of cheap sweets?
Uu-… I’m talking about myself here, but it’s pretty bad…

“You were part of the ball-toss game, right, Kisshouin-san?”

“Yes. I was first place.”

Since ball-tossing was something he could do even with a busted leg, Enjou joined in. Though, with him there, the girls in his class were more interested in getting close to him than the ball-tossing, and a whole different kind of competition began. Because of that, Akizawa-kun’s class did really badly.
Giving all that a small glance, I diligently continued to toss the balls into the nets, and turned into a ball-tossing machine.
Since I’m not all that great with sports I wouldn’t have been able to help in the other events, so I had just wanted to try my best in ball-tossing at least.
I’m more than satisfied with 1st place in ball-toss.

“For a while after the Athletics Meet, all these girls kept barging into Kaburagi-kun’s class to see him, didn’t they? The uproar was really intense, huh? Apparently Kaburagi-kun got angry in the end though.”

“Indeed.”

But that uproar is an annual occurence.
Girls are always in an uproar around Kaburagi Masaya, but after events like athletics meets, the magnitude is on a different level.
And he flips out each year as well, so I kind of think they should just learn their lesson already, but apparently a maiden in love can’t be stopped.

“The uproar on each Valentine’s Day is also a sight to see, isn’t it.”

“Yeah, that was pretty crazy too! There was even a line of girls in the corridor waiting to give him chocolates, and it ended up as this mountain on his table, you know? Wow, it was crazy~ Someone like me only gets chocolate from Mum, Oneechan and my childhood friend.”

“I understand. I too, only gave chocolates to Otousama and Oniisama.”

Starting two years ago, I started giving handmade chocolates to Otousama and Oniisama.
This year Oniisama tried to be polite about it and told me “It must have been difficult for you to make it yourself, so just buying me chocolate is fine, okay?” but how could there possibly be too much time or effort for my beloved Oniisama!
And what’s more, this year has the all-important exams for the high school section, so I stuffed my prayers for his success into the chocolate as well, along with my love for him.
And Oniisama seemed to find it delicious too, so I’m super pleased.
Since he seemed so happy about it, I’ll definitely try my best next year as well.

“Oh? You didn’t give Kaburagi-kun any chocolate, Kisshouin-san?”

“Eh-? Why would I?”

What the heck? What a disturbing idea.

“No, I mean, I thought for sure that you were in love with him too.”

“Definitely not.”

I accidentally gave a blunt denial.
This isn’t a joke. Just who the heck would pursue such a dangerous romance.

“I see. Ah-, could it be that it’s Enjou-kun?”

“That is also not the case.”

Um, seriously though. Why are those two the only choices?
To begin with, I don’t like popular people.
Looking at them objectively they’re certainly cool, but if they’re so popular there’s gunna be too many rivals, and it’s just scary.

Mm~mm… But ‘romance’, huh…?

Thinking about it, I’ve never had a crush on anybody in this world. Maybe it’s still too early for me.
In my old life, my first love was my older cousin, wasn’t it.

Geh-! Aren’t I just like Ririna then?
But I don’t think I was such a troublesome child…

If I remember correctly, we went kite-flying on new years and he played with me, so I liked him because he was kind to me.
The fact that he wasn’t rowdy like the boys in my grade gave him a lot of points.

In my old life, when I was in primary school the boys in my grade would do stuff like play hockey with the broom sticks and accidentally hit girls with the ball, or have milk-chugging competitions (which I still don’t understand), or steal the sweets that I brought with me on excursions and even tell me “It’s cause you keep eating stuff like this that you’re a fatty, you knooow!” as they walked off with them, so they really were just a bunch of idiots.
What do you mean ‘fatty’, you stupid brats! My size at the time wasn’t ‘fat’ yet, it was ‘plump’!
I was just a bit round.
When it snowed, I packed some snow into a rock of a snowball and pegged it at those fools. And then immediately hid. They were super mad because they didn’t know who did it. Serves them right.

Thanks to that, although there aren’t any big idiots like that in Zui’ran, thanks to the shining presences of Kaburagi and Enjou in our grade, unfortunately the impressions left by the other boys in our grade are weak.
Although I think once we get a bit older and their own individuality starts to bloom, there’ll be a few other popular guys in their own right.
Endure until then, unfortunate boys.

But still, kind boys, huh?
When it comes to boys who are kind, I know basically Oniisama and…

I stared at Akizawa-kun next to me.

“Eh-? What?”

Akizawa-kun is a nice kid too, isn’t he.
At cram school he’ll talk to me without reserve, and I get the feeling that I’m more myself around him than when I’m with any of the girls at school.
And the other day when I was going home, he opened the door for me. He’s a gentleman.
His face and brown hair remind me of a squirrel, so he’s cute.

“Um, Kisshouin-san? Did I do something?”

“No, nothing of the sort.”

I smiled to blow things over.

Akizawa-kun is a kind and very good kid, but for some reason I can only think of him as a ‘good friend’.
‘Friendzone’. I think I can kind of see his future──

Having no idea of the stupid things I was thinking about, Akizawa-kun took out the learning materials with a smile.
…Sorry, Akizawa-kun.

<Previous Chapter | Imouto | Next Chapter>

Uh, in Japanese you don’t need to say ‘I’, ‘I’, for every little thing. They only occasionally use it. For that reason, even when mothers refer to themselves as Okaachan or sisters refer to themselves as Oneechan or this little girl here refers to herself as Riri, it’s nowhere near as annoying as in English.

How it sounds in JA: Riri went to the shops today. (I) saw a great big bear, and (I) thought to (my)self, wouldn’t this be perfect in Riri’s room?

How it sounds in EN: Riri went to the shops today. Riri saw a great big bear, and Riri thought to herself, wouldn’t this be perfect in Riri’s room?

And so, like I’ve done in Tilea’s worries and other translations, I’m just going to go halfway. You’ll get used to it in no time, I swear. >_>

Summer break is a gathering of troublesome relatives.
Naturally they bring children, or rather, sometimes I think children is all they have, but amongst the children is my natural enemy.

“Taka-niisama~ I’ve missed you!”

Hugging my Oniisama was the daughter of my father’s younger sister, and a girl 1 year my junior, Kotou Ririna.
In other words, my cousin.

“Riri’s wanted to meet you allll this time, but Taka-niisama, why didn’t you ever come visit me?”

“I was busy with school, you see.”

“Ehhh~ But Riri wanted to meet you! In exchange, stay with Riri for all of today! Okay?”

…

“Yeah. With Reika too, okay?”

Ririna finally looked this way after 100% ignoring me all this time.

“Ahh, Reika-san. So you were here.”

“Gokigen’yoh, Ririna-san.”

Of course I was. Right next to Oniisama!
Didn’t you purposefully push me away when you ran to hug Oniisama?

Damnitt~ This girl isn’t cute at all!

Ririna’s an only child, and she apparently wants an Oniisama, so she’s always been clingy with my Oniisama.
Incidentally, she apparently doesn’t need an Oneesama (me).
Hmph!

“Hey, Taka-niisamaa. Let’s have a chat over there. Riri has plenty of things she wants to tell you.”

With that, she pulled my Oniisama away.
With Oniisama taken away, I was suddenly by myself.

Endure it, endure it. I’m an adult. I’m an adult.
It’s childish getting angry over a little girl’s selfishness.
It’s only for today after all, so it doesn’t matter. I’ll lend him to you.
My Oniisama!

“Reika, you come too.”

Oniisama turned his head to call for me.

Waa~hh, Oniisamaa!

The enemy skilfully chose a two-seater sofa and secured the position next to Oniisama.
The topic of conversation is nothing but Ririna’s bragging.
About where she went, the various things she bought, how she was praised at a recital…
And the kind Oniisama listened to her with a smile.

“Honestly, Riri wished she went to the same school as you, Oniisama. Then we could have been together.”

One of the requirements for the Zui’ran primary section is living somewhere less than an hour commute away, so Ririna couldn’t get in.
Honestly, I’m relieved about that. I’d absolutely hate to go to the same school as her.

After that, Ririna’s boasting continued.
While completely ignoring my existence.

When I first met Ririna, I was thinking of getting along with my younger cousin.
But the moment she saw me, she registered me as an obstacle and enemy, so I gave up on getting along before long.
Aahh, I got completely ignored and refused.
At the very least I don’t respond when she picks a fight, but I can’t stop the sparks silently flying between our eyes.

With his gentle and refreshing looks, and his gentle personality as well, naturally Oniisama is popular amongst the other children amongst our relatives as well.
Children steadily started gathering around him, and Ririna’s mood took a nosedive.
She started glaring in every direction.
Amongst them were distant relatives in middle and high school, who were Ririna’s biggest rivals.
There were those who genuinely dreamt of Oniisama, but some of them might have also been spurred on by their parents, because they looked like they were aiming to become the wife of the Kisshouin heir.

“Takateru-sama, it has been a while. Do you remember me?”

“Of course I do, Kasumi-san.”

“I’ve looked forward to meeting you as well, Takateru-sama.”

“I see. Thank you very much, Maya-sama. It seems you’re doing well.”

“Hey! I was talking to Taka-niisama! Don’t butt in!”

Ririna clung to Oniisama’s arm and barked at them.

“I see you’re the same as always, Ririna-san. Don’t trouble Takateru-sama so much.”

“Huh! There’s no way that Riri is troubling Taka-niisama! Taka-niisama loves Riri! Don’t say whatever you want! Go away already!”

Ririna became really irritated.
In the end they could have just ignored it as the nonsense of a child, but everybody was more or less troubled by her normally selfish behaviour and many found it irritating. Given how often Ririna tries to monopolise the precious Oniisama, she often butts heads with the older girls who don’t back down.

“Takateru-sama, there is some summer homework that I don’t understand. Could you please teach me?”

“Hahh? Go ask your tutor or cram school!”

“Nobody was speaking to you. Takateru-sama, is it no good?”

“Mm~mm, well, just a little is fine. I guess we’ll do it together with anybody else who has problems.”

“Taka-niisama!”

“You didn’t bring any homework, Ririna-san? Then perhaps you should go read a picture book somewhere.”

“What was that!? I’m not at the age where I read picture books anymore!”

The smaller kids were frightened by their fighting, so I’ll call them over and play with some toys prepared in advance.
Fights between women are scary so I immediately retreated from the frontlines. Oniisama, try your best.
Now then, should we go with something easy like playing cards?

“Calm down, Ririna. You can stay by my side, but only if you behave, okay?”

“But Taka-niisama! You’re Riri’s Taka-niisama! Why do we have to be with these people!?”

Apparently Ririna couldn’t endure the fact that she couldn’t monopolise him.

“Riri’s Taka-niisama, you say? Takateru-sama has a proper young sister in Reika-sama. Takateru-sama is Reika-sama’s Oniisama.”

Ah-, the taboo words.

After hearing the number one thing she didn’t want to be told, Ririna trembled in mortification then for some reason sharply glared my way.

Whoa, whoa, it’s not like I said it, right?

“I definitely won’t forgive you lot! I’ll tell Okaasama on you!”

After screaming that, Ririna flew out of the room with a bright red face and teary eyes.

“I’ll talk to Ririna, so everybody, please study first.”

Saying that, Oniisama chased after Ririna, and everyone left behind started to complain at once.

“What’s with that girl. Even selfishness should have its limits.”

“She’s being spoilt because Takateru-sama is kind.”

“Whenever there’s something she doesn’t like, she immediately thinks she can just go tell her parents!”

It was an explosion of displeasure at Ririna stealing away their long awaited chance to get close to Oniisama.

“With that girl treating Reika-sama as an enemy, even Reika-sama must be angry, right?”

“Right, right. Just now she was clearly ignoring Reika-sama, wasn’t she.”

Oop, the conversation turned my way.

“Well, by no means does she visit each and every day, so I personally do not mind. Ririna-san must be lonely from being an only child.”

I’ll give a safe reply just in case.
If I joined in on their badmouthing here, things’ll probably get annoying later.

Although the girls seemed dissatisfied that I didn’t join in, even without me, they began a huge Ririna Badmouthing Festival.
Scary.
Ririna really is younger after all, so honestly I should be trying to persuade them to stop, but no matter how much I think I can’t come up with any good points about her, so I’ll just pretend I didn’t hear anything.

This is exactly why family gatherings are so tiring.

*imouto*

*imouto*

*imouto*

*imouto*

<Previous Chapter | Imouto | Next Chapter>

I think everybody knows already, but Japanese schools go
Primary: Years 1~6
Middle: First to Third Years
High: First to Third Years
Uni: First to Fourth Years　(Generally)

“Uu huu~”

Opening the box in front of me, I smirked.

It was the middle of the night, and I was alone in my room.

There’s a box I keep in the depths of my closet, and occasionally I take it out to examine the contents.

“I’ve saved up quite a bit, haven’t I.”

Inside the box were rolls of banknotes.

I’m currently saving up money at home.

In the Kisshouin family, the pocket money I get is an unthinkable amount going by my common sense.
Each month (although it’s not like there’s some set amount), I usually get x0,000 Yen from my parents.
It’s not money that you’d be giving to a primary schooler as pocket money, right?
If you give somebody this much money from their childhood, I don’t think they’ll grow into a decent adult.

It seems like it’s in case I ever need money while hanging out with friends, but to begin with I go to lessons after school and basically never go out to play, so there’s nowhere for me to use it.
My family buys me what I need for school after all, and when I need something from outside, our chauffeur-cum-helper goes out to buy it.
Thanks to that, I’ve done nothing but save it.
I’m keeping this money in case our house falls into ruin by some chance. I want it to help pay my tuition.

But well, even I have something I want to buy in secret (mostly cheap sweets), so I’ve decided on my own my monthly spending money. It’s 500 Yen.
I think this is about right for a primary schooler’s pocket money.
And the rest of the money, I place in this locked, and slightly largish jewellery box.

It would be too weird for a little girl to want a safe, so while I was looking for something else with a lock, I came across this in a jewellery shop.
It’s small enough that a child can carry it in their two hands, and it’s perfect for putting notes into.
Okaasama had come with me, and I immediately pestered her for it.
I’m sure everybody around me thought I was a little girl drawn to it because of how sparkly and pretty it was, but I chose it entirely for practical purposes.
It was a miscalculation that she bought me a pink sapphire necklace to go along with it though.

*imouto*

That night, I tore out the soft velvet dividers without hesitation, and turned it into a normal rectangular box.
And then, I took out all the notes I’d been hiding in dictionaries until now, and moved them into the jewellery-box-turned-safebox.
Just as expected, there was plenty of room left afterwards, and it looked like it would do just fine as a safe.
I sure found something good.
To make sure I absolutely don’t lose the key, I keep it taped far inside my drawers.

*imouto*

And now, sometimes at night I’ll take open it up and chuckle, like an evil governor looking at his urn of gold coins.

“One note, two notes…”

U hu hu hu hu… I can’t stop the laughter.

*imouto*

*imouto*

Although it’s still a bit vague, each time we go up a year, the caste divisions become clearer and clearer.
The ones at the top are, naturally, the members of the Pivoine. There are only about 10 of them in each grade, so this never changes.
As for the rest, the very fact that they entered Zui’ran during the primary section means that they’re all members of the upper class to a degree, so the division into middle and bottom castes is more about the person themselves rather than how powerful their families are.
The upper-middle caste are the followers of the upper caste, and behave conspicuously.
The lower caste kids are all meek children who pass the time quietly.

And as for me, I’m the top member of the top faction amongst the girls.
Thanks to that I don’t get bullied or anything, but it’s saddening that the quiet kids are afraid of me. If I had to say it, I’d prefer to spend my time leisurely talking to the meeker kids.
Despite being children, the girls in my group are quite haughty already.
They’re all girls that would never ever buy cheap sweets from a convenience store.
We have a few members of the Petite Pivoine too, so the group values tradition and social status. The followers are more proud of it than the actual Pivoine members are, so it’s pretty tiring.
When I consider that one day they might catch me without my fake Ojousama mask, it sends chills down my spine.
I can’t hurt the honour of the Kisshouin family, so I smile along with my surroundings.
Even though I’m only a primary schooler, interpersonal relations are already pretty tough.

While I was walking with those girls in tow as usual, I found Akizawa-kun coming down from the opposite side of the hallway.
Noticing me, he smiled and was about to wave, but perhaps he was overpowered by the girls around me, because he averted his eyes and walked past me looking a little frightened.

…Uu, I knew it.
A group of girls is scary, isn’t it. But my group is particularly so.
I’m really sorry, Akizawa-kun.
Recently we’ve always been getting along next to each other at cram school, so I finally thought ‘Male Friend GET!’ but if he got scared of me and avoided me at cram school because of this, it would be really sad.
Today when I go to cram school, I’ll apologise.

*imouto*
“Nah, don’t worry about it. I ignored you too, so aren’t we even?”

When I got to cram school, I immediately said “Sorry about making it hard to talk to me. I’m sorry about ignoring you.” but Akizawa-kun forgave me with a smile. What a good boy.

“It requires courage to call out to somebody amongst a crowd of girls, doesn’t it.”

“Yeah. And especially for your group, Kisshouin-san.”

Thought so.
Akizawa-kun belongs to a group in the middle caste in our grade. He doesn’t follow around somebody in the upper caste, but isn’t meek like a lower caste either. Truly smack bang in the middle.
As for me, I think being in that kind of the position seems the most fun and free, so I’m envious of him.

“Do your friends know that I got to the same cram school as you?”

“No. To begin with, I have not spoken about the fact that I attend one.”

“Ah, I see. Would it be better not to say? I’ve already told a few of my friends though.”

“I am not particularly concealing anything, but… Well, I suppose it might be better not to speak of it.”

I lied. I’m totally hiding it.

I mean, if I told somebody, what if they wanted to come as well?
In that case, my original goal of going to the convenience store would be out of reach.

“Hmm~ Then maybe it would be better not to talk to you at school, Kisshouin-san. I wouldn’t be able to explain why I knew you after all.”

“I don’t think it is necessary to go that far.”

It would be like shunning him, and I’d feel bad.
And also, because he’s already here in cram school I’ve already given up on the convenience store, so it isn’t that much of a problem even if they find out I’m going now.

“Mn, but well, I think it’s better like this. You’re kind of different at school after all.”

“Oh? I am?”

“Yeah. To begin with I was the one who spoke to you first. I didn’t think you’d be this easy to talk to. Like, I thought your attitude would be a bit more like, ‘Hmph. I don’t want to be spoken to by the likes of you’.”

“Ehhhh!?”

“Ahaha.”

Is that the kind of image I had?
No, I mean, I did have a faint idea, but… it really is a shock.

“Do I appear that unpleasant a person?”

“Eh-? Sorry, did I hurt you? I didn’t mean it in a bad way. It’s just like, the Pivoine members are sort of in a different world to me, I guess. Your friends call you Reika-sama after all.”

“Ahh…”

Using ‘-sama’ is just like ‘gokigen’yoh’, and is something left behind in Zui’ran as a remnant of the past.
It’s particularly easy to be called ‘-sama’ if you’re a Pivoine member.

“Ah-, would it be better if I called you Reika-sama as well?

“Absolutely not.”

‘Well you never know without asking,’ he said with a laugh.

<Previous Chapter | Imouto | Next Chapter>

Escalator schools are Japanese (usually private) schools that have associated sections. For example, it might have everything from primary school to high school, meaning that unlike other high schools, there aren’t any tests to get in, and it’s easy to not get kicked out. In Japan, getting into good middle schools or high schools involves testing, and schools where you just go straight up are thus compared to an escalator.

I entered Year 3.
In the primary section of Zui’ran, we change classes in Years 3 and 5.
The praying I did every night during spring break seemed to work because I ended up in a different class to Emperor.
I won against the 1:4 odds.

Oniisama graduated from the middle school section and entered the high school section.
Now that he’s a high schooler he seems more busy than ever, and he spends even less time at home now.
That’s no fun.

Both Yurie-sama and Aira-sama graduated from the primary section and became middle schoolers.
For some reason they suddenly looked a lot more mature once I saw them in their middle section uniforms, and I ended up feeling the difference between primary schoolers and middle schoolers.
I wonder why. It’s only been a month since summer break.
Is it the magic of uniforms?
Mm~mm, the middle section uniform sure is cute.

Because Emperor visits a different salon to Yurie-sama now, his mood has been pretty bad.
They say to leave sleeping dogs lie, so I decided just to watch.
With such a dark aura around him, basically only Enjou can talk to him without a problem.
As expected of Enjou. It would be absolutely impossible for me.

When I look at how beautiful Yurie-sama is becoming, I can understand Emperor’s anxiety about their age difference though.
When you’re an adult, 4 years difference isn’t a big deal, but to children it’s much too wide a gap.
There’s no way a 1st year middle schooler could look at a Year 3 kid romantically, right?
Maybe it’s because Emperor understands that quite well. Whenever there’s a guy who tries to approach Yurie-sama, Emperor just silently threatens him with eyes filled with bloodlust.
From Yurie-sama’s point of view, she probably doesn’t feel anything except a cute little brother’s jealousy, which is yet another tragedy for him.
Sometimes he goes to the middle school section to wait for her, apparently. What a loyal one you are, Emperor.

*imouto*

*imouto*

Also, the cram school that I’ve been attending since Year 1 had a few Zui’ran students enter.
Zui’ran is an escalator school, so as long as you aren’t exceptionally bad, you’ll go straight up into the next section. Thanks to that, there isn’t really any sense of crisis pushing the students to study.
What’s more, almost everybody hires a private tutor instead of cram school.
And despite all this, a number of Zui’ran boys started going to mine.
It felt like the thing I’d been dreading all along had finally came around.

“So you were going to this cram school too, Kisshouin-san.”

A boy from my Year 3 class called out to me.

“Yes, well…”

“Um, would it be okay if I sat next to you?”

“…Please help yourself.”

I get it. That feeling when you’re heading somewhere new for the first time, and while you’re anxious about not knowing anybody, you suddenly spot an acquaintance. You unconsciously want to stay near them.
It’s reassuring, right? It’s relieving, right?
But to me, it’s a terrible development.

“Some other guys are going to start going as well, but they’re going on different days to me. I thought I was going to be alone, but to think that I’d find you here, Kisshouin-san. Ah, are you starting this year too?”

“No, I have been attending since Year 1.”

“Ehhh!? Really!? That’s surprising. I didn’t know you were such a studious typ-… ah, no, umm,”

Mn. I don’t mind, so don’t worry.
As the de facto leader of the ojousamas at Zui’ran, I probably don’t look anything like the studious type who’d join a cram school in Year 1, right?

“I wished to attend because of Oniisama’s influence.”

Well, I suppose I’ll just give him a safe answer here.
At some point I already had the label of brocon stuck to me after all.

“Wow, I see. By the way, how is this place? Is the work harder than the stuff at school?”

“Hmm. This cram school is focused on preparations for entrance exams, so I suppose it is quite difficult after all.”

“I seee.”

After that he asked me various other things as well, but naturally he was somebody who already knew me, so it got harder and harder to ask.

‘What’s your name?’ that is.

This sure is troubling.
Even though he’s being so friendly, if I told him that I didn’t know his name, he’d feel hurt, right?
Isn’t there some kind of hint…? Ah-, I know.

“Class is about to begin, so it would be best if you took out your exercise book. Have you taken a look at the contents of the textbook?”

“Ah, you’re right.”

After rummaging through his back, he took out his Japanese study books and placed them on the table.
Let’s see, let’s see. The name written on the exercise book is──

“秋澤匠(Aki-Sawa Takumi)”-kun.
Alright, got it.
I’m not sure if his surname is read Akizawa or Akisawa though.

“What class did you end up in during the class changes, Akisawa-kun?”

I casually emphasised that I already knew his name.

“Ah-, Kisshouin-san, you knew my name? I was sure that your group had no idea who I was. Um, I’m in Class 4. Also, my surname is read as Akizawa, not Akisawa.”

…If you were thinking that I didn’t know your name, then introduce yourself first, dammit.

Here I was, worrying over whether a classmate would have his feelings hurt because I didn’t know his name.
Is this boy actually a bit of an airhead?

Class began before long, and brought an end to our conversation.
The contents were a little difficult for a Year 3 class, but for now I’m still fine.
Sitting next to me, Akisawa-kun, now known as Akizawa-kun, looked nervous, but he was trying his best to listen to the classwork and answer the questions in the exercise book.

After that came break time.

“Aah, I was so nervous! It’s a lot further ahead than our classes at school, isn’t it.”

Akizawa-kun stretched as he spoke to me like it was natural.

…Of course, right~?

This was what I was afraid of.
If a Zui’ran student entered my cram school, then naturally they would notice me. And then after that, they would pay attention to me.
Either that, or like Akizawa-kun, they could come over to talk to me.
I didn’t expect that there would be someone so friendly from our first conversation though.
But like this, it gets in the way of my original purpose of going to the convenience store!
Aahhh~ I knew this would happen…

“I think so too. In exchange, the classes at school become easy though.”

“I seee. Your grades have been good, haven’t they, Kisshouin-san. You didn’t seem the type at all, you know.”

This boy really is an air-head. His tongue slipped.

“Do I appear that lax a person?”

I decided to give him a jab.

“That’s not what I meant! Umm, how do I say this, it felt like you lived in a different world to hardcore students, I guess? The girls around you are like that too. And also, you’re a member of that Pivoine, after all.”

Well, that’s true.
Even amongst my peers, my family is quite powerful, so in a school that emphasises tradition, being descended from a noble family really gives you influence. Because of that, those kind of girls gather around me, and I naturally end up with the most intimidating group amongst all the girls.
Everyone feels more like followers rather than friends, so it’s a little sad though.
Rather than “Reika-sama”, it would be great if they called me “Reika-chan”, huh~
I wonder if I actually have any friends in that school…

“I’m pretty surprised! Kisshouin-san, you’re hard to approach and I thought you wouldn’t give me the time of day, but to think that you’d be this easy to talk to.”

Akizawa-kun laughed happily.

Mn, so I really am hard to approach after all.

“Do you think it would be okay if I sat next to you next week as well?”

I suppose I won’t be able to go to the convenience store either way now, right?
What’s more, there aren’t that many people I can talk to so closely.

“Yes, of course.”

I wonder if Akizawa-kun will become my friend.

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