Chapter 11 - Childhood Friend's Older Sister
“Yahoo, Akane-chan!”
After school, a short-haired girl with a more mature appearance and aura than Akane was waving at us from the classroom entrance.
She had a chrysanthemum badge on her collar, a symbol of the student council.
“Eh? Big sister?”
Akane Shinjo Aoi.
The sister and student council president of Akane Shinjo, Aoi is her childhood friend. In terms of looks, she’s one of the top five beauties at Hekiryou High School, along with Akane.
She has consistently ranked first in her class in academics, and she’s a perfect all-around athlete.
Akane rushes over to Aoi and starts chatting about something.
Is it about the student council?
Aoi scans the classroom as if looking for someone.
As soon as our eyes meet, she waves at me.
“Hey there, Itsuki-kun!”
Yikes… In an instant, the entire class is staring at me.
“Come on over.”
She beckons me with a knowing smile.
…I don’t want to go, but I have no choice.
Suppressing my desire to go home, I head towards Aoi.
“Hey hey, long time no see~ Do you remember me?”
“…You’re Aoi-san, right?”
“Correct! I’m glad you remembered. That makes big sister happy~”
She teases me by gently patting my head.
I can feel the gazes from behind me getting sharper.
“But still… Huh…”
For some reason, Aoi stares intently at my face.
Her gaze makes me feel like she’s probing for something.
“I have a favor to ask of you, as a childhood friend… Can you listen to me?”
“Ah, I’m sorry… I have to buy some discounted eggs today, so please excuse me.”
I respectfully decline the request from the beautiful student council president, whom any other male student at our school would likely accept with enthusiasm.
My intuition, which has never been wrong, tells me so.
I shouldn’t get involved with this person. I should leave this place immediately.
“Ahaha, I thought you’d say that. Can’t be helped. Akane-chan! Formation B!”
Huh?
“Eh!? What’s that…!?”
Though confused, the sisters seem to understand each other. They move simultaneously, tightly pressing their bodies against me from both sides and entwining their arms.
“Hehehe~ Itsuki-kun, you’re such a lucky guy to be sandwiched between the top two beauties at our school~”
I see, that’s impressive.
The atmosphere around us becomes tense.
“So, how do you feel right now?”
“I don’t feel alive.”
“Is it because of the joy?”
No, it’s because of the fear.
Aoi on the right is grinning, while Akane on the left is blushing and looking down in embarrassment.
Come on, Akane… If you’re embarrassed, you don’t have to do this…
“We’re okay like this, but what about you?”
Aoi says with a knowing look.
“…I accept the student council president’s request.”
“Great. Then we’ll escort you like this.”
“Huh? Wait… this is a bit too much.”
Ignoring my words, the Shinjo sisters start walking.
We arrive at our destination while being watched by various students.
Inside the classroom, there are a lot of folding chairs.
“Now, what we need your help with is organizing the supplies. These chairs will be used for the upcoming student council election, so be careful.”
I receive a list of supplies from Aoi.
Helping out with the student council’s work, huh?
“Well then, please help out. Akane-chan, do your best too.”
With that, Aoi leaves the classroom.
Aoi’s “do your best” sounded like it had some hidden meaning, but she left the room before I could ask.
It’s just Akane and me now.
Sigh, I can’t help it. I’ll finish the task and go home quickly.
With that in mind, I start working. Akane begins working too, and a silent time passes.
While working, I suddenly realize…
This amount of work could easily be done by one person.
“Hey.”
Akane unexpectedly calls out to me.
I stop what I’m doing and turn around to see her face looking tense.
“Um, that… I… with you…”
Her words cut off there.
Silence ensues.
I see, there was a hint in Aoi’s words. I can somewhat guess what Akane wants to say.
However, I wait for Akane’s words.
I don’t rush her, just silently staring at her.
“You know, the current student council’s term is about to end soon, and the election to decide the new president is starting. I… I’m running as a candidate too.”
“Indeed, it’s about that time, huh…”
“…Would you… join me as the vice president in the election? I… I need you.”
As I thought, it’s an invitation to the student council election.
Akane’s hands are trembling. It must have taken a lot of courage for her to say that.
In that case, I have to respond.
“Sorry, but I’m not interested in joining the student council.”
It’s best to clearly state that so she doesn’t have any false hopes.
“So, I see…”
“It’s not that I don’t want to run with you. I just don’t want to join the student council.”
I make sure to properly follow up on that point.
Akane then shows a somewhat relieved expression.
I don’t want to deal with the heavy workload of the student council again. Moreover, I don’t feel motivated enough to take on such a responsibility right now.
“There are many more capable people around you than me, right?”
Akane looks somewhat dissatisfied with my words.
“I think you’re very capable.”
“Yeah, yeah…”
I wonder how she came to that conclusion.
“Well, fine… I’ll back down for today.”
I thought she would be more persistent, but she backed down rather easily.
“…During the student council election period, I’ll use every trick in the book to…”
It sounds like she’s saying something scary, but I pretend not to hear and return to my work.
“Oh, good job! That was faster than I expected.”
When I go to the student council room to report, Aoi is staring at some documents while wearing glasses.
“How do I look? Intellectual?”
Aoi says with a proud look, holding her glasses with both hands like a child.
“Ah, yeah. I guess so.”
When I casually respond, she pouts and says “tch.”
I hand over the checked list to Aoi.
“Alright. I’ve received it. Good job, both of you. I’ll stay a bit longer to finish up some work, so Akane-chan, go home first and prepare dinner.”
“Understood.”
Akane nods at Aoi’s words.
Wow, she doesn’t only make lunch but also prepares dinner.
“I’m going to the supermarket now for groceries. Don’t you need to go to the supermarket to buy dinner too?”
Can she stop glancing over here while holding her bag?
Well, I need to buy some nutritious food too…
“Alright, let’s go together.”
“!!”
When I replied, Akane’s face lit up with happiness.
“By the way, do you have your own reusable bag? If you don’t, you can use mine-”
“Ah, sorry. Itsuki-kun, can you stay with me instead?”
“Eh?”
After convincing Akane, who started to throw a tantrum about staying together, I ended up staying behind alone while she went home.