When I reunited with my arrogant childhood friend, she had become a talented and beautiful girl – Even though she has probably forgotten about me and I don’t want to be toyed with, for some reason she keeps getting involved with me!?

On Saturday morning, my sister and I were having breakfast in the living room.

I carried my dishes and my sister’s dishes to the kitchen and started to wash them with a sponge.

“Ah, a phone call.”

My sister said, glancing at me.

While washing the dishes, I focused on listening to my sister’s voice.

“Hello— Good morning, Shindou-kun. Haha, I can tell from your voice, you just woke up, didn’t you?”

As I suspected!! It’s from that guy, Shindou!!

“Eh? Something urgent came up? …I see. …Yeah. Yeah. Got it. Next time then. Bye.”

My sister ended the call with a clearly disappointed voice.

She sighed and looked down.

Her reaction… it’s genuine. Could it be… even my sister has someone she likes?

“…Wha, what happened?”

I decided to ask.

“Hmm? Well, I had plans to hang out from noon today, but the other person had something urgent come up. Hmm. My afternoon schedule is now free.”

I see, so she was canceled on.

Ha!! What’s with that guy!! Canceling at the last minute like this!! That’s seriously low!! If it were me, I’d be furious!!

While thinking this, I finished washing the dishes.

“Huh? Sister… are you going somewhere?”

Around noon, I ran into my sister in the hallway, dressed in casual clothes.

“Yeah, I’m going to hang out with a friend.”

“Hmm… Eh!?”

As I passed my sister, a refreshing scent wafted by.

Is this… perfume!? Eh!? My sister is wearing perfume!?

Moreover, it’s a soap-like scent that seems very attractive to men!!

It’s strange. My sister going out with a friend and putting on perfume… this is suspicious!!

I prepared to tail my sister within 30 seconds.

With a hat, sunglasses, and a mask, I disguised myself to make sure she wouldn’t recognize me.

Somehow, this outfit… it’s suspicious to outsiders… No, no!! That’s not the point right now!!

If the other person is a carefree guy, I have to beat him up!!

Thinking this, I followed her to a square in front of the station. My sister was looking around, apparently looking for someone.

“Wow, she’s so beautiful…”

“Is she a celebrity?”

The crowd was buzzing as they looked at my sister.

“Wow, what’s that… suspicious person?”

“She’s acting strange and it’s scary…”

On the other hand, I was attracting attention for a different reason.

Well, it’s natural considering this outfit…

“Ah, there he is. Hey, Itsuki-kun!!”

Eh? Itsuki?

At the end of my sister’s gaze was my childhood friend, Sato Itsuki.

Why is Itsuki here!?

Could it be… was the person my sister was supposed to hang out with today Itsuki!?

Eh? Why?

No, when did they become so close?

Eh? Moreover, does she know his contact information? I don’t know it.

Eh? Eh? Huh?

I barely managed to suppress my urge to rush out and carefully followed the two without being noticed.

Trudging along, I arrived at a tart shop famous for its delicious tarts.

Eh? What’s with this choice? It’s like… no, it’s not a date.

I also went into the shop, sat at a seat near the two while being looked at suspiciously by the staff.

While eating the ordered cake and tea set, I observed the two.

Then, my sister was taking a picture of the tart set on the table with her smartphone.

“Right? Now it’s my turn. Here, open up.”

Wha- wha- wha- My sister!? What is this “open up” business!?

“…Umm, what are you doing? Please, take as much as you like.”

“Huh? I won’t eat it if it’s not fed to me.”

My sister smoothly extended her fork towards Itsuki.

“Here you go, this is the fork I’m using. Now feed me,” she seemed to imply.

“Hurry up and feed me, or we’re going to draw attention, you know?”

No, you’re already drawing plenty of attention!?

“…sigh. Open up.”

Itsuki, of all people, extended the fork he had been using and pointed out a matcha tart.

Wha- wait a minute!? What are you doing!?

“Eh, eh, uh, open up.”

Caught off guard, my sister hurriedly ate the matcha tart.

“…ah, ahaha. A classic indirect kiss is a bit embarrassing…he, hehe…”

“…ah, I’m sorry.”

What? What’s this? What on earth am I witnessing?

After that, the two of them were engrossed in conversation while eating the tart.

Their voices were quieter than before, and I couldn’t hear them clearly…

My sister went to the restroom, and I quickly hid my face behind the menu.

Having confirmed that, Itsuki stood up from his seat and walked away somewhere.

I thought he looked my way for a moment… Did he notice me?

A few minutes later, both of them returned to their seats, finished their drinks, and stood up.

I followed them, but for some reason, they didn’t pay and just walked out of the store.

Wait, what? Why didn’t they pay? While I was puzzled, I lost sight of them.

Left behind, I slowly made my way to the cashier.

Sigh, this is the worst. Absolutely the worst… I should’ve never come.

“How would you like to pay?”

“Ah, cash-”

“By card.”

“Eh?”

Suddenly, Itsuki appeared from the side and took over the payment for the cake set.

“Come on, let’s go.”

“Eh, eh?”

What, what does this mean? As I followed along, my sister was waiting for me.

“Hey there, Akane-chan.”

“Eh? Wha- why!?”

“Huh? Why… I knew you were following us.”

My sister said with a smirk.

“Y-you noticed?”

“No, you… looked suspicious. You actually stood out.”

“Ugh…! Th-that’s right! Um… I-I was wondering what the two of you were doing behind my back!!”

“We were talking a little about your student council election.”

“M-my election?”

“That’s right~ I had a few requests for Itsuki-kun. He was asked to do this and that.”

“S-so that’s what it was…”

For me… they were doing all this for me.

“Thanks for paying for our cakes, Itsuki-kun. I’ll pay you back next time, okay?”

“…I, I’ll also return the favor someday!”

I have to think about what would be a good gift…!!

“Sorry, okay? I couldn’t resist teasing you when I saw your reaction.”

My sister whispered that in my ear.

Wha- what… So that’s what this was about.

That’s right! If I think about it calmly, there’s no way my sister would be interested in someone like Itsuki!!

I approached Itsuki with determined steps.

“You’re not off the hook either! You took it seriously!”

“Huh? Suddenly you’re all smiles and saying something that doesn’t make sense. It’s pissing me off.”

…Hm? But why was my sister wearing perfume?

And if she was just teasing me, there was no need to post that suggestive photo…

“Akane-chan? What’s wrong? You’re deep in thought.”

Well, whatever!!

I started to walk with a spring in my step.