Chapter 1: “The Beginning of a Fake Relationship”

“—Nii-ni~!”

After school, as I arrived at the preschool where my little sister was enrolled, a tiny girl with short twin-tails came dashing toward me—my adorable four-year-old sister, Kokoa.

“Kokoa, I’m here to pick you up.”

“Mmh!”

When I crouched down and spread my arms, she leaped right into them, rubbing her cheek against mine. As clingy as ever.

That aside…

“When you call me, it’s not ‘Nii-ni,’ it’s ‘Onii-chan,’ okay?”

“Nuh-uh…! Nii-ni!”

Kokoa puffed out her cheeks and shook her head vigorously. This nickname might get her teased by others in the future, so I’d been trying to correct it while she was young, but she seemed to love it and refused to change. It was probably easier for her to say. She’d likely grow out of it eventually, so maybe I should just let her do what she wanted.

“Shirai-san, hello.”

“Ah, Sensei!”

As I lifted Kokoa up, a woman in her early twenties with a gentle smile spoke to me. Her name was Sasagawa Misora, the preschool teacher in charge of Kokoa’s class. She was an incredibly beautiful and kind person, not even overshadowed by Kuroyuki-san, though there was a ring sparkling on her left ring finger.

“Hello, Sasagawa-sensei. Thank you for always taking care of Kokoa.”

“Oh, no trouble at all. Kokoa-chan is such a sweet, good girl, so she’s always a big help.”

“Mmh, Kokoa’s a good girl!”

Realizing she was being praised, Kokoa nodded with a smug little grin. I found it adorable how she got carried away so easily at her age.

“Ready to head home?”

“Mmh!”

When I asked, Kokoa energetically raised her hand.

“I had a feeling Shirai-san would be coming soon, so Kokoa-chan got herself ready to go, didn’t you?” Sasagawa-sensei smiled warmly while gently patting Kokoa’s head.

Kokoa, clearly delighted, let out an “Ehehe” and flashed an adorable smile.

“—Well then, we’ll be off.”

With Kokoa’s bag slung over my shoulder, I bowed to Sasagawa-sensei while holding Kokoa in my arms.

“Yes, please take care on your way home. See you tomorrow, Kokoa-chan!”

“Bye-bye~!”

Kokoa, who absolutely adored Sasagawa-sensei, waved with a big smile, and I gazed fondly at my precious little sister as we left the preschool.

As we headed home…

“Nii-ni.”

Suddenly, Kokoa started tugging at my clothes with little yanks.

“What’s up?”

“Wanna go to the festival.”

Festival? Oh…!

“You mean the town festival happening next Saturday?”

“Mmh!”

Kokoa nodded enthusiastically. It was a pretty big festival, but it was held in the heart of Okayama City, not in our so-called countryside hometown on the edge of Okayama Prefecture, so I hadn’t told Kokoa about it. If she knew, she must’ve heard about it at preschool today. If she wanted to go, I couldn’t just say no—that’d be too sad for her.

“I’ll check with Mom first, but it’s probably fine.”

“Mmh!”

She must’ve really wanted to go, because Kokoa nodded eagerly, her head bobbing up and down. I didn’t usually take her out far for fun, so this would be a nice change. Mom would probably be okay with a festival, too.

And so, we decided to go to the festival on Saturday.

That Saturday evening arrived…

“Nii-ni! Hurry up!”

Kokoa, now changed into her yukata, bounced up and down, urging me to move faster. I could tell how much she’d been looking forward to this day. By the way, the festival had been going on since noon, but we were joining in the evening simply because we’d run out of money too fast if we went all day.

“No need to rush—the festival’s not going anywhere.”

“Nuh-uh, hurry…!”

“Alright, alright, let’s go.”

I was ready, and it didn’t seem like I’d forgotten anything, so we could head out. Sensing that, Kokoa darted in front of me.

“Mmh…!”

She spread her arms wide, making a big show of it.

“Hmm…”

I knew exactly what she wanted, but it was a festival today, you know…

“Hug…!”

When I hesitated, Kokoa tugged at my clothes with a pout. Her earlier gesture was her way of asking for a hug. Kokoa loved being carried, so she’d ask for it any chance she got, but… carrying her in a crowded place, huh…

As I mulled it over, Kokoa’s eyes started to glisten with tears. Seeing that, I immediately crouched down.

“Once we get to the festival, you’re walking, okay?”

“Mmh, ehehe…♪”

When I gave in and picked her up, Kokoa beamed with a delighted smile. She was so predictable… but she was clever for her age, so she might’ve already figured out that teary eyes made me cave. If that was the case, it wasn’t great for her upbringing… but I just couldn’t win against my little sister’s tears. For now, I decided to carry her while the streets were less crowded and put her down once it got busier to avoid being in the way.

—That said, I was also a bit worried about tiny Kokoa getting squished by the crowd. I’d just have to play it by ear and adapt as needed.

“O-matsuri♪ O-matsuri♪”

Now in high spirits from being carried, Kokoa started swaying happily. It made her feel a bit heavier, so I kinda wished she’d stop, but she was too cute, so I let it slide.

“Anything you wanna eat?”

“Hmm? Candy apple…!”

“Alright, let’s get a candy apple then.”

“Mmh!”

With that little chat, we headed toward the nearest station.

And when we arrived at the festival…

“—Please, stop!!”

A scream, almost like a cry, rang out. It was a festival, so all sorts of things happened, but—somehow, that voice sounded familiar. The direction it came from was packed with people, so something was definitely going on.

“Nii-ni…?”

Kokoa looked up at me, worried, clearly curious too. With my sister here, I didn’t exactly want to get involved, but…

“If it’s someone we know, it’d be bad to ignore it…”

If it was a total stranger, I’d leave it to the police or whoever, but if it was someone I knew, I’d feel awful ignoring it. Better at least check it out.

With that in mind, I picked up Kokoa, who I’d set down, and pushed into the crowd.

“—C’mon, just hang out with us!”

“I’ve already told you multiple times, I’m not interested…!”

At the center of a circle of onlookers stood a striking girl with peach-pink hair—and, as expected, it was someone I knew. She was being harassed by two sleazy-looking college-aged guys.

“Don’t be so cold~ Look, it’s no fun wandering the festival alone, right?”

“I’m waiting for someone…!”

The girl being hit on—Kuroyuki-san, dressed in a yukata that gave her a different charm from her usual school uniform—was having her left hand grabbed by one of the guys, tears welling in the corners of her eyes. She was probably scared of the pushy guy. I couldn’t just stand by and watch.

It’d be great if someone else stepped in, but—with this many people watching, no one seemed willing to get involved in the hassle. Well, I got why, so I couldn’t blame them. If it wasn’t someone I knew, I probably wouldn’t get involved either.

“—Sorry, kept you waiting, huh?”

With a bright, easygoing vibe, I stepped into the circle, smiling. Instantly, every pair of eyes turned to me.

“Shirai-kun…?”

As I stepped in front of her, Kuroyuki-san’s beautiful eyes widened, trembling as they locked onto me. I could tell her tense expression softened just a bit.

“Who the hell are you?”

“Can’t you see we’re in the middle of something?”

Meanwhile, the two sleazy guys shot me dirty looks. They let go of Kuroyuki-san’s hand in the process, so I handed Kokoa to her. She looked confused but instinctively took Kokoa into her arms.

Shielding the two of them behind me, I turned to face the guys.

“Sorry, but she’s got plans to hang out with us.”

I kept my smile and told them calmly. They had no way of verifying if we actually had plans. Unless the person Kuroyuki-san was waiting for showed up right now, this should be enough to get by.

“You her boyfriend or something?”

One of the guys deliberately asked about what I’d left vague. Maybe it was a big deal to them.

…No choice, then.

“Yup, that’s right. We’re about to have a festival date.”

If I dodged or denied it here, it was obvious they wouldn’t back off. So, I decided to play the boyfriend card. I’d apologize to Kuroyuki-san later.

“Hoo? A plain guy like you is her boyfriend, huh?”

“Haha! No way you two match!”

Seems like the guys were skeptical about us. Well, fair enough. Even I knew I didn’t measure up to Kuroyuki-san.

“—He’s an amazing person…! I love him so much, so don’t you dare mock him…!”

Just as the guys were laughing and making fun of me, Kuroyuki-san suddenly looped her arm through mine. She was sharp—she must’ve read the situation and decided to play along with the couple act. Then she shot a fierce glare at the guys.

It was something the usually gentle Kuroyuki-san would never do. …Damn, she was good. She was totally pulling off the vibe of a girlfriend pissed that her boyfriend was being mocked.

The guys, probably not expecting the soft-looking Kuroyuki-san to glare at them, took a step back. I didn’t miss the moment they shifted from aggressive to defensive.

“Mind if we get going? I’d rather not make a scene and have to deal with the cops.”

I said that while subtly glancing around, as if to say, Look at the crowd. Following my gaze, the guys finally noticed…

“Wait, when did we get this much attention…!?”

They finally clocked the situation. Seriously, they didn’t notice this huge crowd until now? They must’ve been really focused on Kuroyuki-san.

“Crap, this is bad…!”

“Yeah, let’s get outta here…!”

Realizing they were the center of attention, the guys scurried off in a hurry. Lucky for us, they were cowards… Things could’ve escalated to a fistfight in the worst case.

“Kuroyuki-san, thanks for holding my sister. Mind if we move somewhere else?”

I took Kokoa back while glancing around again. With this much attention on us after declaring we were a couple, if we just split up here, it could lead to more trouble. Better to move somewhere else first.

She seemed to get my drift and nodded. Since she was waiting for someone, she could contact them after we relocated.

So, we moved to a less crowded spot…

“Thanks for helping me out.”

Kuroyuki-san spoke first.

“I just happened to be there, so don’t worry about it. More importantly, about pretending to be your boyfriend—”

“Onee-chan, are you Nii-ni’s girlfriend!?”

“—!?”

I was about to apologize for the lie, but Kokoa cut me off, asking Kuroyuki-san with sparkling eyes. Her gaze was practically glittering with excitement—she was clearly thrilled. My little sister didn’t realize the lie was just for the moment.

“Kokoa, no, we’re not a couple.”

I didn’t want any misunderstandings to cause trouble later, so I quickly corrected her.

But—

“Really…?”

Kokoa’s eyes welled up as she looked at Kuroyuki-san, her expression heartbreakingly sad.

Faced with those tearful, pleading eyes, Kuroyuki-san’s gaze darted around nervously.

And then—

“Sh-Shirai-kun’s just shy and trying to cover it up. We are a couple, okay?”

Looking away from Kokoa, she dropped an absolute bombshell.

“Hey…!? What’re you—!”

I couldn’t help but let out a stunned retort.

“Really!? Nii-ni’s girlfriend…!”

But my voice was drowned out by Kokoa’s excitement.

Kokoa? Why do you believe Kuroyuki-san, who you just met, over your own brother?

“Onee—no, Nee-nee! What’s your name?”

Kokoa, bursting with curiosity, leaned in toward Kuroyuki-san eagerly.

She’s not shy with strangers, but this is the first time since Teacher Sasagawa that someone’s come on so strong. Kuroyuki-san feels similar to Teacher Sasagawa in vibe, so maybe that’s why she seems so approachable.

“Um… let me introduce myself again. I’m Kuroyuki Misaki. Is it okay to call you Kokoa-chan?”

“Yup! Kokoa is Kokoa!”

“Nice to meet you, Kokoa-chan.”

“Nice to meet ya~!”

The two hit it off right away, exchanging bright introductions.

Okay… what do I do about this? If I tell her later it was all a lie, Kokoa’s gonna bawl her eyes out…

“Kuroyuki-san, didn’t you say someone was waiting for you?”

Feeling like things could get messy, I decided to try separating Kokoa and Kuroyuki-san. If I don’t, Kokoa might get so attached it’ll be impossible to undo.

—Though, honestly, it already feels like it’s too late.

“Oh, that fell through today. I was actually about to head home.”

“Huh, really?”

“Yeah, I was supposed to go around the festival with my Onee-chan, but she bailed at the last minute.”

“Bailed… at the last minute…?”

Not understanding the phrase, Kokoa tilted her head with a puzzled look.

“It’s short for ‘canceling at the last moment.’ It means breaking a promise right before it happens.”

“Ooh?”

Kuroyuki-san raised a finger with a smile, explaining, and Kokoa nodded, clearly impressed.

Yeah, she definitely didn’t get it.

“It’s like if your Onii-chan said he’d take you to the festival but then changed his mind.”

“No way…!”

When I explained with an example, Kokoa puffed out her cheeks and shot me a glare. Her little hands crossed firmly, making an X.

“I’m just saying that’s what it’s like. You know I’d never break a promise with you, Kokoa.”

“Mhm…!”

Seemingly satisfied, she gave a big nod.

All good now.

“…”

“Hm? Something wrong?”

As I reached to pat Kokoa’s head, I noticed Kuroyuki-san staring at my face.

Is there a bug on me or something?

“Um… you just sound really gentle. You don’t talk like that at school, do you?”

Apparently, my tone with Kokoa caught her attention.

“You change how you talk depending on whether you’re dealing with a little kid or not, right?”

If I spoke too harshly, Kokoa might get hurt. So I make an effort to be gentle. Otherwise, even a small scolding could make her cry.

“Hmm… so you really love your little sister, huh?”

“Of course! She’s this adorable, so it’s only natural…! She’s practically an angel…!”

I scooped Kokoa up from behind, showing her off to Kuroyuki-san. Kokoa flashed an adorable smile.

Yup, she’s the perfect little sister.

“Not just a doting parent, but a doting brother… Still, she is super cute.”

Kuroyuki-san reached out, playfully squishing Kokoa’s cheeks.

Kokoa’s cheeks are soft and springy like mochi, so they’re addictive to touch. She seems to love it too, since she’s never complained.

“I’ve always wanted a little sister…”

“You’re not close with your Onee-san?”

She sounded a bit envious, so I couldn’t help but ask.

“No, we’re super close. She’s a total slob at home, but she’s kind, and outside, she’s like, perfect.”

A slob at home but perfect in public—that sounds like a character straight out of a manga…

I thought as much but kept it to myself in front of Kuroyuki-san.

“So you just wanted a little sister, then?”

“Yeah, I’m the youngest, so it’s just me and my Onee-chan. Plus, I love kids so much I want to be a preschool teacher someday.”

Kuroyuki-san, happily playing with Kokoa’s cheeks, was unusually open about herself.

At school, she doesn’t talk much about personal stuff, so this was surprising. Maybe she holds back because everyone’s always so pushy with her.

“—Oh, sorry! You came to enjoy the festival, and here I am taking up your time.”

Snapping back to reality, Kuroyuki-san hurriedly let go of Kokoa.

Kokoa puffed out her cheeks slightly, muttering a small “Muu…”

She clearly wanted more.

“Are you really heading home, Kuroyuki-san?”

It’s a festival—she probably wanted to have fun too. Going home just because her sister bailed felt a bit sad.

“Yeah, well… honestly, it’s a bummer, but… you know, I don’t want to deal with stuff like earlier.”

If Kuroyuki-san walked around alone, she’d definitely get hit on again. A beauty like her wouldn’t be left alone.

“Fair point… Well, take care—”

“No…!”

Just as I was about to part ways with her, Kokoa grabbed Kuroyuki-san’s sleeve tightly.

“H-Hey, Kokoa…! Let go, you can’t do that…!”

“Nooo…! Nee-nee, come to the festival with us!”

Kokoa must really like Kuroyuki-san, shaking her head stubbornly and refusing to let go.

This is a problem.

“She’s going home, so there’s nothing we can do…!”

“Why…! Nee-nee is Nii-nii’s girlfriend, so why’s she going home…!”

Kokoa’s question was perfectly reasonable. If we were dating, it’d make sense for us to enjoy the festival together.

But—the truth is, Kuroyuki-san and I aren’t together.

I should probably tell Kokoa we’re not dating, but if she finds out it was a lie, she’ll sob uncontrollably. If that happens, the festival’s done for today. And Kokoa, who was so excited for this, would definitely be down for days.

As her big brother, I can’t bear to see her like that.

There’s only one thing to do…

“Sorry, Kuroyuki-san. Could you maybe hang out with us?”

To keep Kokoa from getting hurt, I had to ask Kuroyuki-san to join us.

I figured she wouldn’t want to hang out with someone like me, but…

“Is it… okay if I join you?”

Surprisingly, instead of looking reluctant, she gazed at me with a hint of hope.

It was an unexpected reaction, but definitely a chance.

“I’m practically begging you… Plus, there’s no guarantee those flirty guys from earlier aren’t still around, and it’d be a hassle to run into them without you there.”

I’m pretty proud of coming up with that excuse on the spot. Sounds natural, right?

Or so I thought—

“Got it… Yeah, you’re right. Well then, I’m in.”

Kuroyuki-san bowed with a radiant smile.

Not reluctant at all—her smile was absolutely stunning.

Could it be… she’s not annoyed about hanging out with me?

For a moment, I entertained the thought—

“Yay! Nee-nee, together!”

But with an angelically adorable girl like Kokoa here, her happiness is probably all thanks to Kokoa.

That’s what I told myself.

◆

“—Whoa, check it out. There’s a crazy gorgeous girl over there.”

“For real. Is she an idol or something?”

We’d barely started walking through the festival when I noticed tons of heated stares.

As expected of the school’s most popular beauty, I guess.

But she seemed uncomfortable with all the attention.

Meanwhile, Kokoa, snug in my arms, didn’t seem to care about the stares. In fact, she was swaying happily.

Part of it’s probably because she gets to be carried even at the festival, but the main reason for her great mood is definitely Kuroyuki-san being with us.

“The guy next to her, her boyfriend?”

“Nah, no way. Probably just some friend or something.”

And me? Apparently, I’m not even considered boyfriend material—or even a guy friend.

Guess I’m just that mismatched with her.

Learned something new today.

—Wish I’d never had to.

“Sorry…?”

Maybe feeling bad for me, Kuroyuki-san apologized with a guilty look.

“Nothing to apologize for. You haven’t done anything wrong.”

“But I’m making you feel bad because of me…”

She’s too kind, for better or worse. No matter how you look at it, she’s not responsible for the attention.

“Being kind is great, but being too kind isn’t always good, you know?”

“Huh…?”

My sudden comment caught her off guard, and she looked at me, confused.

“It’s amazing that you can take responsibility for things, but if you blame yourself for everything, doesn’t that mean you’re not seeing the situation clearly? Plus, it takes away the chance for others to reflect on their actions.”

If it’s random strangers or people who don’t matter, like those guys staring, just let them be. They’ll get what’s coming to them, and maybe a bigger mistake will teach them a lesson.

But—if it’s someone close to you, I think it’s better to encourage them to think about their actions.

“…You seem super soft on Kokoa-chan, Shirai-kun, but do you ever scold her?”

Kuroyuki-san, looking thoughtful, glanced up at me, gauging my reaction.

I do spoil Kokoa a lot, so I probably don’t seem like the scolding type.

“Mhm, Nii-nii gets mad.”

Before I could answer, Kokoa, who’d been quietly listening, chimed in.

Hearing her name must’ve made her want to jump into the conversation.

“Mad’s a strong word—it’s more like gentle reminders. I don’t yell or anything.”

“Nii-nii’s loud sometimes.”

“Kokoa? That kinda hurts your big brother’s feelings, you know?”

If she does something wrong, I’ll keep reminding her until she fixes it, so she probably holds a bit of a grudge.

Still, hearing my beloved little sister call me loud stings.

“But Nii-nii’s super nice to Kokoa.”

Maybe noticing my shock, Kokoa flashed a smile and defended me to Kuroyuki-san.

I want to believe those words come from the heart.

“Hehe, you two are really close, huh?”

“Yup, Kokoa and Nii-nii are besties!”

As Kuroyuki-san’s expression softened into a smile, Kokoa nodded happily, beaming back.

Looking at them, they could almost pass for sisters.

Sure, Kuroyuki-san’s my classmate, and we don’t talk much, but this moment doesn’t feel awkward at all—in fact, it’s kinda nice.

“—Oh, Nii-nii! Cotton candy!”

While we chatted and walked, Kokoa suddenly pointed excitedly at a stall.

Looks like she’s been keeping an eye on the stalls too.

“Weren’t you gonna get a candied apple?”

“Cotton candy too…!”

Kokoa tugged at my clothes, making her case.

She really wants it.

“Alright, alright. Sorry, Kuroyuki-san, is that okay?”

“Of course!”

Just to be sure, I checked with her, and she nodded with a smile.

Dealing with someone like Kuroyuki-san is so easy. She’s smart, so conversations go smoothly, and she’s kind enough to consider our side too.

Still, we’re not actually dating, so I need to be careful not to take her kindness for granted.

“I think I’ll get some too.”

“Go for it! It’s a festival—gotta enjoy it or it’s a waste.”

“What about you, Shirai-kun? Not getting any?”

I only pulled out 500 yen—enough for one—probably why she asked so keenly.

“I’m good with just one.”

I handed the 500-yen coin to Kokoa as I answered.

This is a learning moment for her.

“Mister! One cotton candy, please!”

Kokoa, all smiles, held out the coin to the stall vendor.

The vendor took it with a relaxed, goofy grin.

“Great job ordering by yourself, Kokoa.”

“Mhm…!”

Since she managed to order on her own, I patted her head and praised her.

Kokoa squinted happily, letting me pet her quietly. She even looked a little proud.

But—this time, she messed up a bit.

“Still, Kokoa, in moments like this, it’s even better if you order for Kuroyuki-san too, you know?”

“Oh…!”

Realizing what I meant, Kokoa’s face fell, like she’d just heard a dramatic gong of failure.

She looked up at Kuroyuki-san sadly.

“I’m sorry…”

“N-No, it’s fine! I mean, wasn’t that a bit mean of Shirai-kun…?”

Kuroyuki-san, flustered, shot me a look that seemed to say something.

She’d caught onto my intention.

“When I gave you the money, Kokoa, you thought it was just for one, so you only ordered for yourself. But since you can pay for everything together, it’s nicer for Kuroyuki-san and the vendor if you order her share too, right?”

“Mhm…”

She seemed to already get it, but I explained it clearly, and Kokoa gave a small nod.

There was no hint of frustration—she was reflecting on her mistake and learning from it.

That honesty is one of Kokoa’s best qualities.

“Come on, what do you do in a situation like this?”

“Ngh…! Ojishan, one more, please!”

“Good job, you said it clearly.”

Since she managed to place the extra order, I pat her head again with a gentle “there, there.”

That alone was enough to lift Kokoa’s spirits.

Being so young, she usually bounces back quickly from most things.

On the flip side, when she holds a grudge, it’s quite the hassle.

“So, you’re always teaching her like that?”

While Kokoa was receiving her cotton candy, Kuroyuki-san spoke up, sounding a bit surprised.

“Well, whenever I get the chance. I don’t know when I’ll stop being able to teach her, after all.”

“Don’t say it like you’re going to die…”

“People can pass away quite suddenly, you know.”

Not wanting Kokoa to hear, I said it in a hushed whisper.

My voice seemed to reach Kuroyuki-san just fine.

“You’re right…”

But her reaction wasn’t what I expected.

I thought she’d brush it off as a joke or give a vague smile, but it seemed like she had something on her mind.

Maybe she’s had an experience similar to mine.

“Here, Nii-nii! Ahh~n!”

While I was distracted by her, Kokoa held out some cotton candy toward me.

She was offering it, clearly wanting me to take a bite.

“You eat first, Kokoa.”

“Mmph, I did!”

Apparently, she’d already snuck a bite while I wasn’t looking.

Well then, I’ll help myself without holding back.

“—It’s delicious. You can have the rest, Kokoa.”

“Mmph…!”

Signaling I didn’t need any more by turning my face away, Kokoa started munching away happily.

“You two really get along, huh…”

Kuroyuki-san, who’d just gotten her own cotton candy from the stall vendor, looked at us with admiration.

“There’s quite an age gap between us.”

She’s my little sister, but sometimes I feel like she’s almost like a daughter. That’s how big the age difference is.

“You’re really kind, Shirai-kun.”

“Only to my sister.”

“I don’t think that’s true.”

With a soft chuckle, Kuroyuki-san gave me a warm smile.

Unfortunately, my kindness is reserved for family alone. I don’t have the capacity or the leeway to care about anyone else.

“Let’s eat somewhere out of the way.”

“Sounds good.”

After that, we moved to a spot with some empty chairs and sat down to eat our cotton candy.

And then—

“Nii-nii, here, ahh~n!”

“You don’t want any more?”

“Ahh~n!”

—Kokoa, unable to finish her cotton candy, ended up making me eat the rest.

This kid still can’t finish everything on her own.

◆

“—Candy apple♪ Candy apple♪”

After wandering around the festival—playing games like yo-yo fishing and superball scooping—Kokoa was now in line at a stall, eagerly waiting to buy her coveted candy apple.

She was so excited that she couldn’t stop swaying her body, clearly impatient for her turn.

“Hehe, Kokoa-chan is just too cute, isn’t she?”

“Like an angel, right?”

“Yup, I’m honestly jealous. I’d love to have a little sister like Kokoa-chan.”

As expected, Kokoa’s cuteness was on another level, melting even someone like Kuroyuki-san.

I’d never had anyone to talk about this with before, so it was kind of fun.

“Nee-nee, what about your candy apple?”

Seemingly unaware that we were talking about her, Kokoa looked up at Kuroyuki-san with a beaming smile.

Kuroyuki-san crouched down to meet Kokoa’s gaze.

“I’m okay, so just get one for yourself, Kokoa-chan.”

“Mmph…! Ojishan, a candy apple, please!”

Having confirmed Kuroyuki-san’s choice, Kokoa happily held out her money.

But the young man at the stall gave a slightly awkward smile.

Well, of course he would.

Kokoa, no matter how you look at it, this guy isn’t an “ojisan”…

“Sorry about that…”

“Nah, nah, to a little kid, I probably look like an old man anyway.”

When I apologized, the guy responded with a friendly smile.

What a kind person.

“…?”

Kokoa, not understanding why I apologized, tilted her head with a puzzled expression.

I’ll have to explain it to her later.

“Being a big brother must be tough, huh?”

“She doesn’t mean any harm, so what can you do?”

Kuroyuki-san said with a troubled smile, and I just shrugged.

Since she’s not saying it maliciously, I can’t exactly scold her.

Kokoa will learn over time, seeing things with her own eyes and picking up on word choices.

I’ll just have to teach her later to be more careful about these things.

“…”

“What?”

Noticing Kuroyuki-san staring at me, I asked what was up.

She responded with a bright smile.

“Just thinking you’re a pretty great big brother.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“I bet Kokoa-chan thinks you’re a brother she can be proud of.”

With that, she glanced at Kokoa.

Just then, Kokoa looked up at us, her mouth full of candy apple, staring curiously at Kuroyuki-san.

After mulling over Kuroyuki-san’s words and seemingly grasping their meaning, she flashed an adorable smile.

“Mmph…!”

“See?”

Confirming Kokoa’s nod, Kuroyuki-san turned a dazzling smile my way.

Her expression, almost smug, was kind of cute.

“I’m not sure she even understands. Feels like she’s just nodding along.”

“Where’s your faith in your little sister…?”

“She’s a smart kid, but she’s still young…”

I think she’s clever. Not just brotherly bias or anything—I genuinely believe it from watching her.

But there are limits. A kid who just turned four isn’t going to have the same knowledge as me or Kuroyuki-san.

“Kokoa, do you get what Kuroyuki-san said?”

“Mmph! Nii-nii, you’re cool!”

“Guh!”

Caught off guard by her unexpected counterattack (?), I instinctively covered my mouth.

Kuroyuki-san, watching the scene, let out a soft giggle.

“What’s that about…?”

“You’re pretty fun, Shirai-kun.”

“I’m normal, aren’t I?”

If anything, I think I’m on the boring side. I’m not exactly charming, and I’m terrible at socializing.

“Normal… maybe not. I always thought you had this stiff image at school, but now I think you’re kind of playful.”

“…Are you mocking me?”

“Nope, I’m complimenting you.”

Is “playful” really a compliment for a guy?

But her expression told me she wasn’t being sarcastic. As always, it was a warm smile.

“Come to think of it, we’ve never really talked like this before, have we?”

“Unlike you, I’m not great with people.”

“I’ve heard the rumors. People say you turn down invitations to hang out without even giving a reason. But I think I get why now.”

Kuroyuki-san glanced at Kokoa.

Even as a high schooler, taking a young sister to a festival outside our hometown without parents would make anyone guess a few things.

Kokoa, now engrossed in her candy apple, wasn’t paying attention to us anymore.

Her focused eating was, as expected, utterly adorable.

“Just to be clear, I’m not being forced into this, okay? I look after Kokoa because I want to.”

“Got it.”

Hearing my words, she responded briefly.

I wondered what she was thinking.

“Hey, wanna exchange contact info?”

“Huh?”

She suddenly pulled out her phone, catching me off guard.

“Let’s add each other on the chat app. That’d be more convenient, right?”

She glanced at Kokoa again, her eyes conveying her meaning.

Since Kokoa seems to have taken a liking to Kuroyuki-san, she might want to stay in touch with her in the future. She might even demand we invite her over or something outrageous.

Having her contact info would definitely make things easier. We can’t exactly talk about this stuff at school.

But—

“Didn’t you have a rule about not exchanging contacts with guys?”

I’m pretty sure that’s what the rumors at school said.

“I didn’t, but I think it’s fine with you, Shirai-kun. You seem like you’d respect boundaries, and you wouldn’t share my info with others, right?”

“Well, that’s true…”

“Yup, I trust you. So, let’s do it.”

With a smile like that, how could I say no?

So, I ended up exchanging contact info with her.

To think the first girl’s contact info I’d ever get would be Kuroyuki-san’s—life sure is unpredictable.

—After that, the three of us enjoyed the festival together, and I even walked Kuroyuki-san near her house.

Then, while soothing Kokoa, who didn’t want to part with her, I somehow managed to get us home.

◆

Sorry in advance. I’m really sorry.

That was the message I received from Kuroyuki-san after getting home from the festival and putting Kokoa to bed.

Honestly, I was confused.

It’s not like I had no guesses about why she’d apologize. If it was about Kokoa’s misunderstanding, I could see her apologizing for that.

But—“sorry in advance”? What’s that about?

The thing with Kokoa already happened, so it can’t be that.

What for?

For now, I decided to ask.

You’ll understand on Monday. Sorry.

But she didn’t elaborate.

And why was she using polite language? She’s refined, sure, but she doesn’t use formal speech with anyone who’s not above her.

She must feel incredibly guilty about something.

I had a bad feeling about this…

I couldn’t help but think that.

And then came Monday—school was in a bit of an uproar.

No, scratch that.

It was a full-blown commotion.

Because—

“Hey, Shirai! What’s this about you and Kuroyuki-san dating!?”

“Are you seriously messing with us!?”

The guys were coming at me with accusations—

“Misaki-chan, why Shirai-kun…!?”

“Think it over…! It’s not too late…!”

And the girls were trying to convince Kuroyuki-san otherwise.

Of course, some of the guys were going after Kuroyuki-san too.

This whole scene kicked off the moment I arrived at school. There were even people from other classes and grades mixed in.

“What are you talking about?”

For now, I played dumb.

I had a hunch, but I wanted to know how much they actually knew.

“Don’t play coy…! Tons of people saw you two looking cozy at the festival on Saturday…!”

“I heard you guys even announced you’re dating…!”

“I heard you’re already making kids…!”

Okay, got it.

First off, it’s clear someone’s brain has completely shut down. Common sense says there’s no way we’re making kids.

“Raito-kun…!”

While I was surrounded by the guys, Kuroyuki-san suddenly pushed her way into the circle.

It’s impressive she managed to break through the girls’ barricade.

And the way she called me gave me a sense of how she was approaching this situation.

“What’s up, Misaki?”

Honestly, this was a headache, but with the rumors spreading this far, denying it wouldn’t do much good.

Unlike me, who has no friends, she’s got a ton of them. During or after the festival, she must’ve been bombarded with messages from the girls.

Thinking back, it was odd that she, who’s cautious about guys, suggested exchanging contacts with me, a guy, even with Kokoa in the picture.

By then, she was probably already getting those messages. And there’s no way she’d ignore them—she must have responded every time.

She probably said we’re dating, didn’t she?

If we assume that’s the case, her messages start to make sense.

Part of me wishes she’d talked to me first, but it feels like she’s already laid the groundwork.

She’s sweet, but she’s got a cunning side too.

“Hey, you just called her Misaki…!?”

“So you two really are dating…!”

The guys who figured out our relationship slump, their faces painted with despair.

When she was single, no matter how many times they got shot down, they still had hope. But now, knowing she has a boyfriend, there’s no chance left for them—so their reaction is understandable.

The real issue is the girls.

Some are excited, cheering us on, but most are glaring at me with sharp, judgmental eyes.

To them, their friend and idol, Kuroyuki-san—no, Misaki—being with a pariah like me is unacceptable.

Well, I get it.

If I were in their shoes, I’d be uneasy too. Honestly, if I heard someone like me was dating Kuroyuki-san, I’d assume she was being deceived.

“Sorry for keeping it a secret, everyone. Some of you might already know, but we’ve been dating.”

Maybe because I called her by her first name, she took it as confirmation. Misaki slips her arm through mine, clinging close.

Then she rested her head on my shoulder, flashing her brightest smile.

And with that—the classroom, the hallway, everywhere—erupted into screaming pandemonium.

“Misaki-chan, you’re being tricked…!”

“Is he blackmailing you or something…!?”

Unlike the guys, who were either sulking or spacing out in defeat, the girls weren’t backing down. Sure, they were upset, but from the looks on their faces, they were genuinely worried about Misaki.

In the middle of all this, I couldn’t help but think—Misaki was lucky to have such good friends. That was probably a testament to her character.

“Everyone, you’ve got Raito-kun all wrong. He’s kind and wonderful.”

Misaki kept her gentle smile, her voice calm as she tried to reason with the girls. When I first got to school, she had been flustered, scrambling to deal with them, but now she was completely composed.

“No way…! We know Shirai-kun better than that…!”

But the girls still wouldn’t budge. Weren’t they being a bit too stubborn? Then again, this was all because of how I usually acted—so, yeah, it was my fault. If I’d known it’d come to this, I would’ve tried harder to get along with people.

Too late for regrets now, though.

“Think it over, Misaki-chan…!”

“Shirai-kun’s the worst…!”

The girls’ outrage showed no signs of slowing down. What was I supposed to do about this?

That’s when—

“…Do you really know him?”

Despite the chaos, a quiet, steady voice cut through the classroom.

I glanced at Misaki, but her smile hadn’t wavered. Yet, somehow, I felt an overwhelming pressure, like even speaking would be a mistake.

“Misaki-chan…?”

The girls sensed something off too, eyeing her cautiously.

Misaki, meanwhile, slowly scanned each of their faces before speaking again.

“Do you all really understand what kind of person he is?”

She repeated the question, her tone unchanged.

“Of course we do…! We’ve been in the same school for over a year—!”

“But that means you only know the version of him at school, right? How can you judge him based on just that?”

Now I got why her words carried such weight. She was smiling, but deep down, she was angry. This was the first time I’d ever seen the school’s Madonna lose her cool.

“Uh, well, um…”

The girls faltered under Misaki’s intensity, struggling to find words.

Realizing they couldn’t answer, Misaki pressed on.

“At the very least, I know Raito-kun better than any of you. And I chose to date him. So why are you all complaining?”

“Because we don’t want you to regret this, Misaki-chan…”

“Okay, then let me ask you—when I was being harassed by some guy, how many boys stepped in to help?”

The question came out of nowhere. The boys she was staring at quickly looked away. Normally, they’d puff out their chests and claim they’d step up, but her pressure seemed to have forced them to be honest.

“You wouldn’t raise a hand to help, would you? At the festival, plenty of boys saw what was happening and looked the other way. Sure, not everyone here was there, and maybe it’s only natural that Raito-kun, my boyfriend, stepped in. But some people can’t even do that much, can they?”

Misaki wasn’t one to talk a lot. Seeing her speak so passionately drove home how serious she was.

“At the very least, Raito-kun is someone who’d protect me, even if it put him in danger. And I know he’s kind enough to meet people where they are when he talks to them. If you keep badmouthing him, I’m going to get mad—and I’m his girlfriend.”

That final statement seemed to seal the deal. The people in the classroom looked down, ashamed, while those in the hallway slunk away quietly. Nobody wanted to make an enemy of Misaki, who was adored by the entire school.

“Phew… sorry about that. Shall we sit?”

With the issue settled, Misaki turned to me with her usual gentle smile. I didn’t say anything unnecessary, just nodded and took my seat. Misaki waited until I was settled before returning to her own desk, while our classmates, still reeling, slowly sat down too.

It was like the entire class was under Misaki’s spell. Of course, she didn’t want it that way, but her words carried so much weight it was almost scary.

One thing was for sure—I was never going to make her angry.

…It was true what they said: when someone who was usually calm got mad, it was terrifying…

◆

“—I totally messed up!”

During the next break, Misaki dragged me to the rooftop, where she clutched her head and wailed. Now that some time had passed, she was probably reflecting on what she did.

“Didn’t know you could yell that loud.”

“Don’t just calmly point that out…!”

“Look, in a situation like this, staying calm is my only option, right?”

The normally poised and graceful Misaki was freaking out like a completely different person. Since I had no idea what she might do next, I had to keep cool and keep an eye on her.

“What part are you regretting?”

She seemed coherent enough to talk, so I asked what was on my mind. She couldn’t possibly be regretting everything she did. Most of the issues didn’t even start today—they went back to the festival.

“Losing my cool and making a scene…”

“You were already the center of attention. More like the star of the show from the start.”

The hallway was packed with people, after all.

“I know, but… I ended up stirring everyone up, practically starting a fight with what I said…”

Well, depending on how you looked at it, her words could’ve been seen as picking a fight. Since her position was so overwhelmingly dominant, no one dared argue back, but if she’d been on equal footing, it might’ve turned into a shouting match.

Of course, that was assuming you ignored Misaki’s usual demeanor and personality, so it probably wouldn’t have gone that far—but her words were definitely a spark that could’ve ignited trouble.

“For someone like you, who wants to get along with everyone, it makes sense you’d feel bad.”

“No, that’s not it…”

For some reason, Misaki looked at me apologetically. I guessed I’d misread her—she was hung up on something else.

“What’s wrong?”

“It’s just… because of me, I made things worse for you. Like, I widened the gap between you and everyone else…”

Oh, I see. Basically, she thought that by defending me, she’d made everyone resent me even more. She was probably right—those who clashed with her likely weren’t thrilled about me.

The fact that the school’s Madonna, Misaki, was dating someone like Shirai Raito? Most of our classmates would raise an eyebrow or scowl at the thought.

—But that didn’t mean Misaki had done anything wrong.

“You’re too kind, as always…”

The words slipped out almost unconsciously. Misaki’s eyes widened in surprise.

“Huh…?”

“I mean, it’s just…”

Since I hadn’t meant to say it out loud, I fumbled for words. I genuinely thought she was too kind, but I hadn’t planned on telling her that. Still, since I’d said it, I had to own up to it.

“You’re overthinking it.”

“I’m not overthinking! After what I did, of course the gap would widen…”

She immediately pushed back against my words. Guess I’d been too vague.

“That’s not what I meant. Yeah, what you did probably made things worse between me and them, I’ll give you that.”

“Right? I’m so sorry…”

Misaki seemed to only hear the second part, hanging her head in guilt. That wasn’t what I was getting at…

“When I said you’re overthinking, I meant it’s wrong for you to blame yourself.”

“Huh…?”

“You said the gap between me and them widened, right? Why didn’t you say you created the gap?”

“That’s because…”

She looked away, clearly uncomfortable with my question. She probably hadn’t even thought about her choice of words. But that slip revealed what was really in her heart.

“You know, don’t you? There was already a gap between me and them. Otherwise, you wouldn’t have said ‘widened.’”

“N-No, that’s not it…! I mean, the rumors about us dating caused the gap between you and everyone, so—!”

“You don’t have to lie. It’s true I haven’t been getting along with them, and that’s what created the gap.”

“Raito-kun…”

Misaki looked at me with a sad expression. She probably thought her careless words had hurt me.

“Don’t make that face. I don’t care about it.”

“But because of me…”

“No, I’m the one who caused it in the first place. Look, even if your actions widened the gap, I’m the one who created it. If there was no gap to begin with, there’d be nothing to widen.”

Let’s say, for example, I was a guy like Misaki—someone everyone adored. Sure, some people might be jealous, but most would probably congratulate us as a perfect couple. The more friends you had, the more likely that was.

Even the girls who opposed us did so because they questioned my character, saying I wasn’t good enough for Misaki. If I were someone everyone liked, this wouldn’t have blown up like it did. Heck, even if I wasn’t loved, just not hated, Misaki’s charm would’ve won the girls over.

So, even if the whole school ended up hating me, it was because of my own personality. Misaki shouldn’t feel guilty about it.

“So, you don’t need to worry.”

“Why are you…”

“Hm?”

I thought I was reassuring her, but Misaki looked even more pained. She almost looked like she was about to cry.

“Why are you making that face…?”

“Because you’re too kind too… Taking all the blame like that… Protecting me…”

What was she even talking about?

“That’s not it at all. You’re blaming yourself for something that’s not your fault. I’m taking responsibility because I’m the root of the problem. I’m not going to blame myself for random jealousy or other people’s overreactions.”

Take this whole mess, for example. Even if the school chewed me out for it, I wouldn’t think I’d done anything wrong. And I definitely didn’t think it was Misaki’s fault either. If anyone was getting in trouble, it was the ones who’d made a scene.

I was clear on that. But Misaki? She was the type to take it all on herself. We were doing completely different things here.

“But…!”

“And one more thing—”

Misaki tried to say something, but I cut her off, talking over her.

“You stood up for me back there, didn’t you? Do you think I’m some jerk who’d get mad at you for that, just because it made things worse with everyone else?”

Since she was dwelling on it so much, I put on a fake angry tone. That shook her up even more.

“N-No, that’s not it… I was just worried about widening the gap…”

“That’s what you’re saying. So stop worrying about it. I’m grateful you defended me, and it made me happy.”

This time, I flashed her a smile, the kind I’d give Kokoa.

“—!”

She gasped, but I was sure she got what I was trying to say. I didn’t want her to regret something I was thankful for. In fact, I wanted her to be proud of it.

“Okay…”

“We done here? Class is about to start.”

“Oh… yeah…”

Once Misaki nodded, I turned to head back. We needed to hurry, or the bell was going to ring.

But then—

“Wait…”

My sleeve got tugged from behind. I turned to see Misaki pinching the fabric with her fingers.

“Hey, we’re running out of time…”

“Um, you always buy bread for lunch, right…? I made a bento for you too… So, during lunch break, let’s eat together? I want to talk more then…”

She wasn’t asking to talk now—she was making plans for lunch. Well, since we’d gone public with our relationship, eating together made sense.

“You’re awfully prepared, huh…?”

“It’s an apology and a thank you…”

Looks like I was about to taste the homemade cooking of the school’s Madonna—something every guy dreamed of.

—Yup, if the others found out, they were definitely going to hate me even more…

◆

Lunch break—

“Alright, prep’s done!”

Moving to a less crowded grassy spot within the school grounds, Misaki spread out a picnic sheet. She slipped off her shoes, stepped onto the sheet, and flashed a smile my way.

“What’s up? Come on over!”

“No, it’s just… isn’t your prep a bit too perfect, as always?”

“Well, we can’t exactly eat together in the classroom, right? Everyone staring would make it super awkward.”

“Yeah, fair point…”

Eating in the classroom would definitely draw every eye in the room. After all, we were practically the school’s most famous couple now. Basically, we were the talk of the town.

That was probably why she’d suggested switching locations. The rooftop and courtyard were popular spots, so they’d be packed with other students, just like the classroom. So, it made sense she’d picked this quiet, out-of-the-way spot, but still…

“Seriously, your prep is too good…”

The thought slipped out again.

“Being prepared is a good thing, isn’t it?! Way better than being sloppy…!”

Noticing my wry smile, Misaki puffed up, clearly miffed.

—No, wait, with her cheeks puffed out and that sulky, half-glaring look, she was more pouting than angry. It was a rare expression for her.

“I’m not complaining, you know.”

“Sure sounds like a complaint to me…?”

“It’s not that. It’s just… everything’s moving so smoothly, it’s kinda freaking me out.”

Mainly, I was worried things were going too well for me. Of course, it wasn’t like I was in love with Misaki or anything. But being alone with the school’s idol, eating her homemade food? Most guys would kill for this.

“Well, given the situation… here, your bento.”

Maybe sensing what I meant, Misaki deflated her cheeks and handed me a simple, large bento box. She was holding another one, a smaller box with a cute floral pattern, so it seemed she didn’t eat much herself. Looks like she’d really thought about making enough for me.

“You sure about this…?”

“It’s an apology and a thank-you, so don’t hold back. Besides, I’d be in trouble if you didn’t eat it.”

Misaki gave a sheepish smile, shrugging her shoulders. True, if I didn’t eat, the food would go to waste. It’d be a shame to let something she’d worked hard on go uneaten.

“Alright then, I’ll dig in… thanks.”

“Go ahead, enjoy!”

When I thanked her, she beamed back at me. Her charm was so effortless, it was no wonder guys fell for her left and right.

But—

“…”

For some reason, as I reached for the bento lid, she started staring at me intently. That kind of heated gaze would make even me self-conscious.

Okay, that was a joke, but why was she looking at me so seriously? Was she just curious about my reaction to her cooking, waiting for me to take a bite?

—No, probably not. It wasn’t the fidgety vibe of someone anxious for feedback. It was more… focused, like she was watching my every move, waiting for the perfect moment, like a predator eyeing its prey.

Yeah, it felt like she was gauging the right time to bring something up.

“You’ve got something else to say, don’t you?”

“Eek!?”

I paused, my hand on the bento, and met her gaze. She visibly flinched, her eyes darting around nervously.

“W-What’re you talking about~?”

“Don’t play dumb. This situation’s already wild enough—I won’t be shocked no matter what you throw at me now.”

Still, I figured I’d hear her out before eating. Damn it, and I was starving…

“Um… you won’t get mad…?”

“Depends on what you say.”

“Ugh, that’s so you, Raito-kun, not just letting it slide without hearing it first…”

Well, yeah, I couldn’t judge without knowing what was up. I didn’t think Misaki was the type to do something infuriating, but I didn’t know her that well. Honestly, I probably knew less about her than I didn’t. So, I couldn’t just blindly trust her.

“Haa… phew…”

Realizing she couldn’t dodge it, Misaki took a deep breath. Then, with a resolved look, she glanced around to make sure no one was nearby before leaning in close to my ear.

“So… we’re going to keep pretending to be a couple from now on… right…?”

“…What’re you even saying at this point?”

Her question was so out of left field, I couldn’t help but respond with a deadpan tone.

“Ugh, don’t look at me like that…!”

Clearly aware of how silly her question was, Misaki hid her face in her hands. But I wasn’t letting her off that easy.

“No, seriously, after setting all this up, you’re asking me now? It’s way too late to back out.”

“I know, I’m sorry…!”

She didn’t need me to spell it out—she got the message loud and clear. Even if I said no now, the whole school already thought we were a couple. There was no turning back.

She knew that, which was probably why she’d tried to butter me up with the bento first. Or maybe she thought I’d feel guilty complaining after eating her food. Either way, I hadn’t eaten yet, so it didn’t matter.

That said—

“Look, I’m not mad, so you don’t need to apologize.”

I didn’t mean to corner her, so I wasn’t actually upset. I just had to push back a bit because it didn’t sit right with me.

“But what I did… it’s pretty awful, isn’t it…?”

“Using me, you mean? I already knew you were stressed about getting confessed to, and I’m playing along to keep Kokoa off your back. Even if you’d told me upfront, the outcome would’ve been the same.”

Sure, I’d rather not make enemies of the whole school, but I was already kind of a pariah. If it helped her out, I was fine playing the boyfriend role. It wasn’t like I had a crush on anyone else.

“Kokoa-chan only got the wrong idea because of me, too…”

“…Oh, right, now that you mention it.”

Come to think of it, the whole fake-dating thing with Kokoa started because of her. I’d totally forgotten, with all the school drama.

“Well, what’s done is done. I’m not gonna complain about it now.”

Complaining might feel good if it changed anything, but it was pointless. She didn’t mean any harm, anyway. Besides, I was the one who started this fake-dating thing in the first place… I couldn’t exactly blame her when I was just as guilty.

“Raito-kun…”

“And this bento’s not just a thank-you, but an apology, right? Then let’s call it even.”

I wasn’t one to dwell, so I figured the bento settled things. But—she didn’t seem ready to let it go.

“Um… if you’re okay with it, Raito-kun, I’d like to keep making you bentos…”

“Huh?”

“W-Well, since we’re gonna keep acting like a couple, it’s a long-term thing, so I want the thank-you to be ongoing, too…”

Misaki fidgeted, pressing her index fingers together in front of her chest. Man, she was so earnest, it was almost too much…

“No, come on, you don’t need to go that far…”

Daily bentos meant daily costs and effort—I’d feel bad.

“No, I want to do at least this much. This setup doesn’t really benefit you, Raito-kun… and this is the only way I can repay you…”

What was she even talking about? Did she, the girl every guy adored, not realize her own worth or how people saw her?

“Being the boyfriend of the school’s Madonna? That’s a reward most guys would die for.”

If I put out a call for replacements, there’d be a line out the door. That was obvious without even trying.

But—Misaki’s face fell, looking incredibly sad. Clearly, there was something else going on, something I wasn’t picking up on.

“That’s not it… If we keep acting like a couple like this… I think I’ll end up hurting you, Raito-kun. Badly…”

Maybe there was a reason she’d never dated anyone. Seeing her on the verge of tears, I couldn’t help but think so.

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“…”

I asked, but Misaki clamped her lips shut and looked away.

“Is it hard to talk about?”

“It’s not that… It’s just, it doesn’t need to be said, I guess…”

Probably something she didn’t think she should tell me. Honestly, since we weren’t actually dating, she was free to do whatever she wanted. But if there was a chance I’d get dragged into some mess, I’d like to know. Not just for me—I didn’t want Kokoa getting caught up in it.

“If it’s something you can share, I’d like to hear it. If we’re gonna keep this up, let’s not have any shady secrets, yeah?”

“…You won’t think I’m weird?”

Misaki glanced up at me, gauging my reaction. She seemed ready to talk, so it was probably not that heavy. But what surprised me was what she was worried about. Weird? Did she have some bizarre fetish or something?

“Can’t say till I hear it.”

“Yeah, you’d say that, huh~”

We’d just had a similar exchange, so Misaki gave a wry smile. Can’t help it—that was just how I was.

“…I’m… scared of falling in love…”

Misaki hugged her knees, burying her face in them as she started to speak slowly.

“You mean, like, romantically?”

She got along with everyone. Especially with Suzumine Hiyouka from the class next door—they were super close. Rumor had it they were childhood friends. At the very least, she must like Suzumine as a friend, so it wasn’t like she couldn’t care about people.

…Though, personally, I wasn’t a fan of Suzumine. She was so cool and standoffish with guys.

“Mm…”

She gave a small nod, confirming my guess.

“Is it, like, some kind of trauma?”

Her saying “scared” stuck with me, so I asked what came to mind. She nodded again.

“If someone I love… disappeared… my heart would break…”

“What do you mean…?”

Was she talking about a breakup? But that felt like an overreaction. If she meant it literally—still, it was odd. Even if you were physically apart, you could easily stay in touch. You could even video call and talk face-to-face. Sure, it’d be lonely, but not enough to “break” your heart.

So, that left—death?

“It was six years ago… My older sister… she lost her husband in an accident right after they got married…”

“I see…”

So, it was about someone dying. Losing someone you loved suddenly would definitely hit hard. Especially if it was your spouse, right after tying the knot.

Six years ago—that was when we were in elementary school. Seeing her sister like that must’ve been a shock for a young Misaki.

“He was so kind and dependable—my sister loved him so much… When he died, she completely fell apart… She couldn’t even leave the house for three years…”

Recalling the past, Misaki’s body trembled slightly, still curled up. It must be a painful memory.

“So, seeing your sister like that made you afraid of ending up the same way.”

“Mm… My sister’s strong, so she eventually recovered… but I don’t think I could…”

It sounded dramatic, but I got where she was coming from. I’d lost my dad in an accident four years ago, right before Kokoa was born. That hit me hard, and if I hadn’t had Kokoa to lift my spirits, I might still be stuck in that grief.

“So, that’s why you think you’ll hurt me in the future, huh? Pretty confident, aren’t you?”

In other words, she was assuming I’d fall for her eventually. Being thought of that way—honestly, it kinda ticked me off. But I got why she’d think that. She’d had tons of guys fall for her already.

And now, we were going to keep pretending to be a couple to keep up appearances. Sure, we wouldn’t kiss, but we’d probably go on dates or hold hands. Even if you didn’t have feelings at first, doing couple-y things could spark something.

So, she was worried that if that happened, she’d end up hurting me.

“Ugh… That’s why I wanted to check first…”

Misaki flinched, like an arrow had hit her heart. I couldn’t see her face, but her tone said she knew I was onto her.

“Whatever, it’s fine. There’s no guarantee I won’t fall for you.”

“Not flat-out denying it is so you…”

“Hearts aren’t exactly easy to control, you know.”

Some guys might boast or shyly swear they’d never fall, but saying that to the school’s ultra-popular Madonna? It’d sound hollow. Better not to make empty promises.

“I know it’s selfish to ask you to play along and then say this… but I’m sorry… Even if you did, I probably… couldn’t live up to your feelings…”

Misaki lifted her face, looking at me with a pained expression. Man, kind people were such a handful…

“Relax. No one’s expecting this to turn real. If you thought that was possible, you wouldn’t have suggested fake-dating, right?”

“Of course, but… you’re helping me out so much, and I’m being so shameless…”

“You don’t have to worry about it. There’s no rule in this world that says you have to date someone just because they confessed to you.”

Above all, if someone was expecting to actually date you in the future just because you were pretending to be a couple, that was their own fault. In short, they were just playing the part of a lover with ulterior motives. Even if Misaki rejected them, she wasn’t at fault in the slightest.

“…Then, could you make just one promise for me…?”

I thought we’d settled things—or so I believed, but it seemed Misaki had more to say. Being serious was fine and all, but I wasn’t a fan of getting dragged into long discussions… Being overly fussed over just made me uncomfortable.

Plus, I was honestly starving and it was getting rough.

“What is it?”

“Um… even if it comes to that… please don’t confess to me… If you do that, I… I can still go on dates with you…”

She’d gone and said something outrageous again. She was just too serious, or maybe too kind…

In other words, as long as I didn’t try to make things official, she’d pretend not to notice my feelings even if she did. That way, we could keep going on dates like a couple, and that should be enough to satisfy me—that was what she was getting at, right?

I hadn’t even fallen for her yet, and here she was, already suggesting a compromise. That was what made me think she was just too serious. Well, I guessed it was exactly because she was this earnest and genuinely cared about people that everyone liked her so much.

“Got it, that works.”

For now, it seemed like Misaki wouldn’t let this go unless I agreed, so I nodded. She looked relieved, placing a hand on her chest and letting out a soft sigh of relief.

Alright, that should settle things. Now, finally, I could eat— or so I thought, but there was one thing I needed to confirm.

“By the way, one thing’s been bugging me… You did tell Suzumine-san the truth, right?”

She was your close childhood friend, after all. Surely you’d have talked to her beforehand. That was what I thought, but—

“N-No way I could tell her…! She’d get so mad…!”

Misaki shook her head frantically, looking completely flustered.

“Seriously…?”

Come on, give me a break… If she was your childhood friend, she definitely knew about your trauma, didn’t she…? How were we supposed to cover this up…?

“Don’t people usually tell their childhood friends about stuff like this…?”

I couldn’t wrap my head around it, so I asked.

“But Hiyouka-chan gets so scary when she’s mad… A fake couple? She’d totally lose it…”

Well, I couldn’t say I didn’t get where she was coming from. Suzumine-san was just as much of a beauty as Kuroyuki-san. Or rather, since she had that mature vibe, maybe ‘gorgeous’ was the better word.

And because she had that perfectly sculpted face, she was terrifying when she went cold. Her words could be pretty sharp, too, which was why she wasn’t exactly popular with most guys. Of course, the few guys who were into her were the type who enjoyed getting chewed out.

“Come to think of it, I don’t think I saw Suzumine-san during the morning commotion… Is she absent?”

“Nuh-uh, she’s here…”

“Then why didn’t she show up…?”

She gave off a cold vibe, sure, but that was mostly toward guys. With girls, she had a reputation for being kind. I mean, last Valentine’s Day, she got a ton of chocolates from the girls.

Now that I thought about it… she’d been kind of leaving Misaki to deal with all these confessions on her own. Were they not as close as the rumors said?

“I don’t know why, and that’s what’s scaring me… When I messaged her on the chat app saying I’d be eating lunch with you from now on, all she replied was ‘Got it’…”

Uh, yeah, that sounded like she was pissed.

“Maybe she’s mad because you didn’t tell her you’re ‘dating’ even though she’s your childhood friend…”

“That’s gotta be it, right…? Ugh, what do I do… Hiyouka-chan’s terrifying when she’s angry…”

Misaki hugged herself, trembling like a leaf. She was supposed to be so poised and put-together, but she had this surprisingly airheaded side to her… Maybe she’d been getting scolded by her childhood friend Suzumine-san since they were kids.

“If she’s gonna get mad either way, wouldn’t it be better to just come clean about the fake couple thing?”

“No way…! Hiyouka-chan hates lies and cheating. She’d totally hate me…!”

Either way, you were already lying to her, but had Misaki not realized that yet? Well, it was their issue, so I’d respect Misaki’s choice…

“Alright, just handle it somehow. My stomach’s at its limit, so can we eat now?”

“Oh…! Y-Yes, please dig in!”

When I showed her my bento box, Misaki nodded with a smile. I slowly opened the box—and there it was: fluffy, soft-looking tamagoyaki, golden-brown, juicy karaage. There was also spinach namul and a colorful array of veggies, plus a hamburger patty.

“Since it’s the first time, I went for something safe… What do you think…?”

As I stared at the bento’s contents, Misaki peeked up at me, her eyes full of curiosity. Of course, the one who made it would be anxious to hear my thoughts.

“What do I think? This is… arranged so beautifully… Did you make it all from scratch?”

“Yup, all of it. The hamburger and karaage were prepped yesterday and finished up today.”

“That’s amazing…”

I cooked regularly myself, so I got it. Even with standard dishes, the presentation was on a whole other level compared to what I made. Just the look of it told me her cooking skills were top-notch. The aroma was incredible, and the appetizing appearance was making my expectations skyrocket.

“Alright, let’s dig in.”

I put my hands together for the usual pre-meal greeting and reached for the food with my chopsticks—

“Ah, wait…!”

—only to be stopped right there. I couldn’t eat yet…!?

“What now…?”

“Y-You don’t have to get so mad…”

“I’m not mad, okay? But when you’re starving and you’ve got this delicious-looking food right in front of you, getting put on hold is pretty tough…”

I wasn’t angry, honest. I was just getting a little cranky from being dragged along too long.

“Delicious-looking… ehehe…”

But Misaki, maybe not even hearing me, started giggling bashfully. Why had she stopped me, then?

“Why can’t I eat…?”

“Oh, um… I wanted to feed you…”

“…”

Her face flushed red, her glistening eyes locked on me as she said something utterly ridiculous. You couldn’t complain if people got the wrong idea about this, you know…?

“There’s no need for that, right…?”

“But someone might be watching… It’s less embarrassing than holding hands, and it makes us look more like a couple, don’t you think…?”

What counted as embarrassing must vary from person to person. For me, getting fed ‘ahh’ was way more embarrassing than holding hands.

“Do I get a say in this?”

“Of course you do… but if possible, I’d really like to…”

She seemed to think this was some kind of clincher, like she was determined to do it. With her looking at me like a pleading little animal, it was hard to say no.

“…If it’s just me feeding you, I could maybe, maybe, compromise.”

“But in cases like this, don’t couples feed each other…?”

Hmm, how did that work? I’d never done it, nor been on the receiving end, so I didn’t know. I didn’t read romance manga either…

“For now, let’s just have me feed you. If that doesn’t look convincing enough, we can try feeding each other next time.”

Since getting fed still felt too embarrassing, I drew the line there.

“Alright, I’ll wait until you’re done eating, Raito-kun.”

“No, I’ll feed you first.”

“Huh? But…”

“I’m the one being stubborn here, so let me prioritize you.”

That said, holding off on this feast was tough… But I’d rather endure that than deal with the embarrassment.

“I’m the one being stubborn, you know…?”

“What you’re asking for is a perfectly reasonable part of being a fake couple. It’s not stubbornness. That’s all within the deal, right?”

What she was requesting fell squarely within the fake couple arrangement. Calling that stubbornness would be a bit too harsh, wouldn’t it?

“You really are kind, Raito-kun…”

“I’m not, really. Anyway, what do you want to eat first?”

“Then, the spinach namul, please.”

Starting with the veggies, huh? As requested, I picked up some spinach namul with my chopsticks and brought it to Misaki’s mouth.

“Ahh~”

Misaki opened her small mouth like a baby bird, waiting for me to feed her. Her cheeks were faintly flushed, so she must be feeling at least a little shy.

On the other hand, maybe because I was used to feeding Kokoa, I started seeing Misaki as her for a moment.

—Yeah, it felt like a parent bird feeding its chick.

Feeding someone else really wasn’t that embarrassing. So, I kept slowly feeding Misaki.

By the way, after feeding Misaki, I finally got to try the bento myself—and its flavor far surpassed my expectations, leaving me utterly satisfied.