Hayashi Megumi is all lovey-dovey.
My first meeting with Shiho-chan wasn’t exactly what I’d call pleasant. Her kindness—or rather, her clingy nature—saved the day, and we managed to walk home hand in hand, but I need to earn a bit more of her trust.
Holding Shiho-chan’s hand and following Yamamoto, I was lost in thought. Strangely enough, I felt a kind of resolve welling up inside me.
Probably because if I can’t win Shiho-chan over here, my relationship with the Yamamoto family might turn sour. That’s the kind of resolve it was.
“Hey, Shiho-chan, is studying fun?”
“Huh? …Not really.”
“Oh, really?”
“Yeah. Did you go to cram school too, Megumi-san?”
“Huh? Oh, yeah, back in middle school.”
“I see. I’m not like my brother; I’m not that smart.”
“Is that so?”
“Yeah. That’s why I hate my brother.”
…To think she’d resent her brother and say something like that just because she’s not good at studying.
Well, Shiho-chan has probably been compared to Yamamoto her whole life, so I can understand why she’d feel like complaining.
But hating Yamamoto over something like that?
…No matter how much they’re siblings, that’s not something I can just let slide.
“When I’m struggling, he’s always like, ‘What’s wrong?’ or ‘Want me to help you study?’ He says stuff like that so much it’s annoying.”
That’s because he cares about you.
Thinking it’s bothersome is completely missing the point.
…Oh no.
I want to make this girl understand.
Violence is out of the question, but anything else…
“He should worry about himself a little more, your brother.”
“…Huh?”
“Your brother’s probably going to live a much grander life than me. So instead of worrying about others, he should think about how to make his own life even better. That’s what I’d like him to do.”
…Hmph.
“I get it. He’s always worrying about me, saying it’s for my sake, and it’s so annoying, right?”
“Right, right! And then he talks with those big words and that high-and-mighty attitude, like, ‘I only did it for your own good!’ It’s so irritating!”
“Totally get it!”
Yamamoto is really so stubborn.
Like Shiho-chan said, he doesn’t even question if people might dislike him for helping them, and he never regrets it. And yet, he’s always so kind, looking out for me.
“He never bends on his opinions, does he? And he’s unnecessarily good at taking care of people. So annoying.”
“Haha, Megumi-san, you totally get it. That’s exactly it. Annoying, so annoying!”
What’s that, Shiho-chan? You totally get him, don’t you?
Uh-huh.
That’s right.
Yamamoto’s annoying like that, but he’s so kind.
It’s exactly because I’ve experienced that kindness of his that I fell in love with Yamamoto. My first love.
“Hey, Megumi-san, what’s my brother like at home?”
“Huh? Let’s see…”
I put a hand to my chin, thinking with a cheerful expression.
What’s Yamamoto like at home?
How is he annoying, and how is he kind?
I never would’ve thought a conversation with someone who shares the same feelings could be this much fun.
By now, all the nervousness and apprehension I felt toward Shiho-chan at the start had completely vanished.
And it’s all thanks to Yamamoto.
Thanks to him, I was able to connect with Shiho-chan like this.
For the rest of the walk, we got along great and talked about all sorts of things.
“Megumi-san, pat my head!”
“What? Oh, fine, I guess.”
Shiho-chan’s hair was glossy and so soft.
“Megumi-san, can I call you Meg-chan?”
“What? Oh, fine, I guess.”
“Meg-chan, hug me!”
“What? Oh, fine, I guess.”
“…Looks like Hayashi’s completely won over Shiho…!”
I thought I heard Yamamoto’s voice from far away.
