Chapter 110: Valentine's Day Morning
2/14, Valentine's Day.
That day, the whole school was wrapped in a giddy, mysterious excitement.
Amidst all that, I walk to school with Tanaka-kun.
Tanaka: "...Everyone's just getting swept up in the promotion, you know..."
"...True."
My best friend really holds a grudge against Valentine's Day.
Logically, psychologically, even while acknowledging the pros and cons and economic impact, there's a hint of resentment toward Valentine's Day mixed in...!
Tanaka: "...What about Sho-kun? I bet he'll get a ton, right? For sure."
"...Sho doesn't even realize it, but yeah. He'll probably get three, at least?"
My best friend's got crushes—like on Kashii-san? Or Kureha-san, who confessed to him in high school? Or Ise-san, who's always with him?
...Nozomi's the type who just wants to eat the chocolates, right?
Tanaka: "...Sho-kun's got the mindset of a samurai... He probably doesn't care about Valentine's at all?"
"...You know, the origin of Valentine's is back in third-century Rome? The Roman Emperor Claudius II at the time banned his soldiers from marrying, saying morale would drop if they had loved ones back home. But there was a priest, Valentinus, who opposed the policy and secretly married off many soldiers. Eventually, word of him reached the emperor, and the angry emperor ordered Valentinus to stop doing that and convert to the Roman religion. But Valentinus preached the importance of love, so he didn't obey—and on February 14th, was executed. So, it's a day to honor him. When I told Sho that, he was all moved, like 'Valentine's Day is a man's day!'"
Tanaka: "That's so Sho-kun! ...Haven't heard you do a speech that long in a while, Kousuke-kun..."
Tanaka-kun laughs, looking amused, and I laugh too.
Sho really likes stories like that, huh.
Laughing, Tanaka-kun says,
Tanaka: "...Every year, you're so busy on Valentine's, Kousuke-kun, so I've always held back! But this year, we're together!"
The three of us have been hanging out since middle school, but—
Sho always had two locked in? Aoi had a girlfriend? Last year I had a girlfriend, too?
Tanaka-kun... yeah.
"Since we don't have girlfriends, we're together this year, right?"
Tanaka: "Kousuke-kun...!"
With a look of emotion, Tanaka-kun starts mumbling about 'male camaraderie' and 'bonds of solidarity' and such with satisfaction.
Bam! Something bumps into me from the side!
The soft scent of a girl, and the gentle feel of a soft shoulder brushing mine.
...That's Nagase-san, right?
Nagase: "Kousuke-kun! Good morning! What day is it today, hmm?"
Smiling mischievously, she's the most popular girl in our grade.
That smile mixes brightness and a touch of shyness, attracting the stares of all the surrounding boys.
"Fashion over comfort!"—that's her motto, so even in winter, Nagase-san only layers up under her coat. She's beautiful and cute as always today.
...Which makes her kind of scary...!
By the way, Nozomi, who's like a little sister, hates the cold and bundles up so much she looks huge in winter.
Tanaka: "...Our male bonding talk...!"
Nagase: "Boy-to-boy talk is so pointless...!"
Tanaka-kun and Nagase-san glare at each other with me in between.
...Actually, these two have terrible chemistry...!
Both insist they're the closest to me, and it's been a deadlock forever.
*By the way, they clashed at the beauty contest, and Nagase even turned down a live commentary offer.*
Tanaka: "...Kousuke-kun is a real man...!"
Nagase: "I know that! That's why he's great!"
Don't fight...
The two of them are getting more and more fired up.
Tanaka: "...Tch, acting like you're Kousuke-kun's number one...!"
Nagase: "...Just because you've been together since middle school...!"
It's rare for gentle Tanaka-kun and easygoing Nagase-san to get this worked up.
...I guess I have to mediate?
"...Tanaka-kun is my best friend. Nagase-san is the girl I talk to the most in our grade. Both are super important! Okay? Get along!"
Tanaka: "...Kousuke-kun..."
Thump...
Nagase: "...Kousuke-kun..."
Thump...
I felt a chill of fear from both sides.
What is this? While I'm a little creeped out,
*pon pon*—someone taps my shoulder from the side.
Airi: "Morning, Kousuke-kun♪ Here's some Valentine's chocolate and chocolate-flavored protein, okay? I'll be giving them to everyone in the basketball club, so don't worry about it, alright?"
Airi-senpai gives me a bright, fresh smile and says, "Let's go!" invitingly.
As I take both, I thank Airi-senpai,
Airi: "...Yours is a special big one, Kousuke-kun! Don't show it to the other club members! ...From your big sis to her cute little brother♪"
I'm so surprised by Airi-senpai's wink that I freeze up.
Fluffy hair, slightly droopy beautiful eyes, and an amazing figure.
She's one of the most beautiful and popular girls at school, and to me, Tendou Airi is an irreplaceable senior...
And now she's calling herself my big sister?!
Meanwhile, Tanaka-kun and Nagase-san are still squabbling behind me.
A big sister... I have an older brother, but no sisters...
A sudden "big sister" claim from Airi-senpai leaves me startled, weirdly happy, and oddly lonely all at once.
If I had a big sister like her, I'd probably be really happy...
My heart is beating in a strange way.
This is how my mysterious relationship with Airi-senpai begins.
☆ ☆ ☆
For some reason, the author completely forgot about Tanaka-kun for like 20 chapters.
Seriously.
For even the author to get stealth'd...
Aru: "...Tanaka-kun... what a terrifying kid...!"