Chapter 3
âBig sis!â
A person who appeared to be Mai Hamasakiâs younger sister suddenly showed up and tightly embraced her sister.
âMai! Whatâs wrong? Why are you here?â
While being hugged, Mai Hamasaki asked her sister. Her voice was a mix of surprise and joy, and their smiles conveyed a close relationship.
Meanwhile, I, Asato Kirishima, watched the beautiful sisters embrace each other with a vacant expression.
Two days ago, I was overwhelmed by immense fatigue after getting vomited on, causing me to skip university. As a result, Mai Hamasaki came to my house. Looking back, itâs incredible. For someone like me, who isnât liked by any woman, having the universityâs most beautiful girl visit was unexpected.
Even more surprising was that her sister also appeared after I escorted Mai back home. With so many events happening in quick succession, I couldnât help but feel anxious.
âYou had a test today. Since school ended early, you decided to come hang out?â
As I yawned and tried to stay awake, our conversation continued.
With a cute giggle, Mai Hamasakiâs sister locked eyes with her sister. I have a sister too, but weâre not that close. Well, itâs natural for siblings not to be extremely close all the time.
âI see. If thatâs the case, you could have just contacted me.â
âI wanted to surprise my big sis.â
Watching the affectionate exchange between the sisters from a distance, Mai Hamasakiâs sister pulled away from her sister and directed her gaze toward me.
With a suspicious, almost hostile lookâas if seeing something foreignâI met her gaze without any particular reaction. Should I at least greet her?
Mai Hamasaki, sensing my nonchalant demeanor, approached me and stood between me and her sister.
âThis is Mai. Sheâs still in high school and lives locally.â
Introducing her sister, Mai Hamasaki handed me a casual âHelloâ and gave a slight bow. Mai Hamasaki, her sister, responded cautiously, maintaining a wary demeanor.
âMai, this is Kirishima-kun. Heâs a friend from the same university club.â
â…Friend?â
Mai shot me a suspicious glance. After all, itâs hard to believe that a friend of a âbeautiful older sisterâ would be such an unremarkable guy.
At this rate, Mai Hamasakiâs sisterâs choice in friends might come into question. I donât owe her any explanations, but I decided to address it with a lighthearted joke.
âYes, I give this person twoäžć every month to call him my friend.â
âTwoäžć!? No, no. Thatâs… inappropriate, right?â
I was completely taken aback. My attempt at humor to ease the tension clearly fell flat.
After the first joke failed miserably, Mai took a step forward. Her sharp, cool eyes looked down at me. Although Iâm not into that kind of thing, being stared down by a taller woman was surprisingly nerve-wracking.
â…Um.â
âAre you trying to pursue my big sis?â
Before I could respond, Mai asked the question herself.
â…Kirishima-kun? Whatâs wrong?â
âIâm not doing anything. Iâm fine.â
âReally? Hey, are you okay, Kirishima-kun?â
âIâm fine! Donât look at me from above! Please, be aware of your own aggression!â
Panting and struggling to escape her gaze, I desperately tried to break free. Ah, if things were going to turn out like this, I should have never helped her.
Later that evening, I received a message from Mai Hamasaki.
I thought it was just a thank-you message for walking her home, but she continued:
âCan I call you for a bit?â
Surprised by her sudden request, I froze at home. It was the first time she had asked me that.
âCall, huh…â
Lying on the bed, I pondered. There was no reason to refuse, but why the sudden need to talk on the phone?
Talking face-to-face is different from a phone call. Hearing Mai Hamasakiâs voice in my ear was… Honestly, thinking this way makes me feel weird.
I should keep it simple and not overthink. Itâs probably nothing significant.
I got up and looked at my phone screen, replying with just âSure.â
Immediately, two characters appeared, followed by a âThank you!â message as she called.
Sighing lightly, I slid the call icon and held my phone to my ear.
â…â
â…â
Neither of us knew who would speak first, both searching each otherâs responses.
I could faintly hear the sound of her breathing on the other end. Reflecting on it, this might be the first time Iâve had such a tense conversation. Occasionally, my mother calls, but thatâs different. Senpai Sugino and Senpai Mikami, of course, donât engage in this. They donât understand the concept of personal space and often intrude despite knowing better.
â…Hello?â
âHello? Iâm sorry, are you okay?â
âIâm at home, so Iâm fine.â
âThank goodness. Iâm sorry for today. I caused you trouble.â
âTrouble? Uh, yeah. I see.â
âIâm really sorry, Mai…â
Hearing Mai Hamasakiâs strained apology over the phone, I remembered Maiâs sharp, wary gaze and couldnât help but laugh through my nose.
âYou donât need to apologize. It just shows how much you care about your big sis.â
âBut that way of saying it… Iâve properly apologized from my side. Iâm really sorry.â
âItâs okay, donât worry about it. Iâm used to being told things like that.â
âBut Iâm used to it.â
Mai Hamasaki repeated my words. Sheâs been showered with blessings since birth, so she probably couldnât imagine being constantly insulted or scolded. Well, Iâm not entirely unhurt either.
âAnyway, donât worry about it. Mai has always been the type to approach guys like that… kind of… not exactly threatening, but…â
âBiting?â
â…Yeah. A bit.â
It didnât seem like a gentle bite, but I decided not to push further. It didnât concern me.
Still, with Mai acting like a watchdog, barking and sometimes biting to protect her master, it made sense that guys couldnât easily approach her. Plus, her big sis was exhausted from dealing with useless guys, so Mai couldnât stand being around men like that.
I understand how she feels. Beautiful people deserve beautiful protectors, especially within the family.
âUm… Kirishima-kun?â
âWhat is it?â
âUh… good night.â
â…Yes, good night.â
With a ding, the call ended. Looking down at the screen displaying âCall Endedâ in large letters, I threw my phone aside.
I wondered what Mai Hamasaki was trying to say at the end. Her voice had that hesitating, determined tone, as if she was about to make a crucial statement.
I couldnât imagine someone like me having anything important to say to Mai Hamasaki. Even if there was something, I wouldnât be able to respond.
After all, I live in a different world from Mai Hamasaki. I can barely understand her troubles, let alone empathize.
Even though we were talking on the phone like this, under normal circumstances, we wouldnât have such an opportunity. Our relationship exists solely within the âSake Friends Clubâ at the university. Just club members, nothing more.
Nothing more and nothing less, and nothing more should be expected.
Just because we became friends through drinking doesnât mean anything.
âFor now… I should take a shower.â
Time flew by, and October arrived swiftly.
As students hurriedly prepared for the upcoming university festival, âGreen and Yellow Festival,â everyone was busy. Naturally, the sake-drinking club I belong to, the âSake Friends Club,â was no exception. We had gathered at a creative izakaya near the university, âMira,â to discuss what we would do. This was our third meeting today, and I hoped this time it wouldnât just be a drinking session.
Turning the corner, I looked up. The signs on the old mixed-use building listed several restaurants, and it seemed âMiraâ was located on the second floor.
It might sound odd, but Senpai Suginoâs choice was nothing out of the ordinary. Or maybe this time Senpai Mikami chose the place. Either way, I found it unusual as I climbed the stairs and found the distinctly wooden door.
Entering, I noticed a few customers already there, mostly middle-aged and older people. I felt a bit out of place as a university student, though I rarely blend into the crowd.
Frozen on what to do next, a young female staff member approached me. âUm, are you here for a meeting? I think everyoneâs already arrived.â She mumbled as she searched for familiar faces. Just then, Mai Hamasaki peeked out from behind a shoji screen in a back tatami room. Our eyes met, and she waved with a smile. I awkwardly bowed my head.
I explained the situation to the staff, and she guided us to our seats. When we opened the shoji, the other members were already there, drinking.
âGood job, everyone. Isnât it early?â
âEh, itâs not early. Weâre just on time.â
âItâs not about the time; itâs about getting the drinks in.â
âNo, drinks are what you order when you first arrive. Itâs the etiquette. Come on, Kirishima-kun, order a drink too.â
âI donât think beer-drinking etiquette holds any real value. Isnât this supposed to be a festival meeting?â
âWe can do it while drinking. Actually, we canât do it without drinks!â
Senpai Sugino laughed heartily and drank down a glass of draft beer. Thinking, âWhat is this guy?â, I sat next to Senpai Mikami and greeted them again, âGood job, everyone.â
Senpai Mikami responded casually while sipping his plum wine on the rocks, âYeah, good job.â
I ordered draft beer and a wet towel from the staff who had shown us earlier. As I was rolling the hot towel in my palm, Mai Hamasaki, sitting across from me, looked up from the menu and made eye contact. She was definitely staring at me.
âKirishima-kun, what did you do during summer vacation?â
Mai Hamasaki asked me with curious eyes. I was stumped. Honestly, I didnât do anything special, so I had nothing particular to talk about.
“What? Suddenly, what are you talking about?”
“We were just discussing that earlier. Senpai Sugino went to Mongolia.”
“Mongolia?”
I glanced toward Senpai Sugino. It seemed she had ordered maguro nigiri before I arrived and was eating it, saying something like, “It’s only for about a month.” Senpai Sugino is the president of a certain enterprise, someone who would seriously burn bills during a power outage to create lightâa real die-hard. Although she did it while laughing about it, everyone around her was completely put off. So, even when told she was going abroad for a month, I honestly wasn’t that surprised. But why Mongolia? It might be rude, but Mongolia doesn’t really feel like a vacation spot, or so I think. Not that I know much.
“Actually, she was supposed to go to the UK.”
“To the UK? What does that mean?”
“Well, she got tired of helping her parents with work, so she skipped out of the hotel and went to Mongolia. There, she became friends with some nomads, and that’s how it ended up being just a month or so.”
I didn’t quite understand even after hearing that. I concluded on my own that she probably had a fun summer vacation in her own way, when the draft beer I ordered arrived. Feeling out of scale with my own summer break, I reluctantly handed her the beer, and I took a mug as well.
“She even told me to come visit next year. Hey, Kirishima-kun, why don’t you come along too?”
“I absolutely refuse.”
As usual, we clinked our glasses while exchanging our typical banter. I gulped down the beer, placed the mug on the coaster.
“So, what about your performance? Do you have any plans?”
After drinking, Senpai Mikami asked Senpai Sugino about it. Senpai Sugino responded with a smug face, took a sip of her beer, and slammed her mug down onto the table with force.
“This year, we’re running a bar! Mai-chan will!”
“…Me!?”
Mai Hamasaki’s eyes widened at the sudden nomination. Last year’s sacrifice for the Green Festival was me, but this year, it’s her. How sad.
“Eh? What do you mean? You’re running a bar, and I’m the one doing it?”
Mai Hamasaki visibly panicked. Senpai Mikami and I exchanged glances, covering our mouths with our mugs.
âDon’t get involved, you’ll get dragged into it.
âI know. Let’s just watch how this unfolds.
“Yes, we’re renting a classroom and running a bar. You will be the bartender for the counter bar ‘behemoth.’ You have to handle customers with their quirks while making the cocktails they desire.”
Senpai Sugino was cornering Mai Hamasaki with a tone like someone explaining a board game. Maybe she played such a game recently. She’s someone easily influenced.
But still, running a bar? Well, that would mean just preparing drinks and light snacks, so the burden on me and Senpai Mikami would be light. Besides, setting up the place would be handled by Senpai Sugino’s entourage or her subordinates, so Senpai Sugino would just be footing the bill as usual. Yeah, that’s a great idea. As expected of Senpai Sugino, her mind is sharp.
“Wait, wait. I’ve never been a bartender before. It’s absolutely impossible!”
“Don’t worry, there are about two weeks left until the Green Festival, right? If you practice, you’ll manage. Besides, it’s Mai Hamasaki making the drinks. Even if they’re a bit off, everyone will drink them!”
Mai Hamasaki desperately tried to escape. Senpai Sugino, claiming everything would be fine, was already burying her exit strategy. She’s not the type to silently watch someone trying to escape. Being a weak creature without fangs, I couldn’t help but get involved. I felt sorry for Mai Hamasaki, but this year, she’s the sacrificial offering.
“Besides, weâve prepared the bartender uniform. Not some random cosplay, but a properly tailored one. And we’ve already told the school we’re running a bar.”
Senpai Sugino laughed heartily, patting Mai Hamasaki’s shoulder. The exit strategy was long over, and the main operation was already underway. My condolences.
“Are you really going to do it? Just me?”
While saying that, Mai Hamasaki glanced at us. Her eyes pleaded for help, but all I could do was avert my gaze.
“Well, it’ll work out somehow.”
Senpai Mikami casually replied as if it were someone else’s problem.
Seeing Mai Hamasaki’s distressed face, I could only remain silent and drink my beer.
Haah~…”
As I walked toward the station, Mai Hamasaki next to me let out a deep sigh.
Despite her bright fashion with heeled pumps, a white lace long skirt, a white collared blouse, and a denim jacket, the atmosphere surrounding her was dark and heavy.
It couldn’t be helped. She was suddenly told to run a bar and had no choice but to comply.
“Well, Senpai Sugino may seem like that, but I don’t think she’ll really let you do anything reckless, so it should be okay.”
I quickly lied to encourage Mai Hamasaki. She slightly pointed her well-formed pink lips and only murmured, “I wonder if that’s true.”
To be honest, it’s not true. That person makes you do reckless things without a second thought and actually laughs heartily from high places when she sees others flustered or panicking.
Well, I don’t know if that’s applicable to Mai Hamasaki as well.
“But it’ll probably be okay. Even if it doesn’t go well, Senpai Sugino probably won’t care. She thinks everyone else is dumb, so she’s not expecting anything from you.”
“Eh… That’s… It’s really annoying… That I’m being used like that…”
“It can’t be helped. That’s just how she is.”
Seeing my resigned expression, Mai Hamasaki was speechless. Probably, she had never been treated so roughly and crudely in her life. That’s why she might be at her wit’s end with Senpai Sugino’s aggressive personality.
Our lives are the exact opposite. As I walked steadily, I felt the difference in our human levels with Mai Hamasaki, which I couldn’t avoid.
“By the way, Kirishima-kun, what about you? What are you doing for the school festival?”
Looking a bit down, Mai Hamasaki suddenly lifted her face and asked me.
Confused by her vague question, I furrowed my brows, leaving my hands in my hoodie pocket, and tilted my head.
“What do you mean, what are you doing?”
“What do you mean? I was thinking maybe you’d go sightseeing with someone.”
“…Ah, so you’re making fun of me.”
“Eh!? I’m not! Why?”
“Because I don’t have friends who’d go around the festival with me.”
“Eh… Ah… Um, sorry?”
“No worries, I don’t mind.”
After such a sad conversation ended without incident, Mai Hamasaki and I walked in silence again.
When the station came into view, Mai Hamasaki exclaimed, “Oh! Right!”
“On the day of the festival, Mai, my sister is coming. Kirishima-kun, if you don’t mind her…”
“I can’t do it.”
She abruptly cut it off mid-sentence. Sometimes, I think Mai Hamasaki isn’t kind or generous; she’s just plain stupid.
Mai Hamasakiâthe younger sister of Mai Hamasaki, currently a third-year high school student. She’s a beautiful girl with a height of 172 cm and a fresh, cool face. The girl in the uniform at the entrance of Mai Hamasaki’s apartment building back then.
However, no matter how much it’s Mai Hamasaki’s request, having to take care of that troublesome girl is no joke.
I still remember it clearly. Her disdainful gaze was somewhat unusual.
So far, the people who have tormented me have only had malice. There was no hostility. But her sister is different. She’s trying to get close to Senpai Mai Hamasaki, not because I’m weak, and she’s trying to push me away.
As someone at the bottom of the school hierarchy, I’m used to being mistreated by others, but when someone openly acts hostile, it creates an uncomfortable feeling.
Well, honestly, I don’t entirely understand her feelings. But when someone is openly antagonistic, it’s troublesome.
Therefore, having to look after Mai Hamasaki’s sister during the festival is impossible and something I don’t want to do. Besides, she probably dislikes me too. She said she finds me creepy.
“It’s not that I hate you, but I think your sister hates me. More than that, I think she hates meeting me… Well, I hate it a little too.”
“Hmm, is that so? But when I went back home for summer vacation, that girl asked me about you.”
“About me?”
“Yeah, she said some pretty awful things, so I made sure to tell her. Kirishima-kun is a really nice person, I’ve been taken care of by him several times at drinking parties, and he’s also given me rides home multiple times.”
“Ah… I don’t think that’s really covering it up.”
Hearing Mai Hamasaki talk, I could see her sister’s face contort. As expected, she’s kindâor rather, a bit dumb.
“She’s just misunderstanding, you know?”
“I hope so.”
Scratching my neck, I murmured. Before I knew it, we arrived at the station. Mai Hamasaki and I parted ways there and boarded separate trains.
The Next Day
After finishing my late-night part-time job at the movie theater until midnight, just as I was about to head home, Senpai Sugino called me out. It was midnight.
Normally, I’d decline saying it’s too late, but it was a call from Senpai Sugino. I had a debt for her treating me, and I didn’t want to refuse such a superior. I confirmed the location via a map app, and despite being quite tired from work, I went toward the destination.
“Um, it’s called ‘Canaan’? This place… is this the right place?”
A small shop nestled between a mixed-use building and a real estate office. It had a chic and simple exterior, with the store name written in a golden neon sign right next to the door.
I checked the location on the map app again and was certain. It had to be here.
I pushed open the heavy door and entered, where another glass door appeared in the back. Opening that as well, I heard pleasant musicâprobably jazz.
It’s like a bar you see on TV. Well, a bar on TV would have a model, so this expression might feel a bit mismatched, but in any case, it was a bar that matched exactly what I imagined.
Nervously, I descended the stairsâthe store had stairs inside, and going down right after entering felt very bar-like. The interior was shaped like a vertically elongated trapezoid, with a slightly elevated stage and a glossy red grand piano on the broader end. It was too stylish.
“Kirishima-kun, over here, over here.”
At the bottom of the stairs, Senpai Sugino, who was sitting at the counter, called out to me.
Behind the counter was a beautiful bartender who looked just like Mai HamasakiâMai Hamasaki herself.
There were only Senpai Sugino and Mai Hamasaki, dressed as a bartender, inside the store. Puzzled, I took a seat next to the empty spot Senpai Sugino had left beside me. She immediately handed me a cold wet towel, and I just replied, “Thanks.”
Placing my shoulder bag at my feet, I glanced toward Mai Hamasaki.
Today, she wasn’t in her usual stylish casual clothes but in a bartender uniform. Like something you’d see in games or manga, she wore a black tight skirt, a black vest, a blouse, and a red bow tie. It was a classic style. Her long, beautiful black hair, usually more brown, was tied up in a ponytail just for today.
She was beautiful, and with her good figure, she looked great in any outfit. Well, if there were a bartender like her, she’d become a topic in no time.
Still, she suited it. It was probably Mai Hamasaki’s custom-made uniform that Senpai Sugino mentioned.
“Since when has she been working part-time as a bartender?”
“We had her start today. Please treat her well. Come on, pour her some champagne or something. Like Don Perle.”
“I don’t think bartenders work like that.”
As I pointed out Senpai Sugino’s misunderstanding, I wiped my hands with the towel she gave me. Mai Hamasaki smiled awkwardly.
“So, why did you call me here?”
“Alright, then I’ll go home. Take care of things.”
In the end, just as I was about to question why Senpai Sugino had called me here, she stood up from her seat. Without waiting for me to stop her, she said, “I’ve already paid,” and climbed the stairs.
I reached out to hold back my senpai, but my hand suddenly went limp and dropped. With my other hand, I scratched the back of my neck.
âSo, does that mean Iâve fallen right into your trap?â
I slightly turned my head, seeking a reaction from Mai Hamasaki. She flashed an ambiguous smile and handed me a plate of dry snacks.
âA taste tester for the drinks youâre making. Senpai Sugino said that since youâre Asato Kirishima, you wonât feel guilty even if you mess up.â
âWell, thatâs true. Indeed, Senpai Sugino has a point.â
âThatâs not the case~ Even if itâs you, Asato-kun, you canât make anything weird.â
âItâs fine, donât worry about it. Itâs better than dealing with drunk people.â
Maiâs hand froze as she was wiping her glass. I grabbed the menu and flipped through the pages.
It was only natural for me to be assigned a role. Senpai Sugino is so particular about the taste of alcohol that she probably wouldnât want to drink cocktails made by amateurs. And Senpai Yu Mikami doesnât have a high tolerance for alcohol, making her unsuitable as a taste tester in the first place. Moreover, Senpai Sugino canât involve Senpai Mikami in this.
That left only me. I have a decent alcohol tolerance and am reasonably versatile, so naturally, theyâd pick me.
This is just how socially disadvantaged people like me have to maneuver. Being burdened with other peopleâs problems is the very reason for my existence.
âFor now, letâs start with something simple… um, how about a gin and tonic?â
I suggested to Mai while looking at the menu. She said, âA gin and tonic, huh,â as she pulled a file out of the counter drawer, flipping through the pages. She was probably checking the recipe.
However, a gin and tonic is such an easy cocktail that it shouldnât require checking the recipe. Just mix dry gin with tonic water. I can make that.
âAlright, letâs make a gin and tonic.â
Mai took out two bottles: gin and tonic water. She filled a glass with large ice cubes, poured the gin into a stainless steel measuring cup, then into the glass, followed by tonic water near the edge of the glass. Finally, she squeezed a lime into the glass and gave it a light stir with a special spoon.
âHere you go, a gin and tonic.â
She gently placed the glass of gin and tonic in front of me. Yes, it looked like a normal alcoholic drink, a typical cocktail.
âSomehow, I feel like youâre handling this as if itâs not your first time.â
âReally? Actually, the master here showed me a little earlier.â
Mai smiled awkwardly, revealing a bit of her white teeth. I realized that having a beautiful woman make you drinks one-on-one was pretty impressive.
Something bad was bound to happen after this. Cursing my destiny for being unlucky in the most peculiar ways, I took the glass of gin and tonic Mai had made for me.
Feeling water droplets trickle down my fingers, I took a sip.
The distinct bitterness of the distilled spirit and a hint of sweetness passed through my throat. The limeâs acidity gave a refreshing aftertaste, making the overall flavor crispâjust like the gin and tonic I knew.
ââŠHow is it?â
Mai looked at me with a slightly anxious expression. I placed the glass back on the coaster and gave a short smile.
âYeah, itâs good, really tasty. Itâs done properly.â
âReally? Thatâs great. Next, what would you like to drink?â
Perhaps encouraged by my compliment, Mai flipped through the pages a bit reluctantly. Watching her in such a manner, I also cast my gaze back to the menu.
The gin and tonic was obviously too easy, so maybe the next one should be a bit more challenging. As I narrowed down some options, I found a certain cocktail.
âUm, then how about this gimlet?â
I pointed to the menu and looked up. Mai returned the page she had been holding, thought for a moment, then leaned closer while keeping the file open and just replied, âSure.â
Begin Gimlet preparation by the newbie bartender Mai Hamasaki. She took some dry gin and lime juice, added a bit of syrup. She poured dry gin and lime juice into a shaker, added a few drops of syrup, stirred it slightly with a special spoon for a taste, then tilted her head slowly. She added a bit more syrup and then more ice.
Once the ingredients were adjusted, all that was left was to shake. Mai grabbed the shaker with both hands and began shaking it in a professional manner.
With each shake, her ponytail swayed slightly. As she shook the container in front of her small face, her demeanor was exactly that of a beautiful bartender, making me think that just seeing her like that would be enough to make money.
Hmm, still looking great. Itâs hard to believe this was her first time. If it were me, I would either fumble or get nervous, making the shake clumsy.
I counted about twenty shakes. Finally, she shook it slowly twice and poured the finished drink into a pre-prepared cocktail glass.
âGimlet.â
A cloudy white drink was placed before me. I took it in my hand and inhaled its refreshing aroma.
But just sniffing it wouldnât do, so I took a sipâmaybe a bit too sweet, but still a proper gimlet. At least for a first attempt, it was impressive.
ââŠHow is it?â
âYeah, itâs delicious. Itâs really good.â
Saying the same thing twice, I finished the gimlet.
Mai continued to make several more cocktails. Each one was so well-made that it was hard to believe they were her first time. Every time I drank one, I wanted to react with, âHmm, this is…â but my attempts were in vain.
If everything goes this smoothly, itâs honestly not interesting. I thought making cocktails would be more challenging, but apparently, I underestimated Mai Hamasakiâs capabilities.
Sheâs beautiful, has a great personality, and can do anythingâitâs unfair. Now that Iâm forced to acknowledge her perfection, I feel a bit sentimental alone.
Mai Hamasaki and I have different initial human capabilities. Even if it makes no sense to be jealous of her perfection, I somehow felt miserable while sipping the cocktails. It was completely tasteless.
âBy the way, Iâll cut the cheese.â
Fumbling into mild self-loathing while twisting the wet towel, Mai began to cut cheese. Her skilled hands cut the cheese into stylishly arranged slices one after another, making it seem like she wasnât doing this for the first time.
âSpeaking of which, Senpai Sugino said we should charge extra for the âlet me feed youâ service… What do you think? What do you think?â
Mai placed a plate of cheese and crackers in front of me with a troubled smile, asking for my opinion. As expected of Senpai Sugino, she was excellent at making money, much better than the average person. However, Mai Hamasaki didnât consider her own wishes.
âEven if you say that… Itâs not like I can say anything to change it.â
âAhaha, yeah… Asato-kun, if you were offered something like that, would you be happy, as a guy?â
âHmm, well, normally I think people would be happy, but not me.â
âYou donât like it?â
âDefinitely not.â
Because itâs just too embarrassing. More than anything, it feels like being taken care of.
âDo you really hate it that much?â
âI think so. Itâs embarrassing. Well, I havenât been offered anything like that before. But seeing those things… isnât it gross?â
âRight! People who do those kinds of things always do it even if there are people around. They do it normally in places like bars.â
âSheâs probably doing it at home too. Anyway, I donât want to go through such an embarrassing experience, so I hate it.â
âHearing you say that… I see. Maybe you donât like doing it or having it done to you…â
âIf you hate it, you should say so sooner rather than later. Senpai Sugino is the type who plays with toys with the force to break them.â
â…Toys.â
Mai made a bitter face. I could only sympathize with her and eat the cheese and crackers.
Only one day left until the school festival. I was sent by Senpai Sugino to go buy more alcohol at a wholesale supermarket near the university.
We already had some alcohol prepared, but since Senpai Sugino drank most of it yesterday, we had to urgently restock. After all, the alcohol prepared for the bar is mostly used for cocktails, so itâs usually diluted and drunk, but Senpai Sugino drinking it straight was typical of her foolishness. And having a junior like me clean up after her was just her barbaric behavior. But Iâve gotten used to it, so I donât really care anymore.
âBesides, it wasnât smashed or anything.â
Muttering, I added bottles of alcohol to my shopping cart. Of course, since Senpai Sugino gave me the money, it didnât matter how much I bought, but carrying all these bottles back was exhausting. Plus, as a student holding a bunch of alcohol bottles, I felt like I stood out.
âHey, Asato.â
Thinking that this was enough, I was called by name from behind.
I turned around and saw Senpai Yu Mikami, hanging two slender bottles of plum wine.
âHey, thanks for your hard work.â
âHmm, are you going to drink all that by yourself? Thatâs not going to happen. Itâs not like Senpai Sugino.â
Senpai Sugino had drunk almost all of it alone, so Senpai Mikami came to buy more. I forced a wry smile and headed to the register with her.
We paid with the card I borrowed from Senpai Sugino and packed the alcohol into bags on the shelf. The university was less than a kilometer away, but thinking about carrying this heavy load made me quite depressed.
âSo, how about the school festival? Is it going well?â
Senpai Mikami, who had already stuffed the alcohol bottles into her backpack, leaned against the shelf and asked me. She probably stopped speaking when she saw the large amount of alcohol I had bought.
Senpai Mikami was someone who didnât lose her own pace just because it was the school festival. And she was the type to not help out at all. Therefore, she had almost no grasp of the projectâs progress. Well, I didnât help out much either.
âIf you ignore the fact that weâve been restocking alcohol before it even started, itâs mostly on track. Probably, this year will be busier than last year.â
âNot busy…â
Senpai Mikami repeated my words in a dismissive tone. Her way of saying it wasnât sarcastic or mean. When we first met, I found it hard to understand, but now I get it.
Sheâs probably just worried about me. Sheâs more emotionally invested than I thought.
âBut next year, itâll be busier than this year. Would it be easier to say that when you speak like that, it gets annoying?â
She smiled as if looking into the distance and adjusted her backpack.
While pondering the meaning of her words, I also carried my load and left the store.
Senpai Mikami had said that next year would be busier than this year. What exactly changes in a year between this year and next?
I watched the back of Senpai Mikami walking ahead. By next year, in another yearâ
âI see, so Senpai Yu Mikami wonât be around next year.â
Upon finally hearing the answer, Senpai Mikami stopped. She lined up next to me and patted my shoulder.
âUse Senpai Sugino wisely.â
âI canât. At least as long as Iâm being used like this.â
I casually brushed off her advice or support. It couldnât be helped; itâs the truth. Iâm not a beast tamer or anything. Just an ordinary person.
As an ordinary person, I can only either flee from beasts or, instead of surviving, offer my own limbs as a sacrifice.
âBy the way, Iâve been meaning to ask, why canât Senpai Sugino go against Senpai Yu Mikami? Considering Senpai Suginoâs personality and her aggressiveness, does she hold some kind of weakness?â
âI donât know. I donât know either. But sheâs somewhat better now. Whether she understands our intentions or not, she has started to listen to our talks. She used to not even try to listen.â
âI donât think sheâs really grown.â
Sometimes, when Senpai Mikami talks about the past âSake Friends Club,â itâs both something I want to hear and donât want to hear, filled with a dangerous vibe.
Honestly, I was curious about those things, so I took the chance to ask Senpai Mikami a bit more.
âUm, you mentioned earlier that our club used to have more members in the past, right? So why, when I joined, were there only two people?â
Gathering my courage to ask something that had been bothering me, Senpai Mikami laughed through her nose without hesitation.
âSugino ate them. She ate up all the club members, both men and women, over twenty people or so. Everyone except me.â
âUm, when you say she ate them, you mean…â
âIt means she had physical relationships with all the club members except me.â
âI see.â
âThatâs not all. She also poached a lot of people from other clubs. Women took away men, and men took away women.â
âUm, previously, there was someone who saw Senpai Sugino in the park and ran away immediately. That was…â
âThat must be a survivor. Though, it seems like most students quit because of Senpai Sugino.â
I was taken aback. Senpai Sugino seemed outgoing and carefree, but hearing what she had done, it sounded like she was living recklessly without thinkingâwas she still like that now?
But twenty or more is a bit on the larger side, and the fact that it all started with just one woman makes Senpai Sugino deeply involved.
âWell, I get that Senpai Sugino is crazy, but why was Senpai Yu Mikami okay with it? Did she put poison on her lips or something?â
“That’s your way of self-defense… No, well, back then, maybe you had no choice but to be tough enough. But you just simply refused. If you were attacked, you punched and fled.”
“That’s simple. Didn’t you think it would be okay if it was just once?”
“No, because I only get intimate with girls I like.”
A sudden pure statement. The stark contrast in temperature from Senpai Sugino’s bawdy tales just a moment ago made me feel like I was catching a cold.
I wondered if Senpai Mikami was serious about what he just said. If he was, I felt a bit scared. This person, while maintaining such pure feelings, had been drinking with women he’d had physical relationships withâestimated over twentyâand was getting rides home almost every time. Didn’t he consider things like being attacked somewhere or being drugged to sleep?
“In other words, once I graduate, Sugino won’t stop. She might start gathering people foolishly and go on a hunt again.”
“Hunting? That’s such a scary expression. But hey, I think I’m fine. Senpai Sugino doesn’t seem interested in me. Even if she gathers more people, no one will pay attention to me.”
That was one of the reasons I joined this club in the first place. According to Senpai Sugino, the aggressive and domineering nature was “interesting.”
When I first joined the club, I was often told that I “didn’t seem good,” so it’s hard to imagine that I would become Senpai Sugino’s target.
“I don’t know, she’s omnivorous… No, well, maybe it’s okay. Mai is here too.”
After saying something strange, Senpai Mikami didn’t return towards the university and walked down a different path. I wondered if Mai Hamasaki could effectively restrain Senpai Sugino.
As I watched Senpai Mikami’s silhouette walking in the opposite direction from the university, the handle of the plastic bag holding the alcohol ripped apart, and a bottle of alcohol fell forcefully to the ground.
“The time is either a fifteen-minute course or a thirty-minute course. You can order up to three drinks. No touching is allowed.”
Senpai Sugino explained the store rules fluently.
While listening to Senpai Mikami’s remark, “Isn’t this a girls’ bar?”, I yawned and listened to Senpai Sugino’s story.
The only one actually listening attentively was Mai Hamasaki, the bartender. Mai’s sister, Mai Hamasaki, who came to hang out, was tapping away rapidly on her smartphone, seemingly doing something, and wasn’t listening at all. Well, she doesn’t need to listen anyway.
However, it made sense that Mai Hamasaki was listening so earnestly. After all, she’s about to serve customers at the “behemoth” counter bar set up inside the classroom.
Yes, today is the school festival “RyokĆ-sai.” The day of the main event has arrived in no time.
“For now, we’ll run until 2 o’clock, then take about an hour and a half break. After that, we’ll continue from 4 o’clock to around 5:30. How? Does that work for you?”
When Senpai Sugino confirmed, Mai Hamasaki smiled and replied, “It’s fine.” It seems that during Mai’s break time, the bar will temporarily close, and I and Senpai Sugino will handle various tasks. In other words, my working hours would be around that time. This means I can take it easy. Just as I was thinking that, Mai Hamasaki began talking with her sister, Mai Hamasaki, about something.
“Hmm, I can’t move until 2 o’clock because of my sister. What about you, Mai? Are you going to go sightseeing somewhere?”
“Hmm, what should I do. Um…”
Mai Hamasaki’s sister pouted her lips and stretched out her voice, saying, “What should I do~”. Her gaze was directed mostly at her smartphone, but before I knew it, it had turned towards me.
Her big black eyes fixed on my face. I had a bad feeling. I involuntarily looked up at the sky.
“Can I borrow this person?”
Of course, she came. After being named by Mai Hamasaki, I looked down and glanced at Mai Hamasaki.
“Please, don’t rely on me. Is it okay to entrust your precious sister to a man who seems so untrustworthy and unreliable? It shouldn’t be. Think carefully.”
“Sure~”
I was quickly given an agreeable response. And the one who replied was Senpai Sugino.
“When you say ‘borrow,’ what are you going to do with me, Asato-kun?”
Mai Hamasaki asked her sister. I was curious about that. It seems like I’m just being treated as a way to kill time.
As the situation kept progressing without giving me a chance to interject, I felt troubled as I looked at Mai Hamasaki. She met my gaze and gave a small smile.
“Not reallyâI’m just going to get some guidance.”
“Is that so? If that’s the case, fine. But don’t get too lost or cause trouble, okay?”
“I’m fine, I won’t cause any trouble.”
“You’re already being a bother enough. I want to say that, but I don’t have the courage to say it, so I just watch the situation unfold silently.”
“I have no choice, bearing the world’s disadvantages is the reason for my existence. Even if she’s clearly hostile towards me, there’s probably no chance for me to escort a high school girl during the school festival in the future. Moreover, a beautiful girl.”
“I have to keep telling myself that I can handle it. Good grief, it looks like it’s going to be a fun school festival.”
“I thought the university’s school festival would be more impressive. While eating her second chocolate banana of the day, Mai Hamasaki’s sister, Mai Hamasaki, said so wearily.”
“This girl has been jumping into every store we find since earlier. Moreover, she takes a bite, says things like ‘It’s a bit strange’ or ‘It’s okay,’ and keeps eating while walking. Of course, I’m paying for everything.”
“What exactly do you mean by more amazing things?”
“While sipping the tapioca drink I bought along the way, I leaned my weight on the backrest.”
“In other words, what Mai Hamasaki wants to say is that if I show affection towards her here, Mai Hamasaki, her sister, will hear about it, my reputation will improve, and while it won’t lead to dating, at least the possibility will increase.”
“It might seem like a spot-on opinion at first glance, but there’s a misalignment in perception and a cunning trap.”
“The misalignment in perception is that, fundamentally, I don’t want to date Mai Hamasaki.”
“And another thing, the cunning trap isâ”
“Even if I perfectly escort you and always prepare fun times that make you smile, I don’t think you’d report positively to your sister about it.”
Mai Hamasaki, who was also drinking a tapioca drink, heard my words and gulped hard. She coughed and then immediately glared at me sharply. With a look mixed with humiliation and anger, I sighed while still holding my tapioca drink.
“…Why do you think that?”
“You’ve been shunning men who approach you to protect your sister, haven’t you? Don’t worry. I’m not targeting your sister at all. Probably not from now on either.”
“Even if there was talk that your sister likes you?”
“Now it was my turn to freeze. Her words caused me to freeze, forced to shut down. I’ll restart immediately.”
“When I met eyes with Mai Hamasaki, who had a smug face, she gave a dismissive smile.”
“When I went back home during summer vacation, last year she didn’t talk about the university at all, but this year it’s all about that. Especially the club. Your name kept coming up frequently.”
“People like me are rare. You know, like that particularly ugly guy at the zoo. That’s me.”
“But you were talking one-on-one with her.”
“If you put it that way, it seems like your sister has never talked one-on-one with any men before.”
“…That’s”
Mai Hamasaki fell silent abruptly. Her gaze drifted diagonally downward, and she tightly pursed her lips.
“That means she was saying she has something to hide.”
“Well, either way, it’s impossible. That person hates men, right?”
“I finished my tapioca drink and placed the cup on the table.”
“In response to my assertive statement, Mai Hamasaki looked at me, then tightly pursed her lips and fell silent.”
“When I was at the university, there was always someone by my side. But I’ve never seen a place where men are present. Of course, I wasn’t never talking to anyone, but it still wasn’t one-on-one.”
“And Mai Hamasaki is by no means a foolish woman. She can at least somewhat judge what kind of men are approaching her and whether they’re really good people or not, though not perfectly.”
“Even so, Mai Hamasaki doesn’t date anyone. At this point, it might be more about her own issues than the other person’s.”
“In conclusion, Mai Hamasaki hates men for some reason, especially those who try to approach her. As the only one who can talk to her normally, I’m completely out of the running as a potential partner, so there’s no problem.”
“Well, whether your sister hates men or women doesn’t matter to me, and Iâm not interested in why that’s the case. Um… since the conversation is drifting, I’ll bring it back, but in other words, to ensure that your sister absolutely doesn’t like me, I also absolutely won’t like your sister. So, please don’t worry.”
“Because even if someone were to like me, there’s no way anyone would reciprocate.”
“If getting hurt by being rejected after liking someone, I’d rather not like anyone from the start.”
“I don’t want to get hurt by expecting anyone’s affection anymore.”
“So, even if your sister confesses to you, you won’t respond?”
“Probably. I definitely couldn’t handle something like that.”
After listening to the whole conversation, I glanced at my smartphone and realized it was just the right time.
“It’s about time. Let’s go back.”
I said that and stood up, and Mai Hamasaki nodded silently and stood up too.
“The two of us walked side by side, leaving the classroom.”
“Maybe Mai Hamasaki followed me this time to affirm my feelings. Going out of her way to be alone with such an untrustworthy man for her sister shows that she’s truly a sister who cares. Compared to the cold relationship between me and my sister, it almost makes me want to cry. Although it’s not that cold, and I don’t cry, but still.”
“Gyah! Hey, this is the worst!”
Just as I was thinking about how Iâd report back to Mai Hamasaki with, “Your sister was such a well-behaved girl,” some sort of commotion started happening right in front of me without me even noticing.
There was a man, a woman, and then there was Mai Hamasaki, looking visibly troubled, her face full of worry.
I immediately stepped forward and called out to Mai Hamasaki.
“What’s going on? What happened?”
“Ah, um…”
“This girl bumped into me, and my ice cream spilled! This is the worst! I really liked this outfit!”
Before I could hear Mai Hamasakiâs side of the story, the woman was already screeching at me.
Turning around, I saw that the sleeve of her shirt was smeared with what looked like half-melted chocolate ice cream. The man, who I assumed was her boyfriend, was muttering things like, “Are you serious?” and “Thatâs not gonna come off, is it?” as he dabbed at her hand with a handkerchief.
When I looked back at Mai Hamasaki, she was gripping her left elbow with her right hand, clearly looking uncomfortable and awkward.
“I’m sorry for her bumping into you. I sincerely apologize. Weâll cover the cleaning costs.”
I decided to take the blame first, and the couple exchanged glances for a brief moment. As the man continued to dab at the ice cream-stained blouse, they shifted their gaze from Mai Hamasaki to me.
“Well, should we take the cleaning fee or something?”
“Yeah, might as well, right? No harm in that.”
“So, how about 40,000 yen?”
Forty thousand? For a single blouse? No way it costs that much. What kind of shop are they even using?âThose were my thoughts, but all I could manage was an awkward smile and a weak, “40,000 yen, huh?”
“What? Youâre the one who offered to pay the cleaning fee, arenât you? Canât afford it?”
“No, no, of course Iâll pay, but 40,000 yen… isnât that a bit much?”
“A bit much? Weâre the victims here, you know!?”
“Victims? But werenât you guys distracted, too?”
Just as I was being cornered by the two of them, Mai Hamasaki chimed in. Unfortunately, what she said wasnât water to calm the fireâit was more like oil.
As expected, the coupleâs gaze shifted from me to Mai Hamasaki in perfect synchronization.
“What the hell!? Youâre the one who bumped into me! Are you trying to blame us now!?”
“But thatâs the truth! You were walking while staring at your phone, so I couldnât avoid you. Sure, itâs partly my fault, but youâve got some responsibility, too.”
“What!? Are you crazy? Youâre the one who bumped into me!”
“The only crazy one here is you! And 40,000 yen for cleaning a blouse? Thereâs no way it costs that much!”
“It does! Cleaning fees, service charges, compensation for the inconvenienceâeverything combined, it comes to 40,000 yen!”
The argument between the woman and Mai Hamasaki was escalating quickly, and the commotion started to attract a crowd. I was getting anxious, but both her boyfriend and I had lost the timing to step in between them.
Listening to the back-and-forth, though, I realized Mai Hamasaki was pretty sharp-tongued. She had guts, too. Even against someone older, she didnât hesitate to snap back, trying to put them in their place.
On the other hand, the woman was getting more and more heated. It looked like she might actually grab Mai Hamasaki any second now.
âI had a stain removed from a dry cleaner before, and it cost me a little over 2,000 yen. Even if you go all out, itâs about 3,000 yen. What kind of dry cleaner are you using to make it 40,000 yen?”
At that, the woman glared but fell silent. Oh no, this was turning into a very bad situation.
“And the moment he said heâd cover the cleaning fee, your eyes lit up! Thatâs just so cheap and disgusting.”
Stop. You should really stop now. The womanâs hand was trembling, clenched with tension.
“And seriously, you’re asking for cleaning fees while wearing such tacky clothes? I mean, reallyâ”
The woman moved. The moment her arm swung, I instinctively jumped in front of Mai Hamasaki.
I took the slap full force. A loud smack echoed, and my face was sent flying sideways.
Bracing myself by digging my feet into the ground, I straightened up. With my right hand, I held my stinging left cheek as I looked at the woman, who was glaring at me, her face bright red with anger.
In the brief moment of silence, amidst the murmurs of the crowd, I took a 5,000-yen bill out of my wallet and shoved it into the womanâs hand.
When I turned around, Mai Hamasaki was looking down at me with a familiar expression. Iâd seen that look somewhere before.
Where was it? Oh, right. It was the same face Mai Hamasaki makes when she looks at me. I canât quite remember the situation, but it definitely felt the same.
I gave her arm a light tap and said, “Letâs go,” before starting to walk away.
As I moved through the crowd, Mai Hamasaki followed behind me, silently.
ïŒ
âIâll be coming over next Saturday, so pick me up at the station.â
A message popped up on my phone from an unfamiliar account.
Iâm not particularly popular, and to be honest, I have very few contacts on my messaging app. In fact, if Iâm being precise, I donât really have any “friends.” Itâs mostly just family and acquaintances.
So, receiving a random message like this from someone who wasnât even a friend felt strange. Maybe Iâd somehow become popular without realizing it.
But no, it was obvious who this was. The profile picture was a selfie, and the name was clearly Mai Hamasaki. There was no mistaking it.
Still, how did she get my contact information? I couldnât imagine Mai Hamasaki giving it to her. Even if she did, sheâd probably ask me for permission first, given her level of consideration.
But thatâs not the issue here. The bigger question isâwhy is Mai Hamasaki summoning me? Even though sheâs from the countryside, sheâs still at the top of the social hierarchy among high school girls. I canât see her coming all the way to Tokyo just for sightseeing. And given that sheâs not particularly fond of me, I doubt sheâd seek my help unless it was necessary.
Could this be a trap? Maybe sheâs got some delinquent friends waiting for me at the meetup spot, ready to drag me off somewhere secluded and beat me up for acting smug.
“Man, I just wanna go home.”
I leaned against a pillar at the station, dreading the worst-case scenario. The station was bustling with people as always, with waves of commuters passing by.
And now, here I was, waiting for Mai Hamasaki, unable to refuse her. I had no idea why she was coming to Tokyo, but here I was.
Itâs not that Iâm particularly obedient or anythingâjust that I tend to give up easily. Well, not entirely. Thereâs more to it than that.
âIâm here.â
As I waited against the pillar, a message arrived from Mai Hamasaki.
âIâm cold.â
âIâm hungry.â
âIsnât it too crowded?â
âWhere are you?â
Messages from her came in rapid succession. Giving up on replying to each one, I simply sent her my location and pocketed my phone.
Watching the wave of people beyond the ticket gate, I eventually spotted a familiar tall figure.
I straightened up from my leaning position and moved into her line of sight.
Mai Hamasaki looked up as she exited the gate. After glancing around a bit, she spotted me and walked toward me without changing her pace.
“Uh, hey.”
“âŠHey.”
We exchanged awkward greetings. I scanned the area, checking to see if any thuggish-looking guys were approaching. So far, we seemed safe.
“What? Whatâs wrong?”
“Huh? Oh, I was just wondering if I was about to get jumped or something.”
“What are you talking about… Oh, um, listen.”
As I looked around, Mai Hamasaki raised her voice slightly.
When I refocused on her, I noticed she had an unusually uneasy expression. She fidgeted, her eyebrows knitting together.
“What is it?”
“About the other day… um, Iâm sorry. I caused you a lot of trouble.”
With an apologetic tone, Mai Hamasaki bowed her head.
There she was, a slender beauty bowing to a guy like me in the middle of a busy Tokyo station. It felt so awkward that I panicked a little.
“No, no, no, thereâs no need to bow or anything. I mean, I donât even get why youâre apologizing in the first place. So please, just… lift your head. This isnât a good look.”
At my words, Mai Hamasaki raised only her head, looking up at me with an uncertain expression. “Itâs fine, seriously,” I added, and she finally straightened up.
“At the school festival, because of me, you ended up getting hit…”
“Huh? Oh, that? Donât worry about it. I really donât mind.”
“But I mind. So, Iâm sorry.”
She apologized again, averting her eyes. Her straightforwardness caught me off guard, and I shrugged my shoulders lightly.
To be honest, getting slapped wasnât a big deal to me, but the fact that she was going out of her way to apologize made me realize she was actually a kind person.
Though, I wouldâve preferred she chose a better time and place to apologize.
“Does your sister know about this? About what happened?”
“I havenât told her. You can tell her if you want.”
“Iâm not the kind of person whoâd brag about something like that.”
“Seriously, you can tell her. Youâd probably get brownie points with her if you did.”
“But if I tell her, youâll get in trouble, wonât you? Iâd rather not cause you any problems.”
My casual response left Mai Hamasaki looking dissatisfied. She was probably feeling a mix of relief that I wouldnât tell her sister, and a bit of guilt toward me. She was just as easy to read as her sister.
“Iâm not doing this out of kindness or anything. I just donât want to get involved in any drama. So, is this why you called me out today? To apologize?”
“Well, thatâs part of it. But thereâs something else I need to talk to you about.”
“…Letâs find a place to sit and talk.”
ïŒ
“So, whatâs this secret you donât want your sister to know about?”
We had found a quiet spot in a small café not far from the station, and as soon as my coffee arrived, I cut to the chase.
Mai Hamasaki, who had just picked up her ginger milk tea, flinched and froze mid-motion. The tea spilled slightly onto the saucer.
“Youâre jumping right into it? Couldnât you ease into the conversation a little?”
Mai Hamasaki placed her cup gently on the saucer and gave me a look of disbelief. Even though she was taller, sitting down, she didnât look down on me at all. I suppose that says something about her state of mind.
“Weâre not here to make small talk, are we? Thereâs no need for any build-up. Unless you want me to ask, ‘How have you been?’ or ‘Is school fun?’â
At my retort, Mai Hamasaki frowned. I took a sip of my coffee, ignoring her reaction, and she sighed before taking a drink of her ginger milk tea.
“…Just donât tell my sister about this. Ever.”
She glared at me, driving her point home. I set my cup back on the saucer and loosely crossed my arms.
“My sisterâs been beautiful and popular ever since we were in elementary school,” she began.
Mai Hamasaki spoke slowly, almost as if reminiscing.
Her older sister, Mai Hamasaki, had been a star since elementary school. She was brilliant academically, athletic, and full of energy. Apparently, during recess, she would always play with the other girls, but she also joined the boys for dodgeball sometimes. She was the complete opposite of me in every way.
Of course, this was just the prelude. Telling me about Mai Hamasakiâs greatness wasnât going to hurt her one bit.
“But when my sister was in sixth grade, her male homeroom teacher… well, he…”
“Assaulted her?”
I said the words that Mai Hamasaki couldnât bring herself to say. Her small hand gripped the handle of her cup tightly, her knuckles turning white, as she made a pained expression.
I felt sorry for her, but I couldnât say I was surprised.
I had never seen Mai Hamasaki when she was in sixth grade, so I couldnât be sure, but I could easily imagine her being a beautiful and charming girl even back then.
It wasnât hard to understand, even though I couldnât empathize, that someone might develop improper desires toward such a girl.
As I listened to the story, I felt both sympathy and a strange sense of understanding.
“It didnât go through.”
I had started to think that Mai Hamasakiâs aversion to men was due to the trauma of that eventâjust as I was concluding that in my mind, Mai Hamasaki continued speaking.
When she said “it didnât go through,” I furrowed my brow and leaned forward slightly. Mai Hamasaki looked straight into my eyes as she resumed her story.
“The assault really happened. It was after school, in the hallway. My sister fought back with everything she had and somehow managed to break free. She tried to run, but when she reached the school entrance, he caught her again. She screamed and struggled just like before, trying to break away from him. But then, the teacher slipped and fell down the stairs.”
The school where Mai Hamasaki attended had a long, wide staircase in front of the entrance. The man, having lost his grip and footing, tumbled down, hitting his head on the stone edge of a flower bed at the bottom.
He rolled down the stairs, badly bruised and bleeding profusely from his head.
A moment before, this man, with a devilish look on his face, had been closing in on her. Now, there he was, lying unconscious, his eyes rolled back.
It was an accident. A terrible accident, but it was also self-defense.
There were a few students and school staff who had witnessed the teacher attacking Mai Hamasaki, so it was clear that she was the innocent victim. Naturally, no one ever questioned that fact. She had no fault in the matter whatsoever.
“You mentioned earlier that my sister dislikes men, but itâs more serious than that. Itâs not just menâshe distrusts women too. Actually, sheâs lost faith in humanity as a whole.”
The incident itself had been horrible, but the aftermath had been even worse.
When Mai Hamasaki entered middle school, she began harboring a deep, instinctive fear of men, making her constantly on edge around her male classmates.
To make things worse, her delicate beauty and reserved demeanorâthough she was simply scaredâmade her very popular among the boys. And the teachers, knowing her past, were overly protective of her, sometimes excessively so. While their intentions were good, this special treatment only led to jealousy from the other girls, which turned into relentless bullying.
Before long, Mai Hamasaki stopped attending regular classes, opting for the school nurseâs office instead. But even that didnât last, and eventually, she stopped going to school entirely. In the end, she transferred to another school.
“Even after she entered high school, it took her a long time to start attending regularly. But little by little, she began to recover. By her second year, she even had a boyfriendâthough they broke up after just over a year.”
It was practically a miracle that she managed to recover at all. Or maybe it was the result of her sheer determination to keep going.
This was an enormous secret. Not something youâd casually share with anyone.
Which made me wonderâwhy did Mai Hamasaki tell me this?
Was she trying to tell me to give up on her sister because of this burden? Or was she asking me to feel sorry for her because of all sheâd been through?
As I tried to figure out her true intention, I drank the now-cold coffee.
The sourness and bitterness were more pronounced, and I grimaced.
“Itâs been a long time since Iâve seen my sister look so happy.”
Mai Hamasaki muttered softly, with a smile that seemed somehow nostalgic.
Normally, she looked more mature than her years, but in this moment, she wore the expression of a younger sibling.
“Ever since that incident, and even during middle school, she was always scared. Then in high school, she was always tense, never laughing openlyâjust faint, forced smiles. But this year, she was different.”
Mai Hamasaki had secretly visited her sister and stayed over at her place. They had talked late into the night, about all kinds of things, but mostly about her sisterâs college club activities.
Thanks to Miharu Sugino, they had been invited to a VIP section of a concert where they drank with the artist afterward, and sang karaoke with them. Theyâd gone to a theme park as a group but spent most of the time walking around and drinking instead of going on rides. At one point, Yu Mikami, completely drunk, almost got them banned by tackling one of the park’s mascots.
They had also visited a whiskey distillery and drank far too much, leading to Sugino calling in a helicopter to take them home, with me puking from 120 meters in the air.
All of these absurd, random stories were ones that made Mai Hamasaki genuinely laugh. While they were my personal nightmares, to her, they were cherished memories.
“Stay with my sister, okay?”
As I sipped my now completely cold coffee, Mai Hamasaki suddenly spoke.
“Iâm not saying you need to treat her special or be overly kind. Just… stay with her. Share a drink with her. I donât think sheâs realized it yet, but I think she might actually like you.”
Her final words made me pull a face as I held my coffee cup.
What an outrageous idea. That Mai Hamasaki unconsciously likes me? Thatâs absurd.
And what about you? Werenât you the guard dog ready to bite any guy who got close to your sister? Where did that attitude go?
As I grimaced at the thought, Mai Hamasaki raised her head. Seeing the expression on my face, she also frowned.
“Whatâs with that look? You donât believe a word Iâm saying, do you?”
“Of course not… and havenât you been contradicting yourself? The first time we met, you told me to give up.”
“Well, back then, I didnât know anything about you. Now, I think… it might be fine to leave things in your hands.”
She crossed her arms and snorted. Great. Somewhere along the line, I must have taken the wrong turn and ended up on some strange path.
It seems sheâs mistaken. After seeing my behavior at the school festival, maybe she thinks Iâm trustworthy. But I have no desire to go through all that again. And if things get dangerous, Iâll definitely run.
Thereâs a limit to how much Iâm willing to sacrifice.
Completely unaware of my thoughts, Mai Hamasaki had decided to trust me. Honestly, these naĂŻve high school girls… I set down my empty coffee cup and let out a heavy sigh.
“Look, even if you trust me, I donât know if I can handle it.”