SCPK 08

Chapter 8

 Picking Up Girls

On my way back from an outing, three men walking down the street ahead of me were one after another trying to hit on a woman walking in front of them.

Basically, the whole thing was just guys trying to pick her up.
For someone like me, who’s terrible with women, that’s something I could never imagine doing.
I wouldn’t even know what to say.
If I were as handsome as my best friend… no, even then it’d still be impossible.

I glanced at the scene for a moment and was about to walk away when one of the men suddenly raised his voice louder than before.
They must have found someone really stunning.
Curious, I looked back—and sure enough, the woman they were hitting on was someone whose looks made that unsurprising… but she was also someone I knew.

It was Tsukiyo Kaminagi, my best friend’s little sister.
She looked genuinely annoyed as she tried to avoid the men’s advances.
I couldn’t hear what was being said, but knowing her personality, there’s no way she’d accept being picked up.
Her good looks can work to her advantage, sure, but being dragged into something like that has to be awful.
And since she’s someone I know, I couldn’t just turn a blind eye.

Three guys, huh… What should I do?

“You’ve got free time, right? Come hang with us.”
“We know a great place to eat.”
“Give us your number.”

“Enough already. I’m not interested.”

She repelled the three guys with a firm tone.
I’d rather she didn’t provoke them, but I guess she was frustrated at their persistence.
Before things got any rougher, I decided to step in head‑on.

“H‑hey, Tsukiyo. There you are! I’ve been looking for you—where’ve you been?”

Even I could tell what a terrible actor I was.
I wanted to tell myself, “She’s clearly uncomfortable, stop making it worse!”—but being a coward, that wasn’t an option.

She noticed me, recognized me, and hurried over, clutching my arm tightly.
Naturally, the guys didn’t like that.

“Who the hell are you?”
“I’m… a friend.”
“He’s my boyfriend, actually. Got a problem with that? Right, Taiyo?”

I hadn’t expected her to declare me her boyfriend.
A classic move, sure—but my thoughts were completely derailed by the soft, voluminous pressure on my right arm.
T‑this isn’t good.
For a temporary “boyfriend,” she’s holding on way too tight.

The guys were momentarily stunned by her sudden action, but of course they didn’t back off.

“You’d have more fun with us than with this guy.”
“You two don’t even match.”

I got what they meant.
A plain guy like me with a “princess” adored by everyone at school?
Even I knew how ridiculous that sounded.

“C’mon, just come with us already!”

As one of them reached out to grab her, I caught his wrist with my free hand.

“Don’t touch her.”
“Ow, ow, ow!”

I gripped his wrist with all my strength, bending his arm in a way it wasn’t supposed to go.
He cried out in pain and the other two stepped back.
I shoved him away.

“What’s your problem, man… let’s get out of here.”

Throwing out that parting shot, the men quickly fled.
…Phew.

“Man, that was scary.”
“I didn’t know you practiced martial arts, Taiyo.”
“Huh? Oh, yeah—my dad’s a cop. He made me do judo until I graduated middle school. Said it’s never a waste to learn.
I quit ‘cause I had no talent though.”

The grip strength and joint locks are what stuck with me.
Joint locks were technically banned in middle school, though…
I had no talent, but I can at least be proud of how long I did judo.
It also just built my body up.

“For a coward like me, that was the best I could do.”
“But… you looked really cool.”

She gazed at me dreamily.
I wished I could’ve helped her more smoothly.

Then she pressed even more weight onto my right arm.

“H‑huh?”
“Heehee… today you’re my boyfriend, after all.”
“I didn’t actually say that, you know.”

Her eyes sparkled as she clung to my arm.
And since our bodies were close, our faces were close too…
Her big, bright smile was dangerously cute.
All I did was help an acquaintance, so how did I end up with this kind of “bonus”?

I think… I might’ve fallen in love with you, Taiyo.

That line echoed again in my head.

“But I’m just glad nothing bad happened.”
“I was really scared…”

She lowered her head and held my arm tightly.
So she really had been scared, huh.
Yeah… but still.

“Aren’t you a black‑belt in karate, though?”
“(flinches)”
“Last time you chased down a groper who attacked your friend, and before that you spin‑kicked an exhibitionist.”
“Taiyo, you’re not supposed to bring that up.”
“Ow! Don’t pinch my arm!”

With that pitch‑black smile, she gripped my arm hard.
She’s always had looks that draw men’s eyes, and that’s why she learned karate for self‑defense.
She even told me she went to nationals back in middle school.
She’s probably stronger than me.

“But thanks anyway. Being outnumbered is still dangerous.”
“R‑right… if you say so, then good.”

She finally let go of my arm.
I almost wished I could’ve enjoyed that soft body a little longer.

She turned her back to me and started walking slowly.

“Something really wonderful happened today.”

She turned back to me, spread her arms wide, and met my eyes.
That free, enchanting expression hit me square in the chest.

“I was so happy you called me Tsukiyo!”

So she really does want me to call her by her first name.
Yeah, but there’s no way I can…
I can barely manage “little sister” as it is.
I just don’t have the courage.