SCPK 13

Chapter 13

Going to School

Around 7:30 I go to pick them up, and we leave the Kaminagi siblings’ house just before 8:00. Since it’s about a 20-minute walk, we’ll make it in time for the 8:30 warning bell.
The uniform of the private Kōchū Academy is a blazer for both boys and girls. The boys’ outfit is pretty standard, but the girls’ uniform, with its ribbon at the chest and a red checkered skirt, is really cute. It’s quite a popular uniform.
And just seeing Tsukiyo wear that blazer is enough to move me.

“Um… how do I look? The uniform isn’t weird on me, is it?”
“No, it suits you really well.”
“Ehehe, thank you.”

With Tsukiyo walking on my right and Seiya on my left, the three of us start heading toward school. The weather is nice today. It’s already hot in the morning, and I’m sweating. Honestly, having classes during summer break feels depressing.
I envy the P.E. and general courses that get time off. Well, the P.E. department probably has a hard time with club activities though.

“This might be the first time the three of us go together like this.”
“Yeah, true. The two who usually come to pick up Tsukiyo aren’t in the special advanced course… Oh right, what about that noisy girl?”
“She went back home for the holidays. She’ll be back at school tomorrow.”

No wonder it’s so quiet. Normally we walk in a group of six, always lively and loud. And to top it off, everyone besides me is ridiculously good-looking… I don’t even know what to say.

“Today’s only up to fifth period, right? Are you going to the library afterward?”
“I’m not sure… but I think I’ll go to club activities today. I have to do beautification committee duties first though.”
“Beautification duty, huh…”

Even though it’s the first day back, I’m already busy. I’d been skipping club activities too because of my hospitalization, so I should show up soon or the advisor will get mad.

“That romance novel you recommended to me the other day was really good. I enjoyed it.”
“Really!? Yay! Let’s talk about it next time. This weekend, at the library again.”
“Sure, sounds good.”
“You two… seem awfully close.”

Seiya cuts in with a sharp look.
Kaminagi Seiya treasures his sister—a bit of a siscon, to put it bluntly. Living alone with such a cute little sister, it’s not surprising he’d be overprotective.
Maybe I got a little too friendly with Tsukiyo in front of him.

“R-Really? Haven’t we always been like this?”
“I can’t hide my surprise at seeing you casually chatting with a girl, even if it’s Tsukiyo. Since when did you start calling her just Tsukiyo? Is it going to rain or something?”
“Sorry to disappoint you, but today’s clear blue skies.”

Seiya leans forward even more.

“Usually Tsukiyo’s beside me, or with her female friends, not next to you. That’s unusual.”
“Maybe it’s because we’ve been spending more time together recently.”

Tsukiyo, looking both happy and embarrassed, tries to hide her face behind her schoolbag.
Damn, she’s cute. Remembering the time we went to the science museum together, my face heats up. I have to be careful not to let Seiya notice.

“Well, as long as you’re treating her with proper boundaries, I don’t really mind.”
“Huh?”
“What’s with that look?”

I stare at Seiya in disbelief at his unexpectedly reasonable words.

“For you of all people to say something so modest… Weren’t you the one who said you’d kill any indecent guy who got near Tsukiyo?”
“Taiyō… you’re not an indecent guy, are you?”
“Wow. To think you’d actually trust me… I really do have good friends.”
“As if someone as unreliable as you could ever do anything to Tsukiyo. What are you, planning to drop a spear from heaven?”
“Smiling while saying that doesn’t make it less scary—you’re basically saying you’d kill me.”

This kind of back-and-forth is our everyday routine. The words are harsh, but that’s just how Seiya and I are.

“Hey, Tsukiyo, why don’t we start going to school just the two of us from now on?”
“Eh!? Ah, um, sure!”

She looked surprised at first, but then realized I was teasing Seiya and smiled at me. Thank god she noticed—if not, that would’ve been super embarrassing.

“What? I told you to keep things proper.”

Seiya glares sharply. Looks like this is about the limit of his tolerance.

“I was kidding. Right, little sister?”
“Excuse me, my name is Tsukiyo.”

Now Tsukiyo glares at me too.

“Come on, don’t glare at me with the exact same face, both of you…”

Wedged between the Kaminagi siblings, both giving me cold looks, I sigh… but even so, this kind of conversation is fun. It makes me feel like I can face the whole day with energy.