Chapter 9 Boomerang

Boomerang

I woke up. When I looked at the time, it was still the same time as usual. However, I felt a little lazy.

I wondered if my body felt lazy because I had spent two days sightseeing and doing something different.

I opened the curtains, stretched out in the sunlight, and left my room.

I stood in front of the sink and washed my face. I looked the same as usual today. I looked at it again to see if it had changed after the trip, but it was still the same face.

I took a towel and wiped the water off my face, then went into the living room.

“Good morning, Shuu. Breakfast is ready. Let’s eat together.”

“Good morning, Nii-san.”

“Good morning.”

When I sit down, I see my mother with a smile on her face and Yoka who seems softer than usual. I wonder what’s going on. It could just be my misunderstanding.

… because I’m stupid.

While I was eating my breakfast, Yoka asked me something. She used to talk to me for a while, but she hasn’t talked to me much lately, so I wonder what she wants.

“Nii-san.”

“Yes?”

“Who were you with yesterday? And where did you go?”

Yoka looked at me as if she was investigating. I wondered if she was just curious.

I decided to tell her, thinking that there was nothing to hide.

“Student President…I went a little far away with Aoi-senpai. …”

Like my mother, Yoka had told me before that she didn’t want me to use honorifics with her, so I said so, making sure to avoid using honorifics as much as possible.

Then, just like yesterday, Yoka stopped eating her breakfast with a pained expression on her face and seemed to be thinking about something.

Just when I was wondering if it was better not to tell her, she opened her mouth again.

“Nii-san.”

“Yes.”

“Will you go to school with me from now on?”

“Go to school with you?”

I had no idea what her intentions were. It’s rare that she talks to me, and on top of that, she makes this kind of suggestion.

“I don’t mind, but it would be annoying for Yoka, so let’s not do it.”

“You’re not annoying me at all! It’s okay. I just wanted to walk to school with you.”

I could feel Yoka’s voice getting louder. As far as I’m concerned, it’s okay as long as I don’t bother her, but why?

I guess it’s something that someone as stupid as me can’t understand. If that’s what she wants, then I should do it.

“Okay.”

“Thanks, Nii-san.”

After that, I finished my breakfast, got ready for school, and waited for Yoka at the entrance.

A few minutes later, she finished getting ready as well and came to the front door, so we went outside together. We walked together without talking. We used to walk home together when I was a kid, but not anymore.

It’s all my fault, I know, but I can’t help it.

Yoka was very nice to talk to me, and I managed to answer her questions with all my head while we were on the train to the station.

We got off the train and walked through the ticket gate.

“Ah, um, … Shuu– Hiiragi-kun…”

There, just like the day before yesterday, was my ex-girlfriend, Momoka Kanzaki.

When I was about to answer, Yoka stepped in front of me as if to block me.

“What on earth do you want with my brother? I told you before. I told you to stay away from him.”

“I’m so sorry! I just wanted to apologize. I want to ask for Hiiragi-kun’s forgiveness …”

She stared at Kanzaki-san and Kanzaki-san looked at her apologetically and then at me.

I just stood still, not knowing what to do in this sudden fight.

People around us started looking at us to see what was going on, and we started attracting their attention.

Should I go in and stop them? But if I intervene, there’s a chance that things will get out of hand again and the conversation will get louder, causing trouble for my family.

On the other hand, if things continue to escalate, Yoka’s reputation at school could be damaged.

“Umm, both of you. I don’t think it would be good for either of us to discuss this any further here.”

After saying that, the two of them seemed to have noticed the stares around us and regained their composure, and the conversation stopped, leaving Kanzaki-san.

Then I followed Yoka as she started to walk away.

I looked sideways at Kanzaki-san, but she had her head down so I couldn’t see her face.