I Promised to Make the Class Honor Student My 'Little Sister'. It Seems She Wants to Be Spoiled a Lot - Volume 1 Chapter 2.1

Chapter 2: Me, Not Returning Home, Yearning for a “Family”

──It was the first day of the first semester of my second year in high school.

As soon as I entered the new classroom, I spotted a familiar face.

“Yo. Looks like we’re in the same class again this year, Chitose.”

“Yeah. Nice to be with you again, Ryuuki.”

He had long black hair at the nape of his neck and somewhat sleepy-looking eyes.

Though he looks somewhat androgynous, he’s actually quite adept at both academics and sports, a true all-rounder.

That’s Ayumura Chitose. We became good friends after ending up in the same class last year, and since then, he’s probably the guy I’ve hung out with the most.

As for me──Takato Ryuuki.

I wear glasses that make me look serious. My bangs are a bit long, but my hairstyle is pretty neat. My clothes are utterly ordinary, and I’m not particularly muscular or anything.

But… it’s the look in my eyes, you know? I was born with a somewhat sharp gaze.

And my mouth, you know? When I’m silent, it naturally falls into a frown.

When I’m quietly by myself, people often get the wrong impression that I’m “scary” or “angry.”

Compared to Chitose, I can’t help but think… my appearance is at a disadvantage.

“But man, there are a lot of faces I don’t recognize. Especially the girls, I hardly know any of them.”

“It seems like there aren’t many girls from last year in our class this time. Maybe two or three. Ah… but, look. You know Kakogawa-san, right? Looks like she’s in our class this year.”

“Ah. Kakogawa, I’d definitely recognize.”

As we engaged in such light chitchat.

The door swung open──and a girl entered the classroom.

Her chestnut-colored medium bob hair flowed smoothly, adorned with a flower-shaped hairpin.

Her skin was as white as snow, and her lips sparkled red, the only spot of color.

The area around her chest in her sailor uniform was pushed up by a generous curve, creating a stunning silhouette.

Yes──she was.

The classmate we were just talking about, Kakogawa Ao.

“Ah, Ao. Good morning.”

“Yup, good morning. We’re in the same class again this year.”

“Ao Mamaー! I’m here tooー!! Love youー!!”

“Ahaha, so energetic from the first day of the new term. Am I going to be everyone’s ‘Mama’ again this year?”

“Of course! Us degenerates need a responsible Ao Mama. I’ll do my best on my own! But when it gets tough… can I rely on you again this year?”

“Mo〜, you’re such a charmer. But no slacking off from the start, okay? Got it?”

──Even though we were in different classes last year, the reason why we knew Kakogawa was simple.

Kakogawa Ao was among the most famous people in our grade.

Always wearing a gentle smile.

Bright and calm towards everyone.

And when someone is in trouble… she’s the first one to offer help with her extraordinary kindness.

A high school girl who’s flawless in both appearance and personality. That’s Kakogawa Ao.

Naturally, she’s adored by everyone, regardless of gender.

And her close female friends even call her “Ao Mama,” relying on the bright and caring Kakogawa.

“…Hm? Do you need something from me?”

“Ah?”

While I was absent-mindedly looking at Kakogawa after our conversation, she noticed my gaze and turned her face towards me.

Kakogawa tilted her head slightly, her eyes sparkling like crystals.

Caught in that clear shine, without being able to say anything… Kakogawa just smiled innocently.

“…Well, never mind. More importantly, we’re in the same class starting today, right? Please take care of me!!”

──I never dreamed that I would end up living in the house of Kakogawa Ao.

Life is really unpredictable… truly.

▲　◇　▼　◆

“…Morning, huh?”

The sunlight streaming in through the gap in the curtains was blinding, waking me up.

I threw off the towel blanket and slowly sat up.

Shifting my position, I leaned back against the bed and placed my feet on the carpet.

Up until now, this fluffy sofa had been my makeshift bed.

And this space I’m in now is, typically called, a living room.

…Of course, it’s not my living room.

Neither a hotel nor an internet cafe.

Yes, this is──the living room of Kakogawa’s house.

“Ah. Good morning, Takato-kun! How was it, did you sleep well?”

Noticing my presence, Kakogawa peeked out from the connected dining kitchen.

Kakogawa’s attire was──what you might call girly.

Dressed in a cute blouse and a light blue skirt, her presence was as graceful and lovely as a sheltered young lady.

Of course, at school, she only wears her sailor uniform… so seeing Kakogawa like this feels refreshingly new.

“Wow. Just like last night, seeing Takato-kun in something other than his school uniform feels so fresh? It’s a bit embarrassing.”

“Huh!? Ah… uh, really?”

Oh, panicked… did she read my mind…?

But my current outfit is just a plain long T-shirt and baggy pants, totally sleepwear style.

It might be rare not to see me in my school uniform, but to be embarrassed about… if you say that, I’m going to feel a million times more embarrassed, you know?

As I was caught up in such silly thoughts.

Kakogawa suddenly came closer and──peered into my face.

“Takato-kun. How are you feeling? Any better?”

“Aaah? Ah… thanks to you, I feel much better after a night’s sleep. No chills or sore throat. If you’re worried about a cold, I’m fine.”

“Really〜? I’m a bit worried.”

Kakogawa looked at me suspiciously.

Then, for some reason, she brushed my bangs aside──

──and pressed her forehead against mine.

“Ha…!?”

“Don’t move. I’m checking if you have a fever.”

The cherry-like, moist, Kakogawa’s lips.

Her cheeks, white as porcelain and soft as marshmallows, were just a few centimeters away.

In such a situation──telling me not to move is an impossible request!

“Hmm… it feels a bit warm…? Could it be, a cold…!?”

“No way! That’s a completely wrong diagnosis! For now, get off!!”

I hurriedly pushed Kakogawa away and wiped the sweat off my forehead.

Kakogawa… I knew she was kind and caring towards everyone, but I didn’t expect it to be to this extent.

This is just a sweet, kind honey trap, you know? The type that would make any normal high school boy’s temperature rise in various ways.

“…Ah!? E, e, eh… sorry, Takato-kun… I went too far, didn’t I?”

Then──Kakogawa.

Suddenly became embarrassed, her face turning bright red as she started to apologize.

“N, no, well… it was too much, but. Considering you’re usually called ‘Ao Mama,’ it’s just like you… it’s very Kakogawa-like, in a way…”

“Wait, hold on! I admit I went too far… and I do it normally to girls. But, this kind of thing──I wouldn’t do it to other guys!!”

…Yes?

Um… what are you trying to say?

“Kakogawa. That way of speaking can cause misunderstandings. That makes it seem like… you only do this forehead thing with me, out of all the boys. That’s how it sounds, you know? It’s not like that, right?”

“It’s exactly like that! I mean, I definitely don’t do this kind of shameless thing──usually not with the opposite sex!”

“Ah, don’t tell me, Kakogawa… you think I’m a girl?”

“I don’t think so! Takato-kun, you dummy!”

With her face flushed red, Kakogawa threw an annoyed glance at me.

The hearts of women are complex, hard to understand.

But──.

From April, when we ended up in the same class, we barely spoke and had almost no interaction.

I never imagined that under such bizarre circumstances, I’d be having these light-hearted conversations with Kakogawa──I never dreamed of it.

Life really is unpredictable.