The Delinquent Shimizu-san Sitting Next to Me Has Dyed Her Hair Black - Volume 2 Chapter 9.3

Shimizu-san and the Unexpected Visitor 3

 

Shimizu’s POV

 

“Come here.”

“But…”

“Just come here. You don’t want anyone to see that face right now, do you?”

 

Hesitant, Hondō’s sister presses her face against my abdomen.

 

“I won’t ask questions, so cry all you want.”

 

I gently stroke Hondō’s sister’s head.

When I was little and on the verge of crying, Ai used to do the same for me.

 

“Uu….uuu..”

 

For a few minutes, Hondō’s sister’s sobs were the only sound in this space where only the two of us existed.

 

“Um, there’s something I want to ask.”

“What is it?”

 

On our way back to the Astronomy Club’s room, Hondō’s sister, who had been silent up to this point, suddenly spoke.

 

“I get that you’re always listening to Onii-chan, but why are you always watching him?”

“Uh, well… that’s…”

 

I blurted that out back then to lend credibility to my claim that Hondō always worries about his sister.

But I didn’t expect her to dig into it now…

 

“Ah, I get it!”

“Go ahead, say it.”

“You like Onii-chan, don’t you!”

“Ugh…”

 

Energetically, and unlike someone who had been crying just moments ago, Hondō’s sister dealt a huge blow to my mentality.

 

“No way I could like someone like that!”

“Onii-chan isn’t ‘someone like that.'”

 

Even without looking at her face, I could tell from her voice that she was sulking.

I had a vague idea before, but this sister is quite the brocon.

 

“S-sorry, I didn’t mean it like that.”

“So, do you like Onii-chan?”

“…we’re here already.”

“Ah, you dodged the question.”

“Think what you will. Are you ready? I’m opening the door.”

“Yeah.”

 

I open the door to the clubroom.

Inside, the other four other Astronomy Club members are present.

 

“Teruno!”

“Onii-chan!”

 

Hondō and his sister closed the distance between them and hugged each other when the distance reached zero.

 

“Teruno, I’m sorry for getting angry.”

“It’s okay, it was my fault.”

 

Ai, Yousuke, and Seto looked on at the siblings with smiles on their faces.

 

“I’m glad she was found safe and sound.”

“Right, really glad.”

“I agree with Senpai.”

 

Hondō releases his sister and turns to face Ai and the others.

 

“Ai-san, Yousuke-san, Seto-san, and Shimizu-san, thank you for helping with the search for Teruno.”

 

Saying this, Hondō bowed deeply.

 

“No need to thank us. Me and Daiki-kun are close friends after all!”

“Yeah, helping a friend in need is natural.”

“I always owe Hondō-kun, so if I could be of any help, that’s all the better.”

 

For some reason, everyone’s gaze is directed at me as if expecting me to say something.

 

“…uh, I was just repaying the favor from when you helped me before.”

“You’re really not honest, are you, Kei? You could just say, ‘Hondō-kun, I’m glad I can help you!’ “

“Who would say something like that!”

“Um… Can I have a word?”

“Hm? What’s up, Teruno-chan?”

“I have something I want to say to Shimizu-san…”

“Go ahead, I’ll listen.”

 

What is she planning to talk about?

For a moment, the conversation from earlier flashes across my mind.

 

『So, do you like Onii-chan?』

 

I don’t think so, but if I’m asked that question in front of Hondō, I wouldn’t know what to do.

 

“What is it?”

 

Just as I thought Hondō’s sister was looking my way, she quickly bowed her head.

 

“I’m sorry for what I said earlier!”

“Hey, lift your head up. It’ll look like I made you bow.”

 

Hondō’s sister slowly lifts her head.

 

“Will you forgive me?”

“I wasn’t really mad in the first place.”

“Thank you!”

“And you don’t have to use polite language; it feels off.”

“Got it! Can I ask you one more thing?”

“As long as it’s not the question from the hallway earlier, go ahead.”

“What’s your first name, Shimizu-san?”

 

Come to think of it, I might not have told her yet.

 

“It’s Kei (圭), written with the character for ‘above (上),’ with an added ‘soil (土)’ character.”

“I see… Can I make one last request?”

“For your information, I’m not as kind as Hondō, but go ahead and ask.”

“Can I call you Kei Onee-chan?”

“Wha…”

 

‘Onee-chan’… ‘Onee-chan’… ‘Onee-chan’…

What a sweet ring it has.

Having been a younger sister for sixteen years, I’ve had a slight, just a slight yearning to be called with that.

 

“Fine, you can call me that if you want.”

“Thank you, Kei Onee-chan!”

“What about me?”

“Um, Ai Auntie (obasan)?”

“Ughhh…”

“Ai, are you okay!?”

 

Caught off guard by the unexpected emotional blow, Ai almost collapses on the spot.

She manages to stagger to her feet after about ten seconds.

 

“That was a complete surprise blow… If it were anyone but me, this could’ve turned into a big trouble…”

“Teruno, you can call me Mio.”

“Mio-san?”

“That works for me.”

 

Perhaps afraid of also being called ‘Auntie,’ Seto made sure to establish what she should be called.

 

“Oh, that’s right. Kei Onee-chan, can you lend me your ear?”

“What is it?”

“I’m rooting for you, Kei Onee-chan.”

“Wha…”

 

Hondō’s sister… Teruno, perhaps having regained her composure, wore a mischievous grin.