My Childhood Friend, Who Is Like an Older Sister to Me, Clearly Has a Crush on Me - Chapter 1-1

Translator: KR
Editor: Animu

 

Chapter 1-1

 

   Our all-boys school basically doesn’t have much contact with the all-girls school down the street.

   Though, this doesn’t mean that we are on bad terms. It’s just that we simply don’t interact with them.

   There are still some boys among us who socialize with the students from the all-girls school, but not a lot.

   The timing of our school’s cultural and athletic festivals are also different, so there is even less interaction with them.

   Nevertheless, I’m not particularly interested in that, and I’ve never been bothered being called an indifferent guy by those around me.

   

   Today is the day of my appointment with Kana-neechan. It’s currently after school, by the way.

   As expected, most students have already left school at this time of day.

   The only ones who stayed behind were probably those who belonged to a committee or a club.

   I am also a member of a committee, the public morals committee to be exact.

   After finishing my job, which was patrolling the school, I immediately went back to my classroom to get ready to go home.

   Good thing I don’t have a part-time shift today so I can keep my promise with Kana-neechan.

   As I arrived in front of my shoe locker, a student suddenly came from the hallway.

 

“Yo, Suou! You free today?”

”Kazami-kun? What’s wrong? Suddenly asking thatーー”

 

   I don’t know how to answer his sudden question.

   His name is Kazami Shingo. If I were to ask whether we are friends or not, the answer would be yes, but it’s only to the point where we only talk about guileless things.

 

“The thing is, I actually have an appointment to meet some girls from the all-girls school today.”

“And?”

“I’d like to fulfill my promise, but we’re short one person. So, I was wondering if there was anyone who could help me increase the headcount.”

“And that’s why you’re asking me?”

“YeahーーWhat do you think? How about coming along if you’re free?”

 

   It’s true that I don’t have any particular plans with my friends….

   Butーー

 

“Sorry. I have plans today so I don’t think I can go with you…. Maybe you can invite someone else.”

 

   I replied.

 

“I see…. I guess I have no choice. Well then, let’s meet up again when we get the chance.”

“Yeah.”

 

   Kazami-kun returned to school after saying so.

   If I didn’t have any plans, I would have most likely gone with him.

   But not today.

   I currently have an appointment with Kana-neechan.

   So I need to head towards the all-girls school as quickly as possible.

   I heard from her that it would be a band meeting, so I brought my bass guitar just in case.

   By the way, I put it in a pay locker at a nearby train station.

   The reason why I put it there was because if I brought it to school, the teacher would confiscate it for sure.

   It’s a different story if you belong to a light music club or something similar, but if not, it’s treated as personal property.

   If it gets confiscated, the teacher will lecture you if you want to get it back, and as a result, you have to be prepared to waste more than an hour.

   Hence, if I want to bring my bass guitar and go see Kana-neechan, it’s better to do it this way since it won’t be as troublesome.

 

   It was just a straight walk down the road until I finally reached the station.

   After that, I immediately went to the pay locker and unlocked it.

   I then checked the time on my phone after taking out my favorite bass guitar from the locker and carried it with me.

 

“Come to think of it, she had mentioned the meeting place, but not the time. I wonder if it’s okay to go there now?”

 

   I pondered and quickly recalled what had happened three days ago.

   Kana-neechan is indeed a beautiful girl with excellent grades and good manners, but there is a side to her that’s somewhat puzzling.

 

”Well, it’s no use to think about it, so let’s just go for now.”

 

   I let out a small sigh and walked towards the all-girls school.

 

   As soon as I arrived, there were four girls standing in front of the all-girls school gate. All of them were wearing their distinctive uniforms and carrying their bags.

   Looks like they haven’t gone back home yet.

   One of them is definitely Kana-neechan.

   As I walked up to them, she noticed my figure.

 

“…Ah, you’re laaate! What on earth were you doing?”

“Sorry, I went to get my instrument first….”

“Oh, I see. I was afraid you wouldn’t show up.”

“I’m not going to do that. I already promised Kana-neechan, so it would be bad if I went back on my word.”

“That’s true. You even went out of your way to get your instrument.”

“I heard there was going to be a band meeting and I thought I should bring my instrument just in caseー”

“Instrument? Are you perhaps the bassist?”

 

   One of the three girls asked me with interest.

   The girl had a short cut and looked very boyish.

 

“Yes, I am….”

 

   I replied.

   The short-cut girl looked at the bass guitar I was carrying with a gesture as if she was interested.

 

“Hmm, I see~”.

 

   She uttered doubtfully.

   ーーWhat is it?

   Is there something not to her liking?

 

“What’s wrong, Nao-chan?”

 

   Before I could even open my mouth, Kana-neechan asked her first.

   In response, the short-cut girl called Nao looked at me with a stern expression.

 

“No, it’s nothing. I was just wondering if he has any experience.”

“That’s….”

“He had never been in a band before, but he’s a really good bassist.”

 

   Kana-neechan answered as if she was defending me.

   But Nao sighed in exasperation.

 

“That’s not enough.”

“Nao-chan?”

“Of course being skilled is a given, but I need to remind you that we need someone experienced if you guys want to go big! …You do understand that, right?”

“I’m well aware of that. But right now, we’re still missing a key member to even make it as a band, you know?”

“And that person is him?”

“We don’t have a bassist yet, do we?”

“That’s…. Yeah, we don’t, but….”

“Then, it’s fine, right?”

“I guess, but…still….”

 

   Nao looked at me, still unconvinced.

   Somehow or another, I understood what she was trying to say.

   As for the two girls at her side,

 

“Now, now, Nao-chan.”

“Kana-chan had already decided on it.”

 

   They were soothing Nao while saying so.

   I’m pretty sure these two girls are also fellow band members.

   And I immediately noticed something when I looked at the four girls, including Kana-neechan.

   That is, none of the band members that Kana-neechan recruited were men.

 

“─ ─ By the way, Otouto-kun, do you have a day off from your part-time job today?

“Yes, there’s no shift today.”

“That’s good. Then, I’d like to have our band meeting at Otouto-kun’s house today, would that be okay?”

“At my house?”

“No good?”

 

   Kana-neechan asked as if she was begging for it.

   ─ ─Well, this is troubling.

   Both of my parents are working, so they won’t be at home, but what about big bro? I don’t know.

   It’s no use thinking about what I don’t know.

 

“I don’t think there’s anything wrong with it, but….”

“Then it’s settled. Let’s go to Otouto-kun’s house now!”

“Ooooh!”

“Eh…. That’s….”

 

   How did it turn out like this?.

   What are you going to do if big bro is at home?

   Seemingly oblivious to my concern, Kana-neechan and the other three walked away.

   Though, Kana-neechan wouldn’t listen to any of my attempts to stop her in the first place, so there was nothing I could do.

   I have no choice but to pray to God.

   Please God.

   Please don’t let big bro be at homeーー.

 

   And my bad premonition came true.

   When I came home, I found big bro already there.

 

“Kaede, huh? And Kana is with you?”

“Good afternoon, Ryuuichi-san.”

 

   Before I could open my mouth, Kana-neechan, who was with me, greeted him.

   As if in response, the other three girls also bowed slightly.

   Suou Ryuuichi is my big bro’s name and he was the one who had influenced Kana-neechan greatly.

   I, too, was influenced by him and have been practicing playing the bass guitar ever since.

   He formed a well-known band around here and usually performs outdoors.

 

“What’s with the crowd?”

“Ah, there’s a reason for this….”

“Well, I don’t really care. I’m going out now, so make sure you lock up properly.”

“Another band meeting?”

 

   When I asked him that, he replied in displeasure.

 

“It’s none of your business. Anyway, I’m going out, so don’t bother the neighbors too much.”

“I know, I knowーー”

“I wish that were the case. It doesn’t matter how hard a talentless person tries, so just give up and go for another route.”

“…….”

“…Hey, I don’t think you should ever say something like that.”

 

   Kana-neechan chimed in on our conversation.

 

“I’m just telling the truth. I’m sure Kana knows that, too, right? Kaede has no talent and never joined a single band. There are lots of situations where members get swept away by someone similar to him.……That’s why I, at that timeーー”

“Certainly…, but I already turned it down. Besides, I have my own members now.”

“…….”

 

   Kana-neechan’s words seemed to have made quite an impact on big bro.

   Well, that’s because he had recently confessed to her but she turned him down, so I guess it’s only natural that he couldn’t say anything back to her.

 

“Well, if you guys are going to practice, use this place however you want.”

 

   Big bro then left the living room after saying so.

 

“Is it fine saying something like that?”

“Don’t worry. I can’t think of a better place to have a meeting other than that.”

“That?”

“Otouto-kun, is that place available to use now?”

“Of course.”

“Then, let’s have our meeting there.”

“O-Okay….”

“I’m curious to know what kind of place it is. But if Kana-chan says soーー”

“Alright, follow me.”

 

   With that, we left the living room.

   That place is soundproofed, making it a great place for band activities.

   Kana-neechan knows about that place, so she probably won’t be surprised, but I wonder about the other three.

   I am sure they would be shocked if I took them there.