My Childhood Friend, Who Is Like an Older Sister to Me, Clearly Has a Crush on Me - Chapter 2-1

Translator: KR
Editor: Animu

 

Chapter 2-1

 

   The promised Sunday.

   Today is the day I’m going shopping with Kana-neechan.

   Our meeting place is supposed to be at my house, but we didn’t decide the time.

   I wonder when she will come.

   But thenーー

 

   DINGDONG.

 

   I heard the doorbell ringing.

   Since neither of my parents are home today, either I or my older brother has to answer the door.

   However, my brother didn’t come out of his room and instead, I could only hear him strumming his guitar, so he was definitely not going anywhere.

   Hence, there was no choice but to answer the door myself.

 

“Yeees.”

“Otouto-kun, It’s me, Kana.”

“Kana-neechan.”

 

   I opened the front door without hesitation.

   And there she was, dressed in a cute outfit for a day out.

   She already looked good in her normal attire, but this time she’s even cuter than usual.

 

“Good morning, Otouto-kun. I’m here to pick you up.”

“Ah…. Please wait a bit, I’ll get ready now.”

“Then, I’ll go with you to your room and wait for you there.”

“…But I’m going to change my clothes, so even if you ask me to go together….”

“It’s not a big deal, right? Or maybe there’s a problem with me watching you change?”

“No, it’s not like that, but…. it’s embarrassing to let an opposite sex see you change your clothes, don’t you think?”

“Embarrassing, huh…? I’m not that embarrassed if Otouto-kun sees me change clothes, though.”

 

   What are you saying, Kana-neechan?

   Even though it’s very much a sin just to imagine her changing her clothes….

 

“But it’s already embarrassing enough for me. Anyway, wait for me in the living room. I’ll change quickly.”

“Can’t be helped. I’m going to wait for you there, then.”

 

   With that said, Kana-neechan entered the house and went straight to the living room.

   I’ll have her wait there for a while while I head straight to my own room.

   Let’s quickly change my clothes for now.

 

   The place where Kana-neechan and I will visit is a big shopping mall two train stops away.

   Since today’s a holiday, there are many couples of the same age walking nearby.

 

“Waah, I knew there would be lots of people.”

“Yeah, there are quite a lot of couples since it’s Sunday.”

“Couples, huh…? Do we look like one too, I wonder?”

 

   Asked Kana-neechan unexpectedly.

   Why did you suddenly ask that question?

   I don’t think that’s possible.

 

“I don’t think so.”

“Why?”

 

   Kana-neechan tilted her head in wonder.

 

“I mean, aren’t we like siblings? I would never dare to look at Kana-neechan that way.”

“I see, Kaede-kun can’t see us as a couple, can you?”

“That’s right. We would never be seen as a couple.”

“I see…. Can’t be seen as a couple, huh…? That’s a bit harsh….”

 

   Said Kana-neechan while laughing bitterly.

   Don’t be mistaken, this is not a date, we’re just shopping.

   I don’t know how it is for Kana-neechan, but at least that’s what I think.

   So I will try not to be too conscious of it.

   After all, when we walked together, the stares of the men around us hurt me.

   They even whispered in quiet voices.

 

“Why is she with that guy….”

 

   Orーー

 

“Damn it!! I can’t talk to her because that guy is in the way….”

 

   Such voices could be heard.

   Kana-neechan seemed to have heard them as well, and she squeezed my arm.

   It seems like she doesn’t like the way the men around her are looking at her either.

 

“By the way, OtoutーーKaede-kun, is there a place you want to go?”

 

   She probably didn’t want them to know how she always calls me and deliberately changed it to “Kaede”.

 

“Well, I don’t have any particular place in mind…. How about Kana-neeーーOww!!”

 

   While I was trying to ask her, she lightly pinched my arm so that the others wouldn’t notice.

   I reflexively looked at her face and saw that she had a sour expression.

 

“I wish you could stop with the “-neechan”. Just call me ”Kana”, come onーー”

 

   She suggested.

   ーーEven if you say that….

   I’ve never addressed her without “-neechan” before….

 

“As expected, addressing Kana-neechan like that is… Oww!!”

“What? I can’t hear you. What did you say?”

 

   Kana-neechan pinched my arm harder while smiling.

   She’s the type of person who won’t listen if she’s like this.

 

“…I understand, Kana-san. So please, stop pinching my arm….”

 

   I said so with a gesture of pain.

   Kana-neechan let out a sigh as if she had no choice since she saw my behavior.

 

“Well, I’ll put up with Kana-san for now.”

“Sorry…. Kana-neechan is technically my senior, so I just can’t help but call you that.”

“I guess that’s a valid reason…. Sorry for acting childish too.”

 

   It managed to go through her

   As I’ve said many times before, Kana-neechan is my senior as well as a big sister to me. That’s why, I have to treat her with respect.

   As for romantic feelings, I think it’s too early for me.

 

“You don’t have to apologize, Kana-san…. More importantly, let’s finish your shopping.”

“Eh? Ah, yeah, you’re right, my shopping, is it? It’s just down the street.”

“Okay.”

“It’s not that interesting though.”

 

   I wonder what Kana-neechan is shopping for.

   It makes me rather curious since she even asked me out to get it.

 

“What are you planning to buy?”

“It’s a secret~”

“Even though we’re on our way there?”

“Yup, if I tell Kaede-kun now, you probably won’t want to go there….”

“The kind of place I wouldn’t want to go…? I have no idea.”　

 

   I have absolutely no clue.

   How would I know what kind of shop it is without any hints?

 

“Well, you’ll just have to wait and see.”

“Alright, let’s go then.”

 

   We walked through the shopping mall at a relatively slow pace.

   The mall is usually frequented by both male and female students.

   Sure enough, as I was walking with Kana-neechan, I saw a group of boys from the boys’ school that I knew well were walking by.

   Since it was a holiday, of course they were all in casual clothes.

   They were the same boys who had talked to me the other day in front of the shoe lockers.

   Those guys must be seniors, since I had never seen their faces in my grade before.

   I tried to walk away with my face averted so as to not be noticed, but I was walking with Kana-neechan’s arm clinging to mine, so I was immediately recognized.

 

“Oh? You’re Suou, aren’t you? You with your girlfriend today?”

“Not exactly….”

“Not your girlfriend? …Wait! Why the hell are you walking arm in arm with the respectable Nishida-san!?”

 

   As soon as the seniors realized that I was with Kana-neechan, they proceeded to draw closer to me even more.

   ーーClose! Too close!

   Their faces are so close.

 

“Hello, are you perhaps Kaede-kun’s acquaintances?”

 

   Kana-neechan, who was standing beside me, greeted the male seniors with her usual smile, whether she intended it or not.

 

“Hello, Nishida-san. Suou-kun and I are senior and junior friends, right, Suou?”

“It seems so.”

“Hmm, I see.”

 

   The exchange between me and the senior felt a little out of place, hence Kana-neechan looked a little doubtful.

   Not wanting her to realize this, the senior pressed even closer to Kana-neechan.

 

“By the way, where are you planning to go today?”

“I have a ‘date’ with Kaede-kun today.”

“A date, I see? I don’t seem to understand what that means?”

 

   One of the seniors asked.

   He was smiling outwardly, yet his eyes were not.

   He was clearly hostile towards me.

   Kana-neechan noticed this and firmly grabbed my arm, explaining in a way that was easy to understand.

 

“It’s not that difficult, I just asked him out.”

“Eh?”

“I had Kaede-kun promise me that we would go shopping today, so we’re here now.”

“Umm…about that…can we join too? I think it’s more fun with three or more people than just being the two of you.”

“That’s a bit….”

 

   It’s kind of hard to decline if he said that….

   I managed to open my mouth with that thought in mind, yet it didn’t come out in words.

   Because Kana-neechan smiled and saidーー

 

“I’m sorry, I don’t want to walk with other boys today. If you still want to, please find another girl that would be willing.”

 

   Her words were a little harsh.

   The seniors then glared at me, tinged with jealousy.

 

“…I understand, we’ll give up today.”

 

   And said so.

   However, it looks like they are not ready to give up just yet.

 

“…But, we will invite you again another day, well thenーー”

 

   The seniors parted ways saying so.

   A little while after they left, I got called out by Kana-neechan.

 

“Those peopleーー Are they really Kaede-kun’s acquaintances?

“They’re my seniors at school…I think that guy was Takizawa-senpai.”

“Takizawa-kun, I see. I’ll remember that.”

“I don’t think there’s any need to remember, though….”

“What are you talking about? Didn’t he say he will come see you again? ーーIf anything happens to Kaede-kun, I’ll never forgive him and give him a suitable punishment.”

“That’s very reliable of you.”

 

   I think his aim was most likely Kana-neechan, though.

   He even said he was going to confess to her at that time.

 

“That also goes for Kaede-kun too!”

“Me too!?”

“Kaede-kun is not allowed to get close with any other girls except me, okay!?”

“That’s unreasonable….”

 

   Please have mercy on that….

   It’s up to me who I fall in love with, right?

 

“It’s not! It’s for cheating prevention!”

“Cheating, you said…. Even though we’re not in a relationship….”

“Even so! Kaede-kun, you are not allowed to go out with any other girl but me!”

 

   Kana-neechan clung to my arm tightly as she said so.

   What she was saying is already absurd.

   Seems like she was quite displeased that the seniors earlier had come on to her.

   Otherwise, there was no way Kana-neechan would have said something like this.

 

“…Alright, alright. I understand, just stop clinging to me. It’s embarrassing.”

“It’s good if you understand. ーーI’m so happy to have Otouto-kun who is such a good listener.”

 

   Kana-neechan uttered with a big smile on her face and instead of letting me go, clung to me even tighter.

   It seems that she doesn’t want to listen.

   Don’t tell me, we’ll be like this until we arrive at the store she’s heading to?

   When I looked around, there were already people staring at us with envious eyes.

   As expected, their gazes hurt.

   Starting to actually feel embarrassed, I smiled bitterly and walked through the shopping mall with Kana-neechan.