It looked just like hieroglyphics.
FROM ☆★Yui★☆: 18:32
TITLE Re6
Hieroglyphics? What are those (ˊ˙ω˙ˋ)?
FROM Hachiman 18:33
TITLE Re7
They're on the world history exam...
Volume Two ② Komachi Hikigaya Will Definitely Marry Her Brother When She Grows Up (That's What I Think)
As a well-behaved high school boy, two weeks before regular exams, I ought to head to a family restaurant after school and study hard. And since the teachers had to attend the Municipal Education Research Conference today, school had ended early and club activities had been canceled, making it the perfect opportunity to study.
I buried myself in standardized English vocabulary copying exercises, like Shinran, that great historical monk. Incidentally, Shinran was the one who advocated Taryō Hon'gan (Note 13: Shinran was a monk of Japan's Kamakura period and the founder of Jōdo Shinshū. In Buddhism, "Taryō Hon'gan" refers to attaining Buddhahood through Amitabha Buddha's vow to save all sentient beings; here, it means relying on others for help.) He was truly magnificent. Deeply moved by his philosophy, I resolved to find someone willing to support me. From a Buddhist perspective, I was practically Master Shinran.
After finishing the vocabulary within the exam range, I decided to drink some cocoa while covering the words in my textbook with a red translucent sheet to see whether I remembered them all.
Just as I stood up with my cup in hand—
"Sorry we didn't go to Saizeriya, Yukino~ Let's go have Milan-style baked rice next time. Ah, I also really recommend the Devil-style hamburger steak."
"I don't care where we go, since we're studying either way... But is hamburger steak even Italian food?"
Those two voices sounded awfully familiar.
"Ah!"
"...Oh my."
"Mm!"
The three of us froze the moment we saw each other. Somehow, it felt like we were a snake, frog, and slug combination (Note 14: A metaphor for a three-way stalemate where each side restrains the others.), and I was very likely the slug.
The ones entering the restaurant were Yukino Yukinoshita and Yuihama Yui, both in uniform. Unfortunately, they were my fellow club members. Incidentally, "fellow club members" was a term specifically used for clubs with sedentary activities. With heaven, earth, and humanity all aligned, today was the first time I had used that word.
"Shut-in boy, what are you doing here?"
"Nothing. I'm studying here..."
"Oh~ What a coincidence. Yukino and I came here to study too... Um, then, should we have a study group together?"
Yuihama looked back and forth between Yukino and me.
"I don't mind. We're studying anyway."
"...Yes, that much is the same for everyone."
It was rare for the two of us to agree, but Yuihama tilted her head, suspicion briefly crossing her face. Still, she decided not to think too hard about it, said, "Then it's settled," and headed straight for my table.
After I helped them add the drink bar, I went to get myself another drink and found Yukino seriously examining the drink dispenser. She held a cup in her right hand and, for some reason, coins in her left.
"Um... Hikigaya-kun, where do I insert the coins?"
"Huh?"
Miss Yukinoshita, were you joking? Had you never heard of a drink bar? What kind of high-class household had you grown up in?
"You don't need to insert coins. Um... You know all-you-can-eat restaurants, right? It's basically the drink version of that."
"...Japan truly is a wealthy country."
A dark smile appeared on Yukino's face as she made that incomprehensible comment. Then she had me pour my drink first while she studied from the side. When I pressed the button and cola filled my cup, her eyes lit up.
Just to be safe, I also placed a hot-drink cup beneath the espresso machine and pressed the cocoa button. After watching the demonstration, Yukino softly said, "I see..."
After she somehow managed to pour herself a drink in a manner that made me break into a cold sweat, we returned to our table and prepared to begin the study group.
"Okay, let's begin."
At Yuihama's command, Yukino took out her headphones and put them on. Seeing that, I inserted my own compact earphones.
Yuihama stared at us in disbelief.
"Huh? Why are you two listening to music?"
"It's normal to listen to music while studying. It blocks out surrounding noise."
"That's right. And when you stop noticing the music, it means you're completely focused, which motivates you even more."
"That's not how a study group works!"
She protested by pounding the table with repeated thumps, while Yukino rested her chin on her hand and sank into thought.
"...Then what should a study group be like?"
"Um... Everyone decides what material to cover first, then asks questions about what they don't understand... Then there's break time, and after the break, you keep discussing things and exchange information you've found. Um... Sometimes you chat too, I guess?"
"Wouldn't that just turn into chatting...?"
It was supposed to be a study group, yet no one would actually study. Besides, didn't she think having so many people involved would just be troublesome?
"You're supposed to study by yourself in the first place."
Yukino lectured her on the proper way, and I completely agreed with that statement.
In other words, once you were alone, you could study! Add that line to the manga that comes with correspondence course materials!
At first, Yuihama seemed unable to accept it, but after seeing Yukino and me silently burying ourselves in our books, she finally gave up with a sigh and picked up her own textbook.
Five minutes passed, then ten...
I suddenly looked up to check on the other two. Yuihama's hand had stopped moving, as though she had run into some difficulty, while Yukino continued silently solving math problems, looking very serious. Yuihama probably felt it would be inconvenient to interrupt her, so she turned her gaze toward me.
"Um, this problem..."
Was asking me a question really that embarrassing? Why did she look so reluctant to speak?
"'Doppler Effect,' huh... I gave up on physics long ago, so I don't really understand it either. But if it's the game Mass Effect, I can explain it to you. Want me to?"
"That's completely different! Only the last two words are the same!"
So that wouldn't work... Even though I was pretty confident in my ability to explain things.
Yuihama gave up and dropped her textbook and notebook onto the table. She drained the iced tea from her glass through a straw, then picked up the empty glass and started to stand. At that moment, she seemed to notice something and let out an "Ah."
I followed her gaze and found an incredibly cute, beautiful girl in a tacky sailor uniform.
"That's my sister..."
My little sister Komachi was smiling happily in front of the register, with a boy in a stand-collar uniform beside her.
"Sorry, I'm leaving for a moment."
I immediately got up and chased after them from behind, but the moment I stepped outside, the two of them were nowhere to be found.
I unwillingly returned to the restaurant, and Yuihama asked:
"Ah, was that your sister just now?"
"Yeah. Why was she at a family restaurant with a boy...?"
The shock was so intense that I no longer had any desire to study. My little sister appearing in a place like this with some unknown guy... That was impossible!
"Maybe it was a date~"
"Don't be ridiculous... How could that be...?"
"Really~? But Komachi is so cute, it'd be perfectly normal for her to have a boyfriend."
"I don't even have a girlfriend, so how could my little sister have the nerve to get a boyfriend! There can't be a younger sister more outstanding than her older brother!"
"You don't need to say something so stupid that loudly. I can hear you perfectly clearly even with headphones on."
Yukino took off her headphones and glared at me. She had pulled the cord taut, as if she would strangle me with it if I made any more noise.
"No, you misunderstand. My sister was with some unfamiliar guy just now..."
"But from what I saw, he was just an ordinary middle school boy. I know you're worried about your sister, but if you pry too much, she'll only hate you for it. My dad keeps asking me lately, 'Do you have a boyfriend?' It's seriously so annoying~"
"Hahaha, your father is still too inexperienced! My family firmly believes my sister couldn't possibly have a boyfriend, so they never ask things like that. How tragic... By the way, how did you know my sister's name?"
I didn't remember ever mentioning my sister's name to anyone. Besides, my classmates probably didn't even know my name, so how could they know my sister's?
"Eh! Ah, um... Right, it must have been your phone! I think I saw it somewhere on your phone before..."
For some reason, Yuihama looked away as she answered that question.
Oh, right. I had let her use my phone once before. She must have seen it in some message then.
"I see. That's a relief. I thought maybe I loved my sister so much that I kept unconsciously saying her name. Wouldn't that make me a siscon?"
"Uh, judging by your reaction, I think you really are a siscon..."
Yuihama leaned back slightly.
"Nonsense! I'm absolutely not a siscon! Besides, I don't even see her as my little sister, but as a woman... Whoa! I'm joking! Stop, don't take out weapons!"
Yukino's eyes were filled with shock and fear as she looked at me. When she picked up a knife and fork in both hands, I didn't dare continue. If I had finished that sentence, she would definitely have cut me into a thousand pieces.
"When it comes from your mouth, it doesn't sound like a joke at all. That's terrifying... But if you care that much, why not ask her when you get home?"
After Yukino reached that conclusion, she and Yuihama buried themselves in their books again.
But I no longer had the mood to study. Instead, I recalled how Komachi used to call, "Big brother~," and hurry along behind me. And after she said, "When Komachi grows up, she'll marry Big Brother," Dad's attacks on me had only grown more vicious.
Whatever. My sister's business was none of my concern.
So when I got home that day, I didn't ask her about it.
I-I wasn't too afraid to ask just because I heard that prying too much would make her hate me!
FROM ☆★Yui★☆ 20:22
TITLE nontitle
Good work today, Yukino~
Thank you for teaching me recursive sequences♪
Let's go to Saizeriya together again next time!
The Italian gelato was super delicious
°*.(*ˊДˋ).*°
FROM Yukino 21:36
TITLE Re
Really? I'm looking forward to it.
FROM ☆★Yui★☆ 21:37
TITLE Re2
It'd probably be great with some coffee jelly on top too
V(＞W＜*)! YA!
Also, Yukino, you reply so slowly!
FROM Yukino 21:47
TITLE Re3
Because I'm not used to it yet.
A not particularly important question: those things that look like hieroglyphics,
did you type them yourself?
FROM ☆★Yui★☆ 21:49
TITLE Re4
There it is! Hieroglyphics again ∑(˙□˙)!
Is that popular lately (ˊ˙ω˙ˋ)?
FROM Yukino 21:59
Before you continue