The school filled with busy footsteps and bustling conversation in the morning.
Passing by the peaceful campus, I arrived at the entrance where students who came to school met up with each other. A ‘pleasant sight’ was spread when friends, among them were couples, exchanged greetings in the morning.
It’s a very refreshing morning.
……Except around me
‘I wonder why are you Makoto-senpai’s younger brother’
Even though I came with a good mood, I was suddenly showered with those words as I was changing my shoes.
The way of speaking was unusually harsh too.
My mood fell rapidly, It was a big crash.
The source of the voice that lowered the tension was ‘Kaede Akihito’ who was standing in front of me.
He’s one of the broken hearted gays’.
He’s my classmate from the same class, until recently we weren’t especially close nor did we have a bad relationship either, if anything I think we both have a good impression of each other.
But, it looks like we’re water and oil now.
Kaede is a pretty boy that looks like an angel with a pair of big red eyes, has golden hair that looks like soft cat fur.
His back is not that small but he is shorter than me by a fist.
School uniform without a blazer, he’s wearing a long sleeved light grey cardigan over his shirt.
Looks like his lovely reputation and “You’re too cute!” from girls are now gone, the eyes looking at me are as cold as ice.
I seem to freeze as our eyes met.
But it’s nothing much once you get used to this.
This event has been occurring every morning at this place for the whole week.
I don’t remember making such a flag though.
“Are you listening!?”
I can hear, but I don’t plan on listening to you.
“……”
Oh, did the voice of your heart leak?
The temperature of the air that wrapped around us went down further.
Even if you glare at me like that, I won’t feel anything.
“Nothing”.
A series from nothing……that would be apathy,namely
‘Through’[1].
As if Kaede didn’t exist, it was a brilliant ‘Through’.
[1] As in being ignored
“Hey!”
Ahhh I can’t hear anything.
Right,this is the end of the morning shoebox event.
I wonder if this event will happen tomorrow.
I don’t need it, I feel depressed from this morning.
“Huh?”
I felt someone’s gaze and as I looked around me to check, several students were looking this way.
He seemed to have been looking at the situation as if it were a matter of trouble.
I don’t like this, if any weird rumors start…….
“!?”
I felt an especially keen gaze and as I looked towards the direction of it, my classmate Nousa Manami was looking at me.
“G-good morning. Shirousa-san.”
“Hmph!”
Shirousa-san left, leaving a powerful breath that seemed to blow people off from her nose.
I saw off the back of the warrior who wanted to be protected.
“So scary.”
She’s shorter than me but in width……
I’m not saying she’s fat, her muscularity and toughness is a good thing.
Now that I look closer, her face is well mannered but instead of ‘Fighting spirit’, it’s more like ‘Blood thirst’ shows on her face too much that you can only leave “She looks strong” as an impression.
Even the bundle of braided silver hair swaying behind her back looked like a “Tug of war” made of platinum.
If you pull both sides following with a dump, it probably won’t break either
“But, what was it?”
I was being glared at by an amazing look.
I wonder if I did anything to touch her nerves.
Could she possibly be a fan of Kaede?
No, but I feel like she glares at me every time.
When I first entered this school, I had unintentionally called her “Shirousa-san” because of her red eyes and fair skin. That was probably why I’m being hated.
I think it’s a cute nickname though, but it looks like she doesn’t like it.
I’ll continue calling her that anyways!
I don’t like being seen by Shirousa, Kaede or my classmates.
I don’t want to be in this classroom anymore.
Well, I was the one who made a ‘mistake’ against Kaede in the first place.
I wanted to see the state of a broken-hearted gay, sorrowful gay, or a new BL world so I observed Kaede but got discovered.
I looked suspicious, now I’m getting stared at in class and it’s uncomfortable.
Even during lessons, I can feel people looking at me.
……This is tiring.
“Sigh…”
And today, I finished class with sharp looks on me.
Let’s quickly go home, I want to peek at my brothers as soon as possible to heal myself.
It’s not enough, It’s not enough to heal.
While I was thirsting for some minus ions, so called gays, I was salivating down the hallway……but.
“Sighhhh……”
I breathed out the deepest sigh at the entrance that I somehow made it to.
It was because I could see an obvious golden hair that looked like a mob in between the students around me.
The other person seemed to have noticed me too, and looked at me with a familiar grim expression.
“Why are you still here after school’s over. Are you a stalker?”
“Aren’t you just too self conscious? Isn’t it you who’s the stalker?”
An event occurred one time this morning, but today it happened when school was over.
As I thought, his cuteness is gone.
Even though he’s normally cute, now I only feel hatred from him.
As my fatigue piles up, I’m gradually getting irritated.
“Good grief, why is it that you don’t have any cuteness! It’s different when big brother’s here. I’ve been too naïve! You shouldn’t get too excited or I’ll tell big brother that you’ve been acting innocent towards him!
“Wha-!”
I have my trump card, the legendary sword “Big brother”, come at me!
If I told my lovely big brother about it, he’ll be troubled.
And as I thought, Kaede who has been looking at me stiffened.
“If you don’t want that to happen, then be obedient and……”
“……It’s fine even if you tell him……I don’t care.”
“Huh?”
Not only did he not wait for me to finish my sentence, he even said he didn’t care.
Huh, that’s strange.
“Hey, wait a second.”
I called him but got ignored.
What’s wrong with that guy?
But, it felt like the face he made when he left looked sad or maybe even looked hurt……ah.
I remember now.
I lacked consideration because I got too annoyed.
He was a “Broken hearted gay”.
Lost love, his heart’s current condition is a piece of broken glass that has been scattered.
The topic of big brother might be his awfully delicate part.
“Just now……I was definitely in the wrong”
I wanted to apologize immediately, so I ran after him in a hurry.
As I ran out of the entrance, I immediately saw Kaede’s figure.
It was just past the school gate.
As I called him, he stopped for a moment then continued walking indifferently as if he had decided to ignore me.
I ran to chase him and soon, I was able to catch up with him.
I stood by his side but there was no response.
“Hey! Uh…….”
I opened my mouth, but I didn’t know how to apologize.
It would be weird if I knew that he had an unrequited love towards big brother.
So I can’t just say “Even though you are hurt by unrequited love, I said such hurtful words with no delicacy, I was in the wrong” and apologize like that.
Hmm……well, for now I should just apologize.
“I’m sorry for just now.”
“……What for?”
The way he said it was like a blunt rejection, it was frank.
Of course, I expected him to talk like that.
“It’s nothing much really, it’s just that you looked hurt. I was just wondering if I said anything to hurt you. I’m sorry.”
I was deceiving him but as I apologized, his feet suddenly stopped and he looked at me.
“……”
Then Kaede started walking again.
What does that that reaction mean, you should say something!
I don’t know if I apologized or not.
“I don’t feel refreshed. Ah.”
At that moment, I saw a vending machine that was installed along the road in front of me.
Since it has come to this, it’s an apology gift.
I quickly put some small change into the vending machine, and bought a hot café au lait.
He saw me buy it in front of him so he should drink it.
While I was buying, Kaede went off first so I caught up with him and forcibly pushed the café au lait into his hand.
“Hot! What?”
“This, it’s an apology! See you!”
I pushed it to him and escaped indifferently.
With this, the problem has been solved.
Hm, I feel refreshed.
In this world, as I thought money, goods are excellent solutions for trouble in the future.
※※※
――The next day.
The morning entrance.
The same as yesterday’s pleasant sight was spread.
Among that the “Shoebox event” started again……or so I thought, Kaede’s appearance was not anywhere to be seen.
“Ahhh I’m glad!”
As long as my mind doesn’t hurt from the morning.
But wait a minute, this is kind of lonely.
I wonder if what I said yesterday ended the flag.
It’s not like I don’t feel a little disappointed.
Well, from now on I have to be careful of that adorable broken hearted Kaede-tan and observe him.
But I’d like to observe my big brother and Haru-nii earnestly gazing at each other though.
And today, after a nonchalant school life was over, It was time for school to end.
I took out my shoe from my shoebox and as I squat down to put it on, a café au lait canned package blocked my view.
I was wondering what was happening so as I raised my head to look up, Kaede was there.
“You know, I don’t like sweet things”
“Huh?”
The café au lait in his hand seemed to be a present for me.
It’s too close that it might sink into my face by the way.
I won’t drink this so I’ll return it, I wonder if that’s what he meant.
“You don’t have to bother returning something someone gave you right. More importantly, I saw you buy a café au lait before though?”
“That’s……Makoto-senpai bought a café au lait so I thought he liked it. During club activity, as a refreshment……”
“Huh!”
I opened my eyes without thinking.
So that was a refreshment for big brother!
What a maiden.
It’s pleasant to see an adorable Kaede-tan nearby.
Ahh, to see a wet……uke boy’s maiden point makes my heart beat.
If Kaede had clung to big brother, it would actually be like the game, he would get a magical invitation and probably become an uke.
I wanted to see it live……wait, it’s dangerous to dive into a rotten sea in front of Kaede.
Hm,but……wait a minute?
“Big brother should have been in the black coffee group……ah, I see. He said that Haru-nii likes sweet things, so under that influence he unintentionally buys café au lait……”
“Huh.”
Big brother was a girl, converted to a guy who accepted the influence of the man he dated.
Hm?
I sensed the cold air.
Moreover, it was slightly vague but I think I heard a voice of despair.
As I was thinking of the problem, I met eyes with Kaede.
His face was strained.
“Ah.”
As I saw his face, I understood.
And without thinking, I unintentionally muttered my thoughts.
This is my brothers’ private romantic information, so from Kaede’s view it was “Something I don’t want to hear”.
Ahh……perhaps the café au lait that Kaede gave to big brother was given to Haru-nii to drink!?
Oh no, that’s miserable……I’m sorry, I’m so sorry, I said something unnecessary!
“Ah, s-so you’re in the same black coffee group as big brother! Aren’t you together!”
“……tsk”
“!”
I planned to say “You’re together with your lovely big brother! Be happy!” as a follow up, but the expression on his face has turned grim.
Ahhhhh……this is bad! This is bad! What should I do!
In the end, I hung my head in shame and started to shiver while thinking about how to deal with this situation.
“Ahh,well! Well then, I’ll treat you to something not sweet! Right, let’s go buy something, let’s go buy something immediately!”
I grabbed Kaede’s arm and took him away without his obligation.
If I got told that I made this conspicuous person cry at a place with all sorts of public gaze, it’d be dreadful!
I pulled his hand until we arrived at the vending machine, I hurriedly bought a hot black coffee.
“Here, something that’s not sweet!”
“……”
“Here you go!” I tried to give it to him, but he didn’t move.
And he’s not talking!
I somewhat need a reaction please!
Silence is the most terrifying thing.
“……Uu”
Hm?
I heard a voice somewhere.
As I looked towards Kaede’s direction, there was a sight that seemed to make my heart gauge.
“Uuu”
“Huhh!?”
That’s……that shining object can’t be!
Time froze as my heart melted, the so called holy water can sometimes revive one’s life with just one drop of it, that shiny drop trickled down his cheek…….those are “Tears”!
Ahh, he’s crying……he’s actually crying, the pretty boy is crying!
He’s crying as if I made him cry.
I have no sense of guilt!
This part of him crying is cute though.
I want to see the tears of his when he’s struggling to cry, or something like that……ahh, whatever.
Right now having the evil eye[1] to activate without humiliation is in the way.
[1] Being dirty minded( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)
“Why are you crying!? Was black coffee not good!? Was cola better!?”
“You’re annoying! I hate people like you!”
“Huh!? This situation, you’re crying because you hate me!?”
I don’t understand, but the eyes of people looking at us hurts.
The beautiful cloudy face of a lovely maiden-like pretty boy is crying, their judgemental looks are saying that the main suspect is me.
Innocent, I’m innocent!
I must escape from their piercing looks.
I saw a bench right in front, so I pulled him with me to the bench and made him sit down.
“Sighh”
I sat down next to Kaede while looking at his face.
Even now, Kaede is crying with a bent mouth.
I naturally heaved out a heavy sigh.
What exactly am I supposed to do, help me……
“I don’t understand……”
I grumbled silently without thinking.
“……If it was Makoto-senpai he’d definitely comfort me gently.”
He said it in a small voice but I could hear it.
So, he resists without fail.
“Oh I’m sorry, the disappointing younger brother is here instead.”
“Indeed”
It’s impossible to wish to be the same as that protagonist’s older brother.
It’s true that if it was big brother, he would gently hug his shoulder and be able to say comforting words.
The kind of tolerance that wraps around and calm you down even without talking, unfortunately I don’t have that kind of skill.
If it’s something “I can do”……Let me see.
“All right, all right”
I extended my hand towards Kaede’s head, and patted his head like how you’d pat a kid’s.
“Wha-”
”
”
“Didn’t you want me to be gentle?”
“Speaking of gentle, it’s patting someone’s head” is the only thought that came to mind. What a regretful thought.
Or maybe I should’ve lifted his chin and whisper, “Don’t cry, little kitten”.
Kaede stiffened in surprise.
His reaction looked interesting so I continued patting his head.
――All right, all right.
As I said that, Kaede’s face flushed red.
He looked like an apple.
This is……perhaps, he’s feeling embarrassed?
Too cute!!
Gasp!! This is!!
”So this is a Nadepo[1]!”
”Tsk！Don’t be absurd”
[1] Term used in harem-style SS in which the heroine falls in love with [Po] for the protagonist when they smile[Nico] and they smile when they pat their head[Nade] so [Nadepo]
My hand that was patting him got hit and fell off his head.
“It hurts. What kind of treatment is that.”
“Ouch” I protested while rubbing my hand.
Kaede looked at me with an astonished look on his face.
“……Sighh, are you really blood related to Shin-senpai?”
“Don’t be rude. Doesn’t our face look alike?”
I smiled sweetly with my lovely smiling face.
Right now, this is the most satisfying smile ever.
“!……o-only your face”
The moment I opened my eyes, his face turned away.
It was easy to see his flushed ears and it felt like they were redder than before, is he embarrassed again?
Did my smile look good?
Gasp! I see!
“This is Nicopo[2]!”
“You’re annoying! Stop talking already!”
[2] Same as [1] but without the [Nade] part
What a guy.
Even though I was finally gentle for once this time, I was yelled at.
However, I’m glad to see that he’s spirited enough for him to be able to talk back to me.
It’s still red around his eyes but the tears stopped, so he seems fine.
“Sighh……I feel like I’ve become stupid.”
He calmed down, and started drinking the black coffee.
“As I thought, it’s delicious”
“Hmm. I’m definitely the café au lait group”
“Didn’t ask, not interested either.”
“So cold.”
“Café au lait, I thought Shin-senpai liked it so I tried drinking it but, I couldn’t. For Makoto-senpai as far as to change his taste for that person……”
Kaede who hung his head down while muttering.
As I looked down, there was a pair of long emphasized eyelashes. It was beautiful.
The cuteness that has been gone seemed to have came back and showed on his face a little.
Besides that he muttered with a small voice, but my ears heard it sharply.
Right now, he got jealous right?
I have received a sorrowful, gay pretty boy!
What a wonderful meal!
“What are you smiling for?”
“I-I’m not”
“Heh, you’re weird”
That was close, my face muscles tightened horribly, it was dangerous.
Kaede is laughing so I’m still safe somehow, but I’ve got to be careful!
“Hey, Akira.”
“Huh, why’re you suddenly calling by my name.”
“……Is it bad?”
“Nah, it’s totally fine. But your way of closing the distance is half-assed”
Because until now he only called me by nicknames like “You” or “Oi”, I was surprised when he suddenly called me by my name.
For an instant, I couldn’t recognize who Akira was.
“Tell me your Line[1].”
“What, no way.”
“Huh? Hurry up and hand me your phone.”
[1] A messenger app in Japan
He gave me a cold look as I refused his request.
Scary! He’s scary!
“……Here.”
As I thought it was gone, his “Cuteness” wasn’t there.
I’m sad.
“……I took it out on you, I’m sorry. Thanks.”
As I rummaged through my bag to take out my phone, I heard a murmur.
“Hm? Did you say anything?”
“……”
“Don’t ignore me!!”
He took my phone from me, and as he finished registering his number, he roughly gave it back to me and left.
※※※
I went home feeling a little tired.
At the entranceway, there was a pair of shoes and the size looked 2 foot bigger than mine.
As I thought you’re here today too, Haru-nii.
As long as my dear big brother couple are happy together, this evil younger brother is glad for them.
“I’m home”
“Welcome back”
“Oh, great job”
They responded like they were in the living room.
I can’t tell what were they doing in older brother’s room, but it seems that they weren’t prepared.
“Sigh, I’m tired.”
“Aki, you sound like an old man.”
The ice broke as Haru-nii made fun of me on the sofa.
“Aki, you should change your clothes. Your uniform will get wrinkles on it.”
“I’ll change a little later.”
My older brother who talks like he’s my mother is an ikemen as usual.
While he’s my older brother, I also find him as a charming person.
Even though we look the same, what kind of bad luck do I have to be made like this.
I wonder if I have to deal with it even when I’m a minus mob[1]
[1] Word used in games/anime. As a mob, personality is required so it can be given some kind of personal appearance but if people hate them, they’re minus mobs. (?)
“What’s wrong, you’re staring at Shin.”
Oh, why, are you jealous?
It’s fine, I won’t steal a certain someone.
You can hold him until your heart’s content, hehe.
“Aki, did something happen?”
Whoops, big brother is worried about me even though I’m only having evil thoughts about them.
I’m sorry, I imagined both of you doing “That” and “That”[2]
[2] ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)
“Nothing……was just thinking that big brother and I, we look the same but our impressions’ are totally different. Even today, I got told “Are both of you really blood related.” Well uh, I’m troubled.
“……Who, said that kind of thing.”
I said it lightly, but older brother’s face became serious.
Haru-nii is also wearing a worried look on his face.
It’s not that serious of a topic though.
“Ahh, it’s nothing to worry about. I don’t care about it anyways, just wanted to say it as a joke.”[1]
[1] Not really [as a joke] but I didn’t know how to connect the words as it was in Japanese, so I changed it a little. Hope nobody minds(｡•̀ᴗ-)✧
Is what I said, but both of them still seemed worried.
“Hey, Aki. Did you have a fight with someone? Rather, if you have any problems lately I’ll listen to it.
”
”
“? What’s with that.”
“Lately, I heard that you argue with someone from your class at the shoeboxes every morning.”
What, for the Kaede event to reach both of their ears too.
Now that I think about it clearly, Kaede stands out and I’m also known to be older brother’s younger brother so he knows his face.”
If those two fight with each other, rumors might start.
“I heard that the other person is Kaede, did something happen between the both of you?”
Older brother looks very worried.
Since I brought this topic out, should I be anxious about being bringing trouble or not.
“It’s nothing much. Well, we’re friends? We just talked a little.”
“So that was it?”
“Did you get along with him?”
“It was only recently that we were able to have a nice chat, I guess.”
By recently, I meant by an hour ago.
“If something happens discuss with us about it.”
“Okayyy”
As my brothers were worrying about me, I returned to my room.
Ahh, I wonder if it’s also going to happen tomorrow, the Kaede event.
※※※
――The next morning.
Big brother made café au lait and I drained it down my throat as usual. I finished changing and as I headed out the door, someone’s figure was there.
Since the younger ones gather here a little earlier, normally there shouldn’t be anyone right now.
I thought it was home delivery……but I was wrong.
“Morning”
It was Kaede.
That’s weird, I don’t remember calling him here.
“……Morning.
“Are you the new “Mary” or something?”
“What’s that”
“The [I’m Mary. I’m at your door right now] thing”
“Ahh. Wait, don’t treat me as a ghost from a horror movie!”
“Then why are you here”
“……This”
He held out yet another can of café au lait. He probably just bought it, since it’s warm.
“Since you treated me yesterday, it’s yours”
“Huh……Huh, you came for this?”
Such honesty.
But he could of had given it to me in school, he didn’t need to come here especially just for this.
“Then let’s go to school together. Think of it as an appreciation from me”
“No, you don’t need to. It sounds extremely scary so I’ll reject that idea”
“Huh? Even though you came all the way here!”
“It’s not like I asked for it”
I can’t believe this.
The shoebox event deteriorated to the entranceway event.
As we argued, the door behind us opened.
“Aki, what’s wrong? ……Kaede?”
The person who appeared, was of course, my beautiful older brother.
Kaede stiffened as he saw older brother.
“Why is Kaede here?”
“Uh, um, I was……”
Kaede looked like he didn’t know what to do, his behavior looked suspicious.
As big brother saw Kaede’s strange behavior, he walked over with a frown on his face.
Since he asked if anything happened between us yesterday, I don’t want to worry him too much.
“He came to pick me up. Well, let’s go”
“Huh? Aki, Wai-……”
“It’s fine, I’ll head on first! See you later”
Big brother still had a worried look on his face, but I hit Kaede’s shoulder and quickened my pace, walking off.
“Huh? Ah, wait a minute. Goodbye, Shin-senpai!”
Kaede who bid older brother goodbye, chased after me.
When I saw the face of Kaede who was walking beside me, he was smiling a little for some reason.
“What’re you smiling for”
“Nothing much”
Anyways, It felt like we weren’t going to fight anymore.
He seemed to have opened his heart a little.
Naturally my mood became cheerful too.
“But, isn’t your attitude towards older brother and I too much of a difference? What was it, that fidgety [Uh, um]”
“I wasn’t fidgeting!”
“You definitely were. As much as people would think you needed the toilet, you definitely were”
“Don’t say such weird things!”
As we argued, we passed by Haru-nii who came to pick up older brother.
He looked over with a puzzled look.
Haru-nii is probably worried too.
I lightly waved my hand in the air with the meaning of [It’s fine] in it.
“That’s right, you should hurry up and drink it since I went through the trouble to buy a hot one for you!”
“Nah, I just drank one so I don’t need it.
“Huhh? Then, you should eat this!”
He furiously held out a pastry for some reason, it looked like it was handmade.
It looked delicious, so I took the pastry to have a look.
It smelled so good that I unconsciously ate it.
“Delicious! A soft cookie?”
“It’s a financier[1]! Hehe, it’s delicious right? I did a great job making it nicely”
“Hmmm. Wait, so it was you who made it! What are you, a girl! It’s too delicious that it’s kind of scary!”
“Wha-! Even though I tried my best to make it!”
[1] I didn’t know what a financier was till I searched it up, looks delicious(*´ڡ`●)
The two first year students who were walking while shouting at each other, their voices sounded noisy instead of ‘lively’.
And behind them were two third year students, they walked behind them, leaving a little distance in between.
The two people in front making noise, did not notice the two people who were looking at them from behind.
“……Is it going to be fine”
One of the third year students’, who had a similar face with one of the first year students’ was muttering with a distorted face.
“Well, it should be fine. Kaede’s not a bad person either. Just because you rejected Kaede, doesn’t mean that he’ll do anything to harm him. As much as to be with him like that”
“No, it’s not that. I’m not worried about that. Even that, rather than being with him, it’s more like playing with him. Something more……”
He breathed out a sigh filled with distress, and looked at the two people in front of them again.
The person next to him also followed his line of sight.
And then, He saw the boy with his golden hair waving around in the air, smiling from the side and understood.
“Ahh, so that’s what you meant. You mean ‘That way’[2]”
“Uh huh. Aki is……he doesn’t realize, but he attracts people way more than me……I wonder what will happen”
“Well, it’s good to have one rival gone from the list”
“Haruki, you……sigh…”
[2] He probably meant by being gay or something
The world goes around.
If there’s a starting, there’s also an ending.
A story begins and proceeds, without us knowing.
”
”
No one realizes that the person who was called the ‘Protagonist’, is the ‘Previous protagonist’.