I'm at a crossroads here. Why did Ena-san even ask me out? I mean, she is attractive, but why did she pick me?
[Y]"Ena-san."
[SE]"Hm?"
[Y]"I am grateful that you're asking me out, but I don't know you well. If I get to know you better, try asking me again."
[A]"Did we just see a rejection?"
[K]"Yep."
[SE]"That's fine." she said with a smile.
[Y]"Ena-san..."
[SE]"Here's a cheque I wrote earlier. Use it to pay for the rent."
(She hands me the cheque.)
[SE]"I'll be going on ahead then."
[Y]"Wait!---"
(Ena-san ran off before I got to say anything else to her.)
[Y]"Uhm, what just happened."
[EK]"You rejected a girl, and now she's heartbroken."
[Y]"Not that part."
[MR]"Well, Ena, had a liking to you for quite some time."
[Y]"Eh? Since when?"
[MR]"I'm not sure, but I think it was around the first semester."
[Y]"I never noticed at all."
[EK]"I shouldn't be saying this, but she's good at imitating expressions. She may look cheerful, but the truth is she's hiding her pain."
[Y]"There were times where she quickly switched her moods, and what's this about her in pain?"
[EK]"That question I won't answer. You have to ask her yourself."
[A]"Uh, can we just pay and get inside? It's getting cold out here."
[Y]"Oh, sure."
We paid for the rent using the cheque Ena-san gave us. Still, how could she have this much money as a high schooler? I get that her parents a rich, but don't they spoil Ena-san too much?
[Y]"This place is bigger than it looks."
[A]"This room is enough for 3 people to live in."
[Y]"Still, I'm worried about Ena-san."
[EK]"Talk it with her tomorrow then."
[Y]"But I don't even know what to say."
[EK]"Don't overthink it. Talk to her like usual. It's not like she changed into a different person."
[K]"It's already getting dark. I think it's time to head back."
[A]"Aw, I wanted to stay over."
[K]"It's best if we give Yami some space to think."
[EK]"Yami-san, here's a tip for you. Ena likes sweets."
[Y]"Eh?"
[S]"Come on, Rei-chan, let's go."
[MR]"Yeah."
[K]"See ya tomorrow Yami."
[Y]"Uh, yeah..."
Alone in a large apartment. Now, what should I do? I need to find a job to repay Ena-san and also apologize to her. Kotone-san said Ena-san likes sweets. Should I give her sweets while apologizing? What kind of sweets should I even give her? Arh, I'm confused.
It's Tuesday. I didn't even get a decent sleep last night. I was too worried about what I'm going to do today. But I'll have some breakfast first. Oh, yeah, I just moved in. Of course, there wouldn't be any food in the fridge. I guess I'll go buy from the convenience store. Is it even close? So, I don't have to contact Ueno-san.
I found the convenience store, but it's not close. I have no choice but to contact Ueno-san. Wait, do I even have her number? Argh, I don't, even Kotone-san and Ena-san. Wait, what about Shin. He probably knows Maeda-san's number. I'll let him ask Maeda-san for Ueno-san's number.
(I call Shin.)
[Y]"Oh, Shin, I need your help on something."
[S]"What do you need this early?"
[Y]"Actually, I need Ueno-san's number, but I don't have contacts of the other girls. So, I was wondering if you could ask Maeda-san for Ueno-san's number."
[S]"Why not just go to her house instead?"
[Y]"What if her dad answers the door? I'd be suspicious if I asked for Ueno-san."
[S]"Why do you need to call her in the first place?"
[Y]"Well, I don't have food, and I was thinking of buying at the convenience store, but it's more than 50 meters away."
[S]"Fine, give me a minute."
(Call ends.)
(After a few moments, the phone rings.)
[S]"You there?"
[Y]"How else would I answer if I wasn't."
[S]"Bad news. I couldn't get through Rei-chan."
[Y]"Eh?!"
[S]"She's probably still asleep. Sorry man."
[Y]"It's fine. It's not your fault."
[S]"I need to go now. And good luck."
[Y]"Wai---"
(The call ends.)
Ah, do I really have to knock on Ueno-san's house? She said her dad doesn't like men coming over to her place. I'll starve at this rate. I guess I have no choice.
I walk up slowly to their doorstep. I took a deep breath then I knock on the door. Then someone came to answer.
[UM]"Yes? Who might you be?"
[Y]"I am Matsuda Yami, a classmate of Ueno Hikari-san."
[UM]"Oh, you're looking for Onee-chan."
[Y]"Uh, yes."
[UM]"Onee-chan! Someone's at the door looking for you!"
[UH]"Wait! I'm drying my hair."
[UM]"Oh, please come inside."
[Y]"No, it's fine."
[UM]"Please, no need to be shy."
[Y]"Thank you."
[UM]"By the way, I'm Ueno Mirai."
[Y]"Is itokay if I call you Mirai-chan? It would be confusing if I call you both Ueno-san."
[UM]"I'm all right with it."
[Y]"Then, Mirai-chan. Where are your parents?"
[UM]"They already left for work."
[Y]"So, it's just the two of you here?"
[UM]"Yeah. Why did you want to meet my sister anyway? Are you perhaps her boyfriend?"
[Y]"Of course, not. I'm not her boyfriend."
[UM]"Eh, but you're good-looking."
[Y]"That's your basis for assuming I'm her boyfriend?"
[UM]"No."
[Y]"Then what is?"
[UM]"Onee-chan hates boys. She likes to stay away from them as much a possible. So, it's rare for one to even visit her."
[Y]"Really?"
(I heard footsteps coming down from the stairs.)
[UH]"Mi-chan, do you know where my clothes are?"
[UM]"Onee-chan! Your clothes!
[UH]"Yeah, do you k--"
(Ueno-san notices me while she's buck naked.)
[Y]"Yo."
[UH]"Get out! Now!"
[UM]"Yami-nisan, go to the other room."
(I wait a few minutes.)
[UM]"You can come back now."
As I go back into the living room, Ueno-san stares at me. It feels like she has the intent to kill me.
[Y]"Uh, Ueno---"
[UH]"You saw everything, didn't you?!"
[Y]"The view was ama---"
(Then a flying flower pot hit me in the face.)
[Y]"Ouch!"
[UM]"Onee-chan, stop it!"
(She was trying to hold back Ueno-san.)
[UM]"I told you earlier that someone was looking for you. It's your fault in the first place."
(Ueno-san calmed down a bit.)
[UH]"That still doesn't change the fact that he saw me naked!"
[Y]"Ueno-san, if your that hung up on it, I could show you mine."
[UH]"Do you seriously wanna die?!"
[UM]"Yami-nisan, stop it."
[Y]"Fine."
[UH]"Why did you even come here for?!"
(I can't tell that Ueno-san needs to accompany because the convenience store is not nearby. Her sister might hear it.)
[Y]"Well, I don't have any food at my place, so..."
[UM]"Uhm, Yami-nisan, where do you live?"
[Y]"Just right around the block. I actually just moved in."
[UM]"If you don't have food at your place. Want to join us for breakfast?"
[Y]"I would gladly accept the offer."
[UH]"Oh, no, you won't!"
[Y]"Too late, I already did."