Starting from last night,
Yoko Iino had been looking forward to today's study session with her best friend, Chisato Kitahara.
If you think she was looking forward to the study session because she liked studying, you'd be completely wrong. Although she had always been at the top of her class in exams, that didn't mean she liked studying. What she was really looking forward to was visiting the Kitahara family's home.
That way, she could see her friend's older brother, Kitahara Kaede!
At first, her impression of Kitahara Kaede was just "the older brother of a friend," and after hearing from her friend Chisato that he was an average student who stayed home a lot, her impression of him even dropped a bit.
All of that changed from that one time she was fed.
She remembered that day when her friend Chisato slept in, and it was Kitahara Kaede who greeted her.
At the time, Kitahara Kaede welcomed her with a gentle smile, not only brewing her a delicious cup of black tea but also giving her a pudding. In her worldview, anyone willing to share something delicious with her was basically not a bad person, just like Chisato.
So although Kitahara Feng was a homebody, he was definitely a "good homebody."
Then came exam season.
To maintain her top position in the class, she began holding study sessions with Chisato more frequently.
Every time, Kitahara Feng prepared tea and snacks for her and Chisato. She had begun to envy Chisato for having an older brother, unlike herself, who was often alone at home...
She developed feelings for Kitahara Kaede's older brother about a month and a half ago.
That time, since there was another study session the next day, she stayed overnight at the Kitahara household. That evening, she tasted the meal Kitahara Kaede had prepared, and at that moment, she felt her taste buds had been conquered by his cooking.
Perhaps it was because of the delicious food.
Later, when Kitahara Maple praised her academic performance, she instantly lost her guard. During the twenty or so minutes while Chisato was taking a shower, she confided in Kitahara Maple about the injustices she had suffered at school and her own troubled past.
Such as wanting to run for student council president but always being unable to speak up.
Being mocked by classmates for being short, being an annoying discipline committee member, and being a lackey of the student council.
Having notes stuck on her back, and no one wanting to be friends with her except Chisato...
She poured out all her embarrassing stories and grievances, expecting to be mocked by Kitahara Kaede. But not only was she not mocked, she was gently encouraged, and her courage and academic abilities were praised once again. He also told her not to care about others' opinions, as in his eyes she was a very cute and charming girl.
He even said,
"If no one else is willing to be her friend, I'll be her friend."
In that moment, she cried while confirming that she had fallen for her friend's older brother, Kitahara Kaede, so she immediately rejected his offer to be friends. She, Iino Yako, didn't want to be friends with Kitahara Kaede.
She wanted to be Kitahara Kaede's girlfriend, Chisato's older sister!
Of course, she knew she couldn't voice this thought yet, as it would surely push Kitahara Kaede away. So she used the excuse that it was too troublesome to call him "Chisato-chan's older brother" and changed it to just "older brother."
If that day was just the beginning of her feelings,
then over the past month, Iino Yako had come to see Kitahara Kaede as her prince charming.
The reasons can be summarized as follows:
First, Kitahara Kaede would treat her to delicious food. Second, Kitahara Kaede could cook delicious food. Third, simply being by Kitahara Kaede's side could alleviate her feelings of loneliness and anxiety. Fourth, Kitahara Kaede's voice was gentle and soothing, and she loved listening to soothing, gentle male voices and the calls of alpacas... Taking all these factors into account, Kitahara Kaede perfectly fit her image of a prince charming.
Of course, there were also some drawbacks...
For example, Kitahara Kaede isn't bald, and she thinks bald men are handsome. However, she's thought this through—maybe after they start dating, she can convince Kitahara Kaede to get a bald haircut?
Additionally, Kitahara Kaede's grades aren't great, and he's a homebody.
She's considered this too. Her grades are excellent; at Shuuchiin Academy, a prestigious school, she always ranks first. Among the many top graduates from Shuuchiin Academy, not a single one isn't an elite among elites.
Plus, her father is a judge at the Supreme Court, so she can easily support the entire family on her own in the future.
Kitahara Kaede just needs to cook delicious meals for her!
Or she could help Kitahara Kaede open a small restaurant or something. In any case, the economic means to sustain their livelihood are not an issue.
…
However, before that, she knows she must first make Kitahara Kaede fall for her.
So before coming this morning, she, who is not good at dressing up, spent half a day getting ready. She also heard that otaku guys like seeing girls in uniforms, so she deliberately wore her school uniform.
On the way, she made up her mind.
This time, she absolutely couldn't eat the snacks North Original Maple gave her.
Because she heard that no boy would like a greedy girl, she had to maintain the image of a ladylike, non-greedy girl.
Well…
It seems like she failed.
She eventually succumbed to the temptation of pudding, but she had to maintain the image of a ladylike, well-behaved girl.
Fearing that Kitahara Kaede would dislike her, she dared not adopt her usual "cruel" attitude toward the president Shikino Kaguya, vice president Yukino Yukino, treasurer Hayasaka Ai, and Chisato, but instead behaved as meekly and obediently as possible. ...
These actions,
in Kitahara Kaede's eyes, were almost indistinguishable from politeness and formality.
However, temporary formality was not a problem.
When dealing with this greedy little fish, Kitahara Kaede felt that as long as she could tie her stomach to her, it would be enough.
However, she still needed to find a way to confirm what kind of boys Iino Yako liked. In case she couldn't tie her stomach to her with food, she would need a backup plan.
So how could she confirm this?
Kitahara Kaede's eyes twinkled as she came up with a plan: Yako-chan, there's something I want to ask you about Chisato."
"Please go ahead, older brother."
"Did Chisato cause any trouble at school?"
"Of course not. She's an outstanding student council secretary. In fact, she's more concerned about you, older brother."
"Concerned about me? That's impossible."
Kitahara Kaede didn't believe that Kitahara Chisato would be concerned about his affairs.
Iino Yako said anxiously, "It's true. She often worries about your future career choices and says that if you don't get into college and don't want to get a job, you might end up being a burden on your parents..."
At this point, Iino Yako quickly shut her mouth.
How could she have blurted it out in her anxiety? Chisato had specifically told her not to say anything.
"So that's how it is."
Kitahara Kaede finally understood that Chisato was more worried about him causing trouble for his parents than she was concerned about him, but slandering him in front of Iino Yako was just causing trouble for him: "So do you think I'll be a freeloader too, Yako-chan?"
"Of course not!"
Chisato muttered very quietly, "Even if you are a freeloader, it doesn't matter..."
"Yako, did you say something?" Kitahara Kaede couldn't hear Iino Yako's mutterings.
Iino Yako quickly shook her head: "Nothing at all."
Kitahara Kaede didn't press the matter further and continued: "Next time Chisato brings this up again, you can tell her that I already have plans for the future, so she doesn't need to worry. I, Kitahara Kaede, will never be a burden to my family."
"Hmm, I believe you, Niisan."
A hint of regret flashed in Iino Yuko's eyes.
She thought that if Kitahara Kaede were to rely on his parents, he could stay at home and be a househusband for her, which would perfectly align with her vision of the future. Unfortunately, it seemed that Kitahara Kaede had no such plans.
Kitahara Kaede noticed the regret in Iino Yuko's eyes.
He was startled. Indeed, Iino Yako didn't believe him at all. Was she expressing regret over his powerless words?
"Cough cough..."
Kitahara Kaede helplessly changed the subject: "We've strayed off topic. Actually, I mainly wanted to ask if Chisato has a boyfriend at school. You see, Chisato is so beautiful and has such good grades. As her older brother, I'm worried she might be deceived by someone."
"No! Absolutely not!"
Iino Yako's face flushed red: "Chisato wouldn't do anything that violates school discipline. I can guarantee it!"
"I believe what you say, Yako-chan."
Hearing Iino Yako's words, Kitahara Kaede grew even more frustrated.
How could he have forgotten that Iino Yuko was a strict discipline committee member who strongly opposed school romances? Does that mean she won't have any romantic feelings until after graduation?
The topic finally turned to romance, and Kitahara Kaede wasn't ready to let it go.
He said jokingly, "Since Chisato isn't in a relationship, what about you, Yuko-chan? You're so cute, I'm sure a lot of people have confessed their feelings to you. Have you already started dating someone?"
"No! Absolutely not!"
Saying the same words again, Iino Yako firmly denied it: "I'm the discipline committee member. How could a discipline committee member lead by example and violate discipline by dating in school? It's simply impossible..."
As she spoke further,
Iino Yako's voice grew softer and softer, losing confidence.
Kitahara Kaede didn't notice the issue and continued to ask in a joking tone, "So what kind of guy does Yiko-chan like? Even if you're not planning to date right now, you'll have to after graduation, so you might as well start thinking about it now, right?"
"I like guys like Ni..."
Iino Yako almost blurted out, "I like boys like Nisang, preferably bald," but she managed to stop herself in time. If she had actually said that, it would have scared Nisang and ruined their harmonious relationship, right?
So she took a deep breath and omitted the first part: "I like bald boys."
"???" Kitahara Kaede looked completely confused.