"Hey Tomoki! What's up!"
"What's up, Ryuichi!"
Our vacation time already ended, and now we're back at school like we always do... man, I'm already craving another one.
"Good morning, Tomoki-kun!"
"Good morning, Ayame-san!"
Yep, our normal school life really came back.
"Tachibana-san, good morning!"
"Hehehe... Oh! Good morning, Tomoki-san, Edomae-san, Satou-san. What a nice day to start the class!"
Except for her. Let me remind you what happened right after Tachibana-san went to buy some drinks.
♦♦♦The day of the summer festival♦♦♦
"Tachibana-san is taking a long time." — I said.
"Let me send her a message." — Ryuichi said.
We had created a group chat days before the summer festival. That's where Ryuichi sent the message.
"Oh! She replied, let's see... right now she's at the emergency stall!" — Ryuichi read aloud.
"Did something happen to her?" — Ayame-san asked.
"She's fine and told us not to worry." — Ryuichi replied.
"We should go there." — I said.
Both of them nodded, and so we went to the emergency stall.
When we arrived, Tachibana-san was sitting in a chair, and we noticed some stains on her clothes. But more than that, for some reason, she was making a weird face... just like I did when we took that selfie.
"Tachibana-san! What happened to you!?" — Ayame-san asked.
"Oh! This? It's Takoyakis stains... I'll never wash it, to remember today's encounter... hehe..."
"Okay...?" — Ayame-san looked confused, just like us.
"Then... what happened?" — Satou-san asked.
"Do you really want to know? Okay! I'll tell you! While I was running, I bumped into a boy who was carrying a bunch of takoyaki. Instead of blaming me, he was so worried about me that he even carried me like a princess from a fairy tale to this place!" — Tachibana-san told us eagerly.
For some reason, Ayame-san and Ryuichi both stared at me.
"What?" — I asked.
"Just to make sure... is there any chance that was you, Tomoki?" — Ryuichi asked.
"Hahaha! No, his face, hairstyle, voice, and height were completely different. Though... he really reminded me of Tomoki-san." — Tachibana-san happily replied.
"Fufu~ I was starting to doubt if Tomoki-kun was the one who helped you, by the way you described that boy." — Ayame-san said.
"Why are you saying it like I'm the only one who'd worry about someone's well-being? What Tachibana-san said is totally normal to expect from a person. Besides, I was with you guys the whole time." — I said.
"Sigh~ Tomoki, I'll say it again. It's not common for men to help women that boldly. Seriously, did you forget men usually get uncomfortable being that close to a woman?"
"Fine... you're right, I kind of forgot again." — I replied.
"Now I wonder if he's clueless too. That way we could say he's your long-lost brother or something." — Ryuichi commented.
"I disagree, Ryuichi. Maybe I'm not as sharp as you. But I'm not that bad either." — I contested.
I mean, I can read the mood — I even caught Tachibana-san's indirect confession before. Still, because of my common sense, I sometimes end up completely clueless — like during that cooking club incident when I faced gender discrimination.
"This guy..." — Ryuichi said while sighing and shaking his head.
"I hope you stay like this forever." — Ayame-san said with a smile.
One thing I could tell from both of them: they were definitely teasing me.
"Pftt— Ahahaha!" — Suddenly, Tachibana-san burst out laughing.
"Even you, Tachibana-san?"
"Sorry, sorry. But I agree with Satou-san, he really feels like your lost brother, Tomoki-san."
"I hope it's because we share good traits in common."
"It's the same trait that made me interested in you." — Tachibana-san murmered. I wonder what she said.
♦♦♦
So that's what happened. But right now, there's something we still don't know about.
Who is he?
"So in the end, you don't know his name or where he studies?" — Ayame-san said.
"That's why I kind of want to ask the boys for help. Maybe you have some info network that only guys know." — Tachibana-san said.
"Aside from you all, I only have my family contacts." — I said.
"Well, I can ask some of my friends later. But don't get your hopes up." — Ryuichi said.
"Thank you!"
Ding dong, ding dong.
"Hello everyone, how are you doing? Did you enjoy your vacation? Well, get ready because we'll be very busy this semester." — Homeroom teacher said.
She's right. After all, we need to prepare for the school festival.
♦♦♦
Ding dong, ding dong.
"Hey everyone, I asked some of my friends, but there's no clue about the boy." — Ryuichi said.
"I see... thank you, Satou-san." — Tachibana-san said, but it was clear she had been expecting some kind of hint.
"But we could try to guess his whereabouts." — Ryuichi suggested.
"How?" — Tachibana-san asked.
"We need to think like that person. And we already have someone who can do that without even trying... right, Tomoki?"
"Huh!? Me!? Are you sure about this?" — I asked him.
"You just need to answer my questions honestly, okay? First, would you choose a co-ed high school or an all-boys school?"
"Co-ed school."
"Could you tell us why?"
"Because I don't want to be surrounded by a bunch of guys."
"Interesting... Tell us, Tomoki, if you were enrolled in a normal high school, what would you usually do?"
"Kind of embarrassing to say, but I probably wouldn't study as hard as I do now. I'd probably spend my time playing games or watching... anime."
"Take it easy, Tomoki, we're not judging you. But what about clubs? Like the cooking club?"
"That's because I feel a bit pressured to choose. The reason I want to learn cooking is to show my mother that I can handle things by myself. Right now, one of my sisters is teaching me."
"What about part-time jobs? Sorry if I'm being rude, but it's not like you or your family can buy things easily, right?"
"Don't worry, Ryuichi. But as you said, if I wanted to buy a new game, I'd take a part-time job. Though my mom would probably be against it." — I mean... she got mad when I just went to the convenience store.
"What kind of job would you apply for?"
"Working at a convenience store, or as a waiter in some restaurant."
"It seems you wouldn't have any problem working directly with customers who's mostly women. Then, would you choose based on which one pays more?"
"Of course!"
"Okay, I already have all the information we need. Based on Tomoki's answers, we can build a profile of this guy."
Everyone was paying attention to Ryuichi — especially Tachibana-san.
"We could say this boy is a high school student from a co-ed school who works part-time at a butler café."
"Butler café?" — I asked.
"Yeah, it's a place where butlers dress in elaborate uniforms and treat customers as if they were their masters or mistresses. It's kind of pricey since it's rare to find men who can interact comfortably with women and even provide fanservice."
Basically, like a maid café. Man, I never even visited one in my previous world. I wonder if there's one here.
"I see! Then if I visit all the butler cafés around here as a customer, maybe I can find him! Thank you, Satou-san, Tomoki-san!"
"Wait a minute, it's not like you can use me as a reference. I mean, it could be completely wrong! Besides, wouldn't it cost too much to go to every butler café?"
"Tsk, Tsk! Tomoki-san, did you forget where you're studying? Sure, we're not like Edomae-san, but money isn't a problem for us. Besides... he really acts like you."
"If you meet him, don't forget to show him to us later. Let's see if he really looks like me."
"Okay!"
Then Tachibana-san happily went home.
I should do the same, but before that, something caught my attention.
"Ayame-san, what were you noting down all this time?"
"Fufu~ just for future reference."
"Oh! Can I see it?"
Then she just pulled her notebook closer with a smile on her face.
"Ayame-san?... Is that a no?"
She just kept smiling at me... Now I wonder what she wrote there.
♦♦♦
"I'm home!" — I said.
It seems only Mom and I arrived home. Or maybe my sisters are in their rooms.
When I went to the kitchen to grab a snack, I saw a smartphone turned on at the table.
I recognized it immediately — it was Erina nee-san's.
When I looked at the screen, I noticed a man wearing a fancy suit—
"Tomoki-kun! Did you see that!?"
"Whoa! Erina nee-san, you startled me."
"Answer me!"
"Yeah... is it a big deal? Wait... don't tell me it's still the same guy who—"
"No, it's not him. Don't even dare compare those two... This one's an angel..."
"If you met someone who really treats you well, I'm happy for you. You deserve someone better."
"Tomoki-kun, I knew you'd understand. You know, he kind of resembles the current you. Though, when I talked to our sisters, they warned me not to get ahead of myself."
"Erina nee-san? What do you mean?"
"He works at a butler café, and everyone tries to request his service. When I was feeling down right after I cut ties with my so-called boyfriend, he lifted my spirits, and for the first time, I understood what true kindness means."
I could only facepalm myself.
"Do you perhaps... think he's only pretending?"
No, my dear sister.
If by any chance this is the guy we were looking for... I can only see shuraba from now on.
And not only that — it means Ryuichi guessed right.
Next time, I'll ask Ryuichi to pick the numbers for my lottery ticket.