A period piece, huh? It was surprisingly well written. Character names and content aside. I decided not to point that part out because I valued my life.
“You read my story, I see.”
I turned toward the voice in my ear. Shiratama-san was behind me. “How long have you been there?”
“Wouldn’t you like to know.” She circled the couch and took a seat next to me. “I’m really happy you got to be my first.”
She was doing this on purpose. Everything about her, from her mannerisms to her choice of words, was calculated. I knew this. I also knew it was the adult’s job to let the young’uns have a win every now and then, so when I made note of her particularly sweet scent or the oddly short length of her skirt, it was with perfect lucidity. I was ready to be manipulated.
But Shiratama-san defied my expectations when her expression softened. “It was a beautiful ceremony.” Her usual smile was replaced with one of a different kind. The genuine kind. “They looked so happy. My sister and Oniisan. And seeing them like that, it made me happy.” Behind us, Kaju was refilling cups of tea. Shiratama-san shot a glance that way, then whispered in my ear. “You would’ve been the cherry on top, you know.”
There she went again. Manipulating me. Not that I was actually smitten or anything. It was a president’s job to be receptive to his constituents’ words. But if I had been a little bit smitten, it wouldn’t have been my fault. Could anyone blame me?
“Speaking of, want to see pictures?” With nary a betrayal of her actual motives, she pulled her phone out. On the screen was her sister in a wedding dress standing next to Tanaka-sensei in his tuxedo. The resemblance to Shiratama-san was uncanny. Her dress hung low, and in her hands was a white bouquet.
“Wait, is that…?”
It was. In Tanaka Minori’s hands was the bouquet Shiratama-san had made. We never did go back for it, but how had it made it all the way to her?
She knew. My god, she knew. But how much?
I looked up and locked eyes with Shiratama-san. “Always one step ahead of me,” she said. “A worthy opponent.” Then she smiled and even laughed a little. It faded, though. “I think I know what it is that makes me feel so comfortable around you, President.”
“Uh, you do?” I wasn’t sure how to reply.
Her lips curled back up, ever so slightly. “There was this lot in my neighborhood where tall susuki grass grew. We used to play hide-and-seek there as kids. The three of us, I mean. It’d wither come autumn, and my sister and I used to joke that it smelled like Oniisan.” She sniffed the air. “You smell the same. I like it.”
Oh. Apparently I smelled like dying susuki. Guess I’ll die.
“Now that he and my sister have gone and gotten married, I don’t really have anyone to lean on the way I used to with them. That part makes me sad.” She placed the tips of her fingers gently on my lap and leaned into my ear. “But maybe you can be my new Oniichan?”
First little brother role-play, now big brother? Interesting. I was more familiar with the latter, personally.
Just then, my blood ran cold. Murder. Murder was in the air.
“Oniisama.” A voice from behind crept down my spine. “Tea?” Kaju stood there with a cup in one hand and a teapot in the other.
I was chilled to the bone and also sweating bullets at the same time. “I-if you’re offering, I guess.”
Shaking, I took the cup. Kaju poured. From a concerning height. The piping hot liquid drew a perfect arc into the cup, clouds of steam obscuring my view. And an instant before it overflowed, she stopped.
“Drink it while it’s hot. My dearest Oniisama.”
“D-don’t mind if I do.” I put my lips against the rim and drank it down before the bulging liquid could spill out. It was frigid. But how could that be? What about the steam?
Shiratama-san grinned at Kaju. “You’re awfully close, hm? I’m jealous. I always wanted a brother like you have.”
“I’m sorry to hear that. It is a sad reality that my Oniisama has and will only ever have one little sister, but I’m sure you’ll get over it.”
“Suppose I’ll have to make do with just kouhai.”
“Now and forevermore.”
“Aw, you’re such a cutie, Kaju-chan.”
It should have warmed my heart, seeing them beam at each other. And yet all I could do was tremble. There was an easy remedy for this: the non sequitur squad. I looked to them for help, only to find them about to leave.
“Where are you guys going?!” I pleaded.
“Hungry!” Yanami shouted back. “Goin’ to a convenience store!”
“Gotta get back to practice,” Yakishio said.
“B-buy the next volume of that manga,” Komari commanded.
Then they were gone. Traitors. Leaving me to die. Kaju subsequently claimed my lap for herself.
Shiratama-san smiled. “You two have such a beautiful bond, President.”
“Yes,” Kaju said. “We do, don’t we?”
“R-right,” I said, staring despondently into my tea.
Shiratama Riko of class 1-F. The literature club’s newest weirdo, and its newest lease on life. What a way to kick off the year.