“What do you respect about him in particular?”
“Uhhh... Well, he’s a very generous person, I guess...?”
From there, I ask a few more questions.
“How do you usually spend your weekends?”
“I go to the dojo, mostly.”
“What kind of dojo?”
“Karate.”
“What sort of grades do you get in school?”
“I’d say I’m probably in the top 10. Top 20 at worst.”
At no point does Uwa-san seem to enjoy this conversation, and it’s starting to feel like an interrogation.
“...Okay, I think that’s everything I wanted to know. Thank you for your time.”
“Sure, no problem... So what’s this about?”
“Don’t worry about it! But while I have you...”
There’s something I’m curious about.
“Just bear with me for a moment.”
I approach him... and press a hand to his chest.
“Wh-...?!”
Next, I touch his bicep.
“You’re fairly ripped. I can tell you work out.”
“I mean, I take karate pretty seriously.”
Handsome face, toned body, decent grades, diligent work ethic... Oho, now here’s a catch. Maybe I should keep my eye on this one.
“Say, are you planning to get a well-paying job when you grow up?”
“What?”
Subject: Uwa Chihiro
Manliness: B+
Body Type: B+
Friendliness: D
Future Potential: A
Notes: I’m interested in him not because of his connection to Taichi, but for my own reasons. His attitude could use some work, though.
“Next!”
“What is this, a hospital...?” Uwa-san mutters as he walks out. And in his place, in came Aoki-san.
“Hey there, Rina-chan! Jeez, that took forever!”
“Sorry about that. I got lost in conversation for a while there.”
“Nah, it’s fine.” Aoki-san flashes me a toothy grin. Honestly, it was hard not to like him. “So what are you up to in here? Whoa, what’s with the notepad?!”
“No! Don’t look!”
“Oh, my bad. I take it that’s part of the rules for this game?”
He dons a playful smile. Hmm. I appreciate his kindness, but he’s a little too playful. Not that I’m into dominant guys, but every now and then you need your man to get serious, you know?
I examine him carefully. Tall, lanky, with wavy hair. Yep, not my type.
“...Are you insulting me in your head right now?”
“Don’t worry. I’m sure there’s a girl out there for you somewhere.”
There’s someone for everyone... according to a shoujo manga I read the other day.
“So how’ve you been, Aoki-san? Haven’t seen you in a while.”
“Yeah, I know! I haven’t had the chance to hang out with Taichi in forever... probably cuz we both have girlfriends now.”
“You have a girlfriend?! Congratulations!”
“Pffhaha! Aww, thanks!”
“I take it she’s even weirder than you?”
“...Now I’m not sure I wanna tell you who it is...”
“Heehee! Oh, I’m just messing with you. You seem to enjoy being bullied, that’s all.”
“Y’know, I’ve always wondered: What is it about me that makes people think I want them to treat me like I’m stupid? Is it my face? Is that it?”
Hmmm. Apparently Aoki-san has a lot of self-reflection to do.
“By the way, Aoki-san, how are things going with you and my brother?”
I carefully steer the conversation back on topic.
“Great, great! We’re best bros, man!”
Most people would hesitate to answer, but not Aoki-san. His confidence is pretty dreamy. Taichi, on the other hand — ugh, he’s way too insecure!
“Anyway, yeah. Your big bro’s been an awesome friend to me, and I hope it stays that way for years to come! That kinda thing.”
Aoki-san bows his head politely. Now this was what I wanted to see from him.
“No, no!” Clearing my throat, I jump to my feet. “If anything, I really appreciate you being there for him!”
Then I bow back — at a perfect 45-degree angle.
“Heh heh! You sound like you’re his mom.”
“I pretty much am!”
After all, I’m way more mature than he is!
“Of course, of course. Well, I’m looking forward to hangin’ out with you for as long as me and Taichi are besties!”
“Same!”
I’m glad to know that Taichi has a best friend, of course, but... “Just don’t try to turn it into a bromance, okay?”
“Why would I?!”
Don’t deny it! You’d totally kiss my brother if you thought you had a chance!
Subject: Aoki Yoshifumi
Likability: A
Kindness: A
Punching Bag-ness: S
Bromance Risk: B
Notes: Seriously, don’t make this weird. I’ll have to keep an eye on them in case either of them get dumped by their girlfriends.
“Rina-chaaaan!”
Soon I hear someone rush down the stairs, and a girl peeks into the living room with a big smile on her face, her long tawny hair swaying behind her. She seems kind of small for a high-schooler, but she’s by no means weak; she radiates energy. It’s Kiriyama Yui-san, the super-athletic karate prodigy. I know because Taichi showed me a picture of her at one point.
“I’m here to give you lots of love and attention!”
“Is that a euphemism for something?!”
“What?! No! I just want to hug a cute girl! Is that so wrong?!”
“Me? Cute?”
“Duh! You’re like, totes adorbs! I wanna take you home with me!”
“Th-Thank you...”
You’d think I’d be flattered, but instead for some reason I’m scared. Her energy is... intense.
“Oh, but my brother probably heard you shouting my name just now... Do you think he’ll come bother us...?”
“Yeah, I don’t really get it, but he doesn’t seem to want us to go near you. He was like, ‘I don’t recommend interacting with her, but you can say hi to her before you leave, if you insist.’”
Is he seriously talking about me like that to his friends?! I’m offended!
“But don’t worry! I knew he was expecting me to try to talk to you, so I waited until he was completely distracted before I snuck out. I’d say we’ve got, like, fifteen minutes.”
Completely distracted with what? I hope nothing weird’s going on up there!
“You guys aren’t doing any of that stuff, are you?!”
“What stuff...?”
“N-Never mind!”
Whoops. Shouldn’t have said that out loud.
“That reminds me, I haven’t formally introduced myself,” she muses, then clears her throat. “Nice to meet you. My name’s Kiriyama Yui, and I’m in the same club as your big brother.”
“Yaegashi Rina. It’s nice to meet you, too.”
We bow politely to each other.
“Heeheehee... I guess we don’t really need to be that formal with each other, huh? Honestly, you can just call me Yui. In exchange I’ll call you Rina-chan... Well, I guess I already call you that... Anyway, like, is that cool with you?”
“Sure thing.”
Maybe she’s more level-headed than I gave her credit for. So far, the girls of the CRC are all nice people who talk to me with respect, even though I’m just a kid. Because of that, I’m barely nervous around them at all.
“So, Yui-san, can I ask you a few things?”
“Haahh... haahh...”
“...Yui-san?”
“Haahh... Huhwha?! What’s up? Sorry, I wasn’t listening!”
“Oh, um, I was wondering if I could ask you about something?”
“Oh, okay... Sure... Hnng!”
“Y-Yui-san?”
“I’m fine... You’re just so cute that... I’m having, like, an episode...”
“Huh?” What is she talking about?