Lunch break.

As usual I sat on the rock we use like a bench eating my lunch and as usual Takatsuka-san was beside me.

“Hey…”

“A confession?”

“No way…”

“But you had an unusually serious air. Then it must be a confession.”

“You see I need to say sorry to you.”

“What is it? Apologizing for being late to realize my charm?”

“No, about the other day. You took care of my sisters while I wasn’t there right? And I never thanked you. So thanks for that. They were happy.”

I haven’t completely let my guard down around Takatsuka-san but it’s true she gave Mitsuki and Umi a fun time.

So as their brother I felt I needed to thank her properly.

“What a letdown. I thought it was a love confession and got my hopes up.”

I was about to protest at her calling it a letdown but the ear of Takatsuka-san who turned away looked slightly red.

“You should stop thanking me at strange timings. It startles me.”

“Alright I’ll be careful.”

Maybe Takatsuka-san isn’t as straightforward as she seems.

Even though she can casually say she likes someone.

Maybe because that isn’t always her true feeling.

“By the way you said you don’t have siblings right? Was that true?”

“It’s true. I’m an only child. It’s comfortable. I don’t have to fight blood-soaked disputes with relatives.”

“That’s an awfully negative image of siblings…”

Well if she did have siblings it wouldn’t be strange if jealousy formed over her excellence and things turned sour.

“So what about it?”

“You seemed good at looking after younger people.”

Anyone can do that. It’s not difficult.”

“Takatsuka-san, maybe you’re actually a good person?”

“Wha!”

“Why so surprised?”

“You suddenly softened toward me.”

“I didn’t soften. I just thought it’d be nice if that were true.”

While putting away my lunch box I spoke.

If she didn’t have strange ulterior motives she’d just be a slightly troublesome but dependable good person.

“That’s fine then. I don’t want you falling easily. It’s far more enjoyable winning over someone stubborn. So don’t say agreeable things. You’d end up just like the girls who are my fans.”

“You’re complicated. And very particular.”

Watching her speak quickly made me feel oddly amused.

“Don’t tease me. I can tease you but you can’t tease me.”

“Right, I baked cookies for dessert, do you want some?”

“Don’t ignore me. Trying to drag things at your pace… well I’ll take them.”

I handed her cookies wrapped for her.

I made them as thanks wanting to do something beyond words.

After finishing lunch we munched the cookies.

“Sweet and salty. An interesting flavor. Delicious of course.”

“I mixed in some salt. Sweet and salty seem opposite but actually pair well. Makes it hard to stop eating right?”

“When you want sweet you want salty then sweet again an infinite loop. For girls dieting you’re like a devil.”

“These cookies aren’t diet versions so eating too many makes you gain weight. So eat plenty. If you want more I’ll make them.”

“So you’re fine if I gain weight? Showing quite the personality.”

“Well it’s you.”

“If it were Iwabuchi Ayami you’d treat her more delicately. Fine.”

Without looking upset she finished the wrapped cookies.

“Coming along after school today?”

“Unfortunately I’ve got business. Making you mine matters most but I need to gather funds too.”

“You had a job?”

“My family’s wealthy so I don’t need labor. We live in a luxurious apartment.”

So she really is like a prince.

She has quite the personality but her elegance may come from growing up without financial worry.

“So I work for encounters. Adult workplaces offer different encounters than school.”

She’s popular with girls at school but maybe older women outside school like her too.

Still hearing adult stories would trouble me so I didn’t ask.

And I don’t want her thinking I’m curious about her either.