Short Story II : It’s You On the Offensive

After my grueling shift at Poccha Teishoku, I hung up my apron like it was my battle flag—retired and fraying at the seams. My spine ached, my arms were jelly, and my soul was somewhere near the drain behind the fryer.

The clock ticked at 5:25, and I waved a wordless goodbye at Akio-san and left the diner.

But as I went out of the alley’s mouth and greeted the afternoon on the main street, there was a woman lounging on the bench so familiar that it made my hair stand on end.

She noticed my approach, flicking her long black hair and the afternoon breeze carried the alluring scent of her shampoo.

“Would you mind walking me home again today?”

Takamine Shizuku-san. Still in her Komorebi High uniform. Looks like after classes, she purposefully went straight here and waited for me.

It's only just a few days after I walked her home with Shizumi and...

...What does this mean?

"Well..."

I was way beyond my physical limit due to the long and hassle shift back at Akio-san's diner. I tried to argue, but the words died on my throat. I lacked the willpower when it came to Takamine-san.

"...I guess."

Dammit. I gave in again to her expectant eyes.

As if it was the cue, she picked up her bag and slung it over her shoulder.

"Did you wait for too long?" I started, matching her slow strides.

"I feel like lying." she said casually. "You already look like you're close to losing consciousness, so I'll just say I didn't."

"But sugarcoating what's obvious is worse than lying."

She sighed, lowering her umbrella just enough to cover her face.

"The sweat on my face says enough of the truth anyway."

I took hints of the lines between her words.

"You forgot your handkerchief, didn’t you?" I asked, peering sideways.

I said this because I knew that she wasn't an idiot. She's a woman who prided herself on control, on maintaining a meticulous persona, on never letting others see more than they were meant to. She also had to make herself immaculately presentable in front of people.

But seeing her like this, forgetting a handkerchief of all things, I realized that beneath that exterior, there was an imperfect girl behind the woman who always brought bluntness and bombshells with her wherever she went.

Then, as if she couldn’t be bothered to lie, she turned her head with only the faintest flick of pride in her voice.

"Don’t ask questions you already know the answer to."

I sighed, fishing inside my bag and pulling out a clean, slightly wrinkled handkerchief.

I held it out to her.

She looked at it for a second, then up at me. Her expression didn’t change much, but I could sense the calculation in her eyes—deciding whether to feign pride or accept the gesture.

She took it.

“…Thanks. But don’t get the wrong idea—I’m not the type of girl who relies on guys to save her.”

"You’re just the type who ‘borrows’ handkerchiefs on humid afternoons?"

She shot me a glare sharp enough to shave ice.

"I’ll wash it and return it."

"I didn’t say you had to."

"Then I’ll do it anyway."

We walked in silence for a while, the fading sun casting long shadows across the street. And when we reached the middle of the business district, Suisho Private Academy’s huge gates came into view.

Alongside the children in intricate school uniforms stood out the 'mini' version of Takamine-san, scanning the crowd with an excited expression.

We stepped slightly forward, and Shizumi finally noticed us.

Her face lit up, and she began waving her arms around energetically.

“Shishi! Here!”

Shizumi ran up and latched onto her older sister with the kind of affection I couldn’t imagine Takamine-san ever giving back—but then again, I was wrong.

Shizuku gently patted her sister’s head, her expression softening for just a moment.

“You’re five minutes late,” Shizumi pouted, squinting up at her.

“I was waiting for Ishida-kun right here,” Shizuku replied evenly.

That was my cue to step forward, and I gave a small wave.

“Yo, Little Menace.”

Seeing my presence made her eyes lit up more.

"Carry me, Onii-chan." she held up her arms for me to take.

I crouched, letting her hop onto my back like I was her personal view tower. She always knew how to weaponize her cuteness.

As we walked side by side down the bustling streets, only Shizumi's blabbering about whatever she saw filled the air between us. I replied in curt yes and no, and Takamine-san was mostly quiet on the journey. Every now and then, I can see her occasionally flicking a glance not at Shizumi, but me from the corner of her eye—her expression unreadable, but not as icy as usual. Her silence wasn’t cold anymore. It was more like...comfortable.

I started to realize she was sneaking little things in—subtle ways of connecting without words.

"How was school, Shizumi?" she finally spoke up.

"Not good...I hate coloring, I hate reciting, I hate school!"

"We already talked about this, right?"

"But you're the best teacher, Shishi! I would appreciate it if you'd invite Onii-chan to teach me things too!"

Takamine-san's eyes twitched. I tried not to laugh. Because if I did, there would be an invisible dagger skimming the skin of my neck within seconds.

“A fine suggestion,” I added, just to stir the pot.

“Don't agree without permission,” she said icily.

“I’m just promoting a child’s happiness.”

“I determine what counts as happiness.”

For a moment, my guts twisted in fright. I felt her father's presence in that tone of her voice. Takamines will always be Takamine.

Now, I lost my will to argue in a whim.

Shizumi noticed our heated exchange once more and a sharp smile formed in her lips. It was the kind that promised nothing but trouble. "Tell me, are Shishi and Onii-chan secretly a married couple?"

“No!” We both exclaimed in unison.

“Yes,” Shizumi answered at the same time. "Shishi always turn red when I am talking about Onii-chan."

A beat passed, and I think both of our hearts stopped briefly.

I couldn't tell if Shizumi was fooling around or just playing a game, but seeing Takamine-san turn to her with mock fury made my mind spin.

Shizumi...is a walking search history.

“…I said he's not,” Shizuku repeated, clearing her throat. “He’s just a classmate helping me walk home.”

“Classmates don’t give handkerchiefs,” Shizumi declared.

“…How do you even know that?” we both asked, genuinely baffled.

“I saw you through the window! Shishi took it and wiped her face like she was in a romance drama!”

Takamine’s expression didn’t budge, but the slight blush on her cheeks gave her away.

“This is exactly why I said we should’ve waited a bit further down the street,” she muttered, glancing sideways at me.

“I’m glad we didn’t,” I said, smirking. “Your sister’s fun.”

“Dangerous is more accurate.”

We resumed walking, this time at a slower pace since Shizumi kept tugging my neck and flapping her arms up like wings.

She looked down at me with a proud grin. “If you’re not my sister’s boyfriend now, it’s okay. You will be later!”

“…You’ve been watching too many dramas, haven’t you?”

“I’m a child of modern media.”

Takamine-san sighed audibly. “I'll start confiscating your phone if you keep making conclusions, Shizumi.”

I stifled a laugh.

As we reached their condominium, the sun was already sinking behind the buildings, casting warm gold across the sidewalk. The shadows of the three of us stretched across the street—two tall and one small.

It was quiet for a bit, just the sound of footsteps and the distant chirping of cicadas.

“Thanks for today.” Her voice was softer, almost...genuine?

I found myself staring at her back, feeling a tug at my chest.

Was this how she moved through the world? With quiet little maneuvers that didn’t require grand gestures, but always left a lasting impact?

I let a small smile form on my lips, taking it as the compliment it was. “Glad to be of service, then.”

And just like that, she disappeared into the entrance of the building, leaving me standing there—still trying to make sense of her cryptic moves.

But one thing was clear: Takamine-san wasn’t done with me yet.