Three Times the Surprise!

The promise we made that day…I will always keep it…When we meet each other again…I promise….

Junta woke up and found himself reaching out for the ceiling above him. ‘A dream?’ he asked himself. He got up and got himself ready for school. When he came downstairs, he noticed a note from his mother on the kitchen table. “That’s right, today’s the day she leaves for America,” he remembered. He smiled, remembering how excited his mother was when she was invited to take part in a medical research project at an elite American college. A quick breakfast of eggs and orange juice and he was ready to start the day.

While walking to school, he came upon the same underpass he passes through every day on his way and suddenly had his vision turn black from something covering his face. He removed the thing covering his face and found it to be some kind of soft fabric. “A handkerchief?” he realized.

“Ah! You there, that’s mine!” called a girl from the bridge above. She looked down at Junta with a huge smile on her face and wildly waved at him to gesture for him to wait. Like a loaded spring, she descended down the side of the underpass and reached Junta without breaking a sweat. “Thank you for catching it!” she said cheerfully.

“Sure thing,” replied Junta. He found her cheerfulness to be a little off-putting and annoying, and decided that she was the type of person he needed to steer clear from. He handed the handkerchief to her and noticed a small image on its corner. “A panda?”

“Isn’t it cute? Oh, pandas are the greatest! You think they’re cute too, don’t you?” asked the girl with stars in her eyes.

‘Urgh, so annoying,’ thought Junta to himself. “By the way, your handkerchief came out of nowhere and blinded me as I was walking. That’s dangerous, don’t you know? And not once did I hear an apology.” His eyes were sharp and his brows were furrowed as he let out these cold, harsh words.

“Heh heh heh, I’m sorry,” said the girl with a sheepish chuckle.

“Are you?! It doesn’t sound like it!” hissed Junta. “Besides, who ever heard someone laughing as they apologize? There’s nothing sincere about that!”

“Oh! You’re right!” yelped the girl in agreement. She looked at Junta with a more focused and serious expression. She then slowly brought her hands up at the same time. The mood change made Junta uneasy and he felt a little terrified over the girl’s strange movements.

‘What if she took offense to what I said and decided to sucker-punch me? But that pose she’s doing, isn’t it the crane kick? Is she a karate practitioner? Is this what they mean by getting hit where the sun doesn’t shine?’ he thought fearfully to himself.

Then, in one quick movement that made Junta want to cower in fear, the girl brought her hands down to her sides with a loud THUD and bowed her head until her entire body was at a 90° angle. “I sincerely apologize for what I did!” she bellowed out.

“Okay, okay, I forgive you,” quickly replied Junta.

“That’s good then!” happily announced the girl, springing back up. She tucked the handkerchief back into her skirt pocket and ran off. “Bye bye!” she called back with a wave.

Once she was gone, Junta slid down to the ground with a loud and shaky exhale of relief. “I hope I don’t meet her ever again,” he prayed aloud to himself.

Finally at school, Junta entered his classroom and sat down. The teacher walked in and announced that a new transfer student will be joining them today. He then called for the new student to come in. The door opened and the new student now stood in front of the entire class. Junta initially didn’t care much about the presence of a new student, but his disinterest quickly turned into surprise and fear upon seeing who the new transfer student was. Standing right in front of the class with a bright smile on her face was the exact same girl that he had met this morning.

“Good morning, everyone! My name is Hifumi Nika! My favorite hobbies are watching movies, sports, and singing! I also like volunteering and helping people, so you can depend on me for anything you want! I hope we can all be friends! Pleased to make your acquaintance!” introduced Nika enthusiastically. The entire class were initially taken aback by how cheerful and excitable she was, but they quickly became drawn in by her positive aura and awarded her introduction with applause. Nika, with an embarrassed smile and her hand behind her head, replied back with bows and words of thanks.

The teacher placed her in the seat right in front of Junta. ‘Don’t worry. Just ignore her,’ Junta told himself.

“Ah, you’re the boy I met at the underpass this morning!” said Nika, pointing a finger at Junta.

‘Ignore her. Ignore her. Ignore her,’ Junta repeated like a mantra.

“You remember me, right? I mean, we just met each other this morning!” asked Nika.

‘Ignore her. Ignore her. Ignore her….’

“Ah, Yasumi-kun, do you know Hifumi-kun?” asked the teacher.

“Ah, we met each other—,” began Nika.

“Of course I don’t!” quickly interjected Junta, standing up from his seat.

“But we do,” pointed out Nika. “In fact, you had me bend over and ask for your forgiveness after handing me back my cloth….”

“Oi, watch your phrasing!” shouted Junta as the entire class stared at him with clear looks of disgust on their faces.

“Well, anyway, I’d say that we know each other pretty well now,” concluded Nika.

“Ahem, anyway, it seems that you’re already, erm, acquainted with Hifumi-kun, Yasumi-kun,” said the teacher. “As much as I, your teacher, think that kind of relationship is unbefitting of high school students, I will say no more on this matter. In fact, I used to be young myself….” Now, the students were looking at the teacher with weird expressions on their faces. “Ysaumi-kun,” continued the teacher, switching the subject, “I am assigning you to be Hifumi-kun’s guide today. Help her get acquainted with the school.”

“Wait a minute,” objected Junta, “I don’t want to—.”

“Now, let’s begin class!” quickly announced the teacher with a clap of his hands.

Class was over and Junta, in spite of himself, did his best to guide Nika through the school on their way to their next class. As he did, he found himself paying more attention to her appearance. Hifumi Nika was a cute and beautiful girl with neck-length chestnut hair and a side ponytail clipped with a flower-shaped barrette. Her eyes were like bright citrines, which glowed very brightly whenever she got excited. With her small nose and rose-colored lips, she was literally “cute like a doll”. She stood to Junta’s eye-level and had a very delicate yet athletic physique, comparable to a growing pine sapling. Her cuteness was more of a fact than anything else and it made sense for all of the students to flock to her once class had ended. It was clear that she wouldn’t be one of those people who only becomes popular due to their transfer-student status; her popularity will stay with her until graduation.

“Hey, Yasumi-kun, want to have lunch?” asked Nika after morning classes had ended.

“Of course,” said Junta.

“Good, then we can—!” began Nika as Junta stood up from his desk and walked out of the classroom.

“Hey, Hifumi-chan, let’s eat lunch together!” one of the girls asked Nika.

It was clear that Junta wasn’t coming back and Nika accepted her classmate’s offer. She glanced back at the door one last time before joining her classmates for lunch.

“Jeez, why do I have to be that girl’s guide?” grumbled Junta, taking a bite out of his yakisoba sandwich. As he ate by himself on a bench on school grounds, he heard a conversation between two students passing by.

“Man, Hifumi-san is very cute, isn’t she?” said Student A.

“You got that right. Say, why don’t you try asking her out?” asked Student B.

“As if I could!” replied Student A.

“Man, but Hifumi-san has that cool, mature aura about her, doesn’t she? Just like a celebrity!” said Student B.

“Exactly!” agreed Student A.

‘Celebrity? Cool? Mature? That girl? Hah, as if!’ thought Junta with a frown. “If anything, she’s annoying and idiotic. I mean, what’s with that stupid smile she always wears on her face? Is her head just filled with flowers and sunshine or something?”

Lunch ended and Junta returned back to class. “Ah, Yasumi-kun! Did you have a good lunch?” asked Nika cheerfully.

“It was just the break I needed,” replied Junta with a satisfied smile.

“Eh? Did you eat by yourself perhaps?” poked Nika with a playful smile. Junta flashed her a glare. Nika let out a gasp and said, “Do you not have any friends?! Are you all alone?!”

“What’s wrong with being by myself!” snapped Junta.

“Yasumi-kun, if you’ve asked, I wouldn’t mind being your friend,” offered Nika.

“Don’t take pity on me!” responded Junta.

“My, you’re a tsundere, aren’t you?” joked Nika.

“Who are you calling tsundere?” A visible vein appeared above Junta’s left eyebrow.

“Yasumi-kun. Hifumi-san.” The teacher towered over the both of them with a scary look in her eyes.

“Sorry,” they apologized in unison.

Afternoon classes were done. Junta packed up and was about to leave when the teacher called for him. “Yasumi-kun, can you give this to Hifumi-kun? I forgot to hand it to her before she left. It’s her career worksheet.”

Despite how much Junta wanted to refuse this task, he accepted it without much hesitation. Besides, he saw the advantage he could gain from accepting this task. As a person striving to become a doctor, Junta had his sights on gaining entry into the best university in Japan with the best medicine program! And to do so, he understood the importance of gaining the favor of teachers for recommendations! The more recommendations he had, the better chance he had of being accepted! Academics?—he was already the top of his class. Clubs?—he is a member of the Literature Club and Science Club (as ghost members though). Junta had his bases all covered!

With the worksheet in hand, Junta exited the classroom to prepare for his search for Nika. And what luck! As soon as he closed the door behind him, he found Nika walking by and promptly followed her.

“Hey!” he called out to her. She ignored him and continued walking. “Hey, I said! Hifumi!”

She turned around and asked, “Are you talking to me?”

“Yeah, you,” said Junta.

“May I help you?” she asked with a tilt of her head.

‘Say, doesn’t she look a little different?’ wondered Junta. ‘And her aura, too, it doesn’t have that annoying feeling to it.’

“My, my, am I just that dazzling for you to stare at me that much?” she asked with a charming smile.

Junta blushed at the smile. “W-W-What’s that supposed to mean?” he asked, almost stumbling on his own words.

She giggled. “How cute.”

“W-Who are you calling cute?!” snapped Junta.

“I’m sorry, but I must go now. I’m meeting up with someone,” she told him.

Junta suddenly remembered his task, but she was already gone by then. He ran down the hallway and came to a corner. Without warning, he collided with someone and fell to the floor. “Jeez, look where you’re going,” he groaned, rubbing his head and getting back up. He opened his eyes and saw Nika right in front of him. “You!” he called out. She immediately jumped at his call.

‘Huh? Isn’t her hair a little different?’ wondered Junta. Her body was shaking and it was clear that she was seconds away from bursting into tears. “Oi, what kind of joke are you playing on me now? What’s with the hairstyle and personality change? Do you have multiple personalities or something?” Junta asked her with a rather aggressive tone. “Hey, tell me. Come on!”

“Ah, there you are!” came Nika’s voice.

Junta turned around and saw the real Nika running up to him. There was no doubt about it—she was the Nika that he was familiar with. That smile, that voice, that attitude—it was Hifumi Nika all right.

“Hifumi!” exclaimed Junta.

“Oh, what are you doing here, Yasumi-kun?” asked Nika.

“I was….” Junta saw the other girl from before appear right behind Nika. “Another Hifumi,” he said, taken aback. He then glanced back and saw the third Hifumi still shivering behind him. “One Hifumi, two Hifumi, three Hifumi…,” he muttered to himself as he went back-and-forth between all three identical faces. His vision suddenly became black and he lost consciousness….

The promise we made that day…When we meet each other again…

Junta woke up with a start. “Was that all a dream?” he asked himself.

“Ah, Yasumi-kun, you’re awake!” exclaimed an excited Nika.

“Hifumi? Listen, I had the strangest dream. I met two other people who looked just like….” As he said that, Junta realized that the other two girls with identical faces to Nika were here in the same room. “That…wasn’t a dream, was it?”

“Heh heh, surprised, aren’t you?” laughed Nika.

“My, my, was I really that impressionable to be in your dream?” came the second Nika.

“Hifumi, tell me what’s going on,” Junta pleaded to Nika.

“We’re sisters!” revealed Nika. “Triplets, to be precise.”

“Identical triplets,” noted the second Nika. “I’m the eldest sister. My name is Hikoe. And over there is the youngest sister, Mitsuki.” She pointed to the third Hifumi sister, who was curled up against a wall a great distance away from Junta.

“And I’m the middle sister, Hifumi Nika!” proudly announced Nika.

“I already know you!” hissed Junta with a groan. But triplets…Junta couldn’t wrap his head around it at all!

Being identical triplets, all three sisters shared the same facial features and hair color. The only difference lie in their slightly different physiques and hairstyles. Hikoe’s hair was long, reaching her shoulders, and had a musical quarter-note barrette curtaining her bangs to the left. Her physique was a bit more fuller and defined than Nika’s, almost like a beautiful chrysanthemum in bloom. On the other hand, Mitsuki’s hair was a short pixie-cut with a section of long bangs covering the right side of her face and a crescent-moon barrette adorning her left. From what Junta could observe, she was the most slender of the three, like a solitary reed in a windy field.

“W-Where am I?” asked Junta, rubbing his head.

“Oh, our home!” revealed Nika.

“Y-Your home?!” repeated Junta in surprise.

“Man, you really took a dive there, Yasumi-kun,” said Nika with a laugh.

“You suddenly collapsed on the ground. It was like watching a rat faint from fear after being cornered by cats,” added Hikoe.

“A rat? Of all the comparisons…,” complained Junta.

“Anyway, since school was over, we couldn’t very well leave you. So we had our driver pick you up and brought you home with us,” finished Hikoe.

“Don’t talk like I was some stuffed-animal you dropped on the ground,” groaned Junta.

“My, my, how cute. Your expressions are very pleasing to see,” said Hikoe with her finger brought up to her smiling lips.

“Stop screwing around!” barked Junta. He thrashed about like a child throwing a tantrum.

Hikoe couldn’t hold in her laughter anymore and let loose. Meanwhile, Nika was confused about what was going on and wore a half-smile as she went back and forth between her sister and their guest.

“Nika, your friend is a real hoot!” laughed Hikoe.

“Oh, really? I guess so,” agreed Nika with a laugh.

“I am not her friend!” vehemently objected Junta.

“Oh, Yasumi-kun, how could you say that after all the time we spent together today?” said Nika in a playful tone.

‘This girl…,’ grumbled Junta with gritted teeth. He exhaled deeply. He glanced over to his left and saw the career worksheet atop the coffee table. “Well, I already completed what I needed to do,” he said, getting up.

“Oh, are you leaving, Yasumi-kun?” asked Nika with disappointment in her voice.

“I am,” replied Junta coldly.

“I’d hoped that we had time to speak and become better friends,” admitted Nika with an exhale. She quickly recuperated her lost positivity and returned back to her usual cheerful self. “Well, there’s always tomorrow! See you at school, Yasumi-kun!”

“Yeah, yeah, sure,” mumbled Junta. He had made it to the door and stole a glance over at Mitsuki. The triplet quickly noticed him and curled up even tighter while trembling. Junta couldn’t bear to see such a pitiable scene and let out a sigh. He had his hands on the knob and was about to turn it when the door opened without him doing anything at all.

Standing right in front of Junta was a white-haired man with sharp citrine eyes and a clean-shaven gaunt face. He was taller than Junta by just a few centimeters and wore a white coat.

“Grandpa!” cheerfully welcomed Nika.

“G-Grandpa?” repeated Junta in surprise.

“I am Hifumi Yasaburō,” introduced the white-haired man. The man’s voice was still as clear and strong as a young man’s, betraying his age. “And you are?”

“Y-Yasumi Junta,” introduced Junta with a bow.

“He’s a classmate from school!” added Nika.

Yasaburo stared at Junta for a moment with the intense eyes of a predator. “I see,” he finally said, shifting his focus away.

‘Haaaaah, I thought I was about to die,’ sighed Junta with relief.

“A-Anyway, I must take my leave. It was a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Hifumi,” said Junta hurriedly. He then promptly left the room.

The next day, Junta was called to the principal’s office. Confused and worried about the situation, Junta couldn’t help but wonder if it was a mistake. He made his way to the office and entered. There, waiting for him along with the principal, was the Hifumi triplets’ grandfather. “Ah, Yasumi-kun, thank you for coming,” greeted the principal.

“H-Hello,” returned Junta with a forced smile.

“I know you might be wondering why you were called here,” said the principal, “so I’ll keep it short. This gentleman here is Hifumi Yasaburō.”

“Hello,” Junta greeted Yasaburō.

“Dr. Hifumi here is the head of Tenshin Medical Group and the current director of Tenshin Hospital here in Yokohama,” introduced the principal.

“T-Tenshin Medical Group?!” loudly exclaimed Junta in surprise.

“I heard that it is your desire to become a doctor, is it not?” asked Yasaburō.

“Yes, it is,” quickly replied Junta.

“I see. Then am I also right to assume that you desire to attend Kyoto University and enter it’s medical program?” asked Yasaburo.

“Again, yes, it is!” confirmed Junta.

“Yasumi-kun, I have a proposition for you,” said Yasaburō in the most serious voice Junta had ever heard from anyone before. “If you complete this task, I will personally write a recommendation for you for Kyoto University’s medical program.”

“R-R-Really?!” asked Junta with stars in his eyes.

“But only if you can complete this task,” reiterated Yasaburo.

“What is this task?” asked Junta eagerly.

“Help my granddaughters graduate.”

‘Help his granddaughters graduate…? Huh? Granddaughters? Does he mean…. The idiot, the bitch, and the wet-blanket?! Those three pain-in-the-butts?! Help them how? What does he expect me to do?!’

“I want you to do whatever it takes to have them graduate high school,” explained Yasaburō. “Help guide them on the right path, that is your task. To do so, I expect you to provide them with academic tutoring, moral support, and anything else they require to achieve this goal. Of course, I will allow you a wide berth to do whatever you can in your power to complete this goal. But if your actions prove to hurt my granddaughters and harm their chances at achieving this goal, then I will have no choice but to void this deal. Do I make myself clear?”

“Y-Yes sir!” replied Junta automatically without thinking.

“Good. It’s a deal,” said Yasaburō. “Of course, for your services, I will also pay you a weekly wage of ¥2000.”

‘The letter of recommendation is really all I need, but ¥2000….’ “Yes sir, I’ll do my best!” enthusiastically declared Junta.

“I expect great things from you, Yasumi-kun.”

“You can count on me!”…. ‘Why did I do that?!’ bemoaned Junta as he made his way to the school’s gate. The weight of the task he had blindly accepted didn’t hit him until after he left the room. His mind was so consumed with excitement at how the rewards aligned perfectly with his own goals that he was not self-aware of the drawbacks till it was too late! “How the hell am I supposed to help them graduate?!” he yelled aloud. ‘Well, it’s no use getting out of it now,’ he relented with slumped shoulders. Junta was a man of his word and he intended to keep it no matter what. ‘Besides, you’re getting some pretty good rewards out of this. Yeah! This is all for the letter of recommendation! And the extra ¥2000 a week isn’t bad either!’

The next day, Junta approached Nika and shamelessly asked for her address: “Hey, what’s your house address? Give it to me.”

The entire class heard this and the room suddenly fell silent. “Y-Y-Y-Yasumi-kun, aren’t you skipping a few steps? Suddenly, you want to come to my home?” asked Nika wildly, blushing.

Junta blushed at her words and actions. “I-Idiot! Watch what you’re saying! Besides, it’s not like that!”

“Well, you did come home yesterday, so I guess it should be fine,” said Nika bashfully, knitting her fingers together.

“Yesterday?!” exclaimed the entire class.

Suddenly, the classroom became abuzz with whispers: “What does she mean by that?”; “Is Yasumi-kun and Hifumi-chan dating?”; “Are they in that kind of relationship?”; “Even though they’re only high school students?!”

Junta didn’t like the atmosphere at all and his embarrassment was now at an all-time high. “It’s not like that at all!” he yelled, quieting the room. “Your grandfather wants me to keep an eye on you and your schoolwork, and to do that I’ll be needing your address.”

“Oh, that makes sense!” said Nika with a palm-fist tap. She wrote down her address and handed it to Junta.

“Anyway, I’ll be coming over today to help you with schoolwork.”

“Are you going to come tutor me? Hooray! Yasumi-kun will be my personal tutor!” cheered Nika.

“Quiet!” hissed Junta.

During lunch, Junta ate by himself once again. And once again, it was a yakisoba sandwich. He finished it and threw away the trash. When he turned around to return to class, he suddenly bumped into someone. “Ah, my fault,” he apologized, reaching his hand out to help the person up.

“N-No, it’s my fault,” replied the person, taking his hand.

“Ah, Nika!” realized Junta.

“Fueh!” she yelped, retracting her hand and jumping back in fear.

‘Fueh?’ wondered Junta. His eyes fell on the crescent-moon barrette in her hair and it clicked. “Mitsuki!” he realized. But Mitsuki had already turned around and ran away before he was able to get her name out. “Wait a minute!” Junta called out after her. He then took off after her.

Now, Junta wasn’t the most athletic person in the world, but he was still average enough to pass P.E. with the minimum grade needed. But that still doesn’t mean that he could run longer than three minutes before having all of his stamina zapped out of him. “W-Wait a minute,” called out Junta in between moments of heavy breathing. “Wait a minute!” he tried again, practically begging now.

But being caught up in his own fight against physical exertion made him fail to realize that Mitsuki was just as bad as him, probably worse. She had already fell to the ground and breathing heavily. Junta circled around her and had his hands on his hips while trying his best to wear a triumphant face. “M-Mitsuki, *breath* finally, I *breath* caught *breath* you,” victoriously declared Junta.

“W-What do you want with Mitsuki?” asked the latter timidly.

Junta finally caught his breath and stood straight up. “Prepare yourself. Today, I will be overseeing your schoolwork.”

“O-On who’s authority?” she asked.

“Your grandfather’s,” stated Junta. “Alright, that’s two. Now, I just need one more.” As he said this, he saw Hikoe walking by with two other girls. Junta walked up to her and said, “Hikoe, I will be going to your home today.”

“Home?!” quickly squealed the two girls in unison.

“Hey, Hifumi, do you know this guy?” one of them asked Hikoe.

“Ah, he’s, um, someone who’s less-than a friend but not really an acquaintance nor a stranger, kind of like a dog that you’d always come across in a dog park on your daily walks,” explained Hikoe.

“What’s with these metaphor-laden sentences?! Are you trying to be a poet?” retorted Junta.

“But coming over today. My, my, that’s rather forward, don’t you think? Perhaps, you have something naughty in mind?” asked Hikoe with a teasing smile.

“I’m coming over on orders from your grandfather. I’ll be checking over your schoolwork,” Junta answered her straightforwardly. He refused to give in to her teasing.

“Grandfather, huh?” muttered Hikoe with a light frown.

“Now then!” announced Junta, turning around and walking back to class.

“It’s here, right?” Junta asked himself. The plaque in front read: ‘Hifumi’. Yup, there was no doubt about it. This giant gated house right in front of Junta was the Hifumi’s home. Yesterday, in his rush to leave and get home, he didn’t get the chance to pay attention at all. The two-story house was as big as three houses and surrounded by a black gated fence. ‘Just what I expect of the home of the man who owns the largest hospital group in Eastern Japan!’

He walked up to the gate and pressed the intercom. “Who is it?” came one of the Hifumi sisters.

“Yasumi Junta,” he told her over the intercom.

“Password?” asked the sister.

“Password?” repeated Junta, confused by the request.

“Oh? Didn’t Grandpa give you one?” came the sister.

“No, he didn’t!” snapped back Junta, realizing that it was all a prank this entire time.

“Ha ha, just wanted to tease you,” laughed the sister.

The gate swung open and Junta promptly walked up to the house. Once he was inside, he found the three sisters in the living room. “Okay, who played that prank a while ago?” fumed Junta. “Was it you? Or you? Or you?” he pressed, pointing at each of them in turn.

“My, my, getting a little miffed just because of a joke?” giggled Hikoe.

“So it was you, Nika!” accused Junta, pointing at Hikoe.

“Hah?! It was me?!” exclaimed a surprised Nika, who was actually sitting on the seat right next to Junta.

“My, my, Mitsuki, what are you acting surprised for?” said Hikoe to Nika.

“Mitsuki, so you can speak after all!” said Junta, falling hook-line-and-sinker for Hikoe’s prank. “Then that means that you’re Hikoe!” concluded Junta, pointing a finger at Mitsuki. Mitsuki was overwhelmed by the accusation and curled into a ball on the couch.

“My, my, don’t be so mean to Hikoe-oneesan,” came Hikoe with her arms crossed over her chest.

“M-M-M-Mitsuki is Mitsuki!” cried Mitsuki, trying to put an end to this farce.

‘Wait a minute, could the one on the couch be the actual Mitsuki?’ observed Junta. ‘And the one I called Hikoe actually made a big scene when I accused Nika of being the one responsible for the prank…. Then that means….’ Junta, now confident about his answer this time, pointed his finger at the only Hifumi sister standing up and declared, “You’re the real Hikoe!”

“My, my, you’re actually right for once!” exclaimed Hikoe with a clap of her hands. Her words carried a subtle mocking tone to them that Junta didn’t seem to pick up on at all.

“So Hikoe was the one who played that prank,” concluded Junta.

“Just wanted to tease you a little,” she answered him honestly with a playful pout.

“Well, I’m sorry, but I have no time for jokes,” Junta told her. “Your grandfather didn’t tell me what your current situation is nor why he wants me to take this job other than the fact that he wants me to help you guys graduate high school. I have a faint idea of what kind of support I am expected to show, and I am prepared to give it my all. With that said, know that I am not one to do anything half-heartedly.”

“So, what is that you’re supposed to do for us?” asked Hikoe.

“Um, er, I think, like, tutoring services and moral support and stuff like that,” mumbled Junta.

“Like a cheerleader?” asked Nika with a beaming smile.

“Cheer—?… Actually, yeah, I guess,” replied Junta.

“If you’re supposed to be our cheerleader, then couldn’t you have done it without coming to our house?” asked Hikoe logically.

“Um, I guess,” agreed Junta, his eyes focused on the floor below to hide his embarrassment.

“And for tutoring services, we could just do it at the library,” added Hikoe.

“And we see each other at school every day, so moral support shouldn’t be a problem either,” pointed out Nika.

“That could’ve saved you from the embarrassment you suffered this afternoon,” added Hikoe. “Ah! Unless, maybe, you just wanted to come to the house of three beautiful girls?”

“As if!” quickly objected Junta. “Besides, even if we can do these things at school, I would need more time than school allows to keep track of all of your progress! Coming here to your house will allow for that! It’s not like I’ll be moving in you girls or anything!”

“Oh, was that what you were hoping for?” asked Hikoe teasingly.

“Really, Yasumi-kun? Was Hikoe-oneesan right?” came Nika excitedly.

“M-Mitsuki wouldn’t like that,” muttered Mitsuki, giving her own two-cents.

‘Gosh, these sisters! What am I going to do with them?’