Ch#118

After school, I asked Shizuku, Kirasaka, and Yuuto to go to a certain place to gather enough people to clean the pool.

　It was another high school in the city, located on the opposite side of Sakuranuoa Academy.

　We were headed to Kaede’s girls’ high school.

　Of course, I haven’t told the three of them about the cleanup yet.

　It was a bother to talk to Kaede again, so I thought it would be better to get the people together first before asking them.

　The three of them, who were following me without saying anything specific, were looking up at the building as if it was a rare place to visit.

The girls’ school that Kaede goes to was a little further on, right?

“…Yeah, it’s just up the hill ahead.”

　There is an uphill before Sakuranooka Academy, but the high school Kaede goes to has an even steeper uphill.

　It’s the so-called heart-breaking hill, and just the thought of running up this hill when you’re running late is sufficient to make you feel depressed.

　The moment Kirasaka and Yuuto saw this hill, they looked at it with disgust, but Shizuku seemed to be used to it.

　She had been with Kaede several times when she picked her up, so she was not surprised.

　As we slowly but surely walked up the hill, we saw a beautiful white building standing in front of us.

　I don’t know if there is such a thing as an Eastern or Western style school building, but the white building that resembles a castle gives off a sense of being out of place.

　This is the school building of the girl’s high school that Kaede goes to.

　It’s not a school for young ladies, but it’s a high school for girls where children from well-to-do families attend, and there were many cars stopping to pick them up.

　We stood on the other side of the road and waited for Kaede to come out.

　At first, it was easy to overlook the task of finding my sister in a crowd of only female students, but now I can recognize her from a distance.

　The moment Kaede herself sees me, she suddenly accelerates and runs right in front of me, as if she is equipped with an accelerator.

　It was so obvious that I probably didn’t even need to get used to it.

　Today, Kaede, who was walking near the school gate, stiffened her body as if she had been struck by lightning.

　She looked around and turned her gaze to the other side of the road where we were standing. Her face lit up as she walked lightly up to us.

“Nii-san! Thank you for picking me up today!”

“Don’t worry about it… I had something to talk to Kaede today.”

“To me…?”

Kaede asked, tilting her head slightly.

Yeah, her brother thinks it is an adorable gesture.

“Well, it’s too noisy to talk here, let’s move to another place.”

　I believe there was a coffee shop nearby.

　Many students don’t stop there, and it’s far from our high school, so there shouldn’t be a problem.

　The five of us, including Kaede, decided to hasten to the coffee shop.

　It was past three o’clock, a relatively empty time of day.

　As soon as we entered the store, we were shown our seats, and after making sure that all of us were given cold drinks, we started talking.

“This weekend, if you have time… I’d appreciate it if you all could help me clean the pool.”

“Sure.”

“I don’t mind.”

“No.”

“I’ll also help!”

“…”

　Now, do you know who said what?

　I’m not Prince Shotoku, you know?.

(TL/N - A politician from Asuka period, compiled the chronicles of the government, after the Chinese model, to make up the first book of Japanese history)

And I am not confident that I can hear what was said correctly when someone replies to me at once, and at the same time.

　However, for some reason, I was able to perfectly hear one person…

　I’m sure I heard it clearly.

　I also think I completely know who said it.

　When I turned my gaze to her, as expected, Kirasaka was looking at me with a look of disinterest.

“No. It’s an outdoor pool, right? It’s dirty.”

“I haven’t said anything yet…”

　Kirasaka tells me the answer on the premise that I will ask why she dislikes the idea.

However, for one reason, I could not refute since I had the same impression when President asked me about it.

　Cleaning the pool… I certainly don’t like that idea.

　Goose bumps appear just by thinking of entering the water that is dirty and green.

　As I was considering asking the three of them to remove her from the situation with a reasonable solution, Kaede joined the conversation.

“It would be nice to have you with us, Kirasaka-san.”

“…but I’m not very good at cleaning work.”

　Oh, I don’t think she can do it herself.

It seems she has a housekeeper at home for that kind of work.

But Kaede didn’t back down.

“Perhaps the pool will open early.”

“Even if we get to swim…”

“Wouldn’t it be a good unveiling if you bought yourself a new swimsuit?”

“…”

She’s wavering.

She is completely shaken by Kaede’s words.

　To make matters worse, the person behind her, Shizuku, nodded several times in agreement.

　When I turned my attention to Kaede for a moment, she was also looking at me.

　It looked as if her eyes told that she will convince her.

　I wonder if my imouto is good at persuading the onee-samas.

　Since they both acted as an elder sister on routine basis, wouldn’t it be more effective to persuade them using my imouto’s sisterly skills…?

　I and Yuuto, who were completely turned into air, devoted ourselves to watching the situation alongside each other.

　It was all we could do.

“A bentou…”

“There would no one around but the student council and us…”

　One by one, Kaede gradually persuaded Kirasaka by using her psychology against her.

　And then, perhaps having fallen completely at the words of a situation with few people, she nodded one.

“I understand… I’ll help.”

“Thank you!”

The smile on Kaede’s face was radiant.

　It was the moment when I understood that this girl was capable of thinking and acting far more than what I had imagined.

Was bored during the CS class, so did an extra chap.

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