Chapter 47: How Much Does Ange’s Appearance Cost?

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“Well, I guess I’ll head out now. Let me know if anything happens with Mii.”

“Sure thing.”

Before she left, Kenzaki-san handed me her schedule for the next month. She mentioned that she had some free time now that the drama shooting was over, but she still didn't have a single day off. That’s the price of fame, I guess.

“…So, Ange-chan.”

“Y-Yes!?”

“No joke, if you’re really interested in becoming a model, contact me through your brother. I think you could become more popular than I ever was.”

“…”

Kenzaki-san’s face turned serious as she spoke to Ange.

Ange seemed to think it over for a moment before turning to Kenzaki-san with a somewhat disinterested expression.

“…Are you offering because my looks are unusual?”

“Not because they’re unusual, but because they’re beautiful.”

“…”

“It’s common for unusual looks to catch attention but be forgotten quickly. However, true beauty captivates people and stays with them. Ange-chan, you’re that kind of person.”

“…I’m not really interested in catching anyone’s eye…”

“Oh, I see. Well, with a sweet Onii-chan always watching over you, it’s no wonder you’re not interested.”

“Yes.”

“Instant answer… Oh well.”

Um, Kenzaki-san, could you stop looking at me with that smirk? It’s making me self-conscious.

“Alright then, Dashimura. Next time we meet, make sure Mii is with you too.”

“Feels like I’ve been given an impossible task, but good luck to me.”

Without properly saying my name and without looking back, Kenzaki-san left gracefully.

Phew, what a day. What should I do now?

“…Onii-chan.”

“Yeah?”

“If Ange wasn’t cute, would you still have helped her when she was being bullied?”

Come on. Is that what she’s been thinking about so seriously?

“So, you do realize you’re cute, huh? What a conceited little thing.”

Thump.

“Ugh! Not the stomach!”

Thump, thump.

“It’s not okay anywhere else either. Stop it, Ange.”

“…”

“Well, to be honest, you were pretty ugly when you were crying with snot all over your face back then. Haha.”

“…”

I ruffled Ange’s hair roughly as she fell silent.

“Don’t worry, no sister of mine could be that ugly.”

“…”

Ange let me ruffle her hair without protest. I wonder what she’s really thinking.

***

That night, Jones-san came to the apartment, bringing sushi for five. And it wasn’t the cheap kind—it was top-notch sushi from a high-end place. This alone showed how much Jones-san appreciated me.

“Thanks to you, Yuuta, everything’s going smoothly. I appreciate it.”

“Thanks for the food.”

“Wow… There’s toro, and chu-toro…”

“There’s also kohada and aji.”

“Let’s eat some sushi!”

This sushi might be from the best sushi place in Japan. Jones-san must really feel indebted to me. I might not get to eat sushi like this again for years, so I should savor it.

“Seriously, Yuuta, human connections are mysterious, aren’t they?”

“Yeah, they are. Oh, this shrimp is amazing.”

Jones-san spoke reflectively while I casually responded. But thinking about how I’m eating sushi now, it really does feel like my mom was right about there being some meaning in meeting Kurebayashi-san again at this university.

Well, I don’t have to worry about Kurebayashi-san anymore. I clearly refused her bentos, so our interactions will significantly decrease. I just hope she enjoys her college life without involving me.

…

Looking back, I realize I don’t hold much of a grudge against Kurebayashi-san for betraying me in the past.

Maybe I’ve moved on a bit and am making progress toward getting over it. Seeing her regret so intensely made me feel like it’s silly to be stuck in the past.

Of course, I still can’t trust her, and there’s no way I’d ever consider being her boyfriend again. But I don’t wish for her to be unhappy either.

I just need to focus on my own happiness and prepare for the next group date.