Chapter 98: Little Girls Win Over Everything

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“Uemura, are you into blonde beauties?”

This false accusation came from Makata-kun, who was spouting grievances just shy of turning dark. Imagining the trouble this misunderstanding could cause in the future, I decided to clear things up, but not too desperately.

“No, no, you’ve got it wrong. The one on the left is actually my blood-related sister, and the one on the right is my stepmother.”

“Ha, you don’t have to make such ridiculous excuses. Who’s going to believe that?”

“Listen—”

“A young, blonde beauty like her? She clearly looks like the older sister of your so-called little sister, right?”

“…”

“Having such beautiful sisters holding your arms and walking around like that is just going to make other guys jealous!”

I have no idea why he’s so bitter, but this jealousy mixed with envy is ridiculous. Sheesh!

“Well, well, maybe I’m not so out of the game after all.” 

On the other hand, my mom was laughing gleefully. I wondered if Makata-kun was nearsighted. If he looked closely, he’d see the crow’s feet around her eyes.

“Instead of being happy, shouldn’t you, as my mother, defend me against these accusations?”

“Shouldn’t you be proud that your mom looks young?”

“I don’t want to be envied because of it! Makata, this blonde ringlet villain wannabe isn’t my sister; she’s in her forties.”

“You’re saying too much, Yuuta.”

Mom’s elbow hit me square in the stomach, making me double over. At least my arms are free now.

But Makata-kun showed no sympathy.

“And anyway, Uemura, you’ve got all these cute and beautiful girls around you! Even the department’s top three beauties—Kimura, Kurebayashi, and Kojima—are close to you!”

“…Huh?”

He said something I couldn’t ignore. Where did he get the idea that I was close to them? They were cozying up to other guys behind my back.

“I saw you walking arm-in-arm with Kimura-san, having lunch with Kurebayashi-san, and chatting happily with Kojima-san everywhere!”

“…”

“And now you’re parading around with these two blonde beauties! What, are you trying to flaunt your popularity and get stabbed or something?”

I didn’t expect this. I didn’t realize Makata-kun had seen all that. I never intended to get close to them, but everything he said was true.

I had no idea the three KKK (Kimura, Kurebayashi, and Kojima) girls were seen that way.

Kimura, with her ample chest and slightly babyish face; Kurebayashi, whose features rival those of a national idol; and Kojima, with her cool, narrow eyes and brooding image. Each one was definitely top-tier.

… So, I’m a guy who likes beautiful women, huh? Better late than never.

No, I can’t leave Makata-kun with such dangerous thoughts.

“Makata, you’re completely misunderstanding.”

“Misunderstanding? How? Everyone in our department is speculating about who you’re dating!”

“Seriously…?”

So that’s why I haven’t made any male friends. It sucks.

“So, who is it, Uemura? Who’s your main girl? If you’re playing around, no one’s going to forgive you! Not even me!”

“No, there’s no main girl or anything.”

“Your main girl is Angie, right, Onii-chan?”

“Please, Angie, stay quiet for a sec… huh?”

As I tried to defend myself against the agitated Makata-kun, I looked away and saw—

“Big brotheeeeeer!”

A little girl came running towards me, her steps wobbly.

“Yuki-chan!?”

She almost fell but ended up hugging my thigh.

“Oh! Big Sister is here too! Ehehe…”

Yuki-chan’s smile was unbeatable. Angie and even Makata-kun were disarmed, their previous fervor disappearing.

A bit later, Yuki-chan’s guardian caught up.

“Yuki, it’s dangerous to run… Hello, Uemura-san.”

“Grandma, you came to the spring festival.”

“Well, yes. Yuki wanted to see her ‘Onii-chan’…”

Grandma Kumi’s words were hesitant. She probably came for Yuki’s sake, but she didn’t really want to be here.

“Onii-chan, you’re going to play with Yuki a lot today, right?”

“Gah!”

The unstoppable Yuki-chan attacked me mercilessly. No one could refuse such an angelic request. Anyone who did wasn’t human.

“Of course! Welcome to the spring festival, Yuki-chan. Let’s play a lot today!”

“Yay! Woohoo!”

Haha, Makata-kun, you asked who my main girl is, right?

Let me introduce you!

“This is my main girl, Kimura Yuki-chan. Nice to meet you, Makata-kun.”

Despite Yuki-chan’s high spirits, the crowd around us, including Makata-kun, fell silent.