My Story of Falling for the Class President

Chapter 58

Chapter 58: Picking Up My Brother

The cultural festival is over.

Our class dominated two categories, and we also took class MVP at the sports festival, making us the strongest year! The outgoing types are all hyped up about it.

Mid-November, back to a normal routine after a long time.

Incidentally, it's the student council election period, but since I don't have any close ties to anyone involved, it doesn't concern me at all.

There was talk at one point about someone from another town running for student council President, but they apparently gave up. Seems like that guy isn't popular with the underclassmen.

Winter is coming soon, along with final exams and Christmas, so things will get hectic, but for now, I can take a breather.

It's a Wednesday afternoon with no club activities.

I stop by the art room after a while and call out to Kashii-san.

It's been a while since I've seen Kashii-san in the art room.

'Tachibana-kun!'

'Kashii-san, I've got something to do today, so I'm heading home, okay?'

'! Sorry, I've been so busy with the cultural festival that I've pushed work onto you and got too caught up in the events...'

'No, it's fine. That's part of my job as an assistant. Well, I'll see you...'

'Wait! Are you mad?'

'No, that's not it. I've got Hii-chan with me, so...'

'Hii-chan? Who's Hii-chan?!'

Kashii-san pressed me, so I had no choice but to explain the situation.

My little brother, who's turning three soon, started daycare today, and I need to pick him up by 5 p.m.

Since it's his first day, he's probably nervous, so I want to pick him up early.

I told her that from tomorrow, Grandpa or Grandma will pick him up, but there might be times when I have to do it if they're busy.

'I thought you had a date with a girl.'

'Nah, nothing like that.'

'Then I want to come too! I want to meet Hii-chan!'

And so, I ended up going with Kashii-san.

We work on some tasks for about 20 minutes before heading to the daycare together.

After walking for about 15 minutes, we reach the daycare. Along the way, I point out the spot where Aoi ambushed me and the stream where Acchan and I caught crayfish.

(What do I even talk about with a girl?!)

We arrive at the daycare, introduce ourselves, and say we're here to pick him up. Since they were told his older brother would come, they let us through easily, and I call out.

'Hii-chan?'

'Older brother? Older broooother!'

Hii-chan clings to me and starts crying.

Kashii-san watches with a face that looks like she might cry too.

The teacher tells us.

Hii-chan was fussy even after entering the garden, but once he greeted the teacher, he stopped fussing. When he waved to his mom, he didn't look back at her anymore and started greeting everyone. He did great, didn't he?

But when his older brother and sister showed up, maybe the tension broke? He's still so little, but he tried hard. Make sure to praise him, okay?

'Oh, I'm not his older sister.'

'Oh my♪'

Let's not worry about that right now; it's all about Hii-chan.

'Right, as expected of Hii-chan.'

I pat Hii-chan's head as he rubs his face into my side, praising him.

Maybe because Hii-chan is still crying, Kashii-san starts crying too.

This girl cries so easily; she must have a lot of empathy. That's something I like about her.

Kashii-san wipes her tears, crouches down to meet Hii-chan's eye level, and greets him.

'Nice to meet you. I'm Rena Kashii, your older brother's friend. What's your name?'

'Pikachu♪'

Kashii-san looks at me with a stunned expression and asks.

'Hikaru (Pikachu)?'

'It's not a flashy name!'

I couldn't help but retort to Kashii-san.

Apparently, he was watching a popular anime just a little while ago.

'I'm Hikaru! I'm almost 3 years old!'

It's Hikaru.

'So cute... little brother, so cute...'

Kashii-san mutters as if in a daze.

Hey, I know I'm biased as his brother, but Hii-chan really is cute!

With Hii-chan in the middle, the three of us hold hands and walk along the riverside to the elementary school. There's a bridge to cross into the west area, and straight ahead is Kashii-san's house, so we take a stroll up to that point.

I've already told Kashii-san about Hii-chan's heart condition, so I explain that this walk is part of his routine. We do 20-minute walks two or three times a day.

We avoid aerobic exercise for more than 30 minutes or activities that cause a sudden spike in blood pressure as much as possible. But exercise is absolutely necessary, so walking is a daily habit.

We walk leisurely, taking short breaks. Hii-chan seems to have taken quite a liking to Kashii-san.

'I just want to take him home with me like this...'

Kashii-san must have an older sister, so not having a younger sibling probably makes this feel special to her.

We rest on a bench during a short break. Should I show her, just in case?

I ask Hii-chan if it's okay and have him take off his sweatshirt.

There are two surgical scars on his upper left chest, ominous-looking marks.

Kashii-san tightly hugs Hii-chan.

'You're amazing, such a hard worker, Hii-chan!'

'Ehehe!'

Hii-chan looks happy to be hugged by a pretty older sister.

I remember that the water bottle I was holding is empty.

'Kashii-san, I'm going to buy some tea. Can you watch Hii-chan for about 5 minutes? I don't think he'll wander off or anything.'

'Yeah, got it!'

I jog over to the vending machine.

———————

Hii-chan! side Rena Kashii

Tachibana-kun went to buy tea.

Now it's just Hii-chan and me on the bench. Hii-chan is so cute.

Was Tachibana-kun like this when he was little?

'Older sister?'

'Hii-chan, say it again?'

'Older sister!'

My heart skips a beat. Little boys are the best!

Come to think of it, Tachibana-kun mentioned that Hii-chan gets happy when you repeat his words back to him like a parrot.

'Pikachu!'

'Pikachu!'

Giggle!!

Hii-chan is thrilled as I mimic him (though it's not very accurate). He's really, truly overjoyed.

So cute!

'Elephant!'

'Elephant!!'

Giggle!!! Even more overjoyed than before.

I've got the hang of it!

Then Hii-chan said.

'Penis!'

?!

I froze.

'Penis!!'

'...Um?'

Hii-chan's face clouded over.

You won't play with me? He's looking at me with eyes like an abandoned puppy...

I braced myself.

Hii-chan said apologetically.

'Penis...'

'...Penis?'

(This is so embarrassing!)

Giggle!! Hii-chan is overjoyed!

'Penis!'

Eyes full of expectation.

'Penis!'

(If it makes Hii-chan happy!)

'Penis!!'

'Penis!!!'

(Watch your older sister's resolve!)

'...Kashii-san?'

'Nooo!!'

Tachibana-kun saw me perfectly...

I feel like I've lost something important as a maiden in exchange for Hii-chan's smile...

Tachibana-kun has been obsessed with these kinds of words lately, and it's troubling. Learning them is inevitable, but why does he say them so often? I tilted my head in wonder.

Tachibana-kun bought tea for the three of us, so since we had the chance, we decided to eat the pound cake we had planned for today. The three of us ate together.

Snack time with the three of us at a small park by the riverside. This kind of thing is nice, isn't it?

I somehow muttered without thinking.

'Hii-chan, do you not need an older sister?'

(Even a step-sister would be fine...)

? 'Huh? I already have a sister, so no thanks.'

When I looked to the side, a strong-willed, cute girl who looked like an elementary schooler (maybe upper grades?) was standing there.

'Sis!'

'Hii-chan♪ I'm your older sister! Don't go off with strange women!'

'Sorry, Kashii-san, this is my little sister, Nozomi. She's in sixth grade.'

'Nice to meet you. My brother has been in your care, but I'm not giving up Hii-chan or my brother!'

Oh no, it seems I made a bad first impression? She has a little sister too?!

Did she think a strange woman was going to take her brother and little brother away? For now, I need to recover... no, make up for it somehow!

'Nice to meet you, I'm Rena Kashii. Would you like some pound cake♪?'

'Kashii? Not candy? Well, whatever, I'm not going to be won over by food... Yum! This pound cake is yummy!'

'Yummy!'

(Ah, the same face as Tachibana-kun when he's eating.)

'So frustrating...! But... I'll eat it!'

Nozomi-chan was twitching while eating the pound cake.

(Maybe we can get along?)

It was the first day I met Tachibana-kun's younger siblings.

———————

The three siblings after parting with Kashii-san.

Nozomi 'Penis!'

Hikaru 'Giggle!!'

Sho 'It was you!'

It was Nozomi who had been teaching Hii-chan those weird words.