Normally I’d give in to the pressure and run away, but unfortunately for her, today I’m a bit different.
“Sorry, little sister. I’m coming through.”
“Eh—”
I forcefully pushed past Ayane and entered the classroom.
I headed toward the seat where my target girl sat.
No one was nearby. The girl sitting in the window seat in the last row was looking outside with a bored expression. I couldn’t tell what she was thinking from her face at all.
Himegasaki Academy General Election Second Place—Hikawa Kanon.
The only first-year princess who inherited the nickname “Ice Princess” from her older sister. The opponent my sister arbitrarily views as her rival.
For me, she was just a girl I’d seen from a distance. This was the first time I’d approached her this closely.
She’s cute. Undeniably cute.
Like her older sister Hikawa Arisa, she had a perfectly sculpted face like a bisque doll, but compared to her sister, she looked a bit younger. Her height was on the small side too. As for her chest development… it was at a pitiful level like my sister’s. Though there wasn’t much difference from her older sister in that department either.
Her most distinctive feature was her hairstyle.
A short bob with long bangs, hiding one eye. It wasn’t because of an injury—it was a fashion choice. The mysterious vibe was quite popular. Personally, she just looked like a certain popular anime heroine to me.
“Hey, look at that. It’s an upperclassman.”
“Is he challenging the princess?”
“For someone challenging her at this time of year, he looks pretty ordinary.”
Sensing that I was about to talk to Hikawa Kanon, the underclassmen started buzzing.
The Hikawa sisters were impregnable fortresses.
This was common knowledge among all students at Himegasaki. Especially the younger sister—she talked to no one, even less than her older sister. She was always gazing outside with a bored expression. That appearance was also highly rated as befitting a secluded young lady.
“Wait, Kanbara-san is nearby too.”
“I heard something about them being siblings.”
“So that’s the Princess Prince’s…?”
I felt a presence behind me and turned around to see Ayane standing right there. She was wearing a smile mixed with murderous intent.
Don’t falter. Let’s go.
“Good morning, kitten.”
“!?”
Hikawa Kanon, who had been looking outside, flinched and turned toward me.
When she saw my face, she blinked several times.
“W-wait, Onii-chan!”
Ayane grabbed me. She dragged me away with all her strength.
“Are you an idiot?”
“I’m not an idiot. You’re the one who told me to try capture her.”
“If that’s the case, then you’re a genuine idiot. There’s no way you can have a normal conversation after greeting someone like that. Think with common sense. The lingering summer heat has made you crazy.”
Your head’s been crazy since long ago.
“I can’t believe this. This is seriously unbelievable. Just disappear from here already. Having a relative who makes such stupid remarks will tank my popularity too.”
“……That’s impossible.”
“Hah?”
“Just watch quietly. This is how you conquer the Ice Princess.”
I won’t be discouraged by this much.
I recalled Nonnon’s advice.
[After the impactful greeting leaves her confused, invite her to lunch. That’ll make her fall head over heels. Oh, here’s a key point though—if you manage to successfully invite her out, absolutely no being alone together. You must invite other people too. If it’s just the two of you, she’ll be on guard]
According to the romance expert, this makes them fall instantly.
I returned to Hikawa Kanon again.
As expected, she seemed terribly confused. It wasn’t showing in her expression, but her eyes had been darting around since earlier.
“I surprised you, didn’t I?”
“……”
“How about having lunch together?”
“…………”
“Just the two of us might be problematic. So how about my sister Ayane here joins us too?”
I put on my best smile and used my most attractive voice.
Ayane, who got dragged into this, had a confused look on her face, but I didn’t care.
Hikawa Kanon, who had been dazed, suddenly looked at me with a start. Then she turned her gaze to Ayane, who was panicking beside me.
After looking back and forth several times, as if realizing something, her eyes widened and—
“Welcome.”
She gave a thumbs up.
“Seriously?”
Next to me, Ayane had her mouth half-open, forgetting to keep up her act.
Honestly, I was just as surprised. I said I’d trust the method, but somewhere in my head I thought there was no way it would work.
My wife turned out to be a genius.
READ THE ORIGINAL TRANSLATION AT LOCALIZERMEERKAT.GITHUB.IO
I’m ashamed of myself for thinking it might fail.
Who better to understand a girl’s feelings than another girl? I was right to trust my wife. I should reflect on doubting her, even for a moment.
Now then, time passed and it was lunch break.
As promised, we gathered in an empty classroom.
“……”
“……”
“……”
A hellish atmosphere pervaded the classroom. No one spoke, just eating in silence. The awkwardness was on the same level as dinner when your parents are fighting.
“Hey, what’s going on here?”
Ayane whispered to me.
“Why do the three of us have to eat lunch together in a place like this?”
“It’s because of the princess capture you forced on me.”
“Then what about continuing the capture?”
There is no continuation.
I followed Nonnon’s advice, but I only asked about the invitation method, so I didn’t seek advice about what to do afterward. This was my oversight.
No, I can’t keep relying on my wife. I have to do this myself from here.
Since there’s no connection or common topics between me and Hikawa Kanon, the important element in this gathering is Ayane’s presence. I have to use her skillfully.
“One question. You told me to pursue Hikawa Kanon, but does a route exist where you and she become friends?”
“Wait a second.”
Ayane thought for a while, then—
“It might exist. As much as I hate to admit it, she’s popular. Cute girls should flock together. Beautiful girls being friendly looks visually gorgeous and makes a good impression, and it naturally increases attention from others.”
It’s a well-known fact that when princesses gather, it’s gorgeous.
But what an unpleasant friend, motivated purely by calculation.
“What are you going to do with that information?”
“I’ll make you and the younger Hikawa become friends, and use that as a starting point—”
Just as I was about to say that.
“Are you two siblings?”
It was a murmured question.
“Y-yes. Onii-chan and I are close siblings!”
Ayane answered the question with a beaming smile.
Her and me being close siblings?
If my memory serves correctly, I’m currently being blackmailed. Moreover, at home she insults me with a face full of disgust on a daily basis.
When I tried to correct her, Ayane’s hand reached out.
“We’re such close siblings. Right?”
While winking, she pinched my arm. I flinched from the pain but somehow endured it.
I got her intention. It’s more convenient to act like we’re close siblings here. If people found out we don’t get along, it would be a negative evaluation.
It irks me to go along with her scheme, but from the other person’s perspective, having lunch with siblings who don’t get along would be nothing but torture. For the younger Hikawa’s sake, let’s maintain this lie.
“Y-yeah. We’re close siblings!”
“That’s right, we’re really close siblings!”
When we said this with smiles, the younger Hikawa stared intently at my face.
“……I want to know senpai’s name.”
“Mine?”
When I asked back, Hikawa Kanon nodded.
“I didn’t introduce myself. I’m Kanbara Yuma, a second-year.”
“Kanbara Yuma-senpai. Got it.”
After saying just that, this time she shifted her gaze to Ayane.
Ayane’s somewhat hesitant gaze behind her act clashed with Hikawa Kanon’s appraising gaze.
After a few seconds, the younger Hikawa opened her mouth.
“……The uniform here is cute.”
“Y-yes. I think it’s cute too.”
“We’re compatible.”
Ayane seemed to sense this was an opportunity and smiled.
“It’s super cute, right? I partly came here for the uniform too.”
“Understandable.”
“The facilities are amazing too. The cafeteria food is super delicious.”
“I’ve never eaten there.”
“Really? Then let’s go together sometime!”
“……I’ll go.”
That conversation became the trigger, and the tense atmosphere began to relax.
The conversation developed with Ayane taking the lead.
Forgetting my existence, their conversation became lively. The content was small talk—nothing too involved—but I could tell their relationship was gradually deepening.
“……?”
In the middle of the conversation, the younger Hikawa kept glancing at me.
I wondered what was up, but she immediately turned back to Ayane and continued the conversation.
Could this glance mean my presence is in the way?
Visit the request page If there’s a Japanese Light Novel (LN) or Web Novel (WN) you’d like me to translate
When the donation goal progress bar above hit 100% one novel will be chosen for translation
| Table of Contents | Next* |
Support the Author by Buying the Original Books!
