I Managed to Bring Down the Entire Family of That Impossible-To-Conquer S-Class Beauty, Completely Filling in Her Outer Moat
โYesterday was a total nightmareโฆโ
In the classroom bathed in morning sunlight, I slumped over my desk.
Yesterday, I rescued Amagiri san’s cat and even took it home for her. That part was fine.
Then, for some reason, everyone I’d ever met was there. They invited me in, and eventually, a bidding war for me broke out.
Thanks to Amagiri san’s quick thinking, I managed to escape, but I doubt that family will give up anytime soon.
โWhat the hell is going to happen to me now?โ
If word gets out that I’ve gotten involved with the family of the impregnable S-Class beauty, who knows what her fan club will do to me.
Well, that could be an interesting development in itself, so maybe it’s fine! Thinking too deeply about it isn’t really my style anyway.
I stretched, leaned back in my chair, and lifted my front paws into the air.
It was just past seven, and I was the only one left in the classroom. The silence of being alone was broken as the classroom door opened.
โAhโฆ Good morning, Watarai-kun.โ
โWhoa, whoa! Oh, good morning, Amagiri-san!โ
Amagiri-san approached, her silky black hair swaying as she greeted me. I was so startled I nearly toppled over.
Normally, I wouldn’t even acknowledge her, but after yesterday, I had no choice but to respond.
โUm, Watarai-kun. I’m really sorry about my family causing trouble yesterday!โ
“No, no! I’m the one who’s sorryโฆ somehow I ended up involved with your whole family tooโฆ I swear I wasn’t thinking anything inappropriate!”
โI kind of get that, so it’s fine. Watarai-kun, you have such gentle eyes.โ
โHuh? Thank you?โ
Honestly, I thought my eyes were always bloodshot from having too many hobbies.
But apparently, that’s how Amagiri-san sees them.
Still, I never dreamed I’d be having a private conversation with Amagiri-san.
โUm, soโฆ Actually, I have a favor to ask you, Watarai-kun.โ
โA favor? If it’s within my power, I’ll do anything!โ
โWell, first, I’d like you to stop using honorifics with me? We’re classmates, and it feels a little lonelyโฆโ
โIf that’s all, it’s no problem at all. But โfirstโ means there’s more?โ
Amagiri-san nodded like a bobblehead, but she seemed hesitant, struggling to find the words.
After a moment’s wait, she opened her mouth as if steeled to her resolve.
โThis Sunday, would you like to go bug-hunting with my brother and me?!โ
“Ah, you mean Akitoshi-kun. He’s been dying to go. Of course it’s fineโฆ Wait, three people? Me and Aki-kun, but who’s the third personโฆ?”
โIt’s me.โ
โAmagiri-san too!?โ
I guess she’ll be like a chaperone, making sure I don’t do anything weird with Aki-kun.
โActually, it was supposed to be just me and him, but he threw a fit saying he wanted to go with Watarai-kunโฆโ
โI’m totally fine with it. But won’t it be boring for Amagiri-san?โ
โIt’s fine. I like it because my brother likes it. Maimai Kaburi is so cool!โ
โWhoa, that’s a pretty niche species you picked. Glad you’ll enjoy it then.โ
As we talked, the school gradually started filling up.
Classmates would probably be arriving in this classroom soon.
โSo, let’s go on Sunday then.โ
โYeah! Thanks so much. Akitoshi kun will be happy too.โ
โI’m glad to hear it.โ
Amagiri-san blushed like the sun, her gaze burning my eyes.
I squinted and managed to avoid going blind.
Still, going out with Amagiri-san on my day off? Seems I’ve been accumulating good karma without realizing it.
Even during the rest of the class, the corners of my mouth naturally curled upward, earning me a creeped-out look from Kouki.
โโAnd so the days passed, until the coming Sunday.
I stuffed various tools into my backpack, bug net in hand, and pressed the intercom at Amagiri san’s house.
Not even a second passed before thumping footsteps echoed from behind the door. Then it swung open, and something burst out with force.
โOnii chaaan!!โ
โWhoa!! Ah, you’re full of energy this early, Akitoshi-kunโฆโ
โI was too excited to sleep!!โ
I caught Akitoshi-kun as he charged at me and lifted him up.
Then, he stared intently at my face, grinned, wrapped his arms around my back, and hugged me tight.
What is this adorable creature? It should be protected at the national level.
โAkitoshi! Wait, onee chan isn’t ready yet!โ
โonee chan is so slowโโ
โSeriouslyโฆ Oh, Watarai-kun, good morning.โ
Amagiri-san emerged from the back, dressed in a pure white dress and wearing a straw hat.
They say something can steal your eyesโand that’s exactly what happened to me right now.
That said, it wasn’t exactly proper attire for serious bug hunting.
And no wonder. This bug hunt was more like a picnic & bug hunt at the forest park. Even I was dressed casually in short sleeves.
โGood morning, Amagiri-san. Um, it suits you.โ
โAhaha, thanks. It’s not weird, rightโฆ?โ
โIt suits you so well it might be weird.โ
โWhy!?โ
A high school boy seeing an S-class beauty in casual clothes is a sight to behold, a drool-worthy target.
I managed to hold back, somehow avoiding letting out a pathetic sound.
After waiting a little longer for her to get ready, we promptly set off for the forest park.
โWe’re taking the bus, right?โ
โYeah. There’s one going to the forest park from a bus stop near my place.โ
โBuggy-sanโช Buggy-sanโช With onii san~โชโ
I held Aki-kun’s left hand, and Amagiri-san held his right.
To an outsider, we probably looked like a family or something. But since Aki-kun’s happiness came first, I had no choice but to accept it.
Sure enough, as we walked, passing ladies exclaimed in high-pitched voices, โYou look like a lovely family~โกโ or โAre they newlyweds?โ
โThey think we’re a couple!โ
โHey, Akitoshi. Don’t tease us!โ
โyes!โ
As expected of Amagiri-san. She brushed it off effortlessly.
She seems quite used to this kind of reaction.
โโฆ!โ
โโHuh? Amagiri-san’s ears are turning redโฆ?โ
โHuh!? N-no, they’re not red at all!!โ
โO-okayโฆ Not just your ears, your whole face was bright red.โ
โ~~! Watarai-kun!!โ
โI’m sorry!โ
She was desperately explaining herself, her face bright red, but it was probably too late.
That said, I guess I’m not one to talk eitherโฆ
We walked for a while longer and arrived at the bus stop. We boarded the bus that pulled up and sat together in the back row.
Akitoshi was to my right, and Amagiri-san was to my left.
โOh right. In my backpackโฆ Ta-da! My handmade insect guidebook!โ
It contained photos of insects I’d photographed all over Japan, with explanations simplified for kids.
Since photography was also a hobby of mine, the pictures were pretty decent.
โOnii chan, that’s amazing! You made this yourself!?โ
“Hehe, yep. All the photos and the fun facts in the speech bubbles too. Here, it’s a present for you, Akitoshi-kun.”
โHuh, really!? Yay!!โ
I’m glad I printed it small so even kids could carry it easily.
Akitoshi-kun, who received the guidebook, immediately opened it, his eyes sparkling like he’d found a treasure chest.
โWatarai-kun, thank you for everything. Ugh, my gratitude just keeps piling upโฆโ
โIt’s fine. I wanted to do it anyway. Besides, I never planned to sell the guidebook. I’m the one grateful it got to see the light of day here.โ
โWatarai-kun really does have a pure heart. โฆAkitoshi! Make sure you properly thank Watarai-kun!โ
Amagiri-san said this in a raised voice, and Akitoshi-kun let out a heartfelt thank you.
Phew. That was a close call.
โThis is truly amazing. Making all this by yourselfโฆ Oh! My favorite, the Maimaikaburi!โ
โHuh? Wait! Amagiri-san!?โ
Amagiri-san, who had been looking at the guidebook Akitoshi-kun held while sitting between us, spotted her favorite creature’s photo and leaned her face closer to mine.
Then, the bare skin exposed by her dress touched my skin.
Realizing it, she snapped back to her original position at lightning speed and pulled her straw hat down low.
I could see the unhidden part of her ear was red.
โS-sorry? I got a little carried away~โฆ or something. Ehehe.โ
โGuhโฆ!!โ
I felt my heart ache involuntarily and pressed my chest.
Will I make it back alive from this bug hunt?
With that worry weighing on me, we rode the bus, swaying along toward our destination.
ใใ๏ผใใ๏ผใใ๏ผ
โDammit, I forgot where I set it upโฆโ
I, Fumihiko, was wandering aimlessly on my day off.
The reason was to catch a cat.
I’d heard China’s cat often went out, so about a month ago I’d set traps to catch itโฆ but I’d forgotten where I’d set one of them.
Maybe the cat hadn’t returned to China’s house because it was caught there.
โTch! Damn it, don’t cause trouble, you cat!โ
As I walked along cursing under my breath, two women who looked like middle-aged ladies came walking toward me.
I thought they were completely insignificant, but I couldn’t help but listen in.
โThat girl earlier was Amagiri China, right? She’s still so cute!โ
โShe was walking with her little brother and another guyโฆ I wonder if that’s her boyfriend~โกโ
โฆHuh? No, wait, huh?ใHuh? Huh!?
Don’t mess with me. Going out with some guy I don’t know on her day off? Without my permission?
โDon’t mess with meโฆ Dammit!!โ
I kicked a trash can by the roadside.
You trash-picking bastard, laying hands on my stuff without permission!
The cat search is on hold. I don’t know who or where you are, but I’ll find youโฆ!!
Maiasa