Episode 8


I Managed to Bring Down the Entire Family of That Impossible-To-Conquer S-Class Beauty, Completely Filling in Her Outer Moat


โ€•โ€•Riiing, riiing.

โ€œUgh, seriouslyโ€ฆโ€

The smartphone’s ringtone echoed through my room.

The moment I checked the screen, my face scrunched up.

The reason was simple and clear. It was someone I didn’t want to talk to.

โ€œโ€ฆHello? Hellooo! It’s your dumb Little here! What’s up, dumb nee chan?!โ€

“Ah, hello, dumb little brother? I need a favorโ€ฆ Wait, huh? What the hell did you just say?”

โ€œNothing at all! Ultra-beautiful-pretty-big-my-sister?!โ€

“Hmph. Fine.”

My sister who moved to Tokyo.

Whenever I talk to her, even over the phone, my posture naturally straightens.

And when she calls, it’s usually because she has some annoying favor to ask. That’s just how it goes.

โ€œWhat do you want, nee san?โ€

โ€˜Hmm. Actually, you know that nail salon over there? They sold some new color nail polish and gel nails, so I want you to buy them for me.โ€™

โ€œYou’re asking me, a guy?โ€

โ€œIt’s fine. You’ve gotten better at painting nails than me, you know.โ€

โ€œYou’re the one who ordered me to โ€˜paint themโ€™ in the first place. You started this whole thing.โ€

โ€œHuh? Did I?โ€

This creature called my sister is a barbarian who’s always enjoyed bossing me around since I was little.

But what really bugs me is how reliable and cool she is when it really matters.

And so, while indulging her hobbies, I ended up becoming quite skilled at nails and fashion myself.

โ€œIt’s a great chance to be a good little brother! Payback time!โ€

โ€œI’ve gotten more harm than favors from you.โ€

โ€œStop nitpicking~. That’s why your relationships with women never work out.โ€

โ€œThat’s none of your business, sis. I’ll do things my own way.โ€

“Yeah, yeah. Alright then, manicure time~”

โ€œHuh? Waitโ€”!โ€

She’d forced it on me unilaterally, and so far, no compensation had been offered.

โ€œYou damn sister!!~โ€

โ€œโ€ฆHey. We’re still connected.โ€

โ€œHii!? Alright, alright, I’ll buy it! Evil spirits, begone!!โ€

โ€œHey you, just you wait till I get homeโ€”โ€

She snapped the call off, ending the demon’s callโ€”a true demon call.

Immediately after, a message arrived for YINE: โ€˜Heart emoticonโ€™ How sadistic can she get?

Still, a nail salon? Men might feel awkward going in, but it’s better than getting struck by demon lightning.

Cross-dressing isn’t my thing (unwillingly), but it shouldn’t come to that.

โ€œUgh, fine. Might as well go buy it already.โ€

I’d planned to relax after school today and build a radio from scratch.

No telling when the demon will return. Better buy it today and eliminate this source of unease.

Changing from pajamas into street clothes, I put on shoes and headed out.

Since it was a bit far, I rode my bike there.

โ€œThe only saving grace is it’s not crowdedโ€ฆ or is it the opposite?โ€

The shop selling the nail polish and gel nails my sister asked for couldn’t exactly be called thriving.

Thanks to that, I didn’t get any dirty looks from the women there, but it actually made me stand out.

Knowing the staff made it a bit easier, though.

I rang the doorbell with a clang and entered, meeting the clerk’s gaze.

โ€œWelcomeโ€”Ah! Nozomu-kun!!โ€

โ€œHello. Please stop that.โ€

I’d been dragged here by my sister since forever, so I knew the staff too.
This was Nanoka-san, the assistant manager.

โ€œDid your big sis threaten you again today?โ€

โ€œOf course. I wouldn’t come unless threatened.โ€

โ€œThat’s awful~! The manager said you could come even if you didn’t need anything, you know?โ€

โ€œI’ll come when I feel like it. โ€ฆSpeaking of which, where’s that manager?โ€

The manager of this shop is the one who taught me the way of nails.

I had absolutely no intention of learning, but I reluctantly did it to appease my sister. Then, both my sister and the manager took a liking to me.

โ€œActually, that’s why I’m in big trouble right now! The manager’s off sick with a cold, so it’s just me!โ€

โ€œSurely you can run the shop on your own, Nanoka san?โ€

โ€œYeah, butโ€ฆ actually, just today, someone came in saying they needed to see the managerโ€ฆโ€

Just as she muttered that, the doorbell chimed again from behind us.

โ€œHello~! I’m from the modeling agency โ€˜Ryuulโ€™. Is the manager here?โ€

Standing there was a woman in a suit.

From her toes to the top of her head, she radiated a beauty that screamed โ€œpursuit of perfection.โ€

Plus, she had narrow eyes. Meaning she was a strong character.

But somehow, her aura reminded me of Amagiri san. Was it just a coincidence?

โ€œAh, hello~! I’m Nanoka, the assistant manager. Actually, the manager is out sick with a coldโ€ฆโ€

โ€œIs that so? That’s a problem~. What should we do about the reader model’s nails~โ€ฆโ€

I don’t quite get the details, but from what I hear, she’s from a fashion magazine, and the manager was supposed to do the nails for their reader model?

It’s none of my business, and I shouldn’t stick my nose in, so I’d better get out of here.

I muttered that to myself, picked up the newly released nail polish, and headed for the register.

Just then, the assistant manager’s clouded expression cleared up before my eyes. What is this? I feel this intense uneaseโ€ฆ!

โ€œAhhh! This kid! She’s the store manager’s top apprentice!โ€

โ€œHuh!? Wait, Nanoka-san! What are you saying?!โ€

โ€œI saw her skills firsthand! I guarantee it! If this deal falls through, our shop will never become famous!!โ€

And then, dรฉjร  vu!ใ€€Here we go again, another favor request landing on my lap!

I could refuse and society would probably forgive me. But would my big sister, who loves this shop, forgive me?

โ€œHuh? You refused the assistant manager’s request? Divine retribution!!โ€

โ€œAh, ahhโ€ฆ My head’s gonna get smashed openโ€ฆ!โ€

โ€œEh? I wouldn’t actually do that thoughโ€ฆโ€

After a few seconds of groaning and agonizing, I let out a deep sigh.

Then, I turned my face toward Nanoka-san and the person who seemed to be related to that fashion model.

โ€œMy name is Watarai Nozomu. If it’s okay that I don’t actually work here, please let me do the nails.โ€

โ€œHmm~. Sounds interesting. I suppose I’ll ask you to do it thenโ™ชโ€

“If I do it, I’ll give it my wholehearted effort. Um, what’s your name?”

โ€œI’m Hina, the president, for now. Nice to meet you, Nozomu-chanโ™ชโ€

As she tucked her hair behind her ear with her left hand, something sparkling caught my eye on her ring finger.
Huh? Wasn’t Chitose-san wearing a ring like that too? โ€ฆIs it trendy?

I decided not to dwell on it and focus on the task at hand.

Maiasa


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