"Natsumi! Could you help with the okonomiyaki? My hands are already full making this yakisoba." — Hiyori asked.
"Okay, Hiyori, leave it to me."
"But I gotta say, our food stall is really a success." — Hiyori commented.
"No wonder. You're really good at cooking." — Natsumi complimented.
Murmur, murmur.
"Hmm? Did something happen?" — Hiyori asked.
"Who knows? Regardless, I can't take my eyes off the okonomiyaki."
"Natsumi! Hiyori! You won't believe it! A guy came to our classroom!" — The classmate working as a waitress said.
Then both Natsumi and Hiyori nodded to each other and decided to see what happened.
And to their surprise...
"I want yakisoba and grape juice... Oh! Hey, Natsumi-chan, Hiyori-chan!"
"Tomoki!?" — both of them replied in unison.
Then everyone in the classroom started murmuring.
"What kind of relationship do you three have? Don't tell me it's—" — The same waitress asked.
"We're siblings." — the three of them replied in unison.
After that, everyone returned to their activities.
"Tomoki, how did you get here?" — Natsumi asked.
"Dad, Aunt Sayori, and Aunt Mizuno came here, so I asked if I could come too."
"Then where are they?" — Hiyori asked.
"They went to the restroom, but I think they'll be back any time."
But suddenly, the number of customers started increasing.
"What's all the ruckus? Hiyori-san and Natsumi-san, could you please return to the kitchen?" — a boy from their class suddenly intervened.
"Fiiiine." — both of them just agreed and went to the kitchen.
"And you... could you please leave ASAP when you finish? Because of you, all the girls are flooding here."
"You're saying it's my fault that more customers suddenly appeared? If that's true, shouldn't you thank me instead?" — Tomoki said.
"That's because they're only curious about a boy who suddenly appeared here. Don't be cocky!"
"Being cocky? What are you talking about? Fine, I'll leave once I'm done here, don't worry."
"Hmph!"
Then the boy just went to a corner and sat, starting to use his smartphone.
"What's his problem?" — Tomoki mumbled.
"Sorry. As a token of apology, we'll add another juice for free." — said the waitress.
"Don't worry. But if you insist, I'll gladly take one for free."
"No wonder every girl is flooding here."
"What do you mean?"
"Come on, you're aware that you're handsome, aren't you? Not only that, you're polite and mature... no wonder everybody's interested in you."
"Well... I accept your compliments too. Thanks." — Tomoki replied with a laugh.
"It's true, believe me. Wait a minute, I'll bring your order."
SPLASH!
"Sorry, sorry! I'll wipe you off quickly!" — a waitress with long bangs from the same class apologized.
"Don't worry, it's only a glass of water. Take it easy." — the customer said.
"Can't you even carry a single cup of water? I could see you were staring at the guy over there... haha... that's gross, right?" — suddenly the boy spoke, glancing at Tomoki.
An awkward silence filled the air and everyone stared at Tomoki.
"...Wait... are you talking to me?" — Tomoki replied.
"I mean, she was staring at you. Isn't that funny?"
"Bro, why are you doing this? She could've been hurt. You should help her, especially since she's your classmate."
"Can't you see I'm helping you?"
Tomoki just sighed.
"You know what? I don't want to make a commotion here. So thanks for your 'help', and I'll make sure to leave as soon as I get my order."
"What—"
Then, as Tomoki said, when the waitress girl brought his meal, he quickly drank his two beverages and asked for a plastic container for his yakisoba, so he could eat it later.
"Thanks, the juice was great. Send my regards to my sisters."
"Of course... and well, sorry for treating you like this." — the waitress said.
"Don't worry."
Tomoki just left the classroom.
"Natsumi! Hiyori! Your brother just left." — the girl with long bangs said.
"Already? Did he just gulp down the food?" — Hiyori said.
"That's because of—"
"Hey girls, I'll be leaving now. Since there are few customers now, you can handle it, right? I need to go." — the boy said, then left.
...
"Thank God he left." — Natsumi said.
"Don't tell me... but, as I said before, your brother left. And the reason is because of him."
"I can already guess what happened. Hiyori, I'll go look for Tomoki."
"Sure, leave it to me. The cook master will show her talent today."
And so, Natsumi left the classroom to search for her brother.
"Hiyori, is your brother... single?" — the girl with bangs asked.
"May I know too?" — the waitress asked eagerly.
"Both of you, do you know the Edomae family?" — Hiyori asked.
They glanced at each other and sighed.
"We don't stand any chance, right?" — the girl with bangs said.
"Better get back to work." — the waitress said.
♦♦♦
I must say, this yakisoba is delicious. I wonder what would happen if Hiyori-chan joined the cooking club at my school.
It would've been great if that guy hadn't caused a ruckus... but you know what? Better to forget about it. Let's see other stalls once I finish this.
"Tomoki, there you are. Everything okay?" — it was Natsumi-chan.
"Hey Natsumi-chan, is it okay to leave your classroom?"
"The number of customers dropped after you left. I guess everyone was just curious about you."
"Haha... what am I? Some kind of rare animal?"
"Yes, you are."
"That was blunt."
"But it's true. You've really become more mature — to the point where you were even able to lift Erina-nee's spirits twice. You've gotten closer to Miyuna, and on top of that, you're no longer uncomfortable being stared at by women anymore."
"I'm not uncomfortable because I know a man's presence isn't common. That's why I understand why women would look at me. But that's only at the start — after some time, I just become another person passing by."
"You're not exactly wrong... but I feel like you think it's not normal how few men there are."
Women's intuition is scary.
"And speaking of normalcy, that boy in your class — do you deal with him every day?"
"He must've said something to you, didn't he? Don't mind him, he's a pain in the butt."
"Must be tough for you and everyone in your class."
"The good part is that he doesn't attend every day. Just enough to pass the year."
"He must be smarter than I thought."
"His score is below average. But since he's a man, the school is more flexible with him. Isn't it the same for you?"
"What? No, just so you know, I passed the midterm exam fair and square — almost failed, though."
"I'm talking about your junior school. Didn't the boys there do the same?"
No idea. Though it makes sense, considering that the only requirement to earn the male scholarship was an interview. And I even received an recommendation from the principal of the junior school just because I was friendly.
"Now that you mention it... but one thing is having bad scores, another is being a jerk. Don't tell me all the guys at this school are like him."
"If so, then humanity is already doomed. Most guys are more introverted and avoid causing a ruckus. But there are a few who get too confident, thinking the world revolves around them... maybe because they were too spoiled by their parents and teachers."
"That explains a lot. No wonder Erina nee-san tried to get closer to her fake boyfriend."
"Yeah, and to make it worse, there are men who take advantage of that."
"This world is really tough for women."
"Pftt—"
"What's so funny?"
"I think only you think like that. Even Dad complains about how the world is unfair for men."
"Dad has five wives and still complains?"
"He has five wives — that's why it's tough. Tomoki, why are you so hard on Dad?"
"As far as I know, our mothers are the ones taking care of Dad, at least financially."
"Do you expect him to take care of all of them like that? He'd have to be a millionaire!"
"Fair enough, if you ask me."
Then Aunt Mizuno and Aunt Sayori appeared.
"There you are. What are you two talking about?" — Aunt Sayori asked.
"That's..." — Natsumi-chan was indecisive.
"We were talking about how the world is unfair to men and women." — I said.
"What kind of conversation is that? Let's head back to the classroom. We can't let Masaru-tan and Hiyori wait for us." — Aunt Mizuno said.
Masaru-tan? That's what I call affection, I guess.
And so we went back to my sisters' classroom. This time that guy wasn't there — it seems he'd already left, dumping all the work on his classmates. What a piece of work.
Since Hiyori-chan and Natsumi-chan still needed to work at their stall, my father, aunts, and I visited other attractions.
It was fun.
♦♦♦
"Finally, we're done! Let's visit other classrooms! ... Natsumi?" — Hiyori asked.
"Hiyori, I talked with Tomoki, and I must say, he's really changed."
"What are you talking about? That's something we already know."
"Do you remember how Tomoki admired Dad for being able to marry our mothers?"
"Yeah, I remember. And he still admires him, right? Sure, they had fight, but I remember them playing catch in the yard."
"But he doesn't think Dad deserves to be praised for that anymore."
"Why? Isn't it amazing that our father can share his kindness with our mothers?"
"I think so too. But it seems he has a different opinion about it."
"Come on, don't overthink it. He's still the same kind brother we know."
"You're right. Let's check out the other classrooms now."
"And... we can't forget to visit Tomoki's theatrical play. I can't wait to see him act."
"That's true."