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Chapter 140 - I’d Lick Shoes Too If I Had To!

Thanks to Inui's protection, Shiro survived the ordeal unscathed.

Kohei, clutching Inui's autograph, sat laughing and crying in a corner.

Good news: he got the autograph of his favorite cosplayer!

Bad news: that cosplayer had been defiled by a scumbag — and even protected the scumbag!

(*?????)

Ignoring the emotionally broken Kohei, Shiro turned to the remaining group and asked:

"So what's the situation now?"

Hearing that, Inui perked up with a gossipy glint in her eyes. She wasn't confused anymore.

Basically, it was a story of stealing a passport from a brocon little sister to go abroad, right?

Pretty simple!

"It's kind of tricky!"

Iori looked grim. He'd just gone to talk to Shiori again and got brutally rejected.

"Oh? What happened?"

Shiro looked intrigued, curious about what had transpired.

"Shiori… she turned down my offer to lick her shoes!"

Pfft!

Inui, mid-sip, sprayed her tea everywhere!

She pointed at Iori, staring at Shiro in disbelief.

These two are siblings?!

What kind of brother offers to lick his sister's shoes?! That's just perverted!

As someone with a little sister, Inui looked at Iori with sheer terror.

And the worst part…

Why is everyone else so calm?!

Inui looked around. Only she seemed disturbed. Everyone else — including Shiro — looked like this was all perfectly normal.

That blond guy muttering in the corner was even saying he'd lick shoes too?!

In that moment—

Inui felt like she no longer understood this story.

Maybe Shiro had been lying to her after all.

Faced with her stare, Shiro just gave a helpless shrug.

He swore he was telling the whole truth—just omitting a *tiny* bit.

"So, basically, no progress at all."

Shiori knew it. There was no way this guy could get a passport.

"Mentally, I've already got it!"

"Sorry, the security lady checks the *physical* one."

"…"

*THUD!*

Iori collapsed onto the table, a hopeless salted fish.

*Creak~*

At that moment, the door opened, and Shiori entered gracefully, smiling.

"Chisa-nee sama, Aina-nee sama, let's go to the hot springs! Oh, who's this…?"

Seeing Shiori, Inui stood quickly. "Uh, hi, I'm…"

"Inui nee sama!"

Before Inui could finish, Shiori recognized her, even grabbing her hand affectionately.

"Huh?!"

Inui jumped, startled. She was sure she'd never met this girl. Why did she know her? Another fan?

Reading Inui's confusion, Shiori explained with a smile, "Shiro-nii just messaged me, so I know. Come to the hot springs with us, Inui-nee~"

Shiori's sweet invitation was max-level hospitality!

Plus, this girl clearly had a close bond with Shiro. If she stayed behind…

Shiori wouldn't have to worry about Aunt Keiko's schemes!

For her future happiness (escaping the inn and teahouse), Shiori decided to play matchmaker!

Inui, meanwhile, stared blankly at Shiro, flustered by the sudden invite.

"Go enjoy the hot springs. It's a gift~"

Shiro grinned. Shame there was no mixed bathing, or he'd join.

"Gift?"

Inui's lips twitched, catching on.

So the gift was a hot spring trip!

At *someone else's* inn!

In that moment, Inui's glare at Shiro brimmed with resentment, her little tiger teeth bared as if ready to bite.

In the end, she huffed and held back, joining the girls' hot spring squad.

Perfect chance to dig into this jerk's romantic escapades in Izu!

She didn't buy Shiro's "passionate about studying" nonsense. His words were pure hot air.

Watching the four ladies—none exceeding a B-cup—leave, the salted fish Iori suddenly flipped over!

His eyes gleamed with a strange light.

"Great, they're gone. Now we can seriously discuss stealing the passport!"

"…"

Shiro's lips twitched at the suddenly serious salted fish. Did he just say *steal*?

This homecoming was getting more criminal by the minute.

"Got a plan?"

Kohei, emerging from his sulk, temporarily shelved Inui's matter.

*Smack!*

Iori slapped a map onto the table!

*"Inn Floor Plan"*

"I'm gonna sneak into the room and steal the passport!"

Σ(っ °Д °;)っ×2

"Going hard so soon?"

"Why the hell do you need a floor plan for *your own* inn?!"

Shiro wasn't shocked Iori would try this—he was shocked Iori seemed clueless about his own family's property…

"Totally normal. You know your teahouse's layout?"

"…"

Shiro fell silent.

Fair point, Iori was right!

But he wasn't convinced!

"Gotta say, you're a pretty lousy brother."

Now a brother himself, basking in his sister's affection, Shiro mocked Iori with newfound confidence.

"Huh?"

"Yep, totally incompetent."

Iori, about to snap back, was stunned when Kohei chimed in. Even Shiro turned to look.

(???)

So

The two with sisters were discussing, and this sisterless siscon was butting in?

(?°?д°?)

"Your looks are *rude*!"

Kohei roared, reading their glares. "I may not have a sister, but don't forget—I've played thousands of sister-themed games!"

He puffed up proudly, as if it were a brag-worthy feat.

"So, what's your grand insight?"

Shiro, always one for facts, planned to mock Kohei mercilessly after hearing his idea.

"Hmph~"

Kohei smirked confidently. "To win a sister's heart, you need thorough, in-depth investigation!"

He began unpacking his gear.

Hat, sunglasses, mask, high-res camera, notebook!

"First, disguise yourself to avoid detection."

"Mhm!" ×2

"Then, get as close as possible to their life and record everything!"

"Mhm mhm!" ×2

"Analyze the records to deduce their hobbies!"

After Master Kohei's lecture, Shiro and Iori nodded in realization.

Then, in perfect sync, they gestured "please."

"Please demonstrate!"

Watching Master Kohei set off, Shiro smiled and pulled out his phone.

*"110"*

Ten minutes later

Kohei sprinted back, drenched in sweat, as if fleeing something.

Sirens wailed outside.

"You're back?"

Shiro was mildly surprised. He'd been ready to bail Kohei out at the station.

Now that he was back, no station trip.

Shiro felt a twinge of disappointment. He'd never bailed anyone out and wanted to try it.

Though he'd been to stations plenty…

Ignoring Shiro, Kohei shouted at Iori in panic, "Iori, be careful! There's a stalker tailing Shiori!"

"…"

Iori eyed Kohei's getup, nodding calmly. "I know. So, you turning yourself in?"

"It's not me!"

Kohei yelled, sensing a misunderstanding. He was just showing them how to learn a sister's preferences to bond.

And…

"I was just hiding in the shadows, quietly guarding her with my camera!"

Kohei's face screamed *justice*!

(???)

Fake justice!

Shiro couldn't stand it. "So, was there a mirror nearby when you were 'guarding'?"

"I said it's not me!"

"Your whole vibe screams pervert!"

"Does *not*!"

"…"

Great, this blond had zero self-awareness.

Iori sighed. "So, what's with this pervert?"

Seeing they semi-believed him, Kohei excitedly recounted what he saw.

A figure in a padded jacket, hat, mask, sunglasses, and wielding a pro camera!

(???)

"…"

"So, two perverts."

Iori mused, wondering if reporting a creep came with a reward.

"Where's the second one?"

Kouhei asked a question, completely unaware of how ridiculous he sounded.

Shiro shot him a sidelong glance. "Isn't it just like your outfit?"

"Totally different! I'm not wearing that cotton jacket!"

Seeing how agitated Kouhei got, Shiro and Iori fell silent.

In their eyes, the otaku merch Kouhei was wearing made him look way more like a creep than someone in a puffy jacket.

"Should be fine if we call the cops, right?"

Iori said nonchalantly. Japanese police might not be the best at solving crimes, but when it came to catching perverts, they were absolute pros.

"No way!" Kouhei quickly corrected them, worried. "He's only in the observation phase! There's a big difference between watching and actually doing something!"

"Well, the way you say it, it does sound kinda serious, but…"

"You sure know a lot about criminal methods, huh?"

Seriously, he was that well-versed and still didn't think he was a creep?

"Now's not the time to praise me!"

Kouhei completely missed the underlying sarcasm, and even struck a cool pose.

"…"

Shiori and Iori exchanged a glance.

"He doesn't seriously think he's some kind of hero, does he?"

What an enviable kind of stupidity~

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