Chapter 40

Yuzu senpai is kind.

Since I don’t know how long yesterday’s no-cuteness ordinance is going to last, I figured I’d talk about kind Yuzu senpai today.

On Wednesday afternoon, I was heading to my third literature club session of the week, feeling all upbeat.

When I opened the door to the club room at the end of the second-floor hallway, Yuzu senpai was already sitting at her desk today, too.

“M-Morning, Kakeru-kun. It’s so hot today, right… Want some water?”

She smiled and handed me a brand-new plastic bottle of water—so kind.

There are lives being saved right now by the water I got from Yuzu senpai.

“Aren’t you tired from the middle of the week? I-I’ll massage your shoulders, okay? H-Hey, sit, sit down…”

When I sat down after being guided to my usual seat, she massaged my shoulders from behind—so kind.

The feel of those small hands touched my shoulders, and all my fatigue just blew away.

“I-It really is hot today, after all… Ah, your sweat… I’ll wipe it off. D-Don’t move, okay…?”

She gently wiped the sweat off my face with a handkerchief—so kind.

The handkerchief smelled amazing, refreshing even my mind.

Well, since Yuzu senpai’s kindness was overflowing to the max today…

“Um, did something good happen?”

“W-Whaaa!? N-Nothing at all?!”

When I got curious and asked, she looked super flustered.

It was definitely obvious from her reaction that something was going on.

“Is that so? You’ve been extra kind and wonderful today, so I got a bit curious.”

“I-Is that so… Man, ahaha… Ehehe…”

Even so, I’m not the type to pry too hard.

“…H-Hey?”

Just like I have things, Yuzu senpai probably has one or two things she doesn’t want to talk about either.

“…K-Kakeru-kun, do you… believe in fortune-telling?”

Yuzu senpai, who ends up spilling the beans anyway even when trying to hide it, is so cute.

Ah, I see, fortune-telling.

“Fortune-telling? Hmm, if it’s the horoscope shown on the morning news, I watch it every day, though.”

I was ranked sixth today… Pretty mediocre.

Still, if Yuzu senpai treats me this well, it’s practically first place.

“Do you… believe in it?”

“Yes?”

“Do you believe in it?”

“W-Well… if I’m first place I get happy, and if I’m at the bottom my mood goes down, but…”

“I-I see… I see… right, yeah.”

W-What is this… Yuzu senpai’s pressure is strong today.

Could it be… was she ranked at the bottom?

“Senpai, it’s okay!”

“Eh?”

This is bad!

If Yuzu senpai is feeling down, it’s a junior’s job to back them up!

“You’ve got your lucky item, haven’t you?!”

“Hyue?!”

That’s right!

The remedy inexplicably granted only to the very bottom ranking of a horoscope—the lucky item!

Because of that support, sometimes being eleventh from the bottom feels even more miserable than actual last place, but this is no time to worry about that!

Raising Yuzu senpai’s ranking even just a little bit is what matters!

“What is your lucky item?! If you need it, I’ll go get it right now!”

“W-Well, about that…”

“This is for senpai’s sake! If things stay like this, you might regret it!”

“R-Regret!?”

It’s the middle of the week after all, so I want Yuzu senpai to spend it in a good mood.

No, I want them to smile every single day.

“Yes! Senpai, the future can be changed! Let’s change it together!”

“T-Together…!”

“Yes! I’ll do whatever it takes if it’s something I can do!!”

“Uah, ugh…!”

If it’s Yuzu senpai’s request, I’m prepared to follow through even if it’s impossible.

“Y-You’re the one who said it, remember…”

“Y-Yes?”

From the front, both of my shoulders were gently tapped.

“M-My… lucky item…”

Right after that, Yuzu senpai straddled my lap… straddled it?

“I-It’s you…!”

Keeping her hands on both of my shoulders, she looked up at me with a bright red face.