Chapter 55

Yuzu senpai was scattering a level of cuteness across my lap that might just mean my heart wouldn’t hold out much longer.

Yuzu senpai’s cuteness had a healing effect, but overdosing on it was extremely dangerous.

My heart was pounding as hard as if I had sprinted all out after a long-distance run.

It was a pounding that went way beyond pounding.

“U-uuuuuuuu…!”

However, it seemed like I wasn’t the only one.

With a slight delay, Yuzu senpai grew embarrassed and hid her face with her hands.

Even Yuzu senpai herself seemed extremely embarrassed by what she had just said.

Yuzu senpai curled her body into a defensive posture.

I’ll say it again, right there on my lap.

Even her defense acted as a cuteness attack, assaulting me.

“Y-Yuzu senpai… S-Shall we take a break about now!?”

Proposal.

Any more than this and neither of our bodies nor minds would survive.

“Y-Yeah, you’re right…! L-Let’s take a little break!”

Fidget, fidget.

Yuzu senpai quickly stood up from me and sat in the neighboring chair.

This was the Shinme High School Literature Club.

It was a club activity that required breaks, rivaling even athletic clubs.

“…………”

“…………”

And what was born from that was silence.

It w-was awkward.

I probably hadn’t done anything wrong, yet it was painfully awkward.

Damn it, being the kind of kouhai who could read the room at a time like this would make me a good one!

Something, anything for a topic…!

“K-Kakeru-kun…?”

“Yes!?”

To my surprise, Yuzu senpai spoke up to me first.

As pathetic as it was, it was a relief, and it made me happy.

When I looked to the side, Yuzu senpai was looking down and fidgeting with the fingers of both hands.

Cute.

It was orthodox cuteness.

“Y-You said earlier that you were an only child, right…?”

“Eh, ah, yes! I’m an absolute only child!”

What even is an absolute only child?

“I-It’s enviable, isn’t it…?”

“Y-Yes…?”

Eh, is she flexing her sister status?

No way, Yuzu senpai of all people wouldn’t do something like that.

Though I certainly had said she was enviable earlier, and that had been my true feelings.

“…A-Alright!”

“Uhm, Yuzu senpai?”

I looked up at Yuzu senpai as she stood back up.

Was her face being red because of the setting sun, the lingering aftermath of earlier, or some other reason?

“B-Break is over!”

“Eh, already!?”

I accidentally let slip a complaint that I rarely even uttered during my track team days.

The literature club was strict.

Yuzu senpai with her Spartan guidance.

“K-Kakeru-kun, just stay sitting like that!”

“Y-Yes…”

I tried to stand up to follow Yuzu senpai’s lead, but it seemed I was good staying seated.

Well, sitting in a chair was the baseline for the literature club, so I suppose that made sense.

“…Hoo! Hah! Hoo! Hah…!”

She was taking deep breaths.

Yuzu senpai was taking some serious deep breaths.

She was taking exemplary deep breaths with her arms properly stretched out.

When she raised her arms, her feet naturally rose onto her tiptoes.

Cute.

“K-Kakeru-kun!”

“Y-Yes!”

With her textbook-level deep breaths complete, Yuzu senpai looked down at me.

Yuzu senpai standing, me sitting down.

Now that the break was over, it meant Yuzu senpai would once again sit on my lap…

“U-Um!”

She didn’t sit.

For the second time today.

Instead of sitting, Yuzu senpai remained standing and placed both hands on my shoulders.

“R-Right now, I am… k-Kakeru-kun’s onee-san…!”

Peering down at me with a bright red face, she made that declaration.