Chapter 11

The next day, Yui stood in the kitchen early in the morning, making bento boxes for two people.

Of course, this was to hand over to Naru-kun at school today with a casual, "I made this bento for you. Here you go."

"...No, this is definitely not going to work... This is too much..."

However, Yui hesitated as she made it. It was way too over the top. This was like launching a nuclear weapon right after the war started.

I should stop this foolishness... Just as she was about to stop.

...Hey, your face is really red. Are you okay?

It's a good war.

Why not just launch it?

I'll show them how terrifying it is to be on the enemy's side.

"It's my first time... No one has ever made fun of me like this..."

"What are you mumbling to yourself?"

"Ah!"

Suddenly, a voice startled her, and she turned around to see her older sister, Maki, standing there in her pajamas, rubbing her sleepy eyes. Maki, who was four years older and a college student, was a calm, soothing beauty. She always seemed to be smiling, and to Yui, she was a kind older sister... or so it seemed. In reality, she was a soft-spoken, gentle-eyed sadist.

"Yawn... What are you making?"

Maki yawned lazily and smoothed out her fluffy hair, which was a mess from just waking up. She squinted and peered at Yui's hands, probably because she wasn't wearing her glasses or contacts.

"...Ah, there's a lot. You're making one for me, Yui-chan, you're such a good girl."

"No, I'm not."

Yui quickly shifted her position to hide the bento she was making. She usually made her own, or rather, was forced to make her own, but if there were two, it would definitely raise suspicion.

"Then what is it? Oh, maybe you have a boyfriend?"

Maki said this half-jokingly, but Yui's heart skipped a beat, and she accidentally dropped the chopsticks she was holding. She quickly bent down to pick them up, washed them with water, and tried to maintain a calm tone.

"N-no, that's not it. What are you talking about?"

"...Huh? Really? Is he cute? Do you have a picture?"

Maki's relaxed expression suddenly tightened, and her speech quickened. This sudden change was a bit scary.

"N-no, I just said it's not that!"

"Your face is lying. Yui, your feelings show on your face so easily."

"H-huh? What kind of face?"

Yui pressed her hands to her cheeks, but she couldn't tell. Then Maki chuckled suspiciously.

"So, did you find him? Your ideal boyfriend?"

"Huh?"

The words "ideal boyfriend" filled Yui with a terrible premonition, and she froze as Maki's lips slowly curled into a smile.

"W-what are you talking about...?"

"Didn't you post it on Twitter before?"

Maki took out her phone, tapped the screen a few times, and started reading aloud.

"Ideal... Dislikes crowds. Has few friends. Looks sleepy. Has a poker face but smiles cutely. Average height but not too tall. Good build. Nice hands. Black hair. Slightly wavy. Eyes are narrow and appear to be single-lidded but are actually double-lidded. Low voice. Speaks little but has a sexy voice. Cool but surprisingly natural. Honest. Has an older brother or sister. Gets along well with family. Good at housework. Good at cooking..."

"Aaaah!? N-no, wait, that!!?"

"Knows a lot about subculture. Reads difficult books. Doesn't seem interested in romance. But once in a relationship, is very loyal. Pats your head and says 'good job.' Carries a heavy past but doesn't talk about it. ...Wow, I'm getting goosebumps just reading this. Yui-chan, maybe you should stop spewing creepy fantasies?"

"N-no, why do you know this...?"

"I followed your Twitter when you left it open on your computer the other day. Oops."

"Aaaaaah!! Lock, lock, lock it immediately!"

"It's too late."

"Destroy it!" Yui lunged to grab the phone, but Maki held it high out of reach. In the end, Yui had to step back to avoid Maki's hands reaching for her chest.

"In short, isn't this just a creepy, lonely, dark character? Sounds like a middle school syndrome... And isn't it contradictory in the middle? No one like that exists... It's completely a shoujo manga brain."

"N-no, that's not true! I found someone who fits the description!"

"Really? You've never had a boyfriend, yet you talk like you know everything..."

"Shut up! Just go away... Ahh!"

"Still the same reaction. Yui is so cute."

"Stop it, stop it, please, no more!"

Maki's hands caressed Yui's bottom, and Yui swatted them away. Her head wasn't touched, but her bottom was often petted. It was nothing to be proud of.

Maki looked at Yui's waist with a lingering gaze, then suddenly became serious.

"Having a boyfriend means this kind of thing, you know? You can't be shy about this level of intimacy."

"Don't try to act cool and serious all of a sudden."

"When I imagine some guy touching you, I get so upset. My cute little sister... Yui's 'yu' is cute, did you know?"

"I didn't."

It's definitely not true, Yui glared, but Maki was smiling happily.

Maki glanced at the kitchen again.

"First, you try to win his heart through his stomach... But in reality, boys are like this..."

She leaned in close and pressed her ample chest against Yui's arm.

"I... like you."

Yui got goosebumps and stumbled back, making a strange sound. Maki chuckled.

"Better to just do it."

"What are you saying... You, you pervert!"

"I'm too lazy to do it, though."

"I wouldn't do that either!"

"Really? With that kind of body, you say that?"

Maki reached for Yui's chest again, but Yui crossed her arms to block her.

"It's not that I wouldn't do it, it's impossible. For someone as shy as Yui, it's just not possible."

"B-but... I could, if I really wanted to... right?"

Maki laughed through her nose.

No matter what Yui said, Maki already knew everything about her, but being toyed with like this was frustrating.

"More than that, I'm worried that you might be trained by some weird guy. This sensitivity is just too much..."

"That's not going to happen!! Don't use inappropriate words!"

"Maybe. With that weak defense."

"Defense?"

Maki's smile was well-practiced, but Yui's extreme shyness had yet to be overcome. Yui had always been able to instantly defeat her opponents, so she had never needed to defend herself.

"...Hmph. Do you know the phrase 'the best defense is a good offense'? I'll take control of the situation."

"Hmm...? So, this guy... is still just a crush? That's so romantic, I'm jealous!"

"No, no, that's not it! None of that! It's a lie! A joke! It's nothing!!"

"Who is he? I'm getting excited just thinking about it."

"Listen to me!!"

But Maki just chuckled and fled, leaving behind a sneaky laugh. Yui had provided another perfect opportunity to be teased. She hung her head in defeat.

(All of this is his fault...)

No more holding back. I'll do it... I'll do it.

Yui smiled wickedly to herself and finished the bento.

This is a good place to pause, I think.

It feels like I'm finally at the starting line.