V1C5 - Heavy Costs

(Note: "#Hello#" is spoken in English, [Hello] is messages sent through the phone)

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I drag my energy-less self towards the staff room.

I approach the door and open it a little and take a peek.

Hmm, there's two students talking to two different teachers and... yeah one of them is talking to the English teacher.

I close the door and wait outside for the student to finish talking to her.

I go to the wall opposite to the floor and lean back.

I try to think about what issue I need to solve next.

There's quite a few on the list and the one that I could solve right now...

.

Wait, right now the most important thing is to message Chiaki about today before Shinji gets a chance to portray me as the bad guy.

I open my phone and message her.

Ooh the messaging application here Is similar to the one I'm used to so it won't be an issue.

ME : [Hello Chiaki. Do you have some time? I need to talk to you about something important]

I try to keep it formal and prevent her from playing any tricks.

CHIAKI: [Ohh Yuu. Did the sun rise from the West? Tell this favorite older of yours whats bothering you today.]

Shameless right off the bat.

And I did not remember Yuuta giving her permission to use that name.

*Haah*

It's not like I can stop her; even if I try I'm sure she'll use that to tease me somehow.

Well, I explained to her what happened. Of course, with my sophistry I tried to create a bit of a good image for myself but I did not portray Shinji as overly bad.

After all no-one big sister would like to hear bad things about their younger sibling, especially considering Chiaki who gets on well with Shinji but rather in her own weird way.

.

CHIAKI: [You've done something very interesting Yuu. Not many would try to falsely call me their girlfriend after how I've treated those who've confessed to me. Quite bold of you]

This...

It may look like she's complimenting my courage, but with the black miasma my phone is oozing right now it looks nothing but ominous to me.

Surely she isn't going to eat me alive, is she?

*Ding*

The notification sound brings me out of my stupor and I stop thinking '50 possible ways my life could be scarred by Chiaki'.

CHIAKI: [Hmm by the way, Yuu, I have to do a lot of shopping after exams and but all of my friends are busy and my hands would get tired carrying all that stuff...]

That's it, being a chauffeur is my punishment?

On paper, it seems like a light punishment but who knows how she'll make user of her leverage and use me as physical labour.

Knowing her from my memories, its better to take this with a pinch of salt and hope for the best.

.

ME: [Of course I can't let my favorite older carry such heavy stuff and damage your precious hands. What am even here for?]

It's best to let loose the complements here.

Buttering her up might end up making it easier for me to complete the job without having critical injuries.

But it seems like that's all for naught.

CHIAKI: [Also I've heard of the new restaurant that opened around the mall. But it seems I won't be able to eat there since I have quite a lot of shopping to do.]

Is she looking to sponge me off dry?

She surely knows this is for buying new volumes of the manga Yuuta reads.

Plus that new place doesn't seem like it would be easy on my wallet.

*Haah*

Whatever.

It's best to just agree and get it over with

ME: [Of course, I'll invite you for lunch there. I also wanted to try out the new dishes there]

CHIAKI: [Ohh thank you, Yuu. You're surprisingly quick on the uptake. Only you understand this older sister's heart the best. I designate you my favorite little brother from today on wards. You should be honoured.]

I don't want that expensive-ass position!

And there isn't much honor in being your chauffeur either!

.

Anyway that's my first shopping date confirmed in this world.

I'd be happy if it was romantic in context but I guess I should be satisfied that I wasn't crucified.

Anyway I chat a little before closing my phone saying that I need to visit the teacher.

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I entered the staff room after the student left.

I walk towards the English teacher's desk and she looked towards me.

Short introduction: Haruka Nanase, loosely tied blond hair hanging over her right shoulder, aqua green eyes with a matching green sweater over her shirt, teaches English proficiently, probably has graduated in some arts programme.

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"#Welcome Kazama, I wished to have a chat with you. Are you possibly free right now?#"

"#I am but my head is hurting. I want to head home right now and have a rest#"

I was about to reply in Japanese but knowing her, she'd probably be stubborn about it and just sit there looking at me until I reply in English.

It's not like I don't get her wanting to speak English; in my previous life we used to speak English in class but during the breaks, me and my mates pretty much spoke in our mother-tongue language.

There's some kind of weird but unexplained satisfaction to it.

.

"#Hmm. But what should I do? I really want to have a nice talk with you, Kazama.#"

Honestly, it was troublesome to chat right now.

All I wanted to do was find the nearest bed and snooze until tomorrow.

I thought for a while before finally deciding.

"#I suppose I could come over tomorrow after 10 in the morning. We could talk properly about whatever you want to with ease#"

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After she happily agreed at the prospect of having a leisurely chat tomorrow, I left the building and headed for the bike stands.

It seems like Yuuta used the bike for traveling to school everyday.

A walk would take more than 20 minutes but with the bike it would take less than 10.

Hence I left school at a steady pace observing my surroundings on the way home.