Dullard Buddy-kun: Heading Reluctantly to School Again Today - Episode 74

Third-period break time.

I watch as a certain girl leaves the classroom alone, then quietly rise from my seat.

Following after her, I step into the hallway, making sure to erase my presence.

Once again, I realize that directly approaching the main target is impossible.

After all, even in the hallway, she’s constantly being spoken to by someone, leaving no openings whatsoever.

So, right now, I’m carrying out the next plan.

Just to clarify—I obviously don’t have a hobby of stalking women or anything like that.

No, I’m simply working myself to the bone to accomplish a certain mission.

I take a slow look around and see that, aside from her, no one else from our class is in the hallway right now—an absolutely ideal situation.

Steeling myself, I gently tap her shoulder from behind.

This kind of thing is best said in person, after all.

“Eh? Ah, Mamiya-kun. What’s up?”

“Sorry, Yamamoto-san. Do you have a moment?”

I really am sorry.

“U-uh, yeah. I don’t mind at all. What’s wrong?”

Yamamoto-san doesn’t even make a displeased face when I suddenly talk to her out of nowhere. She really is a good person…

That’s right.

The one I was following was Yamamoto Saya.

And right now, she’s standing in front of me, absentmindedly touching her bangs.

She’s the one I need to talk to.

“Well, um…”

“Hm?”

Well, if it’s impossible, then I’ll just give up and think of another way. But I might as well try asking…

“Um… If possible, could you get Hani-san’s autograph for me? Of course, I’ll make it up to you…”

“Huh?”

Well, yeah, that’s the reaction I expected.

I mean, honestly, I should just get it myself.

“……”

Now that I think about it, I’m doing something seriously creepy.

This was a total misjudgment.

“Oh, I see… Yeah, Hani-san is beautiful, after all. So Mamiya-kun likes girls like her, huh…”

And in front of me, she forces a clearly awkward smile.

Yeah, I get it.

I get it, but this is the one thing I need to clarify.

“No, it’s not for me. It’s just that… my little sister really wants it. And, well, I know I should just get it myself, but that seems difficult. I couldn’t think of anyone else to ask but you, Yamamoto-san… But of course, you can say no. I’m sorry.”

And now I’m rambling on and on.

I not only asked Yamamoto-san for this, but I also immediately followed it up with never mind, sorry.

She must be thinking, What the hell is this guy even saying…?

And from her perspective, she might also be thinking, What? Just because I was nice to him once, does that mean he’s going to keep asking me for favors now?

Ah… this is the worst.

I totally took advantage of Yamamoto-san’s kindness…

“Wait, Mamiya-kun, you have a little sister?!”

Huh?

Now she suddenly sounds excited?

“Ah, yeah, I do. Kind of.”

A ridiculously cheeky little sister.

To be honest, if I just left her alone, she’d probably actually come to my school, which freaked me out, so I ended up handling it myself.

“Hey, hey, how old is she?”

“Uh… she’s 13. A first-year in middle school.”

A precocious brat who only acts polite in front of outsiders.

“What’s her name?”

“Ruruka. Ruruka Mamiya.”

“Ohhh, Ruruka-chan! That’s such a cute name!!!”

…Huh.

Yamamoto-san is smiling even more now that I’ve mentioned my sister.

Could this mean… I’m in the clear?

“Okay!! Got it. I’ll get Hani-san’s autograph for your sister!!!”

Yes!!!

I was expecting the worst, but I actually got a yes!!!

Finally, I’ll be free from my sister’s constant nagging.

“Thank you so much. That really helps.”

“Hehe, no problem at all! But in exchange…”

…In exchange?

What is it?

“I kind of want to meet your little sister too. If you’re not working today, maybe I could… come over…?”

She… wants to meet my sister?

Not that there’s anything special about meeting her…

Well, if that’s all it takes to get the autograph and finally shut Ruruka up, then it’s a small price to pay.

Besides, my sister is the type who knows how to put on a proper front in front of others.

“Ah, yeah, if that’s fine with you, I don’t have any objections.”

Yeah, if this gets me the autograph, then there’s no issue at all.

“Yay! I’ll definitely get the autograph, then!! See you after school!!!”

“Got it. I’ll secretly hand you the autograph board later. Thanks so much, and sorry for the trouble.”

Really, I’m only in this mess because of my dumb little sister.

But still, this worked out.

Tanaka-kun has been absent for a while, so I wasn’t sure what to do, but now the problem is solved so easily.

I’m seriously grateful to Yamamoto-san.

And hopefully, Ruruka will adjust her attitude toward me a little after this.

“……”

…Yeah, probably not.

Well, at the very least, things should be a little quieter.

Seriously, thank you, Yamamoto-san.