Dullard Buddy-kun: Heading Reluctantly to School Again Today - Episode 75

No way… My excitement is so overwhelming that I might actually cry.

I can’t believe it. Even though I was just asking persistently without much hope, my brother actually got Hani-sama’s autograph…

This has to be real, right? My brother isn’t the type to lie about something like this.

Yeah. Just a while ago, I got a LINE message from him saying, “I’ll get the autograph today and bring it home.”

And now, here I am, waiting anxiously in my room, longing for my brother’s return.

Hehe, see? My brother can get things done if he really tries.

—Wait, that sound just now. The front door?

I hear the slow footsteps of someone coming up the stairs.

Yes! Finally!

Hani-sama’s autograph! Hani-sama’s autograph!

And then, a knock on my door.

“Come in~!”

Today, of all days, I will make sure to praise my brother for his hard work.

“Hello.”

Huh? A girl’s voice?

Wait, my brother… and—who the heck is that?!

“H-Hello.”

Uh… I’m pretty sure my brother is supposed to be a loner, right…?

So what is this? Am I hallucinating?

Because if my eyes aren’t deceiving me, there is an extremely cute girl standing next to my brother right now…

Just the fact that my brother brought someone home is shocking enough, but a girl?! And a super cute one at that?! Her skin is flawless too.

“This is Yamamoto-san, my classmate. She’s the one who got Hani’s autograph for you. Make sure to thank her properly.”

Yamamoto-san… Wow, she has an amazing figure too.

“Hehe, I’m Yamamoto Saya! You must be Ruruka-chan? You’re so cute!”

No, no, that’s my line! You’re way too cute! You’re practically glowing!

Wait… if she’s here with my brother, does that mean they’re friends? …No way. Absolutely not.

“T-Thank you very much!”

There’s no way they’re just friends… but what is this odd closeness between them?

“Hey, Mamiya-kun! Can I sit down while I take out the autograph?”
“Ah, yeah. Of course. Go ahead.”

And what was that?! That casual shoulder touch?! That natural upward gaze?!

Not to mention, every time she talks, she looks my brother right in the eye! And she’s smiling so much!

Hey, brother.

What happened to being a loner?! I always thought you looked so pitiful that I held back from asking you for favors out of sympathy, but—this?! This is basically a high school romance!

Wait… was that whole loner thing a scam?!

From a girl’s perspective, let me just say this: a girl doesn’t just waltz into a guy’s house unless she’s interested in him.

And this atmosphere between them… It’s definitely—

“Ruruka-chan! Here you go, Hani-sama’s autograph!”
“Ah! Thank you so much! Really!”

Whoa, it’s really Hani-sama’s autograph! I’m so happy! But—!

I can’t focus on that right now! I need to know more about this Yamamoto-san!

“B-Brother! What are you doing just standing there?! Get Yamamoto-san something to drink!”

I need to ask. I need to know.

“Oh no, it’s fine, really!”
“Yeah, she’s right. But, uh… do you like Calpis?”
“Oh, um, yeah! Thanks!”

And now, my brother quietly leaves the room, his footsteps descending the stairs.

“You’re really cute, Ruruka-chan!”
“No, no, you’re a hundred times cuter, Yamamoto-san!”
“Aww, hehe, that’s not true~!”

I want to ask. I want to ask so badly, but there’s no way.

I can’t just straight-up ask, “Are you my brother’s girlfriend?” That would be insane!

But still… this feeling…

That’s it.

“U-Um…”
“Hmm? What is it, Ruruka-chan?”

If my instincts are right, there should be something…

“I-I know my brother is kind of a loner at school, but do you, um, have any photos of him? You know, like from the school trip? As his sister, I worry about him a lot, so…”

There’s probably nothing, but just in case… Just in case.

“Aww, you’re such a sweet sister! But don’t worry. He has me now, and he’s been talking a lot with a guy named Tanaka-kun lately too.”

Tanaka-kun…? Another name I’ve never heard before.

“Ah, I do have some photos! Here, this one is from the school trip!”

Oh, let’s see—

Wait…

Oh.

OH.

What the heck—?!

Right in front of me is a two-shot of my brother and Yamamoto-san.

A really close two-shot.

Yamamoto-san is leaning against my brother!

And she looks so happy and flustered…

And their faces—so close!

B-Brother?! Seriously?!

“Oh, and here’s another one from that time—”

Wait. More?!

I scroll through photo after photo of just the two of them together at different locations.

Hold on. Didn’t he tell me after coming home from the school trip:

“Sigh… Ruruka. Your brother has survived the hellish nightmare that is the school trip. You would never be able to endure it.”

…ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!

LOOKING AT THESE PHOTOS, THIS IS HEAVEN, NOT HELL!!!

I even felt bad for him and did his chores that night, and this is what he was actually doing?!

Unbelievable. Unbelievable.

Here I am, still single because the guys I like never make a move, and meanwhile, my supposedly lonely brother is living out a romance novel?!

I demand compensation. Right now.

“Oh, and this picture—”

Beside me, Yamamoto-san continues showing me more photos with a delighted smile.

Wait.

Did she just introduce herself as Yamamoto Saya…?

Wait, hold on. If I look closely… or actually, I don’t even need to look closely—

I haven’t checked in a while, so I forgot, but—this person…

She’s Saya-chan?!

The Saya-chan I follow on Instagram and TikTok?!

Wait. No way. She’s real?!

No, no, this is insane!

And my brother…

My brother is involved with her?!

How?! How?!

Did he just casually bring home another legend along with Hani-sama’s autograph?!

“Oh, and look at this one, Ruruka-chan!”

Saya-chan—no, Yamamoto-san—shows me yet another photo.

“Hehe, this is Mamiya-kun sleeping on the plane!”

Even his sleeping face?! This is—this is—

“Oh, and the guy next to him is Tanaka-kun!”

Oh, the guy my brother has been hanging out with?

On the screen, I see my familiar-looking brother next to a boy with short, sporty hair, sleeping peacefully.

Wait.

No way.

“This is… Tanaka-kun?”

Who is this guy…?

“He’s super good-looking!”

“Huh…? Who are you talking about?”