197 Friends Younger Sister (2/2)

”How's your job as the health teacher and infirmary nurse?”

Kaede tilted her head slightly. ”I think it’s alright.”

”Alright, I see... What I meant was this: do you feel frustrated from your job? Or bored or anything like that?”

”Hmm... a little. There’s some really annoying idiotic boys... and when I have nothing to do and sit here by myself, it can also get a little boring.”

The blonde-haired teacher/nurse fixed her gaze on the boy.

”Harano-kun, are you trying to show concern for me?”

”Yes, you’re Hisashi’s younger sister, after all,” Seiji replied calmly. ”It’s only natural to be concerned for my friend’s younger sister.”

He intentionally placed more emphasis on the words ”friend’s younger sister.”

Kaede revealed a dazed expression before she chuckled.

”Ha ha... yeah, you’re Elder Brother Hisashi’s friend,” she muttered with a chuckle. ”Even though you’re obviously several years younger than me, you’re talking like someone from Hisashi’s generation! It’s so funny~”

‘I definitely won’t ever tell you that my true mental age is actually much older than yours,’ Seiji quietly thought to himself.

”Thanks for your concern—this job is actually one I’m quite fond of, as I’ve done it for some time now.”

Kaede took a sip of her tea and considered her next words before speaking again.

”At first, there were many idiotic boys creating a lot of trouble for me, but they soon decreased in number. There’s not actually that much to do, and while it may be boring sometimes, whenever I’m busy I can realize the importance of my job and feel that what I’m doing is quite meaningful.”

”A health teacher... while her presence is easily forgotten at school, this is still an absolutely necessary character to have.”

”I remember that I said on my first day at work that I was delighted to have this job. I still feel the same way, and I believe I will continue to feel this in the future as well.”

She smiled sincerely as she spoke those words.

It was rather difficult to imagine that the health teacher who could smile so gently was actually a mafia princess.

”It’s great that you enjoy it then.” Seiji was somewhat dazzled by her smile.

”What would happen if I didn’t enjoy it, then?” Kaede changed the subject. ”Harano-kun, would you feel bad about it inside?”

”Eh?”

”Would you feel responsible because I came all the way here for you and was only tolerating this job for your sake?” Kaede asked softly, taking a step closer to him.

”Er... I wouldn’t,” Seiji answered as he watched her close the distance between them.

Kaede looked straight into his eyes, her face mere centimeters from Seiji's.

”I think you’re lying,” she stated in a gentle voice. ”You’d actually feel bad inside... and feel responsible, right? After all, I’m your ‘friend’s younger sister.’”

Seiji was rendered speechless by this.

He was being checkmated by his own move!?

”No, that’s not right—even if you are my ‘friend’s younger sister,’ I don’t need to be concerned for you to such a degree!”

Yep, that was it.

She was the one who chose this job of her own volition, so why was he supposed to be responsible for it?

”Oh, you’re so cold.” A strange look surfaced in Kaede’s eyes.

”Er... that’s right—I’m an ice-cold man.”

Seiji felt rather panicked when he saw that mysterious expression appear in Kaede’s eyes and hurriedly averted his gaze. ”I’m only slightly concerned for you due to my friendship with your older brother; I definitely wouldn’t feel responsible for you or anything like that!”

”Is that so?” Kaede murmured in a downcast voice. ”How regrettable...”

‘Eh, did I go overboard?’

Seiji was worried that he hurt her feelings and turned around to look at her again.

That’s when Kaede took yet another step closer and hugged him!

”Eh?”

Seiji made a stupefied exclamation.

He saw that Kaede’s face was flushed crimson. Her lips curled upwards alluringly when she noticed his gaze, and her watery eyes seemed to be flashing.

”You don’t feel responsibility... how terrible of you.” Kaede clicked her tongue softly. ”But,” she whispered, ”there are advantages to this as well.”

What... advantages?

”You don’t need to feel responsible, so I only hope for you to console your ‘friend’s younger sister’ that feels so lonely... alright?”