Too Many Losing Heroines! - Volume 6 - Chapter 1.3

Intermission: My Eyes Can’t Be Deceived

JR Tokaido Main Line Special Rapid Train, heading toward Ogaki.
A petite girl is holding onto the train strap, her arms stretched to their full extent.

The girl’s name is Kaju Nukumizu.

Alone on the train, she can’t hide the excited gleam in her eyes. Her beloved onii-sama is on a date.

Although he had gone out with girls before, he had stubbornly refused to call these outings dates. But this time, the word "date" is clearly present in his smartphone's search history.

Additionally, searches for "Takeshima Aquarium", "first time", and "what clothes to wear" readily revealed the location and nature of the date. Weather forecasts and transit searches had also pinpointed the date.

For such an occasion, she had persuaded her father to buy "clothes that would suit her brother", ensuring the perfect date outfit was ready.

Kaju was still puzzled about the identity of her brother's date.

She had subtly probed Yanami, but it didn't seem likely to be her.

The remaining candidates were Komari or someone from the student council, though it could also be someone she didn't know.

After all, it was her onii-sama- his charm wouldn't go unnoticed by the women around him.

The train announcement started, signaling that they were approaching Gamagori Station in about ten minutes.

"...I need to see for myself first."

Kaju's face set in determination as she stepped onto the platform. Planning her next move, she descended the escalator.

Onii-sama must have reached the aquarium by now. Imagining his presence, she passed through the ticket gate and saw a petite girl in a flashy yellow parka and shorts carrying a bright green backpack.

"...Komari-san?”

"Una!? K-Kaju-chan? W-Why are you here?"

Komari, startled, crouched down. Kaju approached her directly.

"So you're indeed onii-sama’s date! You look super cute in that outfit! Do you like these kinds of clothes?"

"No, this is just...hand-me-downs from a relative..."

"This outfit will totally one-shot onii-sama!”

“O-One shot…?”

Kaju leaned in closer just as Komari blinked in confusion.

A familiar voice came from behind Kaju just as she was about to continue asking.

"...So, Nukumizu-kun is really on a date."

Turning around, Kaju saw Anna Yanami dramatically flicking her hair.

"Yanami-san!? Wait, isn't onii-sama supposed to be on a date just with one person?"

Kaju was met with Yanami's sly smile after hastily covering her mouth.

"Nukumizu-kun was acting strange on Friday. Remon-chan was hiding something as well, and then you asked about Sunday's plans and the aquarium."

"...Uh, what brings both of you here?"

Yanami walked up to Kaju.

"We're here for the same reason as you. We understand how you feel, Imouto-chan!"

"Eh!?”

Yanami cheerfully declared as she grasped Kaju’s hand firmly.

“You’re here to crash the date too, right!?”

…No.

Kaju immediately wanted to correct them, but the words got stuck in her throat.

Yanami gave her a reassuring smile as if to say she knew it all.

"It's unfair they didn't tell us about the date. We need to keep an eye on them,"

Yanami said with a wink.

"But you know, Imouto-chan, I understand how you feel, but crashing their date is a bit too much, don't you think?"

...Crashing the date.

Kaju hadn't even thought of such a thing, but she couldn’t deny it no matter what.

She just wanted to cherish the image of her brother a bit more-

Suppressing her confusion, Kaju tried to sound calm.

"Uh, why would you two want to monitor the date...?"

Yanami said as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.

"Because in the Literature Club, we have a rule against dating among members!"

“Una!?”

At the chaos-ridden entrance of Gamagori Station, another voice added to the tumult.

"Ara, aren’t you Nukumizu-kun's little sister? Did you invite her, Yanami-chan?"

The fourth person to join is Koto Tsukinoki, the former vice-president of the literature club.

She appeared, twirling car keys on her finger.

"We just ran into each other here. It seems like Imouto-chan also came to monitor Nukumizu-kun," 

"So the date is real then. That guy is quite something, huh?"

Kaju resignedly began to re-plan her day.

She took a deep breath and bowed slightly to Koto after rescheduling her plan mentally.

"It's been since the Tsuwabuki Festival. Tsukinoki-san, are you also here to interrupt- observe onii-sama’s date?"

"I don't really know what’s going on, but it sounded fun! So I tagged along!”

That's the kind of person she is, Kaju noted.

Yanami looked around.

"Imouto-chan, is Nukumizu-kun coming soon?"

"Onii-sama took an earlier train than me, so he should be at the aquarium by now."

Though plans had slightly changed, it wasn't a problem.

It would be foolish to tail someone with a large, noisy group, but this time was different.

If they could serve as a diversion, Kaju could get even closer to her brother.

With a smile, Kaju bowed to the three senpais.

"Then, please allow Kaju to join all of you. I’ll be in your care for today.”