The bright sun is beaming down in my eyes. If only I had brought my glasses... I don’t know why I didn’t. The noisy cicadas are buzzing away. Just another summer day I guess. At least that would be it if...

“HmmHmmHmm!~”

She wasn’t attached to my arm.

“Ha...”

“Eh? Is something wrong?”

She’s pressing herself onto me.

“The problem should be obvious!”

“Are you sure...? I can’t see it...”

She looks around trying to find the problem. Her blue hair and red ribbon flowing through the wind. Karawase is her name although, I call her Karaka. She's my Ex. Her personality is lively... To say the least. At our school she’s pretty popular and has tons of friends and yet…

“Why are you here clinging onto me?”

“You’re the one who asked for this. I’m just granting your wish!”

She leans her head in onto my arm as we continue walking.

Earlier today I was reading manga happen to have my window open. And I got a bit too into it and happened to shout out.

“It must be so nice to have someone cling onto you!”

When I got ready to leave later that day, she was at my door.

“Your wish is my command!”

“Huh?”

Since then, she hasn’t let go. I have no idea how she even heard me. At least she’s not causing chaos. No matter what I do she doesn’t want to give up. She’s so persistent it’s almost admirable!

“What we doing today anyways?”

“We? I was just trying to take a walk and you’re sucking the life outta me!”

“Jeez, I’m not a leech.”

She puts on a pout. It may be cute, but I’m not going to fall for it. I would’ve spent my day reading my manga,but I was asked to help one of Sara’s friends, Yume, to watch over her mom’s Convenience Store. Of all the people she could’ve asked she only wanted Sara and I to go. I was reluctant at first, but then she gave me enough money for about 10 mangas! She also explained why she wanted us to do it.

“Out of everyone I know... You two are the most competent!”

I look over to my arm that’s being grabbed by the leach. Yea... That’s a good point.

“I was going to help someone out.”

“Oh? Are you trying to date someone else behind my back?!”

I violently shake my head. Her perception of our relationship is weird.

“No! We’re not dating! And not everything has to do with you!”

I’m not really interested in being rude, but she doesn’t listen at all.

“That’s what they all say...”

Who’s they?

“YU-YUTAAAAAAAAAAA!”

“Uh Oh.”

Down the street was a stunned Sara. She points her quivering finger at me and Karaka.

“Wh-What are you two doing?!”

Sara is my classmate. A while ago she began talking to me. Since then, we’ve been hanging out and she’s pretty nice if not a bit clumsy! Except when she... *Sniffle* Making me read less manga... I don’t know why she would do such a cruel thing?! She also happens to be Karaka’s sister. If it wasn’t obvious, that tends to cause a lot of trouble. Especially when Karaka decides to put the two of us in a weird situation like this. For some reason whenever I try and explain the situation...

“Well Kara-”

“He just couldn’t get enough of me! I tried to say no, but he just kept begging and begging so I gave in and did what he asked!”

Ah- There it is. Like I was saying every time I try and explain the situation, she always worsens the misunderstanding. So much for her not causing chaos.

“Yuta, you beast!”

“Can’t you clearly tell she’s trying to mess with you?!”

“Of course! Karawase why would you lie about saying no!”

*sigh*

♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥

Jeez I can never trust Yuta around other women! Yuta is the dense fool who I’ve fallen in love with. His mind is always centered always to manga. Whenever I try to get him to do other things it almost always ends poorly! By poorly... I mean our bodies get all close to each other and I can feel his arms holding onto me keeping me warm and safe... Heheheheh. Wa-WAIT! Now’s not the time for delusions! To think that Yume invited him along with us today! Surely, we aren’t the two most competent people... right?

I look at my sister and she seem a bit more competent. If she wasn’t clinging onto Yuta. After Yuta begged for her to cling on, she did it willingly! I stare into her eyes with anger. She stares back with a smug look.

“What’s the matter? Did you want to join in?”

I give a shocked look

“What?! I would never...”

Her smug look grows.

“Heh. So I get to keep him all to myself!”

My eyes become worried.

“Waiiiiiit! I never said you could do that!”

Her eyes become intrigued.

“Oh? So what are you going to do about that?”

My eyes become irritated.

“Hyerrrgggg...”

Yuta tries to wave his hand in front of our faces.

“Oiiiii Sara, Karaka are you ok? You’ve just been staring at each other making weird faces.”

I give her one last deep stare.

“I’m going to take you down.”

She gives one in return.

“I’d like to see you try.”

We both turn from each other

“Hmph!”

Yuta is more than oblivious to whatever just happened.

“Did I miss something?”

We say it together without hesitation.

“Nope!”

“Ok...”

Hang on... That didn’t fix the problem! She’s still attached to Yuta! I have to figure out a way to fix this... Come on... Ah! I know what I can do!

“Hey sis, look behind you! There’s a Sniff Card that had Yuta’s scent just laying there!”

“That can’t be true!”

She excitingly turns around. Yuta gives her an exceedingly confused look.

“That’s because it isn’t!”

This is my chance! I’ll charge in! No time to back down... HYAAAAAAAAAAAA!

ah- I tripped. right in front of Yuta.

“Uhhh... Sara are you ok?

“Yea.”

??????????????????????????????????????????????

I scratch my head in confusion of what just happened. Sara jolts back onto her feet. Karaka turns back around from her hunt for that weird scent card.

“Jeez, that was something out of a manga.”

“What did you just say!?”

“I just said it was-”

I rush over to cover her mouth. And with an almost instant reaction she bites me.

“Do you know what you have just done?!”

“No? Don’t just cover my mouth like that! I’m not prepared for such things...”

“We’re too late.”

DORORORORO~

Clouds come from nowhere and appear overhead. They darken almost making it look like night. Out of nowhere.

DOKAN!

Lighting strikes. And with that he appears. His hand covering his face only showing one eye.

“Hmph. Feeble minded woman! Manga is meant for the higher class of society!”

“Look who’s here, it’s... Uh...”

“Master? What seems to be the problem?”

“What’s your name again...?”

“Eh? Am I still that forgettable?!”

Sara seems to be elated seeing his entrance.

“Oh Sojiro hi!”

PADAN

Another lightning strike occurs.

“He...Hello there woman! I’m not frightened by you if you must know!”

He on the other hand... Barely can stand 5 meters in front of her.

Sara laughs at his fear.

“You’re so funny Sojiro!”

KABAN

Another... lightning strike.

“Ah that’s right! It’s milk boy!”

JIRAJIRA

...And another.

Milk Boy is this one guy who just randomly showed up one day. He keeps saying “Master I’ve been in your class since Elementary!” But I know that wasn’t true because I would’ve remembered him by now! Anyways... When he’s not making lightning go off, we usually talk about manga. He’s pretty fun in that regard, but for some reason he’s really weird. Always calling me master despite me and him never really even meeting. He acts like someone out of an anime and he never stops. Ever.

“Alright! Now that you have finally remembered who I am, what shall we do today!? Are we going to fight a dragon? Go to a sea palace and look for a princess? Fight Spider Monkeys for gold in The Congo Republic? So many possibilities!”

Oh yea and he has a tenancy to think that I’m some amazing hero who has magic powers.

ABABABABABAAAAAAAA

“That one didn’t even follow the formula! Who’s behind this?”

“Hello Yellow!”

Out from behind my shoulder pops a silver bright Ahoge. It waggles vigorously like an excited dog. The clouds part and the thunder stops.

“Oh, hey Eva! How did you even do that?”

Eva is one of my close friends and upperclassmen. She has too much energy to spare and is always trying to use us as her test subjects. When she’s not doing that, she always brings some type of chaos with her. We hang out a lot, but she hangs out even more with Aron. Who seems to have fun with her even if he holds up “Please help me” signs every time she does an experiment.

“Simple, I just made a weather machine that’s controlled to the sound of my voice! See? Watch this!”

She pulls out a small white box with a speaker on the top of it. She then gives out a monotone shout.

BIRIRIRIRIIII

And with that it began to snow in the middle of summer. Almost like magic she had once again done the seemingly impossible. I’m not sure how Eva continues to do such things, but here we are.

“Alright you can make it stop now.”

“Uhhhh... Ehehehe... I don’t really know how to make it stop!”

She smiles.

“Fine. Then how about I release those pictures of you and Aron?”

“Oh go right ahead.”

Right she has little to no shame for any of her actions! Well I have just the counter argument!

“Think how mad Aron would be he wouldn’t stop talking about it for months!”

That’s the spirit! Surely she’ll give up.

“Hiiiiii! That’s terrifying! F-Fine... I’ll figure out something.”

Pwah... Thank goodness! I thought that this was going to last forever!

“Actually, I already have an idea!”

Well, that was quick.

She grabs a bat out of her lab coat somehow?! She tosses the device up into the air. AS IT GETS CLOSER TO THE GROUND SHE GOES FOR THE SWING AND.....

IT’S GOOOOOOOOOOOOOD! The white box flies off into the stratosphere.

Eva swipes her hands off.

“There! The problem has not only been addressed, but it’s been taken care of!”

“Are you sure that will be fine?”

“I don’t see how it would be a problem in the future.”

We both laugh. Sara butts in.

“Yuta! Look at the time we need to be over there right now!”

“Oh you’re right!”

And with the leech somehow still clinging onto me we dash to the convenient store. Though I feel like I never finished talking to one person... I think I can still hear his voice in the distance...

“Hehe... Master your sense of humor is unique! Now please come back! Please...?”

Nah. I’m sure it’s nothing that important if I can’t remember.

We finally get there as Yume waiting outside for us with a light, but welcoming smile.

“Haii! Welcome to the shop! Here’s your clothes go into the back and put them on and once you come out we can get started!”

She holds out two sets of clothing for girls and one for me. It’s like she’s trying to rush into the shop?

“Who’s the third one for?”

“The woman who’s clinging to your arm!”

“Huh, She’s still there?!”

I try and shake her off once again, but to no avail. A cruel grin comes onto her face. She starts to slowly laugh.

“YuYu~ You can’t get rid of me that easily. Isn’t that obvious?”

Sara and I look at each other. We shudder.

“Any questions?”

Karaka’s hand spikes up.

“Am I allowed to show my love towards YuYu?”

Yume immediately answers with a cold, and blunt tone. All with a welcoming smile to accompany it.

“No you may not!”

“Alright, have a nice day YuYu and I’ll see you later!~”

Just like that, she gave up faster than she would let go. She fades into the distance. Sara and I sigh in relief. Yume with her still welcoming smile walks into the shop. We follow suite. After a moment’s notice we both finally get changed and walk over to the register.

♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥

Yume is really rushing us into this. She’s one of my closest friends. She’s usually quite mature and polite. Most of her time is spent reading. Although sometimes... It can manifest in other things. At least these clothes feel more comfortable than I thought it would! I walk up to the register. Yuta is looking up and down at me. Did I mess something up?

“Hm, Hm... Yes, Yes.”

Yuta is nodding in approval as he looks at me... His staring is making me uncomfortable.

“What?”

I can’t help, but fidget.

“Those clothes really suit you!”

He gives me a thumbs up.

“They do...?”

Really?! Does that mean if I started working here maybe I could get even more compliments? Or maybe even-

“Yea you remind me of this one manga where...”

“Ah. Thanks.”

Nevermind. I think I’ll be fine without a job for a bit longer.

He continues rambling as usual... Wait! He gave me a compliment! What if I started working here...? It doesn’t seem too hard and I do want some money anyways... Then would he compliment me even more? Hehehe... Compliments from Yuta...

“Someone is coming in!”

“Eh?”

Just then Aron walked in. He is one of Yuta’s closest friends. Compared to everyone else he hangs out with, even me... He’s very level headed. Usually has a book in hand, but I guess he left it at home. I don’t think I’ve ever seen Aron and Yuta together over the summer.

“Yoooo Aron!”

Aron covers his face.

“Heyyyy can you hear me? Uh oh. I think he might’ve went deaf.”

Yu looks disappointed. I can see why Aron is like that. Aron looks around the store for something. Besides him there’s no one else in the store. The store is practically silent.

What should I say...?! I didn’t think it would be this silent. Yuta is staring off into the distance... This would be the perfect time to do something, but....

My phone vibrates from inside my pocket. I pull it out.

♦Yume♦: Ask him out!!!

I immediately put my phone back in my pocket. Yuta looks over at me.

“What was that?”

“Hehehe... Nothing!”

He can’t see. He can’t see. He can’t see.

“Ok!”

He turns back and begins staring off into the distance once again... *Sigh* That could’ve gone very wrong... I dart my around the store.

Where is she?! Was this her plan the entire time...? She could’ve at least told me. Out of the corner of my eye she’s waving. She mouths to me.

“You can do this!”

I shake my head no.

She frowns. Staring at me.

...

Uuuuuuuuuuu! Fine!

She smiles once again. Curse you for knowing my weakness! ...How should I word it... Is there anywhere in particular that he wants to go? What day should we do it? What if my sister tries to intervene?! Maybe I sho-

My phone vibrates again.

♦Yume♦: What’s taking you so long?! Just do it already!!!!

Jeez! I don’t remember Yume being this aggressive... Alright Sara stop worrying, and just do it!

“Hey Yuta...”

I push my fingers together trying to hide my awkwardness I feel.

“Hm?”

He turns towards me once again and my heart spikes as he stares directly into my eyes.

“I was wondering if... Uhhh...”

My heart races faster and faster as I try and get out my words. “Wondering if I read any new manga recently? I have! It’s about...”

He pushes out his own words before I could push out my own.

“No! I was just thinking...”

“You were thinking if a new volume of Aho Girl came out? Sadly... I’m pretty sure that ended.”

“If we were to...”

“Oh! If we were to go the book store and see if it’s there? We can, but don’t get your hopes up!”

*Sigh*

“Nevermind...”

“Ok, but let me know if you want to go.”

He turns around like nothing occurred.

Was it always this difficult to talk with him?! Jeez. I can barely get the words out of my mouth!

Aron comes up to the counter. Yuta gets excited.

“Oh, yo Aron! Did your hearing finally come back?”

“It never left. I just wanted some help finding some candy.”

He seems just as excited as usual...

“We can help with that can’t we Sara?”

Huh?! I wasn’t prepared for such intense interaction...

“But we don’t know where anything is...”

Yuta puts his hand onto his arm with his other fist sticking up into the air.

“We can always try!”

With such an optimistic tone like that what am I to bring him down?

“Alright...”

We start searching throughout the store for the candy. A haunting whisper comes from behind one of the other Iles.

“Sara...”

A deep chill goes down my spine. I turn to where I heard the sound coming from.

“Huh? Who’s there?!”

“Sara...It’s me..!”

“God is that you? Can’t you save me from this situation?”

“Ha... It’s just me Yume.”

“Oh, can’t you save me?!”

“Nope!”

:(

“There’s no time for that. This is your chance come on... I believe in you!”

“Thanks god!”

“Still Yume...”

God is right! I can’t just leave it there I have to keep going! There’s no backing out of this! Come on Sara! You got this! I slap my cheeks.

Yuta is looking up and down the isles looking for candy.

“Y-Yuta!”

He jumps.

“Huh?! Did I do something?”

“Later this week... Do you want to...”

I begin to murmur the rest.

“Am I starting to go deaf?”

I murmur louder.

“Do... hang out... Later...”

He comes up closer towards me trying to hear my voice with seemingly no luck.

“Maybe I am!”

Jeez this idiot! I raise my voice trying to get up even closer than we already are.

“DO YOU WANT TO HANG OUT THIS- Wah!”

I crash into him. I close my eyes as we fall down.

“Ughhhhh...Sara are you ok?”

“Yea... I-”

I open my eyes, and there he was.

His hair is a bit of a mess, but it makes him look more to me. His eyes are string into mine trying to protect me from looking into the ground. His breath is pressing against my face with a minty wave. My hand is pressing against his arm. It has a rough feeling to it, but I like it that way. His top button is open letting me see inside into his chest still dripping a bit of sweat from walking here in the heat. I wanted to see more. I look over to see a pack of condoms.

“Sara, Helloooo? Don’t tell me you’ve gone deaf too!”

What am I thinking?! I get up off him.

“Nobody is deaf!”

“What about my candy...?”

Someone walks in.

“Hi, Hi! Do I have a game for you!”