I paid off the debt for the most beautiful sisters in the school, and then they barged into my house where I live alone. “Please go back home; you don’t need to repay the favor.” “No way.” “We don’t want to~☆”

“Crap, I’m lost.”

I was only looking for a restroom and now this. Could it be that I have no sense of direction? Maybe I never noticed because I’m mostly a shut-in.

This place is vast and looks the same everywhere. That’s what’s confusing, I believe. Well, I can’t blame others for my problems. Isn’t there an information board somewhere?

“—Huh?”

I couldn’t find an information board, but I did spot a familiar face. She really does stand out from afar.

“Hey.”

“Huh? What? Why are you alone, big bro?”

I briefly explain to the surprisingly shocked Erika. In fact, there’s not much to explain.

“You got lost? A high schooler getting lost?”

“Shut up, I already know, okay?”

Erika clutches her head and screams, making me feel embarrassed. From now on, I should be aware that I have a poor sense of direction.

“Oh, this changes everything…”

Erika seems disappointed? as she mumbles.

“Changes what?”

Erika glares at me through her long hair, full of resentment.

“I wanted you to go on a date with my sister!”

“What?”

“I wanted you to date my sister!”

I heard you the first time, and it still doesn’t make sense.

“What are you talking about?”

“I told you before, didn’t I? I plan to support my sister. That’s what this is about.”

True, she did mention that.

“But a date, really? You’re still in middle school.”

“What? I am in middle school!”

Ah, right. She looks mature for her age, so I sometimes forget.

“Let’s go find Karen. She’ll be looking for me once she leaves the shop.”

“I had a serious plan, you know!”

I doubt a date between Karen and me could ever be serious.

“Come on. You like Karen, don’t you? She’s kind, serious, and wonderful… unlike a defective product like me.”

“—What?”

“So if you’re going to date someone, it should be someone like Karen.”

“Hold on. What do you mean by ‘defective product’?”

Erika freezes, her expression unusually blank.

“… Never mind that. Focus on my sister for now.”

This is rare. Erika is openly showing her displeasure, something I’ve never seen before.

“You know what? I’m your landlord and employer. And technically, I’m older than you. People who call themselves ‘defective’ usually have issues. I can’t just ignore that.”

Erika glares at me, but after a few tense seconds…

“Ah, I give up. You’re so nosy, you know?”

Erika crouches down, fiddling with her hair and sulking.

“Quit making a scene in public!”

“Why are you so concerned about us? You keep your distance, you avoid eye contact. Are you trying to be cute?”

“Stop it, you’re drawing attention!”

People are starting to stare. Erika is a strikingly beautiful middle schooler making a scene. I grab her arm and start walking.

“Fine, let’s go.”

Erika follows me without resistance. When in doubt, sweets are the answer for calming a sulking middle school girl. I take her to a brightly colored stall and have her order a crepe.

“You see, this is exactly what I mean…”

Still clinging to my arm, Erika continues to mumble but eventually settles on “Chocolate Strawberry Cream” for her crepe. The lady at the stall looks at us with a mix of warmth and pity, but I choose to ignore it.