Chapter 7 – Those Look Heavy
After that horrible, life-ruining message I sent to Airi, my sanity was teetering on the edge.
I mean seriously.
What kind of normal high school boy texts a ten-year-old elementary school girl, telling her that her chubby cheeks are cute and pinchable?
Me, apparently.
God… what is my life?
I chose the path of ultimate cowardice and ignored my phone entirely, shoving it deep into my pocket like a cursed object I never wanted to see again.
Out of sight, out of mind, right?
That was the plan... until I noticed someone struggling at the stairwell.
Huh?
I squinted.
...Hayano Mizuki.
Small.
Short.
Like those tiny mascots they give out at festivals.
And what the hell was the school thinking, letting someone that short carry two giant boxes down the stairs?
I slowed down and watched as she wobbled side to side like an unstable Jenga tower.
"Huak!"
Yep. Called it.
She slipped. Right foot missed the step. Her body tilted forward.
Like slow-motion in a bad action movie, I could see the doom in her eyes.
Yeah, no way she's saving herself.
I sighed. Loudly.
Guess I better help. Or she's gonna faceplant hard.
I calmly walked up to her as she desperately tried to steady herself, the boxes almost twice her size.
"Yo," I greeted her like this was the most normal scene in the world.
She blinked, surprised, but quickly recovered with a grin. "Isn't it the Unknown Prince?"
Ugh. That nickname again.
"I'm not some 'Unknown Prince,'" I groaned. "Do you need help or not?"
She pouted and held out one box to me without shame. "Unknown Princes should naturally help weak girls like me, you know."
What the hell kind of fantasy story did this girl think she was living in?
I took the box from her and muttered, "I'm only helping because you look like you'd snap in half under the weight. Seriously, where's the rest of the student council? Why are you always the one doing everything?"
Hayano let out a theatrical sigh. "Because the student council has only five members now. No one wants to join anymore. Everyone's too lazy. It's basically down to four members plus me."
I clicked my tongue. "That's rough. Looks like you drew the short straw."
She gave a tired laugh. "Yeah... Tell me about it."
With the boxes in hand, we made our way toward the student council office.
Silence... but a peaceful one, compared to the hell that was my phone.
When we finally got there, Hayano kicked open the door gently with her foot and sighed as we entered the empty room. She pointed at the corner.
"Over there. Stack 'em," she said lazily.
I did as told and placed the boxes down.
Hayano immediately threw herself onto the couch like she was about to die of exhaustion.
"Haaaah... so much for my youth..." she muttered dramatically, stretching out like a cat. "I'm too cute to die from labor, you know..."
I leaned against the wall and pulled out my phone, expecting doom.
And of course.
102 new messages.
Airi.
Who else?
I stared at the number, dead inside.
This loli... She's definitely in her obsessive love-crazed mode now.
I swiped the chat open and scrolled through.
> "Isagi-kun, why didn't you reply??"
"Did I make you angry? (´;ω;`)"
"Ne ne ne, do you like twin tails or straight hair??"
"Hey, future husband, answer me please~~"
"Wanna see my new pajamas?? They have bunny prints! So cute right??"
"What should I call you tomorrow? Darling? Or Prince Isagi??"
...
God.
This child... is unstoppable.
I covered my face with my hand.
What kind of first-year high school life is this supposed to be?
I was about to scroll more, resigned to my pitiful fate—
"Haru-kun," a voice called.
I flinched.
I looked up.
Hayano was sitting on the couch, sipping tea she somehow prepared in five seconds. She smiled at me like an evil queen.
"What?" I asked, wary.
"You're helping me get two more boxes from the storage room downstairs. Let's go, my dear helper."
I sighed heavily. "You're seriously gonna make me run more errands for you? Shouldn't the other council members do this?"
She wagged her finger. "Nope. They're 'busy'. Plus, you volunteered to help me, remember? Unknown Prince saves the day and all that?"
I groaned. "I didn't volunteer. I pitied you."
"Same thing~"
Ugh. I hated how she twisted words like this.
Reluctantly, I set my cursed phone down on the student council table—goodbye, Airi spam for now—and trudged after Hayano as she cheerfully skipped toward the door.
"You should be honored, Haru-kun," she said over her shoulder. "Helping the cutest member of the student council is a rare privilege."
"...Why is everyone in my life like this...?" I muttered to myself as I followed.
I sighed deeply.
First a ten-year-old loli-fiancée spamming me love messages.
Now this little devil Hayano bossing me around.
God... why does this feel like the start of a bad romantic comedy I never signed up for?