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The final class bell has rung. In the classroom, the collective cheer of the students could be heard throughout the room. Many students eagerly rushed out the door. However, few students stayed behind to ensure that they did not forget any belongings before they left. One particular student walked slowly to the teacher’s desk as she slowly was putting away her learning props.
“Excuse me, Ms. Yamazaki.”
“Oh. Is there something I can help you with, Sato?” Ms. Yamazaki blinked at him.
Sato reached into his pocket and took out a letter to hand to his teacher, “It’s your first day returning from your husband’s funeral, yes? I’d like to extend my personal condolences to you.”
The teacher let out a small gasp and then gave a small smile at the young man. “That is very thoughtful of you, Sato. I’ll accept this.” She slowly took the card from him. “You were always so thoughtful of others.”
Sato gave a small bow. “You are too kind, Ms. Yamazaki. Thank you.”
After that exchange, he finally grabbed his own belongings and stepped out of the classroom. The hallway was mostly empty, with only a handful of students left. He looked left and right before proceeding towards the exit.
As he turned the corner down the hall, there was a girl about his same height that stood in his way.
“Yes?” He called out to her.
“You’re...Sato, right?” She asked with her voice shaking.
He paused before answering. This girl didn’t look like anyone who he was classmates with in the past. “It is but I’m afraid I have no recollection of who you are if we met before.”
The girl nodded in agreement. “It’s okay. I’m in the section opposite of yours. That’s why you don’t usually see me.”
“I see…” He scratched the back of his head. “But then, how were you able to find me?”
The girl bit her lip. “Your sister goes to the same section as me. She told me where you were and that’s how I was able to find you. Your sister also told me that problems like mine are...your specialty.”
Sato blinked a few times and felt alarm bells going off in the back of his mind, “I’m sorry, my specialty?” He looked around briefly. “We should probably discuss this in a different location, uh…”
“Emi,” she introduced herself while putting a hand on her chest. “But you’re right. Let’s go somewhere else.”
Sato and Emi walked in silence out of school and to the bench at the nearest street corner. The pair sit down with a couple of water bottles Sato bought from the vending machine.
“Here you go,” Sato handed Emi one of the bottles.
“Thank you!” She gently took the bottle that was offered from his hands.
“So, you said you had a problem only I could help with? What’s that?”
Emi swallowed deeply before telling her answer. “I’m w-wondering if...you could help me talk to this girl that I...like.”
Sato felt something click in his head. Suddenly, it made sense to him. “I see. So you have a girl you want to be close with...but shouldn’t you ask other girls about this instead? Surely they can help you better than I can since I’m a guy.”
Emi shook her head. “N-Not exactly. See, this girl is, like, super popular. Which is expected since she’s very pretty b-but.... She’s a hit among other girls and I don’t think other girls would help me since I’d be in competition with them.”
Sato felt a chill go down his spine while also feeling empathy for her. “I see... That would suddenly make your options for assistance rather slim.”
Emi’s eyes lit up at him, “Yeah. You get it, right? So when your sister told me how you helped her get together with her girlfriend, I was hoping you’d be able to help me, too!”
The schoolboy felt the urge to frown but forced a polite smile. He wondered what exactly his sister told her that would make Emi hopeful that she would come to him, “Okay, then… Uh... Have you spoken with her before?”
“N-No.”
Sato felt his head becoming heavy. He knew he’d have his work cut out for him. “Okay then, the first thing you should do is try to talk to her.”
Emi’s face began to flush deep red. “H-How do I do that?! She usually has this stone cold expression on her face and it’s so intimidating that other people wouldn’t talk to her! Even the teachers hesitate to call on her in class!”
Sato scratched his chin for a moment, “Maybe...ah. Maybe you could invite her out to lunch to get to know her better?”
The flustered schoolgirl began to snivel, “It sounds too hard…”
Sato smirked at her, “You didn’t have that much difficulty asking me for help.”
Emi growled at him, “That’s because you’re not someone that girls fawn over on a daily basis! Even the boys want her but every time she looks at a guy, her stone cold look becomes a killer stare!”
“I guess she doesn’t like guys all that much...if at all.” Sato thought to himself. “But she doesn’t have that stare towards girls, right? Actually, I have an idea. Why don’t you imitate that look you see on her face to me?”
“O-Okay…”
Emi narrowed her eyes and looked down at the ground with her face frowning.
Sato nodded, “I’m guessing she could be lonely…”
“Lonely?”
“Is this girl seen talking with anyone else?”
“N-No…”
Sato nodded once again, “Ah. I see. She’s probably lonely and wants a friend. Emi, you don’t mind if you could just be friends with her, do you?”
“N-No!” Emi started to fidget with her fingers. “I-In fact, just being her friend is going to be a huge accomplishment.”
Finally, a small smile emerges on Sato’s lips. “I see… Then being her friend should be your first step. Don’t just go up to her wanting to be her girlfriend right away. Get to know her and let her know about you. Chances are, she wants a friend, too.”
Emi looked towards the ground, “B-But we’re right back where we started again... I...I get so scared even thinking about talking to people. And whenever the teacher calls on me, I just become a stuttering mess and my classmates all think I’m weird. I don’t think I can do this alone…”
“Then I will help you.” Sato smiled.
“E-Eh?” Emi blinked.
“There was a time when talking to people was nerve-wracking for me, too. My sister helped me with this problem so...I’ll support you the same way she did for me back then.”
“Then…” Emi gulped. “Could I c-call you...my b-brother?”
Sato became jarringly shocked and his mouth dropped open. “I-I’m sorry, your brother?”
Emi nodded. “S-See, I’m an only child at home and my parents are mostly working so...I often fantasize about having an older sibling. You’re almost everything I ever imagined in an older brother. You’re kind, don’t mind girls like me who like girls, and you’re so patient… So, c-could I please call you my brother?”
The schoolboy almost wanted to sigh. Looking at her begging eyes, he couldn’t possibly decline her after all that. “I-I suppose it’s fine. A-Alright, Emi. You can call me your brother, then.” He then looked down at his watch. “Oh, it’s beginning to get close to the evening. You should probably go home and do your homework.”
Emi gasped. “Ah! You’re right! I’m sorry to have taken up so much time...um...my brother! But um, could I see you at any time I need to if I need advice?”
Sato gave her a sunny look. “Of course!”
Emi stood up from the bench and bowed to him. “I-I’m so thankful to you, Brother! Your sister was right. You would understand! Suddenly, I feel confident I can do this! I’ll meet you again when school ends tomorrow! Take care...Brother! Hehe~!”
Emi then started to skip down the street.
A few seconds later, Sato slumped over on the bench giving out a long sigh.
“My sister...what in the world did you even tell that girl? And now...I have another sister...great.”