Chapter 9 ~ Advice?

"Were you able to buy Souji-sensei's new book?"

"I was, and I read it three times yesterday... it's about a love triangle between two brothers and their friend, and it's full of twists and turns... but my BL talk doesn't matter! Ai, what're you gonna do about the confession?" Tomoka-chan quietly murmurs amid the hustle and bustle of our class before homeroom.

"Hmm. I'm thinking I'll turn them down," I tell her, copying her whisper.

"I thought you might."

I seriously thought she'd be surprised, so I'm a little disappointed by that response.

"Well, yesterday I was so happy someone else understood all your charm points that I got ahead of myself, but you didn't see it that way. I kinda regretted that, later. I was so hype that I ignored how you felt. So, I'm sorry."

"No, I'm glad you were so excited and cared so much, like it'd happened to you. So, it's okay. Really, I should be the one apologizing for getting you so worked up. I still don't even know if I should date them."

"Hey, hold on. What's most important is how you feel about it. Or, I mean, I'm sorry for making you uncomfortable like that," Tomoka-chan says with a dejected shrug.

Although she's hiding her usual cheerfulness, I think I like her deeply-held sincerity toward others.

"Then, with that apology, I'd like some advice."

"If that's it, then I'll give you as much advice as you want! The confession aside, what else is bothering you?"

"Um, if it's actually a confession, I'm gonna turn them down, but I'm really happy they like me. I don't want to hurt them at all, so how should I handle that?"

Tomoka-chan groans as she folds her arms over her chest. "If you don't want a misunderstanding, your only choice is to be honest, right? Just as the person being confessed to has to decide whether to accept it or not, the person confessing has to decide how to handle the response. That's why I think it's way better to be upfront than to lie to them, even if it's painful," she says humbly.

She looks me straight in the eye as she weaves her web of words. They sink into me, clearly reverberating in my heart.

"Got it. I'll tell them as honestly as I can."

"Good. You can do it!"

Tomoka-chan nods, smiling. Her words clear away the fog, but with that mental clarity, I'm faced with another problem. Lost and at my wit's end, I meekly ask Tomoka-chan, "Also, there's another thing I'd like to ask about..."

"What's wrong?"

"Er, something weird happened with Ren yesterday."

"Eh, Imouto-chan? What's up?"

Tomoka-chan bends toward me, her expression mixing curiosity and concern.

"Uhh. Her words, her attitude's always so distant, but she was weirdly clingy."

Obviously I can't mention Ren sitting in my lap -- that would be scandalous for all sorts of reasons -- so I'm a little vague with my response.

Tomoka-chan puts her hand on her chin and muses, "Did you tell her you were confessed to, maybe?"

"Not directly, but Mom did. Is that bad?" I tilt my head, confused.

Tomoka-chan puts her head in her hands. "Your sister's way too brave."

I'm about to ask her what she means by 'brave' when the bell rings and the teacher enters the classroom.

"Dang," Tomoka-chan mutters, waving at me before going back to her seat.

With a clearer understanding amid some indigestion, another day begins.