Chapter 54: Misunderstand.
Matsuda Jinpei had only met Morofushi Hiromitsu's younger brother once, a year ago when they were at the police academy. In fact, if Morofushi Hiromitsu hadn't called out his name just now, Matsuda Jinpei wouldn't have remembered what his brother's name was.
However, during that first meeting, Matsuda Jinpei could roughly tell that his younger brother was a rather difficult person to deal with. As a result, because the two were not familiar with each other, and his younger brother did not seem like someone who would lie, no one believed what he was saying.
However, they also understood Matsuda Jinpei's personality, and now, rather than believing Morofushi Sora'aki's words, they simply wanted to see him make a fool of himself.
Doesn't Matsuda Jinpei understand this? No, he understands it perfectly well, and that's precisely why he's so furious now.
"Hey! Explain yourself clearly! What do you mean by 'ears' and 'tails'? Who would have such things?!"
Morofushi Sora'aki put the last bite of the rice ball into his mouth, and then slowly bit off the rice grains stuck to his fingertips. His movements were deliberate and slow, which contrasted sharply with Matsuda Jinpei's reaction.
"Sorry, I mistook you for a cat." Morofushi Sora'aki stood up, nodded politely in the direction of Morofushi Hiromitsu, and then left the convenience store with his books in his arms.
Matsuda Jinpei realized in an instant: "It's understandable to mistake someone for someone else, but what do you mean by mistaken cat?!"
Hagiwara Kenji, who had been holding back his laughter, finally burst out laughing after Morofushi Sora'aki left the room, clutching his stomach: "You know what, Jinpei-chan really is like a cat! Especially that bristling reaction, haha—Aww! Matsuda!!"
"Serves you right." Matsuda Jinpei looked down at the group of people who seemed to enjoy the spectacle, arms crossed, with a threatening tone that seemed to say, "Try laughing at me."
Furuya Rei gestured to the cat note left by Morofushi Sora'aki on the table, saying, "Sora'aki rarely gives things to others on his own initiative."
Matsuda Jinpei: "Do you want this or not?"
After saying that, Matsuda Jinpei glanced at Furuya Rei's expression and exclaimed in surprise, "Wait? You really want this thing?!"
Furuya Rei was taken aback, and instinctively retorted, "I didn't! It's just that Sora'aki really—"
At that moment, Morofushi Hiromitsu interrupted Furuya Rei's rebuttal, covering his mouth with his finger to hide the smile playing on his lips, but saying in a feignedly wary tone, "Zero, I didn't expect you to be so close to Sora'aki..."
"Furuya, you..." Several of his classmates had serious and subtle expressions, but the emotions in their eyes clearly showed that they were all looking forward to a good show.
"I already said I didn't mean that—!" Furuya Rei explained weakly.
Before his childhood friend could get angry or annoyed, Morofushi Hiromitsu smiled and smoothed things over: "But Sora'aki rarely gives Zero gifts."
"Ah! Furuya-chan's background has turned gray!" Hagiwara Kenji chimed in, never one to shy away from stirring things up.
"Are you a child? Why are you still concerned about this kind of thing?" Matsuda Jinpei retorted.
Date patted Furuya Rei on the shoulder: "If you want, I'll buy you cat treats next time!"
"That's not the point right now!" the others said in unison.
"Don't worry about it too much, Zero." Compared to others, Morofushi Hiromitsu was better able to reassure Furuya Rei. He said, "It's not that Sora'aki doesn't give you gifts, it's just that he doesn't pay special attention to my friends. Whether it's you or Akemi, Sora'aki won't pay much attention to them."
"For example, a while ago he gave his friend a miniature robot that he made himself. It took him a week to assemble it," Morofushi Hiromitsu said with a smile. "At first I thought it was a gift for me."
"Hmm! This time, the background for Morofushi-chan has become... well, it's a lily! Definitely a black lily!"
"You've been speaking in a language I can't understand since just now." Matsuda Jinpei glanced at Hagiwara Kenji.
Hagiwara Kenji chuckled and said, "But it's really surprising. I thought that kid disliked Jinpei-chan, but it turns out he likes him."
"Huh? That's called liking?" Matsuda Jinpei was even more confused: "And why would he hate me?"
"...Hmm, Matsuda has absolutely no self-awareness."
"After all, it's Matsuda..."
"What do you guys mean by this, you bastards!" The topic had somehow veered back to Matsuda Jinpei.
Thus, in Matsuda Jinpei's mind, Morofushi Sora'aki became a strange little brat, a strangely troublesome little brat.
Then, on a day off, he happened to catch a glimpse of this troublesome fellow in an alley.
Police officers' days off are not very stable and are allocated according to their shift schedules. So on this day, Morofushi Sora'aki was still wearing his school uniform.
Matsuda Jinpei wasn't the type to initiate greetings, especially since they weren't familiar with each other yet—wait a minute?
The police officer's keen senses quickly alerted Matsuda Jinpei to the fact that something was amiss.
A guy who looks about the same height as Hagi... is he really a high school student?! He's even taller than him! Matsuda Jinpei looked at the black-haired boy in the same school uniform as Morofushi Sora'aki, who was walking up to him with a fierce expression and injuries, and couldn't help but want to take a step forward. No matter what, Morofushi Sora'aki was his friend's younger brother, and he couldn't just ignore him being bullied.
A 190cm tall, menacing-looking, bruised high school student who looks like a delinquent, and his troublesome but seemingly incapable younger brother from the same class, all set against a dark alley. It all looks like a bullying scene.
Before the order to stop could be given, Matsuda Jinpei stopped in his tracks, looking bewildered.
Because he discovered that the reality was not as he had thought.
Because of the angle, Matsuda Jinpei hadn't noticed that right next to that tall high school student was a high school girl who looked to be less than 150cm tall... So, is this girl really a high school student and not an elementary or middle school student? You two should at least compare your heights!
Since there was still a girl present, it probably wasn't bullying, right? With this thought in mind, Matsuda Jinpei breathed a sigh of relief.
Then he watched as the high school girl with two large, childlike bows in her hair suddenly revealed a truly delinquent expression!
Sakura Chiyo reached out with a fierce expression and slammed her hand against the wall with a loud bang. Her face froze; she'd hurt herself from the impact. With a stiff expression, she subtly shifted her posture, crossing her arms, raising her chin, and glaring menacingly: "How many times have I told you! Stay away from Suzuki-kun, Mamiko!"
Matsuda Jinpei: ...So it really is school bullying! And it's related to romance?
Nozaki Umetarou stepped forward and said in a steady voice, "Yeah, pyon, you've had Suzuki-kun all to yourself for so long, pyon, haven't you listened to our warnings, pyon?"
Matsuda Jinpei: Hmm? This pyon guy's verbal tic is weird...?
Then, everyone's attention turned to Morofushi Sora'aki, including Matsuda Jinpei.
Morofushi Sora'aki opened his mouth slightly, then clearly held that position for two seconds, as if he was thinking about something, before finally speaking: "What a naughty little wildcat."
His overly cold tone and strange remarks caused the atmosphere to instantly turn cold.
Matsuda Jinpei: ...So, Morofushi isn't being bullied, but rather he's bullying others?! And who taught him to say such things?!
Only Nozaki Umetarou seemed oblivious to the subtle atmosphere, nodding in agreement and continuing, "Yeah, Mamiko, do you really think that Suzuki-kun liking you and you liking Suzuki-kun means mutual affection, pyon?"
Others: Isn't this just mutual affection?! And your verbal tic is really weird!
Before Mamiko, who was surrounded by them, could speak, Matsuda Jinpei finally couldn't stand it anymore: "Hey, you guys, what are you doing here?"
However, after Matsuda Jinpei walked into the scene with a frown and interrupted the story, he fell silent again.
During the conversation just now, he subconsciously assumed that the person surrounded by several people was a high school girl of similar age, but—can someone explain to him—why is the person standing in front of him a red-haired high school boy who is almost 180cm tall and looks even more delinquent than Morofushi Sora'aki!!
Matsuda Jinpei stared at Mikoshiba Mikoto and asked in confusion: "Mamiko? Male?"
Mikoshiba Mikoto: "..."
Mikoshiba Mikoto instantly covered his eyes with his arm, cried out, and ran away: "I shouldn't have agreed to rehearse this scene! Sakura is the girl, isn't she!"
Sakura Chiyo instinctively reached out and chased after him: "Mikorin... Mikoshiba-kun! Because my feminine charm isn't as strong as yours—let us explain, Mikorin, Mikoshiba-kun!"
"Mami-... Mikoshiba! Wait!" Nozaki Umetarou also chased after them.
Upon hearing the words "rehearsal" and "plot," Matsuda Jinpei knew he had misunderstood.
Morofushi Sora'aki stood there, tilted his head and thought for a moment, then suddenly realized: "Matsuda made a high school student cry."
Matsuda Jinpei: "...Hey!"
Morofushi Sora'aki looked at Matsuda Jinpei for a while, then ran off in the direction the others had left without hesitation, leaving Matsuda Jinpei in a dilemma, unsure whether to stay or leave.
Matsuda Jinpei was silent for two seconds, then lowered his head and sent a heartfelt text message to Morofushi Hiromitsu.
Your brother is such a hassle, Morofushi.
Upon receiving the text message, Morofushi Hiromitsu had three question marks appear above his head: "...Huh?"