Shadow Assistance

That school day had gone by in a flash.

Now here the black haired boy was, walking back home from school with an expressionless look.

Can't believe I skipped out on geography and cooking class on the first day.

But obviously talking to his friend is something he'd prefer all days of the week, so time went by fast.

His long shadow follows him from behind as he passes by through the neighborhood on the sidewalk, the sun beginning to set downwards.

A nice sunset.

Minutes later, he makes it home at his apartment, one that was on the third floor of a three story building.

Click.

He turns the keys to enter and closes the door behind himself before settling back home.

"Sister, I'm home." Mayeda calls out for her as he takes his shoes and jacket off.

Rapid footsteps would be heard.

"Mayeda!" She calls out with open arms with a smile.

"Yamamura!" He calls back with a smile with receptive wide arms.

He accepts her embrace and hugs her close, feeling her head against his chest.

Due to their parents passing Way when they were little from a car accident, his older sister, Yamamura Shin, would always take care of him.

Making their relationship far more closer and stronger than any other for the both of them.

Mayeda lets her go.

"How was work?" The tall boy asks as he looks down at his sister with a soft smile.

The black haired woman beams which makes him more curious.

Oh? Usually she wouldn't be that enthusiastic about the topic of work.

"You wouldn't believe it!" She responds with a smile that seemingly looks excited.

"Ah, what is it?" Mayeda asks in a gentle voice, glad to see his sister being happy right now.

"Guess." Yamamura said with a sly smile and her arms behind her back.

Sigh.

"Come on, you know I'm not too good at guessing these things."

He softly chuckles and walks past her down the front hallway to go to the living room.

A feel of small arms would wrap around his waist from behind.

"Come on! Don't be boring!" Yamamura encouraged with a plastered sly smile.

So it must be that important for her to keep being persistent upon this.

Mayeda glanced around and noticed her purse on the kitchen table from afar.

Lipstick.

Small mirror.

Pack of mint.

Eyeliner.

The typical things girls would bring.

But that's the odd factor for him.

He knew his sister would never wear such heavy makeup to work yet he noticed the small smudges on the lipstick and subtle fingerprints mirror glass that looked used just hours ago today.

Before she left, she had 12 mint in the small container before she left, usually she only takes in 2-3 but today she took double that amount.

So that could only mean one thing.

"Did you finally get a boyfriend?" Mayeda sarcastically guessed with a huff escaping his lips.

Shock!

"Wrong!" His sister exclaims and smacked him on the back of his head.

Mayeda turns around to look back down at her, Yamamura's arms were still around his waist.

"Then what else could it possible be?" He softly asked with a look that seemed neutral but eyes hinted with tenderness.

Of course, if I were to have told her the answer directly, it would've ruined the fun, so… I would guess wrong on purpose to see her smile a bit longer.

She playfully smiled with her arms still behind her back.

"Hehe, it's obvious. I obviously got a-"

Promotion.

"Promotion."

Mayeda smiled and hugs her first this time, a small proud smile would be on his face.

It was obvious… because she'd never wear such makeup during work, it would be due to a celebration of some sort that would mean a lot to her.

Meaning a small party with coworkers about a promotion.

"That's amazing… I knew my Onee-san should always be treated as amazing as she deserves." He softly spoke with his eyes closed.

Yamamura's eyes brightened up and her face utterly beams before hugging him back tightly again.

"I know, right? I'm quite amazing, aren't I?" She murmurs against his chest.

Mayeda nods.

"Yes… you very much are…" He whispered with some of his finger running through her hair.

She nuzzles a bit into his chest with that same smile.

Another quiet sigh would escape his lips.

Good job, sister. I love you so much.

He too, would reciprocate that smile.

His arms unwrap from hers and rolls his sleeves up, now heading towards the kitchen instead of the living room.

"Well, for a small celebration of our own, I'll cook your favorite food tonight." The black haired boy said with a relaxed expression.

Yamamura's face beams a bit more.

"That would sound lovely." She spoke.

Mayeda began to put on a black apron, tying the small knot behind his back.

A sudden thought popped into his sister's mind.

"By the way, you do know you called me Onee-San earlier, right?" She points out with small teasing comment.

…

A small flushed look would appear on his face.

Must've been a slip from his anime tainted, otaku mind at a moment of vulnerability.

"Please forget that." He sheepishly requests.

"Nope~"

Fuck.

*****

A deep breath would escape his mouth.

Laying there on his bed in his room, filled with a simple bed in the right corner and a desk on the left side.

A patio would be at the back of his room with a window next to it.

His widescreen tv would be in front of his bed hooked with a console attached to the wall.

Clearly he didn't live life that badly despite the lack of parental support.

That night, he had dinner with his sister and watched a horror movie with her after.

Of course, she would be scared by any minor inconveniences displayed on the screen. Clinging onto him.

Honestly, how can a grown women still act like this sometimes?

A thoughtful expression appears on his face as he looks out the window to his side, reflecting the moonlight.

Though I suppose because mom and dad aren't with us anymore, she immediately had to take care of me and herself like an adult…

He smiled a little.

Barely having time to experience a normal childhood for herself, she spent hers up to protect mine. To love me like a mother and sister would.

The love and respect he had for her was out of this world, wanting to make her proud and happy one day to repay all that she had done for him.

Mayeda sat up and cracks his fingers a bit, a small pop would come out, though not loud enough to fill the room.

His hair was still a bit refreshed as he wore his night clothes, a white t-shirt and black shorts, after showering before he went to bed.

Yamamura, herself, would be fast asleep as well at this time.

He glanced at the clock.

11:23PM.

Jeez, I should really go to bed right now.

However, a thought crossed the black haired boy's mind.

That's right… the plan about dealing with Usui and Yohsikawa's feelings.

He was now, utterly and sadly, wide awake in bed again.

Mayeda remains in bed, looking up at the ceiling in near full darkness in the room with only the moonlight from the window being the only source of light.

So obviously they're both noobs at love, unable to understand the feeling they have for one another…

Yoshikawa likes him because of how admirable and kind he was from afar, fitting her personality, it would make sense that she'd never approach him directly, let alone talk to him.

His kindness and ability to see those for who they are without assuming is definitely admirable… and he does look quite handsome too.

A soft hum to keep him company from the silence began.

Usui on the other hand, who had just seen Yoshikawa for the first time, fell for her based off of how she was. Despite how little their first interaction seems, he still had a good grasp of kind of girl she was.

Including her looks too, it's normal for any man to fall for a woman like that. It's surprising how she doesn't have a boyfriend, though I suppose it might've been by choice.

…

Though Yoshikawa kinda does fit the description of the type of woman Usui would be interested in. After all, his waifu was Asuna… a bit of a striking similarity in a way somehow.

His humming comes to a stop.

They're both clearly adamant on making the first move, let alone seeing each other first…

So all I need to do is simply get them onto a daily basis where seeing each other would be natural, second nature to them as if it were breathing.

…

Well if that's all that it takes, I know just the thing for tomorrow with this timing.

I wonder if this'll affect their grades and performances… though they're both relatively fine with grades, Yoshikawa were a nearly perfect GPA should be fine.

A small frown begins to take shape.

Besides, I have to worry about other classmates and bystanders… if they made it too obvious that they have a crush on each other, somebody would be bound to snitch, right?

But from what I know of them so far, Usui's closest friend is me luckily and his friends are just ones he talks to in class.

Yoshikawa on the other hand is a bigger problem… her status and known figure amongst the student body might take a bit more to gather from.

But she doesn't seem to be the best at socializing with people, considering her awkward and shy ability to talk.

She's just like me for real.

Mayeda crosses his arms.

Still, that doesn't change the amount of eyes on her. The amount of girls wanting to be her friends and boys wanting to be with her must be rough on her.

A miracle she never got it over her head or found any confidence yet, a truly wonderful girl indeed.

But goodness…

He pressed his hand against his forehead.

My head fucking hurts from all this thinking at night… it's making me have a headache, thinking so much while one is tired.

Grips the blanket a bit more over his mouth.

There's just so many factors and things to take in consideration, like the time spent, background checks, people to look into, romantic progress, etc, etc…

Though, a subtle smirk takes shape on him.

"This seems to be quite the best challenge to take on." He quietly murmured to himself.

Life has been a bit boring and slow recently… this could be something to kill time off with and I am technically doing a good thing for the both of them…

Wait… am I doing a good thing?

That simple question stuck to his mind, some pros and cons weighed in his head.

I mean… aren't I technically planning and controlling their 'love story' together? It shouldn't be my place to dive into…

He tilted his head.

But at the same time, I'm doing them a favor of getting them closer and setting up the best love story possible.

Head tilted to the left.

Still, it's not bad to get them together and have them settle it from there. Who am I to control how they should pursue each other in what ways as I see fit?

Head tilted to the right.

But… they're both new and don't know what to do… setting the both of them on the perfect path unknowingly and making it feel more natural to them from behind the scenes is still good too.

Head tilts left.

But discovering love together is what makes it so good!

Head tilts right.

Same as making them not know about it! It's beneficial for them and I! Two birds with one stone!

Left.

This shouldn't concern nor benefit me in either way, so why should I worry about this?

Right.

I'm his best friend! And Yoshikawa trusts and relies on me! Sure it may seem a betrayal on trust in a way, but I'm doing it for their sake!

Left.

But if they somehow found out, I'd be shunned away and lose both of them for sure, right? Besides so many factors and cons that could happen too…

A final right.

Still, it's a challenge worth doing, right? Helping their love for each other grow, that's the only thing that matters to me, right? Just helping them!

Right…?

Mayeda finally stops tilting his head like a madman itching the back of his head.

He slowly turns his phone on and hover it over his face.

The bright light shines on his face.

"AH! Fuck!" He was blinded by the bright light and quickly turns it all the way down before.

Damn it, I forgot I had forgotten to turn the brightness down earlier before bed.

Great, now my eyes feel a little irritated.

The black haired sighed and brushed it off to scroll down to YouTube, wanting to watch some videos to make him sleepy enough.

He had been up for too long already, school was tomorrow after all.

Alright then…

Let's make the first step be set in motion for tomorrow.