"Why would you think that?"
Yamada Ryō also voiced her doubt about Ijichi Nijika's assumption.
Why do you think I would think that?
Nijika did not respond, merely giving her a look to let her figure it out herself.
"I see how it is!"
Ryō clearly understood.
"Rest assured, this guy is just as trustworthy as I am!"
"It's precisely because he's the same as you that I can't feel reassured at all!"
Even Mama Nijika was starting to lose her composure.
One Ryō was already more than enough for her to handle. If there were another…
There are actually two Ryōs. How could she be having such a terrifying dream?
"Nijika…"
Kamijou Mutsuki seemed about to say something, but he was interrupted the moment he opened his mouth.
"You're not allowed to call me Mama!"
Nijika put her hands on her hips, looking exactly like a real mother, full of imposing presence.
"Mama? What mama?"
At that moment, a mature woman who resembled Nijika by seventy to eighty percent walked in.
Though called a "onee-san," the feeling she gave off was somewhere between a mature woman and a young girl.
"Big Sis!"
Nijika's form of address revealed her identity.
"Ryō, you're here. And this kid is…?"
Nijika's older sister—Ijichi Seika—first greeted Ryō, then focused her gaze on Kamijou Mutsuki.
A boy?
Her siscon instincts immediately made Seika wary.
"This is Kamijou-kun. He's Ryō's friend."
Although she had been annoyed by the two of them earlier, Nijika still gently introduced Kamijou Mutsuki to her sister.
"I picked him up off the street today."
Scummy Ryō instantly distanced herself at light speed. Naturally, that remark earned her a subtle look from her friend.
Wait, that's something you can just pick up?
"He's a very interesting young man~"
PA-san, who had witnessed everything, propped her chin on her arm and said with a smile.
"And he's Nijika's suitor. The super bold kind…"
In PA-san's view, Kamijou Mutsuki's earlier behavior was completely just a young boy expressing affection for the girl he liked.
After all, surely no one would actually treat a girl their own age as their mother, right?
"Hah? Nijika's suitor?"
Upon hearing this, Seika's expression immediately turned dangerous.
Kamijou Mutsuki could understand her. After all, if he had a cute little sister like Ijichi Nijika, he would probably react even more dramatically than she was.
"That's not the case. I just—"
"You're not allowed to say it!"
Just as Kamijou Mutsuki was about to "clear his name," Nijika—already guessing what he intended to say—stopped him with flushed cheeks.
However, Nijika's shy appearance caused Ijichi Seika to misunderstand slightly, her heart giving a small jolt.
That reaction…
Don't tell me Nijika actually has feelings for this brat?
"Actually, PA-san is also my type~"
Since things were not working on Nijika's side, Kamijou Mutsuki naturally redirected his attention to PA-san, who had started the topic.
"Young man, you're not even sparing an older woman like me?"
A mature woman like PA-san was naturally not as easily flustered as an inexperienced young girl.
"But women my age can't take jokes like that. If you're not careful, you might get eaten up~"
"There's such a good thing?"
Kamijou Mutsuki leaned back tactically. As expected of an adult—truly on another level.
"What? Do you want to give it a try?"
PA-san revealed a half-smiling expression.
"Stop, stop, stop, stop!"
Seeing the atmosphere about to head in an unspeakable direction, Nijika, her face completely red, stepped in between them and halted their exchange.
"What are you two saying in front of so many people?"
"Alright, that's enough messing around."
Nijika adjusted her emotions, the blush fading from her face, and declared an end to the joking.
"It's time to get to work. We'll have guests arriving later!"
"Hey, you over there,"
Seika, seemingly having accepted PA-san's earlier statement, naturally began assigning him tasks.
"The storeroom is yours. Go move the stuff inside."
"Isn't Big Sis being a bit too quick to order people around?"
Nijika frowned slightly. In her eyes, Kamijou Mutsuki was still a guest.
"Sorry, Seika-san, I'm afraid I can't."
Kamijou Mutsuki also refused Seika's task.
Who are you calling Seika-san?
Seika could not help but frown.
With that kind of attitude, you still want to chase my Nijika?
"As for the reason…"
At that moment, Kamijou Mutsuki explained his refusal.
"I was in a car accident before,"
He directly performed a French military salute to indicate his current physical condition.
It was not anything shameful, so there was nothing he could not say.
"So subjectively I'd like to help, but objectively I'm probably not capable."
After hearing Kamijou Mutsuki's explanation, STARRY fell into silence.
A trace of guilt appeared in Ijichi Seika's eyes as she looked at Kamijou Mutsuki.
"Sorry,"
Ijichi Nijika spoke up to apologize.
"Big Sis didn't know about Kamijou-kun's condition…"
"So it was you who hit me?"
However, in response to Nijika's apology, Kamijou Mutsuki revealed a surprised expression.
"?"
"H-How could it possibly have anything to do with me?"
Nijika had clearly not expected that reaction from him and began to stammer.
"Then what are you apologizing for?"
"…"
"Don't joke about something like that!"
Nijika looked rather helpless.
But after Kamijou Mutsuki's interruption, the atmosphere was no longer so heavy.
Although he could not carry heavy objects, Kamijou Mutsuki still expressed that he could help.
After all, everyone else was busy. He could not just stand around watching—that would really make him a guest.
However, given that even pouring a cup of coffee made his hands shake like he had Parkinson's, in the end he could only act as a signboard—greeting customers and handing out flyers.
It had to be said, the effect was indeed quite good.
After all, most of the customers who came to STARRY were young women, and naturally they could not resist a handsome young man like Kamijou Mutsuki.
With him standing there for a day, STARRY's business actually improved quite a bit.
"You brat, this is your pay for today."
Even when a friend worked, wages had to be paid. In this regard, Seika was unexpectedly strict about keeping public and private matters separate.
"Good work today, Kamijou-kun. Here's some juice."
After working together for a whole day, Kamijou Mutsuki and Nijika's relationship had improved quite a bit—at the very least, they could be considered acquaintances.
And after building up goodwill for an entire day, Kamijou Mutsuki finally stated his purpose.
"No, you can't, Kamijou-kun! Don't say those strange things again!"
However, Nijika seemed to have misunderstood something and hurriedly said this.
Then, after Kamijou Mutsuki explained his true intention, Nijika—realizing her misunderstanding—instantly blushed bright red in embarrassment.
"Houbunsha Co., Ltd.?"
Yamada Ryō curiously took the business card.
"So that means you want us to be voice actors for you?"
PS: It always feels like very few people who write Bocchi the Rock! pair up PA-san, even though she totally matches the author's taste.
......................