Chapter 11

I only started modeling ‘cause Mama and Papa wanted me to.

I’m the cutest and prettiest person ever, so I should be a model and make everyone tell me how cute I am. I should be loved by everyone, they said.

But I hate all the people working at the modeling places ‘cause they keep getting mad at me. Mama and Papa don’t do that.

Yuu-kun’s the only one who’s always nice, and he’s always cute too.

I was doing a bunch of jobs, I started seeing him around a lot… And then I got curious why he was always by himself.

I talked to him, and he answered back. He didn’t say much, but whenever I said something he always did his best to respond—

I started modeling first so I’m the senpai here, so I taught him all kinds of things he didn’t know.

And that made him happy. Yuu-kun is so cute when he smiles.

I wanted to see him smile more and more, so I kept looking around for him. And whenever I saw him, we’d talk a bunch, and I’d give him more candy than he could even eat—

Just that was enough to make him happy.

Yuu-kun’s a good kid. The best in the whole wide world. He always makes me feel so happy.

He listens to everything I say, and he’s always happy when I give him something, even if he doesn’t need it. He’s such a good kid, isn’t he? He is, right?

……

…Like father, like son, I guess.

Huh? This isn’t about Papa! We’re talking about something way more important right now: Yuu-kun!¹

Yeah, yeah.

So like, Yuu-kun’s always all alone ‘cause his papa’s never around and his mama’s really sick. So I have to stick with him.

But my mama and papa keep getting in my way, so I don’t need them anymore. Who needs mamas and papas, anyway? All they do is get in the way, so I’m getting rid of them.

And I’ll live here with Yuu-kun instead.

You can stay with us too, if you don’t get in our way. You’re more useful than the other grown-ups. And nicer, too, so it’s fine.

If you want, I can hire you as my servant.

Are you a king now or something?

(Oh, but I’m actually pretty jealous of you, Sena-kun. You’ve got this whole fairy tale painted inside your little head that any adult would laugh at.)

(The kind that has kings and princes and princesses… A kiddy story where the heroes are invincible, where they’re loved by the gods, where they can overcome every trial without fail.)

(And then it all ties up in a happy ending.)

(They destroyed the villain, the prince and the princess fell in love and got married, and they all lived happily ever after…)

(Hip hip hooray.)

Hello? Are you listening? Answer me.

…Oh, sorry. I got a little lost in thought there.

(But still, what should I do?)

(The “adult” thing to do would probably be to scold them for being so childish and send them home back to their parents.)

(Cover my ears to these kids’ fantasies and forcefully drag them by the hand out of their fairy tale world and back into reality.)

(There isn’t really another option here. What else could I possibly even do for them?)

(I’m still just a middle schooler; I can’t even protect myself.)

…Kunugi—senpai.

Oh, right. I’m fine, I’m listening.

Anyway, umm… we should go back to Yuuki-kun first. I’m sure he’s getting lonely, right?

Yeah, right. I found some makeup on my way back from the bathroom and got a little carried away… I’ve, hehe, I’ve always been interested in them.

Makeup is magic, after all.

Magic? What’re you talking about? Are you stupid?

Fufu, isn’t it great that I’m a rational adult who doesn’t immediately resort to violence, Sena-kun?

You’re literally a kid. Quit acting like you’re an adult.

…No, never mind. Look at that.

At what?

……

Huh? Wh–what is that? A kigurumi…?

The department store sells stuff like that…? Or no, it’s probably a prop left behind by the film crew.

Hang on, it—Is it moving?

……

Huh? Huh? Sorry, I can’t see it very well… My eyesight’s been getting worse, I guess because of how hard I’ve been studying for exams lately.

……

N–no, I was right! It’s seriously moving! It’s coming this way!

…?!

Wh–what is that thing?! I don’t get it, but I’m freaking out…!