School Babysitters (学園ベビーシッターズ)

Kashima

Huh?

What on earth...

Kashima, is that... a love letter?

Kashima Ryuichi-sama

Is it a love letter?!

Usokawa?

A love letter... No fair!

Who's it from? Well?

I've never seen a love letter left in a shoe locker before!

Ushimaru-san? Is it from Ushimaru-san?!

If it's Ushimaru-san, I...

Yuki?

I-It... It wasn't me!

Oh, it wasn't you?

I see...

Who was it?

Inomata-san from the gifted class?

Well, there's no name on it.

Maybe it's a prank.

Kamitani!

Hard to imagine any girl doing something so old-fashioned these days...

I-I'll do it! I'll check it myself! You don't have to open it!

I'm not gonna open something that doesn't belong to me.

Still... it can't be a love letter.

Girls don't especially like me.

How many girls has he ignored to think that?

Excuse me!

Don't cluster here. You're in the way of people trying to leave.

I-Inomata-san...

Sorry. We'll get out of the way.

Well... I'm glad you understand.

Let's see here... "Kashima Ryuichi-sama.

I realize this is sudden, but I like you.

I love you."

"When I think about you, I can't sleep, day or night."

Who sleeps during the day?

"I love your kindness, your diligence, and everything about you.

I love, love, love, love you!

If you wouldn't mind giving me a reply,

meet me tomorrow morning behind the school building before clubs meet.

I'll be waiting."

It has her class and name written.

It really is a love letter, Kashima!

I'm super jealous... but that means Ushimaru-san is mine!

So what's the plan?

What? Kashima, do you like this girl?

Why are you blushing, too?

No, it's just... no one's ever said this to me...

Anyway, I need to give careful thought to my reply, I guess.

For now, I need to get to the daycare room.

Hey, Kashima.

You're still wearing your indoor shoes.

You gonna go outside in those?

Why is he so flustered by a girl telling him she likes him?

Man, you're...

K-Kashima-kun!

Hey, you can vent to me. Let's stop somewhere on the way home.

You're invited, Inomata-san.

M-Me, too?

B-But making detours on the way home from school is inappropriate...

Kashima

Just do it.

School Babysitters

Ryu's all red!

He's red!

Red!

You're very red!

Ryu-chan, do you have a cold?

Need a thermometer?

No, I just... I ran all the way here, so...

I'm fine.

Don't worry about me.

Really, I don't have a cold.

No need to worry, Kotaro.

I just need to calm down...

Right. I need to think of what to say...

But... my chances of dating have always felt so remote,

I've never even thought about it...

Now that I think about it, I don't even know the person who sent that letter very well...

Baby Powder

But being told someone l-likes me did feel pretty nice.

I guess maybe I am interested in that sort of thing...

Congratulations to you, Ryuichi-sama.

Uh, wha...

What's this? Has something happened worth celebrating?

Yes. Ryuichi-sama received his first letter of love today.

N-No, it's nothing!

What's this about love?

Um...

That red rice looks delicious!

What's wrong with you, Ryuichi? Do you have a cold?

Take your bath and get right to bed!

Okay...

Make up your mind before you get chilly from the bath, Kotaro.

Did you decide which one you want?

You didn't?

If you don't choose fast, you really will get a chill.

Kota sleepy.

What? You want to go to bed without a story?

That's unusual...

I need to do my homework first.

Be a good boy and go to sleep, okay?

Well, I'm off.

Have a fine day, Ryuichi-sama, Kotaro-sama.

Okay... I think I need to turn her down.

I really appreciate the sentiment,

but I'm not together enough to manage dating and taking care of Kotaro at the same time.

Although... I wonder if I can turn her down without being rude...

I only left early because I wanted to do my lesson preparation at school.

I'm not actually worried about him at all!

I'm not...

I'm not...

I couldn't possibly be!

I'm so silly, leaving early when I don't even have a club to get to...

I guess I really am worried about it...

Inomata-san... are you worried, too?

N-No... I'm not!

Inomata-san!

K-Kashima-kun?

My brother...

Kotaro... Have you seen him?

I let go of his hand, and the next thing I knew, he was gone!

I... I haven't seen him...

Oh... sorry. Thanks.

Wait a minute!

Isn't there something else you should say instead of going pale and blaming yourself?

I can help you search! Got a problem with that?

P-Please, let me help you look for him, too!

I've lived here a long time, so I know the area.

I'm sure we'll find him!

Thanks.

Kotaro...

Where are you, Kotaro?

Kotaro...

Kashima.

Kamitani?

He wandered into someone else's yard to bring you this.

Nii-chan. Lemon.

Baa-chan's medicine.

Oh... I see.

I worried you that much?

Idiot...

That's no reason to leave your brother behind and run off!

I'm sorry!

You sure about this?

You seemed so happy about it, but you turned her down?

Yeah.

Right now, Kotaro really has to be my first priority.

That's a tangerine. Give it here.

Lemon.

No, it's a tangerine.

That doesn't sound healthy.

Leave me alone!

Hey, Inomata-san...

Does this mean we basically both got turned down, too?

I-I told you, I'm not at all interested!

In fact, I'm more relieved to hear him acting like himself.

That's a good point!

Hey, Inomata-san...

Is it okay if I start calling you Maria-chan?

You're Inomata Maria-chan, right?

I hope we can be friends!

D-Don't call me by my first name!

Why not?

It doesn't sound like "me"!

Don't be like that!

No! It's embarrassing!

Maria-chan!

Oh? Inomata-san?

I... I didn't come here to see you.

To see me, then?

Not you, either.

I was just asked to bring these print-outs to this room.

Thanks, Maria-chan.

I told you not to call me by my first name!

It's nice to see Inomata-san making so many friends lately.

Maria-chan! Maria-chan!

Yes, Morinomiya Estate.

Quit stalling and give your name, dummy.

Are you a pervert?

But it wasn't Ryu who answered!

If you're gonna get all shy, don't insist on calling yourself.

Ask for Ryu and Kotaro!

I'm sorry, but could I speak to—

If you want the color of my underwear, it's black.

I don't.

Forgive me. It was a joke.

I shall call Ryuichi-sama at once. One moment, please.

Hello? Kamitani?

Hey.

Put me on! Nii-chan! I wanna do it!