Foreword

Foreword

Foreword

I STEPPED OFF THE TRAM AND SQUINTED, MY HAUL from Seibunkan in hand. The late-August sun beat down. It still had some fight left in it.

The weight of the book in my hand and the matte feel of the cover against my fingers brought a smile to my face as I crossed the street. How could it not? I’d waited for what felt like forever, and now it was finally here. The latest release of Call Me Flat, Step in Crap —an action novel set in a dystopian reality wherein one’s chest size determines their status in society. The previous volume had ended on the worst cliffhanger, in which it was revealed that the protagonist’s best friend and confidant, Kirari-chan, had not only grown to C-cup, but was now the enemy.

It was just before noon, and Nukumizu Kazuhiko of Tsuwabuki High School’s class 1-C, member of the literature club—that is to say, I —was very excited to spend another boring day of summer vacation in blessed air conditioning.

Bidding farewell to the noisy cicadas behind me, I stepped through the front door.

“Welcome home, my dearest Oniisama!”

My little sister, Kaju, came running over in denim overalls and a cute ribbon poking out from her long black hair. “Cute” was a good word for her. Aside from her tendency to hyper fixate on every little thing I did, which was decidedly un cute.

“Where’s the fire?” I asked.

“Oh, it’s worse than fire!”

Kaju held out a calendar (which I could only assume she’d snatched off the wall), hopping up and down like she could hardly contain herself.

“Flammable, yes, but hardly concerning.”

“Don’t be like that!” she pouted. “We need to settle on a date for the interview, like, now ! Actually, I like the sound of that. Now is the perfect time!”

I very much knew exactly what she was talking about.

“I’ve got a better idea,” I said. “First, breathe. Second, chill out. Use your words.”

“You’re so right, Oniisama! So there I was, getting lunch ready, when a knock came—oh, we’re having yesterday’s curry, for the record.”

Baby steps, I thought. We’d extract a full sentence out of her at some point.

“Curry’s always better on day two, for sure.” I nodded. “So we have company?”

“Yes! That! Gosh, and I’m not even presentable! I need you to entertain while I go get changed!”

“Say what now?”

“Living room!” Kaju blurted as she bolted up the stairs.

Who were we having over? Royalty? I bent down to straighten my shoes at the door, and that was when I noticed it. Another pair I didn’t recognize. Distinctly feminine. Too big for Kaju, and far too trendy for our mom.

I turned my head and stared down the hallway. “No…”

With intrepid steps, I ventured forth.