………Gotcha

“……I’m, home…”

I cautiously opened the door to my house.

It’s completely dark outside now, with few lights on in the surrounding houses.

“Well, she’s probably asleep by now…”

At this hour, it’s free time for both of us to retire to our rooms. The living room was pitch black.

I turned on the living room lights and sat on the sofa to take a break.

“Huh…?”

“Mmm…”

Iori was sleeping on the sofa.

Did she eat until she was full and then fell asleep?

“The dishes were probably left out… huh, they’re all cleaned up.”

I’m surprised by this unexpected sight.

The table was clean. I checked the sink, but there was nothing there.

The fact that the dishwasher is running suggests she cleaned up herself.

“Well, I guess no one else would do it when they’re alone, so they have to do it themselves,”

I convince myself with this somewhat mysterious reasoning.

“But what should I do now…?”

I glance back at Iori, who’s still asleep on the sofa.

She might catch a cold if left alone like this…

“‘If you’re half-hearted, you’ll end up following Iori-chan’s pace and getting the same old results, so make sure you come with the right motivation,'” 

Those were Katayama’s words.

This summer, I plan to leave Iori speechless, to make her understand.

So, I have to gradually stop taking care of her and being kind to her. Otherwise, I’ll fall back into her pace as usual. I’ll be treated coldly, looked down upon, and taken advantage of.

“Well, this will be the last time…”

It’s not like I’ll be thanked for taking her to her room the next day.

I carefully bring her into my arms so as not to wake her. If I lift her up like this, it’s almost like a princess-carry.

“Hmm… you’ve grown, haven’t you?”

Back when I was in elementary school, I used to piggyback her. But now, as a high school student, my body has grown larger, and it’s natural to feel some weight. However, I think I only feel the significance of that weight because I’m her brother.

We quietly ascend the stairs, arriving at Iori’s room. All that’s left is to lay her down on the bed.

“Phew, that should do it…”

Even after laying her down on the bed, Iori continued to sleep soundly. Just as I was about to leave the room…

“…Gotcha.”

“Huh—!?”

Before I could even register it, my arm was grabbed, my body spun around, and suddenly, I found myself staring up at the ceiling, with Iori’s face right in front of me, despite her being asleep just moments ago.