After I Comforted My Younger Stepsister Who Had Her Boyfriend Taken From Her, She Started Becoming Obsessively Sweet - 14

Chapter 14: Onii-chan, I Was Watching, You Know?

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Homeroom just ended, signaling the end of today’s school. While my classmates were getting up from their seats or chatting with each other, I stayed put on my seat, staring blankly into space. I couldn’t forget what had happened during lunch break. The feeling of her lips on mine still lingered vividly. Forgetting something like that within a snap would be impossible, especially for a virgin like me. 

While I was lost in thought, it didn’t take long for Takumu to come over and ask me what was wrong. Without thinking, I responded with my mouth still half-open.

“A kiss with a beautiful girl isn’t all that sweet after all.”

“…Huh?”

“I thought it’d be sweeter… Like something that makes your heart race and fills you with excitement. But right now, my heart is pounding in a bad way. I feel this huge emptiness and this nagging guilt. Takumu, let’s make sure we save our first time for someone we truly care about, okay?”

“…Wait a moment, Mamori? What are you talking about? What do you mean? I mean, the way you’re saying it… It sounds like you just kissed a beautiful girl or something…?”

“I did. It was by accident though.”

“Whaaaaat?!”

And just like that. Takumu began bombarding me with endless questions, but I didn’t tell him anything beyond the fact that the kiss only happened due to an accident and I quickly ran away from there. Usually at around this hour, Shikino would send me a LIME message to walk home together, but today there was no notification from her. Since I didn’t have anything else to do, I decided to head straight home. When I was feeling down from these swirling thoughts, I wanted nothing but to dive right into my bed. My bed was my sanctuary, a place where I could reset my mind and escape from all the troubles and incomprehensible things.

That’s right. I need to get to my bed as soon as possible. 

With that thought in mind, I threw open the front door of my house, only to freeze in place the moment I stepped inside. There was a girl who probably had been waiting for my return. She was leaning weakly against the wall. This girl was Shikino, my little sister. 

“..H-Huh? Shikino? What? You managed to get home before me today?”

“…”

“Hm? Shi-Shikino?”

Something was off. Something was clearly off here. She didn’t respond to me when I talked to her and her gaze was fixed not on me but on the floor. 

“Shikino? Are you not feeling well? Maybe you were waiting for me to come home even though you had a fever or something—?”

After I removed my shoes in the entrance area, I stepped toward her, but…

“-?!”

Shikino, who looked so weak and frail before, suddenly collided against me like a doll who had just received a life. No, it was more accurate to say she was resting her weight on me, rather than actually colliding against me. I immediately held her up out of reflex, letting her settle in my arms. I was completely confused by the sudden turn of events. Just what had happened?

“No, seriously, what’s wrong, Shikino? I thought you were standing here by the door, waiting for me to come back home?”

“…”

“I already asked you this earlier, but let me ask you again. Are you sure you’re feeling alright? If you’re feeling unwell, you need to rest soon. Come on. I will help you up to your room on the second floor.”

“…-aw.”

“Huh?”

Shikino murmured something under her breath, but her voice was so faint that I couldn’t comprehend what she had just said. While still holding her close to me, I slowly leaned my ear toward her lips. And then, within that moment…

Chomp!

A soft sensation tingled on my ear, accompanied by a whispering breath. 

“Nnh-?! Wha-?!”

I let out a strange sound because of it and instinctively pulled away from Shikino, effectively putting some distance between us. She suddenly nibbled on my ear out of nowhere.

“Wha-Wha-Wha-?! Shi-Shikino? Just what are you—”

“I…. Saw…”

“Huh…?”

“I saw it. Today. At lunch.”

Her words immediately sent a cold sweat down my back. She saw it. Today. At lunch. Those words alone were enough to make me realize what Shikino had seen. Out of all people.. It had to be Shikino who saw… That. 

Se-Seriously…?

My mind went into a mini panic attack. Flustered, I tried to explain myself. 

“Sh-Shikino! I-I didn’t… it’s not like I—”

“I know. You didn’t initiate it. You were… On the receiving end, weren’t you, Onii-chan?”

“Ye-Yeah! Exactly! I was on the receiving end! She suddenly kissed me out of nowhere!”

“Right. I get it. I understand that. I know you didn’t initiate anything… You just got kissed by that filthy cockroach of a woman…”

“Ye-Yeah…”

For some reason, the intonation of Shikino’s voice dropped an octave. Her eyes had taken on a terrifying gleam. Her lack of expression from earlier was scary, but she looked even worse now. There was this subtle hostility and a clear hint of murderous intent in her gaze. Eventually, a small smile spread on Shikino’s face before she started chuckling softly. She looked like someone out of a horror story. 

“Onii-chan?”

“Ye-Yeah…?”

“Why don’t we do something a bit naughty today…?”

“Wha-?! Huh?! What!??!?!”

“I don’t know what that cockroach is trying to do, but it’s obvious to see that she’s targeting you now. I know she’s nothing but a worthless garbage who can’t keep her hands off what belongs to others, but this time… I definitely… I definitely, definitely, definitely, won’t let that happen.”

Shikino said as she stepped forward again. Her steps were steady as she placed her hand on my chest and brought our faces close together. 

“So… Let’s do it, okay?”

She whispered softly, almost begging. However, her gaze was dark and deep, reminding me of a murky swamp. I had a feeling once I set foot in that abyss, there’d be no escape for us. Almost as if I was enthralled under a spell, I found myself letting Shikino lead me up to the room on the second floor.

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T/N: You know, I think Orihara’s target is Shikino….