After I Comforted My Younger Stepsister Who Had Her Boyfriend Taken From Her, She Started Becoming Obsessively Sweet - 29

Chapter 29: The Sound of Footsteps Breaking

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The outside was already dark by the time we stepped out of the karaoke place. Well, of course. It was already past 19:00. Fortunately, I had already told our parents that I’d be out having dinner with friends, including Shikino. So they shouldn’t be worried about us. As long as we didn’t stay out too late, we should be fine. We casually made our way to a nearby family restaurant to continue our conversation. While eating, I voiced the lingering doubts plaguing my mind to Era.

“Ooh~ I see, I see. You don’t find Ayanon to be trustable, huh?~”

“For the record, I don’t completely trust you either. I do appreciate that you’re helping us by arranging that talk with Sugai-san, but..”

“I don’t appreciate your help at all. I’d prefer if you disappeared from my sight immediately.”

“Ahahahaha!! The little sister still hate me, huh?~ Fufufu!~”

Just what’s so funny..?

Shikino was glaring at Era, who was still laughing boisterously. Era then popped a fry from her plate into her mouth. This clown-like attitude was one of the biggest reasons why I couldn’t fully trust Yuzuhi Era.

While feeling somewhat frustrated by something I couldn’t really put into words, I ate a piece of my hamburg steak. 

“Well~ It doesn’t really matter anyway, right, Onii-chan?”

“Hm?”

“You said it yourself, didn’t you? That you won’t take everything I say at face value. You said you will think for yourself and figure out what you will do about Megumi Orihara.”

“…What are you trying to say here?”

“I’m just saying~~ It’s fine, isn’t it? Even if you can’t trust us completely.”

“…Well, that’s true.”

“Right?~ Fufufu~”

Her attitude made me want to click my tongue. She was right, but deep down in my heart, I was feeling frustrated by everything. Megumi Orihara was a troublesome burden standing in our way. To deal with her, we needed reliable information from people who actually knew her. That was what I truly felt deep down in my heart. I knew I couldn’t take everything at face value. I mustn’t trust everything that people say to me. If Yuzuhi Era was one of the variables that I mustn’t trust, then it was about time for me to cut my ties with her. Besides, she was the one who reached out to us first. 

“Ah, right. There’s one more thing I need to tell you, Onii-chan~”

“…Can you stop calling me ‘Onii-chan’?”

I said and Shikino nodded in agreement. 

Seriously, cut it out. It’s disgusting to hear you call me Oniichan.

However, Era looked totally unfazed. She just laughed it off before continuing.

“You should stop trying to get information about Megumi from the people close to her.”

“Hm? Why?”

“Isn’t it obvious? Ayano is a rare exception, but normally speaking, people don’t just betray their friends like that. In fact, they’d snitch you to Megumi. They would immediately tell Megumi that someone is trying to dig up her information.”

“Yeah, I know that much. I’m not trying to get anything from people who are super close to Orihara. I’m just going to ask the people who know about her a little-“

“Right. And I’m telling you to not do that too.”

“…Huh?”

Contrary to her usual nonchalant attitude, Era looked a bit more serious now. She wasn’t glaring at me, but there was a certain intensity in her gaze. I stared back at her and a question mark formed in my mind.

“Megumi has a very wide circle of acquaintances. You can’t really tell who might be tattling her about you behind the scenes. Normal people would get obliterated by her right away. Everything you’re planning… Everything you’re going to ask… Everything would be exposed.”

“…”

“I understand that you can’t trust everything I say, but you really need to listen to me about this one. Don’t go approaching people close to Megumi on your own, okay?”

Era’s words sounded a bit desperate, almost like a plea. She was genuinely asking me to listen to her about this. Maybe… Just maybe… This was her true feeling. The contrast in her tone made the doubts in my heart dissipate a little. Just as I was about to break the silence and speak again, Shikino, who was beside me, looked at me and spoke up.

“Hey, Onii-chan…?”

“Hm? What is it, Shikino…?”

The gaze in Shikino’s eyes looked somewhat different from Era’s pleading expression. Shikino’s eyes were filled with genuine, heartfelt intention to convey something important to me. Being the receiving end of my little sister’s gaze, I felt my heart thumping wildly.

“Enough… Don’t you think… It’s enough already?”

“Huh?”

“I… I can’t trust her… I feel like she’s lying about something…”

“…Shikino…”

My little sister’s face pressed closer to me. Her expression showed nothing but undeniable sincerity.

“Enough already… No matter… No matter how much that woman… That Megumi Orihara… Clings to you… I don’t care anymore. I will stay by your side and I will drive her away myself…”

“…”

“I… I will always, always, always be by your side… All day long… I will never be apart from Onii-chan… After all, we’re already lovers now…”

While I was listening to Shikino’s words, Era began chuckling softly. Gradually, her chuckle turned louder and louder into a full blown laugh, which in turn prompted Shikino to glare sharply at her. Shikino looked clearly annoyed at Era. 

“…What? What’s so funny…?”

“Ah, no. Sorry, sorry… It’s just… I just thought you’re really earnest, Shikino-chan. You look ready to protect your Onii-chan with all your might like that.”

“…Well, of course. I love him after all.”

“Fufufu~ Because you love him, huh? Hmm~’

Shikino’s grip on my left arm tightened a bit. It was a protective grip, meant to shield me from Era.

“But you see… Didn’t I already tell you? Flirting without regard for those around you will only lead to your own downfall.”

“…Huh?”

“I’m telling you, Shikino-chan. It’s impossible. No matter how hard you try to protect your Onii-chan, it’s impossible. I can say with absolute certainty that you will lose your Onii-chan to that girl.”

I couldn’t possibly let that remark slide. I retorted, almost instinctively. 

“There’s no way I’d ever choose Orihara over Shikino. That will never happen.”

“Yes, yes. Emotionally speaking, you’re absolutely right. I can tell you love Shikino-chan so much despite being her stepbrother. You are dating Shikino-chan despite being her older brother… Well, you two are not related by blood though. Anyway, I can see that there’s no way your heart would choose Megumi over Shikino. That is, if we’re only talking about your heart.”

For a second, I felt like the gaze in Era’s eyes changed. With a smile that seemed to mock me—no, both of us—she continued on.

“But you’re already trapped from the moment you talked to me and Ayanon.”

“…Huh?”

“Shikino-chan, it’s best if you keep this in mind, okay? Trying to hog your Onii-chan all to yourself won’t lead you anywhere. You’re only going to ruin yourself. This time, you will truly shed tears of true sorrow, you know?”

“-?! W-What are you trying to say?! I don’t understand what you’re talking about!”

Agitated, Shikino’s voice grew louder. The other customers around us began to glance our way. However, Era didn’t look fazed by it. She just kept smiling while staring intently at Shikino.

“Don’t make me repeat myself. Stop trying to monopolize your Onii-chan. That’s the point you need to remember.”

“No way! Absolutely not! Definitely not! It’s even more impossible after hearing everything you said! Could it be… You want Onii-chan for yourself too..?!”

“Ahahaha! No way! That’s not it!”

Clapping her hands, Era laughed boisterously, but soon all the joy in her face disappeared as she softly muttered.

“It’s not that… It’s just… When something is deeply desired by multiple people, I think it’s only natural for that something to get shared among them.”

“-?!”

“Anyway! Remember, Shikino-chan! No monopolizing, okay? Fufufu~ Understand?~”

Era said with a look I had never seen before. I found myself breaking in a cold sweat. All I could do was shake my head weakly.

No way. There was no way I would choose any girl other than Shikino.

I repeated that in my mind, trying to convince no one but myself.

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T/N: I agree with Era here. MC’s heart might belong to Shikino but… Who knows what’s going to happen to them… ( • ᴖ • ｡)