Gloomy Outside, Gal Inside ~Dealing with My Step-Sister Isn't Easy~ - Chapter 09: Can Even the Usual Miu Be Popular?

Chapter 09: Can Even the Usual Miu Be Popular?

“By the way…”

“Yeah?”

“Your parents aren’t around starting today, right?”

“Yeah.”

During the short break time after the morning assembly, Toshinobu asked me that question, and I nodded.

Technically, it started from yesterday, but as we had discussed before, my mother also ended up leaving the house for about three months, following my father.

In other words, from today onward, it’s just Miu and me, alone together.

“How is it? Are you okay being alone with your little sister?”

“It’ll be fine. It’s me and Miu, after all.”

“You seem pretty confident… Well, though, aside from Miu-chan, you really care a lot about her, huh?”

I vigorously nodded, of course.

However, the intention behind the question was probably not about whether we can handle the household chores together or anything like that.

As evidence of that, Toshinobu smirked and continued speaking.

“Miu-chan may not stand out as a beauty or anything, but even as her brother, don’t you get excited by her extraordinary body for a high schooler?”

“…Well, I suppose.”

“Right? I’m not saying I go around asking about her or anything, but despite her plain appearance, people say her body is too sexy.”

It’s not just her body; everything about Miu is sexy… but I won’t say that.

However, hearing him casually call someone’s little sister plain, I seriously want him to stop. Of course, Toshinobu knows Miu personally, and he doesn’t have the kind of personality to look down on others.

He probably just told me what he had heard elsewhere, but it doesn’t feel good to hear that my own sister is being perceived that way.

“Well, you know, I’ve honestly had thoughts like, maybe there’s a chance if I have fun talking with that girl… But Miu-chan doesn’t seem to open up to anyone other than Ayato in a true sense, so it’s impossible.”

“Huh? You’ve been thinking about that kind of stuff?”

“Just a little! Just a little, so forgive me!” 

“…”

Well, in a way, it can be said that he recognizes Miu’s charm. 

He got hooked on Myuu’s selfies on Twitter, and it might be simply because he found Miu’s figure sexy… Well, being sexy is also one of her charms, so let’s give him credit for having an eye for it.

“I’ll tell you, Miu is cute, you know?”

“You’re such a siscon… Well, I have an older sister too, but I don’t understand those feelings.”

“She’s your real sister, right? I think that makes a difference.”

“Oh, yeah… That means, if I wasn’t blood-related to my sister, there could have been a timeline where I’d be calling her beautiful… Ugh, I can’t imagine it.”

Toshinobu seemed so disgusted that I almost laughed.

“…If we were blood-related, huh?”

I murmured deeply.

Miu and I have only known each other for about three years… If we had been blood-related from the beginning and had always been together, maybe I wouldn’t have felt anything for her.

It’s a little sad to think about it… No, it’s impossible, I shook my head.

“Rather than a stepsister, if we weren’t blood-related, we could get married, right? I don’t know how others would see it, but have you ever thought about that?”

“Marrying Miu…?”

Marrying Miu…?

I closed my eyes and imagined it—our relationship isn’t bad even now, in fact, I think it’s quite good. 

Having a girl like her as my wife… Hmmm?

“Nii-san♪ Shall I serve dinner? Or prepare the bath? Or… me♡”

…Oh no, I’m well aware that this is by no means the image of a typical wife.

But… the fact that I immediately have these kinds of fantasies when imagining Miu means that I’ve been seeing her seductive side too much on a regular basis… It’s a luxurious dilemma, but I still can’t quite imagine it.

“Seems a little difficult based on that reaction?”

“…Well, yeah. After all, she’s my stepsister, even if it’s just in name.”

“That’s true.”

“But well…”

“Yeah?”

I closed my eyes for a moment, organizing my thoughts, and continued speaking.

“I’ve never had a girlfriend before, and I’m not even an adult yet, so I don’t really know what marriage is like… But I think it would probably be fun with Miu. Isn’t that what’s normal?”

Toshinobu seemed dumbfounded for a while, as if he saw something incredibly refreshing or devoid of any impure thoughts.

“…Haha, you two really have a great sibling relationship. I bet Miu-chan would be delighted if you told her that.”

“It’s embarrassing, so I won’t say it.”

“Then let me say it.”

“Stop it.”

“I’m just kidding.”

I could already see the future where I would be teased if I said it.

Then the teacher arrived, and the first period began— as we were nearing July, the heat started to become more noticeable.

We had already finished changing our clothes for the season, eagerly waiting for the full arrival of summer… except for the temporary return of our parents during the summer break, it would be just me and Miu together… I couldn’t help but feel a little anxious and excited about how things would turn out.

“Then, Kuon, try solving this one.”

“Understood.”

Just as I was thinking about Miu, the teacher called on me.

I momentarily flinched, but I managed to stand in front of the blackboard and solve the problem without revealing my agitation.

Time passed without any incidents, and during lunch break, Toshinobu, Rikiya, Shinozaki-san, and I gathered to have our meal together.

“Oh, so you’ll be alone with your sister?”

“Yeah. I don’t think there will be any problems, but I’ll rely on you guys if anything comes up.”

“Of course. I’ll always be there to help.”

“Same here. Maybe this is an opportunity for me to get along with your sister.”

They are truly dependable and kind friends who always come to my aid.

Well, when it was mentioned that I would be alone with Miu, both Rikiya and Shinozaki-san said similar things to Toshinobu, teasing me a bit, but that’s also their way of showing kindness.

“Then let’s meet at Ayato’s house next time!”

“Isn’t that too sudden?”

“Being a girl, I agree.”

It is indeed a sudden suggestion, but I don’t mind at all, and if Shinozaki-san is fine with it, then I’m okay with it too.

Although it was decided in Miu’s absence, I’ll let her know when I get home today.

And so it was after school.

Toshinobu invited me to the arcade, but I declined because my mom had asked me to confirm something with her.

“…Hmm?”

As I walked alone in the hallway, I came across Miu coming out of the staff room.

“Oh, Nii-san.”

“Hey.”

I saw myself reflected in her eyes behind the round glasses.

But her hair was still messy, so she still looked plain… Hmm, I did say I didn’t like being called plain earlier, but I have to admit, she does look plain now.

“What’s wrong?”

“I finished my assigned duties as the class representative.”

“I see.”

By the way, when Miu is in this state and not alone with me, her voice tends to become slightly lower in tone. It’s not something she consciously does; it just happens naturally. Some people might even perceive it as her mumbling.

As I faced Miu, another boy came out of the staff room.

“Excuse me… Oh? What’s up, Kuon-san?”

The boy who came out is probably one of Miu’s classmates.

Since the class representative duties are performed by a boy and a girl, he is likely today’s partner. When he looked away from Miu and glanced at me, his gaze momentarily became sharp.

With round glasses like Miu’s and messy hair… I hate to say this, but unlike Miu, there is no hidden beauty there. His appearance, like mine, is rather ordinary.

“Is Nii-san going home?”

“…Ah, it’s Nii-san, right?”

“Yeah. What about Miu?”

“I’m done too. Can I go home with you?”

“Sure.”

I didn’t miss the sight of Miu clenching her fist.

Well, I guess I’ll wait for Miu… That’s what I was thinking when it happened.

“Oh, um, Kuon-san!”

“What is it?”

“Well… I actually thought about inviting you to do something together after this. But…”

“Sorry. I’m going home with my brother.”

“Ah… I see.”

Oh, this is…

After Miu spoke, he looked disappointed and lowered his gaze. He then walked away with a dejected expression, and Miu followed after him, surpassing him. After a while, she returned carrying some belongings.

“Shall we go home then?”

“Yeah!”

We walked for a while after leaving the school building, and Miu gradually returned to her usual self once we were a bit further away from the school. She leaned closer, wrapping her arms tightly around mine and pressing her ample chest against me.

“It’s getting hot, isn’t it?”

“It’s not so unbearable, right? Even Nii-san likes it~♪”

“…”

Her voice suddenly became higher… sigh.

If other people witnessed this sudden change up close, they would definitely be surprised… and that boy from earlier is probably no exception.

“That guy from earlier…”

“You mean Tomita-kun? We had some discussion since his seat is behind mine. He often tries to talk to me, but he mumbles a lot, so I can’t understand him most of the time.”

“I see.”

“In fact, I wonder if his earlier words were an invitation for a date or something? Even if I had no plans, I wouldn’t have nodded, but he must have had that much courage, huh?”

It seems like it was indeed an invitation for a date after all.

From Miu’s behavior, it doesn’t seem like she’s interested at all… Well, I can’t blame him for choosing the wrong person.

I thought I wouldn’t see him again since he’s in a different grade, but… I never expected to run into him so soon.