Chapter 13 – Shopping with Nao-chan

Today is Saturday. I’m sitting alone on the sofa in my house, watching TV. On the table in front of me, I’ve lined up juice and snacks — a bit too much for just one person.

By the way, Dad is a sailor, so he isn’t here. Mom went to play pachinko first thing in the morning. Apparently, they’re installing new machines today.

And Nii-chan is apparently going around saying his catchphrase from the other day all over the place. Good grief.

Now, as for why I’m sitting here in full h-o-s-p-i-t-a-l-i-t-y mode, it’s because the little sister of Nii-chan’s girlfriend, Hidaka-san, is coming over right now.

It’s the day for the introductions she mentioned before. Now then, what kind of girl is she?

Ding-dong.

Looks like they’re here. Yes, yes, I’m opening it now.

“Welcome.”

I opened the door and called out to Hidaka-san. Oh? That’s weird. For someone who said she was bringing her sister, I only see one person.

“Hello, Otouto-kun. I brought my sister just like I promised. Here, Nao. Greet him properly.”

When Hidaka-san said that, a girl popped out from behind her with a peek. She had long, reddish hair and big, round eyes. However, she was really short. Hm? An elementary schooler… no, maybe a middle schooler? I’m pretty sure she said she was transferring to my high school… Did she skip grades or something?

“…………”

Hmm. I feel like I’m being stared at intensely, but I wonder why. If she doesn’t say anything, I have no way to respond.

“…………Heh.”

“!?”

D-Did she just laugh just now? Or was she laughing at me?

“Honestly… Nao, really. Sorry about that~? This girl doesn’t talk much when we’re out. Well, she doesn’t talk much at home either, but still. Also, as you can see, she’s tiny, but she’s in the same grade as you, Otouto-kun, okay?”

“Ah, right. You mentioned that before. I know.”

A loli. She’s a total loli. She’s got such a loli vibe that I wouldn’t have known her age if I hadn’t been told.

Is this going to be okay? If we walk around school together, won’t people start a rumor that I’m a lolicon? Ah, I guess no one really looks at me in the first place.

“So, there’s one more thing.”

“One more thing?”

“Yeah. You know that apartment building that was built recently? That big one you can see from here if you go outside.”

“Ah, right. That one.”

Come to think of it, the townspeople were making a big fuss about that when I was in middle school — saying it ruined the scenery or created too much shade. But Mom said the very people making a fuss were the first ones to move into that building, and now they try to flex this weird pseudo-celebrity status.

Well, I’m sure they were just people who wanted to complain for no reason.

“Nao and I just moved in there. So we’re going to be slightly close neighbors from now on — I look forward to getting along with you♪”

Hidaka-san said, winking and clasping her hands together. Cute. Her sister gave a slight bow. Adorable.

By the way, I think there is a massive wall between 【Cute】 and 【Adorable】. 【Cute】 means looking at someone as a member of the opposite sex — the feeling of wanting to hold them. 【Adorable】 is the feeling of wanting to gaze at and cherish them, or wanting to pat their head. I wonder if anyone out there understands me…

Well, whatever, none of that really matters.

“I look forward to it too.”

“Yeah. Nice to meet you. Now then, we’re off to buy things for our new place — wait a second. Looks like I got a call.”

Hidaka-san took her smartphone out of her bag and stepped outside to take it. Since she occasionally bowed her head while speaking, the other party must be important.

And the little sister, left all alone, was staring up at me for some reason. It might just be my imagination, but it felt like her nose was twitching — sniff, sniff.

…I took a proper bath and brought out relatively new clothes, though.

“…………Haa.”

“What’s wrong?”

Hidaka-san came back with her shoulders slumped and let out a huge sigh.

“So, um? Apparently, there was some noise in the audio we recorded yesterday, so we have to re-record it. Looks like a newbie messed up. They already booked the studio, so they want me to come in right now. It’s a guaranteed all-nighter… Ugh! I was so looking forward to shopping!”

“Isn’t that bad? Shouldn’t you hurry?”

“I should, but if I just leave Nao in the apartment as is, she’ll have to spend the whole night in an empty room… Ah!”

What’s with that look? That “I’ve got a brilliant idea!” face. I have concerns about this.

“Hey, Otouto-kun! If you’re free and don’t have any plans, could you go shopping with Nao for me? As long as she at least has a futon and breakfast for tomorrow, we can manage since tomorrow is a day off!”

“Ah, um…”

“Is it a no?”

It’s not that it’s a no — it’s just that your sister has been tugging on my clothes for a while now.

This really isn’t an atmosphere where I can refuse, is it?

“Understood. I am a guy, after all. I can at least carry the bags.”

“Wow~, you’re a lifesaver~! Nao? This is the room key, so don’t lose it, okay? Also, for payment, I’ll give you your big sister’s card, so use this to buy everything. It’s a family card everyone can use, so it’s fine. Otouto-kun, well then, I’m leaving the rest to you!”

And with that, Hidaka-san dashed off gallantly. Now then…

“Um… Little sister?”

“…………(Shake, shake)”

The little sister didn’t say a word, merely shaking her head. A rejection of my previous words — could she mean how I called her?

“Nao-san?”

“…………(Shake, shake)”

“Nao-chan?”

“…………(Nod, nod)”

She’s quite a handful, huh. Maybe I shouldn’t go. But I already promised Hidaka-san…

While I was slightly regretting making such a casual promise, Nao-chan gave my sleeve a light tug. And then—

“…Let’s go?”

“!?”