If an Unrelated Sister and Brother Are Both in Love With Each Other, Isn’t It Just a Matter of Time Before They Get Together? - Chapter 1: A precarious relationship that seems about to stick together

Chapter 1: A precarious relationship that seems about to stick together

“I’m home!”

“Welcome back. Dinner’s ready.”

“Thanks. Oh, today’s chicken sauté? Well done!”

“It’s just some ready-made food from the convenience store. It’s delicious, so give it a try.”

“Okay. I’ll change, so wait for me.”

It was almost nine in the evening when my elder sister, Kinoka, finally returned from work.

I can’t do anything but respect Kinoka-neesan, who has been raising me while working since our parents died in an accident when I was still a high school sophomore.

I do have a part-time job to help with the finances, but Kinoka-neesan wants to send me to university, so she’s even working a side job.

“Ah, I feel refreshed. Tomorrow’s my day off, so I can relax a bit and watch some TV.”

After getting out of the bath, Kinoka-neesan watches a drama in the living room, wearing a casual outfit of hot pants and a tank top.

With her bob haircut that reaches her shoulders, her cat-like eyes, and her lively and beautiful face, she has a well-maintained, fair skin.

At 24, seven years my senior, she has a large chest and a great figure.

Given that she even does modeling as a side job, she’s at least a pretty woman.

However, I can never say this, but I like Kinoka-neesan.

“Haru-kun, your midterms are coming up soon, right? Are you studying properly?”

“I am.”

“Really? I’ve been worrying that you’re neglecting your studies because you’re working too much at your part-time job.”

“About the part-time job…”

I was hesitating to say this, but the convenience store where I work is actually closing down next month, and I’ll be losing my job.

“What? The store’s closing down? That’s sudden.”

“It can’t be helped. I’ll find a new part-time job soon…”

“You should take it easy for a bit. We’re not struggling financially, after all.”

“How can you say that when our parents aren’t even around?”

“Don’t worry, Onee-chan earns quite a bit, and there’s also the inheritance and insurance money from our parents, so we’re not in any trouble.”

Even so, if I go to university, it will be an added cost, which is frankly, a lot of money, and I want to do something to help with the finances.

So I don’t need to feel guilty about going to university, too.

“I think you should do more of what you want to do, Haru-kun. You should act more like a high schooler, have more fun, and make a girlfriend.”

“I, I don’t need a girlfriend or anything.”

“Really?”

“I can’t think about that right now.”

I mean, it’s not like I can help it because I’m more interested in Kinoka-neesan.

I think it’s wrong to have these feelings for my older sister, but I know.

I know that Kinoka-neesan is my mother’s child from a previous relationship and that we’re not blood-related.

Our parents got married when Kinoka-neesan was two years old, and then they had me, and apparently, my mother gave birth to Kinoka-neesan while she was still unmarried, and the identity of her father is unknown.

I didn’t know this until two years ago when our parents died in an accident, and I overheard some relatives talking about it.

At first, I was shocked and thought it was a lie, but hearing that story made me realize the feelings I had been suppressing for Kinoka-neesan.

I thought maybe it would be okay to make her my girlfriend.

At first, I thought I should be more careful, but I couldn’t control these feelings, and I was wondering when I should confess.

“How about you, Kinoka-neesan? Don’t you think it’s about time you got a boyfriend?”

“I have to work hard until Haru-kun goes to a good university and gets a good job.”

“You’ll miss your chance to get married then.”

“It’s fine. These days, people get married later in life.”

I persistently ask her if she has a boyfriend, and I’ve even been investigating her surroundings, but there’s no sign of any man in her life.

I can’t give up in this state, and if she does get a man, I don’t know what I’ll do.

“It’s so hot today, too. It’s only May, right?”

She stretches her body, pulling at the neckline of her tank top, and I turn my face away, as her large chest almost comes into view.

(Oh, she’s so cute… I want her to be my girlfriend right now…)

I really want to.

Wouldn’t it be okay if I pushed her down right now?

“Huh? What’s wrong?”

“Umm… if you’re hot, do you want some barley tea?”

“I do.”

To distract myself, I bring a cold glass of barley tea from the fridge and hand it to Kinoka-neesan, and we both finish the drink.

I think I’ve cooled down a bit now.

“Phew… my body feels cooler now. Well, I guess I’ll… Kyah!”

“Uwah! W-What?”

As she finish the glass of barley tea, she suddenly screams and hugs my body.

“There’s a cockroach over there…”

“Huh? Oh, that’s not a cockroach. It’s the coin purse I bought the other day.”

“Huh… oh, that’s right. I was so scared.”

I thought it was something, but it seems she mistook the black coin purse that was left on the tatami for a cockroach.

Come on, how could you mistake a cockroach for that?

“I’m sorry. Ehehe, I must be tired.”

“Haa… Go to sleep…”

“Okay…”

I gently pull Kinoka-neesan away from me, putting my arm around her shoulder, and we stare at each other for a while.

Looking at her again, Kinoka-neesan is incredibly beautiful.

Just looking at her makes my heart race, and I feel like I could really…

“Kyah! W-What?”

“Umm…”

I couldn’t help but push her down on the spot, straddling her as I looked down at Kinoka-neesan.

Kinoka-nee-san’s cheeks were flushed, and her moist eyes――

Could it be… if things keep going like this…?

“Uhm… I—”

“Uh.”

“W-What?”

“Your hand, Ha-Haru-kun, is on my breast…”

“Huh? Uwah! I’m sorry!”

I thought something was strangely soft in my right hand, and then I realized I was touching Kinoka-neesan’s chest, so I quickly moved away.

(What am I doing…?)

“Umm, I’m going to bed now, is that alright?”

“Okay…”

Kinoka-neesan goes to the next room, unable to bear the awkward atmosphere, and I hang my head in shame.

Oh no… why did I make such a mistake…

CHANGE POV

(I was really surprised earlier… but Haru-kun, maybe he…)

Wrapped in bed, I can’t stop my heart from racing as I remember what happened earlier.

Haru-kun—Haruhito—is my little brother, but we’re not blood-related.

I think he doesn’t know this. As we grew up, I felt more and more…

“No, no. Don’t rush.”

I try to convince myself while wrapped in my blanket.

These feelings are absolutely wrong, and if I told him, he would definitely hate me.

But if he knew we were just step-siblings, Haru-kun and I could…

“No, that’s not good.”

I try to forget what happened earlier, telling myself that he could never like someone like me.