Vol 1 Chapter 2 – Sisters: Otome Inadera and Sakuya Inadera【Volume 1 – God and the Post-Mortem Debrief Session】

Mmm… since it’s a hologram projected over a shogi board, it’s miniature-sized and hard to make out… And right as they read my mind, the image grows larger. The “me” inside the footage became about half my original height. Half scale. Looks like they also adjusted the transparency of the surrounding buildings and balanced the audio, too.

“Is this easier to see now?”

“Thanks.”

I thank them honestly. Now then—what exactly happened to me…? I decided to watch, but I can’t deny it’s scary. Part of me wants to say, Nope, I’m not watching!—but I keep my eyes on myself and my little sister as we walk through the shopping street in front of the station. There are a lot of people—maybe because of the time of day? …No, it’s probably just a day off. You can tell just from the fact that Sakuya, a high schooler, is with me. Though… I guess I can’t rule out the possibility that Sakuya would skip school on a weekday just to tag along with me, either…

‘So Otome’s finally going to stand onstage as an idol, huh… By the way, what kind of outfit is it? If it’s pastel pink with a ton of frills—like super frilly, fluttery frills—I’d seriously die laughing. Then I’d take pictures and laugh at you.’

Sakuya gives me a look like she’s totally making fun of me. Maybe she should re-evaluate her own outfit first? A long-sleeved blouse loaded with lace frills in a pale-pink base color, with a big black ribbon right at the chest. On the bottom, a black skirt that falls above the knees, covered in heart motifs. Even the bag she’s carrying is properly heart-shaped. Even if my stage outfit was something that went all-in on “cute,” I can’t accept being teased one-sidedly. Sakuya’s the same type when it comes to casual clothes! At the very least, coming from Sakuya—who loves that “jirai” fashion—it’s not like she has the right to laugh at idol outfits, okay!?

…But. It suits her. Sakuya’s jirai-style fashion, I mean. She’s petite at 149 centimeters, and the bust pushing up that ribbon? A D-cup. Her face is cute enough that not just guys, but even other girls would find her adorable—and her expressions are lively. Combined with her long black hair that somehow feels “humid,” she gives off a slightly unwell vibe, but at her core she’s bright and cheerful. Seriously—if only her personality were normal, I could proudly call her my little sister… I let out a sigh before I could stop myself. God shot me a meaningful look, but I ignore it.

‘Like I’d ever wear something like that. You know it wouldn’t suit my character… Well, for now, anyway. In the future, who knows… but if I can, I’m planning to refuse.’

Meanwhile, what I’m wearing as I glare back at her is a cropped shirt and denim skinny pants. Including my shoulder bag, everything about me is simple. Seeing the two of us side by side like this, objectively comparing us—yeah. You can really tell the difference in our chest sizes. And since there’s a height gap too, it makes the difference stand out even more. She’s two years younger than me, and anyone could see I lose. I like how I look, and I’ve got a decent amount of confidence… but if I’m being honest, I kinda… wanted a little more… right there… And if I had to add one more thing, maybe I wish my hair were black instead of brown…

‘Well, I get it—it depends on the agency. Still, good luck having your opinion matter unless you’re at least somewhat popular by then, okay? Personally, I want to see you wearing frilly, fluttery stuff against your will, all embarrassed about it♡’

The second half of her line is delivered with an expression like a lovestruck maiden. Why are you making that face at your sister…? It’s worse because I can tell she means it. I’m not into that!

‘Don’t use that sweet voice and call me “onee-chan” only when it’s convenient!’

‘So today’s outfit is the high-exposure type? Or the “show off your body lines” type? Either way, you’re totally going to flaunt those long legs, right?’

I can’t really talk, but I’m impressed at how cleanly she switches gears.

‘You’re just… casually steering it back like nothing happened… What do you even think I am?’

‘A “playing-innocent idol,” and an exhibitionist.’

‘I’m not an exhibitionist!’

‘You’re showing your stomach right now. And once it gets warmer, you’ll wear shorts and flirt with men, right? You’re an idol—waiting to get hit on?’

‘I’m not flirting! And I’m not asking to get hit on!!’

“G—gihh.”

I hear a sound like someone tried desperately to stifle their laughter and failed. I don’t need to think about the source—it’s God. Even though it’s disrespectful, I can’t not glare. Well… if what God said is true, it sounds like we’ve repeated this exact kind of exchange a bunch of times, so it’s probably fine. Probably.

‘You could whisper to your little sister with that cute idol-mode voice too, you know♡ I want Onee-chan ASMR♡’

You’re the one who’s flirting! And your target isn’t just the same sex—it’s your stepsister…!

‘Gross.’

‘Ehh!? But when we were in elementary school, you did it all hyped-up!’

The way she puffs out her cheeks—pout—ticks me off too. It suits her, which makes it even more irritating.

‘Don’t fabricate memories! Sakuya and I only became sisters when we were in middle school! Third year and first year!’

Hearing it again, it’s seriously a terrible conversation… Even though we’re talking in a way that could easily be mistaken for a fight, we’re walking so close our shoulders almost touch—yeah, I can see how it’d be entertaining to watch. The kind of thing relationship-obsessed fans would eat up.

“You two get along so well. Might even be closer than most real sisters, huh? In your previous life, you were biological sisters, and it’s exactly the same as back then.”

“…We were?”

If God says it, it’s possible. I found myself confirming it out loud.

“Yup. For real, sisters in your previous life☆”

“Got it.”

That smile was pure amusement. This is absolutely just the thing in front of me messing around…

“And in this life too, you didn’t just end up connected—you became stepsisters before you knew it. Made me think, wow, love really is powerful.”

“Uh, that’s just… scary.”

If I had a body right now, I’m certain I’d be hugging myself. That’s how scared I am. Honestly, she touched me a lot under the name of “skinship,” and there were times I genuinely felt unsafe… to the point that a bad premonition flashes through my mind: that before I ever “offer myself” to a future boyfriend, my stepsister might snatch me first.

“You like girls, so isn’t that fine too?”

“Hold on. I’m properly interested in men.”

“Interested is all you are, right? You’ve got that ‘girls flock to you’ constitution, and you should treasure your little sister who keeps stalking you across reincarnations, okay? If she snaps, don’t blame me☆”

She’s already kinda snapped, though!

“You’re loved, huh. In a way, it’s like you two are a perfect match—two people who bend fate. I’ll keep your physical compatibility a secret, okay☆”

I’m not touching that dangerous ‘compatibility’ with a ten-foot pole!

“…Is it really that easy to bend fate?”

“For better or worse, there are people like that sometimes. But sisters as a pair is rare.”

They said it in a dead-serious tone. Sounds like I caused trouble somewhere when I didn’t remember… Yeah. Sorry.

‘Huh?’

‘Sakuya?’

The atmosphere in the footage changed. Like she noticed something, Sakuya glanced back over her shoulder. I did too, pulled along by her movement. I follow her gaze—and a few meters behind us stood someone clearly suspicious.