Is There Such Thing as a Cute Little Stepsister? There is No Romance Between us~ - Chapter 37-38

‘Secret Sign’ and Jealousy

“Tokigane-kun, how is the new part-time worker?”

“She’s a great help and she’s a quick learner.”

“Really? Thank you very much.”

Hmm, it seems like she hasn’t caught on.

But still, we need to be careful.

“Then, it’s all good. How about you, Hachi? This is your second time working here. Things can be quite though here, right?”

“Yeah, but it’s fun working here. You’re a cool manager!”

“Ugh! Cough…cough…”

“Is someone like the Manager your type?”

“Yeah, that’s right.”

What’s with that ‘yeah, that’s right’!? Don’t bring up that topic here!

I don’t want to be labelled as a lolicon!

“Eh, really? Well, he is certainly kind and he has a lot of connections, but…”

“But what? Go ahead, say it, Tokigane-kun.”

“No, it’s nothing…ah, it’s time to change shifts already!”

“That’s right, it’s about time. Well, it’s time for Manager to go home, right?”

“Yeah.”

I naturally scratch my head.

“Okay. Please take care and get home safely. Thank you for your hard work.”

“Yeah, great work.”

I watch the two of them starting their shifts.

The secret sign that Ruri and I came up with is when I scratch my head, it means ‘I’ll buy some food on the way home today’.

Even though Ruri is only working part-time, I don’t want to burden her with making dinner for us every day.

“Fuhh…”

I take a break in the smoking room with a cigarette in hand.

Taking a smoke after work is the best.

I guess the reason why Ruri said that I’m her type is because she doesn’t want anyone getting too close to me, but at the same time we shouldn’t let anyone know about our relationship.

“I guess she just doesn’t want to let her guard down.”

Or perhaps she wants to show that we have a somewhat close relationship?

No, that shouldn’t be the case.

Ruri must be considering the consequences, such as me getting labelled as a ‘lolicon’.

That means…

“Indeed, it’s a precaution. By saying that I’m her type, she is likely trying to set a precautionary line against the girls, including Tokigane-kun.”

Does that mean Ruri feels jealous?

“It’s a man’s greatest privilege to receive such treatment from a cute girl, but I shouldn’t take it for granted. I have to consider my distance with my female co-workers as well.”

I smoke my cigarette, inhale the smoke into my lungs, and exhale the smoke with my breath.

“Now, ‘Work mode’ is over. I should buy something delicious for Ruri, she must be exhausted after her shift.”

‘Amusement Park’

“I’m still really excited every time I go to Nezumi land.”

“I’ve been here about two times…I think, and I’ve been to the Nezumi Sea once. Have you been here a lot, Ruri?”

“I’ve conquered all the rides at ’13 Ichisan Kikan’ and all the fairytale attractions!”

Nezumi Land and Nezumi Sea are amusement parks set in a fairy tale theme park created by an organization called ‘13 Kikan’.

The most popular character in this amusement park is the Mouse King, who is supposedly the ruler of the amusement park.

“Then, where should we start first?”

“Let’s start from the Cinderella’s castle!”

“The department in charge is…Kikan number 7, Shion.”

“We can get a tour of the castle, ride the pumpkin carriage roller coaster, and ride Shion’s spinning flowers attraction!”

“Let’s start with taking pictures at the castle.”

“Let’s go!”

“Yeah.”

After passing through the shopping street corner with souvenirs stalls and restaurants, a large castle comes into view.

It seems that we can take a photo from here to capture the entire castle in the frame, rather than taking it from up close.

“Let’s take a photo here first.”

“Yes!”

I go and ask a staff member to take a photo for us.

“Thank you.”

“No problem, enjoy your time!”

The photo turns out great, both me and Ruri are in it, and the whole castle is visible in the background.

“The staff did a great job! The photos turned out great!”

“Yeah, it’s a bit embarrassing though.”

“Let’s hurry now, we can’t see everything in just one day!”

“Yeah!”

Picking up our phase, both me and Ruri go towards the Cinderella’s Castle.

On our way there, we see the mean sibling characters from Cinderella, taking photos with families.

However, the most important character, Cinderella herself, is nowhere to be seen.

“Cinderella isn’t here, is she?”

“Is that so?”

“The princesses and the girls from ’13 Kikan’ only appear during parades.”

“You seem to know a lot.”

“Well, I like them a lot.”

“I see.”

Hmm? It seems like Shion’s motif, ‘Hana no Shion’ keychains are being sold at one of the stalls.

Should I get one for Ruri?

“Wait a minute.”

“Okay?”

I quickly go to the stall and buy one for Ruri.

“Here, for you.”

“Thank you. A keychain…I’m appreciate it, but why all of a sudden?”

“Shion’s flowers have the meaning of ‘I won’t forget you’ in the language of flowers.”

“…It sounds like it’s for someone who has passed away.”

“No, it means that I won’t forget I came here today with you, Ruri.”

It feels kind of embarrassing when I say it out loud.

“So that what it means…thank you. I’ll attach it to my bag. Don’t ever forget that you bought me this keychain, okay?

“I won’t forget.”

I say so and pick up my pace to cool down my flushed face.

We’re almost at Cinderella’s castle.