My Mental Choices Are Completely Interfering with My School Romantic Comedy - Volume 2 Chapter 2.2: The Appearance of a Little Sister

Volume 2 Chapter 2.2: The Appearance of a Little Sister

The next day, during lunch break.

My exasperated voice echoed through the first-year classroom area.

“No way… this is impossible to find.”

Normally, I never even set foot on the first floor, but today, I was here with Chocolat, Yukihira, and Yuuouji—all for one purpose: finding a helper for the competition.

You see, this upcoming competition is technically part of the welcome event for new students, and as such, both the “Official Ranking” team and the “Rejected Five” team have to recruit a first-year student as their fifth member.

A ridiculously troublesome system, if you ask me.

For the Official Ranking team, being invited is an honor. But if someone joins our side, the “Rejected Five,” they’ll instantly be labeled as one of us—the weirdos. And come September’s school-wide vote, there’s a real chance they’ll get stuck with us permanently.

Who in their right mind would sign up for that?

“Well, no point in all four of us wandering around together. Let’s split up for now.”

Honestly, this suggestion was half for efficiency and half because I didn’t want to be seen walking around in this group.

“Got it. Let’s meet back here in twenty minutes, then. Hopefully, we’ll find someone who can make me laugh to death.”

“Okay! So basically, I just have to find someone with a real punch, right?”

With that, Yukihira and Yuuouji wandered deeper into the first-year area.

…Hold up. Are those two misunderstanding something?

Just because we’re recruiting for the “Rejected Five”, that doesn’t mean we have to find a weirdo. There’s no rule about that…

“Kanade-san, let’s do our best to find someone, okay~?”

Unlike the overly enthusiastic Chocolat, my motivation was rock-bottom.

…That said, I couldn’t completely ignore the mission.

It was directly tied to my survival, after all.

Yesterday, when I first saw this insane mission, I had fallen into deep despair.

But then, a thought hit me.

The choices and missions I get are always crafted with sly wordplay.

So what if…

What if the “like” mentioned in the mission didn’t only mean romantic love (“love”), but also general fondness (“like”)?

It was worth a try.

And who better to test it on than Yuuouji?

“Hey, Yuuouji. Do you like me? You know, just as a person?”

“Yeah! I like you!”

She answered without a moment’s hesitation.

And the moment she did—

New Message: “Yuuouji Ouka – Cleared”

Oh… Oh!

I was half expecting failure, but my theory was right!

If “like” in the non-romantic sense was acceptable, then the difficulty of the mission just dropped significantly.

Riding this momentum, I immediately tried the same approach with Yukihira.

“Hey, Yukihira. Do you like me? As a person?”

“Huh? Kanade-kun… you’re a human?”

…What kind of insane comeback was that?

If I pushed back, we’d just be stuck in an endless argument, so I ignored it and steered the conversation back on track.

“Okay, fine. Let’s set aside whether I’m human or not. If you had to choose—do you like me or hate me?”

The moment she heard that, Yukihira looked away and started fidgeting.

“T-That’s… something I… I just can’t say.”

…What the hell is this reaction?

“Hey, it’s not that big of a deal—”

She wasn’t listening anymore.

She had completely retreated into her own world.

“I… I… I… I think that Kanade-kun is…”

She hesitated for a long time, then, as if steeling herself, she finally answered—

“I hate you.”

“WHY DID YOU BLUSH BEFORE SAYING THAT?!”

“Honestly, I just can’t like someone who has ‘Norisuke’ as a nickname.”

“YOU’RE THE ONE WHO GAVE ME THAT NICKNAME!”

Damn it… this isn’t going anywhere.

If I keep playing along, I’ll never get the answer I need.

I had to force the conversation back on track.

“Okay then, Yukihira. If that nickname never existed, would you like me?”

“…Kanade-kun. Are you trying to manipulate me?”

“Ugh…”

Maybe I was pushing too hard.

“N-No, I’m just trying to see if people like me as a person—”

Before I could even finish my half-baked excuse, Yukihira flatly rejected me.

“Sorry, but no matter what, I just can’t see Norisuke as a human being.”

“YOU’RE GONNA GET ME IN TROUBLE WITH SOMEONE!”

In the end, I failed to get a confirmation of “like” from Yukihira.

And now, here we are the next day.

Since the mission specified “all girls participating in the competition”, that meant both the Official Ranking team and our own side’s new recruit needed to “like” me.

The plan was simple:

I just had to find a first-year girl who would nod without hesitation when I asked, “Do you like me as a person?”

…Though, realistically, what kind of girl would be willing to join the “Rejected Five” in the first place?

Actually, wait.

Why not just pick a guy instead?

…

No, hold on.

Even putting all that aside, this mission is way too bizarre.

Why the hell am I even doing this?

“Hey, Chocolat. What do you think about this mi—huh?”

I turned to ask Chocolat—

But she was gone.

She had vanished into thin air.

“Huh…?”

Just as I looked around in confusion, a loud, high-pitched scream echoed from a nearby classroom.

“So cute~!”

“Whoa, her skin is super soft and squishy!”

“No way, she eats like a little squirrel!”

I moved closer to the window, peeking inside to see what was happening.

There, right in the middle of a swarm of first-year girls, was Chocolat, being thoroughly smothered by their affection.

The moment she noticed my gaze, her face lit up with joy.

“Ah, Kanade-san! Everyone here gave me lots of sweets too!”

…Does she have some kind of special ability that makes people want to feed her?

I stepped into the classroom, pushing through the crowd, and grabbed Chocolat’s hand, pulling her free from the mob.

“Sorry about that. My Chocolat was bothering you all.”

For a split second, the first-year girls all had an expression of “Huh? Who?” but then their eyes flicked to my tie, and realization dawned on them. One of them, seemingly the group’s representative, spoke up.

“Um… You’re a senpai, right?”

Chocolat was also wearing the red tie of a second-year, technically, but… well, I couldn’t really blame them for not realizing she was an upperclassman.

From the surrounding girls, I could hear murmurs—

“Whoa, he’s hot.”

“Wait… isn’t he kinda cool?”

Ohh… this kind of reaction. I hadn’t gotten this kind of reception since middle school, back when I was still living a normal life. The nostalgia sent my mood soaring. Being complimented really does feel nice.

“Yeah, I’m Amaku—”

“Kanade-san, this marshmallow is so delishuuush~!”

Before I could finish introducing myself, Chocolat pressed up against me, interrupting me mid-sentence.

“H-hey, don’t cling to me!”

What is this idiot thinking, getting all close like that in a crowded classroom?! I hurriedly pried her off, but—

“KYAAA!!”

“That’s too adorable!!”

“Master has arrived!!”

In an instant, the squeals of excitement spread like wildfire.

“Are you two dating?!”

The girl who had spoken timidly before was now looking at me with sparkling eyes.

“N-no, it’s not like that…”

I tried to deny it, taken aback by their intensity, but the first-years weren’t backing down.

“There’s no mistake! He said ‘my Chocolat’ just now!”

“I want a Chocolat-chan too~!”

“I want a hot boyfriend like that~!”

If this happened in my own classroom, I’d be absolutely roasted for it, no doubt about that. But these first-years, who weren’t yet familiar with my… reputation (not that I acknowledge it), were treating me with fresh, positive curiosity.

Yes… this. This is what I wanted. A peaceful, normal school li—

【Choose one:】

① “Kuhaha! You lowly bitches shall become my pets as well!”

② “Hey hey, no need to rush, my little kittens~ I’ll pamper you all equally.”

…A peaceful… school life…

“Don’t mind it, Kanade-san!”

“It’s not like it matters… In September, I’ll just be picked for the ‘Reject Five’ again anyway… This is how I keep getting hated by every girl in this school.”

With a heavy, oppressive aura clinging to me, I trudged down the hallway.

I recalled the moment right after I had chosen option ②—with every single girl instantly recoiling in horror, taking cautious steps back.

“W-wait, isn’t this guy… Amakusa something?”

“Huh? You mean the one who said he wanted to take his pants off during lunch broadcast…?”

“Y-yeah! I recognize that voice!”

“‘Reject Five’ or whatever?”

“Wait, that’s actually real?!”

“Oh yeah… my club senpai said the ‘Reject Five’ are seriously bad news…”

…Let’s stop right there. If I keep remembering, I might just give up on being human altogether.

“It’s allll okay! No matter what happens, I’ll always be by your side, Kanade-san!”

“Chocolat…”

“There, there~”

Chocolat was ridiculously good at head pats. The soft, squishy feel of her hands was oddly comforting, making my heart feel just a little lighter.

“Well, if this means tonight’s dinner will be beef, then it’s totally worth it!”

“That’s just bribery!”

And just like that, everything was ruined.

“Seriously, why are you always like thi—Ow!”

Since I had been looking at Chocolat while walking, I had completely failed to notice someone right in front of me. I collided with them head-on.

“Ah, sorry—huh?!”

My mind went completely blank.

“N-no… no way…”

There was a girl standing there—someone who should not have been here.

“N-n-n-n-no way, why are YOU here?!”

I instinctively staggered backward with all my strength, practically skidding away.

No… this is impossible. There’s no way she’d be here. Yeah, this has to be some kind of mistake—

“Kanade-oniichan?”

…It wasn’t a mistake.

“I knew it! It is you, Kanade-oniichan!”

Before I could process what was happening, she lunged at me, throwing herself straight into my chest.

“Uwoah—!”

A familiar scent tickled my nose. This distinctively sweet fragrance… There was no doubt about it.

“L-let go, Yuragi!”

The girl burying her face against my chest—Hakoniwa Yuragi—I instinctively pried her off.

“Ahhh, Kanade-oniichan, you’re just embarrassed because we haven’t seen each other in a year, huh?”

No matter how many times I looked, there was no mistake. The girl standing before me was someone I knew far too well—and at the same time, the absolute worst person to be here.

“Yuragi… Why the hell are you here?”

Forcing my scrambled thoughts to settle, I carefully enunciated each word.

“Why? Because I’m a student here, obviously?”

Yuragi answered casually. Sure enough, her crimson blazer and the blue necktie hanging from her collar signified that she was a first-year student at Seikou Academy.

“No, but… didn’t your family move to America?”

That’s right. Hakoniwa Yuragi and I… were what you’d call childhood friends.

A little over a year ago, her father had been transferred to America for work. The plan was for them to stay there for at least several years, so she left Japan with her mother and father.

“Well, at first, it was supposed to be a long-term position in America, but then there was some sudden personnel reshuffling for a new business expansion or something. And just like that, my dad got transferred to—uhh, somewhere deep in Africa. I kinda forgot the exact place.”

From Japan to America… and now Africa?! What kind of aggressive company is this?

“And since there were no high schools in that area, I was sent back here—to stay with you, Kanade-oniichan!”

Beaming with a bright smile, Yuragi looked up at me.

“I only came to handle my transfer paperwork today, but starting tomorrow, I’ll be a student at this school, just like you!”

A reunion with my childhood friend after a year. Under normal circumstances, this would probably be a moment worth celebrating.

But I didn’t feel even the slightest bit happy about it.

“I see, that all makes sense. Well, this school has a pretty free-spirited atmosphere, so enjoy your student life here. Alright then, later!”

“Onii-chan, wait a second!”

I tried to make a clean escape, but she grabbed onto the sleeve of my shirt, stopping me in my tracks.

…Yeah, of course, that wasn’t gonna work.

“Jeez! Kanade-oniichan, your cute little sister just came back after a whole year! Why are you acting so cold?!”

“…Yeah, probably because I’m not your onii-chan.”

It wasn’t uncommon for little girls to call an older boy from their neighborhood onii-chan and look up to them. That kind of thing could be seen as cute.

But this… was something else entirely.

Hakoniwa Yuragi treated me explicitly as her brother.

More accurately, it wasn’t just about me. For her, being someone’s little sister was an absolute part of her identity. The girl standing in front of me wasn’t simply Hakoniwa Yuragi—this was Yuragi playing the role of a little sister she had constructed for herself.

“Kanade-san, who might this be?”

Chocolat tugged at my sleeve, looking up at me with curiosity.

“Ah, well, how should I put this? She’s my—”

“I’m his little sister!”

“No, you’re not!”

“Hmm? So should I take this to mean that Kanade-san makes girls who aren’t his little sister call him ‘onii-chan’?”

“Absolutely not!”

“I see. Understood.”

What do you mean understood?!

“Nice to meet you, I’m Chocolat. Yuragi-san, please take care of me.”

Chocolat gave a polite little bow toward Yuragi.

“Ah, I’m Hakoniwa Yuragi! Nice to meet you too! Hey, since we’re already friends, can I call you Chocolat-oneechan?”

Right. Her concept of “little sister” didn’t just apply to me—it extended to everyone around her.

“Chocolat-oneechan…”

Chocolat repeated the phrase to herself, letting it settle in for a moment. Then, all at once, her face lit up.

“What a sweet and elegant sound…! By all means, please do!”

…Wow. She’s actually thrilled.

“O-Onii-chan, this creature is adorable!”

“Ehehe~.”

Chocolat giggled as she was patted on the head, looking completely content. How was she supposed to be the onee-chan in this scenario? She was basically being treated like a pet.

“Oh! Chocolat-oneechan, I have some sweets with me! Want some?”

“I do!”

…Here we go again. I guess this was just the natural urge to feed a puppy or something.

“By the way, Onii-chan, what are you doing on the first floor?”

Oh, right. Our sudden reunion had completely made me forget my original objective.

“It’s nothing important.”

“Hmm… Sounds suspicious to me.”

Yuragi turned to Chocolat with a sugary sweet tone.

“Chocolat-oneechan~? I happen to have some extra-special donuts in my bag… If you tell me why he’s here, they’re all yours—”

“We’re looking for a slightly eccentric first-year student to participate in an event with us!”

“You caved so fast!”

“This is a truly exquisite delicacy.”

“And you started eating so fast!”

With the airheaded dog munching away on a donut, I decided her punishment would be one less side dish at dinner. Meanwhile, at this point, trying to shake Yuragi off would only be a bigger hassle. Resigned to my fate, I gave her a quick rundown of the situation.

“Huh… This school sure does some interesting stuff. But wait, doesn’t something seem off?”

“Off? What do you mean?”

“Why are you in something called ‘The Reject Five’? Back in middle school, you were crazy popular. If anything, you should be on the other ranking, right?”

Oh, right. She had no idea what my past year had been like.

“Well… it’s a long story.”

And there was no way I could explain the Absolute Choice to her. But hold on—maybe this was actually an opportunity.

If I exaggerated just how much of a mess my life had been this past year, I might be able to completely shatter her delusions about me. If I played this right, I could make her lose that weird, twisted affection she had for me.

The real question was, what kind of persona would drive her away?

【 Choose: ① Act like a cold-hearted womanizer and push her away.

② Let snot run down your nose and follow her around.】

…What the hell kind of choice was ②? That’s just a creep.

I had no other option. Taking a step forward, I lifted Yuragi’s chin with my finger.

“Hmph. What a kid.”

“O-Onii-chan…?”

“A year is a long time. People can change dramatically. I’m not the same Amakusa Kanade you used to know. I thought I’d play along and see how far I could take this, but forget it. A naïve little girl like you could never satisfy me. Beat it.”

Yuragi stared at me in blank astonishment. Good. That was the right reaction. Now, time to seal the deal.

“Every girl in this school belongs to me. The ones who couldn’t keep up got tossed aside and, out of spite, started calling me one of the Reject Five. But if you insist, I might be willing to entertain even a brat like you. That is, unless you’d rather not be treated like some disposable plaything. If so, then get lost—”

“…So cool.”

“…Huh?”

“I liked gentle Onii-chan too, but… a sadistic, domineering Onii-chan is just as amazing!”

For some reason, Yuragi’s cheeks turned red.

“So this is it…! My wimpy Onii-chan, who always got confessed to but never responded, has finally awakened to his true calling!”

…Right. I almost forgot.

This was the kind of person she was.

It had been a while, so I’d underestimated just how much of a weirdo she really was. If a little bit of distance was all it took to get rid of her, I would’ve done it ages ago.

With nobody else around, Yuragi dramatically thrust her hand toward the ceiling, as if declaring her victory to the heavens.

“If Onii-chan’s going to be a S, then I’ll become the ultimate M!”

…Yeah. Nope.

“Chocolat… Let’s go.”

“Eh? Are you sure?”

“The ultimate little sister must adapt to any kind of brother!”

“…Yeah, let’s just leave her.”

Without another word, I turned on my heel and briskly walked away, leaving Yuragi to indulge in whatever bizarre fantasy world she had drifted into.