Reincarnated as the Promiscuous Protagonist in a Netori Game, Only to Find the Heroine, My Step-Sister, Already Threatened to Be a Submissive Slave~ Liberating the Slave and Planning to Leave Home, Yet Unexpectedly Becoming Loved by My Step-Sister~ - Chapter 17 - A Detour With My Little Sister

Chapter 17 – A Detour With My Little Sister

“Muu~~~”

Surprisingly, Kokoa willingly backed down and we parted ways on the way home.

Tsumugi was showing her displeasure as she clung to my arm.

“T-Tsumugi?”

“Hmph.”

I called out to her, but she blatantly turned her head away…

T-This is…

A piercing pain hit my chest.

The psychological damage is quite severe.

I didn’t realize that receiving the cold shoulder from my sister could be so painful. It seems that I’m becoming more aware of my role as an older brother.

If I don’t fix Tsumugi’s mood as soon as possible by any means possible, I won’t be able to live with myself as an older brother!

“Do you mind if we take a little detour?”

“…Detour?”

“I have a place I want to go with Tsumugi.”

“A place you want to go with me… I-Is that perhaps an invitation for the so-called after-school date!?”

Her cute little pouty face melted away and she jumped on the subject.

“Eh? An after-school date? Yeah, I guess so. An after-school date.”

I’ve got to go with the flow here.

“A date…! A date with Nii-san! I want to! Let’s go now! Nii-san!”

“Y-Yeah… T-Then, let’s go this way.”

We changed our course from home and headed towards the bustling station.

“Ehehe… A date♪ A date with Nii-san♪”

Tsumugi, who was instantly pleased, rubbed her head against me while muttering in a lively voice.

“Nii-san, this place is…?”

“What do you think?”

We came to a stall.

It was so popular that there was a line of 10 or more people.

“It’s an ice cream shop?”

“Nice try. The correct answer is gelato.”

“Gelato? Um, so it’s Italian ice cream? I’ve seen it on TV.”

“Yes, that’s right. Semantically, it’s the same as ice cream. But gelato is smoother in the mouth than ice cream and has a richer taste.”

This is Takuma’s knowledge I’m showing off.

I’ve never actually eaten it, so this is completely random knowledge.

“It’s summer already and it’s hot. I thought it would be a great after-school snack.”

The long queue was proof of that. I guess everyone is thinking the same thing.

This recently opened gelato stall has instantly become a popular spot in the shopping district.

“Yes, it’s a bit hot. I’m looking forward to the cold and sweet gelato…♪”

Tsumugi, who had started lining up next to me, had a healthy sweat glistening on her fair skin. She lightly wiped it off with a handkerchief.

“I think you should step a bit away from me.”

It will be hotter if we stick together.

“No, let’s stay like this.”

“But…”

“I like it like this.”

“I-I see…”

On closer inspection, most of the people in the queue were male-female couples.

It was strange that we, who were the most physically close with each other at the queue, were just brother and sister.

After standing in line for 15 minutes, we made our purchase, then moved to a nearby bench and sat down.

I chose vanilla.

And next to me, Tsumugi—

“Wow…!”

She was fascinated by the three-tiered gelato.

The flavors were vanilla, like mine, strawberry, and the limited seasonal peach. The fruit flavor has chunky fruit pulp in them, making them look delicious.

“C-Can I eat this? Can I really eat this? I’m going to eat this!”

“Go ahead, enjoy.”

“Itadakimasu!”

Tsumugi scooped up the gelato with a spoon. After observing it closely with fascination, she finally put it in her mouth.

“Nnn~♪”

She put on the most beautiful smile.

And she finished eating the gelato in no time.

“…Are you feeling better now?”

“Eh? Ah, yes.”

As if Tsumugi had forgotten about it entirely, she looked momentarily bewildered before quickly tightening her expression.

“I wasn’t exactly grumpy, and I’m not the kind of girl who will easily fall for a date with her brother and gelato, but…”

She shifted her gaze as if subtly observing both here and there.

“But just for today, I’ll do what Nii-san wants♪”

Tsumugi smiled mischievously and seemed to be in a good mood already.

After dinner—

“Takuma-kun, Takuma-kun.”

When I was washing the dishes to help out, I was beckoned by Mizuki-san just as Tsumugi left her seat.

“What is it?”

“Can you do me a favor and listen to me?”

“Of course, I’ll do anything.”

Although it may have been reckless, I trusted her as a mother to the point where I thought it would be okay.

“Thank you, Takuma-kun, I love you♪”

“I-Is that so? Thanks for that.”

“It would have made Mom happy if you had told her I love you too.”

“P-Please do that kind of thing with my dad…”

Sometimes the intimacy that she directs toward her son is a little too much…

Mizuki-san is a beautiful woman, so I usually get nervous if I don’t remember to look at her as a mother.

“So, you see, I need to ask you for a favor.”

“Yes.”

“It’s Tsumugi-chan’s birthday next weekend.”

“Ah, that’s right.”

“Oh my, so you knew.”

During the recent question and answer session the other day, I had obtained some basic information about Tsumugi.

“Then I’ll get to the point. On Tsumugi-chan’s birthday, Genzo-san and I will take a day off. I’m hoping we can have some family time.”

“That’s a good idea.”

“Really? I’m glad Takuma-kun thinks so.”

Mizuki-san let out a sigh of relief, her furrowed brows relaxing.

“I haven’t been able to take care of Tsumugi-chan much so far… That’s why I want to celebrate her birthday this year with the new family.”

Mizuki-san has raised Tsumugi as a single mother. Even after she remarried, she is still busy working every day.

For her, Tsumugi must have been a truly good and easygoing child, one who didn’t require much attention.

But as a mother, it may be rather unsettling.

Seeing Tsumugi’s recent adorable and age-appropriate demeanor, I strongly felt that way.

“I’ll help. Let’s have a good birthday party.”

“Thank you, Takuma-kun, you’re really reliable. I love you♪”

“S-Stop it… I told you to do that with my dad…”

“Fufu, Takuma-kun is so shy and cute~♪”

After teasing me to my heart’s content, Mizuki-san was smiling with an energy that made her look even younger than usual.

Dad and Mizuki-san won’t have much time to prepare or anything like that…

I should take the initiative since I have a lot of free time.

I’ll propose the idea to Mizuki-san later.

Now that that’s settled, I should start preparing for the gift and the party… Should I make a reservation somewhere? Or would it be better to have a private family gathering at home?

I started thinking about these things.

It was the first time I even thought about doing something like this for my sister and family, and I felt a little excited myself.