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 36 - Important Time Together

Chapter 36 – Important Time Together

“Damn it, where is she…?”

I don’t know where Minase is likely to go. I haven’t known her for very long.

She’s also not replying to my messages.

I ran around the whole neighborhood but couldn’t find her.

Maybe she’s gone home.

No, it can’t be.

I remember her menhera messages from the past.

If I’m not mistaken, she must be at…

Thick clouds began to drift slowly in the distant sky, and the area was beginning to be enveloped in darkness.

I have to find her before it rains!

“I don’t know where Minase went… But what about Takuma?”

I didn’t feel like it, but I had to look into my memory.

The first big thing that happened with Minase was a date.

Takuma was happily taking Minase around, who was reluctant to go along with him. 

The only place in all of this where her expression was festive was—

“I just have to go there then.”

I started running.

By the time I got close to my destination, it was raining heavily.

“I should have bought an umbrella at the convenience store…!”

The rain made me a little hazy, but I didn’t slow down.

And I found her.

“Where are we?”

“Hehe, just take a look”

“Look at what… Huh?”

“What do you think?”

“Wow… This is the city we live in.”

“You know, surprisingly enough, people often don’t pay much attention to their own hometown.”

“Yes, it looks beautiful.”

It was on an old hill in the city. 

It’s a desolate place that is only visited by tourists from time to time…but after walking a considerable distance to reach it, you’ll be greeted with an undeniably superb view.

Yeah, for what it’s worth, the scumbag Takuma was pretty good with women.

“—Minase!”

“Eh? You, why are you here…?”

Minase took shelter in a roofed hut, to shelter herself from the rain.

Out of breath, I rushed closer.

“W-What are you doing here?”

“I’m here to see you…”

“H-Huh? What about the other girls?”

“I disbanded them.”

“W-Why? You would have had a good time without me.”

“Huh?”

“I’m the head of the public morals committee, so I tend to be strict and just ruin the atmosphere. So that’s it for today. It’s not your fault. Enjoy yourself as you please. I’m going home, so forget about it.”

Minase averted her gaze and brushed off the situation.

I’m a little irritated by that attitude.

“Then why are you here?”

“!!! …I came here by chance, and I just happened to take shelter from the rain.”

“Fine, fine. Well, I happen to be here too, and—I choose you.”

“Eh…?”

For the first time since I arrived, our gazes met.

She must want my attention…

That’s why she was in the place where the only good memory she can call her own with Takuma, whom she strongly dislikes, lies dormant.

“What are you talking about?”

“Today was originally supposed to be me and Minase’s time.”

Still, I can’t even begin to guess how she feels.

“Then I choose Minase. I value my time with Minase more than anyone else, and I like studying with Minase.”

I can only hope she feels the same way. 

“~~~W-What are you saying!? E-Even if I’m so happy that my face gets hot, that’s so embarrassing! Baka! Baka, baka, baka!!!”

“Ow, ow, ow!”

Minase, throwing a tantrum, beat my chest.

“…You’re wet. Not just a little, but completely soaked.”

“Ah, yeah. I didn’t have an umbrella.”

“Idiot. You’re really an idiot. But I’m happy.”

“Ow, it hurts.”

She still beat my chest.

“You like and value your time with me so much, don’t you?”

“Of course. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have taken weeks of personal tutoring with the self-proclaimed strict head of the public morals committee.”

“You like (time with me / me ) more than anything else and cherish it the most, don’t you?”

“Y-Yeah…?”

I can’t help feeling that the meaning is changing.

“Then take responsibility.”

“Huh?”

“Come to my house now.”

Minase took a folding umbrella out of her bag.

“You have an umbrella?”

“It’s something I usually have on hand.”

So she wasn’t taking shelter from the rain, after all…

“I was just waiting for you to come.”

I walked close to Minase, who kept her body close to me so that I wouldn’t get wet in the rain any more.

“S-Sorry for intruding…”

I came to the Minase household.

“I’m sorry. I’ll bring you a towel, so can you stay there for a while?”

“Y-Yeah… By the way, what about your parents?”

“They’re not here today.”

“Eh…”

My mind went blank.

Outside, the appearance of a storm finally took over, and thunder was rumbling.

I kept waiting at the front door.

“Here, a towel.”

“Thank you—Um, Minase?”

I tried to take the towel, but for some reason, Minase wouldn’t let go of her hand.

“I’ll wipe your body for you.”

“Eh? S-Sure.”

“…You’re completely soaked. What if you catch a cold before the test?”

Minase gently wipes my wet head.

“I’m sorry. But I’m confident in my physical strength.”

“Yes, idiots don’t catch colds.”

“Yes, yes.”

“—That’s a lie. Idiot kids catch colds because they don’t have enough self-care.”

“Ugh…”

“That’s why I’m wiping you thoroughly. After that, you’re taking a bath.”

“Ah, no need to go that far for me…”

“Take. A. Bath.”

“Yes.”

I decided to obey.

I was thankful because I was honestly cold.

After leaving the bath, I was taken to Minase’s room.

It’s not as decorated as Tsumugi’s room, but it’s a modest room. On the bookshelf, I could see a lot of reference books. There were two familiar stuffed animals on the bed.

“Then I’ll go take a bath too.”

“Eh?”

“What? You think I’m not cold?”

“No, no, no! Please take your time and warm yourself up!”

“H-Hmph! I-I don’t care about the bath you got into or anything! Well, maybe I’m a little curious, but that’s it!”

I didn’t ask…!!!

“Also, my underwear is in that drawer over there! B-But don’t look too much! It would be really troublesome if two or three of them went missing, so if you’re going to steal, just take one!”

You don’t even have to say that…!

“When I get out of the bath, you better take responsibility… Takuma.”

After saying that, Minase disappeared and I was left alone.

“…………”

I won’t take a look or steal your underwear, okay!?