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 37 - Just the Two of Us

Chapter 37 – Just the Two of Us

“Sorry to keep you waiting.”

Plenty of time passed before Minase returned from her bath.

“Y-Yeah.”

I sat on a cushion near the small table in the middle of the room, my heart pounding more and more but I managed to raise my hand slightly to greet her.

“What’s wrong?”

“Huh?”

Minase knelt on the floor and leaned her upper body towards me. Her clear eyes looked into mine.

“Are you nervous?”

Her skin was slightly flushed from the bath. Sweat trickled down her cleavage and plump thighs from the gaps in her casual loungewear. Her dark hair was smeared with the scent of shampoo. She was full of the allure of a seductive woman.

“It’s okay, don’t worry.”

Her beautifully shaped face approached.

“You just need to…take responsibility.”

“……”

Her smile was gentle.

My eyes were drawn to her lips. Then slowly, Minase’s lips came closer.

The only sound in the quiet room, where not a single other sound could be heard, was the sound of the rain.

“—Takuma.”

My body was motionless, as if the atmosphere had taken me over. I was simply passive, ready to accept. I couldn’t refuse or resist.

Is this really okay?

“Nnn!”

Next thing I knew, my lips were sealed.

My mouth was filled with something sweet and intense.

It was as if my brain was rapidly activating and waking up.

“…How is it? Delicious?”

“…Yeah, it’s delicious.”

I replied after swallowing a piece of chocolate that had been popped into my mouth by Minase.

It was really sweet. It was sweet and a little bitter.

“Then let’s study, shall we?”

“Eh?”

“Why are you opening your mouth? You’ve been meaning to do that since the beginning, right?”

“Eh? Ah… I mean, yes, but…”

That’s weird. Is that what I’ve been meaning to do from the start…? Studying…?

From the moment I was invited to Minase’s house, I might have expected something else.

“You better take responsibility for making me so happy. Tonight, I won’t let you sleep…♪”

Saying that, with a sincere smile on her face, she was so charming and cute that a virgin like me couldn’t help but misunderstand her.

……

…

“The rain isn’t stopping…”

“Yes.”

Hours passed quickly as I concentrated on my studies and the sun had long since set.

The rain continued to fall and the wind was picking up, creating the appearance of a storm.

It’s not a good time to go home.

“I’m really sorry.”

“It’s fine. I’m alone anyway.”

Minase suggested that I stay the night. 

Minase had already prepared a home-made dinner for us. As I thought at the time of the sandwich I had received before, she seems to be a good cook and the food was very delicious.

“Your parents aren’t coming home, are they?”

“They both have work to do. They weren’t planning to come home today anyway, and with this storm, it’s pretty much settled.”

“I see…”

The Tsukishiro family’s parents always seem to be busy with work too. But despite this, I can tell that they love their children very much.

They are such good people that I, who had no filial piety in my previous life, don’t deserve them. 

“They are cold people. Just like me.”

Minase’s expression looked terribly sad when she said this.

“No, you’re not. You’re not cold.”

I interrupted her with a strong tone of voice. 

Minase’s eyes widened in surprise.

“I don’t know about your parents, but Minase isn’t cold. She’s warm and kind. She’s very kind. Sure, there may be times when she is disliked by students as the head of the public morals committee, but the fact that she willingly takes on tasks that people tend to dislike shows that Minase is truly a kind person.”

Volunteering is the same.

It’s not something that can be continued out of a sense of obligation.

There must always be something warm and gentle in the hearts of those who do it. 

“And I like that side of Minase.”

“Whaa!”

Minase’s face suddenly turned red.

“Y-You…! Again like this…!”

She banged on the table and stared at me. Her eyes were moist with large tears.

“Why do you always say things that make me happy…!? Are you just trying to flirt with me!? Because of how you are, I always end up misunderstanding…!! Ugh, baka! Baka, baka, baka!!!”

“Eh? Wait, Minase! Where are you going!?”

“Toilet! Hentai!”

Minase left the room as if to escape.

“…But I meant everything I said.”

I couldn’t get my feelings across to her. In the end, all I did was make her angry.

……

…

“Hey, have you finally made a decision about your career path?”

Minase, who had remained flushed and silent since returning from the toilet when we resumed the study session, finally opened her mouth.

“Career path? I haven’t decided yet. You’re going to university, right?”

“Yes. Of course.”

I want to broaden the conversation, but I don’t know much about university so I can’t find anything to talk about…

It seemed like Minase, who was in a sour mood, was also about to fall silent.

“…Come with me.”

However, she muttered softly, turning her face away while nonchalantly rolling a pencil with her fingers.

“Eh…? You mean to a university?”

“Yes.”

“…It must be a highly selective school if Minase is considering it.”

“Yes… But it will be fine.”

“You’re saying it’s fine like it’s no big deal…”

I’m a low-spec student, well below average, remember?

I’ve never made much of an effort.

For someone like me to go to the same university as Minase, that’s just impossible…

“I will teach you.”

“Eh…”

“I will teach you, so let’s study together from now on.”

“But that’s a burden on Minase…”

As I was about to say that, Minase grasped my hand with both her hands as if to wrap it.

“You like studying with me, don’t you? I also…l-like—don’t hate studying with T-Takuma… So, I’ll take care of you until the end…”

The words, though roundabout, told me that she was sincere.

“How about it…? Does Takuma not want to study with me anymore…?”

“Minase…”

On top of the hands that were wrapped around me, I gently enveloped them with my other hand.

“Thank you. I’d like to study more with Minase too. But I need more time to think about my career.”

“…Okay.”

Minase nodded reluctantly.

The university entrance exam is one of the major crossroads in one’s life. It’s not an easy decision.

If I respond half-heartedly, I might cause trouble for Minase…

And how far can I go?

Well, the opportunity to put that to the test is right around the corner.

“Give me your head.”

“Huh?”

“Just do it.”

“O-Okay…”

I had no choice but to tilt my upper body.

Then, Minase’s palm rested on the top of my head and she stroked my head slowly and gently.

“If you study with me, I will stroke you again as many times as you like. I will praise you. Warmly and gently like this. Okay…?”

Minase whispered modestly, as if trying to appeal to me. 

And now the final exams begin.