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 39 - Summer Festival 1

Chapter 39 – Summer Festival 1

“Huh…?”

Shortly after returning home with Tsumugi, an unknown lady broke in with a bang.

“Come on, Tsumugi-chan! Come here, come here!”

The woman with a loud voice took Tsumugi by the hand and led her away to a back room, carrying some kind of large luggage.

For a moment I wondered what was going on, but later it was explained that she was a friend of Mizuki-san.

It seems that Tsumugi knows her, so I exhaled in relief and returned to my room.

“Onii-chan! Come here and take a look!”

A few minutes later, I was called into the living room by the Auntie’s loud voice.

There was a beautiful girl in a yukata.

“Nii-san.”

A beautiful girl noticed me and turned around. When she saw my face, she smiled and ran to me.

“Tsumugi!? Why are you wearing that outfit!?”

“Nii-san, perhaps you haven’t noticed yet?”

Tsumugi in her yukata tilted her head in puzzlement.

“Today is the summer festival, you know?”

“Ah…”

Finally it occurred to me and a somewhat dumb voice leaked from my mouth. I remember there was such an event at the final stage of the game… No, it wasn’t a very good one, so let’s not recall it.

“T-That’s right. I completely forgot.”

“Mou~ Nii-san.”

Tsumugi smiled elegantly and giggled.

Her long flaxen hair was braided into a soft updo. And her hair ornament is gorgeous.

The soft and feminine atmosphere was really like Tsumugi, enhancing her beauty even more than usual.　

My heart throbbed at that unusual appearance.

“It means that you were concentrating on the exam so much.”

Tsumugi reached for my head, standing tall.

“Good job, Nii-san. You did very well.”

“Y-Yeah…”

Being patted on the head by my sister is an unbearable feeling. I wonder why she wants to stroke my head, just like Minase did.

However, her voice sounded somewhat like a trace of Minase’s, and I found her appealing in a mature way. I couldn’t help but feel relaxed.

“Ehehe, I finally got to pat Nii-san.”

Also, Tsumugi seems happy, so I’ll take it as a good thing.

“Well then, Nii-san. Let’s go!”

The delighted Tsumugi continued and took my hand with an enthusiastic look.

“Tonight, Tsumugi will get some of Nii-san’s time♪”

Along with Tsumugi, I went out together to the summer festival at sundown.

Today is the annual summer festival. A fireworks display will also be held at night.

“Fufu, Nii-san looks so cool.”

Afterwards, Auntie who was smiling and listening to our conversation even gave me a yukata for myself.

Now I can walk next to the beautifully dressed Tsumugi without embarrassment.

“You look great in that yukata, Tsumugi.”

“Really? I’m happy.”

I forgot to say it earlier, but I was able to praise her naturally.

“But Nii-san looks even better.”

“No, no, no, Tsumugi looks better.”

“No, Nii-san looks better.”

“Tsumugi looks better. Why are we even having this conversation?”

“I don’t know either. I’m just being honest.”

Tsumugi looked really happy and laughed the whole time.

“It’s so crowded, Nii-san.”

The shopping street in town was a street lined with food stalls.

The event seemed to be quite popular, with so many people, from children to students to adults, that the streets were filled with people. As if pressed by the wave of people, Tsumugi leaned closer to me.

“Tsumugi, give me your hand.”

“Eh, ah, yes.”

When I held out my hand, Tsumugi held it tightly without hesitation.

“Now we won’t get separated, will we?”

“Yes, Nii-san.”

Keeping my precious sister in sight so as not to lose sight of her, I grabbed her small hand and led the way.

Navigating through the crowd made walking much easier.

“Since we’re here, let’s get something to eat.”

There was still time before the fireworks display. Until then, it was time to enjoy the stalls.

The savory smell of the festival was making me hungry.

“Do you want something to eat?”

“Hmm…”

Pondering, Tsumugi’s gaze was drawn mainly to sweet foods, cotton candy, crepes, baby sponge cake, shaved ice, and chocolate bananas and such.

“Ah, I want that! Candy apples!”

It was the candy stall that finally won Tsumugi’s heart.

“Candy apples, huh?”

“I’ve never actually had it.”

“Come to think of it, I haven’t either. “

I don’t know how to eat them. Even if I bought them, I have a feeling I wouldn’t be able to have them.

But if my cute little sister wants to eat it, there is no way I can disagree with her.

“I’ll go get some then.”

Saying that, I pulled out my wallet.

This is where the older brother’s financial power (money earned by Takuma from his part-time jobs) comes into play.

“Thank you, Nii-san. But don’t worry. I have an allowance.

“What?

“See?”

In the pouch that Tsumugi took out from her small bag, a single bill of ¥10,000 was shining radiantly.

“I received it from my father-in-law again.”

“I-I see…”

Seeing the slightly apologetic look on Tsumugi’s face, I could imagine the exchange between her and Genzo.

Isn’t he spoiling his daughter a little too much!?

I still don’t have any pocket money!

Well, whatever.

I can understand the feeling of wanting to spoil a cute daughter like Tsumugi endlessly.

“I bought it.”

“Y-Yeah…”

And so, a pathetic older brother who made his sister pay for him was born. It somehow made me feel pathetic.

“I’ll pay for your portion with this money, Nii-san. Just tell me what you want.”

“No, that’s your allowance, Tsumugi. I’ll pay for myself.” 

I insisted, being somewhat stubborn.

I knew that the allowance was meant for Tsumugi’s happiness, provided by Genzo who cared for her.

A good-for-nothing son like me can manage just fine without being doted on by his father.

“But…”

However, when Tsumugi looked at me with a sad expression, I couldn’t resist.

“…Alright, then lend me a little. I’ll return it right away.”

“Huh…? Of course, but… return it?”

I took Tsumugi, who had a questioning expression on her face, to a certain stall.

……

…

“All right, perfect!”

“Wow, you’re good, young man!”

“Well, I have a bit of experience.”

This is a katanuki shop.

It’s a game of hollowing out plate-shaped sweets with various designs carved into them. If you can cut out the design without breaking the mold, you will receive a prize.

In my previous life, when I was a child, I used to go into shop like this to get rich because I had no money.

With the little money I received from Tsumugi, I faced the sweets.

“Wow, Wow! Nii-san is amazing!”

Tsumugi was clapping and excited to see my handiwork.

After failing the first few pieces in seconds, Tsumugi turned completely into a spectator, but I was relieved that she seemed to be enjoying herself. She was licking a piece of candy apple and eating pieces of my katanuki with an occasional crunching sound.

By the way, I did get to taste a little bit of the apple candy, but I still couldn’t shake off the feeling of not knowing how to eat it properly.

Tsumugi is licking it hard, but the candy isn’t decreasing at all. Well, at least she seems to be very pleased with it.

“Nii-san is very skillful.”

“Skillful?”

Am I really skillful? I hadn’t really thought about it.

It was true that I had done katanuki so many times in the past that I could make a profit.

Come to think of it, even today, I’m doing exceptionally well. I didn’t feel like I would make any mistakes.

My fingers are moving exactly as I expect them to.

If that’s the case, this must be the result of my experience plus Takuma’s natural handiness.

“Yes, that’s right. This brother of yours is skillful. Just wait a little longer. I’ll be done soon. “

I grinned and continued with a few successful katanukis in a row.

Earning this much should be enough.

It might be disgraceful for an adult to be doing katanuki for money, but forgive me for being a student with no financial resources at the moment.

Thanks to Tsumugi’s noise, kids in the area are gathering to try it one after another, and it won’t be a loss for the store either.

I sneaked out of the thriving katanuki shop.

“Next, let’s buy what Nii-san wants to eat. What does Nii-san like at the festival stalls?”

“Well, now that you mention it… I’m getting hungry, and I feel like I need something substantial to eat…”

Contrary to Tsumugi who was caught by the sweet scent, I was attracted by the savory taste of sauce.

“Takoyaki? Yakisoba? Or maybe Okonomiyaki?”

“Hmm, okay, let’s eat all of them.”

“Eh, are you sure?”

“Yeah, it’s a festival. We have to enjoy it.”

Contrary to my usual demeanor, I was in high spirits.

The sense of accomplishment of getting through the test. The sense of freedom that comes with summer holiday. The summer festival I got to visit with my precious family.

They were all spices that fueled my excitement, a sensation I hadn’t experienced much in my previous life.

Maybe this is what people call “youth.”

“Would Tsumugi like to eat together with me?”

“Nii-san…”

Tsumugi broke into a smile.

“Of course. I’ll follow Nii-san anywhere…♪”

“Then let’s go. Let’s start with yakisoba!”

As if to celebrate the beginning of the summer holiday, us siblings enjoyed the festival stalls together.