The Case Where I Found Out My Big Sister with a Brother Complex Was Actually My Stepsister, Tried to Hide It, but She Found Out Immediately and Became Uncontrollable - 10-11

Chapter 10: Sibling Bond

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“Thanks for yesterday, Hasumi.”

When I entered the classroom in the morning, I immediately thanked Hasumi, who was already sitting at my desk, for what happened yesterday.

“Yesterday…?”

“The surprise for my big sister. Thanks to you, she was really happy.”

“Oh, that’s good to hear.”

Hasumi said that and gave me a smile, something she rarely showed. Hasumi usually didn’t change her expression much during conversations, but the way she smiled at times like this, as if we were talking about something personal to her, showed how kind she really was. After all, this was my big sister we were talking about, but Hasumi looked genuinely happy like she was the one receiving the surprise. 

However, that smile gradually faded into a calmer expression, and Hasumi opened her mouth to speak.

“Tsunagi, you and your big sister get along really well. Are you like that at home too?”

“I’d prefer if she held back more when we’re outside, but I think my big sister acts the same whether we’re at home or not.”

“I see… It must be fun at home with such a beautiful, big-chested, and kind sister around.”

“Beautiful and kind, sure… But her chest…?”

“Huh? Your sister has big boobs.”

“Yeah, but… What does that have to do with what we were just talking about?”

“For guys, boobs are important though.”

Hasumi said this without changing her expression at all.

What’s she saying with that calm face…? Well, I can’t say it’s completely irrelevant. I guess it’s related enough and I guess preferences differ from person to person. Still…

“I’ve never thought that way about my big sister. We’re blood-related, and that kind of thinking just never occurred to me, even from a young age.”

“Then what if you weren’t blood-related?”

“I’ve never thought about that, so I don’t know. And we are related, so there’s no point in imagining if we weren’t.”

“Well… I guess that’s true.”

Hasumi didn’t seem entirely satisfied with my answer, but I didn’t have anything more to add beyond that.

“Sorry, it’s a tough question, right? I mean, if someone asked me what I’d do if my older sister and I weren’t blood-related, I couldn’t imagine it either.”

“Yeah… I guess that just shows how deep the bond between siblings is.”

It made me feel once again the strength of the bond I had with my big sister. As fellow people with older sisters, it felt like we’d had a meaningful talk, but…

“That way of putting it kinda grosses me out, though.”

“Huh…?”

“I mean, it’s not like I want to be deeply connected with my big sister or anything.”

“Th-that’s not what I meant! And here I thought I wrapped things up in a nice way just now…”

“I swear, if you met my big sister, you’d totally get how I feel. Not that I want you to meet her though.”

…Unlike Hasumi, I had nothing but gratitude toward my big sister. Hence why I wanted to give her a surprise to show my gratitude. There wasn’t really anything I disliked about her. But for some people—like Hasumi… I guess not everyone got along well with their siblings… Siblings, huh.

“Oh, by the way, do you remember the talk about us going out somewhere together sometime? We talked about it right after you told me about the surprise for your sister yesterday morning.”

While I was lost in thought, Hasumi started playing with her earring and brought the conversation back, snapping me out of it and making me focus on her again.

“I remember. Do you have something in mind? Somewhere you want to go to?”

“It’s not really about where… I just thought it’d be nice to spend a day off with you, just the two of us. So the place doesn’t really matter.”

“Got it. Then let’s go out this weekend.”

“This weekend…?”

“Sorry, is that too sudden…?”

“No, this weekend’s fine… Yeah, this weekend then.”

Hasumi muttered that in a calm tone, as if she was trying to convince herself. Then, a faint metallic sound echoed softly in the air… When I focused on it, I realized it was coming from Hasumi’s earring. She was fidgeting with it at a rapid pace.

Right after that, the school’s bell rang, and Hasumi quickly walked to her own seat.

“…What was that about?”

Was it bad that I brought it up so suddenly…? But she didn’t seem like she hated the idea. …Anyway, we were going out together this weekend. 

I should probably let my big sister know about my plan once I get home.

And so, after school, I went straight home and told my sister that Hasumi and I were going out together this weekend, just the two of us.

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Chapter 11: Two People’s Feelings

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“Welcome back, Tsumugu! You’ve been coming home early lately!”

“Spending time with friends is important too, but for me, spending time with you is just as important, Nee-san.”

“Aww~! Tsumugu~!”

As soon as I got home, Nee-san blushed and started fussing around by herself. The reason I had been coming home early lately was exactly what I just told her—and also because I didn’t want to leave her feeling lonely while she waited for me. But today, I had another reason. I wanted to tell her something.

“Nee-san, the reason I came home early today is because there’s something I wanted to tell you.”

“Something you wanted to tell me?”

I said as I took off my shoes, I continued. 

“I’m going out with Hasumi this weekend, just the two of us.”

“…Huh?”

Her voice trembled when she heard that. I couldn’t blame her for being so shocked. After all, I had never gone out alone with a girl before. Once I finished taking off my shoes, I stepped into the entrance and faced her.

“So that’s how it is… Just the two of you…”

I had thought she was just surprised, but her expression was far too dark to simply be called surprised.

“Nee-san? Is something wrong…?”

“N-No, it’s nothing.”

She smiled as she said that, but I wasn’t shallow enough in my relationship with her to be fooled by that smile.

“It’s not nothing. If there’s something on your mind, please tell me. We’re siblings, after all… You don’t have to say anything you don’t want to, but that smile just now… It looked like you do want to say something, but can’t.”

“…Tsumugu always sees right through me.”

She puffed up her cheeks and suddenly raised her voice.

“You only ever go out alone with me when it’s for grocery shopping or something! And now you’re going out with Sumire-chan on your day off? What’s that about!? Of course I’m not okay with that!”

“Huh…? T-That’s what this is about?”

Her expression had been so serious, I thought it was something more grave…

“‘That’s what this is about!?’ Tsumugu, are you saying going out with me is just ‘nothing’ to you!? Am I not important to you?!”

“S-Sorry, Nee-san! I didn’t mean it like that… If you want to go out with me, I’d never ignore you. Just tell me anytime.”

“Anytime? So if I said right now, ‘Let’s go eat out somewhere,’ you’d come with me right away?”

“Yeah. If you said that, I’d go with you.”

I answered immediately… But after a brief pause, various thoughts crossed my mind, and I hurriedly added.

“But if we go out now, I’ll be starting today’s assignments later than usual, which means I’ll sleep less than usual… S-So in that case, would it be okay if you helped me with my homework?”

I asked, feeling a bit awkward because I had answered too quickly earlier. Then Nee-san..

“Okay! In that case… No. I’ll help you with your assignments anytime you need. So just rely on me, okay?”

This time, she gave me a smile that was completely genuine.

“Thanks, Nee-san.”

“…I’ve already made dinner for today, but next time… Next time, we definitely need to go eat out somewhere together, okay?”

“Yeah… Though I wonder if there’s a place with food better than yours, Nee-san.”

“I’m sure there are tons of places like that, you know?”

“I don’t think so. Of everything I’ve ever eaten, your cooking’s the best.”

“Tsumugu~! You’re saying that again~! I already made dinner, so let’s eat together now!”

“O-Okay, okay, stop pushing me, Nee-san!”

Then the two of us entered the living room together. I sat down at the table, and Nee-san went to the kitchen to get the food.

「Tsumugu… You accepted those feelings I showed you earlier. But the other feeling I have… The one I have even though we’re siblings… That one, I know you can’t accept. I’m sorry, Tsumugu.」

It felt like she took a little longer than usual just to go get the food, but eventually, Nee-san brought the food over.

“Here you go, Tsumugu!”

“Thanks, Nee-san. You took a while. Should I have helped you?”

“No, I was just thinking about what I should make for tomorrow’s lunch with what’s in the fridge. Sorry for making you worry.”

She said that with her back turned to me as she walked over to her seat.

“I’m glad to hear that then.”

And then, as usual, the two of us began eating dinner together. Spending time with Nee-san… It was really fun. As I savored that fun and comforting time with her, we finished dinner, and I eventually fell asleep while vaguely thinking about what to wear and where to go with Hasumi this weekend.

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