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 - 15

Chapter 15: My Friend and My Big Sister

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“Tsumugu… There’s something I’d like to ask you. Is that okay with you?”

While we were eating breakfast, Onee-san asked me this with an unusually serious expression, so I paused for a moment to listen to her.

“What is it, Onee-san?”

“Last year, things were really hectic for me and we couldn’t go around the school festival together, right? So, if you’re okay with it, I was hoping that this year, we could go around the festival together on either the first or second day! …I thought you’d probably say it’s embarrassing to walk around with me now that you’re a high schooler, so I was debating whether I should even ask you… But I really do want to go with you.”

“I don’t think it’s embarrassing at all. I want to go around the festival with you too, so honestly, I should be the one asking.”

“Eh… Really!?”

Onee-san’s face immediately lit up when she heard my words. Since a bright expression suits her best, I wanted her to always wear that smile… So I thought to myself as I spoke.

“Yeah. I don’t want to lose out on important time with you for such a silly reason. We didn’t get to enjoy the festival together last year, so this year, I want to make the most of my first school festival with you now that I’m in high school.”

“You… You really think so?! I’m so touched…!”

Onee-san expressed her overflowing emotions with big gestures, but then she suddenly froze in place.

“Onee-san? Is something wrong…?”

“Mm.. It’s not like something’s wrong exactly, but… Tsumugu, you said you didn’t want to lose important time with me, right?”

“I did, but… What about it?”

“Then why don’t you take baths with me anymore?”

“The bath…!? That’s a completely different matter. What I said just now could be explained with that reasoning, but the bath thing can’t be brushed off as mere ‘important time’ like that.”

“Then what was your reason for stopping taking a bath with me? Why did you stop taking baths with me, Tsumugu?”

As I scrambled to respond, remembering how I used to bathe with Onee-san, she, in contrast, remained calm, as if this were a very serious topic we were discussing. But for a second-year high school boy like me, continuing this conversation with my big sister was just too embarrassing, so I steered the conversation toward ending it quickly.

“That has nothing to do with this, so I’d rather not talk about it… Besides, if we don’t eat soon, we might be late to school.”

“…Okay. Sorry. Let’s eat breakfast.”

Onee-san apologized, and afterward, we finished breakfast together and headed to school. As we got closer to school, a girl with light brown hair, wearing earrings, an open-collared blouse showing a pendant, and a mini skirt approached from the opposite direction. Of course, that girl was none but Hasumi.

Come to think of it, I think we ran into each other in this same spot on our way to school once before.

“Oh, Tsunagi… And Tsunagi’s Onee-san.”

“Ah! Sumire-chan!”

This time, unlike the last, we ended up walking to school together as a group of three. …For some reason, Hasumi kept staring at Onee-san.

“What is it, Sumire-chan?”

“…Tsunagi’s Onee-san is wearing her summer uniform now, huh. I mean… The sheer volume is kind of amazing. I’m a little jealous.”

“Volume…? I’m not really sure what you mean, but it’s been getting hot, so I just switched to summer clothes. You’re very stylish yourself though, Sumire-chan.”

“Not at all… Oh, right. Since you’re here, Tsunagi, and well, your Onee-san too since she’s with us, there’s something I wanted to say.”

“What is it?”

Hasumi faced me seriously, her eyes looking straight into mine as she spoke.

“I want to go around the school festival with you, Tsunagi. Are you free…? I probably can’t on the second day because my friends are dead set on dragging me around, but if you’re free on the first day, I’d like for us to go together.”

“Ah, that’s no problem. I was just talking with Onee-san about going around the festival, but she said either day would work for her. If you’re only free on the first day, then let’s go together that day.”

“With your Onee-san… Okay. I’ll look forward to the first day then.”

Hasumi looked like she had some thoughts about it, but in the end, she smiled at me. I turned my attention to my big sister.

“Onee-san, would it be okay if I went around the festival with you on the second day instead…?”

“…Yeah. Sumire-chan is your precious friend after all. This is Sumire-chan we’re talking about. I can trust you with her, so I have no problem with that.”

“…Same here. If it’s your Onee-san, Tsunagi, then even if you did something weird, I’d feel at ease. I can enjoy the festival without worries.”

For some reason, the two of them spoke in a way that seemed like they were strangely conscious of each other, but since neither of them seemed to have any objections, I figured it was fine to go with Hasumi on the first day and with Onee-san on the second day of the festival.

After that, the three of us chatted casually as we walked to school together.

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