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 - 23

Chapter 23:  Love Rivals ~ Nozomi Tsunagi’s POV ~

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Nozomi Tsunagi always went straight home after school every day. It was because she wanted to start cooking right away so that her beloved little brother, Tsumugu, could eat as soon as he got home—and also because she wanted to be there to say “Welcome back” when he arrived.

She had already finished the prep work in the morning, so all that was left was to cook the dishes by boiling or grilling them. Today was another hot day, just before summer vacation began, but just like always, Nozomi headed straight for the school gate as soon as classes were over so she could go home right away.

Normally, she would’ve gone straight home without any interruptions, but today, something unexpected happened near the school gate.

“Huh… Tsunagi’s Onee-san?”

“…Sumire-chan?”

She had run into Sumire Hasumi, a close friend of her brother, Tsumugu. Nozomi found it odd that Sumire, who usually went home together with Tsumugu, was alone today. Curious, she asked her about it.

“Why are you alone, Sumire-chan…? I heard you always walk home with Tsumugu…”

“Today’s his turn to take out the trash, and even though I said I’d wait, he said he felt bad about making me wait and pretty much forced me to go on ahead.”

“I see.”

Considering Tsumugu’s personality, that story made sense to Nozomi.

“…Um, Tsunagi’s Onee-san, if you don’t mind, would you walk with me part of the way?”

“Sure, I’d love to!”

And so, by chance, the two of them ended up walking home together, matching their pace as they set off. The first to break the silence was Nozomi.

“Thank you, Sumire-chan, for always spending time with Tsumugu.”

“Please don’t thank me. I’m the one who enjoys being with Tsumugu, so there’s no need to thank me… Honestly, I’m the one who should be thanking him instead.”

Sumire said that with a small smile. After a short silence, Sumire spoke again, this time looking a bit uncomfortable.

“…Um, there’s something I want to ask you… I want to ask you this question just to be sure. Is that okay with you?”

“Ask me…? What is it?”

“For the summer fireworks festival… I’m thinking of inviting Tsumugu to go with me, just the two of us. Would you be okay with that? You know,  as his sister?”

“…”

There was only one day during summer break when the fireworks festival would be held. That was the very day Nozomi had been planning to invite Tsumugu so they could go together… But now that Sumire had asked her directly, Nozomi, as his big sister, couldn’t say no—regardless of how she felt about it.

“If Tsumugu is okay with it, then I don’t mind. You and he are close anyway, Sumire-chan, so you don’t need to ask me for permission.”

“…Then, what if I told you I wanted to go with Tsumugu to a quiet spot, just the two of us, to watch the fireworks and talk… You wouldn’t mind that either?”

“U… Uh-huh.”

Those are all things I want to do with Tsumugu.

Nozomi felt shaken but still managed to answer affirmatively—at least in words. At the same time, a question rose in her mind.

“Sumire-chan, why are you asking me something like that?”

“…I’m sorry. I know you’re his big sister, and I understand that. But… You’re so beautiful and kind that I can’t help but be conscious of you.”

“Conscious…? What do you mean by that?”

Nozomi didn’t understand what she meant and asked her that question casually, but Sumire’s reply gave her more of a shock than she could have ever imagined.

“…Like a rival in love.”

“…………Huh?”

Nozomi was hit with a shock so intense it ranked among the biggest shocks in her life. A rival in love—from the context, it was obvious what love Sumire was talking about. What that single phrase revealed was clear. Sumire had romantic feelings for Tsumugu, hence the words ‘love rival.’

“…W-why would I be your love rival?”

“I know it’s weird to feel that way because you’re his big sister… But whenever I see you and Tsumugu talking, I can’t help thinking that way.”

“That’s ridiculous. Tsumugu and I are blood-related siblings.”

“Does being blood-related have anything to do with love?”

Because they were related by blood, romantic feelings weren’t allowed. That was what Nozomi believed. Because with that blood tie, any romantic feelings could never lead to a happy ending… Or that was what she always told herself.

But feelings of love couldn’t be stopped by something like that, and her feelings for Tsumugu weren’t just growing year by year—they were growing by the day. If she had someone to confide that in, maybe she would have been a little freed from the pain… But she couldn’t say something like that to her friends, or Sumire, and definitely not to Tsumugu.

“I think it does matter. For me, I care about Tsumugu as a little brother, but I’ve never liked him as a guy.”

Because they were related by blood… Nozomi could never accept her real feelings, much less talk to someone about them. Sumire nodded slightly at those words and said.

“I… see. I’m sorry. That was a weird thing to say, huh?”

“No, don’t worry about it… But I see. So someone has finally fallen for Tsumugu.”

When Nozomi said that, Sumire suddenly felt embarrassed by her own words, her cheeks turning red.

“U-Um! What I just said, please don’t tell Tsumugu—”

“Don’t worry, I won’t say anything. You can relax.”

“Thank you… Oh, this is the spot where I usually split off from Tsumugu, so I’ll go this way.”

“Got it. See you later.”

They waved lightly to each other and went their separate ways. Nozomi, carrying a tangle of complicated emotions, returned home and finished preparing dinner, just like always.

“I’m home.”

And when her beloved little brother Tsumugu walked in, just like always, she…

“Welcome back!”

She greeted him, and after that, they enjoyed dinner together as usual.

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