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 - 27

Chapter 27: My Big Sister and Fireworks

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“I’m home.”

“Welcome back, Tsumugu!”

After the fireworks ended and I parted ways with Hasumi, I returned home and, as usual, my big sister greeted me.

“Did you have fun at the fireworks?”

“Yeah, it was a lot of fun.”

When I answered, my big sister showed a flicker of a different emotion on her face, but quickly replaced it with a smile and said.

“That’s great! If you had fun, that’s all that matters!”

“Thanks, Nee-san.”

“…Alright then, let’s get started on dinner…”

“Wait, Nee-san… Come with me for a second.”

“Tsumugu…?”

She looked puzzled, clearly unsure of what I was thinking, but she still followed me. The place I led her to was the storage shed.

“The storage shed…? Do you need something from here?”

“Yeah.”

Saying that, I opened the shed and pulled out a cardboard box.

“That box…”

It was the one Nee-san had used to store her yukata. …She had a sad expression on her face then.

“W-why do you know about that box?”

“I saw you putting your yukata in it with such a sad expression.”

“So you saw my face then… I thought I was alone and let my guard down. Geez, I still have a lot to learn.”

“…You really wanted to go to the fireworks festival too, didn’t you? Then why, when I asked you to come—”

“I’m your older sister, Tsumugu. When you said you were going with a girl from your class, how could I tag along and interfere… You need to start your independence from your Onee-chan. We can’t have you keep getting attached to your Onee-chan, you know?”

Seeing her say that with a sorrowful smile made my chest ache, but now wasn’t the time to get caught up in those feelings. During this summer break, I had placed something new in the storage shed, and now I took it out.

“Tsumugu, is that…?”

“Fireworks. Well, sparklers, really. They’re small compared to the big ones we saw at the festival, but I think they’re enough to light up the two of us.”

“You mean… You’ll watch fireworks with me?”

“We always watch fireworks together every year and I want to do the same this year too. So let’s wear yukata and watch them together, even if it’s just now.”

When I said that, Nee-san’s eyes lit up. Then, as if all the sadness from earlier had been an illusion, she grabbed the box with her yukata and said.

“Okay! Just wait! I’ll go change real quick!!”

With that, she ran up the stairs. She was probably going to change in her room. I quietly waited right there for her to finish changing.

Ten minutes later…

“Thanks for waiting, Tsumugu!”

Nee-san came back in her yukata, cheerfully calling out to me. The yukata she wore had blue and pink flowers drawn all over it, and her hair was neatly tied up with a kanzashi. Nee-san always looked mature, but tonight she looked even more grown-up than usual. She looked absolutely beautiful.

“That yukata looks great on you again this year, Nee-san.”

“Hearing that from you, Tsumugu, is what I look forward to every year around this time.”

As we exchanged those words, Nee-san and I stepped into the yard and sat side by side to start the sparklers.

“So pretty… I know the fireworks at the festival were beautiful, but even these little ones look amazing too.”

“Yeah. It’s not about what kind of fireworks we see. What matters to me is seeing them with you, Nee-san.”

“…!”

When I said that, Nee-san’s lips curved into a joyful smile. Right after, she whispered something.

“If only I had just a little more… If something would give me the push to act on this feeling… I won’t give up on Tsumugu, who’s this kind… I’ll be the one to make him happy…”

Her voice was so soft, it was drowned out by the faint crackle of the sparklers, and I couldn’t hear what she said. But still—I could feel it. Something inside Nee-san had changed. Something big.

Then, this time, in a voice I could hear, she said.

“Tsumugu, thank you for giving me such a wonderful time.”

“No, I should be the one thanking you. It’s only fun because I get to be with you, Nee-san. So… thank you.”

…The words “wonderful time” made me think of something, so I spoke up.

“Your birthday’s in November, and it’s already August now… Your birthday will be here before we know it. I want to make sure this year’s birthday is an amazing one for you too. I’ll go all out celebrating it.”

“I’m more than happy every day as long as I can spend my day with you, Tsumugu.”

“Then I’ll be sure to make you even happier on your birthday.”

“I’ll be looking forward to it then!”

Saying that, Nee-san smiled brightly under the glow of the sparklers… That smile—that was the one I wanted to see most.

“…”

Nee-san’s birthday, huh…? …Come to think of it, she’s turning eighteen this year.

Mom, who was overseas right now, told me she had something important to tell me once Nee-san turned eighteen. Something about her future—something only I needed to know. And whether I chose to tell Nee-san about it after hearing it was up to me.

“Tsumugu? Is something wrong?”

Noticing that I was lost in thought, Nee-san peered at me with concern. Right now, I needed to savor this dazzling, happy moment with her.

“No, it’s nothing… Still, it’s really amazing how your yukata looks perfect on you every single year, even though it’s a different one each time.”

“Keep complimenting me like that and I’ll get all flustered!”

“Then I’ll compliment you even more.”

“Geez~!”

And so, with sparklers lighting up the night, Nee-san and I spent a truly joyful time together, just the two of us.

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