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 - 28-29

Chapter 28: My Big Sister’s Presence

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“Morning, Tsunagi… It’s starting to get a bit chilly today, huh.”

“Yeah, looks like everyone’s switched to long sleeves starting today.”

Summer break had ended, and it had been two weeks since the second semester began.

Even though it was already September, I’d never really thought of it as a particularly cold month—but apparently, the chill was coming earlier this year. And on this chilly morning, Hasumi and I were, as usual, chatting at my desk before class.

“You’ve gone back to how you used to dress before summer, Hasumi. No more of that outfit that made people worry.”

“Well, it’s cold in that outfit… But you were still worried about me, huh.”

Hasumi mumbled something under her breath, too quiet for me to hear. Before summer, her typical look had been her light brown hair swept to the left, a stylish earring in her right ear, and her school blazer tied around her waist. …But her skirt was still the summer one, a really short one, just like always. 

“Aren’t your legs cold like that?”

“They are, but when I weigh it against fashion, I still end up choosing this. My friends all do the same thing.”

“I see… You’re putting in a lot of effort into your style, huh.”

“I wouldn’t call it ‘effort’ exactly… More like hard work.”

I’d casually used the word “effort,” but for Hasumi, it seemed like “hard work” was a better fit.

“Then I’ll be the one to vouch that all that hard work is paying off.”

“Well, since Tsunagi is giving me his stamp of approval, I guess I can trust it.”

Hasumi smiled softly as she said that. …I remembered having a similar conversation when my big sister found out that my friend Hasumi was a girl. As I was recalling that moment, a thought crossed my mind.

“It’s been almost half a year since we started getting close, hasn’t it?”

“Time flies… At this rate, the second year of high school will be over before we know it. Then we’ll be in third year, and then our high school year will come to an end too… I wonder if we’ll still be like this after that.”

Hasumi said that in a gloomy voice. …It was true that if we ended up taking different paths after high school, it might become harder to keep talking and laughing like we did now. …But these days, we had plenty of ways to stay in touch. I tried to cheer her up.

“Even when we’re college students, even when we’re adults, we’ll still be friends. So you don’t have to get so down about it—”

“I’m sorry, Tsunagi. That’s not what I meant… I don’t want to hear stuff like that yet… Sorry, I should get back to my seat.”

“Eh…? …Okay.”

When I gave a confused response, Hasumi walked back to her seat looking clearly upset. It seemed I had messed up. I didn’t even know exactly what I had done wrong, but that topic was clearly a sensitive subject to him. Maybe I should’ve thought more carefully before saying anything.

In the end, Hasumi avoided me the whole day, and I went home alone without speaking to her again.

“…I’m home.”

“Welcome back!”

As I silently took off my shoes and stepped into the house, my big sister must have sensed something was off, because she called out to me.

“Tsumugu…? Did something happen?”

“…I’m not really sure why, but Hasumi is avoiding me, and I think it’s all my fault.”

“Wait, Sumire-chan is…?”

My big sister, curious about the situation, sat with me on the living room sofa, and I told her everything that happened today.

“Yeah… I can see how Sumire-chan might’ve been hurt by that.”

“Huh…? W-Why? Was what I said really that bad?”

“No, it’s not like you said anything mean or cruel… But Tsumugu, your kindness might’ve backfired this time. Sumire-chan knows that you were being kind—that’s exactly why she couldn’t get mad at you and ended up avoiding you instead, I think.”

“…Nee-san, do you know which part of what I said made Hasumi avoid me? If you do, I’d really like you to tell me.”

I asked her that, but my big sister shook her head.

“That’s not something I can tell you… That’s something only Sumire-chan can say, something important to her.”

“…”

I really had no idea how things ended up like this, but it seemed I had said something that hurt Hasumi, even if what I had said wasn’t inherently negative. 

….I really don’t get it. 

Maybe sensing how down I was, my big sister tried to cheer me up.

“D-Don’t worry! I’m sure Sumire-chan will feel better by tomorrow, and you two will make up! But if you keep moping around like that, you might make it harder to patch things up, you know?”

“Nee-san… Thanks. Really, I feel like I’m always being saved by you.”

“That’s not true… I’ve been helped by you plenty too, Tsumugu.”

After that, my big sister and I spent some quiet time together. Even without saying a word, just being with her made me feel at ease and I realized once again how my big sister’s presence always brought me comfort.

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Chapter 29: Hasumi and Making Up

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“Huh… Hasumi is not feeling well?”

“Yes.”

Yesterday, I had talked to my sister about Hasumi, and I had gone to school in good spirits the next day. But even after the first period ended, Hasumi hadn’t shown up at school. When I asked the teacher why, I was told she was apparently absent due to feeling unwell.

“Oh, right. Tsunagi-kun, if you’re free after school, could you deliver these handouts to Hasumi-san’s house?”

“Me? I think it’d be better for a female friend to go rather than a guy like me since this is her house we’re talking about.”

“I thought so too, but her friends said, ‘It’d be better if Tsunagi goes.’ If they were just saying that because they didn’t want to be bothered by it, I would’ve scolded them, but they seemed pretty serious about it… Besides, I always see you getting along well with Hasumi-san, so I’m not worried if you go to her house.”

I’d heard stories about Hasumi’s friends from Hasumi herself from time to time, so I assumed they were close. But they asked me to deliver the handouts?

I don’t really get it, but if that’s the case, then I don’t have much choice but to accept.

“All right, I’ll take them over… Do you have her address?”

“It’s the place marked here.”

Saying that, the teacher handed me a map of the neighborhood. On it, one house had been marked with a red symbol. That must be Hasumi’s house.

“Thank you.”

“Okay, I’m counting on you.”

──And so, after school, I headed toward the marked location on the map. When I arrived, I saw a beautifully designed Western-style detached house, with decorative house plants arranged out front. I pressed the intercom next to the front door. Then, the door slowly opened.

“Yes, who is it~?”

Through the crack in the door, I caught a glimpse of light brown hair.

“Hasumi…? You weren’t at school today, so I brought you the handou─”

“Huh? Tsunagi-kun!?”

“Eh…?”

I hadn’t realized earlier because the door hadn’t fully opened, but when I looked closely, the person there was Hasumi’s older sister.

“Tsunagi-kun! Oh my, what is this? Don’t tell me… Were you hoping I’d teach you that ‘grown-up stuff’ I mentioned the other day? Awww!~ You’re so impatient~! I already told you to wait after you turn eighteen! But, well, I suppose it’s only natural that a high school boy would be curious about it when a beauty like me says something like that. So today, just for you, I’ll show you something a high schooler can do in my roo──”

“Excuse me! I think there’s been a misunderstanding! I only came to deliver handouts to Hasumi… To Sumire Hasumi-san, since she missed school today.”

“Sumire…? Oh, the handouts, right. I see, so I’m not even on your radar, huh?”

“…Right. But if Hasumi’s Onee-san could take the handouts and pass them on to her, then─”

“You’re so mean! Seriously! Lately, Sumire has been awful to me too! You two awful people can just be awful together! Sumire’s room is upstairs, all the way at the end!”

Saying that, Hasumi’s Onee-san stormed out of the house. Even though she could’ve just taken the handouts and given them to Hasumi herself.

She’s really beautiful and stylish on the outside, but I feel like her personality really drags her down.

“…I can’t just leave them at the entrance, huh.”

I muttered quietly, “Excuse me,” and did as Hasumi’s Onee-san said, heading upstairs to the room at the far end. I slowly opened the door.

The room looked exactly like what I’d imagine Hasumi’s room would be: a white carpet, a white table, a dresser with a full-length mirror, and stylish accessories on display. I felt so out of place in this room.

“Hasumi… Are you asleep?”

Hasumi appeared to be asleep in bed, so I quietly walked over to place the handouts on the table without waking her, but then…

“Onee-chan…?”

Hasumi opened her eyes and turned just her face toward me.

“…Huh? Tsunagi?”

“…G-Good day.”

“…W-Why are you in my room!?”

She sat up quickly in surprise, but immediately winced in pain.

“You shouldn’t move so suddenly.”

I placed the handouts on the table, then walked over to Hasumi’s bed and gently laid her back down. Just by touching her, I could tell she had a fever.

“W-Why are you here, Tsunagi?”

“I came to deliver your handouts.”

“Handouts… I see. Thanks.”

“Don’t worry about it.”

After that, silence settled between us for a while, but I spoke up soon after.

“Well, I’ll head out now. Get some rest.”

Since Hasumi had been avoiding me the day before, I felt it would be wrong to stay too long in her room the very next day. I stood up to leave, but Hasumi grabbed my hand to stop me.

“Tsunagi… I think I’ll get anxious if I’m alone right now. So… I want you to stay with me.”

“…Are you sure? I mean, I thought you didn’t want to talk with me after what happened yesterday. I know I was the one at fault though, but…”

“Yesterday… I’m sorry. I avoided you for no reason and then today, I’m suddenly asking you to stay with me instead. I’m such a handful, huh.”

“I don’t think that at all.”

“…I’m sorry for avoiding you yesterday. I know I’m being selfish right now, but I want us to be close again starting today.”

“Same here.”

Hasumi and I quietly made up. Now that that was settled, I no longer had a reason to leave her alone while she was clearly still sick, so I sat down next to her bed.

“…Yesterday, I got out of the bath and started thinking too much. It seemed I was out in the cold for too long and I caught a cold because of that.”

“Are you okay?”

“It’s not that bad. I’m not experiencing any major coughing or anything. I just feel a bit feverish, that’s all.”

“I see… I hope you’re better by tomorrow.”

“…If you’re willing to come all the way to my room like this, maybe I don’t need to get better.”

“Cut the jokes. Just focus on getting better as soon as possible. If there’s anything you want me to do, just say the word.”

“Something I want you to do…”

Hasumi mumbled, then pulled back the blanket slightly and said.

“Maybe… Sleep beside me?”

“There’s no way I can do that, right? How about something else, like putting a cool towel on your forehead?”

“My fever’s starting to come down nicely, so if you put a cold towel on me now, I think it’ll just give me a headache… Besides, if no one’s nearby, I might… cough cough…”

Hasumi let out a clearly fake cough. There was no way that coughing was real, but the fact remained—she had a fever. I couldn’t just leave her when she was still sick like this.

“…Fine. Then I’ll sit on the bed. That’s close enough, right?”

“What about lying down beside me?”

“Not happening.”

“It’s not like you will lose anything from lying down beside me… Then can I hug you? I don’t have any hugging pillows here, and I feel like I’d feel safer holding on to something.”

“…Do whatever you want.”

Saying that, I turned my back to Hasumi and sat on the bed she was lying in. Then, she gently hugged me from behind and fell asleep just like that. I quietly watched over her for a while, and when she woke up again, she seemed much better—so I finally headed home.

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