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 - 47-48

Chapter 47: Nozomi Tsunagi and Sumire Hasumi

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“Taking a bath really feels good~”

“Totally~”

As per their discussion earlier that morning, Nozomi Tsunagi and Sumire Hasumi ended up taking a bath together that night. After washing their bodies, the two of them sat in the bath together. Nozomi looked incredibly relaxed and comfortable in the hot water, while Sumire was staring intently at Nozomi’s chest.

“Is something wrong, Sumire-chan?”

“N-No, it’s nothing.”

Despite the one-year age difference, Sumire still couldn’t believe Nozomi was a fellow high school student. Her figure was just that stunning. Captivated by Nozomi’s beautiful figure, Sumire quickly turned her gaze away.

“I’m really happy you came to stay over, Sumire-chan!”

“…Is that so? When Tsunagi told me that his older sister agreed to let me stay, I was honestly surprised. Why did you let me stay over?”

“Because you’re really important to Tsumugu, Sumire-chan and I want to be close with you too.”

“…Since we’re having this heart-to-heart while we’re both naked, let me just ask this. Do you not see me as a nuisance? If you want to be in a romantic relationship with Tsunagi, shouldn’t you be keeping me away from him? But instead, you let me stay over, you invited me to join you for Tsunagi’s homemade meal before, and you even went to a café with me… And now we’re here, taking a bath together… Why are you being so kind and considerate toward me? …Is it because, to you, I’m not even a real romantic rival? So you don’t care about me? Is that why you’re so nice to me?”

Sumire hesitated at first, but in the end, she asked her question clearly and directly. Nozomi shook her head and smiled gently at her.

“That’s not it. Just like how you once said you saw me as a romantic rival, Sumire-chan, I feel the same about you. I see you as a rival too… But just as much as that, I also want us to be good friends.”

That gentle smile, those kind words, that warm feeling from Nozomi—just for a moment, they overlapped with Tsumugu in Sumire’s mind. She let out a deep sigh and spoke.

“You and Tsunagi… Even if you’re not related by blood to him, you’re clearly connected by something else… Your expressions, your words, your feelings.. They’re all so alike to him… Compared to that, I… I can’t even accept genuine kindness for what it is. Maybe I’m not the one who should be by Tsunagi’s side.”

Sumire compared herself to Nozomi, and to Tsumugu, and spoke with a tone of discouragement.

“That’s not—”

Nozomi started to comfort her, but in the very next moment, Sumire’s expression turned lively and she threw her feelings straight at Nozomi.

“But! When it comes to how much I care about Tsunagi, I won’t lose to you, no matter what! That’s the one thing I can say with confidence!”

“You said it, Sumire-chan! But! I’m not going to lose either!”

“If you’re that confident, then let’s have a love talk about all the things we love about Tsunagi!”

“Sure! I’ll go first! There are so many things I love about Tsumugu, but I’ll start with his gentle personality!”

“I totally get that…! He doesn’t seem like the type to notice the little things, but he really does…!”

“Right? He’s so considerate, and he always chooses his words carefully while thinking about me—”

After that, the two of them spent an entire hour talking nonstop about what they loved about Tsumugu. They definitely had more to say, but if they had kept going, they wouldn’t just have overheated in the bath—they might’ve talked until morning. So they decided to save the rest for next time, and left the bath together.

After getting out, the two had grown even closer. Without any hesitation, they decided that the three of them would sleep in Tsumugu’s bed that night with Nozomi on one side, Sumire on the other and Tsumugu sandwiched in the middle.

…Of course,Tsumugu had absolutely no idea what was going on.

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Chapter 48: I Like Hasumi a Lot

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“…Good morning.”

“Morning! Tsumugu!”

“…Morning, Tsunagi.”

When I woke up, I remembered that I had slept in my bed with these two, sandwiched between them. When I first heard about it yesterday, I thought there was no way I’d be able to sleep. When I actually lay down between them, I was prepared to be sleep-deprived the next day, but surprisingly enough, I fell asleep right away once the tension left my body. 

“Sleeping together as a trio is fun, isn’t it!”

“You think so…?”

“Sleeping next to Tsunagi made my heart race, but I do have to admit, it was the most comfortable sleep I’ve ever had.”

“I-I see.”

I didn’t really get it, but if the two of them were fine with it, then I guess it was fine. The three of us got out of bed together and quickly decided to have breakfast. Since Nee-san was going to cook for us today, she walked off toward the kitchen, leaving just me and Hasumi in the living room.

“The sleepover flew by, huh.”

“Yeah…But it was really fun.”

“It was really fun for me too.”

At first, I didn’t know how things would turn out, but once we actually did the sleepover, the sleepover turned out to be filled with so much fun. As I was thinking back on everything that happened yesterday, Hasumi’s face showed a hint of nervousness, so I turned to face her again.

“Hey, Tsunagi… If you’re free, I was wondering if maybe—”

Just as she started to say something, Hasumi shook her head and then spoke again.

“Tsunagi… Would you spend Christmas with me this year?”

…Just like Nee-san had said, it looked like Hasumi wanted to spend Christmas with me too. Of course, it wasn’t like I didn’t want to spend it with Hasumi. If I could, I wanted to, but if I accepted Hasumi’s invitation, then I wouldn’t be able to spend Christmas with Nee-san.

I spent Christmas Day—the 25th—with Nee-san every year. Just like with the summer festival, even if my relationship with Nee-san had changed a little since then, the time I could spend with Nee-san was something I treasured dearly. 

As I struggled with the question of whether I should spend Christmas with Nee-san or Hasumi, Hasumi seemed to see right through my dilemma. She gave me a small smile and said.

“Just so you know, I’m fine with either the 24th or the 25th, okay?”

“…Huh?”

“Whether it’s the 24th or 25th is fine by me. It’s not strange to spend either day with someone special and besides, even without any romantic feelings involved, I want you to value the time you spend with your big sister.”

Hasumi really understood me. She said she liked me, and she had been with me all this time. Maybe it was only natural for her to understand me this well. Even so, I was honestly happy about it.

“Thanks… Even without the romance stuff, I still want to cherish the 25th with Nee-san like I always do. But at the same time, I also want to treasure the time with you, Hasumi… That’s why I couldn’t give you an answer right away.”

When I said that, Hasumi gave me the same kind smile, as if confirming the thoughts I’d just had.

“I already know that you’re that kind of kind person, Tsunagi… After all, I love you, and I’ve always been watching you.”

That smile was so cute that I couldn’t help but feel drawn to her, not as a mere friend but as a potential love partner. Trying my best to hide that reaction, I replied.

“…Then, would it be okay if we spent Christmas Eve, the 24th, together instead?”

“Yeah, that’s fine… Hey, Tsunagi, are you blushing?”

“I’m not.”

“Like I said, I’ve been watching you this whole time. It’s easy to tell when you’re trying to hide your embarrassment… I want to see more of that side of you, Tsunagi.”

As she said that, Hasumi gently placed her right hand on my cheek. I felt embarrassed by the gesture, but strangely enough, I didn’t feel any discomfort from it. So I didn’t brush her hand away, and until Nee-san finished cooking, Hasumi and I chatted happily—closer than we’d ever been before.

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