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 - 8-9

Chapter 8: My Big Sister’s Story

ーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーー

When I arrived at school in the morning, I saw Hasumi leaning her weight on the desk at my seat while fiddling with her smartphone.

“Good morning, Hasumi.”

I sat down and placed my school bag on the desk as I greeted her.

“Mm… Good morning, Tsunagi.”

Once she noticed I had arrived, Hasumi quickly put away her phone. She stopped leaning on my desk and turned to face me.

“If you were in the middle of something, don’t mind me. You can keep using your phone.”

“No, it’s fine. It’s just a message from my Onee-chan. I was just replying to her real quick. I’ve finished typing now though.”

Come to think of it, I realized I didn’t know much about Hasumi’s family situation until now, but it seemed she had an older sister too.

“You have an older sister? So you’re a family of two children?”

“Yeah, that’s right.”

“I’ve got an older sister too, so I guess that makes us the same.”

“We both have older sisters, but not everyone’s big sister is as kind as yours, Tsunagi. My Onee-chan is not kind at all.”

“But still, she messaged you in the morning, right? Doesn’t that make her a pretty nice big sister?”

“Not at all. She’s the kind of person who dumped all her status points into looks and cooking skills. Like, the message just now. She’ll sometimes tell me about clothes she thinks would suit me, but aside from that, she has absolutely no redeeming qualities as a human as far as I’m concerned.”

It seemed Hasumi didn’t have a high opinion of her big sister, but even so, she at least acknowledged her looks and cooking ability.

“If she’s your big sister, then I can pretty easily imagine she must be really stylish and good-looking too.”

“Wha—! You probably shouldn’t say that… It sounds like you’re calling me stylish and good-looking.”

“Eh? I mean, that’s exactly what I meant.”

“I-I see…”

She understood what I said, but still told me not to say it…? I didn’t quite understand Hasumi’s reaction, but judging from the slightly bright expression on her face, I figured I hadn’t said anything wrong. So I decided not to worry about it.

“I hope I get the chance to meet your big sister someday.”

“That’s definitely not something you should hope for. Your Onee-san is all graceful and composed, but mine is the complete opposite… So there’s no way I’d ever let you meet her.”

There was a strange intensity in Hasumi’s words, so I decided not to press the topic of her big sister any further… It didn’t seem like they were on bad terms, but I wouldn’t say they were close either.

“Speaking of older sisters… Hasumi, if you’re free after school today, do you mind giving me some of your time?”

“Eh…? After school…? Are you asking me to go somewhere with you?”

“Yeah.”

When I confirmed it, Hasumi blushed and played with her stylish earrings as she responded.

“I don’t mind… But it’s the first time we’ve gone out after school together, right? Where are we going?”

“I’ve been thinking about this for a while… I’m always grateful to my big sister, so I wanted to surprise her with a gift, but I have no idea what would make her happy, so I was hoping you could help me choose the right gift for her.”

“Ah… So that’s what this is about.”

With that, Hasumi stopped playing with her earrings and said to me.

“If that’s the case, I don’t think you need to buy anything.”

“Huh…? How am I supposed to surprise her without getting her something?”

“You’re not trying to give her a present though. You just want to express your gratitude and make her happy, right? Some people feel happier receiving things than words, but I think your Onee-san would definitely be more touched by the feelings behind it.”

“I know my big sister wouldn’t care whether or not she gets something… But even so, just expressing my gratitude without preparing something feels lackadaisical to me.”

“There are lots of ways to surprise someone without giving them a gift… Like, for example…”

Hasumi taught me several ways to surprise someone without giving them a physical gift… None of them were particularly groundbreaking, but since I’d been stuck in the mindset that a gift was necessary, every one of her suggestions felt like something I was genuinely grateful to learn.

“Thanks, Hasumi. I think thanks to you, my big sister’s going to be happy.”

“You listened to me venting the other day, so this is just me returning the favor.”

“Even so, thank you.”

I sincerely thanked Hasumi. …A few seconds later, Hasumi called my name softly.

“…Tsunagi.”

“What is it?”

When I asked her, Hasumi turned her face away from me for some reason and said.

“I know the plan to go out is falling through this time, but… Next time, let’s go somewhere together.”

“Ah, got it. I’ll think of something too, but if there’s anywhere you want to go, just tell me.”

“…! …Yeah, thanks.”

After that, I spent another uneventful day at school—and after classes, I went to surprise my big sister and express my gratitude for everything she had done for me.

ーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーー

Chapter 9: Surprise

ーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーー

“I’m home.”

“Welcome back~! We’re having hot pot tonight, so just let me know whenever you feel like eating, okay? All that’s left is to turn on the heat!”

“Got it, thanks, Nee-san.”

Normally, this would be the part where I’d immediately sit down and eat the hot pot Nee-san had made, but today, I had a mission—to surprise her—so I decided to prioritize that first. I followed Nee-san into the living room, set down my school bag, and spoke to her.

“Nee-san, if you’ve got a moment, could you sit on the couch over there?”

“Huh? Sure, I don’t mind.”

Nee-san didn’t seem to know what was going on, but she obediently sat down on the couch as I asked. I walked behind her, placed my hands on her shoulders, and began giving her a shoulder massage as a way of showing my gratitude for everything she does.

“T-Tsumugu!?”

I was massaging her out of nowhere, so it was only natural for my big sister to look clearly shocked. Nonetheless, I kept massaging her shoulders and said.

“You’re always looking out for me, so I wanted to show you even a little bit of my appreciation.”

“Tsumugu, you always say ‘thank you’ properly, and just that alone is more than enough for me, you know?”

“I didn’t think it was enough… I’m so grateful to you that just saying ‘thank you’ can’t express it enough.”

“Ahhh! Tsumugu~! Thank youuu!!”

Still seated on the couch, Nee-san suddenly leaned in and hugged me around the waist as she shouted.

Thank you, huh. I should be the one saying that. But… That’s just like her.

“Hey, Nee-san! I can’t give you a shoulder massage if you’re facing me like this.”

“I’m perfectly happy just like this though?”

“…If you’re okay with it, then I guess it’s fine.”

“Eh…!? …There are still so many happy things I want to do with you, Tsumugu—”

“I’m starting to feel like eating hot pot.”

“Ehh, what!? No fair~!!”

I felt bad for her, but if I let this keep going, I was pretty sure she’d start doing whatever she wanted with me tonight, so I decided to put a pause on things for now. Knowing her, she’d probably end up saying something like, “Let’s take a bath together”… Besides… The surprise wasn’t over yet.

Looking a bit disappointed, Nee-san finally let go of me and stood up from the couch. She then turned on the heat under the hot pot. Once the broth was heated, she turned off the stove and brought the pot to the table. We sat across from each other in front of the table.

“Tsumugu? The pot is still hot, so be sure to let the food cool before eating, okay?”

“Yeah.”

I immediately picked up a piece of vegetable—but instead of putting it into my own mouth, I held it up to hers.

“Tsumugu…? What’s going on?”

She looked confused, but I pushed down my embarrassment and said.

“The other day, you fed me fish like this… I don’t know if this really counts as a surprise, but I just want to return the favor.”

“No way…! Wait, you’re really going to feed me like that, Tsumugu!?”

“…Yeah.”

It was super embarrassing to say, but since it was the truth, I had no choice but to confirm it.

“I’m so happy~!”

Saying that, Nee-san happily accepted the vegetable I offered.

“Ahhh~! When you feed me, it tastes at least twice as good as usual!”

“I’m glad if you’re happy, Nee-san.”

After that, I fed her a few more bites, and then she insisted on feeding me too. So we ended up in this strange situation, taking turns feeding each other. Once we’d finished the hot pot—amid that odd but cozy back-and-forth—Nee-san then said.

“Tsumugu, today’s surprise made me so happy! Thank you!!”

“I just wanted to show my appreciation for everything you do… But like I said earlier, if you’re happy, that’s what really matters… I should thank Hasumi too.”

“Huh? Sumire-chan?”

“Yeah. I didn’t know how to surprise you on my own, so I asked Hasumi for ideas.”

“I see… But! I’d be happy with anything you do for me, Tsumugu. Please don’t ever forget that, okay?”

“Thanks, Nee-san.”

When I said that, Nee-san smiled for a moment, then murmured softly, as if she had given up on something.

“After all… There’s only Tsumugu for me.”

“Huh?”

“No, it’s nothing! I’m going to start the bath now, so Tsumugu, get your change of clothes ready!”

“Okay.”

I didn’t catch exactly what she said just now, but as long as today’s surprise made her happy, that was all that mattered.

I’ll let Hasumi know how it went tomorrow.

With that thought in mind, I went to get my change of clothes ready just like Nee-san told me to.

ーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーー