The Daily Life of the Cat-Like Sister and Her Foolish Elder Brother - Chapter 8: …Hey, Have You Come To Like Me More?

“Tsukasa Onii-chan!”

“Whoa— Yui, be careful running like that. After all, you’ve dressed up so nicely, right?”

“Yeah! Tsukasa Onii-chan, am I cute?”

“Oh, you’re always cute, but today you’re even cuter.”

“Hehe~♪”

Since it was the new year, I went back to my parents’ house with Yayoi to greet them. After that, my elder sister suddenly ordered, “Wait in front of the entrance in one hour. Oh, Yayoi, come this way.”

And—now 90 minutes have passed. The timing was still as arbitrary as ever. My brother-in-law must be having a hard time.

Just as I was thinking that, Yui came charging over in a kimono. The floral pattern suited her so well.

Her hair was styled too—as expected of my elder sister. It was not at an amateur level at all.

“Yui, what about your mom?”

“Well, Mom was like, ‘I’ve achieved something early in the new year!… Yui, don’t worry about me, let’s go!’ And Dad said, ‘It’s fine as long as it’s with Tsukasa-kun.’ Yui hasn’t gone to the shrine yet. I want to draw a fortune!”

“…I see.”

Did I just get easily pushed into doing this?

But… well, she was cute, so it couldn’t be helped.

“Oh, I see. Then let’s go together—”

“Wait.”

“Should we go?”

“Yeah!”

“Don’t ignore me! Waiiiit!”

“Geez, why are you so impatient early in the new year—”

“Wow~”

While Yui was marveling around with sparkling eyes, I, on the other hand… was unexpectedly at a loss for words.

…This was bad.

It’d been a long time since I’d last seen such a sight, so her overwhelming charm completely bypasses my mental defenses. I was easily overwhelmed.

But anyway, what I want to say is—Sister, I get it, you did a great job.

I’ll shower you with praise, pour you a drink later, and even play games with you— but please, don’t just show off your smug face and retreat to your room. You’re definitely planning to use this as leverage later with the alcohol, aren’t you?

“What’s up? Yui-chan, you’re so cute. Can I come with you too?”

“Yeah! Yayoi Onee-chan is beautiful too♪”

“Thank you— hehe, so I’m beautiful too?”

“…Is that so?”

“Hmm— why aren’t you looking at me? Come on! Look at me and give me your thoughts. I don’t get many chances to wear a kimono, you know.”

That’s right.

Yayoi was currently wearing a kimono, her hair neatly done.

As a result—she exuded a certain allure that I didn’t usually feel, and, well…

She seemed anxious when I remained silent.

“…Could it be that it doesn’t suit me after all…?”

“Mm~ Tsukasa-onii-chan, you’re being mean!”

“No, I’m sorry about that— It really suits you, it’s not a lie.”

I hurriedly apologized.

It was not Yayoi’s fault. The problem lay with my heart.

…Calm down. It’s okay. It hasn’t been revealed yet.

“Ah.”

“…Wh-What?”

“Hmm… I see, I see. So that’s how it is.”

“…S-So what’s your point?”

“It’s nothing~. Oh, really? I see, I see.”

Grr… Despite the urge to slap that smug face in front of me, I restrained myself with an iron will.

Engaging in an argument here would be too disadvantageous.

Let’s just start walking—hey, don’t grab my sleeve… huh, Yui?

“Tsukasa nii-chan, praise Yayoi Onee-chan~! Mom said, ‘It’s a boy’s job to praise girls. Boys who can’t do that are no good!'”

“…I-Is that so?”

“…You look good.”

“I heard that earlier!”

“Well, you know, Yui is listening too.”

“It’s not like it’s bad for Yui to hear it, right?”

“There’s nothing wrong with that—right, Tsukasa nii-chan?”

…This was a deadlock early in the new year.

Sis! Are you seriously watching us from the sidelines this whole time?!!

…What?

“Give up already. You have no chance of winning. Unconditional surrender is your only option. And providing me with laughter is the duty of a little brother.” How ridiculous!!

From this sacred day of New Year’s, I refused to have my dignity as a human being stripped away—caught between Yui’s innocent gaze and Yayoi’s smug look, there was a faint sense of unease.

…It couldn’t be helped. This was an inevitable fate. It’s not like I was giving in.

“Beautiful.”

“!”

I managed to squeeze out just one word. That was all I could muster.

There! What do you mean, “Pfft… what a coward”?!

You’re obviously doing this on purpose, aren’t you?!

You made her wear a kimono with a minimal pattern, giving it an elegant atmosphere that I like—

“Tsukasa.”

“Y-Yeah.”

“…Thank you. I’m happy.”

Yayoi murmured softly, her eyes slightly teary. Perhaps to calm herself, she touched the ring on her right ring finger with her left hand.

Yui watched this with keen interest.

“Yayoi Onee-chan, you’re wearing a ring~. It’s pretty~ Oh? But you weren’t wearing it the other day, right?”

“Huh? Oh, yeah. Well, you see— Santa gave me this as a Christmas present. Nice, isn’t it?”

“Yeah! Yui will ask for a ring next time too!”

…I’m sorry, brother-in-law.

Please consult me if Yui suddenly demands something outrageous.

As for my elder sister? Oh, that’s fine. Let her worry on her own.

“Alright, shall we go soon? Yui, hold my hand so you don’t get lost.”

“Yeah! Yayoi Onee-chan too!”

“Sure. Hehe, this makes us look like a family— Wait, scratch that. Scratch that, I said!”

“…Hey, you know it’s a self-destructive move, right? The love for self-destruction hasn’t changed this year, huh?”

“Sh-Shut up!”

“Oh— Yui forgot something! Wait a bit!”

With that, Yui dashed into the entrance.

…I stole a glance at Yayoi standing next to me, then quickly looked away.

This was bad. I wasn’t used to this.

“…Dear brother.”

“What, now?”

“There’s just one thing I want to ask.”

“Yeah?”

“…”

When I prompted her again, for some reason Yayoi fell silent— then she approached me and whispered in a really soft voice.

“…Hey, have you come to like me more?”

The answer, I think, goes without saying.