The Protagonist's Sister Loves Me, But She's Definitely a Yandere. - Chapter 25: The Locked Door

Chapter 25: The Locked Door

After the first meeting, Runa and I naturally ended up walking home together.

The days were getting longer, so it wasn’t completely dark yet. The moon was faintly visible in the sky.

“…The first day was pretty rough, huh? A lot happened.”

“Yeah. I didn’t expect to get called out by the president.”

I hadn’t told Runa about the fake love letter Kisa Kusunoki gave me. Since I’d already lost the letter and there was no real reason to bring it up, I kept it to myself. Besides, I didn’t think Kisa was the stalker anymore.

Kisa clearly liked Hinata for some reason or another. If she really were the stalker, she would have done something more extreme when she called me out that day.

“Shin-nii, you’re too nice. You should just say no!”

“…Yeah, you’re probably right. But I guess I’ve gotten used to it. And imagine if they got mad at me for not giving advice. That sounds like too much of a hassle.”

“Or they could blame you even if your advice was good and things didn’t work out.”

She had a point. Ever since we were kids, I’d been dragged into Hinata’s problems and his circle of friends. It had become so normal that I didn’t even question it anymore. Maybe it was time to rethink how I dealt with this stuff.

Thinking back, I really did get stuck with all the thankless jobs.

The harem group —Rika, Mimi, and Himeno-senpai— all connected back to Hinata. I wondered how that guy saw me. Not that I had any intention of asking him.

Relationships could be made or broken.

We used to go bug hunting together or even sleep in the same bed when we were kids. Those nostalgic memories suddenly came back. At the same time, I realized I couldn’t agree with Hinata’s current way of thinking.

“So, did you find anyone suspicious?”

“Nope, unfortunately not. Honestly, I’m completely clueless.”

I had been keeping an eye out during the meeting, but I didn’t get any results.

“Well, they might not have even been there.”

“Yeah, we should stay on guard. —Oh, you’re coming over for dinner, right?”

A few minutes earlier, I got a message from my mom.

She had been called into work for an unexpected night shift. Adult life seemed rough. My dad wasn’t the type to worry about dinner and would just eat whatever was convenient, so I knew I’d be home alone for dinner.

“Yeah, sounds good. Should we stop by the supermarket?”

“It’s fine. I’ve still got plenty of ingredients. Do you want Chinese or Japanese food?”

“…Chinese. I feel like eating something with a strong flavor.”

“What a coincidence. Me too.”

We were both feeling tired. Strong flavors were the best way to blow off stress.

Runa and I looked at each other and smiled at the same time, without needing to say anything.

At this point, the Ichinose house felt like my second home.

There were houseplants that had grown tall over the years. A wooden bear carving that no one knew who picked out. On the TV stand, there were several group photos of the Usui and Ichinose families together. Normally, being in someone else’s house would feel awkward, but I’d been here so often that I felt completely relaxed.

“Just watch some TV while you wait. It’ll be ready in less than thirty minutes.”

“Okay, but let me know if there’s anything I can help with.”

“…Then maybe you can handle the dishes later.”

From the kitchen, I could see Runa in an apron. Her quick, efficient movements made me quietly impressed. How much effort did it take to get that good? Her light brown hair swayed gently as she moved.

Some random info show played on the TV in the background.

I didn’t watch TV much anymore since I was always on my phone, but these kinds of shows just felt right during mealtime. Some host whose name I didn’t know was out on a field report.

“Hey, that apron’s starting to look pretty worn out.”

“I’ve tried to take good care of it, but I’ve had it for a few years now.”

“Why not get a new one?”

I pointed out something I had just noticed.

Even from here, I could see the fraying on Runa’s apron. The fabric was stretched out, and there were a few stains that wouldn’t come out no matter what. It was probably time for a replacement.

“…Hmm, but it’s a special apron.”

She turned halfway around and gave a small, amused smile.

I remembered. It was a long time ago, back when she first got into cooking. She wanted an apron, and I used my allowance to buy her a cheap one.

But considering how long she’d used it, I definitely got my money’s worth.

“I’m glad you feel that way, but I can buy you another one. It’s just an apron. It won’t cost more than the price of a good meal.”

“I keep telling you, I do this because I like it.”

Runa smiled a little wider and turned her attention back to the frying pan. I couldn’t see her expression anymore, but the mood didn’t feel bad. Then, in a soft voice, she murmured:

“…You still remember.”

It seemed like that apron still had some life left in it.

—The doorbell rang.

The sudden sound broke the moment. I checked the video intercom and saw a delivery worker holding a cardboard box. When I told Runa, she said, “Sorry, can you get it?” So, I left the living room.

I opened the door, signed Ichinose, and took the package.

The package was for Hinata. He was ordering too much stuff again. And, of course, it was heavy. I checked the sender —a sports equipment store. Typical. It made sense for a guy like him who always got roped into helping out with club activities.

“This package is for Hinata. I’ll just leave it in front of his room.”

I told Runa and headed up the stairs. The second floor layout was familiar: Hinata’s room was to the right at the top of the stairs, Runa’s room was at the end of the hallway, and the left side was a storage room.

I figured I’d just leave the package in front of his door.

“…That’s weird. Did she forget to close it?”

After setting the heavy box down, I noticed the door at the end of the hallway was open.

It was rare for Runa to forget to close her door. She used to be careless about it when we were younger, but ever since middle school, her door was always shut.

She was a girl, after all. No one likes the idea of someone accidentally peeking into their room, especially during their teenage years. Even I got wary when my mom suddenly barged into my room.

Being considerate, I turned around to avoid looking inside.