The Protagonist's Sister Loves Me, But She's Definitely a Yandere. - Chapter 35: Liar

Chapter 35: Liar

“…?”

A question mark might as well have popped up over my head.

Two people appeared on the rooftop —a boy and a girl.

They were holding hands, looking like a picture-perfect couple.

When I looked closer, I realized they were both on the event committee. I’d always thought they seemed close, but now it made sense. They must’ve just started dating.

They were completely absorbed in their own world, not even noticing Mimi or me as they started flirting. It felt awkward to watch, so I just glanced at them from the corner of my eye.

Normally, you’d expect them to care that someone else was already here, but I guess that’s the power of love. The guy seemed especially enthusiastic. The girl glanced over at us a few times, but she didn’t seem too bothered by it.

“…This is awkward.”

I muttered to myself, feeling the unbearable tension.

The serious mood from earlier was completely shattered.

Just when I’d decided to consider Mimi’s feelings, her suspicions, and figure out what to do, this happened. I scratched my cheek, unsure what to do with myself.

Mimi seemed just as uncomfortable. The thoughtful expression she’d had earlier was gone, replaced by a few dry, awkward smiles she couldn’t seem to help.

“L-Let’s go…!”

“Y-Yeah. Good idea.”

The unexpected visitors had completely killed our courage to keep talking.

We had no choice but to leave the rooftop. But if we just went home like this, it would feel like I was agreeing to everything Mimi said. I knew we’d have to think of a solution sooner or later. Even if Mimi really was in trouble, I’d probably been too quick to ask for time to think. No matter what, I couldn’t bring myself to just walk away from her.

But there was one thing I still wanted to ask.

“Ogawa.”

I called her name as we left the rooftop and started walking down the stairs.

She was a few steps ahead, and she turned her head back toward me.

The sunset stretched our shadows long across the stairs.

“What is it, Usui-senpai?”

Mimi tilted her head slightly, her blonde hair swaying gently.

She was a bit bratty, but still a cute underclassman. It reminded me of the shy, quiet girl she used to be in middle school. She’d changed, but at the same time, she hadn’t. I took a breath and spoke to this girl named Mimi Ogawa.

“Earlier, I said I needed time to think.”

“Yeah, you did. What about it?”

She fully turned around, her expression puzzled.

Carefully, without breaking the flow or creating contradictions, I chose my next words.

“I thought I should share some info with you first.”

I folded my arms behind my head, trying to seem casual.

The rooftop door was closed behind us. The school building, quiet and empty after the sports festival, had a solemn atmosphere. There were no sounds —not even footsteps. Our voices echoed faintly through the silence.

Now that I thought about it, situations like this had been happening a lot lately.

“Remember when I told you the stalker came to my house?”

“…Yeah, I was really shocked back then.”

“Well, there’s more to that story. I actually chased after them.”

That night, the chase. Whoever it was, they clearly knew how to run.

“But I couldn’t catch them. I’m guessing they’re in the track team, but I haven’t narrowed it down yet. There are a few people who are both on the committee and the track team.”

It wasn’t just Kusunoki’s sister. There were a few committee members who were also in the track team. If I hadn’t overheard that conversation between Mimi and Kusunoki’s sister that day, the suspect would’ve been even harder to pin down.

And there was one more thing —Mimi had gotten something wrong.

Runa had gone back inside the house that night.

The person I chased couldn’t have been Runa. It made sense that Mimi might suspect her, but there was a contradiction.

Unless Runa had an accomplice.

From Mimi’s point of view, the chase that night naturally pointed to Runa. That was because of Runa’s athletic ability —she was as fast as any track athlete.

There were still a lot of things that didn’t add up, no matter who the stalker was. Like how the straw dolls were prepared in advance, or how the timing of the emails was always too perfect. But if we didn’t take action, we’d never find the answer. Just standing around, waiting, wasn’t going to solve anything.

“…So, isn’t it Ichinose-san after all?”

“…I didn’t see their face. It could be her. But I think it’s dangerous to narrow things down too quickly. Is there anyone you know who’s in the track team or just someone fast, even if they’re not on the committee? Anyone who seems even a little suspicious?”

Mimi pressed her fingers to her temples, thinking hard. “Hmm…”

While she thought, I got a message from Runa. She seemed really upset.

It was a cat sticker with an angry expression, and the message read, “Where are you?”

I had promised to wait for her at the school gate, so it made sense that she was annoyed I wasn’t there.

“So? Did anyone come to mind?”

“…Hmm, I have some friends in the track team, but no one really stands out…”

“I see. Okay. Thanks. We’ll talk more about this rooftop thing later.”

“Yeah. I might get attacked again if things stay like this.”

Mimi’s words were half-joking, but they were still pretty unsettling.

The stalker’s obsession was definitely abnormal. Another attack on Mimi wasn’t impossible.

But I felt my suspicions start to tilt toward Mimi.

—She doesn’t know that Kusunoki-senpai is on the track team?

No way. Not after that cryptic conversation they had.

As she kept walking a little ahead of me, I stared at her back. For a moment, I could almost see the word “liar” written on it. I let out a long, slow breath.

“You’re late. Where were you?”

“Sorry, sorry. A teacher suddenly called me in for something.”

When I explained that I got asked to help out, she snorted.

She still didn’t seem totally convinced, but it looked like she let it go. She twirled a strand of her light brown hair and fanned the collar of the jacket she wore over her gym clothes.

“…Aren’t you hot in that?”

“I am, but I don’t want to walk around in my gym clothes.”

Apparently, walking around in her gym uniform drew too much attention.

With her looks, it made sense. Probably twelve out of ten people would call her a beauty. Gym clothes just made it worse.

“That’s the kind of thing that could get you stalked by a pervert. I’m counting on you.”

“Don’t worry. I’ll tackle them to buy you some time if I have to.”

“…Well, I guess that’s not bad. For you, that’s pretty good, Shin-nii.”

The walk from the high school to our houses took about fifteen minutes. Not far at all. Even if we walked slowly, we’d get there naturally. But today, it felt strangely long.

It wasn’t a mental thing —we were clearly walking slower than usual.

(…Hmm)

A few minutes after we left the school, I glanced at Runa beside me.

She was talking less and less, and now even when I spoke to her, she could only manage one-word answers. Her cheeks were flushed, and her steps were unsteady, swaying a little with each step.

It was obvious she wasn’t feeling well. The pressure of being on the event committee, the exhaustion from competing —all the stress must have finally caught up with her.

Now that the festival was over, her body was starting to give out.

“…You’re not okay, are you? Should I call a taxi?”

“That’s a waste… I’m fine. The house is… close.”

Runa let out a sigh. She looked like she was about to collapse.

Calling a taxi was out —it would cost too much and take too long. But I couldn’t let her keep pushing herself.

I looked around to make sure no one was there and made up my mind.

“This isn’t… a big deal—”

As she spoke, she tripped over nothing.

I quickly caught her and, in one motion, lifted her onto my back. She was light.

It reminded me of when we were kids. Back then, I used to give her piggyback rides all the time.

“See? I told you so. I’ll carry you, so just go to sleep.”

“…Put me down. …I can walk by myself.”

I can walk by myself, huh? Her little show of defiance made me chuckle.

Even though she was saying no, she didn’t resist being carried. That just showed how exhausted she really was. I adjusted my steps carefully to avoid jostling her too much.

“What if someone sees us? We’ll stand out, you know.”

“You were the one who told me to give up and deal with it. Besides, I’d rather people stare at me than see you suffering. …But, uh, sorry if this starts any weird rumors.”

When I said that, she muttered her usual insult: “Idiot.”

Her breath touched my neck, and I felt its warmth. It surprised me how hot it was.

She’s burning up. I was genuinely relieved tomorrow was the weekend.

Trying not to jostle her made me slow down even more. We were taking twice as long as usual. Eventually, my house came into view, but I walked past it and stopped in front of the Ichinose house.

I called out to Runa, who was still on my back. She was as quiet as a borrowed cat —no, she had actually dozed off.

“…Runa. Sorry to wake you, but where’s your key?”

“It’s… in the outer pocket of my bag. Just take it out.”

After saying that, Runa let her head droop back onto my shoulder.

I sighed. There was no helping it. I carefully adjusted my grip on Runa, making sure not to drop her as I rummaged through her school bag. The outer pocket… the outer pocket —there it is.

I pulled out a key and unlocked the front door.

“Welcome ho—! …Huh?”

It was the first time I’d seen her since spring break.

She looked a lot like Runa. On reflex, I gave her a small nod.

She wore an apron and held a ladle in one hand. Now that I thought about it, my parents had mentioned she’d be back for a bit. But with the whole stalker situation, it had completely slipped my mind.

“Oh my! Shinji-kun! It’s been so long! How have you been!?”

“Yeah, well, I’m doing fine. It’s been since spring break, right? …Hi, Youka-san.”

Youka Ichinose. She traveled the world, a successful and capable woman.

—Hinata and Runa’s mother.

―――――

Thank you so much for reading this far. I appreciate your patience with the slower pace of the story. The sports festival arc is just a few chapters away from being completed. I already have the conclusion planned out, so while I might be slow, I hope you’ll stick with me.