The Protagonist's Sister Loves Me, But She's Definitely a Yandere. - Chapter 49: Why Are You Two So Friendly?

Chapter 49: Why Are You Two So Friendly?

To put it bluntly, Runa and Mimi’s compatibility is a disaster.

They’re like oil and water —their personalities should never mix.

But now they’re calling each other by their first names, and I can’t help but be shocked. They must have made some kind of pact behind my back. I don’t even want to know the details.

Mimi is the kind of girl who stalks people, and Runa has the suspicious habit of keeping some of my stuff. It’s clear they’re both a bit off from what most people would call “normal.”

This duo of first-years is way too intense to be called ordinary.

…And yet, here they are.

“Runa-Runa! Where was the swimsuit shop again?”

“Pretty sure it’s on the second floor. …Mimi, stop bouncing around. It’s embarrassing.”

“Oh, come on! Shopping after school gets me hyped!”

To anyone who didn’t know the situation, they looked like two friendly girls. And not just any girls —two beautiful ones. Naturally, they drew a lot of attention. Meanwhile, I got confused, suspicious stares for being with them. I was used to it, but having people stare at me like that was still annoying.

“Shinji-senpai, hurry up! If you get lost, I’m not going to look for you!”

“…Lost? Seriously? I’m just going to look for some swimsuits myself. You two go ahead.”

I was being dragged along without a choice, but there was no way I was brave enough to go swimsuit shopping alongside two girls. 

At this point, we should really be splitting up into guys and girls. Especially since the store they were headed to mostly sold women’s swimsuits.

I’d much rather go to a place like G〇 or Shima〇ra. Seriously.

“What are you talking about? That would make coming here together pointless.”

“Exactly! I want to buy a swimsuit you’ll like, so you have to come with us, Shinji-senpai!”

Both of them grabbed my arms, locking me in.

“Why are you two so in sync now? You were at each other’s throats just the other day!”

My right arm was taken, my left arm was taken —I had no escape. I grimaced and asked.

After a brief pause, Mimi smirked, and Runa narrowed her eyes.

Clearly, neither of them planned on giving me a straight answer.

“Well, that’s a secret. Trying to figure it out makes you a bit of a perv, Shinji-senpai.”

“Okay, fine. I don’t want to be a perv, so let’s just go separately for swimsuits— Hey! Why are you pulling me?!”

I couldn’t pull away without risking hurting them, so I ended up being dragged along like a stubborn child. This only drew more attention from everyone around us.

“We’ll pick out a swimsuit for you, Shin-nii. Just deal with it.”

“Uh, Runa, I don’t think that’s a fair trade…”

“Then you can imagine us in our swimsuits. Right, Runa?”

Mimi gave me a playful wink. She was as carefree as ever.

Meanwhile, Runa, who tends to get embarrassed easily, blushed a little at Mimi’s words.

If she was embarrassed, wouldn’t it be better if we split up? That thought crossed my mind again.

“…Whatever. Do what you want.”

“You heard her! Isn’t that great, Shinji-senpai?”

“What nonsense are you talking about? And can you two let go of my arms already?”

—But if I end up imagining something weird… well, you know?

Whoa, okay, let’s think of the North Pole. The freezing chill and sheer terror hit me all at once.

Runa whispered those words softly, and as a guy, there were times my imagination would run wild whether I wanted it to or not. I quickly shoved away the thoughts that had started forming.

We walked through the mall by the station after school. I couldn’t help but wonder how these two would explain themselves if someone from school saw us. As random thoughts filled my mind, a wave of bright fluorescent colors entered my vision. —Swimsuits.

The store’s name was written in some overly fancy font. I couldn’t read it at all.

For someone like me, who had no connection to anything stylish, this place felt like another world.

Dragged inside by the two of them, the awkwardness only got worse.

By chance, the store was filled with girls and women. A few couples were browsing, but there definitely weren’t any suspicious guys stuck between two pretty girls like me.

“Oh, this one’s new! The design is so cute!”

“Mimi, with your blonde hair, something citrus-colored might suit you.”

“Then how about white for Runa? I’m so jealous of your smooth skin!”

Deciding I wasn’t going to run away, they both started a loud swimsuit review session.

That made me stand out even more, so I did my best to disappear.

I’m a statue, I’m a statue, I repeated in my mind, trying to blend into the background.

My plan was simple: after they bought their swimsuits, I’d quickly grab something for myself.

I was doing my best to act like a statue near the entrance, instead of some boyfriend standing in the back with his arms crossed. But of course, that plan didn’t work, and Runa noticed me.

“What are you doing over there? Shin-nii, which one do you think is better? This one or this one?”

“―Deden! The ultimate choice! If you get this wrong, Shinji-senpai, you die!”

“That’s way too extreme. …Do I really have to choose?”

To be honest, I’d seen Runa in a swimsuit before.

But that was back when she was in elementary or middle school. Now she was starting to look more grown-up, and, well… you get the idea.

I glanced at the swimsuits she held up. The designs looked a bit… risky.

Both were bikinis. One was pure white, the other was jet black —two completely opposite colors.

Being asked to choose between these two while being told not to think anything weird? That was just cruel.

Besides, shouldn’t she just wear whatever she wants, not what I like?

“Of course. I want to match Shin-nii’s taste.”

“Oh, after Runa, please pick mine too, okay?”

“Fine, but don’t complain if my taste is lame.”

I scratched my head and let out a sigh.

“It’s fine. Everyone knows Shin-nii’s sense of style is terrible.”

“Besides, even if I don’t, Runa can make anything look good.”

“Hm? Was that a dig at me? It’s annoying when you say stuff like that, Mimi.”

I thought I was off the hook since the conversation had drifted, but no such luck.

“So, which one do you think is better?”

She pushed the two swimsuits at me again.

I realized we wouldn’t move forward until I answered, so I reluctantly pointed at one.

“Hmm… so, this one?”

I picked the black swimsuit. Runa nodded a few times quietly.

For a second, I imagined Runa wearing the black swimsuit. No hidden meaning there. Really.

“Nice choice, Shin-nii. You picked the right one!”

“Don’t call me that. It gives me chills when you say it.”

“Ow, fine! I guess ‘Shinji-senpai’ still fits best.”

Mimi made a circle with her fingers and smirked. I gave her a light chop on the head.

As she smiled and rubbed her head, I found myself tilting my head in confusion.

“Wait, how do you know it’s the right choice?”

“Well, being a stalker means you have to know the preferences of the people around your target. Sometimes you need to blend in and get close by matching their tastes.”

“You’re talking about them, huh? You’re way too open about this.”

“They’re not connected to me anymore, so it doesn’t matter.”

She was talking about the harem group she used to be part of.

It was a little scary how casually she said it —this girl really was something else.

Just like how Runa and Mimi had their talk, I needed to sit down and have a serious conversation with Mimi. And with Runa too. I couldn’t keep putting it off forever.

“Excuse me, is there something I can help you with?”

While we were talking, a staff member, neatly dressed, approached us.

It was probably because we had been standing around chatting without looking at any products.

I was about to say it was nothing when—

“Shin-nii, come here for a sec.”

Runa gently grabbed my arm.

She had a serious look on her face, so I gestured to Mimi to handle the staff and followed Runa without resistance. —She led me straight to the fitting room.

“I tried them on, but I still can’t decide which one to go with.”

It seemed that while I was chatting with Mimi, she had already finished trying on swimsuits.

She held up the same black swimsuit designs for me to see again.

“…Runa, is there one you like more?”

“No, not really. That’s why I want to pick whichever one you like best, Shin-nii.”

“You should pick the one you like, not—”

I didn’t get to finish my sentence.

“That won’t work. I want you to think I’m cute, Shin-nii.”

“…I’m happy to hear that, but since we’re going to the beach…”

“If… if it’s just the two of us, then… imagine it. It’s fine…”

Her pink lips tightened into a pout, and she trembled slightly.

“If it’s just the two of us, it’s embarrassing, but… I can handle it.”

I remembered the preparations for the sports festival — the time she pinned me down.

I’d never been good at handling situations like that. When it was someone else’s story, I could shrug it off. But when it involved me, I got flustered easily. Honestly, I found that part of myself kind of ridiculous.

“…If I imagine that, it makes me feel like a total creep. This is awkward. But seriously, Runa, you’d look great in either one. I’m not just saying that —I really mean it. You’ll definitely look cute.”

“…Idiot. That makes me happy, but that’s not what I meant.”

Even though she kept her usual confident look, it felt like there was steam rising around her.

Her words, her expression —without the whole situation with Mimi, I might not have understood it. Or maybe I just pretended not to notice. Either way, I still didn’t have an answer to these feelings.

Looking into Runa’s slightly teary eyes, I didn’t know what to do.

The only thing that came to mind was probably the wrong thing to say.

“…Uh, can I ask you something?”

It felt like the right moment somehow. I gave a weak smile as I spoke.

About the missing item. If Runa really took it, there had to be a complicated reason.

We grew up together like family. I was confident I wouldn’t be shaken by anything she said.

“Something you want to ask? …What’s with the sudden seriousness?”

She narrowed her eyes suspiciously.

I stalled with an awkward, “Uh…”

Just then—

“—Aha! Suspicious couple spotted!”

Mimi suddenly barged in right when I was about to ask.

Her timing was so perfect it threw me off.

The words I had carefully put together in my head shattered into pieces.

“Were you two doing something fun together?”

“Of course not. Oh, and sorry for making you deal with the staff.”

“It’s fine. Though they did think it was some kind of cheating scandal or a love triangle.”

Mimi stuck her tongue out playfully.

“Well then, I’m borrowing Runa for a bit!”

She left me with, “Shinji-senpai, enjoy being lonely by yourself!”

With that, Mimi and Runa hurried out of the fitting room like a whirlwind.

Still, I couldn’t just stand there looking dumb forever.

I left the fitting area, and in the distance, I saw the two of them whispering to each other.

It didn’t seem like I’d be able to join in, so I pulled out my phone. —A message popped up.

I frowned at the sender. What was he thinking?

[Shinji, wanna grab a meal sometime?]

It was from Hinata.