When I Comforted My Sickly Stepsister, She Couldn’t Live Without Me - 08 - The Long-awaited Moment

Imari and I walked along the familiar route to school.

As usual, I’m in a good mood, and it seemed like she’s looking forward to going to my house.

“I’ve said it before, but don’t have high expectations, okay?”

“I got it.”

Despite what she says, her excitement seemed palpable.

“(Does she really understand…?)”

I sighed and continued walking.

After a while, we finally arrived at my house, and I took out my keys from my bag to unlock the door.

With her behind me, I slowly opened the door and…

“Welcome home, Nii-san!”

Standing in the entrance, my stepsister, who had been eagerly waiting for me, met my eyes.

She smiled happily at me, but as her gaze shifted to the person behind me – to Imari– her expression froze.

“Sorry, I brought a friend today.”

Trying to introduce her, Imari popped her head out from behind me.

“Hello! I’m Mari Imari, one of Miyoshi-kun’s classmates.”

Miyari has a natural charm that makes her popular with everyone, young and old alike.

However, despite her Buddha-like qualities, Yukine’s expression remained neutral, if not slightly twisted.

“Yukine?”

She seems deaf to my voice, as a silent tension builds between Yukine and Imari.

With a sharp glance at Imari, Yukine suddenly rushed upstairs and disappeared into her room.

“W-what was that all about…?”

Taken aback, I turned to Imari, who nodded thoughtfully, her hand on her chin.

“I see…”

“What do you mean, ‘I see’?”

“Nothing, really.”

“Don’t dodge the question. Did you figure something out?”

“Well, it’s nothing you need to know.”

“Nothing I need to know…”

Whatever just happened, I’m left completely clueless.

It’s bothersome, but if IMari insists it’s best I don’t know, I can’t push it further.

“I’m completely lost back here…”

I muttered, and Imari smiled slyly, pointing her index finger at me.

“That’s something only a girl would understand.”

“I see…”

“Anyway, let’s go to your room!”

“Yeah…”

With Imari pushing me forward, I entered the house.

What was that all about?

I’m curious, but it seems like I won’t find out anytime soon.

I decided to stop mulling over it and started climbing the stairs, following Imari’s lead.

　I returned to my room and sat on the bed, hugging my pillow tightly.

“(W-what is this feeling! My heart… it’s burning…! And it hurts!)”

　I’ve been feeling like this for a while, but it intensified significantly after seeing that person.

“(There’s no mistake. That person… my brother…)”

　There’s no evidence, but my instincts are telling me so without a doubt.

　My heart is pounding so hard that it feels like it’s about to burst out of my chest.

What should I do? How do I make this stop?

I don’t know. I’ve never felt like this before, so I don’t know how to deal with it, or even what it really is.

“(NONONONONONONONONONO!!!)”

I pressed my face into the pillow and let out a silent scream. 

Then I heard footsteps coming up the stairs, followed by the voices of Nii-san and Imari.

“But this might be the first time I’ve entered a boy’s room.”

“Huh, really?! I thought you’d have had that experience with how popular you are, Miyari.”

“Experience like that? What’s that supposed to mean?”

“H-Hey, don’t tease me like that!”

“Haha, sorry, sorry.”

Crunch. (Tl/n: Uhh pretty sure pillows don’t make that sound)

Before I knew it, I squeezed the pillow tightly in my arms.

“(Ni-Nii-san and that person seem close… Are they… dating?)”

As that doubt arose, my chest suddenly tightened.

“(No, no, no, no! I absolutely don’t want my brother to be dating that person! Because Nii-san is… only mine…)”

“Hah!”

And then it hit me.

The reason my body feels so hot right now is because I’m afraid of losing Nii-san to that person.

Which means… I see Nii-san as more than just an older brother…

“(N-No… This… This must be love.)”

I never thought I’d fall in love, so I’m surprised by the realization. Then I hear a voice from Nii-san’s room next door.

“Oh, surprisingly tidy, huh?”

“Well, there’s not much stuff, so it doesn’t get dirty.”

“Huh, the bed is pretty big.”

“It’s a weirdly double bed. It’s a hand-me-down from Dad.”

“Nice~ Let me just…”

“Hey! I-Imari! You’re making a weirdly seductive pose right now, you know!?”

“Huh? Like this?”

“Umm… can you, uh, stop that, please?”

“Ehhh, what should I do~?”

“Imari, please realize the potential danger of what you’re doing!!!”

As I listened to their conversation, I felt like something dark was creeping into me.

“(Nii-san… being intimate with that person… Nii-san… being intimate with someone other than me…)”

“No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no…”

Unconsciously, I murmured.

Meanwhile, from the adjacent room, the lively voices continued.

“Now, we’re alone in the room.”

“Well, Yuki’s in the next room.”

“Oh, that’s a shame, isn’t it, Miyoshi-kun?”

“What do you mean, ‘a shame’!? Also, this person clearly knows their strong points, huh? And they’re clearly targeting my weak points, right!?”

“Heheh, but you see, I’m not really into this kind of seductive teasing.”

“Then why do it?”

“Well… maybe because it’s you, Miyoshi-kun.”

As soon as I heard those words, an unknown energy surged from within me, propelling me unconsciously into Nii-san’s room.

And then, I shouted at the top of my lungs.

“—Nii-san is mine alone!!!!”

Finally, Yukine… awakened.