When I Comforted My Sickly Stepsister, She Couldn’t Live Without Me - 12 - Oh Right, Let’s get a Part-Time Job!

Once the heat in our faces had subsided,

We finally returned to the main topic.

“So, how do you think I can get her to put distance between us?”

“Well, let’s see… It’s tricky, but I’ve thought of one way.”

“Seriously?! What is it?”

Imari raised his index finger and grinned.

“You just need to spend less time at home.”

“I see, huh.”

Come to think of it, I always went straight home after school.

Since Yukine is in correspondence school, she’s always at home, so we end up spending a lot of time together at home.

“If you do that, naturally, the time you spend together will decrease, and maybe you’ll grow apart a little, right?”

“Hmm, well, that might be true, but…”

I couldn’t help but think of Yukine’s obsessive affection.

“Perhaps there’s a possibility that things could get worse if we grow apart?”

“Yeah, that’s also true,” Imari nodded in agreement.

“But you won’t know until you try, right? And if you keep things as they are now, Miyoshi-kun’s worries won’t be resolved in the end.”

“…Yeah, you’re right. Let’s give it a try.”

“Yeah, that’s a good idea,” Imari said with a smile.

“But how should I spend my time then? It’s too late to join a club, and studying isn’t exactly exciting.”

“Yeah, that’s true… Oh, how about getting a part-time job?”

“A part-time job?”

“Yeah, exactly. I mean, technically it’s against the school rules, but lots of students do it, right?”

“Yeah, you’re right.”

“I mean, it would reduce the time you spend at home, plus you could earn some money. It’s a win-win, isn’t it?”

“Hmm… I guess that could work.”

To be honest, if things keep going like this, I could even get into a good university through recommendation. It seems kind of wasteful to just let my high school life slip away like this. 

Whether working part-time is a meaningful use of my time is another question, but it’s worth a try.

“Yeah, I’ll get a part-time job. Thanks, Imari.”

“No problem. …Well, it’s just that it would be helpful for me if you did, too.”

“Huh? What do you mean by that?”

“Oh, it’s nothing. Anyway, it’s almost time for class to start. Let’s go.”

Imari stood up and walked away slowly.

“Right.”

I quickly packed up my lunch and followed after Imari.

A few days later.

As I had declared, I was attending an interview after school to start my part-time job.

The location was a bookstore near the station.

I sat facing the interviewer in the employee break room located in the backyard. 

“(…Wait, shouldn’t the manager be the one taking care of this?)”

A girl was frowning as she looked over my resume in front of me.

Her dark purple hair is tied up in a bun, and she is quite tall. She is probably only a few centimeters taller than me.

In addition, she has a slim, model-like figure, and her facial features are sharp.

She had a cool and mature vibe, but she was wearing a blazer.

In other words, she was also a high school student like me.

“I see…”

After nodding in agreement, she turned to me and said firmly, 

Kouta Miyoshi, you’re hired.”

“Huh?”

“Didn’t you hear me? You’re hired.”

“Uh, uh… huh?”

“Are you some kind of robot?” she asked, looking at me skeptically.

“Um, aren’t there various other things to consider? Like, typically you’d ask about my reasons for applying, or what days I’m available to work…”

“We don’t need all that. You see, this store is struggling with a serious shortage of staff. Right now, it’s just me and the store manager working here. Frankly, we’re desperate for help.”

“Isn’t there a nicer way to put it? I don’t want to feel worthless.”

“Oh, right. My apologies for that.”

She seemed to reflect on her words. Then, as if remembering something, she spoke up.

“By the way, there’s no need for formal language. We’re the same age, after all.”

“Oh, really?”

“I haven’t introduced myself yet.”

She cleared her throat and straightened up.

“My name is Natsume Amakusa, a third-year high school student. By the way, I attend Hokkaido High School.”

Upon hearing “Hokkaido High School,” it clicked. 

It was a prestigious school located near my own high school, known for its academic excellence. 

Remembering now, their female students wore blazers and neckties just like she was wearing now.

“The manager is hardly ever around after school on weekdays, so I’ll be the one teaching you various things. I’ll be counting on you from now on.”

“Uh, yeah. Count on me.”

“By the way, you can call me Natsume. In return, I’ll call you by your first name, Kouta.”

“Got it. Then, Natsume it is.”

“Yeah, thanks, Kouta.”

Natsume smiled pleasantly. At that moment, I couldn’t help but feel a flutter of excitement at how effortlessly she closed the distance between us with her charm.

⎯⎯However, I would soon come to realize something.

This cool and attractive girl had some eccentric tastes.

“Wha… An errand for Nii-san? What… What does that mean? He used to come home right away!”

In her room, Yukine, the monster little sister, writhed in agony on the bed.

“(C-Could it be that he’s on a date with that busty girl…? I-I won’t forgive him!)”

With the intensity of suffocation, she tightened her grip on the pillow with her entire body.

“Nii-san Nii-san Nii-san Nii-san Nii-san Nii-san Nii-san Nii-san…”

Rubbing her body against the bed, Yukine murmured, panting heavily.

Of course, in her brother’s bed.

“Haa~, Nii-shan~♡”

In a room without her brother, the love of the stepsister deepens all on her own…