Pure Feelings

On the way home.

Walking alone through the city as the sun begins to set.

It felt a bit strange to walk this unfamiliar path, as I don’t usually take this route.

…No, it wasn’t just that. The words of Imari that I had been chewing over in my head were making me feel strange.

―― “What about dating me?”

Imari’s words come back to me once again.

“(Why did Imari say something like that?)”

Certainly, it could be because I’m inadequate…

And she did say it was a joke herself, and she also said to forget about it.

That’s why I can’t convince myself it was just a joke, and I can’t forget about it.

“(Imari wouldn’t say something like that as a joke, would she?)”

Imari has been teasing me a lot lately, so I can’t completely rule out the possibility that she was joking. In fact, it wouldn’t be surprising if it was just a joke.

But instinctively, I felt a discomfort from those words.

“(It feels like she’s gone too far)”

It’s most accurate to say that it’s not like Imari.

And the words that followed were also gradually coming back to me.

―― It’s because Miyoshi-kun is always doting on his little sister.

At that moment, Imari’s expression didn’t seem like she was joking at all.

That’s something I could tell precisely because I’ve been close to Imari for so long. It’s almost like a conviction.

And then,

―― Because Miyoshi-kun is always being so affectionate, he even ended up kissing her…

Imari muttered, her face contorted in a grimace.

Clearly, there was sadness evident in her expression, and the words she let out were undoubtedly fueled by it.

“(Why did Imari… say that to me?)”

I pondered. Why did Imari propose something so uncharacteristic, why did she express sadness about my kiss with Yukine, and then… anger?

“…No, it can’t be.”

A hypothesis floats in my mind.

But there’s no way. Despite thinking there’s no way, memories of the days I spent with Imari flash back.

―― Miyoshi-kun, let me teach you.

―― Haha, Miyoshi-kun is so honest.

―― Oh, you’re just staring at my chest again. You’re such a perv.

―― Miyoshi-kun, can I ask you something?

With each memory recalled, my hypothesis gains credibility.

If my wishful hypothesis is correct, then I’ve done something terrible to Imari all this time…

“Haa, I just don’t get it…”

Unable to handle the overwhelming dilemma on my own, my thoughts came to a halt.

If only solutions or something like that would easily come to mind, but there’s no way someone like me could understand.

Mulling over the hypothesis of “if that’s the case,” I returned home, consumed by my worries.

★★★

At the entrance, Yuki stood sternly, glaring at me.

“I’m home… Oh, Yukine?”

“…Nii-san, tell me the truth.”

Yukine’s voice was cold.

“Huh? What do you mean?”

“What were you doing today?”

“W-Well, just some errands…”

“…By errands do you mean going to Imari-san’s house?”

“…How did you know?” 

I hadn’t told Yukine anything about going to Imari’s house. 

That means…

“You were tailing me, weren’t you?”

“Gulp… W-Well, you see…”

Seeing Yukine start to whistle awkwardly, I was convinced that I had indeed been tailed.

“B-But! It’s Nii-san’s fault for going to Imari’s house! Why did you go!!!”

Yukine, undeterred, approached with a fierce expression.

“W-Why? I-It’s okay to visit a friend’s house, right?!”

“She’s a friend, but Imari-san is a girl! What’s more, she has huge bre–ts!”

“What does her having huge bre–ts have to do with anything?!”

“It does! You were probably excited just seeing Imari-san’s chest!”

“T-That’s… I didn’t!”

“Ah, you paused! You did right?! That means you were excited! Maybe you even squeezed them!”

“I didn’t do either!!”

I denied it with all my might, but Yukine’s onslaught did not stop.

“You’re cruel Nii-san, You kissed me; And then the next day, you have s-x with another girl, you’re the worst!!!”

“Aren’t you being cruel! In the first place, it was because Yukine forced herself on me, right? Besides, that was an accident! It wasn’t intentional!”

“Even if it wasn’t intentional, we kissed! Also, Nii-san was aroused by me, so that’s the same as liking me! In other words, we’re already dating!”

“You’re saying something outrageous?! That’s not true?! Just so you know, I see Yukine as a little sister—”

Suddenly, I recalled.

Come to think of it, I talked with Imari.

I realized that I need to have the courage to firmly assert myself as an older brother to Yukine, without any ambiguity.

As I was about to speak those words, I stopped.

With a definite sense of anger, Yukine shouted.

“――No, that’s not it!!! I love you Nii-san!!!”

It feels like a gust of wind just blew through.

For the first time, I feel like I truly understand Yukine’s feelings, looking directly into her face, squarely.

“I love Nii-san, as a man!!”

Hearing Yukine’s words, I…..