I Will Become Happy

“Heh, Kouta’s dating his stepsister?”

“W-Well, yeah.”

The word “dating” still felt unfamiliar and embarrassingly awkward to say. Honestly, I hadn’t fully grasped it yet, and saying it out loud felt a bit odd.

“She must be really cute, huh? Good for you.”

“Well, yeah. Never thought someone like me would… you know.”

“I don’t think that though?”

“Huh?”

When I asked back, Natsume smiled faintly with her usual composed expression.

As I asked back, Natsume flashed a faint smile with her composed demeanor.

“Kouta’s a good guy, and it’s fun talking to you. I don’t have many friends myself, but I’ve gotten along with Kouta surprisingly well in this short time.”

“N-Natsume…”

Natsume casually placed her hand on my shoulder.

“Have confidence, Kouta. You’re going to make a girl happy. What’s the point if you don’t have confidence in yourself?”

“Yeah… you’re right. Thanks. I think you’re a good person too, Natsume. Even though I don’t have many friends, I’ve managed to become close with you in a short time.”

“Haha, Kouta, you’re quite the character.”

Natsume chuckled, and I couldn’t help but join in.

Once again, I realized how lucky I was to work here. I’ve made friends who I really get along with.

“Oh, by the way, Kouta, I’ve been meaning to ask you…”

“Hm? What is it?”

“When are you planning to have kids?” (Tl/n: Bro, this girl something else)

………….

………….

“………excuse me?”

Ignoring the good flow of conversation so far…?

“I’m asking when you plan on making babies. Personally, I think the sooner, the better. That way, you can have more kids. In other words—more lolis!”

“You never change, huh?”

Come to think of it, that’s true.

As I introduced earlier, this person is the Lolicon Demon Lord. 

Can’t forget that.

“Hey, Kouta’s sister-in-law is a beauty, right? So, for the sake of lolicons… no, for the sake of the world, you should have lots of kids! Yeah, promise me you’ll make babies as soon as you get home today!”

“Can’t you focus on work?”

Honestly, Natsume is a troublesome person.

But I’m still interested in what kind of life Natsume will lead in the future, so I’ll stay friends with her forever.

Even though she’s an irredeemable lolicon.

◇　◇　◇

I arrived at school.

When I reach the classroom, two familiar faces are sitting around my seat, working on something.

“Good morning, Imari.”

“Good morning, Miyoshi-kun.”

As always, Imari greeted me with a smile.

“Good morning, Narahashi.”

“M-Miyoshiii!”

Narahashi looked teary-eyed as he struggled to fill out some printouts.

Next to him, there was a huge stack of printouts, and it looked like quite a task.

“Listen to me! I was forced to come to school first thing in the morning and now I’m stuck doing the class representative’s work!”

Narahashi complained to Imari with pleading eyes.

“I-I mean, you know, yesterday after school, the teacher asked me to help with the paperwork for the grade meeting, and it looked really tough, so I’m getting some assistance from Narahashi-kun.”

“Helping? It’s more like I’m doing it all by myself!”

“Huh? What?”

Imari’s demeanor suddenly changes.

“Eek!”

Under Imari’s pressure, Narahashi straightens up his back in fear.

“Could it be that your words back then were a lie?”

“W-Well, I mean…”

“You said you’d do anything, right? You said you’d be my slave, didn’t you?”

“T-This isn’t the Imari we know… This isn’t the chairman we know, right?”

As Narahashi speaks, Imari chuckles ominously.

“I wonder what version of me you know, Narahashi-kun? Hey, Miyoshi-kun?”

“W-What?!”

The sharp gaze now turns towards me.

That chilling sensation running down my spine… It’s terrifying.

“You don’t want to? Yesterday after school, I was asked by the teacher to help with the documents for the grade meeting, and it seemed like a really tough job, so I asked Narahashi-kun to assist me.”

“It’s more like I’m doing it all by myself though~!”

“Huh? What?”

Imari’s demeanor suddenly changed.

“Eek!”

Under the pressure, Narahashi straightened his back in fear.

“Could it be… that your words back then were a lie?”

“W-Well, um…”

“You said you’d do anything, right? You said you’d become my slave, didn’t you?”

“This isn’t the Imari I know… This isn’t the class representative we know, is it!?”

As Narahashi spoke, Imari chuckled ominously.

“I wonder what kind of person you think I am, Narahashi-kun? Hey, Miyoshi-kun?”

“Wha-what!?”

The sharp gaze now turned towards me.

This spine-chilling feeling… It’s absolutely terrifying.

“By the way, Miyoshi-kun, you also said you’d take responsibility for me, didn’t you?”

“I-I did, but…”

Trying to respond coherently, I managed to answer, and Imari’s face lit up brightly.

“Fufu, then Miyoshi-kun, you’re helping too! By the way, there are eight more classes to go!”

“E-Eight more classes!?”

Narahashi and I exclaimed simultaneously.

“W-Wouldn’t it normally be the responsibility of each class representative? Why does our class have to handle them all?” 

“Of course, it’s for the sake of my grades.”

“Isn’t that completely selfish!?”

“Wh-what are you talking about…”

Imari, with a teasing smile, responded to our trembling and fearful expressions.

“Good luck to both of you, okay?”

Feeling the weight of Imari’s words, I took my seat and began working.

Imari watched us struggle, smiling gleefully.

This is just who Imari is.

She may change in the future, but I’ll continue to be involved with her.

With that sense of anticipation and hope, I let out a small smile too.

◇　◇　◇

Summer has arrived.

Every year, as this season approaches, I can’t help but wonder if the temperature is getting higher each time.

I usually prefer to stay indoors during summer, but today, I have no choice.

After getting ready, I knocked on her door.

“Hey, Yukine, it’s time to go.”

“Ah, okay!”

In response to my call, Yukine opened the door.

She’s wearing a straw hat and a white dress, radiating what is probably the most dazzling aura in the world.

“That outfit suits you.”

“Hehe, you think so?”

Yukine naturally clung to my arm, rubbing her cheek against it.

I won’t say it’s hot, even though it is summer. 

I’d get scolded if I did.

“Alright, let’s go. The train should be getting there soon.”

“Yeah, you’re right!”

Seeing Yukine’s beaming smile, my cheeks loosened involuntarily.

Being right beside me, seeing this smile all the time. Just that makes me truly happy.

We put on our shoes at the entrance and grasped the door handle.

When I turned around, Fuyuko-san and my dad were looking at the two of us with gentle smiles.

“Well then, we’re off.”

“Take care!”

“Have a safe trip!”

“Be careful.”

After exchanging greetings, we stepped outside.

The air feels thick, and the sun’s rays rained down on us.

It’s hot. 

This is summer.

“Ah, I should’ve put on sunscreen.”

“Why don’t you put it on over there? Hey, why don’t we put on each other? Come on, Kouta!”

“Put on each other…?”

As I hesitated, Yukine squinted her eyes.

“Wait, are you embarrassed, Kouta? Seriously?”

“D-Don’t say it like that!”

“But it’s true, isn’t it? Actually, Kouta, last night—”

“Hey hey hey hey! Don’t talk about that outside! Come on, let’s go!”

“Hehe, okay, Kouta ♡”

Holding hands with Yukine, we walked beneath the blue sky.

Growing together. 

Becoming adults together.

That’s how we’ll find happiness.

The End. 

―――― Afterword ――――

Thank you very much for reading until the end!

I could only reach this point thanks to everyone who read each chapter, left likes, and shared their thoughts!

Truly, I realize that web novels are not something an author can complete alone.

This story was my first attempt at a stepsister-themed work, and I hope you enjoyed it despite my exploratory approach.

I’ll continue to write novels that add a little color to your daily life, so if you’re interested, please follow me!

Also, my new series, “The Clumsy Beauty Who Thinks I Have Amnesia Lied and Said We Were Friends. I Can’t Possibly Tell Her Now That My Memories Have Returned,” has begun, so I’d be delighted if you could check it out too!

Until we meet again!

Homemachi Kamakura

(Tl/n: clap clap clap, another one finished. This was a good one. Comment what you thought overall of the story.)