When I Picked Up A Stunningly Gorgeous Downer-Type Beauty In Front Of The Entrance. - Chapter 37: Ask the neighbor who is awake but not awake.

Ask the neighbor who is awake but not awake.

In the first place.

I think all the trouble stems from my sister.

Without any notice, she suddenly comes home.

For some reason, she comes out of Sajou-san’s house.

What kind of conversation did they have for Sajou-san to end up moving in?

And so, being sandwiched between Sajou-san and my sister, I ended up spending a sleepless night, all because my sister suggested sleeping together.

It’s not because I’m indecisive and couldn’t refuse. Absolutely not.

So, since I can’t sleep and my mind is alert, I’ll just complain to my sister.

“It’s you fault.”

“Eh. I’m not at fault, you know? It’s your fault, Brother. Even if it’s really my fault, according to the law, the blame falls on the Brother.”

“What country’s law is that?”

“Mine.”

You were a queen? I don’t want to live in that country. It would perish in an instant. Perish!

“Basically, it was you who didn’t refuse, onii-san. Even if that topic is brought up now, it’s like reheating leftovers.”

“Well, you know… that…”

“What?”

I wonder what it is…

Her gaze swims in the darkness.

I was surprised, or rather, it was difficult to refuse, when Sajou-san agreed with “……fine,” wasn’t it?

Did time skip while I wasn’t aware?

I tried to play it off with “That,” but my wicked sister wouldn’t let me off the hook. She’s a demon.

“Because your little sister isn’t like a middle-aged couple, you know.”

“We’ve been siblings for over ten years.”

“So, you can understand what I’m thinking now, right, Onii-san?”

She smiles back with a perfect response, leaving me speechless.

Damn it, she always manages to have a comeback.

Furrowing my brows. Thinking.

What is my sister thinking? What?

Does she love her big brother? …If she ever says that, I won’t be able to sleep out of fear. Absolutely not.

Hmm. Um. Ah.

“…Can you spit it out already?”

In the dim light, my sister flashes a radiant smile.

“You won’t know unless you say it clearly, right?”

This. Whether it’s right or wrong, it seems I’ll end up saying it in the end…?

Regardless, it’s in the palm of my sister’s hand.

My sister, grinning mischievously, tightens her grip on the corners of her mouth, while I grit my teeth hard.

Even though she understands without me saying it. Wicked sister.

I feel annoyed, so I want to flick her on the forehead.

But even if I move my arm a little, Sajou-san might react, so I settle for lightly bumping my knee.

Then she goes, “Ah… Onii-san’s a hentai,” in a deliberately high-pitched voice, as if I had played a prank on her, and it sends a chill down my spine. Stop it, you idiot.

With that voice, Sajou-san, from the other side of my arm, let out a scream.

“Rihito…?”

In a cold, accusing tone, she struggles to speak, and I manage to say, “It’s nothing,” and glare at my sister. Why do I have to joke about it?

But my sister is unfazed, just smiling silently.

I’m completely being toyed with. Damn it.
I line up excuses in my mind.

Idiot, fool, sister—

Doing so, I feel a little relieved, and my mood calms down.

Maybe I’ve just given up.

So, even though it’s inevitable to sleep together now, I thought I should resolve the issue that bothers me.

“You know, you were the one who said you couldn’t sleep with Sajou-san in the first place.”

Despite that, what does it mean to ultimately end up sleeping with Sajou-san by just placing me in between?

Waiting for an answer, as I stare at my sister,

“Mm.”

She makes a small sound in her throat and closes her silver eyes.

Is she thinking about something? Surely, she hasn’t fallen asleep.

No, considering my free-spirited sister, that might also be possible. I watch her for a while, then as my sister slowly opens her eyelids and murmurs, “Yeah.”

She shifts slightly. The sound of the sheets rubbing gently strokes my eardrums.

“…I’m probably fine. With you here, Onii-san, there’s no problem.”

“I feel like I might be the problem by being here?”

From a practical and literal standpoint, a female-female pair seems more dangerous than a female-male-female trio.

Reading it just in text makes it seem even worse, resembling a man sandwiched between two women, which only adds to the absurdity.

However, it doesn’t seem to be a problem for my sister.

With a knowing smile, she blatantly says, “Because by sandwiching you, I gain the legitimate right to sleep with a busty beauty. It’s all part of my plan, dear brother~♪”

“What kind of plan is that…”

It’s not like I’m drowning in cleavage or anything. They could just sleep normally. Why hesitate when they are both girls?

Surely not.

I suddenly realize and cover my mouth with my hand.

“You’re being considerate of me?”

“lol”

Don’t you dare laugh like that, damn it.

I feel embarrassed just saying it.

It was obviously a joke, but I regretted saying it.

Feeling warmth on my cheeks, I turn to the ceiling as if to escape. My sister laughs for a moment and then lets out a sigh, as if releasing tension from her shoulders.

“And also,” she says, “I felt like giving you a push on the back.”

“…?”

Whose back?

Confused by her words, I suddenly felt a weight on my left shoulder.

Sajou-san leans her forehead against it, pressing gently.

I widen my eyes at her sudden gesture. Today seems to be full of surprises.

“Sajou-san?”

“…”

I call out to her, but there’s no response.

She just continues to press her forehead against me, not attempting to speak.

What’s going on, seriously?

I look at the ceiling. As expected, there’s no answer written there.

***

“Can’t sleep.”

The clock above indicates it’s past 2 a.m., but my eyes are wide awake.

My mind is clear, and the drowsiness that usually plagues me even during the day seems to have disappeared today. Just when I need it. How heartless.

“Sleep tight, sleep tight.”

On my right, my sister is sleeping, or at least it seems so, making sleeping sounds that make me doubt if she’s truly asleep. She looks peaceful, drooling from the corner of her mouth, her childish face appearing even younger.

It seems the journey of drowsiness was shorter than I thought. It’s nice that they get along so well, damn it.

I pinched her nose because she was annoying, and even her breathing stopped, so I quickly let go in a panic.

Is she breathing properly…?

As I nervously watch her, she starts making sleeping sounds again, so I breathe a sigh of relief.

Feeling somewhat teased even in her sleep, it somehow makes me feel sad. Can’t a brother win against his sister?

And then.

Actually, there’s something I’ve been curious about.

I shift around and turn to face Sajou-san’s side.

“Suu… suu…”

“…”

“Suu… suu…”

“…”

“…Suu.”

Are you awake?

Unnatural sleeping sounds.

I tightly close my eyes, and even in the darkness, I can confirm that her ears are red.

She’s definitely awake.

If I couldn’t sleep, I should have just refused my sister’s nonsense.

Am I too nice?

After exhaling in exasperation, I carefully roll onto my back so as not to wake my sister.

I stare blankly at the ceiling.

Ah, but then.

I didn’t have the courage to ask while she was awake.

If she’s sleeping, my words won’t reach her.

Awake but not awake.

That’s why there’s a truth I can ask.

As if speaking to myself, I mutter to the ceiling.

“Why did you stop coming to see me…”

“…”

Sajou-san’s body trembles for a moment. I feel her tense up.

The awkward sleeping sounds vanish, and silence fills the room.

Minutes pass by, one after another.

…She won’t answer, huh.

What did I expect?

Yeah, I guess so… With a sense of resignation, I inwardly sigh, feeling a small disappointment.

Alone, feeling awkward for no reason, I turn away from Sajou-san and try to find a comfortable position to sleep. As I close my eyes, there’s suddenly a sound of exhaling.

I hold my breath. Leaning closer, I strain to hear a faint voice that seems to dissolve into the darkness, vibrating against my eardrums.

“…Even if I wanted to see you, I couldn’t.”

I don’t fully understand the meaning of those words.

It didn’t offer a clear explanation or reason.

…I’m not disliked, huh.

Just knowing that eases the tightness in my chest, bringing a sense of peace to my heart.

Ah… I feel like I could sleep now.

Finally surrendering to the returning drowsiness, my vision darkens.

It seemed like I was going to have a good dream.

The next morning.

“Get up, Onii-san!”

And that was until I was kicked out of bed. That’s the worst way to wake up.