When I Picked Up A Stunningly Gorgeous Downer-Type Beauty In Front Of The Entrance. - Chapter 38: Seeing off my younger sister at the entrance.

Seeing off my younger sister at the entrance.

“Well then, Onii-san. I’m heading back home.”

Coming and going just as abruptly as she arrived, my sister declared her departure after breakfast, grabbing the carry-on she had brought with her.

It was quite a sudden departure for a visit home.

Unlike me, my sister has always been quite active, moving around here and there since childhood. Maybe for her, this is just a casual trip akin to going for a walk, covering the distance between our home and our parents’ business trips.

Her expression as she stood in front of the entrance showed no signs of sadness. She seemed rather carefree, almost as if she was just stepping out for a moment.

As for me, her older brother, I couldn’t say I felt any particular sadness about her leaving.

Rather, I pressed my lips tightly together, expressing my dissatisfaction with my facial expression.

My sister bent down to peer at me from below.

Her expression was still teasing, and it made me feel annoyed.

“What’s up? Are you unhappy about being woken up in the morning? But isn’t it the duty of the older brother to see the younger sister off?”

“That’s not it. It’s how you woke me up. You practically kicked me off the bed.”

“Oh, that’s right. I totally forgot,” she said, seemingly oblivious, and I felt even more tension building up in my eyebrows.

I ran my right hand through my bedhead.

“Waking me up is fine, but there’s got to be a better way to do it.”

“Huh? But that’s how I usually wake people up.”

“…Where did you learn that?”

I couldn’t shake the feeling that she had picked up some strange habits from the fertile land of Hokkaido. First her questionable interests, and now this… Is it some kind of cursed land?

As I glanced at her with suspicion, my sister suddenly had an idea.

“Oh, I get it now…”

She chuckled to herself and then smirked.

“Maybe you wanted to be woken up with a kiss?”

“As if!”

My sister laughed heartily.

“Don’t say creepy things like that. It gives me the creeps.”

I instinctively stepped back, feeling a bit overwhelmed, and she lightly kicked me in the shin from the side.

I turned to see Sajou-san, who had come to see my sister off just like me, giving me a disapproving look.

I’m innocent, I tell you!

My irritation subsided instantly as I saw Sajou-san’s intimidating gaze, and my sister burst into laughter, clearly enjoying the scene.

“Hahaha! Looks like you’re being bossed around!”

Shut up, will you?

“Well, if you don’t want it to be your sister, why not ask my Nee-san instead?”

“…I’d rather not.”

Sajou-san refused, and I didn’t want that either.

When I’m woken up in the morning…

Opening my eyes to that overly perfect face so close to mine, my heart feels like it’s about to stop.

And if she were to say something like ‘good morning,’ I’d probably fall into a never-ending sleep.

There’s a scene in fairy tales where the princess wakes up from a kiss from the prince, but in reality, it would have the opposite effect.

It’s amazing how that wakes you up. It’s impressive… I guess I shouldn’t say anything more considering the roles are reversed, huh?

“Just wake me up normally.”

“If there’s a next time, sure.”

She waved her hand feebly, giving a casual response.

I sighed heavily, dropping my forehead onto my hands.

It doesn’t hurt anymore. I might just be imagining it because I want to complain to my sister. It’s childish, I know, but I think it’s okay. The interactions between siblings are always a bit childish, no matter how old you get.

Making a show of my sullen face and rubbing my forehead, my sister asked, “Have you gotten a bit smarter?” I retorted with, “My brain cells died,” but she just continued to laugh, showing no signs of regret. I realized I had started joking around too.

I sighed again. I couldn’t help but let my guard down.

Suddenly, I noticed Sajou-san staring at me intently. For a moment, I thought she might still be angry, but I didn’t feel any hostility from her.

Her eyes were completely black and empty. I felt uncomfortable not knowing what she was thinking and shrunk back.

“Umm, Sajou-san… Is something wrong?”

“…No, it’s nothing.”

It was an unnaturally long silence. It felt like something was being conveyed during that time.

However, I knew from past experiences during the short yet long summer that no matter how much I speculated, she wouldn’t speak up.

There was no point in speculating, so with sweat forming on my cheeks, I could only tilt my head in confusion and ask, “What?”

“Hehe.”

My sister laughed as if to say, ‘I know something you don’t.’

I glared at her from the corner of my eye.

“What?”

“It’s nothing~”

She feigned innocence, almost as if she were about to start whistling. Her blatant attempts at deception, despite having no intention of speaking, were truly irritating. She’s so good at getting on people’s nerves. And the worst part is, she’s fully aware of where the line is and how to tiptoe over it with a smile, just like a child.

“You come to tease me sometimes, so behave yourself, okay?”

“I can’t promise that.”

That’s too much, assuming teasing is a given. I don’t want her anywhere near the entrance, let alone the apartment.

Or rather, stay away from Tokyo altogether. Make friends with snowmen in the northern lands.

“Besides, it’s not like you can come and go so easily over such a distance.”

It’s Hokkaido. Not something you can say casually like you’re talking about the neighborhood.

To that, my sister shook her head vigorously, saying, 

“Hokkaido to Tokyo is just a 2-hour flight. Two hours! You could even do a day trip to the hot springs!”

“There are no hot springs in Tokyo…”

Well, are there? I only know about spas. The image of salarymen relaxing in saunas.

Well, the person saying it is just speaking off the cuff, so I don’t really feel like fact-checking.

But really, who would come all the way to Tokyo just for hot springs?

“Well, I’m just saying, I can’t come frequently though. Unfortunately.”

My sister states the obvious.

Of course. It’s not just about the 2-hour flight from the airport in Hokkaido to Tokyo. Considering the route to the airport and all, it couldn’t be that simple.

Plus, it costs money. It would be a painful expense for my sister, who’s only in her second year of middle school.

…Well, if I were a doting father to my daughter, every day would be like her birthday, Christmas, and New Year’s if she just pouted and said, “Daddy, I love you♡,” right?

But me? If I did that, I’d get a snort and a 5-yen chocolate thrown at me. The disparity between my daughter and son is ridiculous. I won’t forgive it.

So, it’s just common sense that she can’t come frequently, but apparently, the obstacle for my sister was different from what I imagined. When I asked, I was left speechless.

“If I’m too far away, my girlfriend will cry and commit suicide, you know.”

“W-what?”

As I awkwardly roll the unfamiliar words around in my mouth, my sister beams with a wide smile—

“I’m different from you, Onii-san! I have a girlfriend!”

She puffs out her chest proudly and exhales forcefully through her nose.