When I Picked Up A Stunningly Gorgeous Downer-Type Beauty In Front Of The Entrance. - Chapter 39: My sister's wife and our neighbor are both bunnies.

My sister’s wife and our neighbor are both bunnies.

Humans apparently stop breathing when they’re too shocked.

My understanding can’t keep up with the shocking revelation, like a meteorite falling from the sky.

“What… the hell? You, a wife? Girlfriend? Wha… What?”

I can’t find the right words. Honestly, I don’t even know what I want to say.

It seems like my neighbor, Sajou-san, is in the same boat. Her usually sleepy eyes widen, and her thin lips part in clear surprise. Her somewhat absent-minded expression still manages to look beautiful, which is quite perplexing. Even in a moment like this, I find myself admiring her.

My brain short-circuits. Or maybe it’s on overload. Smoke might start coming out of my head any minute now.

Despite the chaos reigning in the household…

…the one who caused this meteorite impact, seemingly oblivious, continues speaking casually. “Oh, yeah. Hokkaido girls are great. Fair skin, high noses, pure hearts. And they have big boobs, too.”

“Shut up,” I say.

She laughs uproariously at her lame joke. She’s so selfish. …Though, I must admit, I’m curious about these beautiful women from Hokkaido.

But I refrain from asking. I might get kicked again. It’s important to maintain some semblance of rationality as a modern human.

And, above all, there’s something else I need to ask.

“Yesterday, you said you were attracted to women… Were you serious?”

“Dead serious.”

I’m speechless.

Honestly, I thought she was joking. Or maybe it was just the typical behavior of a high school girl, like, “Guys are such kids,” preferring to hang out with friends rather than with boys.

That’s why, when she confessed she was attracted to girls, I was utterly floored. It’s like the difference between a firecracker and a tank shell. Who even comes up with these analogies?

“I wanted to fool around with my Nee-san,” she says nonchalantly.

Please, stop.

“If my wife found out, she’d question why I cheated, and then she’d start self-harming. She’s a real handful.”

Haha, she laughs lightly.

It’s not funny at all.

In fact, it’s terrifying. Is she mentally unstable?

With a shudder, I think of the Yandere characters that are popular in web novels nowadays.

“She’s kind of like Nee-san,” she adds.

Hey, cut it out.

I can’t see next to me.

I can’t even imagine what expression she’s wearing.

But I can feel the irritation emanating from her as she taps her elbow on the table rhythmically with her index finger, and it’s terrifying.

“Don’t make her any angrier. You may be heading back to Hokkaido, but I’ll be living with Sajou-san from now on, you know? Read the room.”

I mentally urge my sister, but of course, it’s futile.

She’s not one to read the room, and even if she could, she’d probably ignore it just for the fun of it. That’s the kind of sister she is.

Lifting her small left hand to her chest, she begins listing the similarities between Sajou-san and her future wife.

“Cool…,” she says, folding her thumb. “Handsome…,” she continues, bending her index finger. “Beautiful…,” she concludes, folding her ring finger, before adding with a playful tone, “And bunny ears!”

“Don’t mess around.”

With that, she wiggles her index and pinky fingers as if they were rabbit ears.

…Somehow, I understand what the bunny ears represent and fall silent.

I hope Sajou-san doesn’t catch on. I pray, but it’s probably futile. She’d likely be the first to sense something like that.

“And big boobs!”

“Enough already.”

My sister’s gaze, still tinged with amusement, shifts to Sajou-san’s chest, even though she’s wearing a black hoodie. I’m tempted to look, too. Yeah, they’re big.

I get kicked again. My apologies.

“And also, everyone loves her!”

“That’s the complete opposite.”

My mouth moves reflexively. It slips out as if greased, and Sajou-san’s sharp black eyes narrow.

“…What do you mean?”

“………… I meant she’s cool,” I quickly offered an explanation, turning my face away. It’s too scary to look directly at her. Sometimes, a glance can be as sharp as a knife.

My sister laughs, not teasingly, but with a hint of affection in her eyes.

“She acts all aloof, like she’s out of reach for everyone. But she’s actually lonely and just wants someone to connect with… Yeah, she’s just like her.”

She blushes slightly as she says this.

Sajou-san lowers her head, almost as if trying to hide. Her arm rests on her chest, and her hand tightly grasps her upper arm. Her neck is exposed, and her usually white skin is flushed red, as if it had been touched by hot water.

Seeing Sajou-san like this, my sister smiles shyly. At the same time, the light seems to go out in her silver eyes, like a candle being extinguished.

“Even though she’s so much trouble and gives me anxiety… It’s the best feeling to spoil her rotten, make her depend on me completely. Knowing she can’t live without me is the ultimate happiness.”

I recoil in horror at my sister’s words. You’re the one who’s the most messed up here. Terrifying.

Sajou-san also shrinks back, her cheeks twitching.

What do you think?

Seeking empathy, I meet her gaze, but she averts her face as soon as our eyes meet. Why?

“Maybe it’s because we’re siblings. Our tastes seem to align.”

My sister responds with a sly smile. “Not at all,” I retort. When my sister turns to Sajou-san and says, “Is that so?” she also turns away. Sajou-san keeps avoiding eye contact today.

“Well…”

My sister raises her voice one last time and declares,

 “I have a weirdo brother, but please take care of him, okay?”

“Who do you think you are?”

“The cutest sister in the world.”

As she demands reverence, I dismissively respond, “Yeah, yeah, you’re the cutest in the world.”

“Haha. So casual.” My sister laughs cheerfully, rolling her suitcase down the hallway without looking back.

Watching her board the elevator and wave goodbye, I suddenly feel a wave of exhaustion.

“That was quite a storm,” I mutter.

In just one day, she’s managed to disrupt everything: relationships, distances, everything.

By the next morning, she’ll be gone as if nothing ever happened. Just leaving behind scars.

Looking up at the sky from the hallway of the apartment building, it’s as if a clear sky has emerged after a storm.

The sparkling morning sun is so bright it makes me squint.

Ahh… I yawn. Tears well up in the corners of my eyes. Maybe I should go back to bed.

As I turn around, I notice Sajou-san staring at me with a questioning look.

“…What?”

“Both of you siblings are quite the deceivers.”

“I’ve never been popular, though!?”

Trying to confront her about what she meant, Sajou-san ignores me and turns her back to return to her room.

What’s going on… I stare at her back.

I have no memories of being popular or being deceived.

If I were to lose only those rosy memories, it would be too cruel, but that’s unlikely.

Frowning, I watch as Sajou-san stops in the hallway after coming up from the entrance and hesitantly mumbles after a moment of hesitation.

“Uh, well… from now on, let’s get along…”

“Oh, yeah.”

I reply automatically, but Sajou-san has already disappeared into the room, too fast to have heard me.

“…”

Scratching my cheek with my index finger, I feel oddly embarrassed.

With my sister gone and seeing Sajou-san’s attitude, it finally hits me.

We’re going to live together from now on.

The thought fills me with a strange embarrassment from head to toe.

“Umm…~”

Reflected in the small mirror on the shoe cabinet, my face is completely red, unbeknownst to anyone.