When I Helped the Beautiful Sister Duo Being Hit On, I Ended Up Being Taken Home as a Thank You - Chapter 46: \"Yeah, See You Again\"

Chapter 46: “Yeah, See You Again”

“Shall we head home for today?” Holding the paper bag with the clothes I bought for Kana, I turned to look at Souma-kun behind me and spoke.

Truthfully, I didn’t want this time alone with Souma-kun to end. But the longer it lasted, the harder it would be for me to let go.

If that happened, then my reason for being here today would become meaningless.

The real reason I came shopping with Souma-kun for Kana today was to put an end to these feelings.

If I didn’t find some kind of turning point, I would keep holding onto these emotions, and they would only grow stronger.

So, I let myself dream for just a little while. And then, for my own sake and for Kana’s, I would lie to myself about my feelings and put a period at the end of this.

“Thanks for today. You really helped me out,” Souma-kun said as we walked toward the station.

“No, no, I got to see something interesting too, so thanks to you~.” “You only came to watch my reactions, didn’t you?”

“Hmm? That’s not true at all~.” “Liar.”

I tilted my head and feigned innocence, but the truth was, I honestly didn’t care about the present.

Deep down, I even thought it wouldn’t be so bad if he gave Kana a lame gift and she got disappointed.

I thought that… but I didn’t have the courage to say it or act on it.

In the end, I was here today because I just wanted to be with Souma-kun. “I hope Kana likes it,” Souma-kun muttered as he glanced at the bag with the present inside.

“She’ll love it. After all, it’s from you, Souma-kun.” “It’s reassuring to hear that from her sister, who knows her best.”

“Right? I’m Kana’s number one supporter, after all.” I don’t want to say this.

I really don’t want to say things like this, Souma-kun. I want to tell you that I love you, that I want to be the one giving you a present, not Kana.

I want to shout it out loud. I don’t want to show you this fake smile. …But before I go home, I have to say goodbye to these feelings.

For Kana’s sake. For Souma-kun’s sake. And for my own sake.

“Well, thanks again for today. My gate’s this way,” Souma-kun said, waving his hand as we reached the station gates.

“Ah…” I was planning to part ways just like this, but the words caught in my throat.

Hey, Souma-kun. What would you do if I told you I love you?

Would you know that even when you were walking with Kana, I was always watching from behind, feeling jealous?

That when we ate together, I was so focused on you that I couldn’t even remember how my food tasted?

That I cried at night looking at your happy photos from Disneyland?

That I imagined what you and Kana did together in a hotel… and ended up doing the same thing alone?

Would it change anything if I loved you that much? I bit my lip to keep the words from slipping out. Tears threatened to spill.

If I cried here, Souma-kun, being the kind person he is, would surely stop to listen.

But if he did that, I would fall for him even more. So instead, I said— “Yeah, see you again.”

Once I pass through this gate, I’ll sort out my feelings. I’ll leave them behind.

From now on, I’ll be Kana’s sister, supporting her and Souma-kun’s happiness.

Nothing more, nothing less. Holding back my tears, I waved and walked through the gate.

As I descended the stairs to the platform, a single tear escaped, rolling down my cheek.

I tried so hard to hold it in… This won’t do. These tears are my feelings. If I could have held them back, I would have been able to end this properly.

But now that they’ve started falling, they won’t stop. Souma-kun, I love you. I don’t think I can ever forget these feelings.