When I Told the Most Beautiful Girl in the School That My Confession Had Failed, She Suddenly Started Coming at Me With Unbearably Heavy Feelings - Chapter 41.2: Time and Sharing

Chapter 41.2: Time and Sharing

I pressed the intercom, and hurried footsteps approached from inside. The one who peeked through the door was my ever-adorable stepsister.

“Welcome home, big bro! …And Kisaragi-senpai.”

“Don’t drop your energy so obviously. I’ve told you that before.”

“But~ I was supposed to have you all to myself today~”

“Um, Hinate-kun? This is…”

“Home. It’s a birthday party today.”

“Come on, don’t just stand there gawking! It’s hot out there!”

With Amane Shinomiya, I took Rinne Kisaragi’s hand and led her inside. Rinne Kisaragi seemed not to grasp what was happening yet.

I dragged her to the living room and introduced her to Dad and Otoha-san.

“Welcome back, Renji. And that young lady over there, could she be…?”

“My prospective girlfriend, Kisaragi.”

“Um, you’re Hinate-kun’s father, right? I-I’m Rinne Kisaragi, and I intend to date your son with marriage in mind.”

“With marriage in mind… Well, kids these days sure move fast.”

“Dad, that line makes you sound like an old geezer.”

“Huh, does it…?”

“You’re Kisaragi-san? What a gorgeous face~! You look just like a doll.”

It was the cheerful Otoha-san who eased Rinne Kisaragi’s stiffness.

Otoha-san cupped Rinne Kisaragi’s cheeks and peered intently at her face. Wait, she did the same to me when we first met.

“Mom, Kisaragi-senpai’s uncomfortable.”

“Oh, sorry. She was so beautiful, I couldn’t help it…”

“Hinate-kun? If you were bringing me to a place like this, at least some sweets as a gift…”

“What are you saying? You brought Renji here today. That’s more than enough.”

“…Y-Yeah, that’s right. Here, have a seat for now. You must be hungry, right?”

And so, a birthday party commenced with five people: the family and Rinne Kisaragi.

▼▽

Fun times passed, and the surroundings fell into quiet darkness.

I had volunteered to walk Rinne Kisaragi to the station, so we strolled down the dimly lit path together, of course holding hands.

“Otoha-san’s home cooking was delicious.”

“I’m stuffed because someone tried to outdo Amane Shinomiya with all that ‘ahh’-ing…”

“As your prospective girlfriend, I can’t afford to lose. Not even to your beloved stepsister.”

Today’s birthday party had started with Rinne Kisaragi and Amane Shinomiya competing over feeding me, followed by Dad dragging out my old photo albums, and Otoha-san, tipsy, launching into love talks. It had been full of moments to tsukkomi.

“…Amane Shinomiya really likes you, doesn’t she, Hinate-kun? I could tell from talking with her today.”

“Amane Shinomiya can’t live without me, and it’s the same the other way around. We’re stepsiblings who were meant to be.”

“…Does that mean she’s your destined partner?”

“You could say that, or maybe not. …Jealous?”

“Yes. But I have no objections. I think I understand that Amane Shinomiya sees you as a brother.”

Rinne Kisaragi averted her sullen gaze and looked up at the sky as she spoke.

Just as Amane Shinomiya did, Rinne Kisaragi might be seeking mutual understanding too.

As we talked, immersed in the afterglow of the party, we reached the station. Rinne Kisaragi turned around gracefully.

“Thank you for today. It was a few hours where I felt the warmth of family for the first time in a long while.”

“Otoha-san and Dad said you’re welcome anytime. Amane Shinomiya’s a maybe.”

“Hehe, then maybe I’ll come again once I get permission from Amane Shinomiya?”

“Getting permission from her would be a hassle.”

“…Hinate-kun, there’s actually one more thing I want to give you.”

Rinne Kisaragi took something from her bag.

It bore a sealing stamp, and tiny writing adorned it. Something I had seen many times before.

“This is…”

“Well then, see you soon.”

Rinne Kisaragi dashed off briskly. As I watched her go, her ears burned bright red.

“…For real.”

As I walked back the way I had come, I opened the envelope.

“To Hinate-kun”

—

Letter:

To Hinate-kun

If you are reading this letter now, it means our date today ended safely and you are heading home happily.

You might wonder what this letter is for at this point. That would be understandable. I think I express my love for you more than enough in our daily conversations.

But it still is not enough. My love for you smolders inside my chest, overflows, and threatens to consume me.

So, for the parts I have not conveyed sufficiently, I decided to put them into a letter in our usual way.

I like you. I love you so much. More than anything in this world, I love you.

I love you for pulling me out of the darkness and giving me a reason to live.

When I learned that you had fallen in love with another woman, I panicked terribly.

I wanted you to look only at me, yet seeing your back as you tried to fly off to another female made the depths of my chest crawl with unease, and I still remember that feeling vividly.

However, that became the decision to commit to our current relationship. I never want to see that woman’s face again, but I suppose I should thank her for now.

Your performance at the ball sports tournament the other day was splendid.

In the second set of the finals, when you jumped, I felt an indescribable exhilaration mixed with a lump in my throat that stuck there, and that memory is still fresh.

I was happy to see you overcoming your past, but at the same time, I felt regret that you had grown in ways I did not know about.

Even someone like me—would you still love her? Would you not come to hate me for being captive to these base desires and craving you so?

You probably will love me.

I think you have a part of you that is a bit too kind. …Sorry if that sounds preachy.

But I am anxious. If that kindness turns toward another woman, I have no confidence that I could stay sane.

That kindness sometimes makes me feel like I might lose myself. When the shackles of reason come off, I want you to accept me gently, just like you did that time.

This has gotten long, so I will end it here for now.

Finally, thank you always. You are the only one who supports someone like me, who stands by my side without pushing me away.

You are always the one who saves me from loneliness.

It might be selfish, but I would be happy if you continue to support me by your side from now on. I, too, will support you by your side.

Thank you for today. Knowing myself in the future, I think we will meet again soon. When that time comes, I will whisper my love to you once more.

From now until forever, I love you. I hope these feelings reach your heart.

From Rinne Kisaragi