When We Found Out We're Not Blood-Related, My Little Sister Became Seriously Love-Brained ~When a Little Sister Stops Being a Little Sister, the Ultimate Heroine Emerges!~ - Chapter 12 & 13

Chapter 12: A Special Way to Call Each Other

At school we’re siblings, on the rooftop we’re almost lovers.

At school and at home, people’s gazes bother us.

The rooftop is only the time we can be ‘just the two of us.’

“Hey, call me something cute.”

—Seems like our alone situation requires us to have a special way to address each other.

※

Lunchtime on the rooftop.

“Thanks for the meal.”

After finishing eating, I felt Suzune’s gaze.

Maybe she wants feedback?

“It was good. Thanks.”

“Hmm, you don’t have to force yourself to praise me, you know?”

Suzune said that with her mouth, but she’s swaying her body. She looks really happy. If she were a dog, her tail would definitely be wagging furiously.

“Hey, which part was delicious?”

Suzune said that and snuggled up close. Apparently feedback needs to be individually specific.

I’m happy just to have it prepared and want to praise it enthusiastically. But precisely because the composition is simple (rice balls, boiled egg, and marshmallows), I only have a premonition of stepping on a landmine.

The marshmallows are ready-made and eliminated by process of elimination, so should I safely go with the egg here?

“Um, like how well the egg was boiled?”

“Mom boiled the egg!”

Suzune puffed up.

(Oh no!)

Apparently I spectacularly missed on the coin toss. Earlier Suzune was saying something about the shape of the rice balls.

Of all things, I skipped over the main character rice balls.

Even from here, I’ll show I can steer toward the rice balls!

But how do you praise these rice balls (moreover, hardcore pickled plum and bonito flakes)?

The components are only salt, white rice, and filling.

In that case…

I’ll just go with generalities.

I think momentum is more important than content.

“The rice balls were good too. Like the salt level. Plus, the rice grains were standing up!”

I used my best praise talk.

“Hmm. Rice grains standing up is praise for the rice cooker though?”

Suzune gave me half-lidded eyes.

What, she’s pointlessly sharp.

I really want to praise her more and dig deeper into the rice balls.

But I’m not a rice master, I’m a complete amateur at rice balls. Before digging my own grave, I decided to give up praising and wrap up the conversation.

“A-anyway, make them again. I’m looking forward to it.”

This is my true feelings.

“Hmm. You’re that looking forward to it? …Got it!!”

Suzune smiled.

(I don’t understand girls…)

Honestly I don’t understand the reason for the smile. Even though we’ve been together since before I can remember, it’s like this. I truly respect guys who date complete strangers and get married.

※

“Phew.”

When Suzune put her finger to her chin, she sighed softly.

“You know. I really want to get along with you at school too… But if siblings are too clingy, people will think it’s weird, right?”

“True.”

I became close with Suzune during summer vacation. But the formal relationship hasn’t changed. We haven’t become lovers, much less husband and wife. Still siblings.

…Suzune’s opinion is correct.

Should I just come out and say “we have no blood relation”?

No, sudden changes are poison.

Even truth gets turned into lies.

At worst, it could even reach our parents in a distorted form.

“Right. For now, let’s act the same as before in front of everyone.”

Suzune nodded.

“Okay. I’ll stop myself from telling Kei too.”

Kei is Houjou Kei. Suzune’s best friend since middle school.

(I’ll keep quiet to Saitou too.)

“Not even being able to tell your best friend… that’s kind of lonely.”

After Suzune said that, she fell silent.

※

“The view is nice.”

Suzune sat like she was doing a seated knee hug on the stairs and made a visor with both hands. She’s staring windward looking comfortable.

The wind passed through again and Suzune’s flaxen hair flowed. Her back hair lifted, and the citrus scent of her shampoo wafted softly.

For a moment, our shoulders touched and I felt the thin film of sweat.

Suzune turned toward me.

“As I thought, being formal at school to each other feels a bit sad.”

“Yeah.”

“So at least, shouldn’t we decide how to call each other when we’re alone? Nicknames feel friendly.”

Suzune said that and made a peace sign.

Good. She seems a bit more cheerful.

“Huh, then how about just Suzune?”

This has less resistance.

Then Suzune puffed up her cheeks.

“That’s the same as before. I want something cuter.”

Even if you say something cute.

I can’t think of anything like that for my little sister.

“If you’re going to say that, you decide first.”

When I said that, Suzune twirled her finger.

“Hmm. Since you’re Yuuma, how about Yuu-kun…?”

(This person is quite aggressive.)

Somehow, it’s incredibly ticklish.

“Then for Suzune, Suu-san?”

“That sounds like an old man, so no.”

Suzune narrowed her eyes and wrinkled her brow.

Apparently she doesn’t like the “-san” suffix.

“Then how about Suu-chan?”

Suzune nodded.

Apparently it’s OK.

“Then let’s practice.”

Suzune took several deep breaths.

“Yu-Yuu-kun…”

What is this?

Somehow my heart is pounding.

I have to say it too.

“Suu-chan…”

What is this ticklishness? My chest feels itchy and I want to meaninglessly sway my body.

I don’t know about other couples, but apparently when you give a girlfriend-like nickname to your sister of many years, this is how the human body reacts.

This is tough.

When I looked at Suzune, she had her mouth closed and a face like after eating cold ice cream. She had her eyes closed, seeming to endure the embarrassment.

“Um. Suzune.”

“Wh-wh-what. Yuu-kun.”

As I thought, this person is a serious girl. Even though the damage from earlier hasn’t completely worn off, she’s properly following the rules.

Good grief. This is strict.

This is. A hair’s breadth from a punishment game.

Should I propose stopping the nickname game?

Then Suzune started saying something.

“Yuu-kun. I li… lo…”

I understand, little sister.

You feel like crawling into a hole, right?

Suzune flailed her legs and shouted.

“As I thought, impossible!!!!!”

“Yeah yeah. Let’s stop (lol).”

Suzune puffed up her cheeks.

“I said the name two more times than you. Also, I said ‘like’… Give it back. Yuuma, you say it too!!”

“Impossible. It’s already stored in my heart’s album, so no returns.”

“If you can’t return it, something in exchange is fine?”

Suzune hugged me tightly from the front.

Sniff sniff. Sniff sniff.

Sniff, sniff…

She persistently presses her face around my chest.

“Ehehe. As I thought, it’s a really comforting smell. Smelling it at school is nice too. Actually I’ve wanted to try this for a while.”

This is a heartwarming scene because it’s a beautiful girl doing it.

But if the genders were reversed, it would be pretty bad.

※

After a while, Suzune seemed satisfied and went down the stairs waving with a smile.

Suzune’s gone, right?

I looked around.

A-alright. I’ll practice too.

“S-Suu-chan. I L-Li…”

I feel someone’s gaze.

When I turned around, Suzune was watching from the stairway entrance.

When our eyes met, Suzune said:

“Tch. I wanted to hear the rest. I can’t say it when I go down but… I love you, Yuu-kun.”

Apparently even for my little sister.

The “-kun” suffix was too much after all.

※

—One day, there was a memo under the bento.

When I showed her the memo, for some reason Suzune turned away.

Her ears are red.

The memo said this:

“I want to go on a date.”

Chapter 13: The Two of Them at the Movie Theater

One week has passed since school started.

Our relationship remains a secret.

Then one day, Suzune invited me to a movie.

“Wouldn’t it be better to watch at home?”

When I said that, Suzune pointed her index finger at me.

“We’re watching at the movie theater after school, that’s why it’s good!”

We decided to watch a movie at a shopping mall a few stations away from school. Apparently Suzune will stop by school and come later.

※

While waiting at the theater entrance, I smelled the carpet cleaner and the sweet scent of popcorn.

Voices saying “Did you wait?” could be heard here and there. Friends together, or couples. Everyone has happy-looking faces.

No one is fighting.

When I thought about joining them, I somehow felt happy.

“Did you wait? Sorry. The tournament is coming up, so I had to restring the bow.”

After waiting about ten minutes, Suzune arrived.

“Nah, it’s fine.”

Suzune is a kyudo club member.

Apparently a tournament is coming up soon, and recently she’s been going to morning practice every day. Despite that, she works hard studying at night too, and even as my little sister, I think she’s admirable.

She left her dogi in the club room since it would be a large load to carry.

“Sorry to make you go out of your way. Don’t you need to wash your dogi?”

“Mmm. I’ll use my spare dogi next week. It’s a special date, so I didn’t want luggage like that.”

Suzune said that and readjusted the school-designated bag on her right shoulder.

Then the small stuffed animal on the handle and KPOP idol keychains jangled and swayed.

Even though we’re the same age, our level of completeness is different.

Somehow, she’s like a different species from me.

Just this week alone she’s been scouted three times.

That thing called “cute is justice.”

It existed right here in reality.

When she noticed my gaze, Suzune approached.

“Yu-yu… Sigh, Onii-chan, what’s up?”

Suzune sometimes tries to say “Yuu-kun.”

“Well. Suzune is actually cute, you know. I feel sorry wondering if someone like me should be with you.”

Suzune puffed up her cheeks.

“That’s not true. I actually think I’m glad I met you when we were kids. I can monopolize the memories from when we were small… oh, that.”

“Hm?”

I raised my right wrist.

“Isn’t that the protective cord from before?”

“Ah. Nostalgic, right? You said it was a date, so I kind of wrapped it on.”

It’s a protective charm cord you wrap around your arm. We bought it when we went to Nara as a family when we were kids, and apparently Suzune remembered.

“Oh no. My heart is somehow pounding.”

Suzune said that and fanned her face with her hand.

※

Above the counter is a large monitor announcing movie titles and screening times.

“About the movie, how about that one?”

What I pointed at was the currently popular theatrical anime. Suzune doesn’t usually watch anime. But it’s a romance anime popular with girls too, and from my perspective, I intended to meet in the middle.

Suzune put her index finger to her lips.

She’s slightly puffing up and deflating her cheeks.

(Huh, she’s worried. Does she want something else?)

“Yeah! Let’s go with that one.”

Suzune pointed in the same direction as me.

“It’s anime though, is that okay? Before, you said I was a gross anime otaku.”

“Hmm. There’s no way I’d say something like that about what the person I like wants to watch, right?”

Suzune took my hand with a smile.

The past me was told the complete opposite though.

Is this person suffering from amnesia?

Somehow, I feel a casual paradox…

Suzune switched her bag from her right shoulder to her left, came to my side, and grabbed my left hand. Looking at Suzune’s profile as she talked earnestly, I thought again that she was cute.

She affirms who I am now.

I guess the past doesn’t matter anymore.

I intertwined my fingers with Suzune’s.

We can’t do this freely at school or at home.

So here, just the two of us, I want to hold hands a lot.

※

When the distance between us closed,

Suzune leaned against me.

“You know, there’s something I need to apologize to you about.”

“What?”

“Before, I’m sorry I called you an anime otaku. At that time, you said you had a favorite character and were absorbed in a picture of a girl…”

“Yeah.”

“I got really annoyed. I don’t like it when the person I like is looking at other girls. I’ll become cuter… so don’t come to like other girls…”

Suzune looked up at me over her shoulder. Every time she blinked, I could tell Suzune’s eyes were getting moist.

“There’s no girl better than you.”

(Am I saying something really cheesy?)

I patted Suzune’s head.

“Yeah…”

Suzune answered.

Always next to me since childhood, always watching Suzune work hard, even if someday another man stands next to her.

“…I’m the one who understands you best.”

Then Suzune giggled.

“I’m jealous, you know. You can’t seduce your little sister too much, okay? …If I become even more jealous, it’ll be troublesome… I’ll end up thinking you should take responsibility.”

Suzune wiped her eyes and scurried off.

“I want to eat popcorn. Right now they’re doing a couple discount. Hey, let’s go buy some together.”

“Wait up!!”

I chased after Suzune.