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 16 & 17

Chapter 16: Little Sister’s Candy Apple

We returned to the station nearest our house for now.

From there, I walk toward the shrine with Suzune.

The shrine is just a few minutes away.

Our target shrine is fairly major, but as a rehearsal and local community service, it’s customary to hold an unannounced pre-festival.

However, since there’s no announcement.

Some years they apparently don’t do it.

Why do I know about this, you ask?

Saitou’s family home (a tonkatsu restaurant) is apparently running a food stall, and he told me before saying “Why don’t you go with Suzune-chan?”

Still, there are few people.

The shrine is already close though.

“I wonder if they’re not doing it?”

Suzune looks anxious.

“Who knows? I sent Saitou a message earlier but there’s no response. We won’t know unless we go… wait, ahhh!!”

“Hm?”

Suzune made a puzzled face.

“Saitou is walking with that beauty!!”

Suzune pressed her body in front of me.

A good smell comes from her glossy hair.

“Ooh. Let me see. Isn’t she really beautiful? She’s tall too, maybe a model?”

Suzune seems very interested too.

“Let’s follow them for a bit?”

“N-no, don’t!!”

Even while saying she’s not interested, Suzune steadily followed along.

※

When we entered the shrine grounds, the two were behind the gate pillars.

When I strained my eyes to look, they were actually embracing.

“Could it be, she’s really his girlfriend?”

I whispered to Suzune in a low voice.

“I don’t know. Oh, you’re not thinking you’re envious of a beautiful older woman?”

“No, because. With an older woman partner, they might have already had their first time. I’m thinking he beat me to it.”

Suzune puffed up her cheeks.

“The reason you haven’t yet is because you’re a coward! Plus, because of that, Kei will beat me too…”

Coward.

Fair enough.

But I want to say one thing.

I think Kei beat you long ago, you know?

Well, it’s not good to interfere with people’s romance either.

“Let’s stop following them.”

We decided not to worry about Saitou.

※

When I looked around, we were somehow surrounded by families and couples in yukata.

“They’re having a festival. I should have worn my yukata.”

Come to think of it, the last time I saw Suzune in yukata was in elementary school. When was the last time we came to a festival together?

“Hey, when was the last time we went to a festival together?”

“Mm. …I forgot.”

Suzune tilted her head.

Suzune has good memory.

Putting me aside, it’s rare for Suzune not to remember.

Well, it’s from when we were kids.

Can’t be helped.

When we entered the approach path, it was surprisingly lively.

The reason outside was quiet is probably because they didn’t announce it.

Though not as luxurious as the main festival, large and small lanterns are placed on both sides of the path, giving off a solemn atmosphere.

Right after entering the approach, there was a large torii gate.

“This place…”

Suzune stopped under the torii.

“What’s wrong?”

“No, let’s hurry. You walk in front!!”

Suzune pushed my back firmly.

“Huh, front and back is like an old exploration party. Let’s walk side by side?”

The moment Suzune lined up next to me.

“…I like you.”

A small voice, but she definitely said that.

I wonder what.

It’s Suzune’s voice, but the atmosphere is slightly different.

※

“Huh? What?”

When I asked back, Suzune waved her hands slightly left and right.

“No. Nothing.”

Suzune’s mouth corners were faintly raised.

“I’m glad they’re having the festival.”

“Hey, let’s go further in.”

Suzune pulled my hand.

Food stalls are out on both sides of the approach, selling various things like food and miscellaneous goods.

“Suzune, want to eat something?”

When I asked, Suzune shook her head sideways.

“Sorry. Urp, that fried chicken from earlier… I’m glad I didn’t wear yukata after all.”

We also ate a large popcorn.

I’m full too.

“But why is yukata bad?”

“Huh, because. My stomach sticks out. My stomach sticks out right away when I eat.”

Ohh.

So even Suzune with her outstanding figure has such a weakness.

Suzune gasped.

“When I get naked in front of you, I absolutely won’t eat anything the day before!!”

What is this person?

She’s somewhat angry though.

What does she plan to do if it suddenly becomes that kind of atmosphere?

“What if you happened to eat the day before?”

“I absolutely won’t take it off.”

Good grief.

What a handful of a little sister.

If that’s the case, you’ll keep refusing on the spot. Your brother will become sexually frustrated.

“Does that mean it’s okay to do it without taking them off?”

Suzune lightly bit her right index finger.

“I don’t want to be like some relief partner. If we do it, I want you to gently take them off properly.”

I got her word. Apparently Suzune wants to be undressed. Even as my little sister, she’s too easy and cute.

“Hey! I want to eat that!!”

Suzune pointed at a food stall decorated with lots of apples.

This person just said something about her stomach sticking out.

When we approached the shop, a sweet smell wafted over. The apples are coated in candy, and you can apparently choose between blue and red colors and large and small sizes.

Among them, Suzune pointed at a particularly small candy apple.

“Buy it for me.”

Suzune said.

Somehow condescending.

(Ah, I see. Did she get in a bad mood from that earlier talk about undressing or not?)

Is saying “if you want it that much, buy it yourself” too mean? Despite the strong tone, she’s staring with teary eyes, and her fingertips are also moving restlessly.

She doesn’t need to work so hard at being tsundere to that extent.

“Got it. How many do you want?”

“Mm. 100.”

(Huh?)

They exist, you know.

Kids who say stupid things like this.

“Hey you. If you say stupid things, I’ll really buy 100, you know? The moment I do, your three meals for this month will become candy apples. Is that okay?”

“Cheapskate.”

“What…”

“If you’re going to spend money on images of girls in games, spend money on your cute little sister!!”

Suzune stuck out her tongue.

Actually last month, I went too hard on gacha in a limited-time event in a mobile game. Apparently Suzune found out about that.

Could it be she got jealous about that?

There’s no way I can say there was a character who looked exactly like Suzune and I really wanted her.

“Hmph. I almost got the real card ‘Suzune.'”

Suzune turned her face away with a huff and started walking along the approach again.

Suzune has been perverse for a while now.

After I patted her head, Suzune somehow became a spoiled child.

Come to think of it, Suzune as a brat was like that too. She would pick fights over every trivial thing.

So then surely.

Suzune will say she wanted the candy apple after all, like in the old days.

“Mister. One small candy apple.”

I received the candy apple and chased after Suzune.

While I was paying, Suzune went far ahead.

Today’s Suzune is unusually energetic.

It’s like I’m hanging out with child Suzune.

※

When I caught up, Suzune had a slightly sulky face.

“Your game cards are pictures of naughty girls, right?”

(Why do you knowww!?)

“It’s true there are many such designs, but it’s definitely not ulterior motives, combat power is better with costumes that are easy to move in…”

I can’t say I wanted a card of a girl who looked like Suzune.

“You call it a costume but she’s naked!! …If you’re going to look at other girls, I’ll show you mine.”

Suzune pursed her lips.

“Huh?”

“It’s nothing.”

Suzune said that and went ahead again.

When I finally caught up, Suzune had stopped in front of a certain stall.

A stall dealing in children’s miscellaneous goods. They have everything from boys’ toys like pistols to girls’ toys like accessories.

Inside the counter, a box of empty bottles was placed upside down, and a scary-faced old man was sitting.

“Mister! Have you been running this shop here for a long time?”

Suzune suddenly spoke to the street vendor.

(Isn’t Suzune scared?)

“That’s right. I’ve been allowed to do this here for over 10 years now. Miss, is there something you want?”

This shop is for children.

I don’t think there’s anything that would interest high schooler Suzune.

“Mister. Do you have accessories?”

What a strange question.

Suzune is dignified even with the tough-looking old man. The old man apparently took a liking to such Suzune and his expression softened.

The street vendor took out a ring. An ordinary toy ring you can find anywhere.

A child would be happy with it.

But for a high schooler, how should I say… it’s too cheap.

When she received the ring from the old man, Suzune glanced at it and immediately returned it.

“Sorry. This is all we have. It’s not enough for you, miss, right?”

The old man made an apologetic face.

“Oh, no. It’s a cute ring. If I could receive it from someone I like, I’d be happy.”

When Suzune answered with a smile, she glanced at me.

(Is this a begging sign?)

“Mister! How much is that?”

When I asked, the old man turned an appraising gaze.

(Hey. Isn’t this gender discrimination awful?)

I’ll probably get told about gacha again if I don’t buy that for her!!

“Are you her boyfriend? It’s 1,500 yen. It used to be about 900 yen in the old days. Everywhere has high prices.”

“If you want it, I’ll buy it?”

When I took out my wallet, Suzune shook her head sideways.

“It’s okay. It’s expensive.”

(No, you’re seriously underestimating your brother?)

1,500 yen is doable. If I can get SSR ‘Real Suzune’ (tentative name), it’s like free.

When Suzune placed her hand on my wallet, she continued:

“It just looked like one I wanted, so I got curious. Eventually, you’ll have to buy me one worth three months’ salary.”

“Y-yes. But that means…”

(Three months’ salary is an engagement ring, you know?)

※

We passed through the approach and reached the main hall.

“Want to draw fortunes?”

Suzune said while shaking the fortune stick container.

There’s a box to put money in next to it, and apparently you can just do it yourself.

When I put in the fee for both Suzune and me, Suzune shook the container vigorously. When she turned it upside down, a stick with a number written on it came out.

Right nearby are drawers with numbers written on them, and you apparently take out your fortune yourself from there.

We both drew fortunes and looked at the results together.

“What did you get, Suzune?”

When I asked, Suzune answered proudly.

“Great fortune though? You got small fortune? Pfft.”

This girl.

I feel like even the gods are making a distinction.

What about the contents?

Let’s see.

The one you’re waiting for… hmm.

Then it says “beside you.”

Huh. About Suzune?

Seriously? That’s too sharp and scary.

“What does it say for the one you’re waiting for in yours, Suzune?”

When I asked, Suzune tilted her head.

“It says beside you. Could this be about you, Yuuma?”

The same answer for both of us.

Isn’t that too mystical?

※

“Surely, it means being here together today is fate.”

Suzune said that with a smile.

Is it something like that?

But true, I guess so.

As I was worrying, Suzune linked arms with me.

“Hey. Do you know? If you pray at a shrine, your wish will come true, you know?”

Suzune looking up at me was smiling.

Wait.

This conversation, somewhere…

I had heard those words from Suzune before.

…Déjà vu?

No, different.

※

Flaxen hair.

Pure white skin. Double eyelids with transparent eyes.

That child turned toward me with a small body.

And at that time too, she said the same thing.

…I’ve seen this scene before when I was a child.

Chapter 17: Little Sister’s Ema

“Suzune, I’ve been here with you before, right!?”

Suzune smiled.

“You finally remembered? Onii-chan.”

I remembered clearly.

At that time I…!!

When I was a child, I came here with Suzune.

At that time I was around third grade, and Suzune was wearing a yukata.

“Kyaa, w-wait!!”

I grabbed Suzune’s hand and started running.

Not here.

At that time we.

This main hall was really crowded.

We went to a different shrine.

I left the shrine grounds and ran right.

“Haa haa…”

A small shrine without a priest a bit further away. It used to be well-maintained in the old days, but now it’s aged.

I think we wrote ema and.

Next to the main hall of the small shrine was a fence with ema hanging. Normally, dedicated ema are disposed of every year, but here the old ema seem to remain as is.

Maybe.

From among countless ema, I flipped over the ema hanging on the waist-high fence one by one. Then I found an ema that said “I want to eat yakiniku with my family.”

This is the ema I wrote.

“What’s this? Back then, onii-chan, you were fat.”

Suzune, watching from the side, giggled.

If my ema is here, Suzune’s ema should be here too. At that time, Suzune said she wrote something important for the adult me.

I want to know what Suzune wished for at that time.

(…This is it!!)

When I found what seemed to be it, Suzune took it first. When Suzune removed the ema from the fence, she handed it to me with both hands.

So, so carefully.

“I’m sorry about that time. I couldn’t be honest. Onii-chan. This is my feelings from that time.”

I received Suzune’s ema.

The ema had this written in childish characters:

“I’m sorry about earlier. If we can come here together again, I hope I can properly say I want a ring. Also, to properly convey my feelings of love. Suzune”

Sniff…

I wiped my stinging eyes.

This is… a message from child Suzune to us now.

At that time, I.

Came to the festival and fought with Suzune.

Even though I bought her a ring at a stall. When I tried to give it here, Suzune started saying she wanted a different one.

I got upset that she said “I don’t want it!!” even though I prepared it. I threw the ring under the shrine.

Then Mom came later and calmed Suzune down, and we wrote reconciliation ema here together.

Why did Suzune say such a thing at that time?

※

“Suzune, you remembered what happened then.”

When I said that, Suzune swayed her body left and right embarrassedly.

“I remembered right away when we entered the approach at that shrine over there, you know? I’m admirable, right?”

So that’s why this girl.

Said “I like you” at the approach.

“Admirable. As expected of my proud little sister.”

I patted Suzune’s head.

Then Suzune lowered her eyes and rubbed her cheek against me like a cat.

Suzune’s bangs touch me, ticklish.

“Hey, why did you say you didn’t want the ring at that time?”

“Because, onii-chan. You didn’t buy the ring you chose first yourself, you bought the one the old man recommended. I wanted what onii-chan chose rather than the design.”

(So that’s why Suzune at that time threw a tantrum.)

“But, this ema… isn’t it more of a message to your future self than a wish?”

When I said that, Suzune puffed up her cheeks.

“That’s not true. I wanted to redo it. I asked the gods that when I grow up again, I could come together with you. See? It properly came true.”

Suzune smiled bashfully.

“But the ring went somewhere.”

Suzune grabbed my hand.

“That’s not true. We’ll definitely find it.”

I decided to search under the shrine with Suzune.

“I think around here…”

At that time, I threw it under the stairs of the main hall.

However, we searched for a while but couldn’t find it.

It’s been almost 10 years.

A neighborhood kid might have found it, or it might have been thrown away with the garbage.

It would be strange if it were still here.

※

…It’s quiet.

Even the faint festival bustle had stopped being audible at some point.

When I looked at my watch, it was nearly 10 PM.

“…Hey, Suzune. Let’s go home.”

But Suzune didn’t listen.

“It’s definitely here. …It’s here!!”

That day too, here.

Child Suzune had her yukata wet with tears.

…My chest hurts.

At that time, I couldn’t even imagine why Suzune cried.

Suzune searching for the ring looked just like child Suzune. I wanted to do something.

In place of my brat self.

The me now.

In the end, we searched for over an hour after that, but couldn’t find it.

Suzune raised her face with a “phew.”

“Sorry.”

Fatigue showed on Suzune’s face saying that.

Suzune went to club activities early this morning too.

She must be quite tired.

“No, I’m the one.”

“It’s okay. Let’s go ho—”

Just as Suzune was about to say that, something shined deep in the boards of the stairs.

“Wait a minute!!”

I put my hand through the gap in the stairs.

(If it went deep inside, then maybe.)

“Mm… I reached it!!”

There was a ring-shaped sensation at my fingertips.

Surely, it’s that ring from that time.

The ring I scooped up from the dust and fallen leaves.

Was cheap, small.

And looked just like the ring I saw at the stall earlier.

I wiped the ring and handed it to Suzune.

Then Suzune’s expression brightened.

Suzune is looking straight into my eyes.

※

The wind blew.

A cold wind unsuitable for the season.

Suzune’s mouth opens.

“…Please give me that ring.”

While smiling, Suzune held out her left pinky finger.

The ring is so small.

…It can’t be put on the ring finger anymore.

I knelt on one knee, put the ring on Suzune’s pinky finger, and continued speaking.

“Is a toy like that okay?”

Suzune wrapped the pinky ring with her right palm. Tears were pooling in her eyes, looking like they’d fall at any moment.

“I want this one.”

Suzune said that.

On the way home, Suzune looked at the ring many times and smiled the same number of times.

“Hey. Yuuma. Do you remember your allowance from that time?”

“Ah, I think it was 300 yen a month.”

“…Hehehe.”

What? What a weird laugh.

(Wait a minute?)

Earlier, didn’t the stall old man say ‘this ring used to be 900 yen’?

“Ah.”

When Suzune’s eyes met mine, she held the ring up to the sky.

“This ring is a proposal ring from childhood onii-chan!”

“N-no.”

Then Suzune glared at me with a face that looked genuinely about to cry.

“…It’s not… wrong.”

At those words of mine, Suzune returned to smiling.

But maybe.

My brat self might have really thought that.

“Hey, but it won’t look good at a proper time. Next time, I’ll buy you a proper one.”

When I said that, Suzune overlapped her right hand and protected the ring.

“No way. No! For me, this ring is… proper. I want this one for life!!”

“If that’s the case, I’ll be criticized by those around me…”

“Oh, did you just say something about a proper time? Could that be a proposal from you now?”

“That’s too much of an expansive interpretation.”

“Ahaha. I see, I see. So I’m being proposed to by both old and new Yuuma~”

She’s not listening to people at all.

(Stop calling it old and new like software versions.)

“Hey, Suzune.”

“What?”

“When you said ‘I like you’ at the approach earlier, you remembered, right? Why didn’t you tell me about the ema?”

“I felt it wouldn’t mean anything that way.”

Suzune clapped her hands.

“Hey! I want to do something to thank the gods who granted the wish.”

True.

But we don’t have anything?

“Ah, what about this candy apple?”

Suzune and I said simultaneously.

We decided to offer the candy apple to the gods as thanks. Rather than putting in an offering, we thought the candy was more appropriate as thanks from us as children.

When we placed the candy apple next to the offering box, Suzune said in a small voice “Thank you very much.”

After that, we put our hands together.

Then the wind blew.

—Rin. Life is life. Your name is beautiful.

“Didn’t you just hear a ‘rin’ bell sound?”

Suzune looked around.

I definitely heard it.

Something like different words too.

I shook my head sideways.

(Could the gods also be pushing for Suzune? I’m against gender discrimination.)

If I don’t treasure her, I’ll seriously be cursed.

※

“Hey. Let’s go home?”

Suzune grabbed my hand.

When she looked up at me from below, Suzune made a slightly embarrassed face and said:

“You know, I want another candy apple.”

“Got it!!”

I patted Suzune’s head.

“At this hour, I wonder if the shop closed?”

Suzune said that.

She’s touching her earlobe with an anxious face.

“Let’s go back to the pre-festival.”

When we returned to the venue, it had already been cleaned up, but there was a group drinking at the edge of the venue.

“Oh, the candy apple old man!”

Suzune said that and ran over to the group.

Then one of them pointed at Suzune.

“Oh, the young lady from earlier.”

Apparently they were having a pre-celebration for the pre-festival.

When we explained the situation that we offered it at a nearby shrine, the old man patted my shoulder.

“The gods surely were happy. Take this.”

We received two large candy apples and various leftover side dishes from the stall.

“Ehehe. We got lucky.”

※

(I don’t want to go home.)

But… it’s a bit lonely.

We should head back soon.

I walk side by side with Suzune.

“My allowance when I was a kid was too little, wasn’t it?”

When I said that, Suzune laughed.

“Ahaha. True~. When we get home, let’s protest to Papa and Mama!”

Suzune’s footsteps on the gravel were light and pleasant.

※

A red light with just a bit more until home.

I’m watching Suzune eating the candy apple deliciously.

Suzune had candy around her mouth.

“Suzune, you have candy around your mouth.”

I pointed at my own mouth area.

“Onii-chan, get it off.”

Suzune turns her chin up in a spoiled voice.

Her candy-covered lips were more lustrous than usual.

(It’s only at convenient times that you call me onii-chan.)

“Can’t be helped. I think I have tissues.”

I reached into my bag.

Then the light turned green.

“Hey, Yuuma.”

Suzune called out to me.

Immediately after, I suddenly smelled soap.

“Ah.”

Smooch…

Suzune kissed me.

This time from the front, on the lips.

For an instant, our tongues touched.

The kiss had a sweet scent.

A bit of soap smell.

And tasted like candy apple.

“Y-you…”

(You just said earlier you’re waiting for me to do it!!)

Suzune winked.

“This is thanks from child me. Yuuma, thank you for finding the ring. Both the me now and the me as a child love, love… love you so much.”

(Huh, as a child? What does that mean?)

“That kiss wasn’t 0.5 seconds though…”

When I complained, Suzune laughed like a mischievous child.

“Because child me did it, it doesn’t count. So, I’m still enthusiastically accepting kisses from Yuuma.”

※

Suzune spun her body around while laughing.

Her flaxen hair floating up was illuminated by moonlight, looking just like some heavenly maiden.

Watching that, I thought.

As a brother, as a man.

I’ll properly treasure you.

Later, I researched about rings on the left pinky finger. Apparently, if you wear a ring from someone you like on your left pinky finger, it can prevent the happiness that entered from the right pinky from escaping through the left pinky.

In other words.

The reason Suzune held out her left pinky was.

“So I don’t let go of my current happiness.”

…That’s probably Suzune’s current wish.

※

However.

Before long, Suzune was “confessed to.”