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 22

When Suzune went to the second floor to get ready, Mom stopped me.

“Yuuma. Do you have a moment?”

It’s rare for Mom to speak formally.

When I sat at the table, Mom poured me some black tea.

Steam is wavering up from the mug placed on the table.

I wonder what this is about. Maybe she’s going to reprimand me about Suzune.

Mom took a sip of tea.

“You see. About the memorial service we went to yesterday.”

Hatsune Shinomiya is Mom’s name. She’s five years younger than Dad, and apparently she had known my real mother since high school. Her features are well-ordered and she looks very much like Suzune.

“Yeah.”

“Actually. The memorial service was for your mother… Mio.”

“Is that so. Was Mio-Kasan’s family home in Izu?”

Mom nodded.

“Actually, I wanted to invite you too, Yuuma, but considering the other party’s circumstances, I confirmed with them. So, that led to the talk about the upcoming Izu trip.”

I felt like something smoothly settled in my gut.

“I see. Come to think of it, what kind of person was Mio-Kasan?”

To be able to hear about her personality from my birth mother’s best friend. I’m surely blessed.

“My best friend was… Let’s see, her personality was very similar to Suzune’s.”

Although Mom and Suzune look alike, I’ve rarely thought their personalities were similar. Mom is calmer than Suzune.

I see. She’s similar to Suzune.

“But why bring up that story?”

“I wonder why.”

Mom smiled.

Why at this timing? I don’t understand the intention.

Mom drank some tea and continued speaking.

“I think of you as my real son, Yuuma. But we don’t share blood, and I’m scared of being hated after all. That’s why, even with the karate incident, I didn’t want to be hated by you, so I couldn’t step in.”

That’s true. When I quit karate, Dad was furious, but Mom didn’t ask this and that.

“But I was saved. Not being told off categorically like Dad.”

Mom shook her head sideways.

“That’s not true. Surely if it were Mio, she would have listened more properly and admonished you.”

Thanks to Mom, I was really saved. At least, it’s many times better than a discussion just between Dad and me.

“I don’t really understand parents’ feelings, but I only know you as my mother, Mom. There’s no fake or real.”

After being told I wasn’t blood-related to Suzune, my head was messed up, but now I think so.

It’s not like I desperately want to meet my birth parent, or that my feelings toward Mom have changed.

But I do have regrets.

I continued speaking.

“However, having spent my life without knowing my birth mother, I guess I feel apologetic to Mio-Kasan.”

Mom put a handkerchief to her eye.

“Thank you. If she heard that, surely Mio would be happy too. Ah, with Mio, you know. Yuuma, we once talked about you.”

“Mm. What kind of talk?”

I wasn’t even born yet, so what could they have talked about?

Mom lowered her eyes.

“It’s not exactly direct, but. We talked like, ‘If Mio and I have children, and they’re a boy and a girl. And if someday love blossoms between them, that would be wonderful and we’d have to bless them.'”

“That’s somehow a maiden-like, or rather youthful episode.”

Mom laughed. Today’s smile looked more youthful than usual.

“Ahaha, true. We were actually both young. I’m glad I could convey this story to you. You’re a kind child, so I wanted you to know Mio’s feelings.”

“I don’t think of myself as kind though.”

“Is that so? At least Suzune seems to think so, though.”

Mom laughed again. Mom laughs a lot today.

※

“Yuuma. I’ve been waiting at the entrance for a while now~”

It’s Suzune. Apparently she means hurry up.

“Sorry, Mom. I have to go soon.”

I drank the tea in one go. The moderately cooled heat felt like it slowly soaked into my heart.

“Have a good day. You know. Mom is on your side, Yuuma!”

Mom said that and waved to me.

※

At the entrance, Suzune was waiting for me.

“I got tired of waiting though.”

She’s puffing up her cheeks.

“Sorry, I’ll treat you to a crepe later.”

I put my hands together in apology to Suzune.

When we went outside, Suzune peered into my face. She has her hands behind her back and looks worried.

“What’s wrong?”

While asking that, I felt my emotions from earlier overflowing a few minutes late. Happiness, sadness, and loneliness are all jumbled up in my chest.

“No, just that Suzune is too cute.”

Did I deceive her well?

“I see, I see. Well, that’s natural I guess? But what’s wrong? Did something unpleasant happen?”

Suzune is staring straight into my eyes.

“No, nothing… Ugh, ue.”

Even though it’s nothing, the overflowing feelings well up and can’t be suppressed. Tears won’t stop.

Squeeze.

Suzune hugged me.

“Yuuma. Cheer up. I’ll stay with you until you stop crying.”

“Really?”

I feel helpless and want to cling to her.

“Yeah. Forever. I’ll treasure you for life.”

Suzune said that while hugging me.

Wait, somehow this. Isn’t that what I said to Suzune before?

Suzune put strength into the squeeze.

Somehow being treated kindly. Makes tears come out more and more.

Then Suzune kissed my cheek.

“If you don’t stop crying, I’ll lick up all of Yuuma’s ‘sadness’.”

“That’s dirty.”

“It’s not dirty. Because I’ll protect you, Yuuma.”

Somehow, today’s Suzune is reliable.

“With such a pathetic big brother, won’t you hate me?”

“No way. I know you’re doing your best, Yuuma. Rather, every day, every single day, I like you more than before.”

Smooch.

“I love you. Spoiled baby ♡”

Suzune kissed my forehead and said that.

Her heartbeat transmits from her chest. Every time she moves, Suzune’s hair clad in warm air brushes against my cheek. It’s almost like she’s petting me.

Then cold drops fell on my forehead.

…Rain?

When I looked up, it was Suzune’s tears.

“What’s wrong? My fault?”

“I don’t know, but seeing Yuuma’s tears, they just came out naturally. Maybe because I licked Yuuma’s sadness?”

Suzune smiled bashfully.

…Apparently today, my little sister is playing the role of big sister.

But she’s quite a crybaby big sister.

Chapter 23: Little Sister Wants to Use Her Seniority Privilege

Specialized shoes aren’t sold near our house. I want to look at accessories too, so today we plan to go shopping at the mall near school.

I walk the path to the station with Suzune.

Even though it’s already early October, today is excessively hot.

Perhaps because of that, Suzune is wearing summer clothes.

She’s matching a sheer, slightly oversized white shirt with a black inner top and short pants. On top of that, she’s wearing a black cap with a large brim, and even as my little sister, it suits her well.

While walking, Suzune asked me.

“Did Mom say something to you?”

“Mm. No, nothing really.”

I didn’t talk specifics with Mom, so I’ll keep it just in my chest for now. Right now, just the word ‘support’ is enough.

“By the way, right now I’m the big sister, so do I have the right to do whatever I like with you, Yuuma?”

(No, you’ve been doing whatever you like enough until now too, right?)

“No, you don’t.”

Then Suzune pursed her lips.

“Tch, then I’ll return the seniority privilege!”

Apparently I’ve returned to being the older brother.

“Come to think of it, earlier you said I was doing my best, but about what?”

Then Suzune smiled.

“You’re doing muscle training, right? You’re working hard at studying too. And also, the number of times you view naughty sites has decreased.”

Yeah yeah.

She’s watching me closely.

(Wait, hold on! I can’t let that last one slide.)

“Regarding naughty sites or whatever, truth aside, why do you know about that?”

Suzune answered as if it were natural.

“Huh, because. Obviously because I occasionally go to hang out in your room, Yuuma.”

Huh? Illegal entry?

“I think it’s not good to enter while I’m not there, you know?”

At my words, Suzune tilted her head.

“I go in while you’re there normally though?”

(Is this girl an operative from a ninja village?)

I didn’t know at all.

Too scary.

“If I’m there, it’s even worse!”

Suzune tapped my shoulder.

“Now now, I’m just watching your cute sleeping face. Sneaking in is troublesome too, so shall we try sleeping together soon?”

“Dad will kill me, so seriously impossible.”

Dad is, if anything, a strict personality. But toward Suzune, he’s really sweet.

I always thought that was unfair.

But hearing Mom’s story, I feel like I somehow understand. Surely, just as Mom was with me, Dad feels hesitant toward Suzune too.

Thinking that way, even if I decided to date Suzune, persuading Dad would be considerably difficult for me right now.

“Mm?”

Suzune looks blank.

When our eyes met, she said “Teehee” and laughed.

It’s a splendid defiance that doesn’t seem like a habitual illegal intruder.

She’s doing whatever she wants too much, so I want to get a little revenge too.

So I decided to set a trap.

“Come to think of it, occasionally. In the middle of the night I hear weird voices from your room, what’s that? How should I say, stifled sweet voices.”

Fufu.

This is a bluff.

You serious honor student!

You won’t immediately know what this is about.

Little sister, you should rack your brain and suffer as much as you can!

“Eh, ah, …eh?”

Suzune squatted down on the spot.

She’s glaring at me intensely.

“When was that?”

(I don’t really know, but I’ll just say something random.)

“Mm, let’s see. Well, maybe around the day after the sake chocolate?”

Suzune covered her face.

“Seriously? No way. I’m dying of embarrassment.”

Her ears visible between her hair have turned bright red.

Could this be.

Did my bluff hit an unexploded bomb?

“Hmm. It’s a lie though.”

I looked at Suzune with a chilly gaze.

BAM.

“Idiot. Go die!”

Immediately after, intense pain ran through my leg.

Suzune kicked my shin with all her might, snorted “Hmph,” and went ahead.

(Crap. Did I make her angry? We’re going out now, fighting is trouble. I’m in a bind.)

Then Suzune came back.

She’s giving me half-lidded eyes.

You don’t have to be that angry. I had my pants taken off before too. We’re even, right?

Suzune pinched my cheeks with both hands and said:

“If you keep saying perverted things like that. I’ll tell Papa that Onii-chan is spending tons of money on a card that looks exactly like me!”

Suzune stuck out her tongue.

Hey hey.

The naked card thing is exposed, isn’t it?

Is she hacking?

Wait, just stop with Papa.

That’s just a self-destruct.

“Got it. I won’t say it anymore. By the way, why do you know the card looks like you, Suzune?”

“As long as you understand, fine.”

Suzune smiled.

“So, the card conversation isn’t finished though.”

“When I went into your room, your smartphone screen was left open so I saw it.”

She saw the screen when I fell asleep.

What is this “Dad whose affair got exposed” vibe.

“Listen. I have something called privacy too.”

Suzune pinched her own hair hanging over her shoulder and twirled it.

“That girl in the picture. Really looks exactly like me, right? If you want to see nakedness that much, I’d show you mine.”

“Eh? Seriously? Maybe I should ask.”

I’m very interested in what kind of reaction she’ll have.

Then Suzune wiggled her body fidgety.

“If you take responsibility until the end, anytime is fine, you know?”

“Responsibility means?”

Surely she doesn’t mean “make me a woman.”

“…Bride.”

She came with a straight ball.

“Are you okay with me?”

“Rather, anyone other than Yuuma is impossible. You know. Since middle school, I’ve yearned for that. But if we were blood-related, it would be absolutely impossible, right?”

“True.”

Suzune has been thinking such things since middle school. True, until I quit karate, she came to cheer for my matches, and we were reasonably close siblings.

Suzune pushed the bundle of hair she was playing with forward and pressed it against me.

“But now it’s different, right? If we’re not blood-related, it’s not absolutely impossible. So, I end up dreaming.”

Saying that, Suzune looked down.

Watching Suzune like that, I felt an urge to hug her.

My heart is pounding like it’s not mine. Somehow I feel fluffy, like my feet aren’t properly on the ground.

Well, if Dad found out it would be a disaster, so I can’t really make her get naked.

But from my mouth.

Those words came out naturally.

“I want to make that dream come true.”

Suzune covered her mouth.

And silently nodded.

Huh?

Doesn’t that sound like a proposal just now?

Suzune said.

“Thanks. Just the feeling makes me happy. Besides, I want the boy to say that kind of thing. When we can do various things properly, I want Yuuma to say it. Ah, you don’t have to answer right now, okay? This is my monologue.”

Suzune continued.

“I, you know. Want Yuuma to be happy too. I think this feeling is probably called ‘love’.”

Suzune giggled.

The noble and sweet scent of fragrant olives wraps around the two of us.

The face of my little sister staring straight at me.

Was more mature than ever.

Apparently I wasn’t the only one whose heart was pounding.

“Chu.”

Saying that, Suzune reached out her hand.

Suzune’s face is facing directly front.

(Am I finally graduating from no-count kisses?)

I closed my eyes.