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 3: True Feelings Through the Wall

Chapter 3: True Feelings Through the Wall

“I… I like you.”

What did that mean?

I returned to my room and wrapped myself in a blanket. I grabbed the blanket with both hands and pulled it over my head.

Too many things happened all at once.

Suzune ran away, we found out we’re not blood-related. And then, I was confessed to. It’s like I’ve come to a completely different world from yesterday.

I opened and closed my right hand.

…The sensation is there. This is reality.

What should I do from here?

After we became second-years, several couples formed in our class. Everyone didn’t doubt they were “destined to be together.” However, before summer vacation, most of them broke up.

This is reality.

In other words, dating is just that difficult. And those ex-couples now act incredibly awkward with each other in class.

Even within the class it’s that awkward.

What if that happened within a family?

Just imagining it makes my stomach hurt.

…I can’t let Suzune go through that.

Ugh. What should I do?

I messed up my hair.

Then.

Knock knock.

Someone knocked on the door.

“Yes?”

It’s probably Dad or Mom.

Maybe the continuation of that talk from earlier?

“Wait a second.”

As I tried to get up from bed, a voice came from beyond the door.

“Um. It’s me.”

The voice outside the door was Suzune’s.

“W-wait a second.”

I cleaned up some trash that was bothering me and opened the door.

When Suzune entered the room, she looked around.

“Hmm. It’s surprisingly tidy.”

“Well yeah. So, what’s up?”

Suzune raised her shoulders slightly and looked away. Then she hugged her left elbow with her right hand and said in a small voice:

“That earlier… you thought it was creepy because it was so sudden, right?”

“Not really.”

I shook my head.

Did my little sister come to talk about this?

Suzune raised her face.

Then I saw her eyes were bloodshot.

“You’re going to stay with me forever, right? I’m anxious. …Prove it.”

Suzune closed her eyes and lifted her chin slightly.

Her half-open, well-shaped lips looked mature beyond her years.

Her lips are trembling slightly.

Suzune wants to move forward.

—I feel like I’m being drawn into those lips.

Gulp.

I swallowed.

I tried to embrace Suzune’s shoulders, but pulled my hand back midway.

If I started dating Suzune, there would surely only be a breakup ahead. Then Suzune would truly be alone.

So, no.

I know what I should do.

…Protect my little sister.

Then Suzune opened her eyes slightly.

“Hm?”

I have to say something.

But I don’t know how to turn her down.

If it was going to be like this, I should have looked at some dating manual without putting on airs.

I shouldn’t be overly conscious of it, just say it like usual.

Just reject her normally.

That’s surely a simple thing.

I said to Suzune:

“Unlike you, I’m not used to this stuff. And even you wouldn’t be able to tell anyone if it was with me, right?”

(Isn’t this just me being scared and wanting to see it that way to feel better? No, I don’t want to say things like this.)

I have to apologize.

“Sorr—”

Smack!

For a moment, my vision went completely dark.

Before I could apologize, my cheek was slapped.

The place I was hit immediately became hot.

“What are you doing?!”

I complained.

Suzune glared at me with tears welling up in her eyes.

“Wh-what—”

Suzune’s lips are trembling.

It seems like words won’t come out.

“You think I’m that kind of light woman? Seriously the worst. It’s my first time. Even if I kiss you, I wouldn’t want to hide it!”

I tried to apologize, but the next words came flying without pause.

“Wanting to give your first kiss to someone you like, that’s normal for girls. Being hidden away is what hurts the most.”

After finishing speaking, Suzune wiped her tears.

(This wasn’t supposed to happen.)

But before I could make excuses, a kick came flying. I tumbled to the floor and had no choice but to head toward the door as if escaping.

I want to run away from this situation.

“We’re siblings. …I was out of the question from the start, wasn’t I?”

Why…

Even though hurting Suzune makes my heart ache this much.

Even though I really understand that Suzune is serious. My mouth, especially at important times, always lines up words I don’t mean.

Suzune threw a pillow at me.

“Shitty brother. Just get out already!”

Slam.

I was shut out of the room.

I stood there with my back against the door.

(But this is my room though.)

※

My own heartbeat echoes in my ears.

When she closed her eyes and leaned toward me, Suzune looked like an adult woman. Suzune was so beautiful that I felt pathetic for being left behind.

At school, every time I see Suzune in the middle of the classroom, I feel like I’m being left behind.

I’m still the same as I was back then.

Even though Suzune was serious.

Ugh, what is this?

I made Suzune cry, and I want to cry too.

“Aaaaaaah!”

I heard Suzune’s scream from inside the room.

That scream made me feel unbearable.

After a while, when I returned to my room, Suzune was gone.

I sat on the bed and put the blanket over me. What was Suzune feeling earlier?

That was surely Suzune’s first kiss too.

And yet I said terrible things and made Suzune cry. I want to be a reliable older brother, but I couldn’t do it well at all.

In this case, aren’t I the one hurting her?

But with this.

I’m surely truly hated now.

The same thoughts loop in my head over and over.

Without even turning on the lights, I stayed there hugging my knees for a while.

Thanks to the moonlight, the room isn’t pitch black, but looking at the moon now only makes me feel lonely.

…Suzune was really angry.

※

Knock knock.

Knock knock knock.

I heard sounds coming from Suzune’s room.

Suzune’s bed is on the other side of this single wall.

(Is something hitting the wall?)

“…Sorry.”

It was Suzune’s voice.

I don’t know who those words were directed at, but I definitely heard it.

Then my phone rang.

“What, at a time like this?”

When I looked at the screen, Suzune’s name was displayed.

I can imagine the message content.

It’s definitely insults.

I’m scared to look.

But my little sister

was much stronger than I thought.

“I have a favor to ask of the worst, most terrible brother.”

I made her cry, so if she has a favor, I want to listen. If I do, will Suzune forgive me?

I hesitated, but I decided to reply.

“What?”

Then for a while, no reply came.

I heard Suzune’s voice from the other side of the room.

“If you can’t think of me as a girl, I’ll force you to be conscious of me.”

I felt like I faintly heard that.

Then a reply came immediately.

“From now on, I’ve decided to spend every day wearing clothes you like.”

As I was hesitating with my answer, an additional message was sent.

“Tomorrow, come shopping with me. You’re picking out clothes with me too.”

…Huh?

What is she thinking?

I’m choosing Suzune’s clothes?

Even though I said such terrible things.

…And yet why.

But that’s exactly why.

A chance to redeem myself?

Then an additional message came.

“Tomorrow at 10:00. Meet in front of the entrance. You’re paying. If you’re late, I won’t forgive you.”

I absolutely can’t be late.

The “sorry” I couldn’t say continues tomorrow.