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 32: Playing “Adult” Is a Prelude to the Real Thing.

“Do you know that adults lie?”

Suzune pinched my collar and checked the distance she’d need to stretch up.

＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊

10:00 AM — Takaosanguchi Station.

When we came out of the station at the foot of the mountain, the signboard showed multiple routes.

Today, we planned to walk all the way to the summit.

“Eat bento at the summit observation deck, and take pictures together.”

That was our goal for today.

“Waaah! It’s so close to Tokyo, but it’s super natural!”

After we passed the ticket gate, Suzune said that and took a big breath.

“Even though it’s Tokyo, it’s just a straight-up mountain.”

When I looked up, the sky was cloudless.

I took a big breath too.

It smelled like soil and greenery.

“The air even tastes amazing.”

Suzune spun around and spread her arms wide.

Her steps were light, like skipping.

The area in front of the station was an open plaza, and along the stone-paved approach leading toward the mountain, old, well-worn shops lined the way.

“Don’t get lost, okay?”

“I won’t.”

Suzune puffed out her cheeks.

Even as she said that, she walked beside my left side.

She gently gripped three of my fingers—from my index finger to my ring finger.

She touched her star-shaped earring with her left hand and pouted.

“…Don’t let me get lost.”

Seeing that expression made my heartbeat speed up.

I worried she’d notice my sweaty palm.

A smell like something being grilled.

After a few minutes, Suzune stopped walking.

…Sniff, sniff.

She closed her eyes and tilted her nose slightly toward the sky.

“Over there! I smell something delicious!”

Suzune raised her voice and scampered off.

(Is this girl a puppy?)

A few shops ahead, Suzune stopped.

She was pointing at a stall.

“Look! It says ‘takosen’!”

At the storefront, an older man who seemed to be the vendor was grilling something.

Octopus?

On a mountain?

I’d seen something on TV before—an enormous rice cracker made by pressing octopus and grilling it.

Maybe it was that.

“It smells so good. Hey—let’s try it.”

Five minutes into the trip and the princess had already awakened to spending money.

“Uh, we haven’t even exercised yet.”

“Pleaaase, pleaaase.”

Suzune tugged on my sleeve.

“Fine. But you can still eat the bento later?”

“I can.”

Suzune put on a smug face.

Since she sounded confident, I decided to buy it for her.

“Sir—one takosen with two takoyaki, times two, please.”

Even to me, it sounded like a tongue twister.

“Here you go, miss.”

When the vendor handed over the rice cracker wrapped in paper, Suzune accepted it with both hands.

“Whoa. There’s takoyaki inside.”

She showed me.

Takoyaki were sandwiched between two halves of the cracker.

“That’s pretty novel.”

“Is it? It just looks tasty to me.”

Suzune squeezed the cracker hard, crushed it, and stuffed her cheeks full.

“Here, Yuuma. You too.”

Looks like she was sharing.

The savory bonito flakes and the sweetness of the sauce mixed together and made my appetite kick in.

Munch.

When I bit into it, it was an unusual combo, but surprisingly good.

“It’s good. But…”

“Hm?”

“No, it’s nothing.”

There were other customers around, so I didn’t say it out loud.

Even though it was supposed to be two takoyaki, there were three in it.

Nice one, sir.

There was sauce on Suzune’s mouth.

“Here. You’ve got some.”

I wiped it with my right index finger, but that got sauce on my finger.

My handkerchief is in my right pocket.

I can’t pull it out easily.

Oh well.

I licked the sauce off my finger.

Yeah—sweet.

Then a little boy, maybe early elementary school age, pointed at me.

“That big brother licked the big sister’s sauce! That’s suuuper pervy!”

“Wha—!”

Seriously, where do kids even learn words like that these days?

Suzune stepped in front of the boy.

“This big brother isn’t a perv.”

“He’s a quiet pervert.”

So she wasn’t going to defend me, apparently.

“Don’t finish me off.”

When I said that, Suzune linked her arm with mine.

She looked up with a slight bashful smile.

“…Am I wrong?”

It annoys me, but she’s cute.

“What’s that?”

After we walked a bit more, Suzune stopped again.

It was a big building with a triangular roof that said “Mt. Takao,” and behind it I could see the cable car.

On the signboard, there was a timetable for Kiyotaki Station to Mt. Takao Station.

It looks like if we ride it, we can reach the mid-slope in no time.

“What should we do?”

Suzune turned back as she said that.

Her eyes were watery, like she was pleading for something.

Does she want to ride?

Even though we bought trekking shoes?

“No, we’re not riding.”

“We bought the shoes and everything.”

When I looked down, I saw our shoes.

Different colors, but clearly a matching ribbon motif.

“Tch.”

Wait—what?

Was she seriously trying to go by cable car?

“I want to walk with you.”

Then Suzune switched into a slightly more “big-sister” tone.

“Oh, really? I guess it can’t be helped.”

She said that and squeezed my hand again.

Dark gray tights entered my view.

They matched her pink shoes really well.

“The shoes look great on you.”

When I said that, Suzune looked dissatisfied.

“What else?”

“Huh?”

When I asked back, Suzune puffed up her cheeks.

“I worked hard picking everything out…”

Picking?

Oh—her outfit.

We were originally supposed to be here by 9:00 AM, but Suzune took so long getting ready that we ended up late.

Looking again, Suzune was wearing a pink hoodie, gray shorts, and dark gray tights.

It’s rare to see her in tights.

“I think it looks good.”

“That’s it?”

Suzune lowered her gaze a little and lightly clenched her fist.

The hand holding mine tightened.

She looked really uneasy.

…Maybe my words weren’t enough.

“You’re cute.”

When she heard that, Suzune smiled.

“Yeah? Obviously!”

From behind us, I heard that kid’s voice again.

It seems they caught up while we were messing around.

“Mom! Those two are still flirting around here! On the way back, aren’t they gonna stop by a hotel?”

As the boy was led away by the hand, he glanced at me and smirked.

(How grown-up can one brat be? Damn it…)

“Don’t worry about it.”

When I turned to Suzune, she was looking down, red all the way to her ears.

“I’m not worried. A hotel is that flashy building down there, right?”

She knows a lot, somehow.

I did see something like that earlier.

“Yeah, probably. What a pointless little brat.”

Suzune walked a few steps ahead, then pointed at a nearby rise with a decent view.

“What?”

In response to my question, Suzune said something unexpected.

“If we go over there and do a ‘Yah-hoo,’ want to take a picture together and go home?”

“Huh? We haven’t even entered the trail yet.”

Suzune put both hands on her cheeks.

“If we do that, we still have time.”

“So… want to take a little detour and play adult together?”

As she said that, Suzune peered into my face.

Her eyes looked a little wet.

“Because I told Saitou I’d send a photo from the summit.”

Then Suzune rose onto her tiptoes.

As if measuring her distance to me, she whispered by my ear.

“…Do you know that adults lie?”

My heartbeat shot up.

The nice scent of her shampoo drifted over me.

Suzune’s voice grew hoarse.

“Let’s take the picture now.”

The bit of Suzune’s skin I brushed felt warm with the afterglow of sweat.

It really was…

a tempting suggestion.

“Ow!”

When I flicked her forehead, Suzune covered it with both hands.

“I’ve been looking forward to today.”

“And it’d be boring if it ended right away, wouldn’t it?”

I patted Suzune’s head.

Then Suzune squeezed my hand again.

Her voice regained its softness and sounded a little lighter.

“…That part of you, I like.”

“Huh?”

Suzune scampered forward a few steps, then reached her hand back toward me.

“Nothing! Come on—hurry up, let’s go!”

—The cable car timetable.

Next to 17:45, the word “Last” was marked in red.

At the fork in the road, Suzune pointed at the Men’s Slope.

At the three-way junction, there was a small Jizo statue.

Suzune tugged on my sleeve.

“Hey, hurry.”

The sweat in our clasped hands cooled with the wind.

Twilight.

The mountain won’t wait for you when night falls.

Chapter 33: The Star, the Earring, and the Men’s Slope.

Episode 33: Stars, Earrings, and the Men’s Slope.

Looking down at the city streets spread out like a miniature garden, Suzune shouted.

“Yah-hoo!”

I shouted along beside her.

Suzune’s hair fluttered in the valley wind.

Her earring gave a sharp glint.

“Hey, you always wear just one of those earrings. Is it a matching pair with Hotaru?”

Suzune touched her left earlobe.

It was star-shaped, set with a blue stone that looked like today’s sky.

“Did you… forget?”

＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊

—A little before that. Around 11:00 AM.

After enjoying some octopus crackers, we were standing before a fork in the road.

“Yuuma, why don’t we take this course? It’s named Trail 1, so it must be easy.”

Suzune said that and started walking briskly ahead.

The Trail 1 we chose was a paved road, but it was a continuous series of steep, winding switchbacks.

Honestly, it was tough for someone as out of shape as me.

“Suzune, wait up!”

Suzune turned around with a judgmental look in her eyes.

“You’re the one who said you wanted to walk, but you have zero stamina. Do your best, O-ni-i-chan.”

Well, Suzune is an active member of a sports club, so she probably has plenty of energy to spare.

“Seriously, I’m gonna show you my true power.”

I increased my pace just a little.

“Ahahaha. Only weaklings say things like that.”

Suzune ran off to get away.

“Haa, haa.”

After about forty minutes, we reached the cable car station halfway up the mountain.

Suzune was… standing still in front of a shop.

“Onii-chan, I want to eat that.”

Sniff, sniff.

A savory, slightly tangy scent drifted through the air.

Cheese tarts were lined up on the shop counter.

“You should have just bought one first.”

Suzune shook her head.

“It doesn’t taste good unless we eat together.”

She put her right hand to her mouth and squinted her eyes slightly while looking at me.

“You…”

I found my little sister adorable for a moment, but my mind changed immediately.

Rustle.

A wrapper fell out of Suzune’s pocket.

“Hey, what’s that?”

“Mm. This? It’s a tissue.”

For a tissue, the paper quality seemed remarkably sturdy.

“Let me see. Hmm… it says ‘Cheese Tart’ right on the tissue, though?”

“S-so what? I was just doing a taste test.”

Suzune looked away.

“Well, whatever. You’re gonna get fat, you know.”

Thwack!

She kicked my shin.

“Yuuma, you’re the worst. You don’t have a shred of delicacy!”

“So, are you eating another one?”

“I am!”

Suzune stuck her tongue out at me.

Munch.

When I handed her a cheese tart, Suzune opened her mouth wide and took a bite.

We started walking again.

Trail 1 merged with the cable car path and became a gentle uphill slope after that.

Suzune suddenly stopped.

She was reading the text on a stone monument.

“What a huge staircase. It says the stone steps of the Men’s Slope have 108 steps.”

A steep incline appeared before us.

“Haa, haa. 108 steps…”

Suzune pouted.

“Are you trying to go toward that easy path over there? I think the Men’s Slope suits you, Yuuma.”

“Why?”

Suzune pointed at the explanation.

“It says 108 is the number of worldly desires. It’s perfect for you, isn’t it?”

“Hmph. I don’t want to hear that from a sister who’s covered in worldly desires herself.”

“Huh?”

“I mean, you’re always the one making moves on me, Suzune.”

Suzune grabbed a strand of her hair and twirled it.

“…Is it a nuisance?”

Thinking about it, being approached every day by a sister this cute makes me feel like the protagonist of some light novel.

“Not really. Being invited by a girl this cute actually makes me happy.”

Suzune puffed out her chest.

“Hehe. I thought so. But you know…”

“But?”

“I get called cute by boys fairly often.”

(So it does happen, after all.)

Suzune continued speaking.

“It doesn’t really make me feel happy. But when you say it, I’m really happy. It gives me confidence. So, thank you for always giving me courage.”

My sister is honest every once in a while, and it makes my heart race.

Suzune began climbing the steep stairs.

Behind her pink trekking shoes, pink ribbons were swaying.

Thinking that my shoes were supporting Suzune with every step made me feel somewhat happy.

After passing the Men’s Slope, we began passing various people like families and couples.

A crow perched on a torii gate, looking down at us.

“It’s a temple, but there’s a torii gate. It’s a bit mysterious, isn’t it?”

When I said that, Suzune nodded and leaned in close to me.

When we reached the summit, there was an observation deck where we could see the entire Tokyo cityscape.

“Hey. Is that Shinjuku over there? I wonder if we can see our house?”

Suzune grabbed the railing and leaned forward.

Staring at the cityscape that fit perfectly into my field of vision, I thought to myself:

It’s like a miniature garden.

“Our town is really small, isn’t it?”

Suzune made a visor with her hand, her face looking dazzled.

“You’re right. I wonder if Mom could see us if we waved?”

(This girl isn’t listening to me at all.)

“It’d be scary if she could.”

“Ahahaha. True. Let’s have lunch.”

Suzune sat down on a stone step and took a water bottle out of her backpack.

Her pack was covered in many small stuffed animals and keychains.

“Isn’t all that jingling stuff heavy?”

“It’s not heavy. Most of them are things I got from club members or Hotaru.”

Suddenly, I realized Suzune is popular and different from me.

“Ah—you’re thinking negatively, aren’t you?”

Suzune laughed.

For some reason, she hit the bullseye.

“Not really.”

“Everyone else just lacks the eyes to see your worth, Yuuma. But you know… am I a bad person?”

“Why?”

“I feel a little happy thinking that I can keep you all to myself.”

“Hmm, that is a bit of a bad personality.”

In truth, I know my social life and Suzune’s feelings are unrelated. I have no intention of blaming her at all.

However, Suzune became flustered.

She began explaining herself on her own.

“Wait—but I’ll take responsibility for all of it. I’ll take charge of all your ‘fun’ and ‘happiness,’ Yuuma. And also… I’ll be the one to satisfy you in everything beyond that too. I won’t give you to any other girls. Wait, that’s actually embarrassing.”

Suzune hid her face with her hair.

A crow cawed—caw, caw.

“Let’s eat lunch soon. My stomach’s been growling for a while now.”

At my words, Suzune returned to a smile.

“Sorry. Let’s eat.”

Suzune spread out our lunch.

Rice balls and a container of side dishes.

Fried chicken, rolled omelets, and sausages.

She had woken up early today to prepare this.

She makes my school lunch every day, and her cooking is visibly improving.

“Say ahhn.”

Suzune fed me some fried chicken.

Maybe it was because the view was so good, but it tasted even better than usual.

After eating lunch, we went to the Visitor Center.

In the exhibition room, they introduced the nature of Mt. Takao.

“Yuuma. There’s a taxidermy bear. It’s going roar. Ah—look, it says this bear was caught around here. I wonder if that’s true?”

“They’re probably around, but there are so many people here since it’s a tourist spot, so they probably won’t come out.”

The exhibits were substantial, and I ended up enjoying them thoroughly.

When we stepped outside, the sky was starting to turn golden.

“Wow, the sky is beautiful. The sunset colors are changing so fast. Let’s take a picture together.”

The sunset sky changed colors second by second.

I’ll likely never encounter a sunset of this exact same color ever again.

Suzune rested her face on my shoulder.

“Should we head back soon?”

Maybe I drank too much tea.

I suddenly felt like I needed to go to the bathroom.

“Are you okay with the bathroom, Suzune?”

“I’m fine.”

Suzune shook her head.

Perhaps because it was already close to 5:00 PM, all the other hikers were heading down quickly.

“Wait here for a second.”

“…Okay.”

Suzune touched her earlobe, looking a little anxious.

The blue star of her earring glinted, as if prophesying the arrival of night.

I finished in the bathroom quickly and stepped back outside.

“Sorry. Did you wait long? Suzune?”

Suzune was gone.

Maybe she went to the bathroom too.

I waited there for about five minutes, but Suzune didn’t come out.

Insects swarmed around the electric lights.

“Suzune, where are you?”

I had a very bad feeling.

Shouting her name, I decided to head back the way we came for a bit.

“Yuuma…”

Suzune’s voice came from somewhere.

“Suzune?!”

I ran toward the voice and looked down from the stone steps.

Suzune was there.

She was crouching on a steep slope of bamboo grass a few meters below the mountain path.

Why was she in a place like that?

I was curious, but that could wait for later.

“Can you climb up?!”

Suzune grabbed a tree root and shook her head.

At that rate, it was impossible for her to climb up on her own.

Sand trickled down.

I have to call for help.

I looked at my phone screen, but the signal bars were gone.

“Seriously? No signal? That’s impossible.”

I looked around, but it seemed everyone had already gone down; there was no one in sight.

Should I go back to the Visitor Center?

“Look, it says this bear was caught around here. I wonder if that’s true?”

Suzune’s words from earlier crossed my mind.

The sky was turning from purple to navy.

I couldn’t leave Suzune alone in this.

(I’m counting on you.)

I retied my laces and touched my shoes.

“Wait there. I’m coming.”

I jumped over the stone steps.

In the dim thicket.

A crow was cawing—caw, caw.

The soles of my shoes bit into the gravel.

I checked a nearby tree root before shifting my weight onto the slope.

Just a little further until I reach Suzune.

I reached out my hand.

…Wait, the star earring isn’t in Suzune’s ear.

Chapter 34: A Star’s Signpost.

“Onii-chan.”

I gripped the tree roots with my right hand as I climbed down the slope.

It was only a few meters, but if I lost my focus, I’d fall straight to the bottom of the ravine.

I shifted my weight to my right foot.

Small pebbles trickled down.

It’s okay.

The soles of my shoes are biting into the slope properly.

Just… a little more.

“Yuuma, don’t overdo it. I’m okay.”

Suzune said that, looking up at me.

However, she was clutching her left ankle.

“You’re not okay at all. Wait there.”

There was a dragging sound, and my body slipped downward.

Even though I’m so close, I can’t reach her.

(Damn, is this too much?)

I can’t support my weight well.

My dominant leg is freezing up.

“Don’t stop because you’re scared. It’s not about sealing it away, it’s about making a choice. That is what strength is.”

Sarasa-san’s words crossed my mind.

(I see. Am I being a coward again?)

I shifted the ball of my left foot about a centimeter inward and put all my weight on it.

Dive in.

Trust yourself.

I felt my left foot grip firmly.

Now!

I took a large step with my right foot.

—I managed to reach Suzune.

“Onii-chan.”

I pulled Suzune into a hug.

Her shoulders were small and cold.

“Don’t worry me like that.”

“I’m sorry. I dropped my earring.”

It seems she dropped it when she touched it while sitting on the stone wall.

“Was it something important from a friend?”

“No. You gave it to me.”

Suzune pouted.

I’ve never given her an earring before, though.

No—more importantly.

I need to get us out of here.

I looked up at the top of the cliff.

It’s only a few meters, but climbing it with Suzune seems difficult.

The sky is turning from navy to black.

Soon, we won’t be able to see anything.

The sound of an animal echoed from somewhere.

“I’m scared.”

Suzune pressed her face against my chest.

“It’s okay.”

I said it, but I wasn’t sure what to do.

The cawing of crows grew louder.

The atmosphere of the mountain changed.

The mountain no longer belonged to humans.

—It was the scent of a beast.

Snap.

The sound of a twig breaking came from the darkness.

“Do you think bears come out?”

Suzune spoke in a small voice.

Whoosh.

A cold, damp wind blew up from the valley.

They say mountain weather is fickle; it might rain.

The cold and the presence of beasts are terrifying.

We can’t stay here long.

…I have to do something.

“Hey.”

Suzune said something.

“What is it?”

“I love you, Yuuma. That earring—it was the stone you gave me on my birthday when we were kids. Don’t you remember?”

I definitely recognize that blue color.

“The one I put in a box and gave you in primary school?”

Suzune nodded.

When I was in sixth grade, we went to Nara on a family trip.

I picked up that stone at a river there.

I was the only one who found a blue stone.

Suzune wanted it the whole time.

So, I gave it to her for her birthday.

“But what I gave you was just a pebble, wasn’t it?”

Suzune shook her head.

“I asked someone who knows about these things, and they said it’s a sapphire. So, I had it processed into an earring.”

“Is that why there was only one?”

Suzune nodded.

“Because I couldn’t talk to you for so long, I felt lonely. I wanted to be able to wear it all the time.”

Her frequent touching of her earlobe… maybe it was because of that.

“We can talk now, right?”

Suzune nodded slightly at my words.

“But even now, it’s my charm. It’s a star. It’s the signpost for the two of us.”

She cherished it that much?

It seems I wasn’t the only one who found the long silence painful.

Suzune put her hand to her chest and continued.

“Hey. Won’t you let me hear your feelings? We might die here after all, and I want to hear it properly.”

The temperature is dropping.

Even in early November, the mountains are cold at night.

With the sounds of animals, we really might not be able to go home.

I hugged Suzune tight.

“I’ll protect you even if it costs me my life. And… I love you too—”

Huh?

I felt something under my foot.

When I looked down, a blue light sparkled.

…A light?

“What is it, Yuuma?”

“Shh.”

I put my hand over Suzune’s mouth.

It was a voice.

But there was no one on top of the cliff.

“Yuuma. There’s someone down there.”

Suzune said.

We held our breath.

A circle of light crawled up the mountain slope, stretching our shadows.

Staring down the cliff, I saw someone shining a flashlight toward us.

“Is anyone there?!”

The figure shouted.

“We’re here! We fell down the cliff!”

I yelled back.

“Can you make it here?!”

The voice came again from below.

I could see a small path at the bottom.

I hadn’t noticed it because of the dark.

It was a bit steep, but it was a bamboo-grass slope of about four or five meters.

We couldn’t climb up, but we could probably get down.

“Suzune, can you do it?”

Suzune nodded.

Oh—right.

I brushed aside the dead leaves at my feet.

The star-shaped earring appeared.

(So this is what sparkled earlier?)

I put the earring in my pocket.

“Take it slow. That’s it. Use your weight.”

The man gave us directions.

We gripped tree roots and bamboo thickets, sliding down the slope.

“I’m glad you’re safe.”

The voice belonged to a local ranger.

“Thank you very much.”

Suzune and I thanked him.

“We got a report from a primary schooler. The message reached us through the staff.”

A primary schooler… was it that brat from before?

“Yes.”

“The patrol path is closed to the public, but we had it opened temporarily. I was making the rounds just in case. I’m glad it didn’t turn into a large-scale search.”

According to the ranger, we could merge back onto Trail 1 if we kept walking.

“Ouch!”

Suzune clutched her ankle.

Peeking through the gap in her sock, her ankle was red.

The ranger spoke.

“This… might be broken. It’ll be hard to walk. Want to ride on my back?”

Suzune shook her head and pointed at me.

“That’s a problem. Can the boyfriend carry her?”

“Ah, yes. I can manage.”

I had the ranger hold our bags and I hoisted Suzune onto my back.

“Whoops.”

My calves felt like they were going to cramp.