While I Was Shutting in My Room for One Year, My Parent Remarried and Now I’m Living Together With Super Beautiful Stepsisters - Chapter 1: When I Thought My Life Was Over, Beautiful Stepsisters Arrived

Chapter 1: When I Thought My Life Was Over, Beautiful Stepsisters Arrived

The moment when you first get sorted in life is probably the “high school entrance exam.”

When compulsory education ends, the moment when everyone splits into paths that match their abilities… that is the high school entrance exam.

I am Aoto Kitajima. I was at that moment of being sorted for the first time in the high school entrance exam, coming to see it with my childhood friend.

“Hey, Aoto. They’re about to post the successful examinees’ numbers, right? I hope we both passed!”

“Y-Yeah.”

The one who came with me to see the announcement of successful examinees was Haruka Mizuno, my childhood friend who took the same high school exam.

Haruka was the one and only person who stayed by my side from childhood until the third year of middle school.

Since our houses were close, we often played together as kids. Every Valentine’s Day, Haruka gave me chocolate. We went to the same swimming school, the same cram school, and the same English conversation class.

Moreover, after entering middle school, maybe because I was from a single-father household, she even went out of her way to come over and make dinner for me.

Chasing after Haruka, who was so important, naturally made my grades better too, and I was able to take the exam for this difficult prefectural high school all thanks to Haruka.

So, I only had gratitude for Haruka.

To that Haruka… I had feelings I wanted to confess.

Feelings I kept hidden because I was too embarrassed.

(If I pass the same high school as Haruka, I’ll properly confess these feelings, and stay with Haruka forever—!)

“Oh, they posted the successful examinees’ numbers!”

“…!”

The moment the examinees’ numbers were posted… I experienced the greatest setback in my life.

“There it is! My number’s there! Ao…to?”

“…”

No way.

No way… no way, no way, no way!!!

My exam number! It’s not there!!!

“Aoto, could it be…?”

“Sorry. My number’s not there, it seems.”

“Uh, um. Well…”

Haruka looked down, apologetically, unable to say anything.

Why… me… like this.

No matter how you think about it, I was supposed to pass!

It was supposed to be a happy ending with my childhood friend forever!

To fail, to feel this much, this much regret.

At the same time, deep down, everything started to feel pointless.

I lost the means to walk the same path as Haruka and fell into despair.

“Sorry, Haruka. I’m going home.”

“Ah, Aoto…”

I went home alone, lonely.

My life… was over…

—One year after that tragedy.

“Alright… I completed the toughest quest. My weapon level’s maxed out too, so the next one will be easy.”

A year ago, I aimed for the toughest prefectural high school, but at some point, I became a shut-in gamer tackling the toughest quests in games.

☆☆

The human mind breaks as easily as a pretzel snack.

A year ago, my mind was shattered along with my relationship with my childhood friend because of the failure notice.

Since then, I stopped talking to Haruka, and hating everything after failing the exam, I escaped reality by shutting myself in my room and getting hooked on online games.

Yes… a typical dropout.

Even in that state, my only family, my father, who was always focused on work and quiet, never scolded me even once.

Also, my father seemed to have more long business trips, and since I became a shut-in, he left everything about the house to the housekeeper, Ms. Mitayama (58 years old).

Speaking of Ms. Mitayama, it’s already evening, so it’s about time…

“Aoto-san. I’m leaving your dinner here.”

Ms. Mitayama’s voice came from outside the room, and I heard the sound of the dinner tray being placed in front of my door.

Hearing her voice, I got up from my gaming chair.

“Aoto-san… this is the last dinner I’ll make. Thank you for everything.”

Ms. Mitayama’s voice sounded lonely from the other side of the door.

The last? What does that mean?

“And… congratulations. I hope this brings a change to your feelings, Aoto-san. Farewell.”

Ms. Mitayama said that and went down the stairs.

After confirming she left, I opened the door and brought the dinner tray Ms. Mitayama left into my room.

“What did Ms. Mitayama mean by ‘last’?”

Is her contract over, and she’s quitting?

It feels like that, but my dad didn’t say anything… well, that dad never says anything.

Wondering about what Ms. Mitayama said, I thought I’d keep living my usual days… or so I thought.

☆☆

That night.

Even as a shut-in gamer, I believed in taking baths properly, so after playing games late into the night, I headed to the first-floor bathroom around 2 a.m.

“Time to take a quick bath and sleep… huh?”

On my way to the bathroom, I noticed some unfamiliar “things” on the living room sofa.

A women’s fashion magazine, an eyelash curler, and something like lip balm.

(What’s this? Looks totally like women’s stuff, right?)

Is Ms. Mitayama still here?

But Ms. Mitayama always leaves around 9 p.m., and at her age, I can’t imagine her bringing such young women’s stuff.

“Well… whatever. Ms. Mitayama will probably clean it up tomorrow.”

Ms. Mitayama might have a surprising interest in young people’s stuff.

I ignored it and headed straight to the bathroom, taking off my clothes in front of it.

I was about to put my clothes in the laundry basket… but at that moment, I found something strange again.

“What…! W-What are these, underwear?!”

In the laundry basket, there were three sets of super cute women’s underwear, tops and bottoms, neatly arranged in three colors like dango.

“These panties and bras? No matter how you look at it, they’re women’s underwear, right?”

Ms. Mitayama’s underwear…?

“But these bras are awfully big…”

I didn’t think Ms. Mitayama had that kind of image…

But if 58-year-old Ms. Mitayama was wearing such young-looking underwear, that’d feel like some weird fetish.

“What the hell is going on… There shouldn’t be anyone else living in this house but me.”

And the bathroom was awfully humid…

Did someone forget the ventilation fan? There was still steam in the bathroom.

Did Ms. Mitayama take a bath for a few days and leave her underwear without washing it…?

“No way… that’s not it, right?”

I don’t know, but it’s kind of scary, so I’ll skip the bath today and go to sleep.

I put my clothes back on and decided to return to my room.

I don’t know what’s happening, but I can ask Ms. Mitayama tomorrow.

I went back to my room, jumped into bed, and fell asleep.

☆☆

In the morning, as soon as I woke up, I noticed another strange thing.

Usually, I wake up around 9 a.m. as a habit, but… today I woke up at 7 a.m.

The biggest reason was… I kept hearing unfamiliar voices from downstairs.

“It wasn’t a dream yesterday… Someone is in this house.”

Convinced of that, I cautiously went downstairs…

And there.

“…Huh?”

Breakfast was spread out on the living room dining table as if it was normal.

Three girls were sitting in three of the four chairs, and all three looked somewhat similar.

A blonde short bob with earrings and nail polish, looking totally like a gal.

A brown-haired, long-haired girl with gentle eyes, looking obviously kind.

And a super short, super noticeable pink-haired, baby-faced, cute girl.

What they all had in common was their unusually large breasts… but that’s not the point!

What’s this situation? Did I get transported to another world?

“Who’s that guy… the house servant?”

“No way. He’s in casual clothes.”

“Oh, you two, that’s Aoto-kun, Aoto-kun. Didn’t Dad say he had a son?”

“Ohhh.”

“Since we’re living here starting today, we should greet him.”

“Yeah, right.”

They seemed to come to some understanding…

But who the hell are you guys?!!

The beginning of April marks the start of a turbulent period.