While I Was Shutting in My Room for One Year, My Parent Remarried and Now I’m Living Together With Super Beautiful Stepsisters - Chapter 6-7

Chapter 6: Yuzuna and Big Siste’s Guitar Solo

“Uncle said you’re going back to school.”

“W-W-What did you say…?”

I couldn’t hide my shock at the bombshell Yuzuna just dropped.

Me, going back to high school after being a shut-in for a year!?

Wasn’t I already expelled or something!?

“Is that reaction because… you didn’t know again?”

“Y-Yeah. First I’ve heard of it.”

“Seriously… Uncle didn’t say anything?”

It’s Dad’s fault, but… looking back on this past year, I realize I haven’t exactly been communicating properly with him either.

“Wait? But earlier you said you failed the high school entrance exam, right? So you actually got into a different high school?”

“Well, everyone takes the backup high school exam, you know. But…”

“But?”

Sure, after I spectacularly failed the prefectural high school exam, I ended up enrolling in a private high school as my backup.

But ever since I ended up at a different school from Haruka, everything started feeling boring, empty, and pointless, and going to high school got tougher and tougher.

So about a year ago, I completely shut myself in, and since then, I had no idea whether I was expelled or just on a leave of absence.

“Is this about wanting me to stop being a shut-in?”

“…Maybe.”

Yuzuna mumbled that, then grabbed a pick and stood up.

“I’m done with gloomy talk. I’m gonna play a bit to lighten the mood. Listen.”

“Huh? O-Okay.”

Maybe I made the atmosphere all heavy, because Yuzuna started getting ready to play her guitar.

Is she trying to cheer me up in her own way?

No, that’s probably just me being full of myself…!

The moment Yuzuna started playing, I couldn’t believe my ears.

The notes wobbled with a screeching ‘gyuwan gyuwan’ sound.

Ear-piercing highs and a melody line that rattled my eardrums.

It sped up, slowed down, went high, went low.

I could faintly hear Yuzuna’s singing, but the guitar was so loud it drowned her out.

W-What’s this!? This insanely terrible guitar playing!?

Normally, isn’t acoustic guitar playing supposed to be chill, like singing a lullaby at a soft volume!?

Why is the guitar the loudest thing here!?

Still, I didn’t want to be rude to Yuzuna, so I listened until the end, but… by the time it was over, I felt like I’d just gotten off a roller coaster, my head spinning.

This, every day from now on… I’m not looking forward to it.

“Phew. Playing without holding back feels great—hey, what’s wrong, big brother?”

“What’s wrong, you ask?”

“It’s okay, Aoto-kun!”

Right then, the room’s door flew open, and Momiji burst in from the hallway.

“I heard the guitar and brought earplugs! Oh no, too late… Aoto-kun’s already out of it.”

Looks like Momiji heard Yuzuna’s guitar and came to check on me.

“Ugh, Yuzuna! Why didn’t you tell Aoto-kun your guitar playing sucks!?”

“It doesn’t suck! It’s just my musical style that people don’t get!”

“Sorry, Aoto-kun. I didn’t tell you Yuzuna’s called the ‘walking noise.'”

“Hey!! That’s it, I’m pissed. Fine, I’ll play again right here!”

If you know it’s a weapon, that’s already a problem.

“But Yuzuna letting you hear her guitar… you two are getting along already, huh?”

“No way! It’s not like I’m getting along with big brother or anything!”

“Oh my~ Isn’t Yuzuna getting a bit ‘excited’ or something?”

“I-I’m not! I’m going back to my space!”

With that, Yuzuna stormed off to her own area, a bit angry.

“Hah, ‘excited’ comeback complete.”

“Why do you look so smug about it?”

“Aoto-kun. I’m not ‘excited,’ okay?”

“I didn’t ask, I didn’t ask.”

At first, I thought Momiji was the responsible big sister type, but she might actually be the most unhinged.

“By the way, Aoto-kun. Is it okay if your room gets split in half?”

“Yeah, that’s fine, but… Yuzuna told me I’m supposed to go back to school.”

“Back to school? Oh, Father mentioned that.”

“Uh, can we put that on hold or—”

“You’re starting next week with the four of us. Father asked me to look after you.”

W-Wait, they’ve completely cut off my escape route!!

But staying a shut-in forever is probably not great either…

“Don’t worry, Aoto-kun. No matter what, your big sister Momiji will protect you♡”

Momiji gave a loving smile, but… there was something almost scary about it.

What’s with this pressure?

Also, big sister? You’re the little sister…!

“Oh, and Aoto-kun! Anzu’s having some trouble in her room… She said she wants you to come. Can you help?”

“Trouble? O-Okay, got it.”

What’s this about? I hope it’s not something weird… Anzu seems quiet, so it shouldn’t be, right?

Guess I’ll go check it out.

I hurried off to Anzu’s room.

—

Chapter 7: Anzu, the Soothing Stepsister (?)

“Well, Aoto-kun, I’m off to the supermarket to shop♡ Take care of Anzu~”

“Yeah, got it.”

I saw Momiji off as she left for shopping and headed to Anzu’s room.

What could Anzu want with me?

Anzu seems way quieter compared to the other two, so I’m a bit worried about talking one-on-one.

Yuzuna said I’m “good with girls,” but that’s only with pushy types like my childhood friend Haruka. I’m not great with quiet girls.

Still, she sounds like she’s in trouble, so I can’t just ignore it.

I reached Anzu and Momiji’s room and knocked on the door.

“Uh… It’s Aoto. Can I come in?”

“Eek! Y-Yes! Please!”

Her flustered reply gave me permission, so I slowly opened the door…!?

The room was completely dominated by pink—a total girly vibe.

Pink wallpaper, a heart-shaped floor mat, pink curtains.

And on the bed, a weird YES cushion… definitely Momiji’s bed.

“Big brother! Thank you for coming!”

Anzu gave a polite bow with her petite frame.

“Tch, no need to be so formal. I just came downstairs, you know?”

“Th-Thank you anyway!”

Why’s she so nervous?

Maybe she’s scared of guys? I heard she lost her dad early and went to an all-girls school…

Guess I’ll try talking lightly.

“So, this wallpaper’s wild, huh? Did you put it up?”

“Last night, big sister Momiji was frantically putting it up.”

“Last night? Oh, right, you guys moved in yesterday.”

That’s why that huge bra was in the bathroom… No, no, stop thinking weird stuff, me!

But looking at Anzu, she’s shorter and smaller than the other two, yet her breast seems a size bigger, like it has this noticeable weight…

“Big brother? What’s wrong?”

“Ah! No, I mean, what’s up? You needed me?”

No, no, checking out a girl who’s about to be my stepsister… I’m a failure as a brother.

I forced the conversation back on track.

“Um, I want to play a game on my computer… but I don’t know the WiFi password. So I wanted you to tell me.”

“Password? Oh, that’s it? I’ll show you.”

I thought Anzu needing me was some big deal, but it’s just WiFi.

I pulled up the WiFi password on my phone and showed it to her.

“Thank you…! Great. Now I can play.”

“By the way, what game are you playing?”

“Huh?”

I asked casually, and Anzu looked at me, surprised.

Crap, was that too forward!?

“Um… the game I’ve been playing lately is…”

Phew, she’s answering normally.

“It’s called Lunares Online, a fantasy MMORPG from Japan, but it’s super popular worldwide now.”

L-Lunares!?

The moment she said that name, I got weirdly excited.

Lunares is a classic Western-style fantasy MMORPG, crazy popular worldwide, and it’s my “home.”

“You play Lunares? Actually, I—”

Wait!

Sure, I play Lunares too, and I’m even in one of the top 10 clans, a super strong group.

But… everyone knows Lunares’ top 10 clans are full of “hardcore gamers” and “whale otaku,” so the more someone knows about the game, the worse their impression of me might be.

In my year as a shut-in, I’ve been a beast in Japan’s top 10 clan, posting quest guides, but if Anzu found out…

She’d probably say, dead serious:

“Wow, big brother, that’s super gross. I don’t wanna live with you.”

“O-Oh, I… I’d love to try that game.”

“Really, big brother!? You’re interested!?”

“Uh, y-yeah…”

As I fumbled, pretending I’d never played, Anzu started talking excitedly.

When it comes to games, she suddenly gets chatty… Is Anzu one of us?

“If you start Lunares and need help, ask me! I’m kind of a veteran in a pretty awesome group!”

“Wow, got it, Anzu. Thanks.”

I thanked her and tried to leave quickly.

Gotta get out before I slip up.

But Anzu, all hyped up talking about games, was super cute.

If she was always like this…

“Uh, big brother… um.”

“Hm? Something else?”

“When Father told me about you, I was a bit scared, but talking today, you seem kind, and I’m relieved. That’s all.”

Anzu said it shyly and went back to her computer.

Compared to that noisy blonde gal or the self-proclaimed big sister who’s actually younger… what’s with this soothing stepsister?

As her stepbrother, I decided I couldn’t let Anzu hate me, so I swore to keep my Lunares hardcore status a secret.