While I Was Shutting in My Room for One Year, My Parent Remarried and Now I’m Living Together With Super Beautiful Stepsisters - Chapter 60: The Super-Intense, Clingy, Yandere Interrogation from My Childhood Friend ♡

Chapter 60: The Super-Intense, Clingy, Yandere Interrogation from My Childhood Friend ♡

Haruka invited me to take a walk outside the hotel.

A normal walk wouldn’t be a big deal, but since the other person is Haruka, I can’t help tensing up… in all sorts of ways.

“It’s really hot today, huh? Summer’s coming soon, after all.”
“Yeah, you’re right. It’s definitely hot today.”

We chatted about nothing in particular as we walked along the wide coastal road in front of the hotel for a while, until we reached a large cliff at the end of the road.

This cliff, right by the water’s edge, is surrounded by a wooden fence to prevent falls, but it also has benches and offers a great view. It’s kind of turned into a little tourist spot.

Seriously… of all places, a cliff?

The atmosphere between Haruka and me is already mysteriously heavy and clingy, and now she’s brought me to the classic cliff from Sunday suspense dramas—the final spot where the culprit gets cornered.

“Wanna sit and talk?”
“O-Oh, sure.”

Haruka sat on the bench first and motioned for me to join her, so I sat down next to her.

“I’ve never really had time to talk with you like this, Aoto, even when I was over there. I’m so happy.”
“Over there? You mean the hotel?”
“The hotel too, but more than that, I mean at home. Ever since our parents remarried, my stepsisters are always around the house, and there’s this one big-boobed nuisance who keeps interrupting whenever I want to talk to you.”

She’s definitely talking about Momiji.

I don’t think Momiji is actually trying to get in the way… but those two are always fighting.

This conversation is starting to take a weird turn.

I need to change the subject before she starts complaining about Momiji.

“By the way, Haruka, how’s high school been since you started?”
“Since I started high school?”
“Yeah. I failed the entrance exam, so I don’t know anything about your high school life. I was curious. It’s one of those super competitive prep schools full of hardcore studiers. A super beautiful girl like you must have tons of guys chasing after her, right?”

I said it in the same teasing, half-joking tone I used to use back in the old days… or at least that’s what I meant to do.

“…I haven’t.”
“Huh…? Haruka?”

“I haven’t! I haven’t been in any relationships at all! Believe me, Aoto! I really haven’t! I’m still a vir●in! If you want proof, I’ll give you my phone! You can look through all my chats!”

Haruka’s eyes flew wide open as she grabbed both of my shoulders with a grip like an eagle’s talons. She shoved her stunningly beautiful face right up to mine—practically nose-to-nose—and desperately pleaded with me.

W-Wait, wait, wait, what is this situation?!

“C-Calm down, Haruka. Aren’t you misunderstanding something? I was just making casual conversation! I was only teasing you a little!”
“Huh? R-Really? Sorry, Aoto. I thought you were suspecting me of cheating on you or something.”
“Ch-Cheating?!”

What the heck is she talking about?

Did my question sound like a husband probing his wife for infidelity?

That makes no sense. We’re not even dating.

“But… if that’s the case, then I’m relieved. If you were just complimenting me because you think I’m beautiful, that’s all.”
“Is it normal to call yourself beautiful like that? It’d be one thing if I said it, but…”
“It’s fine, isn’t it? Because if you, Aoto, truly think I’m beautiful, then I’m going to keep showing it off proudly for the rest of my life. As long as you think so, I’ll always be ♡.”

Yep… there’s definitely something heavy and clingy going on here.

“Oh, that’s right. I heard from Yamada earlier that you started playing the violin again. Does that mean you’re not in the track club anymore?”
“Yeah. I think I’m done with track.”
“Done with it? Why? You were so serious about it back in middle school. Unlike me, who got knocked out in the regional qualifiers, you even made it to the prefectural tournament.”
“That’s because… the track I loved was the one where you were cheering me on, Aoto.”

Haruka took out her phone and played some violin music.

The sound blended fierce intensity with softness—a tone that perfectly matched the Haruka sitting in front of me right now.

“I started playing the violin again because I thought even if you were holed up in your room, the sound might still reach you. No matter how many laps I ran on the track, it could never reach you inside your room.”
“H-Haruka…”

Could it be… she picked up the violin again just so I could hear it…?

“But it’s been so long that I’m really bad at it now. I’m so awful that I decided to take private lessons at a music school. That time I ran into Yuzuna-san the other day, I was on my way home from a lesson.”
“I-I see! So that’s what it was…”

She’s going that far just so I can hear her play?

Could Haruka really have been that worried about me, her childhood friend?

No… it’s the other way around. I must have made everyone around me worry this much.

The year I spent as a shut-in definitely caused that much concern for the people around me.

Not just Haruka, but Mitayama-san and my dad too.

“…Sorry, Haruka.”
“Huh? Why are you suddenly apologizing? There’s nothing in what you just said that you need to apologize for.”
“There is. If I hadn’t failed the entrance exam and spent a whole year as a shut-in, I wouldn’t have made you worry this much, right? So—”
“It’s fine. Quitting track and starting the violin again were both my choices. As long as I win in the end, the process doesn’t matter.”

W-Win? What is she talking about?

“Besides! We’re childhood friends, aren’t we? So from now on, let’s not sweat the small stuff! Got it?”
“…Y-Yeah. Thanks, Haruka.”

Man, I really am lucky.

I have a childhood friend who opens up to me like this, three stepsisters who adore me, a stepmom with ridiculously big boobs, and an annoying junior.

Things were feeling really heavy earlier, but now that I’ve cleared the air with Haruka, I can finally relax and—

“By the way, Aoto? About yesterday, when you pretended to be Yamada-chan’s boyfriend…”

Haruka suddenly smiled—a soft, clingy smile laced with anger.

“Explain it to me. Why did you cover for Yamada-chan like that and even pretend to be her boyfriend? Could it be… you like Yamada-chan? Are you a lol●con? Hey, hey, explain it properly, Aoto!”

W-Wait, didn’t you just say we shouldn’t sweat the small stuff?!

Sure enough, Haruka has changed in a lot of ways (and gotten way heavier).