Chapter 29
My Stepsister Makes a Declaration
After walking Kanashizuku home and returning to my house, I was greeted by Yumi, who looked a little displeased.
“Welcome back, Onii-chan. Since you came home around this time after walking, I guess you didn’t do anything weird with Kanashizuku-san.”
“Haa… There’s no way something like that would ever happen between me and Kanashizuku.”
I sighed as I replied and stepped into the house, and Yumi said,
“Onii-chan, I still haven’t forgiven you for lying to me — for saying you weren’t seeing another girl when you actually were.”
“…I see.”
“—But.”
With that, Yumi added in a brighter tone,
“Because I found out you actually were with another girl, I realized something — that I really, really hate the idea of you being taken by someone else. It made me realize all over again that I truly love you, Onii-chan. That’s why, no matter what, I won’t give you to anyone. I’ll definitely be the one to marry you!”
Seeing Yumi so cheerful and assertive, I couldn’t help but respond in a lighter tone myself.
“Marriage, huh… I’ve thought this before, but you’re not even talking about dating or becoming lovers first — you go straight to marriage.”
“Well, since we’re going to do everything eventually, it’s more fun to talk about the final step first!”
“We’re siblings, so that’s not going to happen.”
As I said that, Yumi hugged me tightly and whispered,
“Then I’ll just have to make you see me as so irresistible that you can’t say that anymore…”
…Yumi really doesn’t understand.
From the first day we met, I’ve already found her incredibly attractive.
I’ve said this many times before — Yumi is exactly my type in every possible way. That hasn’t changed since we met a year ago.
And now, that exact type of person lives under the same roof as me — as my stepsister.
I had my share of inner struggles, but even so, I made a vow in my heart that for the sake of Yumi, who has no family left, I would always remain her brother and nothing else.
That’s one thing I’ll never give up on.
As Yumi held me, I reaffirmed that resolve — until she spoke again in a calm voice right by my ear.
“Hey, Onii-chan… earlier, when I said ‘Looks like you didn’t do anything weird with Kanashizuku-san,’ you looked exasperated and said, ‘There’s no way something like that would happen between me and her,’ right?”
“I did say that… what about it?”
“People change, you know. Relationships can change too. And even if they do, I don’t think that’s necessarily a bad thing… Of course, that doesn’t just apply to Kanashizuku-san — it applies to me too.”
After saying that, Yumi released me from her embrace.
People and relationships change — and even if they do, that’s not a bad thing… Maybe she’s right, but still, I—
“Anyway, Onii-chan! Since Kanashizuku-san’s gone home, how about we take a bath together now, just the two of us?”
My train of thought was completely derailed by Yumi’s sudden remark.
“Haa!? Of course not!”
“Oh, since Kanashizuku-san’s gone, we don’t need to bother with towels anymore, right? Just the two of us siblings, nice and close!”
“Don’t just assume we’re taking a bath together! And even if we did — which we’re not — of course we’d still use towels!”
“Then how about we take one with towels?”
“I said if we did! But we’re not! We’re not taking a bath together — last night was an exception!”
“Ehh~ Then I’ll settle for sleeping together instead!”
“That’s not allowed either!”
After that, I had no time for deep thoughts — all my energy went into dodging Yumi’s constant attempts to either take a bath or sleep together with me.
But just before falling asleep, one thought crossed my mind.
—Is it really okay for things to stay like this?
“…”
I almost started thinking too deeply about it, but for now, I decided to prioritize sleep and drifted off into slumber.
