Chapter – 48
──Morning.
After finishing my usual preparations, I left the house, and Kana-neesan was waiting at the entrance.
It was just at the timing where I was about to ring the doorbell—or not.
“Good morning, Kaede. Today I’ll walk with you partway to school again.”
“Yeah.”
I made sure to bring my bag and my homemade lunch as I left the house.
Not long after stepping out, I handed Kana-neesan my homemade lunch so I wouldn’t forget.
“Here. The lunch I promised you.”
“Thank you. Then, here. My homemade lunch… enjoy it.”
Kana-neesan blushed slightly as she shyly handed me her lunch.
“Thanks.”
I accepted it sincerely, smiled, and thanked her.
At first glance, it looked like any ordinary lunch. Nothing unusual.
But knowing Kana-neesan, she probably put something extra in there.
I still remembered the heart-shaped lunch she made the other day.
Kana-neesan walked with her usual smile toward school.
“What’s wrong, Kaede? Did something happen?”
It seemed like I’d been lost in thought for a moment.
Kana-neesan had quietly come up to me and peered at my face with a worried expression.
“Um… it’s nothing.”
I smiled as usual so as not to worry her.
She still looked unconvinced.
“Then… okay, I guess.”
Her expression showed, “If anything’s troubling you, you can tell me.”
Unfortunately, I wasn’t troubled by anything. There was nothing I needed to consult her about.
So I asked back:
“Kana-neesan, did something happen to you?”
At first, she looked confused, but gradually her expression grew more serious, and she spoke.
“Nothing much. Just… a boy confessed to me the other day.”
“I see. So a boy confessed to you.”
“Eh… ah… um…”
She looked a bit awkward as she met my gaze.
I figured it was true that another boy had confessed to her.
But considering how beautiful Kana-neesan is, that was to be expected. There was no reason to be upset.
“What is it, Kana-neesan?”
“Ah, well… of course I said no. I turned him down right away.”
“Ah, I see. You turned him down properly.”
“Of course. I didn’t even know him well. And more importantly, it’d be weird if I said yes with you around, Kaede.”
“Is that how it works?”
“That’s how it works. And you too—if some stranger confessed to you, make sure to say no properly.”
“Uh… yeah. I’ll politely refuse if that happens… though I doubt there’s even a girl who would confess to me in the first place.”
I muttered that quietly so she wouldn’t hear.
“Did you say something?”
“No, nothing.”
“Anyway, Kaede, I’ll never allow you to date any girl other than me.”
Kana-neesan said that and clung to my arm.
How many times have I heard those words now?
She really is way too possessive.
If Nao-san and the others were here, maybe it would act as a brake. But since they weren’t, she got carried away.
Kana-neesan moved her face close to mine.
I frowned, suspicious, and asked:
“Hey… Kana-neesan, what are you trying to do?”
“As a sign of affection, of course.”
Kana-neesan said that, closed her eyes, and leaned in as if to kiss me.
“Stop… in the morning! That’s embarrassing!”
“Really? I think it’s normal for couples to do this.”
“We’re not even that kind of couple yet, Kana-neesan! What are you saying?”
“But… we’re dating, right?”
“Yeah… I think so, but…”
I answered vaguely.
I didn’t really know what “dating” meant in terms of how far it went.
“Then there’s nothing wrong with kissing. At least, I want to do it, so I will.”
“But…”
“There’s no ‘but.’ Or do you not want to kiss me, Kaede?”
“Eh, no… it’s just…”
I couldn’t respond. Kissing Kana-neesan made me really nervous and embarrassed.
“So, what is it, Kaede?”
Kana-neesan glared at me, looking angry.
I thought, there’s no need to be that mad…
“I think atmosphere is important when it comes to kissing. Besides…”
Before I could finish, Kana-neesan pressed her lips against mine.
“…!?”
It happened so suddenly that I was frozen in place, speechless.
She slowly pulled back and grinned mischievously.
“You said atmosphere is important, right? I thought the same, so I couldn’t help myself.”
“Kana-neesan!?”
I hurriedly placed my hand on my lips.
“Atmosphere really is important. If it’s off, nothing gets exciting. Also…”
“Also?”
“It helps confirm whether you really like the person or not.”
“Is that how it is?”
“Yeah. That’s how it is.”
Kana-neesan lightly touched her own lips as she spoke.
Her action—after having touched my lips—seemed slightly pleased.
“…I see.”
So it’s about confirming feelings…
I thought it was normal to kiss because you like someone, but for Kana-neesan, she kisses while confirming if the person truly likes her.
All the more reason, I wonder what she sees in someone like me. I really don’t understand.
“Come on, we’ll be late if we don’t go.”
Kana-neesan smiled as usual and grabbed my hand.
“Ah… yeah.”
I let her pull me along, and we ran off together.
