Chapter 1
A regional city with a strong aspect of being a bedroom community for an adjacent major city.
In his bedroom in a residential area, Shota diligently cleaned the room since the morning.
Despite usually keeping things tidy, he wanted to maintain a
decent appearance as an older brother, especially conscious of the return of
Erika to this home on short notice.
"Hmm?"
As he tidied up the shelves and desks by stuffing things away somewhat haphazardly, and sorted through the closet, he heard the door swing open with a bang from the entrance. Then, hurried footsteps clattered up the stairs, and someone burst into the room.
"Sho-chan, help me take down this guy real quick—oh, whoa! What's with the mess in your room?"
"I'm not making a mess, I'm organizing, Mio."
Shota sighed as a girl of the same age as him, Mio, swaggered into the room with a gaming console in hand.
Mio, scanning the room rudely, spotted something amidst the
organized chaos on the floor and her eyes lit up.
"A brightly colored doujinshi titled 'The Hidden Otaku and Lewd Young Lady is My Little Sister'... This is definitely an erotic doujinshi! Haven't seen one of these in a while. What's this about?"
"Oh, that was thrust upon me by Kazuma the other day."
"Is it steamy? Like, super sexy?"
"Eh, more like emotionally gripping? You'll understand if you read it."
"Oh, really?"
With the erotic doujinshi in hand, Mio plopped down on Shota's bed and began reading.
As Shota continued tidying up the room, he occasionally heard Mio's excited exclamations like "Hehe," "Stop stuffing the flat-chested character's chest!", "No way, this is...," and "Whaaat!?".
Eventually, Mio finished reading, her face glowing with
satisfaction. She let out a satisfied sigh and exclaimed, "Wow, this was
surprisingly good! Especially the part where they're like, 'You idiot, it's
okay because we're siblings...' It's a crude but modest homage overflowing with
love for the original."
"Yeah, when Kazuma gave it to me and was like, 'This isn't just a smutty manga!' I was like, 'What's this guy talking about?' But my opinion changed after reading it."
"Right? Got any more?"
"Nah, that's it... Hey, don't mess up the place I just cleaned!"
"Well, well. Guess you don't have any. Your collection is probably all on your phone, right?"
"I... don't have one."
"Oh, there was a suspicious pause just now."
"Shut up!"
Shota, slightly rattled by Mio's accurate jab, raised his voice, while Mio chuckled softly. It was an exchange that could be considered typical of them.
As Shota returned to tidying up, Mio resumed playing the game she had brought along, saying, "Oh well, I guess I'll just have to manage on my own for now." She sat cross-legged on the bed, scratching her stomach lazily, took a sip from Shota's half-empty bottle of ginger ale without asking, and behaved as if she owned the place. This was the familiar dynamic between them, one that had developed since before they even entered elementary school.
Despite a teenage boy and girl being alone in the same room, there was an easygoing and comfortable atmosphere. It was surprisingly not awkward, considering they had just been caught reading erotic doujinshi, a conversation that one might expect to create a strange tension.
Glancing at Mio, her unkempt black hair falling freely, with
bedhead sticking out here and there, she had her bangs clipped up as if they
were bothering her. She wore a worn-out shirt and sweatpants that looked like
she'd hesitate to even wear them to the nearest convenience store. Mio herself,
dressed in such a relaxed manner that she wouldn't dare to show herself to
anyone else, didn't seem to be conscious of being a girl. Otherwise, she
wouldn't have chugged the ginger ale in one go and burped without a care.
In this way, Shota had spent more time with Mio than with his family.
Watching Mio scratch her butt through her sweatpants, Shota
suddenly blurted out what had been on his mind.
"...Is this what it's like to have siblings?"
"What's gotten into you all of a sudden? Oh no, are you trying to do something like in those doujinshi with me!?"
"Wha-!"
"Wasn't that reaction a bit too much!?"
With a half-hearted smile, Shota laughed as Mio playfully hugged herself and wriggled around. In response to his teasing, she threw a pillow at him as if to protest.
Though Shota returned a wry smile, Mio peered at him with a slightly concerned tone.
"So, what's up all of a sudden?"
"Oh... Well..."
There must have been something on his mind from his earlier muttering.
Mio knew about the situation with Erika being separated from the family due to their circumstances. And since their recent reunion was sudden, he hadn't talked about it yet.
Shota scratched his cheek with his fingertips, carefully considering his words before speaking.
"Our parents got back together. And Erika is coming back to this house."
"Huh, really!? I had no idea! You never told me
anything!"
"Oh, it was quite sudden. Just the day before yesterday, we had a meeting. You know, all those packages in the hallway and stuff?"
"I did wonder what that was about. I just assumed it was for me from some aunt or something."
"Nah, come on, there were way too many packages for just you, Mio."
"...Huh, Sho-chan, you didn't hear about it?"
"Hear about what?"
"Eh, well, never mind, it's a secret☆"
"Ugh, you're annoying."
Their conversation seemed to be hitting a snag.
Although Shota was bothered by it, Mio's cheeky grin and giggling seemed to outweigh any frustration he felt, causing him to furrow his brows and turn away.
However, Mio didn't seem to notice Shota's reaction and continued speaking.
"Hey, hey, what's Eri-chan like? Is she cute?"
"Wha-! Um, well, she's... uh..."
Suddenly picturing Erika in his mind, Shota felt his heart skip a beat, and his words faltered.
Seeing Shota's reaction, Mio narrowed her eyes mischievously.
"Oh, this reaction tells me she's definitely cute! So,
you'll be living under the same roof with such a girl from now on... how
exciting!"
"B-Baka, what are you talking about, she's my little sister!"
"But you know, it's okay because she's your real sister, even in this doujinshi."
"That's because it's a doujinshi!"
"Hehe."
Despite their playful banter, Shota's thoughts were complicated.
Thinking about Erika made his heart race. Despite being her brother, he found himself somewhat conscious of her as a girl, and he wondered how they would live together from now on.
While Mio seemed genuinely excited and carefree, Shota felt a twinge of resentment.
"Oh, I see, Eri-chan's coming back... I'm looking forward to it! So, when is she coming over?"
"Today. She'll be here soon, so get ready to meet her. And while you're at it, help with the move. And cleaning too."
"Mmm, I'd love to help out, but I've got plans today,
sorry!"
With that, Mio suddenly got up and stretched.
"Anyway, make sure to send me a picture of Eri-chan later."
"Huh, no way. Besides, why would I take a picture of my little sister?"
"Well, how about 'Can I take a picture of my cute little sister to show off to everyone'?"
"Like I'd ever say that! And besides, she kinda looks
like me, so stop it!"
"Hehe."
With that, Mio said, "Well then, I'm off!" and left. She was quite the free spirit.
Left behind, Shota let out a big sigh and looked around at
his somewhat messy room.
"...Guess I should finish cleaning up."
And so, about an hour later...
After tidying up the shelves, closet, and even giving the floor a good mop—making his room shine brighter than usual—Shota felt satisfied as he gazed around. Just then, the doorbell rang.
Checking the time, he realized it was just about the time his father and little sister were supposed to arrive.
From downstairs, he could hear his mother saying, "Shota, please."
Responding with a "Okay," Shota headed towards the front door.
But as he reached for the doorknob, he hesitated.
What should he say to greet them?
They used to live together in this house. Saying "Welcome" felt too formal, yet "Welcome back" felt a bit off. He pondered for a moment.
"Sorry to keep you waiting."
Unable to keep them waiting any longer, Shota ultimately opened the door with those simple, unremarkable words.
And there, in the doorway, stood two figures with distinctive milk-tea-colored hair.
"Yo, Shota, we're here."
"Mm, you're here."
Seeing Shota, his father and little sister smiled warmly. Since they had sent their belongings ahead of time, each of them only carried a single Boston bag. They seemed lightly packed, more like returning from a trip rather than moving in. Perhaps that's how they saw it themselves.
"Hey there. Well, uh, come on in for now," Shota said with a vague smile, stepping back to invite them in and offering them freshly set out slippers.
Erika looked around curiously, sniffing the air as if intrigued by her surroundings. Then, as she stepped into the living room, she let out a small "Wow."
"It's nostalgic. It hasn't changed much," she remarked.
"Yeah, we haven't even rearranged the furniture," Shota added.
"The sofa looks a bit worn, doesn't it? Oh, and that scratch on the wall, remember when you were swinging around your toy, big bro?" Erika recalled.
"You remember that?" Shota chuckled.
"The toy broke, you got scolded, and then you cried a lot," Erika teased.
"Hey, let's forget about that," Shota protested.
"Hehe."
With a soft smile from his little sister, Shota's heart skipped a beat. He quickly averted his gaze and nervously scratched his reddening cheeks, trying to hide his embarrassment.
His self-image clashed with his appearance and behavior, throwing him off balance.
(Geez, and we're supposed to live together from now on...)
Meanwhile, their father, who had been looking around like
Erika, voiced his admiration.
"You've managed to keep things tidy, huh?"
"Dad, he always makes a mess. It's a hassle," Erika commented.
"Haha, I've been busy with work," their father chuckled, offering his usual excuse.
"You always say that," Erika retorted calmly, causing their father to shrug with a chuckle, and Shota to smile.
"It's usually much messier. I hurriedly cleaned up today," Shota explained.
"Geez, Shota, you didn't have to inherit that trait from your father," their mother interjected with an exasperated expression, the only one in the house with black hair.
"Uh, I'll be more careful from now on," Shota
replied sheepishly.
"Really? You've always been good with words," their mother teased.
"It's not like that. Besides, you've always been beautiful, just as you are. With age, your inner beauty shines through even more, making you more charming than before," their father complimented.
"Ugh, that's enough of that," their mother replied with a playful shove.
"Oh, come on!"
"Look, your luggage is too complicated to unpack by
yourself. Help me out," their mother said, twisting away from their
father's casual embrace and leading him towards the back room, seemingly not
entirely unwilling.
Seeing their parents' close and affectionate relationship was still somewhat embarrassing for both Shota and Erika as siblings, and they exchanged awkward smiles.
But considering everything, it was something to be welcomed.
"Speaking of which, where's my room, big brother?"
"It's all set up. Upstairs. Let me grab those bags for you," Shota replied.
"Ah."
Without waiting for a response, he took the bags forcefully, and even Shota, who was trained in kendo, couldn't help but feel their weight.
It must have been quite a load for elegant Erika.
"If it's too heavy, just say so. I'll carry it for you."
"Would you do that for your little sister?"
"Well, I suppose. What do you think?"
"Got any ulterior motives?"
"Hey, what are you insinuating? Especially with your little sister!"
"You've had plenty of those before."
"Ugh..."
Shota let out a voice that couldn't quite express his feelings as he looked at Erika.
The monochrome dress she wore, similar to the one she wore the other day, not only suited her well but also made her look more mature than her age, accentuating her slender figure.
To Shota, Erika was a beautiful young girl, and he couldn't help but imagine her being approached by superficial people while walking outside.
That thought triggered a strange mix of jealousy and envy
within him, prompting him to speak up as if to compete with those imaginary
people.
"I might have ulterior motives too."
"Huh?"
"Like wanting to get along like we used to."
Turning away, Shota spoke over his shoulder. He was aware that what he said was awkward, and his cheeks were slightly flushed.
Erika blinked as if caught off guard by his words.
"I feel the same way."
Slowly, Erika's cheeks relaxed, and she followed Shota with a cheerful voice.
As they climbed the creaking stairs together, they reached a
room on the second floor.
"This room..."
"It used to be the toy room."
"I thought maybe we'd be sharing a room like before."
"Hey, that would be a problem now!"
"Hehe."
Turning to give her a sharp look at the unexpected remark, Shota watched as Erika chuckled amusingly.
Shota pursed his lips, as if to say, "Stop teasing me, it's not good for my heart."
"Anyway... I left the desk and bed and stuff wherever, but is it okay like this? Let me know if you want me to move anything."
"I'm fine. It's okay."
"Alright. There are some other cardboard boxes with your stuff that arrived. They're still untouched over there. Let me help you unpack."
"Thanks."
With that, Shota returned to his room momentarily, fetched a
box cutter, and began to open the cardboard boxes.
Erika felt a sense of difference as she encountered various items like cute patterned mats, cushions, and other personal belongings, which were unfamiliar to Shota.
Then, as she stumbled upon bottles and stick-shaped items,
she realized they were cosmetics. She couldn't help but pause and look at
Erika.
(She wears makeup...)
With her translucent white skin, long curly eyelashes, and
plump red lips, Erika had a slightly childish yet beautiful face that was
mesmerizing. It made Shota involuntarily aware of Erika's femininity, and his
chest felt oddly fluttery.
"Shota?"
"Oh, it's nothing."
It seemed he had been staring for a bit too long.
Noticing his gaze, Erika tilted her head and asked, while Shota responded indifferently and averted his eyes, trying to conceal his inner turmoil. He was aware of the uneasiness in his chest.
Erika, on the other hand, remained composed as she calmly continued to unpack. Seeing her unfazed demeanor made Shota feel a bit resentful of his own nervousness.
Trying to maintain his composure, Shota muttered to himself ("Stay calm, stay calm") and focused on unpacking.
Homever, when he opened a certain cardboard box, he
inadvertently let out a sound and froze.
"Hm?"
"Oh, um, it's just... these..."
Shota hastily closed the cardboard box as Erika peered into it, wondering what was going on.
"Oh, underwear."
"Got it. Just don't spread them out in front of me."
"Embarrassed?"
"Of course!"
"Even though we're siblings?"
"Well, you know, even if we're siblings, there are still boundaries, right?"
"Hmm?"
As Shota blushed and turned his face away, Erika responded
with a slightly puzzled expression and a light-hearted laugh. Then, she gave a
mischievous smile.
"We used to share the bath together in the past."
"Well, that was in the past!"
"Want to join me today?"
"Are you serious?"
"Hehe, you're amusing, big brother."
"...Geez."
Erika chuckled softly, shaking her shoulders in amusement.
It's really difficult to gauge the distance with my little sister.
However, when he saw Erika's smile, despite feeling a flutter in his heart over trivial matters, Shota figured he hadn't reacted wrongly so far.
In the end, he left Erika to deal with the clothes while he efficiently unpacked the rest.
The work progressed smoothly, and they finished much earlier than expected.
Shota glanced around Erika's completed room and muttered
softly.
"You don't have much stuff."
The most noticeable items were just the desk, bed, bookshelf, and open shelving unit serving as storage for small items. Shota had been sensing this while unpacking; despite being the same size, Erika's room felt much larger because she had fewer possessions compared to his.
It was somewhat plain. Not quite what you'd expect from a girl of her age.
"...Well, I've moved around a lot."
"Is that so? Come to think of it, Dad used to travel
around the country a lot for work."
"So, I try to keep only the essentials."
"But, isn't that going to change from now on?"
"Huh!"
"...Erika?"
At the casually uttered words, Erika's eyes widened, her pupils trembling. Shota wondered if he had said something strange, his heart pounding as he watched Erika.
Then, in the next moment, she returned a joyful expression reminiscent of her former self, the little sister she once was.
"Yeah, from now on, together."
"Huh! Uh, yeah."
It was unexpected.
The girl in front of him, who he had thought might be someone resembling his little sister, was indeed Erika, as if confirming a sensation he had. His heart pounded rapidly, whether from agitation or something else entirely
He couldn't quite tell. The only thing he was certain of was that he wanted to see more of that smile, which made his heartbeat even faster.
Not wanting to reveal his inner thoughts, Shota spoke a
little quickly.
"Oh, um, we still haven't gotten things like shampoo, toothbrushes, dishes, you know, the essentials. Since it's still early, do you want to go buy them?"
"Yeah, let's go."
Shota hastily called out to his parents, who were still in the midst of organizing things, and received some money for expenses before leaving the house.
Normally, he would ride his bike, but with Erika in tow, they took the bus to their destination: Kooriyama Mall. It was the premier commercial facility in the area, boasting over two hundred specialty stores, a food court, and a cinema complex.
Most things could be found here, and Shota often made use of this place for shopping and leisure activities. In a way, it was like the lifeline of this moderately rural city.
When they got off at the nearest bus stop, they found themselves amidst a crowd of people heading towards Kooriyama Mall.
With it being spring break, there seemed to be a noticeable number of people their age.
And all their gazes were uniformly directed towards Erika.
Shota let out a heavy sigh. It was something he had expected.
Even on the bus, he had sensed many glances directed at Erika. While as her brother, he felt a sense of pride that her appearance drew attention, his feelings were still complex.
However, Erika herself seemed completely unconcerned. Her
expression remained unchanged as she sparkled with curiosity in her eyes, her
voice lively and cheerful.
"I haven't been here in a while. Has anything changed?"
"Yeah, they've renovated a few times. Lots of changes inside too."
"Looking forward to it."
Saying so, her fidgety excitement, despite her cool and
mature appearance, made Shota feel like she was still just a normal little sister her
age, causing his cheeks to relax.
"Hmm?"
"What's up?"
Suddenly, his left hand felt something slightly cool enveloping it.
Wondering what it was, he glanced down to see Erika holding his hand.
Shota froze, his mind going blank at the sudden situation.
Why? What's happening all of a sudden? His thoughts spun in confusion.
"Back when we used to come here, I held your hand so we wouldn't get separated."
"Well, yeah, that's true, but..."
"Do we look like proper siblings now?"
"Uh..."
But as Erika blushed and gave a slightly embarrassed smile,
Shota also gasped in realization.
Certainly, it would be a lie to say that at this age, holding hands isn't embarrassing. Even now, Shota worried if his hand was sweating.
But Erika was trying to fill the silence in her own way.
Shota smiled and tried to keep it light.
"You can see it, can't you? Look, we have similar hair colors."
Saying so, Shota compared his slightly darker and duller bangs to those of his father's and Erika's, pinching them and squinting.
His father, mother, and grandmother were all born in Scandinavia, which showed in their hair. Shota and Erika inherited a quarter of those genes, manifesting in their hair.
Although Shota's appearance leaned more towards his Japanese heritage, their uncommon hair color still indicated their sibling relationship.
With a wry smile, Shota added, "Right?" and Erika responded with a vague smile and a soft "Yeah."
Then, they both naturally made their way towards Kooriyama Mall.
As soon as they entered, they were greeted by a sickly sweet scent that overwhelmed them.
Before them was a chain store famous for attracting customers with its scent of cream puffs.
Of course, Shota had succumbed to its temptation a few times
with Mio. Currently, there were people forming lines, evidently lured by the
same sweet aroma.
Observing Erika's reaction to the scent, she maintained a composed expression.
For a moment, it seemed like she had no interest in sweets. But then, her stomach let out a growl.
Noticing the affectionate gaze directed at her, Erika
blushed and quickly averted her face.
"Wanna eat?"
"...No need. I'll gain weight. Plus, I stick to the principle of not wasting money."
"I see. I was thinking of treating you since we're here."
"............"
When Shota teased her playfully, Erika glanced between him
and the store, at a loss for words.
"What do you say?"
"...I'll eat. Just to spite you, big brother."
Erika pursed her lips and answered petulantly.
With Erika feeling jittery, they queued up in line and then sat down on one of the benches scattered around, each enjoying the cream puffs they bought.
The crispy pastry shell, the smooth custard cream, and the fragrance of vanilla beans wafting through their noses. Despite their usual deliciousness, they devoured them in a rush
As Shota licked the powdered sugar off his fingers and
glanced over, he saw his little sister nibbling on her cream puff with sparkling eyes
and a look of enjoyment on her face.
It was so heartwarming and cute that Shota reflexively aimed his phone's camera at her.
Upon hearing the sound of the shutter, Erika's eyes widened,
her cheeks turning red as she protested.
"Nii-san?"
Shota felt Erika's glare piercing him. What he did was impulsive, without much thought.
Stammering, Shota tried to find an excuse.
"Uh! Um, well, you see, Mio asked me to send her a picture of how Erika's doing, so..."
"If you're going to take a picture, do it properly... Wait, Mio? Mi-chan?"
"Yeah, that Mi-chan. She's still swinging around her bamboo sword as usual and often hangs out at our place. In fact, she was here until shortly before Erika arrived today."
Shota pulled up the image file on his phone and showed it to Erika.
Displayed on the screen was a girl with messy hair, seemingly oblivious to fashion, sitting cross-legged on a classroom desk, laughing with her mouth wide open as she pointed at something.
There were other photos too, like one of her singing enthusiastically in tacky casual clothes at a karaoke place, or one where she struck a strange pose in her kendo uniform outside a kendo tournament venue. They were all rough and far from the typical notion of feminine charm. Yet, they captured her unchanged essence since childhood.
As Shota frowned, Erika blinked and cracked a smile.
"Mi-chan, as usual."
"I hope you'll calm down a bit."
"I want to see her too."
"She said she had some things to do today, but I think she might come by tomorrow."
"Yeah, looking forward to it."
Then, the siblings exchanged glances and chuckled together.
After finishing their cream puffs, Erika paid no attention to other stores and headed straight for the shops she needed, like household goods and the pharmacy, quickly finishing her shopping. It was over in no time.
Erika looked at her purchases and uttered a satisfied remark.
"All done."
Seeing her demeanor indicating there was no further need, Shota couldn't help but ask.
"Are we heading back already?"
"Hmm?"
"Don't you want to look around for clothes or
accessories? Or maybe furniture? We still need bedsheets, among other
things."
"...I'm good for now."
"I see."
Feeling somewhat let down as he usually got swept away by
Mio's curiosity whenever they came to Kooriyama Mall, Shota glanced around. He
spotted an unusual bookstore combined with a variety store, sports equipment
shop, and a game corner. He felt a pang of reluctance to leave.
Feeling a sense of dissatisfaction and not wanting to end
his time with Erika just yet, Shota couldn't help but notice something.
(That's...)
It was a sudden idea, but quite a good one, even by his standards.
"Erika, wait here for a moment."
"Nii-san?"
"I need to use the restroom, urgent business!"
With that rather flimsy excuse, Shota dashed off towards the store he had in mind.
It was a shop that Mio had told him was popular among girls for accessories and miscellaneous items.
Though he felt like backing away at the sight of the sparkly, girly atmosphere, he firmly slapped his cheeks with both hands, psyching himself up, and stepped inside.
He was aware that he was doing something unfamiliar.
His hand, reaching for something inside, trembled uncertainly.
But as he recalled Erika's smile, he was driven by an
overwhelming feeling in his chest to pick up the item and head straight to the
checkout counter.
After a slightly shaky checkout due to nerves, Shota left the store with an excited step.
He might have taken a bit longer than expected. As he pondered what excuse to make, the moment he saw Erika, his mind suddenly cleared, and a surprisingly low and sharp voice, reminiscent of his demeanor during a kendo match, escaped him.
"What are you guys doing to Erika?"
"Huh?! What's your problem, man? We ain't doing nothing, alright?"
"Yeah, that's right. Let's go."
Shota interjected between Erika and the two dubious-looking men with a sharp glare.
Perhaps feeling intimidated by Shota's demeanor or perhaps just being cooperative, the men muttered complaints like "See? I told you" and "Of course she wouldn't have a boyfriend" as they walked away.
As they disappeared from view, Shota let out a deep sigh, as if exhaling the swirling heat still lingering in his chest, then turned to Erika with an apologetic expression.
"Are you okay, Erika? Sorry, I just took my eyes off you for a moment."
"Yeah, I'm fine."
"Yeah... but still, I've never seen anything like that before."
"It happens."
"Really? Is that so?"
"What about Mio?"
"Mio? Nah. Didn't you see earlier? She's not exactly the seductive type, is she? Besides, if it were Mio, I think she'd punch them right in the face without hesitation."
"Heh, yeah, probably."
As Shota joked, Erika chuckled softly.
Though he felt relieved momentarily seeing her laugh, the realization that such incidents were common brought forth a surge of determination to protect his little sister.
Suddenly, Erika noticed the paper bag in Shota's hand.
"Is that what you went to get?"
"Uh, yeah, this is..."
He hadn't really thought about what to do after buying it. Before he could even think, the earlier incident occurred, leaving him with no room for further considerations.
Suddenly, he felt a rush of insecurity and embarrassment.
Was he being a bother? Would she think it was weird? Pushy, even? But he had no choice but to give it to her.
Shota shook his head slightly, pushing aside his doubts, and handed the item he had bought to Erika.
"A keychain?"
"Oh, I found it earlier and thought it would suit you. It's for our keys and stuff, you know..."
It was a cute keychain with a design of a cat.
Shota bought it on impulse, thinking it resembled Erika with its tabby fur pattern and the way cats sometimes act aloof but then come to cuddle, much like Erika.
Erika took it, gazing at it intently and rolling it in her palm.
Silence hung between them for a moment.
Shota, thinking she might already have a favorite keychain and not want another, hurriedly began to speak.
"Ah, um, if you don't like it or if it's bothersome, it's okay. I can use—"
"No, that's not it."
As Shota tentatively reached out, Erika suddenly pulled him into a tight hug, shaking her head vigorously as if to refuse. Blushing with embarrassment, she whispered softly.
"I-I've been separated from you for so long, and I've
been nervous all day, wondering if we could really go back to being proper
siblings... But thanks to this, all those worries disappeared. You're still
you. I'm so happy. I'll treasure this."
"O-Okay, I'm glad."
Erika's joy overflowed in a way Shota had never seen before, and her face blossomed into the most radiant smile since they reunited.
It seemed Shota's impulse wasn't wrong after all. He felt relieved yet his heart raced with a jolt. Her smile was just that captivating.
"Let's go home."
"Yeah."
Shota turned his blushing cheeks away, as if trying to hide them, but this time, he reached out and held Erika's hand himself.
As they swayed on the bus, they still held hands.
Walking through the residential area where the setting sun stretched their shadows, they headed home.
There were many things Shota wanted to ask about the time they were apart, but there wasn't much conversation between them. Still, the atmosphere between them was calm.
Soon, their house came into view. Their day of spending time together was coming to an end.
Feeling a slight sense of loneliness and nostalgia, Shota
looked back on the day and began to speak.
「Somehow, today was fun, wasn't it?」
"Yeah, it was."
"Hopefully, we can get along well here too. Nice to meet you again, Erika."
"Yeah, nice to meet you again, big brother."
As Shota squeezed her hand tightly, Erika returned a smile that seemed to radiate happiness. Her smile was truly beautiful, and Shota's heart fluttered slightly.
There were still many things about Erika's reactions that Shota wasn't used to.
But to see this smile, it would be worth it to figure out how to get along as siblings.
However, there was something a bit embarrassing, so Shota tried to lighten the mood.
"By the way, I was really surprised earlier. Can you believe there are guys trying to pick up girls at Koriyama Mall? Be careful, okay? But I guess I understand their feelings a bit. You've really changed, Erika. It's surprising sometimes. If you weren't my little sister, I might not have been able to just let them go."
"Huh?"
"Erika?"
Stopping abruptly, Erika stared at Shota with widened eyes. Her expression was unreadable.
Did he say something weird, getting carried away with his teasing?
As Shota puzzled over it, Erika suddenly smiled with a hint
of embarrassment.
「I'm not really your little sister, Shota."
"Wha...?"
At first, Shota couldn't comprehend what he had just been told.
Despite the changes over the years, he had renewed his determination to protect her as his little sister.
"Not your little sister... What do you mean?"
Struggling to find words to respond to something he had never even imagined, Shota finally managed to force out the question from deep within his throat.
Erika averted her gaze, looking off into the distance as she spoke.
"I'm actually a distant relative of Dad's. Due to certain circumstances, I couldn't be raised properly, so I was shuffled around to various places. I was entrusted to this family when you were still drinking milk... That's why when we separated, Dad took me in."
Shota fell silent, realizing this wasn't a lie. It wasn't a joke, and her tone was filled with sorrow.
"But, from now on, let's take care of each other, okay, Shota?"
As Shota stood there in shock, Erika, now leaning on him as
if for support, tightly squeezed his hand.