I’d been having trouble falling asleep lately. Despite not being able to drift off right away, I found myself waking up early in the morning. The cause was likely the fact that I was less active than I used to be. Back when I was constantly chasing after Natsukawa, I felt like I was always scurrying around, using up a fair amount of stamina.
The fact that my futon had become bothersome wasn't just due to a lack of exercise; it was also proof that the season was approaching summer. By the time morning rolled around, I usually found I’d kicked off everything that had been covering me. Still, I wondered what kind of phenomenon it was that made me unable to give up hot toast in the morning.
I took a single slice of thick-cut bread from the freezer and shoved it into the toaster. It had become a habit of mine to twist the timer dial haphazardly and observe the fluffy surface as it was singed by the red heat.
While I was enjoying my buttered toast—crispy on the outside and chewy on the inside—my sister came downstairs from the second floor. She had "bomber hair" on one side, making it easy to imagine how she’d been sleeping. It was a radical asymmetry.
She took one look at me biting into my toast and muttered a single sentence.
"…Maybe about this much is just right."
"Stop making mysterious compromises while looking at my face."
She was a rude sister with high standards for men, but I’d never heard much in the way of romantic stories about her. I’d been her younger brother for many years, and it seemed Nee-chan was simply too picky. That was why she’d never had a boyfriend. It was a waste, considering she had the looks to be popular if she’d just stay quiet.
"I’m praising you. Even if you get involved with handsome guys, it just causes friction with the girls around them."
"You say that as if you’ve experienced it yourself…"
"……"
"…?"
U-uh, huh? That reaction was different from what I’d expected. Could it be that spring had finally come for my picky sister…?
No, but what was with that face? It looked like she was remembering something incredibly unpleasant. I bet she tried to make a half-hearted move on a handsome guy and failed, didn't she? Well, it couldn't be helped. As a sister-loving younger brother, I felt the need to lighten the mood.
"So you finally realized the splendor of a fine man like me."
"Ha? Don't get cocky, 49-Point Guy."
"At least… at least give me one more point…!"
That verbal attack gouged my heart with precision. Even for someone who prided himself on being ordinary, being treated as below average hurt! I called myself ordinary because I looked at reality so hard it killed me, so she could have at least been a little more generous.
Continuing this conversation was clearly a case of poking a hornet's nest. Swallowing my tears, I stuffed the rest of the toast into my mouth, attempting to physically signal that I couldn't talk anymore. Nee-chan muttered, "What are you even doing…?" while looking at me like I was an idiot. I think that was her most sister-like moment recently.
"You won't be popular with girls if you act like that."
"Huh? You're telling me that now? What are you even saying?"
"You…"
After treating me like a total loser for so long, she had the nerve to say that. I inadvertently let out some intense, sorrowful words. Nee-chan looked at me like she wanted to say something, but she didn't pursue it further.
I decided to leave the house early, just like yesterday. I was worried about overlapping with Natsukawa’s commute at this time, which would be awkward, but I doubted we’d run into each other so conveniently every time. I picked up my school bag and headed for the front door.
"Ah, Wataru, wait up."
"……Huh?"
"???"
After being told, "I’m coming too," I was made to wait. I couldn't hide my confusion at my sister, who was acting more attention-seeking than ever before. C-could it be…! Was she actually a brocon…?!
"Ha? …Gross." (3rd time)
Not a chance. There was no way this arrogant sister of mine was a brocon. I could vividly imagine her face in my mind, looking completely repulsed as she insulted me. Teacher, I don’t have the motivation to go to school anymore.
Still confused, I put on my loafers alongside Nee-chan. I didn't even understand the meaning of this situation. I didn't think we'd walked together since the day I entered middle school. In the first place, attending the same high school as my sister gave me a "youngest child" vibe that I kind of disliked.
"I’m off."
"…off."
Nee-chan usually didn't bother saying it, but when I spoke the words, she muttered the same thing in a small voice. Her behavior had settled down now, but back in her so-called "gyaru" phase right after entering high school, her conduct had been pretty bad. This was likely a lingering trace of that.
"…So? Why did you suddenly say you were coming with me?"
"Ha? I just said I was going too."
"How is that any different…?"
The mysterious lifeform known as "Woman." If this were a girl I had a good relationship with, I’d be happy thinking she was being tsundere, but this was my sister. The reason why she’d gone out of her way to make me wait was so mysterious it was actually scary.
As I followed Nee-chan, she suddenly stopped dead in her tracks.
"What is it? What's wrong?"
"…That girl."
Nee-chan gestured forward with her chin. Hey, don't point with your chin.
When I looked in that direction, I saw the back of a familiar girl standing by a corner on the school route. She didn't seem to be waiting for someone, but rather peeking at whatever was around the bend. Since she was wearing a miniskirt and crouching slightly, the view was a bit precarious… Natsukawa-sama, I am truly grateful.
"……"
"……"
"Hey, you know her, right? Don't just stand there, go talk to her. We have to pass through there."
"Hie, don't glare at me…"
Nee-chan, who must have noticed my gaze, punched me in the shoulder with the back of her hand. Thinking realistically, talking to Natsukawa in that state seemed like it would lead to trouble, which I wanted to avoid. Honestly, I wanted to ignore her even if it meant taking a detour. However, my Overlord was watching me from behind. I guess I had no choice.
"——Natsukawa."
"Hyawaa!?"
What… the.
My heart just went hyawaa. That small, high-pitched voice, so unlike Natsukawa, was so cute that I felt like I could explode. Final Explosion.
"W-Wataru…!?"
"Yo, what are you doing skulk—ing around here—hm?"
Hmm…? Did she just casually call me by my first name? Usually it was my surname… wait. What did Natsukawa usually call me? Hmmm…?
"There are weird people over there…! What is that!?"
"Wow, you smell nice——eh? Weird people?"
Natsukawa grabbed my arm and closed the distance. My true thoughts almost slipped out, but I managed to recover just in time (though it was probably too late). When I snapped back to reality and processed Natsukawa's words, I realized she had said something concerning.
"Look at that…!"
"Mumumu…?"
I peeked around the corner just like Natsukawa. Looking ahead, I saw four male students wearing our school uniform standing in front of the walls on both sides. They looked like they were guarding Victory Road before the Elite Four. It felt like they’d challenge me to a battle the moment our eyes met.
"And they’ve all got faces like Elite Trainers…"
"What are you even saying…"
"Hey, how long are you going to keep this up?"
"Eh… Ah!? Wataru’s big sister…!?"
While I was cursing them, thinking all handsome guys should just die, Nee-chan (Lv. 63), whom I’d kept waiting, approached with a low voice that practically screamed for us to hurry up. I really couldn't win against her.
Wait a second. The way Natsukawa suddenly became polite and formal the moment she saw my sister was seriously like a Hyper Beam. I couldn't lose either! Wataru used Splash! But nothing happened!
"What have you guys been looking at since—Gah."
"…Nee-chan?"
"Ah! It's Kaede!"
"Huh?"
No joke, my Danger Sensing Sensor was ringing like crazy. The Elite Trainers who had been waiting around the corner ran toward us while calling out my sister's name. I wanted to run away with all my might, but Nee-chan was using me as a shield and had my arms pinned from behind, so I couldn't move. What kind of wrestling hold was this?
"Hey, Kaede! Who is that guy! Why are you trying to hide from us!"
"Shut up! Why are you all waiting here in a group? It's gross!"
"Meganium! I choose you!"
"H-Hey, read the room…!"
Natsukawa, looking genuinely flustered, pinched my uniform and pulled on it desperately. There could be no greater happiness than this; I felt like I could break free from everyone and dash straight to school. I mean, I really wanted to do that… wait, I couldn't?
I couldn't.