“A—A freshman Kaede relies on...? I don’t know anyone like you!”
I was the one who didn’t know guys who called my sister by her first name even existed. And four of them, no less. Since when did Nee-chan manage to build a reverse harem?
“Hey, freshman! Give us your name!”
“I’m Sajou Wataru.”
“Sajou Wataru! I’ve never heard that name—Wait, ‘Sajou’?”
“I’m Sajou Wataru.”
Since the four members of the Kaede Family—let's call them the ‘K4’—were glaring at me while demanding answers, I kept my reply concise. Based on their tie colors, every single one of them was an upperclassman in their second or third year. Since I couldn't think of a single way to escape this situation, I figured I’d just let whatever was going to happen, happen.
“‘Sajou’... You, don’t tell me you’re—”
“Please step aside, Todoroki-senpai.”
“Ah! Hey!”
A brainy-looking ikemen in his second year stepped forward, pushing aside the athletic-looking third-year senior. He made a show of adjusting his glasses even though they hadn't even slipped; I wondered if that gesture actually served a purpose. Hey, stop it. You’re just being cool for the sake of it.
“It is a pleasure to meet you, Sajou Wataru-san. My name is Kai Takuto. Pardon me, but would you mind telling us the nature of your relationship with Kaede-san?”
“We live under the same roof. Our relationship consists of mutual compromise and resignation.”
“Why do you have to make it sound so suggestive?!”
Crap! I couldn't help but mess with them! I got so excited by the unprecedentedly spicy topic surrounding my sister that the joke just slipped out!
Nee-chan gave my head a smack, then stepped in front of me with a look of extreme annoyance, standing tall and imposing.
“He’s my brother, my brother...! Look! If you look closely, our faces are kind of sim—Actually, we don’t look that much alike...”
“True.”
“You’re right.”
“...”
“...”
It was true. No matter how many times I looked, we weren't even in the same league score-wise. I’d never actually graded my sister’s face, but I’d always acknowledged she was on the attractive side. The final blow had been Arimura-senpai’s friend, who had appeared during the Aizawa Incident. I’d learned that Nee-chan had secured a certain number of votes from the male population. It was a total shock.
If that was the case, there was only one thing I could do.
“Yeah, Nee-chan. It’d be bad of me to get in the way, so I’ll head off down that other path, okay?”
“Huh? Wait, what are you saying—”
“It’s fine, it’s fine. Knowing my sister is close with such handsome seniors makes me proud, too. You don’t have to hold back for my sake.”
“No, like I said, it’s not like we’re close or anything—”
“Well then, see you after school!”
“W-Wait a second!”
Just as I tried to bolt, Natsukawa caught me. She grabbed the side of my uniform and pulled me back with such force that her head popped out from the gap between my right arm and my torso. If I’d just hooked my arm right then, I could have transitioned into a perfect rear naked choke. Not that I’d ever actually do that to her.
While I was thinking of weird things to distract myself from the sensation of being at zero distance, she adjusted her grip and glared at me.
“Wh-What do you think you’re doing, trying to leave me here alone in this mess?!”
“Please, let me go...! If I stay here any longer, these ikemen will finish me off and I’ll melt away...!”
“As if you’d melt...! Feel the awkwardness before you worry about your inferiority complex...!”
In a rare turn of events, Natsukawa was gripping me as if she would never let go. Her eyes were dead serious. Even though I was receiving such a passionate, full-contact welcome from the girl I liked, I wondered why I felt like I needed to escape. It was probably because Kaede was standing behind Natsukawa, eyeing me with a murderous look that said, ‘You’d better be ready for what’s coming later.’
“...Let’s just all go together.”
“...Hmph.”
Nee-chan snorted and looked away. I was forgiven...!
Under the bewildered gazes of the ikemen, I walked behind Nee-chan as she marched down the middle of the road. Before I knew it, the strap of the bag hanging from my shoulder was being firmly gripped by Nee-chan. Looking closely, Natsukawa, who was walking beside me, was doing the same. I was exactly like a dog being led around on a double leash. Woof.
As for Natsukawa, I no longer had any idea what she was thinking. For now, could I just pretend she was my girlfriend? No? I thought so.
“Man, I really had no idea. I can't believe Kaede had a younger brother. Why didn't you ever tell us?”
“Why would I go out of my way to tell you guys?”
“So cold.”
A gentle-looking ikemen from the third year laughed as he placed a hand on my sister’s shoulder. His height—he had to be at least 180 centimeters—only emphasized the unfairness of the world. I wished he’d just keep growing until he was a giant. Yeah, right. I hoped he’d catch his head on a convenience store entrance banner and let out a pathetic yelp.
“By the way, who’s the girl? Is she the Sajou-brother’s girlfriend...?”
“Ah! Hey, idiot!”
“?”
The cool-type ikemen senior from the third year, who had been observing quietly until now, finally spoke up. Even his voice was handsome. If I had a voice like that, I’d practice suave lines in the bath. He gave the impression of being the most sensible one of the four... and yet, he had just dropped an absolute bombshell. Nee-chan instinctively tried to stop him, but it was too late.
“N-No! We aren't anything like—”
“It’s nothing like that, senpai.”
“Ah, I see. That was an impolite question.”
Damn right it was, you jerk. The remaining three were nodding as if to say, ‘Of course.’ I could easily guess why they were so readily convinced. However, it still didn't feel great.
From what I could see, these four were like submissive masochists trained by my sister (prejudice). Honestly, I’d be much more convinced if one of them became Natsukawa’s boyfriend instead.
Nee-chan looked extremely annoyed, but she still managed the free-spirited seniors, calling them out on their behavior. Her hand had already let go of my bag strap, and there was nothing pulling on it anymore.
I slowly dropped my pace and followed quietly behind Nee-chan and the others.
“...Sorry... Natsukawa.”
“...It’s fine.”
I wasn't sure why, but Natsukawa stayed right beside me. She could have just gone ahead, but I wondered if she felt some kind of reliance on me, like Ashida had mentioned...
Even so, for this moment, walking with all these beautiful people—Natsukawa included—felt somewhat painful.
“A-Ah... I guess this is where we part ways...”
“...”
Once we passed the school entrance, our paths diverged. Surrounded by the ikemen, Nee-chan was glaring back at me with a face like she had chewed on a bitter bug. It was strange; even though she was supposed to have a thing for good-looking guys, I completely understood how she felt. The curious gazes from the students around us were probably the thing my sister hated most. I was terrified of what would happen once I got home today.
I had overheard the ikemen seniors talking, and it seemed that the five of them, including my sister, were colleagues in the Student Council. Turns out my sister was actually the Student Council Vice President. When I first heard she had joined the Student Council, I wondered why such a violent person would bother, but now, it somehow made sense. By the way, the President was the cool-type senior. Jeez, why are these people so approachable?
Nee-chan, looking about thirty times more like a "normie" version of an ‘Otaku Circle Princess,’ walked away in the opposite direction, leading the K4. Her attention was already focused on the four ikemen, and the grudge she held toward me seemed to have vanished. Amazing—Nee-chan was showing her ‘Big Sister’ side to others. The other four were probably just like dogs who loved their owner and needed constant management.
“...Come to think of it, Natsukawa, you didn't look very happy despite being surrounded by such handsome guys.”
“H-Huh?! What do you take me for?!”
“Whoa?!”
“Wh-what are you so surprised about...!”
When I turned around in shock, I found Natsukawa with a furious expression. It seemed she had picked up on my mutterings. What really surprised me was that Natsukawa was still behind me. I had assumed she would have changed her shoes and headed to the classroom long ago.
“You... didn't go ahead...?”
“Why would you think I’d just leave you here...?”
“Oh, is that so...”
I couldn't bring myself to say, ‘Because I’m annoying, right?’ I didn't want her to have an even worse impression of me or hate me more... It was just ordinary human pity, but I was so happy that Natsukawa was being considerate of me that I couldn't help but grin like an idiot. It was a bit late to notice, but she was super cute today, too.
Perhaps because of the commotion involving my sister, it was getting quite close to the morning assembly. Between the lethargy of the crowded hallways and the lingering awkwardness toward Natsukawa, we remained completely silent. As the classroom grew closer, I remembered Operation Produce... I started to think that if I stayed by her side, it would prevent Natsukawa from making new friends. I should probably put on a little act and say I’m stopping by the restroom—
“Ah! Sajocchi spotted!!!”
...Huh?
“...Kei?”
Stunned by the sudden energy, Natsukawa let out a confused voice.
Ashida, who had just rushed out of the classroom, pointed at me and shouted. Before I knew it, she was charging toward me while screaming my nickname. Is this a Double-Edge tackle?! Wataru used Splash! But nothing happened!
“Sajocchi! Rin-sama is absolutely livid!!”
“...Huh?”
Isn't this just a bit too many events packed together? It hasn't even been two hours since I woke up.