Regarding the precarious state of the sibling relationship in another household. I had seen Ichinose-san’s resolve regarding her "breaking away from her brother" through her attitude toward the job, and more than anything, since I’d already heard the details, I felt like I wanted to help—but in truth, I didn’t know how the current Ichinose-san actually felt about him. It seemed she used to love him so much that she’d indulge in reading while using his bear-like belly as a backrest, but it wasn't impossible that those feelings had completely flipped.
I knew them, yet I didn’t. There was no way for me to interfere. Even so, if I were to leave now, it felt like the situation would just reach a deadlock. For now, I had no choice but to watch and wait.
"Mina, won't you listen to what I have to say?"
"……!"
Having finally been addressed, Ichinose-san flinched. Compared to the annoying customers I had to deal with, he was an opponent she had a hundred million times less reason to fear. In fact, shouldn't the current Ichinose-san be able to behave more confidently with him? I guess the closer you are to someone, the more you lose track of what to do when a rift forms between you.
Kuma-san-senpai didn't break eye contact with Ichinose-san. I could feel his determination to somehow resolve the misunderstanding between himself and his younger sister right here and now. I see, no wonder he serves as a Disciplinary Committee Member under Shinomiya-senpai. I felt a common thread between them.
"I, I…………"
In response, the voice Ichinose-san finally managed to squeeze out was trembling terribly.
Ichinose-san, who had always been protected, embraced, and given warmth by her brother, was now being faced with a force of will similar to Shinomiya-senpai from that very same brother. Had anything like this happened before? Surely not. Judging by his personality, Kuma-san-senpai was probably the type to scold by reasoning with someone. If I were his younger brother, I think I would have corrected my behavior without even realizing I was being lectured.
"———……! ……"
Ichinose-san turned her eyes toward me as if seeking help. Wait a second, what’s with that killer pass? I can't handle that. If anything, I just finally managed to bridge the gap and pass the ball to her. Please, try a little harder; I’ll buy you marshmallows later. Or even bubble tea.
I shook my head and urged her with my eyes to just say it. Ichinose-san’s eyes widened, then she squeezed them shut for a moment before looking back up at Kuma-san-senpai.
"……What is it, big brother?"
Oh? Her expression changed. Moreover, the eyes looking up at him narrowed slightly, as if she were entering a battle stance. I could almost see a threatening red panda floating behind her. I hope she didn't interpret my gestures in some weird way.
Kuma-san-senpai seemed surprised by her reaction. Was that cold sweat trickling down from his temple? I imagined a panda in a suit worriedly wiping away sweat with a handkerchief. Why my mental image of him was so cartoonish, I didn't even know.
"Well, Yuri-chan and I have been close since our first year. Up until now, we only really talked when we met at school, so I think it’s natural that you didn't know about her. Even so, to me, having spent two and a half years with her in the Disciplinary Committee, she’s a very significant presence."
"……"
"It was my fault for neglecting you after we started dating. Let’s read books together like before. Let’s sleep together."
Wait a minute, they were sleeping together?
Well, yeah, okay… I guess it’s fine? I mean… as long as there’s nothing impure going on, it’s not a problem. If their parents approve, there’s nothing to worry about. Either way, they really were incredibly close… if Ichinose-san had been Sasaki's sister, this would have turned into a disaster. Gamba, Sasaki.
"……! ……"
A wordless will. Her expression said it all. What do you mean, read books together? What do you mean, sleep together?—I could clearly see those frustrations. She probably had never directed a frown toward her kind brother before; she looked up at him as if glaring, then cast her eyes down. I felt pained just watching her struggle with those conflicting emotions.
Well, it’s probably not "that kind of thing."
My big brother. My big brother alone. I once had Y-san, who is actually a younger sister, passionately explain to me the feelings of a sister who admires her brother quite deeply. I don’t want to give him to anyone, I don’t want him to hug anyone but me, I don’t want him to look at any woman but me, he should only look at me. Yes, that is an extreme example.
To put it bluntly, Ichinose-san probably wanted him to break up with Yuri-chan-senpai. She couldn't accept Yuri-chan-senpai, who had stolen her brother's soft belly and warmth, destroying her exclusive right to that place of belonging. And she was likely aware that this was merely being selfish.
"……Mina……?"
There was no way she could say it. After all, Kuma-san-senpai hadn't done anything wrong. In his third year of high school—at the peak of exam season—he had finally found a fleeting piece of youth. Kuma-san-senpai surely wanted to treasure that, and Ichinose-san must have also wanted her brother to be happy, not just herself.
To spit it out, or to suppress it.
"———hat place……"
"Eh?"
"That place is…… already Yuri-san's place!"
"Mina……"
Her large, drooping eyes, now fixed firmly on Kuma-san-senpai, were wavering. Honestly, I didn't know how painful that was. I'd never been a younger sister, and well, I never can be. If anything, I'd want one.
"Mina…… Yuri-chan wouldn't interfere with that."
Well, of course he’d persist. And seriously, Yuri-chan-senpai wouldn't interfere. She's his sister, after all.
Just as Ichinose-san loved her big brother, Kuma-san-senpai seemed to love his sister, Ichinose-san, just as much. It seemed wholesome—wholesome? Anyway, I was glad. They were a far cry from a certain other pair of siblings. Gamba Osaka. Wait, I meant Sasaki.
"But……! It would be wrong to Yuri-san……!"
"There's no need to worry about that. You don't have to hold back at all."
Cruel, sweet words. Ichinose-san’s true intent wasn't reaching Kuma-san-senpai.
That made sense. The reason Ichinose-san was working this hard was because she wanted to "break away from her brother." You probably wouldn't find another younger sister anywhere in Japan who would go as far as taking a part-time job for a reason like that. There was no way Kuma-san-senpai could arrive at such an unexpected conclusion. Moreover, even if she were to entrust herself to that embrace now permeated with "Yuri-chan-senpai," it was no longer the place Ichinose-san was looking for.
Which one was right……? Which one was wrong……?
Kuma-san-senpai had simply started dating Yuri-chan-senpai; he hadn't done anything wrong. Unable to accept that reality, Ichinose-san had run away. And the place she ended up was that Secondhand Bookstore, where she was still running even now, pushed to her limit and pressing her forehead against the tatami mats.
"The reason you started a part-time job is probably because of me, right? You aren't hurting for money, so I don't think there's any need for you to do something like that."
"Th-That's not true……"
There really was no need, yeah.
Ichinose-san’s hobby was reading, right? If it were new books, it might be a huge expense, but since she wasn't the picky type, the Secondhand Bookstore would suffice. If they were a bit older, she could buy them for a hundred yen, so she probably wasn't struggling for money. If she got five thousand yen a month in allowance, she wouldn't even have enough time to read them all, even at a pace of one book a day.
"I hear service industry work is difficult. I don't want Mina to have to go through such a painful experience."
"It-It’s not painful……"
"Mina."
"Ah……"
He really was an accomplished older brother. As his junior, I felt proud to know a senior like him. I’d like to brew some tea from his fingernail clippings and make Nee-chan drink it, even just a little. I was so envious of Ichinose-san for having such a kind sibling. Honestly, did it even matter anymore who was wrong?
As I was thinking that, I heard the sound of pitter-pattering footsteps near the entrance.
"Sorry to keep you waiting! Ichinose-kun!"
Give me a break, Yuri-chan-senpai.