What do people think about when they’re about to die? Do they dwell on their past regrets, or does their life simply flash before their eyes in a frantic panorama? Ha! You say you wouldn’t know unless you were a bank robbery hostage? Non-non.
What was the last thing I ate?
"Phew."
"Wait, my iced coffee..."
A lap pillow? No, my head is being gripped... I’ve been trying to sit up for a while now, but the hand resting gently near my collarbone won't budge an inch. Why is it so rock-solid when she isn't even pushing me down? Am I stuck in the crevice of a Great Buddha statue?
I already knew she was moody and selfish, but this is going way too far. I never imagined she'd barge into someone’s territory like this. I must have committed too many sins... Hm?
"......What's that?"
"An ear pick."
Wait a second, I’m getting seriously scared. What is this woman trying to do? Could it be—no, it definitely is—she’s trying to clean my ears? Eh, why? It’s not like I have zero ideas as to why, but why now? You know I’m the type who vigorously uses cotton swabs after a bath.
"Right."
"Onh!?"
My left shoulder was hoisted up. I was rolled over. Right...? Does she mean my right ear, or does she want me to face right? Or would it be better if I turned halfway? No, is she seriously going to do this? Am I going to lose my hearing starting today?
"Prepare yourself."
"Wait, wait, wait, wait, hold on, seriously!! For real, seriously!!"
That is not a sentence you say when you’re about to clean someone’s ears. Hearing that, my fear reached its limit. This was a procedure. Yes, a medical procedure. The Brain-Slurping Incident, also known as the making of a mummy, was about to happen to my skull.
"What!? What is it, really!? I'm scared! I'm scared!!"
"Shut up."
"Ngh."
I tried to sit up, only to be forced back into my original position. Pressure on the left side of my head. This is bad; she’s pinning me down so I can’t move, no matter how much I scream or struggle...!
When I looked up to see what kind of demonic face she was making, I froze at the sight of her utterly expressionless features.
"—We aren't a normal pair of siblings, apparently."
"......Huh?"
Suddenly, she brought up a topic whose intent I couldn't grasp. I wish she wouldn't pile something incomprehensible on top of an already incomprehensible situation. My brain is about to short-circuit. Though it might be about to be extracted anyway.
"Tamao's place seemed to get along better."
"Tamao."
Who? Nakamura Tamao? Did the Marony Person say something to you? It’s troublesome when you suddenly drop a name I don’t know. Is Tamao-san’s family on good terms? Being a happy brother and sister even in their old age is totally "lit," or whatever people say.
"You said something about how we don't get along, too... I know well enough that I was out of control back then. Even so, I'm trying to put things back the way they were, one by one."
"Heh..."
That’s news to me. I never thought Nee-chan was aware of how she used to be. I figured she would completely deny it, saying, "I wasn't like that!" Her core hasn't changed much, but maybe that weird phase before summer was like the entrance to all this...
"Well, you know... this is also meant as an apology."
"No, for an apology, this is—"
"Shut up."
"Ngu...—Hiee."
A rustling sound in my left ear. The ear pick had invaded. I’m finally getting nervous; seriously, what is this? Is it okay? Nee-chan won't get carried away and stab it all the way in, right? I'm too scared to move. Now that it’s come to this, I have no choice but to turn into a stone statue...!
"You're too scared. I won't make a mistake like that."
"......Really? Do you actually have experience doing this for anyone other than me...?"
"My hand might slip."
"Stay away from the deep part!"
The tip of the ear pick went five millimeters deeper. I felt like it had entered a delicate zone. This is strange... was ear cleaning always this nerve-wracking? I think back when Mom used to do it for me a long time ago, it felt so good I’d end up nodding off.
"You, I've mentioned this before, but what really is your relationship with Rin?"
"Eh?"
What now? Does Nee-chan care about my relationship with Shinomiya-senpai? Well, it’s not the kind of relationship worth worrying about... It's true that the way we met had nothing to do with Nee-chan, though.
"Even if Rin is being a pain today—or every day, for that matter—she's not the type to want a man. It’s pretty annoying when an acquaintance’s tag-along is my own younger brother."
"No, it's not like that. It didn't feel like I was being seen as a 'man' at that temperature."
"......She told me, 'If you aren't going to cherish him, give him to me.'"
"That is a shocking revelation."
Am I a pet? We’re talking about Shinomiya-senpai from "today," right...? Why did that person push so hard? Can you just hand someone over because you're told to? Well, either way, it doesn't feel like she sees me as a member of the opposite sex.
"When I talked to Tamao, she also said, 'I thought you were an only child.'"
"Tamao."
"She said, 'You don't seem like an older sister, but you definitely have the vibe of an owner taming a doggie (lol).'"
Doesn't Tamao-san have a high insult attribute? Isn't she talking about the members of the Student Council instead of me...? So far, my impression is that Nee-chan is the one cracking the whip on everyone's butts.
"So you were frustrated, then."
"Next, the other side."
"Onh!?"
"Turn over. Don't face my stomach."
"I don't really care, but could you stop flipping me over like you're upending a dining table?"
And listen to me. Also, enough with the ear cleaning. I don't mean hurry up. I get what you’re trying to say, so you don't have to do things that don't suit you. It shouldn't be "Hurry up and turn over, you." Putting my head on her lap again of my own accord is just—
"........."
"What happened with you and that super cute girl?"
"What is this, hair salon small talk...?"
"I'm asking as your sister."
Now the right ear.
Somehow, small talk has started... In the first place, this isn't the kind of thing you talk to your sister about. There was an awkward moment today too, and if I had to say what happened, I can only say we're heading straight for estrangement. I’m super happy that the Seat Reshuffle put us in front and back of each other, but the proximity I want isn't that; I want her to keep reigning as a Goddess from a proper distance. In other words, watching her is best. Now, I can’t even do that.
Since we're sitting one in front of the other, unless one of us speaks up, the chance of our eyes meeting is about the same as before. As long as there’s awkwardness, voluntarily exchanging words is...
"—I'm more interested in you, Nee-chan."
"Ha...?"
"I know you like handsome guys. So, out of those Student Council members... it's about time you tell your brother who the real—STAY AWAY FROM THE DEEP PAAAAARRRRTTT!!!"
This woman...! When things get inconvenient, she silently tries to rupture my eardrums...! If you're going to do it, at least make it feel better! You might do this for a boyfriend someday, so show a little decent girl power!
...No, wait. Knowing Nee-chan, this coarseness won't be cured even if left alone, so it might be necessary to seriously cultivate her girl power. I don't know the reality, but to me, it doesn't look like Nee-chan sees the Student Council members as "men" at all... What is it that ruins those handsome faces so much...? Well, I do have a slight idea.
Well, if it's to help Nee-chan with her bridal training, I might not be unwilling... No, actually, it’s a mix of fear, embarrassment, and bashfulness. Thinking about it again, you wouldn't do this without a special reason, right?
".........I don't know how it is at Tamao-san's place, but I don't think normal siblings do this, do they?"
"But she says they do."
"How old is her brother?"
"How old... she said he was in 5th grade."
"Hey."
He’s an elementary schooler! Of course she’d dote on him enough to clean his ears with that much of an age gap! That’s a completely different story from the relationship between you and me, Nee-chan!
"Nee-chan? I'll be 16 this coming March. My experience level is different from Tamao's little brother. Look. I'm taller than you. I'm an adult, an adult."
Treating me the same as an elementary schooler is insulting... Having experienced a few part-time jobs, it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say I've stepped into the world of working adults. I'm not some little kid who gets his ears cleaned by his sister!!!
"—But you hate injections and bell peppers."
"Hah-hah-hah."
You got me there (lol).
[Dislikes]
- 404 Not Found
- Injections [NEW]
- Bell peppers [NEW]