"It’s finally oooover!!"
"Nice work. Hey, about that one question..."
"This is the last of it for today, right? Want to head somewhere before going home?"
"Crap, I didn't get that at all... I might fail..."
It was the final day of the first semester midterm exams. Freed from the three-day ordeal, the classroom was buzzing with a level of energy that had been absent for a long time.
In high school, the number of subjects and the scope of the material had increased significantly compared to middle school. Today, the final day, featured four subjects back-to-back, leaving me physically and mentally drained.
As I tucked my exam papers into my bag, a group of guys flocked to Hashimoto’s desk directly in front of me. They were the ones I had teamed up with during PE the other day.
Naturally, Oka was among them... and he was still glaring at me. I thought we had finally reached an understanding at the end of that basketball game, but I guess not.
"Man, that was brutal... How’d it go for you, Hashimoto? Yanagida?"
"I think I managed to avoid a failing grade... hopefully. Math might be dicey, though."
"...Hm? Oh. Well, as long as I didn't make any careless mistakes, I think I did decently well."
Because they included me in the conversation, my response was a beat late. It was a pathetic habit born from being a loner with zero friends until just the other day.
Sudo and the others shot me surprised looks.
"Heh, Yanagida, you’re actually pretty good at studying, aren't you?"
"I don't know him well enough to say it's surprising. But yeah, he doesn't exactly give off the 'studious' vibe."
As Minami and Akasaka spoke, Hashimoto gave a mischievous grin.
"What are you guys talking about? Yanagida has the great Akise-san backing him up. I bet they spent the weekend alone together, with her giving him a private tutor's special treatment, right?"
"......"
"Hey, I was joking."
"It’s not like it was 'special treatment.' I was just asking her about parts I didn't understand..."
"And the part about being alone together over the weekend?"
"......"
"This guy, seriously..."
Hashimoto let out a deep, exasperated sigh, while Sudo and the others offered wry smiles.
"At this point, I’m not even surprised. They flirt like crazy."
"No kidding. It’s more shocking that they aren't dating yet. By the way, are you still not together?"
"...We aren’t."
"Why the hell not?!" Hashimoto and the others barked in unison.
As I fell silent, struggling for an answer... Oka, who had been brooding despite the topic being Akise-san, finally spoke up quietly.
"Yanagida, I’ll be honest—I don't like you. But I think your attitude right now is wrong."
The look Oka leveled at me held more indignation than jealousy.
"Anyone can tell by the way Akise-san looks at you. It pisses me off... it pisses me off to no end, but Akise-san clearly has strong feelings for you."
"...!"
I gasped, not expecting Oka to state it so definitively.
Hearing that, Hashimoto and the others chimed in.
"Well, it is pretty obvious."
"Yeah, her expression and the way she acts are totally different with him."
──I knew that, even without being told.
I wasn't some dense protagonist from a rom-com manga who was oblivious to everything.
The way Akise-san looked at me, the tone of her voice, her small gestures... they were clearly different from how she treated other boys.
It had long since surpassed the realm of simple gratitude or a sense of obligation.
"And yet you won't respond to her feelings; you’re just keeping things vague. The fact that you aren't dating even though she’s making all the moves means you’re being insincere──"
"Oka, stop. That’s enough."
Hashimoto cut Oka off before he could heat up any further.
Perhaps realizing he had overstepped, Oka awkwardly averted his eyes and gave a slight nod of apology.
"...Sorry. I’m an outsider. I shouldn't be talking so much."
"...No. From an outsider's perspective, it’s only natural it looks that way. And it’s... well, a fact that I’ve been dodging the issue."
I tried to wave it off and force a smile, but it didn't come out right.
Sensing the mood, Hashimoto spoke up with a forced cheerfulness to change the subject, and Minami and the others caught on and joined in.
As I listened to them, my thoughts drifted to my relationship with Akise-san... and the guest I was expecting tonight.
...I suppose it’s about time I made up my mind.
§
That night.
After returning home and changing into casual clothes, I lay on the sofa, lost in thought.
Naturally, my mind was on Akise-san.
To be precise, it wasn't about her, but about my own feelings for her.
What did I think of her? What did I want us to be?
The answer came surprisingly easily... or rather, I didn't even need to think about it.
As for the feelings Akise-san directed toward me... those were also clear.
I still felt a sense of disbelief, but I wasn't so thick-skinned that I could claim I was just "misunderstanding things" after she had shown her affection so directly—especially after my classmates had pointed it out so many times.
I had just been avoiding a conclusion, but I had known for a long time.
And on top of that, I had been indulging myself.
I was basking in the comfort of the days spent with her. I used the excuse that I was doing my best just to keep up with the rapidly changing environment, telling myself it couldn't be helped.
"...Pathetic."
I was truly miserable.
I forced my heart, which was about to sink into endless self-loathing, to rally. I needed to focus on what to do next.
...To be honest, I lacked self-confidence.
My looks were average, my grades were average, my social skills were nonexistent, and I’d only ever had a handful of friends. I was a loner and a total introvert to the core.
Someone like me... no. Even knowing I was like this, she had continued to stay by my side.
If that was the case, then my insecurities were just convenient excuses I used to try and run away. I was getting sick of my own cowardice.
...Even understanding that, I was still hesitating. Why?
"...It’s scary."
That was it. I was scared.
The past I still hadn't told her.
If Akise-san were to learn about the past of the man named Tatsumi Yanagida—his true nature—and that gentle gaze of hers changed to one of disgust and disappointment... the thought was unbearable.
The moment I reached a conclusion regarding her feelings, the moment I gave a name to the feelings I held for her, I would have to tell her everything.
Perhaps there was a path where I could stand by her side and act as if nothing had happened.
But I... wasn't strong enough for that.
Even now, I was a coward who felt guilty for knowing about her past while keeping mine hidden.
I would have to talk about it eventually. And that "eventually"... would likely be soon.
"I don't want to say it. I seriously don't want to... but I have to."
I muttered, covering my face with my hands. My voice trembled pathetically.
But for that, I was still missing one thing.
It was true that I was involved in that incident... but I wasn't the only one at the center of it. There was one other person.
I couldn't just talk about it on my own without that person's consent. So first──...
Ding-dong
"Ah, right. They're here."
The intercom interrupted my thoughts, and I stood up.
I checked the monitor in the living room to confirm the visitor was who I expected and headed to the door.
When I opened it, the girl standing there raised her hand slightly.
"Long time no see, Brother."
"Welcome, Yui."
The girl’s name was Yui Yanagida. She was my younger stepsister.
She had short black hair that flipped outward and a petite frame. Her youthful face held an expression that felt somewhat detached, showing a level of composure beyond her years.
The sailor-style uniform she wore had sleeves that were slightly too long, with only her fingertips peeking out.
And the headphones that were her trademark were draped around her neck today as well. She carried a large Boston bag, likely containing a change of clothes for her stay.
"...Did you get a little taller?"
"You said the same thing last month. I’m not going to grow that fast, you know."
At my poor attempt at a joke, Yui let out a small, faint smile.
It was a smile that held a clear sense of affection despite her otherwise cool demeanor.
"Anyway, come in. I'll get some tea."
"Thanks. Excuse me."
Yui stepped into the room after a polite bow. This apartment was rented in our father's name, so it was technically Yui's room as well, but she was always formal about it.
I poured some barley tea from the fridge and handed it to Yui as she sat on the sofa.
"Thanks, Brother. ...Midterms ended today, right? Good job. How did they go?"
"Pretty well. I feel like I did quite well on math this time, which is usually my worst subject."
"Heh, impressive. You always said you could do it if you tried, and I guess you weren't lying."
"Well, if you're asking if it was purely my own effort, that's not exactly it..."
Yui tilted her head curiously at my vague response.
"Wait... did you cheat?"
"Of course not. ...Uh, a friend taught me. Someone from school."
"A friend?" Yui repeated, her eyes going wide.
"Brother, you actually made a friend?! For real?"
"Y-Yeah. Why are you so surprised?"
"Of course I'm surprised! When I came last month, you said you hadn't even managed to talk properly with your classmates, let alone make friends."
"Guh."
I gently pushed Yui back as she leaned in, demanding the full story.
Reporting the details of my school life to my stepsister felt like it was damaging my dignity as an older brother... but I couldn't ignore Yui. She acted as the messenger and monitor for our parents.
Ever since I started living alone this March, Yui had made it a habit to stay here about twice a month.
Originally, our father—who had more free time because he worked from home—was supposed to handle this, but Yui had been selected at her own insistence.
What I told Yui would be relayed to our parents. Since I was being allowed to live alone because of my own selfishness, it was my responsibility to report on my lifestyle.
That said, it would be a long story. I needed to finish my chores first so we could talk properly.
"Let’s save that for later and have dinner... I actually have something I wanted to discuss with you."
"Hmm...? Fine with me, but I already ate. I’ll take a bath first. Can I use the towel in the usual spot?"
"Go ahead."
I watched Yui head to the bathroom with her toiletries, and then I started preparing my dinner. It was just microwave rice and some pre-made side dishes from the fridge.
While the rice was heating up, I checked the news on my phone. ...It looked like the rain would finally let up tomorrow.
Hashimoto, who had been suffering from withdrawal because he couldn't play soccer, would finally be at peace.
"...Thanks for the meal."
Even after I finished eating and cleaning up, Yui was still in the bath. My father had always told me that a woman's bath and shopping take forever.
I killed time with my daily workout, and finally, Yui emerged. She was dressed casually in one of my old shirts she had left at our parents' house and a pair of gym shorts. She walked over, lightly drying her wet hair with a towel.
...I felt a bit restless, the memory of Akise-san’s recent visit and that "accident" flashing through my mind.
"Brother, could you?"
"Right, okay."
I took the hair dryer she held out and moved behind her as she sat on the sofa.
This had become a daily routine ever since "that incident" was resolved and we had truly bonded as siblings.
I slowly applied the warm air, being careful not to damage her beautiful black hair.
As I did so, I spoke up in a casual tone, as if starting some idle gossip.
"I think I’ve fallen for someone."
"Heh... Wait, what!?"