5 Step Sisters Vol. 1 Chapter 2

Second Daughter / Mio Miyanaga

The following week. Monday, April 14th.

Before my smartphone's alarm could even go off, I slowly heaved myself up in bed.

"...So sleepy..."

It was probably obvious from my first words, but it wasn't a pleasant awakening. On the contrary, I had been so restless over the past two days that I could barely sleep, leaving me completely sleep-deprived.

Let me state this upfront: since the milk-splashing incident, there had been absolutely zero interaction between me and the five sisters.

Whenever I bumped into them inside the house, they would sometimes feign ignorance, sometimes look awkward, and sometimes simply be dragged away by Chinatsu. I genuinely wanted to apologize properly to Mio, but Chinatsu's guard—with her eyes baring naked hostility—was rock solid, and no opportunity had presented itself so far.

I am fully aware that I am the one at fault, but my mood sank further every time it happened. I definitely didn't do it on purpose. Back then, I had stepped on something, which caused me to trip and drag Mio down with me.

However, even when I searched the living room, I couldn't find anything that fit the bill. Unfortunately, without any evidence, my claim wouldn't even be considered for a hearing.

But that wasn't the only reason for the melancholy eating away at my chest.

It was about what happened two days ago, after Dad and Natsuki-san came home. Included in the luggage they brought in was some takeout sushi.

"Let's all eat together! Tonight we're having Nikoniko Sushi~!"

Nikoniko Sushi is a conveyor-belt sushi restaurant located along Shizuoka Prefectural Route 407—which the locals exclusively call the Minami-Kansen. The prices are reasonable, and the fresh toppings and slightly sweet sushi rice are quite appealing. You even get a free bowl of miso soup with lunch, which makes you feel like you got a good deal.

With the adults slowly sipping sake and the kids reaching for the sushi tub, it was time for a dinner with all eight of us gathered together.

At first glance, it felt like a harmonious family gathering... but my conversation partners were almost exclusively Dad and Natsuki-san.

"Still, it was a huge help that every room was properly cleaned. You're quite tidy, aren't you, Rikuto-kun?"

"No, not really..."

"Don't be modest. It's admirable that you clean so diligently on a regular basis; I need to learn from you. Also, I was surprised to see that the hardwood floors were even waxed."

"Ah... Every year when April comes around, I make it a point to start doing it from the third floor down."

"Did you hear that, Chinatsu? Rikuto-kun is really responsible. You girls are thankful for it too, aren't you?"

Natsuki-san had probably noticed the massive gulf forming between us as soon as she got home. After all, we were treating each other like thin air and refusing to even make eye contact.

During the meal, Natsuki-san was incredibly talkative and praised me almost to the point of exaggeration. She was probably doing her best through trial and error to mediate between the step-siblings. I felt so apologetic...

But Chinatsu just replied with cold expressions, offering only brief responses like "Yes" and "I suppose." I felt bad for Natsuki-san, but it seemed absolutely impossible that the emotional distance between Chinatsu and me would ever close.

As for Dad, surprisingly enough, he barely interjected at all. True to his previous words, it seemed he was sticking to his policy of simply being happy if we managed to get along.

However, right as he was happily stuffing his cheeks with seared yellowtail, Dad suddenly dropped a bombshell.

"Ah, Rikuto. Chinatsu, Mio, and Karin will be going to the same high school as you."

"...Eh?"

It was a complete bolt from the blue.

The chopsticks I was using to grab a piece of sushi twitched and stopped, allowing Sorane to snatch it away with a smiling "Yay!" Hey wait, that was the last piece of medium-fatty tuna I was saving...

"And Fuka will be going to the affiliated middle school."

Before I could even process the first piece of news, a second arrow pierced right through my skull.

The private Eisei High School I attend is a combined junior and senior high school. Founded in the 20th century, it is a relatively new school with a shallow history.

The two school buildings are connected via the gymnasium, and various events are held jointly between the middle and high schools. As someone who entered in high school, I was initially overwhelmed by the sheer scale of it.

Thinking back carefully, just a few hours prior, Chinatsu had told me: At home, or at school, we will not get involved with you any more than necessary. I had been caught up on the strange phrasing at the time—but that was what she meant.

To think I'd be forced to see four out of the five sisters not only at home, but at school as well. I mean, sure, as parents, it's obviously easier if everyone attends the same school, but still.

"O-Our high school has a pretty high deviation value, you know. The transfer exams seem difficult, too."

"Chinatsu and the others are excellent students. They cleared the exams without a hitch."

"Though Karin barely scraped by, really," Natsuki-san added smoothly with a smile.

"Because they liked me in the interview," Karin replied calmly, taking her mouth away from her teacup.

"Ah, and Sorane will be going to the elementary school nearby."

"...Hmph!"

Upon hearing Dad's words, Sorane puffed out her cheeks. It seemed she felt left out.

"No fair, Fu-nee! Sorane wants to go to the same school as Natsu-nee and everyone too!"

"It is not unfair at all, you see. After all, our school is not a combined elementary, middle, and high school system," Fuka let out an elegant, lady-like chuckle.

While crying "So unfaaaair!", Sorane stabbed her chopsticks into an egg salad battleship roll, prompting Chinatsu to scold her with, "That is bad manners."

Casting a sideways glance at this scene that looked like the very symbol of a close-knit family, I silently popped a cucumber roll into my mouth. Even someone gloomy by nature like me usually breaks into a smile when eating Nikoniko Sushi, but today of all days, I just couldn't smile. I envied Fuka and Sorane, who were smiling innocently and saying, "So deliciouuus." I truly wanted to be laughing while eating sushi, too...

The next day, the women went out by car first thing in the morning. Apparently, there was some furniture they had thrown away during the move, so they needed to do some new shopping. It probably also served the purpose of looking around the neighborhood.

I was worried they might ask me to act as a guide or carry their bags, but I was never called upon. Or rather, Dad was left to hold the fort as well. Perhaps the men were excluded so Natsuki-san could be briefed on yesterday's incident. It hurts.

Figuring I would just get more depressed if I holed up in my room, I dodged my Dad's persistent attempts to interact with me, and instead busied myself with vacuuming the entire house, wiping down the hardwood floors with wet sheets, and meticulously cleaning the water fixtures. Naturally, I didn't go up to the third floor. I couldn't afford to further lower an affection rating that had already plummeted to rock bottom.

And—that brings us to today.

Finishing my two-day reminiscence, I quietly got out of bed. While heading down to the first floor, I could already hear noisy, clattering footsteps from below.

Feeling a sense of tension as if I wasn't in my own home, I entered the washroom. Even then, the clattering and thumping continued... It seemed Chinatsu and the others had an early departure time for their first day as transfer students and had woken up long ago.

As for Dad and Natsuki-san, they had gone out early in the morning. Dad was leaving for a business trip to Nagasaki starting this week, and Natsuki-san had to go give her greetings at the new law firm she was joining. A busy couple, despite being newlyweds. Or rather, they must have somehow managed to align their schedules for this weekend in between their busy lives.

I took as much time as possible washing my face, brushing my teeth, and putting wax in my hair early on... uselessly stalling for time, but eventually I ran out of things to do.

I could still hear voices coming from the living room, but I had no choice but to head there soon.

When I cautiously opened the door, a scene far more dazzling than I had anticipated spread out before me.

"Hold on, Sorane, no running around inside the house."

Admonishing her younger sister, Chinatsu stood with her hands on her hips.

She wasn't wearing the casual clothes from yesterday. She wore a soft gray blazer, a red ribbon at her collar, and a crisp pleated skirt. ...In other words, the girls' uniform of my school, Eisei High.

Because it's a private school with relatively loose dress codes, their individual personalities showed in how the three of them wore the same uniform. Chinatsu wore hers quite orthodoxly, but Mio paired hers with an oversized hoodie and black tights. Karin, despite wearing a knit cardigan, had her chest area left wide open. Make up your mind whether you're cold or hot.

Middle schooler Fuka was wearing a sailor uniform with a brown motif. She held the school-designated bag with a belt, which only further accentuated her lady-like aura. It's rare nationwide for the middle school to use a sailor uniform and the high school a blazer, but apparently Eisei boasts a high application ratio by satisfying the needs of students who want to wear both, so you never really know.

Elementary schooler Sorane was dressed in a navy blue blazer, wearing a beret on her small head.

However, the moment I made my appearance, the lively living room fell completely silent. My stomach ached as I took my first step forward, and Sorane, who had been running around, looked my way.

"Ah! Good mor—"

"Sorane, you have some dust on your back. Let me get it for you."

Chinatsu called out, interrupting Sorane just as she was about to speak.

"What do you think? Does this headband stand out too much, I wonder?"

"I-I think it's fine. It's cute."

"You were still worrying about that? Doesn't it look suitably silly on you?"

"My word, what a terrible way to phrase it, Karin Onee-sama!"

Mio, Karin, and Fuka were exchanging opinions about hair accessories of some sort.

Without approaching the harmonious sisters, I escaped into the kitchen. The dishwasher held pre-rinsed plates and mugs. It seemed those guys... had already finished their breakfast, consisting only of toast and drinks. Though, to be fair, I also tend to cut corners on weekday mornings.

"Ah. I forgot to set the rice cooker..."

That's when I noticed a basic mistake. There was no white rice for my bento. This weekend had been so full of irregular events that my routine had completely slipped my mind. I'd have to go to the school store or the cafeteria for lunch today.

Putting that aside, breakfast was the priority now, so I tossed a buttered slice of bread into the toaster. Sliced bread has a short shelf life, so I usually buy the thick three-slice packs. Naturally, the bread for me and the five sisters was kept separate.

While waiting for it to toast, I boiled water in the kettle. I prepared instant corn soup in a soup bowl and sprinkled granola over some yogurt I had portioned onto a plate.

Finally, I took a pre-boiled egg stored in a container out of the fridge and quickly peeled the shell. When I make boiled eggs, I always make sure to boil three or four at once. It saves boiling time, and since they are so versatile, having a stock is handy for various dishes.

With a light chime, the toaster let me know the bread was done.

Carrying my dishes to the dining area, I took my seat.

"Thanks for the meal."

I pressed my hands together and murmured quietly. As I stuffed my cheeks with the butter-melted toast and took large gulps of milk, the sight of Chinatsu and Sorane sitting side-by-side on the sofa caught my eye.

"Come now, Sorane. Stop swaying your body."

"Okaaay..."

It seemed she was tying Sorane's hair. How caring. Thinking that, my movements stopped just as I was about to chew my bread.

Chinatsu lightly combed Sorane's hair with her fingers, then divided it evenly into three bundles. She must have braided it exactly like this countless times before. Her movements as she overlapped and braided the strands were refined and efficient.

But what caught my eye more than anything was the expression on Chinatsu's face as she handled Sorane's hair. Bathed in the sweet morning sunlight streaming through the curtains, her eyes were narrowed, and her mouth was softly relaxed; her profile was floating with an absolutely melting affection, as if she found her sister unbearably precious.

"...There, all done."

Announcing it in a voice that seemed to encompass every possible form of comfort existing in this world, Chinatsu gently patted both of Sorane's shoulders.

"Thanks, Natsu-nee."

Sorane grinned affectionately. Watching the whole thing unfold, I thought it was only natural she'd make a face like that. If someone touched you with such gentle fingers, as if whispering how precious you were, you surely would.

Averting my eyes from the fact that I had been completely captivated, I thought to myself. That is how Chinatsu touches her sister. The reason I felt so terribly unsettled was probably because she looked like an entirely different person compared to when she had that stun gun in her hand.

Unaware of me, Chinatsu called out to Mio and the others who were checking their outfits.

"Come on, you'll be late."

"Y-Yeah. Wait for me, Chinatsu nee-san..."

As the lively five sisters left, the spacious house fell so silent it almost felt like a lie.

I muttered to myself while sipping my soup.

"Well, of course we wouldn't be walking to school... together."

By the way, I heard through Natsuki-san that while the teachers are aware we are step-siblings, it is Chinatsu's intention to keep it completely hidden from the other students.

I agreed with that. If people found out I was living under the same roof with beautiful sisters, it would just invite unnecessary, wild speculations. Even though, in reality, I haven't experienced a single sweet moment.

Shrugging my shoulders lightly, I scooped some yogurt with my spoon. As I casually glanced up at the wall clock while chewing, the hands had advanced further than I thought.

"Crap."

Tossing my dishes into the dishwasher, I returned to my room and hurriedly changed into my uniform. I quickly put on my shirt and slacks, hooked my backpack with a finger, and left the room.

Checking the locks, I headed to the entrance, slipped on my sneakers, and as I looked back, I found myself opening my mouth on a whim.

"I'm heading out."

...Naturally, there was no reply from the empty house. In fact, it would have been terrifying if there was.

I locked the front door and looked up at the sky. Floating in the blue sky were several clouds that looked like cotton candy torn apart forcefully by elementary schoolers.

Shouldering my backpack, I walked through the quiet residential area. The spring-like sunlight poured onto my back, warming my body nicely, but it was still quite chilly whenever the wind blew.

After a ten-minute walk from my house, I arrived at the nearest station. The one I use is not the JR Tokaido Main Line's Kusanagi Station, but the Kusanagi Station on the Shizuoka Railway—abbreviated as Shizutetsu. This is a local line consisting of only one route called the Shizuoka-Shimizu Line, connecting Shin-Shizuoka Station to Shin-Shimizu Station. The two Kusanagi stations are astonishingly close, just a two-minute walk apart, but I almost exclusively use the latter.

Kusanagi Station, with its railway crossing inside the station premises, is a small, rustic station building.

A crowd of students and office workers had just gotten off the down-line train, so I let them pass by before scanning my commuter pass and going through the ticket gates. I crossed the tracks after the crossing gate lifted and headed toward the platform for Shin-Shizuoka.

Soon, an A3000 series train pulled into the platform. Its color was clear blue, with only the upper section and the doors painted white. It's a small train with only a two-car formation, but since they run about ten times an hour in the morning, it wasn't so crowded that you'd call it a packed train.

The train departed, seemingly gliding gently over the tracks. Boarding the second car, I stood with my back to the direction of travel and gazed at the scenery through the crew cabin window. Thanks to the clear sky today, I could perfectly see both the deep, pure white snow-capped peak of Mount Fuji and its vibrantly green foothills brimming with life.

While I was idly watching the scenery, the train arrived at the final stop, Shin-Shizuoka Station. It takes about 14 minutes from Kusanagi to Shin-Shizuoka. When you're just swaying along, it passes in the blink of an eye.

Shin-Shizuoka Station, which adjoins the Cenova commercial building, is quite spacious. Once you slip through the ticket gates and blend into the crowd, it's about a five-minute walk to the school.

The route to school was bustling with boys and girls wearing the same uniform as me. Watched over by the dancing petals of the late-blooming cherry blossoms, passing in front of chic cafes and variety stores, and walking past dandelions deliberating whether to release their fluff, I arrived at private Eisei High School.

"Morning. Did you do the homework?"

"Crap, I forgot my math textbook."

"I'm debating whether to join a club~"

Passing through the school gates with trivial conversations serving as BGM, I changed into my indoor shoes at the entrance and headed up the stairs.

First-years are on the first floor, second-years on the second, third-years on the third. When I entered the Class 2-A room, a few classmates glanced my way, then returned to their conversations with friends as if nothing had happened.

It might be weird to say this myself, but I am an inconspicuous student. My studies and athletics are decent, but I don't have the ability to join the fight for the top spots. I'm not in any clubs or committees, and my social circle is remarkably small.

My seat is the last one in the second row from the windows, a fairly prime location. As I sat down and was preparing my textbooks, a bright voice rang throughout the classroom.

"Everyone, haloha~!"

The one who entered the classroom was Meme Asahina. She was panting slightly, having probably come from morning practice for the brass band club again today. Upon seeing the girl with fluffy, fine short hair and droopy eyes, everyone returned a friendly greeting.

Asahina, who is also the class representative, gathers popularity from both boys and girls due to her approachable personality and how she treats everyone equally. Walking between the desks while exchanging greetings with our classmates, Asahina placed her tote bag on her desk in the middle of the room and kept walking.

Where she stopped was—none other than right in front of my desk.

"Rikkun, haloha~!"

Raising one hand as she approached, Asahina smiled as brightly as the sun.

"O-Oh. ...Morning, Asahina."

"Hmm?"

"H-Haloha~"

"Yep! Haloha~!"

Smiling, Asahina then tilted her head three seconds later.

"What's wrong, Rikkun? Aren't you acting a bit stiff?"

As she leaned her face right in, I reflexively pulled back, chair and all.

Why is her sense of distance with guys so needlessly close? At this rate, wouldn't there be a continuous stream of boys mistakenly thinking, Wait, does she maybe have feelings for me...?

"No, it's nothing like that."

I spent my nine years from kindergarten through elementary school with Meme Asahina. Our houses were fairly close, so we fit the definition of so-called childhood friends, but we went to different middle schools, so we had drifted apart for a while.

It was last year when I realized Asahina was attending the same high school. I had completely forgotten that Asahina had advanced to Eisei Middle School.

Even though I felt embarrassed because it looked like I had chased after her, Asahina never showed any signs of minding it. Last year, we only passed each other in the hallways, but this year we are in the same class.

I'm grateful that she talks to me as if the blank period never existed, but during the time we didn't see each other, I lost my immune system towards girls. Plus, Asahina has grown more refined and cuter than before... which means talking to her naturally like in the old days is highly difficult.

"Haloha, Asahina~"

"Ah, Hiruoka-kun, haloha~!"

Unlike me, the one who exchanged greetings with Asahina in a familiar manner was Atsushi Hiruoka from the broadcasting club.

With his flashy appearance, Hiruoka's cheeks were loosely relaxed into a sloppy grin. Even like this, he is one of my few friends. Honestly, saying he's my only friend is closer to the truth.

...By the way, the mysterious greeting "Haloha~" is Asahina's original creation. She's a bit of an airhead. She always makes me correct myself and say it, but she doesn't seem to force it on anyone else. Why is that?

Sitting in the desk in front of me, Hiruoka whispered with a smirk.

"Must be nice, Rikuto. Having a childhood friend like Asahina~."

'Asahina~' was a nickname, basically an affectionate moniker used by the male students. (TL Notes: idk, this name is written in katakana アサヒナー and read as Asahina~ or Asahinaa, i wonder what’s the point of that nickname)

"We're just childhood friends. We aren't even that close," I replied in a low voice so Asahina, who was standing nearby, wouldn't hear. Hiruoka, sitting backward in his chair, shot me a somewhat pitying look.

"Let me tell you, the moment you were born as Meme Asahina's childhood friend, you used up a lifetime's worth of luck. All that's left for you now is to grow old and die."

A completely unreasonable fate was unilaterally proclaimed to me.

While I was making a sour face, Asahina spoke to both of us.

"Speaking of which, did you two hear? Apparently, a transfer student is coming to our grade today."

"Oh? What weird timing. I hear Eisei's transfer exams are tougher than the entrance exams, so are we expecting quite the honors student to make an appearance?"

"Yeah, yeah, could be! I'm looking forward to it!"

Listening to their conversation... I thought to myself, Nine times out of ten, they're talking about Chinatsu.

I prayed, Please let Chinatsu transfer into a different class. Since she's probably praying for the same thing right about now, maybe our combined prayers can avert the worst-case future.

Then, Hiruoka spoke up with an amused tone.

"—Actually, the transfer student will probably be sitting in the seat next to you, Rikuto."

Do you not know the meaning of jinxing it? I shot Hiruoka a light glare.

He didn't need to tell me; I had noticed it the moment I walked into the classroom. Up until yesterday, the seat to my left was supposed to be empty. But now, there was a brand-new desk and chair placed there. Unless they suddenly sprouted from nowhere, it meant they had been prepared in advance for a transfer student.

"No. To begin with, there are five classes, so by simple calculation, the probability of the transfer student coming to Class A is one in five."

"But this is the only class with 29 students, and the other classes have 30, right?"

Refuted even by the well-meaning Asahina, I couldn't utter a single sound in response.

"Meme."

"Ah, Shi-non!"

Her best friend showed her face over there, so Asahina walked away.

As I breathed a sigh of relief, Hiruoka put a hand near his mouth and said.

"Here's a juicy piece of information. The transfer student is a girl, Rikuto."

It seemed the well-informed Hiruoka had the transfer student intel even before Asahina mentioned it.

"Why are you telling me that?"

"Because you were sitting there in silence, looking all excited."

"Me being quiet is my normal state, isn't it?"

"That's true."

"Don't just agree with me there."

Sighing in exasperation, I suddenly remembered something.

"Hey, Hiruoka, you have a little sister, right?"

"Yeah. Three years younger. She goes to the building over there."

With a flick of his finger, Hiruoka pointed beyond the sports ground. The middle school building is situated on the northeast side, and the high school building on the southwest, with the sports ground sandwiched between them.

If she's a second-year in middle school, that means Hiruoka's little sister is in the same grade as Fuka. There's a possibility the two of them might end up in the same class, but well, that doesn't matter right now.

"To be blunt, what is a little sister actually like? I don't have any siblings, so I have no idea how it feels."

I thought gathering intel from Hiruoka, who has a real little sister, might give me some helpful reference material for interacting with Chinatsu and the others. More than anything, I desperately wanted to know how to resolve the unspeakable misunderstanding of being seen as a perverted creep who pushes down his stepsister.

I was grasping at straws, but Hiruoka's answer was completely merciless.

"Let's see. Basically, she does not consider me to be a human being."

"...Say what?"

"My sister probably thinks of me as a pest that has selfishly infested her home. But fear not, for our father receives treatment even worse than a human's."

The light had somehow vanished from Hiruoka's eyes as he spoke in a flat voice.

"I-Is your standing in the house... as a man... really that weak?"

"Yeah. Having her click her tongue just by making eye contact at home is only the beginning. If I sneeze loudly, her face twitches with an 'Eww!' and she sprays alcohol sanitizer everywhere. If I have a reason to talk to her, she blatantly shrieks 'Gross!', and what's more—"

"...Sorry, Hiruoka. That's enough, you don't have to say anymore..."

I gently placed a hand on Hiruoka's shoulder and shook my head. I only wanted to gather intel; I didn't want to further gouge open my friend's scar-riddled heart.

But if even a biological older brother is treated like a bug, what in the world would a stepbrother be treated as? A water flea?

I recall that when we looked into microscopes during science class, water fleas were actually quite popular with the girls. Something along the lines of, Euglenas and parameciums are gross, but water fleas are cute~ but if you look at them straight on, they're actually creepy~. In other words, am I... a water flea viewed straight on?

"So basically, the best policy is not to get involved at all, huh..."

"Hmm? What are you talking about?"

"No, no, just talking to myself."

I brushed it off vaguely and ended the conversation with Hiruoka.

While taking my textbooks out of my backpack, I sequentially brought to mind the faces of the five sisters I wasn't used to seeing yet. Complete strangers who just happen to be under the same roof. I don't know what the other sisters intend, but Chinatsu desires that kind of relationship.

Suddenly, Chinatsu's profile from this morning revived in my mind. That gentle face, her cheeks melting as she gazed at Sorane. Not just Chinatsu, but surely those girls still have many, many sides sleeping within them that I know nothing about...

"Alright, alright, take your seats. Homeroom is starting."

Just as I was letting out a sigh with indescribable feelings, our teacher entered the classroom.

Aru-kun—that is Aru Asahina-sensei. He is Meme Asahina's biological older brother, and to me, he's like a caring older brother figure. Moreover, he has been my homeroom teacher since my first year, taking good care of me.

In the past, whenever I went to play at the Asahina house, we would play video games together and he would buy me snacks at the convenience store. Perhaps it's in the Asahina family blood, but this person also absolutely loves taking care of others.

He is twenty-five years old. He teaches math and serves as the advisor for the karate club. With his sweet looks—featuring soft, fine hair and slightly droopy eyes—some of the female students were swooning over him again today.

Standing at the podium, Aru-sensei waited for the class to quiet down before turning toward the door.

"Today I'm introducing a transfer student. Please come in."

Through the open door, a single flower entered.

I could feel it in my skin—the dumbfounded classmates all uniformly losing their words. What glued everyone's eyes to her was her glossy side-tail hair. Her beautifully straight posture and her dignified gaze.

That girl's name was—Chinatsu Miyanaga.

I immediately wanted to hold my head in my hands. We were in the same class after all. I don't know the reason, but it seems God strongly dislikes us. Needless to say, both me and Chinatsu.

Ignoring my inner conflict, the class was buzzing with excitement over the appearance of this exceptionally beautiful transfer student.

"So prettty."

"She's incredibly gorgeous."

"Is she a model? An entertainer?"

"Her face is so small. Her legs are so looong."

The girls stared intently, while the guys were visibly excited, their faces slackening into sloppy grins. Even though they were supposedly keeping their voices down, when almost the entire class makes a fuss at once, it turns into a loud roar.

If it was just based on looks alone, Chinatsu was certainly on the level of an entertainer. Or rather, the girl standing right in front of us far exceeded the charm of entertainers seen through a TV screen.

Even though she must have heard those voices, Chinatsu didn't flinch at all. She stood beside the teacher's desk with a calm, composed face. It was the reaction of someone thoroughly accustomed to drawing the attention of others. That attitude seemed to deify her beauty even further.

However, the moment Chinatsu spotted me in the classroom, her face completely stiffened.

"—!"

It was written plainly on her face. Why are you here?

But I wanted to say out loud that those were my lines.

"Everyone, quiet down a bit. Now, could I ask you to introduce yourself?"

"Yes."

Chinatsu gave a polite cough as if to calm herself, then spoke in a crisp, clear tone.

"I am Chinatsu Miyanaga. Due to my parents' circumstances, I moved here from Tokyo. We couldn't adjust the schedule well, resulting in a transfer at a somewhat odd time, but I look forward to studying with you all."

Upon hearing that surname, only Hiruoka and Asahina looked back at me with a "Hmm?" expression.

Well, it's a fairly uncommon surname, but maybe there are just very few students who even remember my surname in the first place. ...Yeah, let's stop thinking too deeply about it.

I had only just learned this myself, but apparently, when parents remarry, the children's surnames don't change unless they go through a specific procedure. In other words, Chinatsu and the others completed the necessary procedures and chose to take the same surname as Natsuki-san—and Dad.

Then, Chinatsu, standing at the podium, slowly raised her right arm and pointed her index finger straight up at shoulder height.

"Also, one last thing."

The classmates' gazes were drawn in, concentrating on the tip of her finger.

Having effortlessly gathered the attention of the entire classroom, Chinatsu continued in a crystal-clear voice.

"I practice karate, so I ask that the male students refrain from approaching me carelessly."

What I remembered was Chinatsu's movements when she thrust the stun gun at me. I thought she might be practicing some kind of martial arts, but so that was because she was learning karate.

Unfortunately, however, Chinatsu's statement seemed to be taken as some kind of joke—or a remark made to hide her embarrassment. The classmates lightly exchanged glances and, without paying it any mind, applauded to welcome Chinatsu.

"Alright then, take your seat. It's the desk at the very back."

"Yes."

Directed by Aru-sensei, Chinatsu walked to the back row and took her seat. It hardly needs to be said anymore, but it was the seat to my left. That being the case, an obligation arose for me to follow up and help the transfer student to some extent—or so it should be. To begin with, it would be extremely unnatural if we didn't exchange a single word.

I shot a quick glance at Chinatsu and called out to her, pretending it was our first meeting.

"I'm Rikuto Miyanaga. Nice to meet you."

"........................Yes, nice to meet you."

After a heavy silence, Chinatsu returned a reply. This girl, without even giving me a single glance...

After that, Aru-sensei smoothly checked attendance and relayed today's announcements to the students.

The incident occurred right after homeroom ended.

The moment the air relaxed, several gazes intersected across the classroom. Groups were checking their next moves with each other, silently asking, What should we do? Should we go over?

But even if they wanted to unfold the classic scene of surrounding the transfer student and bombarding her with questions, it was a situation fraught with danger for the guys to step forward eagerly. That's because dealing with such an extraordinary beauty, they'd be seen by those around them as just acting thirsty... For the boys interested in Chinatsu, the desirable progression would be to join the circle only after the girls had broadened the conversation.

Looking around, students from other classes who had caught wind of the rumors were already starting to gather in the hallway. I could hear voices pointing at Chinatsu and jeering, "She's totally gorgeous."

However, there was exactly one person who fearlessly stood up despite such a situation. None other than Hiruoka.

"Hey, hey! I'm Atsushi Hiruoka. Nice to meet ya from now on!"

His light greeting echoed triumphantly through the classroom. Indeed, for the class clown Hiruoka, it was only natural to be the very first to go talk to her in this situation.

I expected Chinatsu to ignore him, but surprisingly, she responded to the conversation.

"...Yes, nice to meet you."

"So, is it okay if I call you Chinatsu-chan? Actually, there's already another student in this class with the surname Miyanaga. It'd be confusing, right?"

And just like that, Hiruoka promptly used me as an excuse to try and close the distance with Chinatsu.

Wait, you call me by my first name anyway! And Chinatsu, for her part, was glaring at me with eyes that seemed to say, So this is your fault. I'll kill you.

Chinatsu let out a small sigh and looked up at Hiruoka with cold eyes.

"In that case, could you call me by my surname? I think there will be no problem if you call that other Miyanaga-something-san by his first name."

Faced with Chinatsu's completely unapproachable attitude, even Hiruoka seemed bewildered, letting out an "O-Oh?"

Then, the well-informed Hiruoka brought up a topic he had probably been saving as his trump card.

"Umm... Ah, speaking of which! I heard Chinatsu-chan's little sister transferred into the first-year class too."

"!"

I was the one whose shoulders stiffened with a jolt.

"I bet she's an incredibly beautiful sister too. Ahh, I wanna meet her too!"

...No, Hiruoka. You must not carelessly touch upon the topic of her sisters.

But there was no way my voiceless warning could reach him. Hearing that, the people around them also started making a fuss—"A sister?" "I wanna see, I wanna see." "What class is she in?" "Should we go check her out later?"—and the situation was becoming uncontrollable.

Hearing that exchange, Chinatsu's eyes rapidly cooled down to below freezing. Ah, I was the only one who noticed it. This is bad. Those eyes are bad news.

Right now, Chinatsu had the exact same eyes as when she readied that stun gun!

"H-Hey. Hiruoka..."

I instantly tried to cut in between the two of them to stop it. But I didn't make it in time.

Pushing her chair back and standing up, Chinatsu faced Hiruoka head-on and offered her left hand.

Hiruoka looked blank for a moment, but he must have interpreted it as an offer for a handshake. Looking bashful, he reached out his left hand, but that hand swiped through empty air without resistance.

—Whoosh, there was the sharp sound of air being sliced forcefully.

"Hah!"

By the time Chinatsu let out a sharp breath, Hiruoka was lying flat on his back on the classroom floor.

A shoulder throw. Ippon.

Wait, isn't a shoulder throw considered a foul under karate rules...? Could it be that Chinatsu was learning not only karate, but judo as well?

Chinatsu's movements were so swift that most of the people in the class probably had no idea what had just happened. The two of them tried to shake hands, and one second later, Hiruoka was on the floor—that must be how it looked to them.

In reality, Chinatsu had grabbed the hem of the completely defenseless Hiruoka with her right hand, grabbed his collar with her left, and hoisted him over her shoulder, slamming him onto the floor. Well, since Hiruoka had intended to shake hands, he was completely full of openings to begin with.

"H-Hiruoka!"

When I crouched down beside him and called out, Hiruoka let out a strange sound, "F-Fuoo..." Next thing I knew, he closed his eyes while splayed out on the floor. It seemed he had fainted.

Chinatsu dusted off her hands with a clap, clap, and looked around the classroom with completely sharp, piercing eyes. As if cut by a sickle-weasel, the students backed away without exception.

"If you approach me, this is what will happen."

Chinatsu's eyes were filled with honed bloodlust. A single glare bearing extraordinary intensity, as if aiming at her next prey—everyone was overwhelmed by just one girl.

Through this series of events, everyone present surely realized it.

Her final statement during her self-introduction was not some sort of cover to hide her embarrassment. It was a warning that should be taken to mean: If you approach me, you will lose your life...

The previous clamor seemed like a lie; both the classroom and the hallway were dead silent. Not even a trace of the excited atmosphere lingered. Everyone just stared blankly at Chinatsu's every move, or simply averted their gaze like frightened herbivores.

"...Hmph."

Confirming the surrounding reactions, Chinatsu brushed up her hair, returned to her seat, and began preparing her textbooks.

Amidst all this, I looked down at Hiruoka, wondering what to do. Even if I wanted to carry him to the nurse's office, it'd be tough to do alone...

"Man. That throw just now really took a toll on me..."

"Whoa! Weren't you passed out!?"

What startled me was Hiruoka sluggishly opening both his eyes. It looked flashy, but apparently, Chinatsu had held back.

While rubbing his lower back and groaning "Oww, oww," Hiruoka stood up on his own.

"Even so, to think Rikuto would be the very first to move for me. My friend...!"

"Ah, yes, yes. Don't hug me, you're annoying."

Hiruoka seemed moved, but there was a reason I moved so quickly. I felt no small amount of responsibility. Both toward Chinatsu and toward Hiruoka...

Just now, Hiruoka had merely brought up the topic of her sister. And yet, the reason Chinatsu showed such an extreme reaction might have been because of the incident three days ago where I pushed Mio down.

By that time, the atmosphere in the classroom had awkwardly started moving again.

"That was amazing..."

There were students who were simply overwhelmed, but that wasn't all.

"What was that?"

"Scary..."

"She went too far..."

The gazes directed at Chinatsu contained fear and avoidance. I had a bad premonition, but there was nothing I could do.

From the very first day she transferred, Chinatsu Miyanaga became the center of attention.

When called upon in class, she provided perfect answers, and during physical education, she demonstrated exceptional physical abilities. In the fitness test's shuttle run, she was remarkably the only girl to exceed 100 laps.

Truly excelling in both literary and military arts. Endowed with both beauty and brilliance. A transfer student sparkling with talent.

Despite Chinatsu showing off her prowess freely and extensively, there was no one around her.

The shoulder throw incident from this morning seemed to have heavily influenced this. Chinatsu was clearly being treated like something highly fragile and dangerous.

Even under normal circumstances, April is a period of trial and error for all students. There's no one curious enough to deliberately approach a hazardous object that might explode upon touch. When faced with an unapproachable transfer student, the common and smart choice is to wait and see for the time being.

The person herself acted as if it was a gentle breeze she couldn't care less about, but to me, Chinatsu's posture seemed like she was just putting up a brave front.

"Alright, that's it for today."

The chime rang from the speakers, and the Japanese history teacher announced the end of the class.

It was the long-awaited lunch break. In the corner of the classroom, where students were scattering in twos and threes with their bentos and wallets in hand, I cast a sidelong glance at Chinatsu, who was putting away her notebooks at the desk next to mine.

All day today, there had been no one around Chinatsu. At this rate, the lunch break would be the same. I didn't know if she was going to the school store, the cafeteria, or if she had brought a bento, but she would end up eating all alone.

I had been agonizing over this since during class. Not that I was troubled by confusing pit dwellings with raised-floor storehouses.

—Should I try talking to Chinatsu?

Even if I did something like that, Chinatsu wouldn't be happy. To begin with, my position isn't much different from the thrown Hiruoka's; in fact, I am overwhelmingly more disliked by Chinatsu.

But that shouldn't be a reason to abandon my stepsister—or my classmate—on her first day as a transfer student.

"Hey..."

When I called out, Chinatsu raised her face.

However, her clear eyes weren't looking at me. She was looking up at the two female students who had approached her side.

"Nice to meet you. I'm Meme Asahina."

The one who called out brightly and energetically was Asahina. As the class representative, she couldn't leave Chinatsu's current situation alone and had perhaps been waiting for the right timing to speak to her.

"This is Shinobu Yaku. You can just call her Shi-non."

"Mm, nice to meet you."

Standing next to Asahina was her best friend, Yaku. She belongs to the same brass band club as Asahina and is characterized by her black-rimmed glasses and shoulder-length straight black hair. It seems these two have known each other since middle school.

Chinatsu looked alternately at the faces of Asahina and Yaku, then gave a small nod.

"Asahina-san and Yaku-san... right. I've memorized them."

"You didn't go with Shi-non there!"

When Asahina laughed in amusement, a serious-faced Chinatsu pointed out.

"Because Yaku-san looks like she doesn't want to be called that."

"Eh? Really? Geez, Shi-non is so cute~"

Tightly hugged by Asahina, Yaku muttered in a small voice, "Because it's a weird nickname..." Was she quieter than usual because she was nervous dealing with Chinatsu, whom she was meeting for the first time?

Pulling away from Yaku, Asahina leaned forward toward Chinatsu.

"Hey, hey, can I call you Chinatsu-chan?"

"S-Sure."

Her wariness seemingly eased by the strange duo, Chinatsu gave her permission easily.

"Thanks! If you'd like, want to eat lunch together?"

Chinatsu restlessly tucked her hair behind her ear. Then, she smiled so slightly you wouldn't notice unless you were watching closely.

"Yeah... Umm, nice to meet you both."

At that modest yet adorable smile, my heart gave a sudden leap. The small cheers of "Ooh" leaking from here and there probably belonged to the guys who, like me, had been watching the whole exchange unfold.

"What about a bento? I see, I see, then should we go to the school store? Our high school has a cafeteria too, though..."

The three of them left the classroom together. While I silently watched their backs go, a boastful voice came from the seat in front.

"Just as expected of Asahina~. To promptly follow up with a transfer student who's completely alienated..."

Acting like a proud boyfriend in the background, Hiruoka nodded repeatedly.

"Asahina has a strong sense of justice, after all. She's been a busybody since way back."

Hearing that, Hiruoka grinned faintly and nudged my shoulder repeatedly with his elbow.

"What's that? The composure of a childhood friend? Hmm?"

"It's nothing like that. Whatever, let's go too. Is the cafeteria fine for today?"

"Oh? Rare to see Rikuto without a bento."

"I forgot to cook rice."

Hiruoka often buys bread at the school store and eats it in the classroom with me. But since it seemed Chinatsu was going to the school store with Asahina and the others, my psychology kicked in to avoid that area.

"Ah, I forgot to check the menu in the classroom."

"Today's daily special, huh. I wonder what it was. I'd be happy if it was croquettes, mapo tofu, or fried chicken..."

Chatting casually, we headed to the cafeteria on the same floor. The cafeteria is on the second floor of the high school. There's a connecting bridge running from the second floor of the middle and high school buildings to the gymnasium, so if you use that, middle schoolers can easily pop over too.

The cafeteria had a bustling atmosphere again today. Until around May, it gets quite crowded because the new students use it a lot.

Especially popular is the daily special lunch that you can eat for just one coin (500 yen); besides the main dish, it always comes with a small side or pickles, and soup. The monthly menu is posted in the classrooms, and many students choose to eat at the cafeteria on the days their favorite dishes are served.

When I checked the whiteboard on the wall, it seemed today was the fried chicken set meal. I choose you.

I ordered the daily special set and a pudding for dessert; Hiruoka got the chicken katsu curry and a mini ramen. We handed our meal tickets over at the counter and waited for a while with our trays.

I received my food first, so I called out to Hiruoka.

"I'll go grab a random seat."

Hearing his reply of "Gotcha," I looked around the area. The upperclassmen had claimed the table seats in the center, so the layout naturally resulted in the lowerclassmen and middle schoolers scattering to the corner seats or the counter seats by the windows. It's not like there's a specific rule or that the upperclassmen are throwing their weight around, but seniority permeates even the student world.

Also, since the wind was cold today, it wasn't popular, but as for whether there are girls who spend their lunch time on the terrace seats facing the sports ground while watching the guy they like in a sports club... I wouldn't know.

Placing my tray at a seat that had just opened up, I headed to the tea dispenser. When I returned carrying two teacups filled with cold water, Hiruoka was just arriving with an "Oh, thanks."

Pressing our hands together, we immediately started eating.

For students packed with classes, lunch is indeed a relaxing time. The grease from the fried chicken seeped into my empty stomach, and the taste of the gentle miso soup warmed my insides...

"Come to think of it, about Chinatsu-sama's little sister."

At the abrupt topic, I nearly spat out the miso soup in my mouth.

Since when did you start calling her Chinatsu-sama? Rather than that, the content of the topic was what caught my attention.

"What about her sister?"

"Mmm, yeah."

Giving a half-hearted reply, Hiruoka nonchalantly slurped his ramen. I wanted to urge him to hurry up and tell the rest, but outwardly maintaining my composure, I stuffed my cheeks with fried chicken.

Once his mouth was empty, Hiruoka finally spoke up.

"Right, right, about her sister. Amazingly, Chinatsu-sama has four sisters, and what's more, they're incredibly beau—"

"Chinatsu nee-san."

Hiruoka's words were cut off by an ephemeral voice that sounded like the ringing of a small bell.

Turning my whole face in surprise, I saw Chinatsu at the entrance of the cafeteria.

No, it wasn't just Chinatsu. Running up to her was Mio. And Karin, who had already been eating with students who seemed to be her friends, was also being dragged along by Fuka, approaching them with an expression that said it couldn't be helped.

"Ah, Mio? Karin and Fuka too..."

Looking surprised, Chinatsu looked around at all their faces. Aside from Sorane, who attends elementary school, it was a moment where the sisters were all gathered together for the first time in hours.

Judging by the situation, it didn't seem like they had coordinated to meet up. Should I call it a mere coincidence, or perhaps each of them had the thought that they might run into their sisters if they went to the cafeteria.

But wait, hadn't Chinatsu gone to the school store? Wondering what was going on, I shifted my gaze and saw Asahina and Yaku standing near Chinatsu. The school store was probably crowded, so they must have changed their plans.

Exchanging glances with Yaku, Asahina asked on their behalf.

"Chinatsu-chan. Who are these girls?"

"Umm. All three of them are my sisters—"

That was as much as I could accurately catch with my ears. Because the guys who had caught the word "sisters" all started making a fuss at once.

"Eh? Are all of them sisters?"

"Isn't that insane? They're incredibly cute..."

"It's a genetic miracle."

"Apparently there's another younger sister too."

"Does that mean they're five beautiful sisters?"

The rumors about the transfer student had already spread throughout the school, but even so, the level of attention was staggering.

However, this outcome was inevitable. A place where four sisters gathered was as glamorous as a gathering of models for a teen magazine. Sparkling particles of light were scattering around them, and it was literally a different world.

Mio, who seemed to be the withdrawn type, was now showing a smile, perhaps filled with the joy of being able to see her sisters. Karin looked annoyed, but Fuka was displaying her usual amiability.

Stuffed my cheeks with a mountain of cabbage like a rabbit, I gazed at that distant world from the sidelines.

"Umm... Once you buy your meal tickets, let's move to the terrace!"

After a short while, the one who proposed that was Asahina. Because Chinatsu and the others were standing still, the cafeteria entrance had become congested.

At that moment, the eyes of Chinatsu as she started walking suddenly caught me in her line of sight.

Hmm? I tilted my head. Chinatsu was moving her small mouth opening and closing like a fish. I focused intently on the movement of her mouth, and soon received a short message.

— B. E. G. O. N. E.

It was just pure verbal abuse. I mean, "begone" or whatever, I'm still eating my lunch...

"L. O. V. E. Y. O. U. Wait, could it be that Chinatsu-sama is talking to me...?"

"Hold on, Hiruoka. You're hallucinating."

I desperately stopped Hiruoka, who was about to sprint toward an imaginary romance. While I did that, Chinatsu and her group had moved out to the terrace seats.

◇◇◇

After school that day. As soon as sixth period ended, I came to the second counseling room. The reason why is because I was called in by Aru-sensei.

Since it's difficult to get in touch with my guardian, I often talk with Aru-sensei in the counseling room like this. He even accommodates me in various ways, like handling parent-teacher-student meetings online.

When I knocked on the door, there was a reply from inside.

"Excuse me."

"Oh, Rikuto!"

Aru-sensei, who was sitting on the leather sofa, saw me and raised one hand. Perhaps because it was after school, his tie was undone, and he was in a slightly casual state.

"Sorry I'm late."

When I sat down on the sofa across from him, separated by the table, he smiled broadly and said.

"It's fine~, given the relationship between you and me."

"...Aru-kun. You know you can't say things like that in front of the other students, right?"

"I only say it in front of Rikuto."

...It's obvious from his charming behavior, but this person is truly popular. He's been hit on constantly since his student days, but he's probably even more popular now that he's a teacher.

But Aru-sensei only shows his "Aru-kun" face when it's just the two of us. When he's in Aru-kun mode, we do things like lend and borrow manga, but normally, he treats both his sister Asahina and his old acquaintance me equally as mere students. The fact that he was entrusted as a homeroom teacher at a young age is also due to his reliability and track record.

I'm careful when there are people around too, but sometimes I accidentally slip into casual speech. Though not quite to the extent of Asahina, who accidentally blurted out "Onii-chan, I don't get this part" right in the middle of class.

With an expression somewhere between a teacher and a neighborhood older brother, he asked.

"So, how are things with your little sisters?"

...As expected, it's about that.

As my homeroom teacher, Aru-sensei naturally grasps our family situation. After agonizing over how to answer, I decided to convey the facts euphemistically.

"Even if you ask 'how are things'... when we met on the first day, there was a bit of an incident."

"Oh? Did you get shoulder-thrown too?"

Aru-sensei narrowed his eyes. He had left the classroom during the commotion this morning, but he had apparently received a report.

"No. I got wall-slammed, had a stun gun thrust at me, and was forcefully threatened."

"Well, that's interesting. She's an exceptional talent I'd definitely want in the karate club. As her stepbrother, please pass on that I want her to join."

Putting a hand to his chin, he chuckled as he said that. As the karate club advisor, she must be a person of interest in more ways than one.

"Stepbrother... She doesn't think of it that way at all."

"She was acting like a total stranger in the classroom, too, wasn't she."

"Or rather, we are properly strangers. We only just met three days ago."

A deep sigh escaped from the bottom of my lungs. For me to lower her affection this much in just three days, I really am quite something.

At that point, Aru-sensei crossed his arms. A few seconds of pause were born.

"So, do you want to get along?"

"Get along with Chinatsu and the others?"

"Who else is there?"

Stared straight at by Aru-sensei, I casually averted my eyes.

"I don't really care. Rather than getting along, as long as we can get by without any incidents, that's fine."

—If I had to describe myself in one word, "pacifist" would probably be the most accurate.

Because Dad is someone who stirs up trouble as he pleases, I began to desire peaceful, uneventful days. I think a life where I just carefully wait for the commotion to die down suits my nature.

It's not like I have anything specific I want to do, but I do hope to go to college for my future path. In two years, there's a high probability I'll leave the house to live alone or something. In other words, if I can just ride out these two years, my involvement with Chinatsu and the others should become almost non-existent.

"That's impossible."

Aru-sensei dismissed my hope with a single kick. When I furrowed my brows and looked back at him, he had the gaze of someone looking at a child who hasn't thought things through.

"Your family increased by six people. You gained five younger sisters. Do you really think you can get by without any incidents with this?"

"............"

The reason I returned silence was because I had been convinced.

When it comes to family, even just one person being added is a massive deal. That times six. My outlook was naive, exactly as the teacher pointed out.

But Chinatsu doesn't want to be involved with me as a family. I don't know what the other sisters are thinking, either. Is it really the right thing to do to step in despite that?

To the hesitating me, Aru-sensei spoke in a soft voice.

"Rikuto. I'll teach you just one thing."

When I looked at him suspiciously, he curled the corners of his lips into a smile.

"You might not realize it yourself, but—you do not have a face that says you don't care."

...Ah, he really is this kind of person, I thought.

Is it because his field of vision is wide, or because he observes his surroundings well? Sometimes, he accurately guesses even the inner feelings that the person themselves hasn't realized. I suppose there are students who feel rebellious toward him for that, and students who feel like they've had their backs pushed. Surely, just like me right now.

"Rikuto. Is there anything I can do?"

"For now, nothing. Since there isn't anything I can do either."

To me making a flippant remark, Aru-sensei replied without changing his expression.

"I suppose so. Because no matter how much trouble you're in, you never rely on adults."

Getting poked where it hurts, I couldn't help but give a wry smile.

"Rikuto. You know, you are—"

Aru-sensei was about to say something, but right at that timing, there was a light knock, knock on the door behind us. The moment he heard that, he gasped and clapped his hands together.

"Ah, s-sorry. I had my next counseling appointment packed right after!"

...He's a good teacher, but just like his sister, he's a bit of an airhead, or rather, clueless.

"I'll be going, then."

Correcting my tone, I lifted myself off the sofa. The profession of a teacher is busier than students imagine. The caring Aru-sensei is constantly talking to students on a daily basis, and vice versa.

However, just as I opened the door, I froze. Chinatsu was standing right in front of me.

I really want to believe she couldn't hear our conversation, but... When I hurriedly exited the room, Chinatsu gave a bow so beautiful it made me fascinated, saying, "Excuse me."

Over Chinatsu's shoulder, Aru-sensei had a face that said "I'll make it up to you next time!"—but because Chinatsu shut the door firmly, I couldn't even see that anymore.

I lightly shrugged my shoulders and left the counseling room.

On my way home that day, I stopped by the Shizutetsu Store Kusanagi branch to do some shopping. When it comes to grocery shopping around the station, in my case, I often go to Shizutetsu. Though when I have time, I sometimes take my bicycle to other supermarkets.

Since lunch was pretty heavy, I intended to keep dinner light. It's my method to make a few side dishes at the same time to set aside for tomorrow's bento.

Cabbage and broccoli were cheap, so I picked out the ones with nice colors and put them in my shopping basket. I could make them into a salad, or I could just stir-fry or boil them all together. I also restocked a few frozen foods.

Swinging my eco-bag, I arrived home at 5:30 PM.

Looking at the shoes in the entrance, it seemed no one had come home yet. Turning on the lights and stepping inside, I first organized the contents of the refrigerator.

Putting on my unadorned apron, I set the rice cooker and started cooking.

The main dish was twice-cooked pork (Hui Guo Rou). Plus cabbage and bacon soup, and broccoli tossed with tuna. Chinese or Western, I don't really care about things like that. I'm the only one eating it anyway.

While I kept my hands moving without resting, I heard a noise from the direction of the entrance. It seemed someone had come home.

"Come to think of it, tea didn't come out of the school taps~!"

...This is Sorane.

I want to say Of course it wouldn't, but apparently it actually does at some schools. I'm just a little bit jealous.

"It didn't come out at the high school either. Rather, isn't everyone in Shizuoka slow at walking?"

...This one is Chinatsu.

It seemed the two of them had come home together. Come to think of it, when we were eating sushi, I feel like Sorane mentioned something about going to observe or get an explanation for a soccer class. Was Chinatsu accompanying Sorane as a proxy for Natsuki-san?

She really is practically acting as a substitute mother. While thinking that and shaking the frying pan, the cooking was finished.

Carrying the steaming dishes to the table, I pressed my hands together.

"Thanks for the meal."

After murmuring that, I turned on the TV. The TV is easily visible from the dining area too.

What was playing was a local station's evening wide program. After the weather forecasts for various parts of the prefecture, a segment introducing delicious restaurants in Shizuoka began.

The first shop was a Western-style restaurant in downtown Shizuoka City. It seemed they were particular about their beef stew and hamburg steak. When it comes to Shizuoka's hamburg steaks, Sawayaka boasts overwhelming name recognition, but in reality, all sorts of famous restaurants are fiercely competing with each other in various areas. Shizuoka is a hamburg steak powerhouse.

"Ah, next is Fuji City, huh..."

After clearing my plates during the commercial break, the second shop had jumped quite a distance away. Still, thinking I might as well just check what kind of shop it was, Chinatsu and the others came trooping into the living room.

I silently turned off the TV and stood up.

I thought for a brief moment. I cooked three cups of rice, after all. There are leftover side dishes, so you guys can eat if you want. While I was agonizing over whether to say that or not, my physical body had already passed by Chinatsu and exited the living room.

◇◇◇

"...T-They didn't eat it."

The next morning. I was staring into the rice cooker, completely dumbfounded.

The white rice I had cooked the day before was left untouched in the cooker. What did this mean? Did Chinatsu and the others eat pasta or something? Or did they go out of their way to cook their own rice separately...?

No, that's impossible. Chinatsu's group didn't bring a rice cooker with them. If they were going to cook rice, they would have to use the one in this house.

I felt somewhat disappointed, but getting down to it, it was just me acting considerate on my own. Chinatsu had said from the beginning that our meals would be separate.

With a heavy sigh, I stirred the white rice—which had become hard from being kept warm for too long—with a rice paddle. I'm usually a bread person in the mornings, but I decided to have rice today. I'd pack a little extra into my bento box, and wrap the rest in plastic wrap to freeze it...

Breakfast was tofu and wakame seaweed miso soup, along with a rolled omelet. For the missing bento side dishes, I packed some frozen foods.

As I was serving rice into a bowl, the living room door opened. The one who came in was Chinatsu. Even though it was early in the morning, her grooming and outfit were completely perfect.

"............"

She shot me a single glance, then immediately averted her eyes. She was holding a heavy-looking laundry basket in both hands. Sitting down in the living room while being careful not to wrinkle her skirt, she briskly began folding the laundry.

While carrying my plates to the table, I watched her back without meaning to. The laundry must have been run late at night. Judging by the volume, it was for all six of them, including Natsuki-san, who had returned late last night. As expected, her household chore skills are quite high.

A little while later, Mio woke up as well. Dressed in polka-dot pajamas, she was rubbing her eyelids sleepily.

"Good morning, Mio. You're up early."

"Good morning, Chinatsu nee-san. I'll help you fold..."

"It's fine, just go get ready for school."

"Okaay..."

Replying through a yawn, Mio noticed my presence, flinched, and hurriedly left the living room. It seemed I had startled her.

That day, I left the house first. The opposite of yesterday. Even if we try to stagger our times, it's quite difficult to coordinate.

Caught at a red light, I stopped walking, and the sparrows lined up on the power lines looked at me and tilted their little heads in the same direction. I felt like they were wondering why this human was all alone.

—I'll admit it.

On just the fourth day since we started living together, I was already feeling exhausted.

Until now, my home had been a place of comfort for me. A place where I could relax my shoulders without worrying about the eyes of others. For most people, I believe that's exactly what a home is.

But now it's different. I hastily retreat to my room to avoid running into the sisters, and I get out of the bath in the absolute minimum amount of time. The sensation of having strangers under the same roof was much more mentally draining than I had imagined.

"Phew..."

Of course, it's not just me; Chinatsu and the others must be feeling the burden too. Vaguely thinking about such things, I headed to school with tired steps right from the start of the morning.

A major change occurred after school that day—on my way home.

"Hmm?"

The reason I stopped when I was only five minutes away from home was because I spotted a helpless-looking back.

Wondering who it was, I saw Mio standing all alone on the deserted roadside. Although I couldn't see her face, there was no mistaking her hairstyle and clothes.

Now then, I hesitated over what to do.

If Chinatsu were to find out that I called out to Mio where the other sisters weren't present, she definitely wouldn't let me off easy. I'd be sent straight down the stun-gun route without any room for excuses. Just imagining it sent shivers down my body.

Pretending I didn't see her might be the correct answer here, but even so, I hesitated to just leave her be. That's because Mio's back looked so forlorn, and somehow... it looked like she was asking someone for help.

—Yeah, I've decided.

I'll try talking to her for now. It shouldn't be too late to regret it afterward.

Having made that decision, I approached Mio. But the moment I was about to call out to her, something like a strange animal cry reached my ears.

"Meow, meow-meow. Meow-meow-meow?"

............Huh?

Was I hearing things? I felt like I just heard some weird language.

"Meow, what a predicament, meow-meow. You're a lost little kitty, aren't you, meow. Mmm~, what should we do, meow~"

It was half-heartedly mixed with actual human words.

At this point, I vaguely understood that I had witnessed something I wasn't supposed to see, but I had already closed the distance to Mio so much that I could touch her if I reached out my hand.

I couldn't exactly do an about-face now. Taking a small breath, I tried speaking to her.

"Umm..."

"Meoooowww!?"

Her reaction was dramatic.

Literally jumping up into the air, Mio whipped around to face me with tremendous momentum.

"A-A-Ah..."

Upon realizing it was me standing behind her, Mio's face turned completely red and she began to tremble in small spurts. Both of her eyes were watering so much she looked like she was about to cry, making me feel somewhat like I had bullied her.

"D-Did you hear that just now?"

It would be easy to deny it on the spot and say I didn't hear anything.

But since there shouldn't be any misunderstandings, it would be better to confirm it just in case.

"By 'that just now', do you mean all the meow-meow-meowing?"

Mio's face flushed an even deeper shade of red in an instant.

"N-No, that's not it. I just thought I'd try to make this little one feel at ease. I don't normally go around saying 'meow meow', really...!"

Because she was arguing her case so desperately, I interrupted her words and nodded.

"I-I understand. I believe you."

"Y-Yes..."

Visibly relieved, Mio let the tension drop from her shoulders and crouched down on the spot. She was more talkative than I thought. Since the other sisters are so vocal, she might just have not stood out until now...

"Wait, 'this little one'?"

Looking closely, there was a cat resting on top of Mio's chest.

...No, that's not it. The cat cradled in Mio's arms was using her chest as a pillow and looking completely entranced.

I believe it's called a brown tabby. Its entire body was covered in brown fur with black stripes scattered throughout. The black pattern on its forehead looked like an "M", which was amusingly reminiscent of Kankichi Ryotsu. Its tail bending sharply near the middle into a "hooked tail" was also characteristic.

Then, whether it was sleepy, trying to be affectionately spoiled, or thinking it was a toy, the cat let out a rumbling purr while delivering zero-attack-power cat punches straight into Mio's chest. Every time it did, her soft-looking chest freely changed its contours—no, wait, calm down. What am I doing staring at my stepsister's chest with a straight face?

"Kitties are cute, aren't they?"

Fortunately or unfortunately, Mio, floating a modest smile, seemed to have misunderstood the meaning behind my intense gaze.

"YEAH. KITTIES ARE CUTE."

I wanted to die from guilt, but I covered it up by speaking in a stiff, monotone voice. I gave a polite cough before asking a question.

"So what's the deal with that cat?"

"Umm... it was sunbathing on the road, so I tried picking it up."

When you think of cats, you usually picture them as agile, but this cat seemed to have a rather slow, goofy side to it.

"I think it's probably a pet. It has a nice coat, it's chubby, and there are marks from a collar."

Touching the cat with gentle hands, Mio looked up at me in a troubled manner. For some reason, even the cat in her arms looked up at me in unison.

Mio is a girl with an innocent, almost small-animal-like aura about her. Perhaps because of that, I felt like I was being stared at by two cats sitting in a cardboard box, making my chest tingle. To put it bluntly, she is incredibly cute. The synergistic effect of cuteness was creating the supreme ultimate cuteness.

While thinking such idiotic thoughts, I tilted my head.

"Huh? Wait a minute."

Placing a hand on my chin, I brought my face closer and stared intently at the cat. Feeling like I had seen this cat somewhere before... I searched my memories, and then it clicked.

"That cat might be the Haruhara family's pet from next door. I think its name was... Sheena. They should have another one, too."

I vaguely remembered its name because it would often stare at our house intently from the neighbor's window, or show up when I delivered the neighborhood circular.

It didn't give an obvious reply, but the cat's two ears perked straight up. It might have reacted to the name I called.

Noticing that, Mio also showed blatant delight.

"Sheena-chan, is it? It's probably not an outdoor cat, right?"

"Yeah. Let's try going to the Haruhara house for now."

At this time, someone should be home. When I suggested it, Mio nodded her head up and down in agreement.

When I started walking, she followed behind me, lagging by half a step. Mio seemed to have a small stride, so I adjusted and walked at a slower pace.

A swallowtail butterfly drifting in the wind stood out beautifully against the blue sky. As I continued walking, I noticed something after a while. The breathing of Mio walking behind me was coming out in short, ragged pants. Stopping at a traffic light that had turned red, I looked back at Mio.

"Should I carry it instead?"

From the looks of it, Sheena was quite fat for a cat. It looked like she weighed over four kilograms. I wish I had noticed sooner, but carrying her this whole time must be tough.

"It's fine. It's the weight of happiness."

Despite sweating slightly, Mio affectionately stroked Sheena's head. Sheena narrowed her eyes comfortably. Her expression and gestures made it so obvious how much she loved cats that I couldn't help but let my mouth relax into a smile.

"I see. Well, it's just a little bit further, so hang in there."

"Okay!"

Nodding back, it finally dawned on me just now that the other sisters weren't anywhere near her.

"Come to think of it, isn't Karin... with you?"

After school yesterday, I saw Mio and Karin walking near Shin-Shizuoka Station. I heard they were assigned to different classes, but I had completely assumed they always walked home together.

"Karin said she was going home with her boyfriend today."

"I see. Her boyfriend, huh."

Having casually chimed in, my train of thought screeched to a halt.

"—Eh? Boyfriend?"

A boyfriend... isn't that a bit fast?

School life only started a week ago—or rather, it's only Karin's second day since transferring, and she can already get a boyfriend just like that? Is that sense of speed normal in the city? As someone who has never once had a girlfriend, I suddenly felt rather pathetic...

No, no, it's not like faster is always better for these things. The point is, a relationship as lovers is only established when you have someone you mutually care for and want to be with. You shouldn't force yourself to find a partner like that.

Even as I laid out such plausible-sounding arguments, in the end, it was all just an armchair theory. To begin with, as far as I can remember, I've never actually had feelings for anyone. I have a normal amount of interest in romance, but I'm just too far removed from it...

"U-Umm?"

"Ah, sorry. It's nothing."

Returning to the real world, I gave a wry smile to a slightly bewildered Mio.

This was no time to be spacing out. Right now, I had to deliver Sheena back to her owner.

When we arrived in front of the Haruhara residence, a heart-wrenching voice repeatedly calling "Sheena, Sheena" could be heard from the direction of the yard.

Mio and I looked at each other. Would it be faster to go around to the yard rather than ring the intercom? Just as I thought that, a single woman appeared, tracing along the wall of the detached house.

The woman, who appeared to be in her early thirties, was holding a bug net like the kind used to catch butterflies and dragonflies. Perhaps she had been preparing dinner, as she still had her apron on and was wearing slip-on sandals.

As soon as she saw me, she looked puzzled.

"Oh my, you're from the Miyanaga household... Rikuto-kun, right?"

"It's been a while."

I bowed my head respectfully. We only have a relationship where we greet each other in passing or make small talk when passing the neighborhood circular, but it seems she remembered my name.

Her gaze shifted from me to Mio beside me—and then to Sheena, who was cradled in her arms.

"Ah! Sheena!"

After screaming as if overcome with emotion, she called out toward the yard.

"Chiyu! Rikuto-kun brought Sheena back! Chiyuuu!"

Hearing a voice crack with an "Eh!?", a girl with her hair in braids came running from the same direction the woman had just emerged from. Her height was just a little taller than Sorane's. If I remember correctly, she was Chiyu, who had just entered the second grade of elementary school.

The parent and child must have mobilized fully to search everywhere for her. The tears welling up in her large eyes burst like a broken dam a second later.

"Waaah! Sheena...!"

I was imagining a moving reunion where Sheena would jump into her owner's chest, but Sheena paid absolutely no attention to Chiyu, who was clinging to her and crying, and instead just licked her paws complacently.

Her lack of reaction was a very "cat-like" thing. The story of the loyal dog Hachiko probably wouldn't have been possible if the protagonist had been a cat.

However, Chiyu hugged Mio along with the cat, crying tears of emotion while saying, "This is what makes you Sheena." Thank goodness. If the owner is giving her seal of approval, there's no mistaking that this cat is Sheena.

"Onee-chan, Onii-chan. Thank you for finding Sheena...!"

They had been truly worried, as both Chiyu and her mom thanked us over and over again.

I hear that escaped cats often don't come back. The fact that Mio managed to catch her nearby was truly a silver lining.

"That's right, we must give you some sort of reward."

"No, please don't trouble yourself."

I replied like that, but the excited Chiyu's mom wasn't listening. Retreating into the house and returning briskly, she held a yellow packaged snack box in her hands.

"Would you two like to eat some Tokyo Banana? Is black tea okay?"

I figured it was probably the Tokyo Banana that Dad had delivered... but I didn't say it out loud.

Either way, the one who delivered Sheena was Mio. When I checked with Mio through eye contact, she gave a modest nod. In that case, I might as well join in.

"Well then, we'll gladly accept your offer."

The moment we stepped into the Haruhara family's entranceway, Sheena struggled slightly. When Mio let go, Sheena landed nimbly on the floor and led the way down the hallway as if she owned the place.

"Hey, what's your name, Onee-chan? Where was Sheena?"

Even while walking down the short hallway, Chiyu proactively struck up a conversation with Mio.

We were shown into a neatly tidied living room. Mio and I were allowed to sit side-by-side on the sofa. We received teabag black tea and Tokyo Banana, which had purposely been placed on plates with forks set beside them. It was my first time eating the caramel banana flavor, but it was quite delicious.

While savoring the Tokyo Banana that I had cut into three equal pieces with my fork, I looked at Mio next to me. Mio's expression had been stiff since before we entered the house. She seemed to be pondering something.

To avoid startling her, I leaned my face in slightly and whispered in a low voice.

"Is there something you want to tell Chiyu?"

"!"

Mio's head jerked up quickly as if she'd been struck. It seemed I had hit the mark.

"I think you should try saying it. I mean, I'm here too."

It may be a shallow relationship, but we've been neighbors for many years. Even if it causes some sort of trouble, I should at least be able to mediate.

After agonizing over it for a while, Mio gave a firm nod with a serious expression.

"Umm... Chiyu-chan?"

"Yeah. What is it?"

Chiyu, who was eating her Tokyo Banana on the opposite sofa, stared at Mio with eyes sparkling brilliantly. Sheena was curled up on her lap.

To the current Chiyu, the Mio in front of her probably looked like a divine angel or a god. After all, she was the savior who found her beloved cat and swiftly delivered her back.

To such a Chiyu, Mio asked hesitantly, yet in a clear tone.

"Did Sheena's collar come off?"

Ah, I thought. That's right. Sheena wasn't wearing a collar.

Whether or not to put a collar on a cat largely depends on the owner's judgment. However, if they accidentally get outside and aren't wearing a collar, it's said that they might be mistaken for a stray cat.

"No. She usually wears one. But when we put on the new one that Dad bought, Sheena hated it. She was violently shaking her head back and forth over and over, so I felt bad and took it off for her... and then she hurriedly ran outside."

"I see..."

Hearing that, Mio next spoke to Chiyu's mom, who was standing in the kitchen.

"Excuse me. Do you still have her old collar kept away?"

"Yes. Wait just a moment."

Returning a short while later, she held Sheena's old and new collars in her hands. Both were red with a bell attached, a type that can be snapped on and off with one touch, but the fabric on one of them was tattered.

Receiving the two collars, Mio shook them up and down a few times before starting to fiddle with them in her hands.

Watching from the side, I realized Mio's intention. Chiyu's dad might not have thought too deeply about it, but both collars were the type where the bell could be removed.

Just as I expected—a few minutes later, what Mio held in her hand was the new collar with the old bell attached to it.

"Sorry, Sheena. Just be a good girl for a little bit."

Mio stroked under Sheena's whitish chin before bringing the collar closer.

With our hearts pounding, everyone watched the situation.

Once the collar was fastened, Sheena shook her head side to side as if to check something. The bell chimed lightly. But after that, she didn't show any signs of particularly caring about it, letting out a wide yawn.

Chiyu, who had been holding her breath, flushed her cheeks with excitement.

"Sheena doesn't hate it at all. It's like magic."

"It really is. That's amazing."

"Y-You're exaggerating."

Praised in rapid succession by the mother and daughter, Mio hastily waved both hands side to side. But considering even the owners, Chiyu and her mom, hadn't realized it, Mio's insight must be quite exceptional.

"No, that's amazing."

When I said that, Mio explained while looking down bashfully.

"Cats are creatures with sensitive senses... so just a change in the collar's texture, weight, or the sound of the bell can make them feel stressed. The collar was soft and of good quality, and since it was from the same manufacturer as the previous one... I figured that this time, she just hated that the bell sounded different."

"I see."

Then Mio looked toward Chiyu and added an explanation.

"But, if she still shows signs of hating it, make sure you take it off for her. I think it's best to take your time and slowly let her get used to it..."

"Yeah, okay."

While I was feeling impressed by their exchange, something soft brushed against my calf. Wondering what it was, I turned my head and saw the figure of another cat.

"Oh, it's been a while. You're, um, Tetra, right?"

Tetra let out an affectionate meow and rubbed its body warmly against my leg.

Its overall coat color was cream. Its large ears, face, slender legs, and tail had a darkish tint. Its round, bright green eyes looked up at me brimming with curiosity.

I believe it was a Siamese cat. I'm a dog person, but when one acts this friendly, it makes me think cats are nice too. Humans are simple creatures.

"Ah, a Thai cat... isn't it. How cute."

Mio's words bounced with excitement at the end. However, "Thai cat" was not something I was used to hearing.

"It's not a Siamese cat? Does that mean it's a cat born in Thailand?"

"Yes. Or rather, both Siamese cats and Thai cats are cats from Thailand... The historical form of the Siamese cat is the Thai cat."

"Whoa. You really know your stuff."

"I-It's nothing like that."

Replying in a voice that was practically a sigh, Mio shrunk into herself. It seems she's the type to cower when praised by others.

Just then, Sheena climbed down from Chiyu's lap and slowly approached Tetra. I watched the two cats with a smile.

"Oh, a moving reunion—"

But the moment Sheena and Tetra faced each other, they launched cat punches almost simultaneously.

Tetra's punch landed a clean hit on Sheena's nose, while Sheena's punch landed squarely on Tetra's forehead. After each landed their jabs, they distanced themselves; Tetra hissed menacingly, and Sheena let out a low, rumbling growl.

And just like that, they dashed off in opposite directions as if declaring "Scatter!" It all happened in a split second.

"T-They really don't get along, do they."

"These girls just can't come to an understanding..."

It seemed to be a common occurrence, as Chiyu's mom also gave a wry smile.

"Hey Mio Onee-chan. How can I get Tetra and Sheena to get along?"

With eyes full of absolute trust, Chiyu consulted Mio.

"Umm... which one came to your house first, Chiyu-chan?"

"Tetra. We thought Tetra might be lonely on her own, so Sheena came a little bit later. They were both originally rescue cats."

"I see."

Sitting down on the carpet, Mio smiled gently.

"Getting cats to get along with each other is difficult... Are there kids at school you can't talk to very well, Chiyu-chan?"

Asked that, Chiyu lowered the outer corners of her eyebrows sharply.

"Yeah. There are. No matter what I say, they make fun of me."

"I see. That's sad, isn't it. Well, if a teacher told you to be friends with that kid, what would you think?"

"...Hmm. I'd want to try, but it might not be easy."

Every time Chiyu answered, Mio nodded carefully in affirmation. Perhaps because she has an elementary school-aged sister, even watching from the side, Mio's communication skills were outstanding. She matched her eye level, consistently giving conversational cues. She wasn't treating her like a child, but speaking to her as an equal.

"Cats are just like humans, you see. There's compatibility, so sometimes they just can't get along no matter what. But I don't think Tetra and Sheena actually hate each other from the bottom of their hearts."

"Y-Yeah. Sometimes, they snuggle up and sleep together!"

"Then let's take our time and watch over them. You have to stop them if it looks like a serious fight... but I'd like you to be a safe place for the two of them, Chiyu-chan."

When Mio wrapped up like that, Chiyu broke into a bright smile and said, "Okay!"

Listening to that conversation, I thought to myself.

It's not like I hate Chinatsu. But Chinatsu truly hates me. What should I do at times like this? Will time resolve a relationship that became convoluted from the very first day? Or...

While I was thinking about such things, Chiyu fidgeted and made a suggestion.

"Hey Mio Onee-chan. Will you come over to play sometimes from now on? I want you to play with Sheena and Tetra... and I'd like you to give me advice too."

"I-Is it really okay?"

Looking as if it was exactly what she wanted, Mio leaned forward eagerly.

"Of course! You're always welcome anytime, Mio Onee-chan."

Then, looking my way as an afterthought, she added.

"Oh, and Rikuto Onii-chan can come along too."

I figured I'd probably never come here again... but there was no need to make the atmosphere weirdly awkward, so I just replied with an "Understood."

Chiyu seemed reluctant to see us go, but it would be bad to overstay our welcome during dinnertime.

The four of us trudged together toward the entrance, but Sheena and Tetra didn't come to see us off. Cats really are fickle. I reaffirmed to myself that I prefer dogs.

Glancing back and forth between Mio and me, Chiyu's mom placed a hand on her cheek and let her expression break into a soft smile.

"Still, even though we're neighbors, I had no idea."

"Excuse me?"

"To think Rikuto-kun had such a wonderful girlfriend."

I broke into a violent fit of coughing.

As for Mio, who had been about to slip on her loafers, she froze midway through the motion. Upon closer inspection, she was blushing all the way to her ears.

She didn't seem used to these kinds of jokes from elders. Well, putting aside whether she was actually joking, I had to firmly deny it on behalf of the combat-incapable Mio.

"She's not my girlfriend."

"How long have you two been dating?"

"Are you even listening to me?"

"When are you getting married?"

"I'm telling you we're not."

"Invite me to the wedding!"

Even Chiyu had joined the fray.

I've heard that women love romance talk no matter what age they are. It was absolutely true.

"By the way, I heard from Miyanaga-san that you gained five little sisters?"

"So you knew from the very beginning!?"

"A-Ah, p-please excuse my delayed greetings..."

"You don't need to honestly greet her either, Mio! It's just gonna make things weird right now!"

Taking Mio with me, I forcefully shut the door to the Haruhara house. For some reason I was put through the wringer at the very end... but to paint over the awkward atmosphere, I forcibly changed the subject.

"Anyway, you really do like cats, don't you, Mio-san."

Perhaps feeling hot, Mio, who was fanning her face with her hand like a handheld fan, spoke up.

"My dream is, umm, to become a cat groomer."

"A cat groomer?"

"They clip cats' nails, brush the ones who need it, and give them baths."

Mio explained in a practiced manner. She was probably asked to clarify quite often.

"So it's like a feline specialist."

I don't know the specifics, but they say the number of cat lovers is steadily increasing these days. The demand for cat groomers as a profession might be on the rise right now.

"You really seemed exactly like a specialist back there, Mio-san."

"I-I'm nowhere near that level yet. I still have so much to learn."

Mio shook her head vigorously from side to side. Every time she did, her short hair swayed back and forth, right and left.

"But you don't own a cat?"

"I want to have one, but... I'd just be worried since no one is home on weekdays."

"Ah, that's true."

"Umm, you don't keep any pets either... right, Rikuto-san?"

"Y-Yeah. Well."

Being called that felt a little ticklish, but Mio probably had no other way to address me. I couldn't exactly tell her to call me "Onii-chan" either. If Chinatsu found out, I'd be killed.

It would be weird to keep talking in front of the Haruhara house's entrance forever, so we walked at a snail's pace. That's because our house was waiting just a few dozen steps away.

Offering a wry smile, I forced a light tone and said.

"I had a dog when I was a kid, but she died. At that time... how do I put it, I ended up feeling so much heartache. Because of that, I figured I wouldn't need to keep a pet ever again."

Whenever I mentioned that she died, most people would casually change the subject, acting like they didn't really care. Or they would play along and mention that their own pet died before, too.

But Mio was different from either of those.

"What breed of dog was she?"

"A Shiba Inu. Her name was Hana."

"A girl?"

"Yeah. She was an old dog; Dad got her from someone at work. ...Would you like to see a picture?"

It might be a common trait among pet owners to want to brag about their babies whenever the opportunity arises.

"I-I want to see."

Mio snorted, her breathing turning rough with excitement. It didn't seem like just polite flattery.

Feeling rather pleased, I took my smartphone out of my pocket and tapped the photo app. I had transferred the data from my old phone, but it had been years since I opened the folder collecting pictures of Hana. Come to think of it, saying her name out loud might have been a first in a long time too.

Finding a prized photo, I turned the smartphone screen toward Mio. Mio let out a gasp of awe, her eyes shining. Judging by her reaction, she seemed to love animals in general.

"She's cute. She looks like she's smiling."

"Yeah. Exactly. This face is her biggest charm."

It might just be my own bias talking, but Hana was a cute one.

She always had an expression that looked like she was beaming and smiling. She loved playing with balls. She often chewed on my socks and ruined them. When I came home, she would jump up to greet me.

But—.

After Mom died, Hana started getting sick a lot more often.

Despite that, back then I was completely overwhelmed just dealing with myself. When she chewed on my socks while I was doing homework, I got irritated. Exhausted from chores, there were times I cut her walks short. I think there were even days I forgot to feed her because I was running late.

Dad, who wasn't in sales yet, would worry about Hana and me every time he came home late at night, but I stubbornly insisted I was fine.

Hana lived until she was fifteen.

But to me at the time, I didn't know if that was a long or a short life. Because she had only been at my house for five years.

After Hana was gone, I thought about getting another animal.

But I gave up on the idea. By myself, I wouldn't even be able to take it to the vet immediately. Because I felt that someone like that shouldn't be allowed to keep a living creature anymore.

"—Hana-chan is smiling because you're right in front of her, Rikuto-san."

What struck my eardrums as I stood there in silence was Mio's crystal-clear voice.

"...Eh?"

I stared at her in dumbfounded silence. Quietly, Mio extended her slender, pale fingers.

The photo displayed on my smartphone was slowly zoomed in.

"Look. Smiling Rikuto-san is reflected in Hana-chan's eyes."

It was exactly as Mio said. There was a faint silhouette reflected there. It was me from my elementary school days. I could vaguely make out that I was wearing my favorite shirt. I couldn't tell if I was smiling or not.

Even so, Mio stated with conviction.

"It looks like the two of you are looking into each other's eyes, telling one another how happy you are."

As if those words had acted as a calling beacon, I felt like I heard a nostalgic bark from a place very far away.

The one who wiped away the loneliness of not having my parents by my side was Hana.

That's why, even though I had braced myself for it, it was an unbearably painful parting. There were many days when I couldn't smile. I should have patted her head more. I should have played with her. I should have fed her delicious food. I should have called her name. Those regrets swirled round and round in the pit of my stomach, suffocating me.

But...

But I was happy because I was with Hana.

I had forgotten such an obvious thing somewhere along the way. Because I had engraved only the memory of parting in death—only the sad memories—into my mind.

"...I'm sorry, Rikuto-san."

The girl who had made me realize this was knitting her brows, looking somehow dejected.

"You look like you're about to cry."

However, Mio, who had pointed that out, had eyes so wet she looked like she would spill tears at any moment.

"I always end up saying unnecessary things. I really am useless..."

"That's not true," I interrupted Mio's self-deprecating words. "That's not true at all."

They were words straight from my heart.

Before I knew it, even though I had just talked about Hana, I was smiling.

"Thank you. You really are kind, Mio-san."

"...!"

Mio's eyes widened.

Just like that, as if her batteries had died, she froze in place while staring at me.

"H-Huh? Mio-san?"

Did I perhaps say something weird?

As I grew anxious, Mio resumed moving a few seconds later with a gasp, as if waking up from something. "Umm, well, uh, ah," she mumbled something unintelligible in her mouth, but I couldn't catch it properly.

As I strained my ears and waited, eventually Mio tightly clasped her hands together in front of her chest, as if she had made up her mind about something.

"J-Just Mio is fine."

"Eh?"

"How you, call me..."

Her cheeks were past rosy and were now apple red. Her lips were pressed tightly together. Her slender legs encased in tights were trembling like a fawn, conveying that she had mustered up every last ounce of her courage.

I hesitated for only a moment. I had never once called a girl by her first name before... but there was no way I could rudely brush off Mio when she had taken a step closer to me.

Suppressing my embarrassment, I spoke her name.

"I understand. Then... M-Mio."

I was so nervous I stuttered, but... Mio offered me a soft, warm smile.

Then, looking up at me through upward glances, she called out to me hesitantly in a lisping voice.

"Yes. Umm............ Onii-san"

—Onii-san.

At that sweet ring, my consciousness was shaken so hard I almost lost my bearings. Strange. Why is this? When elementary schooler Chiyu called me "Onii-chan", I felt absolutely nothing...

More than anything, the earnestness of Mio calling me that despite her embarrassment struck a chord in my chest, and it felt like a massive amount of blood was rushing into my heart.

Older brothers all over the world are amazing. To be able to keep a straight face while being called this, it seems there's a world of difference between their "older brother power" and mine.

"O-Onii-san? Are you okay...?"

"...Hah."

Soaking in the afterglow, I regained my senses from the sensation of my blazer sleeve being lightly tugged.

"N-Nothing. I'm completely fine."

"O-Okay."

My gasping attempts to cover it up probably lacked any persuasive power, but I had no choice but to insist.

"More importantly, Mio."

"Yes?"

It might have been better for both of us to just let it go. But I decided not to.

"I'm sorry. For doing that to you on the first day..."

I bowed my head deeply. Being pushed down by a guy she just met must have been nothing but terrifying for Mio.

There was no reply from Mio. Keeping my head bowed, I continued speaking.

"You might not believe me, but back then, I tripped over something and fell. And because of that, I ended up crashing into you—"

"I believe you."

Surprised, I raised my head.

Mio wasn't just playing along or forcing herself. On the contrary, for some reason, she had an apologetic look on her face.

"Onii-san. I was just thinking that maybe..."

"Mio. What are you doing?"

The one who cut in was the suspicious voice of a young girl.

Turning around, I saw Karin walking towards us. Come to think of it, we were only a few meters away from the house. If we stood talking in a place like this, we were bound to run into someone.

Karin walked right past me, grabbed Mio securely by the side, and then shot me a sharp glare.

"Weren't we supposed to be keeping our distance from each other?"

"...My bad."

When I apologized frankly, she broke into a broad smile. A smile so perfect it made me flinch.

"That's fine. I won't tell Chinatsu."

Wait, casual speech? Technically, I am older than her...

But without giving me a chance to retort, Karin dragged Mio away.

"We're going, Mio."

"Y-Yeah..."

Mio looked back at me anxiously a few times, but she was taken away by Karin.

Our front door slammed shut. Under the not-yet-darkened sky, I scratched my cheek, thinking that she truly was an unreadable third daughter.

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