Chapter 3: I'll Take Down Every Guy Who Sets His Sights on My Onee-chan!

Spring, the season of cherry blossoms—

Six months after their first meeting, Yurika successfully graduated and entered university. She was now, officially, an adult. Even in high school, Yurika had practically radiated pheromones, but as a college student, her allure seemed to have reached a whole new level. When she walked down the street, heads turned, and men were left dazed by her every gesture.

Now that such a woman had entered the university ecosystem, there was no way the men would leave her alone.

At a welcoming party, Yurika was in an exceptionally foul mood.

“CHEERS!”

“WEEEY!”

“WEY WEY WEY!”

“CHUO HIGHWAY!”

“………………”

Yurika remained silent, cursing them in her head. (Hah? What is wrong with these people? "Wey wey," shut up already. And "Chuo Highway"? Why not the Tomei? I get it’s a pun on the highway, but it’s not even funny.)

Ever since she’d started university, men like this had been swarming around her like flies. She’d turned them all down, but this time, the invitation had come from a female senior. She’d shown up only to find this circus. She wanted to go home immediately.

“Ahaha... come on, Yurika, don't look so grumpy.”

Maki, noticing her friend’s mood, spoke up. Maki had gotten into the same university, and they’d been attending together since the spring. Maki had been excited about the "Shinkan Konpa" [Freshman Welcoming Party] and had dragged Yurika along. Yurika had tried to leave the moment she saw men in the restaurant, but Maki had managed to hold her back—resulting in her current state of misery.

“But I want to go home and play with Yuu-kun...”

“Ugh, there it is. The usual brother complex.”

“I don't have a brother complex. I just hate loud, annoying men.”

As Yurika looked away, Maki brought up their high school days.

“You know, Yurika, you were the most popular girl in our grade, and you rejected every single guy who confessed to you. At first, I thought you just had high standards, but lately, I’m starting to think you just hate men. Also, you have a brother complex.”

Apparently, the brother complex was a non-negotiable fact.

“I told you, I don't! I just hate these loud, crude, obnoxious guys! I like guys who are cute like Yuu-kun, quiet like Yuu-kun, and kind like Yuu-kun! I just like guys who are Yuu-kun!”

“Yeah... that’s literally the definition of a brother complex...”

It was, without a doubt, unmistakably, and as clear as day, a brother complex. Maki gave a weary sigh.

“Once you’re in college, you need these things to build a network and make friends. Oh, hey! That senior is actually pretty hot! I’m gonna go talk to him. Good luck!”

“Wait! Don't leave me alone!”

Maki vanished toward a handsome upperclassman, leaving Yurika—who stood out even among the other fresh-faced girls—stranded. The men’s gazes converged on her instantly. Every one of them was busy imagining a "one-night romance" with her, their hearts (and crotches) burning with the desire to claim her.

“Weeey! Akashi-san, are you drinking?” Mob A approached.

“No. I’m not twenty yet, so I can’t,” Yurika replied with common-sense logic. Compliance was a big deal these days.

“Ehhh? Are you one of those straight-laced types, Akashi-san?”

“No, I’m just normal.”

“Come on, have a drink, have a drink.” Mob A began pouring beer into a glass, his plan clearly being to get her drunk and take her to a hotel.

“Mob-senpai, are you familiar with the Law for Prohibiting Minors from Drinking?”

“U-uh... sorry...” Mob A retreated.

He was immediately replaced by Mob B.

“You’re Yurika-chan, right? It’s okay if I call you Yurika-chan, isn't it?”

“No.” Mob B, being overly familiar on their first meeting, was shot down in a single second.

Then, Mob C appeared.

“Akashi-san, regarding Japan’s international priority going forward, the bottleneck is the evidence, so I’d like to commit to the logic and provide feedback on the reminder.”

“Hah? I have no idea what you’re saying. Please speak Japanese.” Mob C, who spoke in incomprehensible business jargon, was shot down.

Just when it seemed Yurika’s ironclad defense was impenetrable, a big-shot senior stood up.

“Hmph. I guess I’ll have to handle this!”

He was a flashy-looking guy, the type who looked like he’d stepped right out of an NTR manga. The Mob characters cheered as he approached.

“Whoa! It’s one of the Four Heavenly Kings of Pickups, Senpai ‘The Snake’ Komajiba!”

“Holy crap! The legend himself, who claims to have bagged over a hundred women! The guy who says ‘Pickup artistry is a culture!’”

“As expected of Komajiba-senpai! Dammit, is the cutest freshman really gonna get taken home by him?!”

Mob D (Komajiba), the only one with a name, sat down next to Yurika.

“Hey, having fun? You’re so kyoot! I’m fallin’ in luv with your eyes!”

“Hah?”

“Wanna sneak out and hit up a karaoke bar, just the two of us?”

“No.”

Mob D, having left behind nothing but a sense of disgust, slunk away.

“Not yet! He was the weakest of the Four Heavenly Kings!” The Mobs were still hyping themselves up for some reason.

Yurika, reaching her limit, pulled out her phone and sent a message to Yuu.

◆　◇　◆

Ping!

Yuu’s phone chimed with a notification. He’d been worried because his sister was late, so he snatched it up immediately.

【Onee-chan is about to be eaten by some big bad wolves. Yuu-kun, save meeee!】

Scrape!

“Wh-wh-wh-whaaaaat?!”

Shocked by the SOS message, Yuu bolted upright and sprinted out of the house toward the restaurant mentioned in the text.

◆　◇　◆

The first party was over, and as people transitioned to the "after-party," a quiet battle of intentions had begun—some wanting to keep the party going, others looking to sneak off with a date. Incidentally, Maki had already disappeared with the handsome senior.

Yurika was surrounded by a persistent group of guys, all trying various tactics to win her over.

“Akashi-san, I know a great place. Want to go?”

“No, come with me. I know a spot with a great atmosphere and amazing food.”

“No way, Akashi-san is coming with me!”

Yurika was exhausted. It had been like this since middle school. Men were drawn to her beauty like moths to a flame, but all they ever saw was her sexy body or her face. People assumed being beautiful was a blessing, but rejecting confessions often led to resentment, and other girls would whisper behind her back out of jealousy. Having her photo taken without permission or being followed home happened more often than she cared to count.

Between the blatant lust and the constant harassment, she was on the verge of becoming a misanthrope.

“Come on, let’s go!”

“Hey, don't touch me!”

Yurika pulled away as someone tried to put an arm around her shoulder.

(I hate this! Yuu-kun... help me...)

Just as her heart let out a silent scream, a voice cut through the night.

“Hey! Don't touch my onee-chan!”

The shout rang out, piercing the darkness like a beam of light. A boy stood silhouetted against the neon lights, stepping in front of the men. Yuu had arrived to save her!

The men, however, were just confused.

“Uh, who’s this kid?”

“Hey, brat, it’s past your bedtime. Go home.”

While the men wondered who the newcomer was, Yurika’s face lit up with joy.

“Yuu-kun!”

She hurried away from the men and tucked herself behind Yuu’s back.

“Onee-chan is coming home with me!” Yuu declared, stepping forward to protect her. The men gave him pitying smirks.

“Oh? You’re Akashi-san’s little brother?”

“Listen, kid, we’re gonna go have some fun with your sister now. Run along back to your mommy.”

Being treated like a child made Yuu bite his lip in frustration. “I’m not a kid!”

“Um, I’m going home with my brother, so the rest of you can enjoy yourselves,” Yurika said firmly. She took Yuu’s hand and began walking away, ignoring the protests behind them.

Once they reached the park in front of the station, Yurika let out a long breath of relief.

“Yuu-kun, thank you~. You really saved me.”

“...”

Yuu remained silent, looking down at the ground. Finally, he spoke, his voice thick with emotion.

“Dammit... why am I still a kid? I want to grow up! I want to be an adult so I can be the kind of man who protects you, Onee-chan!”

“Yuu-kun...”

“When I get older, I’m gonna take down every single bug that tries to crawl all over you! I want to make it so you never have to be sad again... sniff...”

Tears of frustration began to fall. He’d rushed there to save her, but the college guys had looked at him as nothing more than a nuisance. How many years would it take to be recognized as a man? To become someone who could truly protect the woman he loved? All Yuu wanted was to protect his sister’s smile.

“Yuu-kun... You were so cool. You protected me. Thank you.”

“O-Onee-chan...”

Yurika took Yuu’s hand and gave him a warm smile.

To Yuu, that smile made everything worth it. This was what he wanted to protect. He’d always admired her as his older sister, but in that moment, he knew for certain: he loved her. He loved her so much he couldn't stop.

They looked into each other’s eyes, the heat of the moment lingering, before finally starting to walk again, hand in hand.

The city at night was a kaleidoscope of neon, filled with the tempting aromas of various restaurants. Yurika leaned in and gave Yuu a little wink.

“Hey, Yuu-kun. As a thanks for coming to save me, let’s go get something to eat. My treat.”

“Really?”

“I think there’s a place nearby with amazing cake?”

After walking for a bit, they entered a quiet, cozy café. Near the entrance, a display case was filled with beautifully decorated cakes, their bright fruit toppings looking delicious enough to make anyone’s stomach growl.

Sitting across from Yurika at a window seat, Yuu found himself agonizing over the menu.

(Hmm... Shortcake, rare cheesecake, Mont Blanc, gateau chocolat, fruit tart, strawberry mille-feuille... Wait, this roll cake with all the fruit looks good too.)

Then, a thought struck him.

(Wait! If I take this long to decide or order a bunch of stuff, she’ll think I’m childish. A real man would go for the bitter gateau chocolat and black coffee... But the fruit and whipped cream!)

Yurika, meanwhile, was grinning as she watched Yuu struggle.

(Yuu-kun is just the best. He’s taking his cake choice so seriously... He’s nothing like those guys at the party. All they had were ulterior motives, trying to drag me to a hotel.)

She smiled at his profile.

(But Yuu-kun is different. He’s still small, but he tried so hard to protect me. He truly cares about me. He always thinks about my feelings. Fufu... fuhe... hehehe... drool...)

By the end, her own ulterior motives were showing through, but her heart was genuinely fluttering for him.

“Thank you for waiting—”

The waitress began placing the cakes in front of them. In the end, Yuu had ordered the fruit tart and the Mont Blanc. The "bitter man" persona would have to wait a few more years.

“Ehehe, this is delicious, Yuu-kun!”

“Yeah.”

A pleasant silence fell between them. To both Yuu and Yurika, this felt like a dream-like date.

◆　◇　◆

Leaving the café, they hurried toward the station. There must have been some event going on, because the platform was packed with people.

Clack-clack-clack, screeeeeech!

Pshhh!

The train arrived, and a surge of people pushed into the cars, creating a "packed sardine" situation. The two managed to squeeze in, but the crush left them practically embracing.

“It’s so crowded...”

“Are you okay, Yuu-kun? If it’s too tight, you can lean against me.”

“Y-Yeah...”

Yuu, however, had a very specific reason why he couldn't lean against her.

(Too close! Too close! Too close! Too close! Her chest is right there!)

Exactly as he feared, Yurika’s chest was right at his eye level. Believing that touching them would be a "Bad Thing," he was doing his absolute best to maintain a sliver of distance.

Lurch! Shove!

The train jolted, and someone behind them pushed forward, closing the gap completely.

(Wha—! It’s over! Those big, soft things are gonna hit my face!)

Before his eyes loomed her impressive bust. Was it an invitation to paradise, or the whisper of a demon—?

Squish!

“Kyoooou~”

Like a devotee receiving the favor of a goddess, or a traveler melting into a warm land, Yuu’s face sank into the valley of Yurika’s cleavage.

(I-It was paradise!!)

“Y-Yuu-kun, are you okay? Your face is beet red!”

“I’m f-f-fine... I’m okay...”

Yuu peeked out from her cleavage. His step-sister already possessed a devastating level of "erotic attack power" thanks to her overflowing pheromones. Being pressed against her like this, surrounded by her sweet scent and softness... it was only natural that his five senses were on the verge of a total meltdown.

(Incredible... so soft, feels so good... smells amazing. She’s so sexy I think I’m gonna reincarnate in another world...)

Just as Yuu was about to undergo an Isekai reincarnation via boobs, he spotted a suspicious-looking man standing behind Yurika. The man was moving his hand in a very shady manner.

(Wait! Is that a groper?! Ugh, is Onee-chan so attractive that people really target her even on the train?! Dammit! I won't let anyone touch her!)

Pushing through the pressure of the crowd, Yuu managed to free his arms and wrapped them around Yurika’s waist, positioning his hands to guard her rear. It looked exactly like he was hugging her and groping her himself, but his heart was pure. He only wanted to protect his sister.

“Hyan!” Yurika let out a tiny gasp.

(W-w-w-wait a minute, Yuu-kun?! Why are you touching my butt? Wait, did he reach his limit?! But I’m not mentally prepared yet—)

She had misunderstood him completely. With Yuu’s face buried in her chest and his hands firmly "holding" her hips, they looked exactly like a hot couple doing something inappropriate on a public train.

(Hauuu~ ♡ No, Yuu-kun! ♡ Your Onee-chan isn't gonna be able to hold back either!)

While Yurika was lost in her scandalous delusions, Yuu was engaged in a silent, desperate battle with the groper. He was frantically guarding Yurika’s rear, blocking the middle-aged man’s hand every time it tried to reach out. Because he was moving his hands up, down, left, and right to provide full coverage, it actually felt to Yurika like Yuu was caressing her.

(Dammit! This old geezer is still trying to get a feel! I won't let you touch a single inch of her sacred, inviolable body!)

Squeeze! Squeeze!

Yuu pulled her even closer and tried to rotate their positions. He pushed her toward the door, turning himself into a shield against the man. It was basically a "wall slam" [Kabedon] position, except Yuu’s face was still being mashed into Yurika’s chest as they turned.

Muni! Muni! Muni!

Yuu’s desperate struggle pushed Yurika into a dangerous state.

(Aaahn ♡ No, no, no! Yuu-kun, you’re being too aggressive! If you keep pushing me like this... your Onee-chan is gonna go crazy!)

A fire of desire ignited in Yurika’s heated body, and a molten, magma-like emotion surged from deep within her. Her legs trembled so much she could barely stand.

“Ah ♡ Ugh ♡ Afah... no... more... hic, aah—!”

Clack-clack-clack, screeeeeech!

Pshhh!

Yurika’s sweet moan was swallowed by the roar of the train. The arrival melody played, and the announcement began. Just a hair’s breadth away from a total climax, the train doors opened, putting Yurika’s misunderstanding on hold.

The two of them stepped off the train with the rest of the passengers. Once they passed through the ticket gate, Yuu turned to look at her.

“Are you okay, Onee-chan? There was some creepy guy who looked like a groper, so I was guarding you so he couldn't touch you.”

“Eh? E-Eh? Eeeeeeeh?! That’s what that was? I thought for sure...”

Yurika hid her bright red face behind her hands.

(Aaaah! I’m such an idiot! Yuu-kun was working so hard to protect me, and all I could think about was erotic stuff... I’m a failure as a sister!)

Curious about her unfinished sentence, Yuu tilted his head. “Wait, you thought for sure what?”

“Nothing! It’s nothing at all! Thank you, Yuu-kun! Ehehe~”

Hiding her embarrassing delusions, Yurika took Yuu’s hand and started walking again.

Yuu felt a small swell of pride.

(Good, she’s safe... Seriously, the world is full of dangers, between those "party animal" guys and train gropers. My sister is so beautiful and cute that bad men are gonna swarm her. I have to protect her from their evil clutches!)

Yurika, however, couldn't shake the heat.

(Yuu-kun... he cares about me that much... I’m so happy! But... but my body is so hot and I can't stop feeling like this! What am I supposed to do?! I wanted to sleep in the same bed as him tonight, but if I do, I might actually cross the line! I have to hold back, but I can't—!)

Yurika’s arousal showed no signs of cooling down. Tonight was going to be a very long, sleepless night.