Chapter 4: A Rival Appears!?
The seasons turned, and Yuu was now a second-year in middle school. He’d grown taller since those early days, looking a little more like an adult with every passing month.
Seeing Yuu in his school uniform made Yurika’s heart race faster every single day. Her love for him was accelerating, a runaway train she had no hope of stopping.
(Yuu-kun...)
As they ate breakfast, Yurika stole a casual glance at him.
(Heh heh heh... Yuu-kun is so cute today, too. Actually, I think he’s looking a little more handsome lately.)
Yurika activated her "Yurika-Eye" love filter, a romantic delusion that beautified its target far beyond reality. In her mind, Yuu had already been converted into a top-tier, ultra-handsome man.
Utterly unaware of the filter being applied to him, Yuu grabbed his bag and headed for the entryway.
“Well, I’m off,” he said.
“Take care, Yuu-kun!” Yurika called out. She stood up as if nothing were out of the ordinary. If she stared at him too long or let a stray “Heh heh heh” escape her lips, her family would start looking at her with suspicion. She was a master of switching personas.
“Is everything going well at university, Yurika-san?” Emiko asked, coming back from the kitchen.
“Yes, no problems at all. You can count on me,” Yurika replied, puffing out her chest with perfect poise.
“I see. That’s wonderful. I’m just a little worried about whether Yuu is actually studying...”
The moment she heard Emiko’s concern, Yurika’s brain instantly generated a plan for more skinship.
“I’m sure he’s fine, but... Oh, I know! Would you like me to tutor him?”
“Oh, really? That would be such a help. Thank you, Yurika-san. I’m truly so glad you became Yuu’s sister.”
“Ehehe, it’s nothing. I’ll do anything I can to help. Mom—I mean, Emiko-san...”
It had been several years since they became a family, but Yurika still found herself unable to call Emiko “Mother.” Emiko was gentle and kind, and it wasn't that they didn't get along—it was just that Yurika hadn't yet settled her internal feelings. Not just regarding her biological mother, but her relationship with Yuu as well.
(Sigh... I’m hopeless. I really need to just make up my mind. Even if we’re a family now, Yuu-kun and I aren't blood-related. We should be able to get married without any issues.)
The thought of marriage sent a wave of heat to her face, turning her beet red.
(Hawawa, I can't help but think about it! Yuu-kun seems to adore me, after all. But... what if his feelings are just family affection and not romantic love?)
The thought terrified her.
(If I actually confessed and Yuu-kun said, ‘Eh? But Onee-chan, we’re siblings. We can't get married,’ I’d die on the spot!)
While her face remained a mask of calm, her heart was in total turmoil.
(I-I have to create some sort of "fait accompli"... I know! I’ll just seduce Yuu-kun so much that he’s the one who makes a move! Then I’m safe!)
—She is definitely not safe.
Today, just like every other day, Yurika’s head was completely full of Yuu.
◆ ◇ ◆
For a boy in the thick of puberty, youth is usually a time of fluttering hearts and spring-time romance. But in Yuu’s case, things were a little different.
The moment Yuu entered his classroom, a girl appeared as if she’d been lying in wait for him.
“Akashi-kun, what’s the status on that committee matter I told you about?”
This was Chuujou Takami—a girl with a strong-willed expression and a lithe, energetic figure. Her sailor-style uniform suited her perfectly. She was popular in class, and many boys dreamed of dating her. She was undeniably a beauty, but Yuu found her a bit difficult to deal with.
“Eh? I told you I wasn't joining any committees. Besides, why do I have to join the same one as you, Chuujou-san?”
This was Yuu’s style: proactively crushing his own romantic flags. Takami’s eyebrow twitched with irritation.
“Hah?! Since you weren't on any committees, I went out of my way to invite you to mine!”
No one had asked her to, but for some reason, Takami was always hovering around Yuu. His classmates teased him, saying he was lucky to have her attention, but Yuu honestly found it a hassle.
“I didn't ask you to—”
“Forget it! You’re joining the Beautification Committee with me, Akashi-kun!”
“So it’s mandatory?!”
The decision was made for him.
“Anyway, there’s an explanation after school today. We’re stopping by Wack on the way home, so be ready!”
“I wanted to go home early...”
“Then it’s settled!”
Once again, the decision was made for him.
◆ ◇ ◆
Wack was crowded after school, teeming with students in various uniforms. Yuu and Takami entered the restaurant together, looking like a couple—though one could argue it was more like a girl dragging a boy by the arm.
“Come on, hurry up!”
“There’s no need to rush.”
As they took their trays to the second floor, a wave of nostalgia washed over Yuu. He remembered when Yurika had brought him here shortly after their parents' remarriage.
Rieko hadn't appeared since that day. Perhaps she’d found a new man or gotten remarried herself. Yuu had already resolved that if she ever showed up again to hurl abuse at Yurika, he would protect his sister with everything he had. He wanted to remove anything that might cloud her smile. He wanted her to be happy forever.
But as he thought of Yurika, a single worry weighed on him.
(We aren't blood-related, so there shouldn't be a problem with us getting married. And Onee-chan seems to adore me...)
Suddenly, fear gripped him.
(Wait a minute... what if I grow up and confess, only for Onee-chan to say, ‘Eh? But Yuu-kun, we’re siblings. We can't get married’? I’d be devastated!)
While he kept a straight face, his internal world was a mess.
(C-Calm down! Onee-chan is incredibly defenseless and her skinship is intense, but if I get carried away and make a move, she might think, ‘Yuu-kun is just like every other guy, only after my body. He’s the worst.’ I have to win her trust first! I will endure my erotic desires!)
Today, just like every other day, Yuu’s head was completely full of Yurika.
“...kun! Hey, are you even listening?!”
“Heh?”
“Akashi-kun! Why are you spacing out?!”
As Yuu snapped back from his sister-fantasies to reality, he saw Takami fuming in front of him.
“Oh... Chuujou-san?”
“Geez! Here I am, on our da—I mean, giving you the committee explanation, and you’re off in dreamland! How rude!”
“S-Sorry...”
Yuu wanted to point out that she could have given the explanation at school, but he bit his tongue.
“Anyway, did you hear that Kana is dating Kota?”
“Oh... wow...” Yuu replied lamely. (Wait, what happened to the committee explanation?) he thought.
“So,” Takami said, leaning in. “Do you have a girl you like, Akashi-kun?”
“Hah? H-h-h-h-h-h-h—! No way! Of course not!”
Caught off guard by the sudden topic, Yuu panicked. His heart was filled with "I-Love-My-Sister" feelings, and he felt like she’d looked right through him.
(Wait, stay calm. She hasn't found out. But if people find out I like my sister, even if we aren't blood-related, they’ll think I’m a creep. I have to make sure no one ever suspects.)
However, seeing Yuu’s blatant agitation only made Takami more excited.
“Oho? That panic is veeeeery suspicious~.”
Takami was in her element. She leaned over the table, bringing her ear close to him. “Tell me? I won't tell a soul. It’ll just be between us.”
“I told you, there’s no one! And even if there was, it’s none of your business, Chuujou-san.”
“Hah? Haaaah?! What is that supposed to mean?! You’re so annoying!”
Yuu’s clumsy attempt to deflect had backfired, making Takami angry.
(Crap, that was a bad way to put it... Saying it’s none of her business is bound to hurt her feelings...)
Yuu bowed his head honestly. “I-I’m sorry...”
“Hmph... Well, I’ll forgive you if you tell me who you like...”
Apparently, he wasn't going anywhere until he gave her a name.
(What do I do? I can't say it’s my sister... I have to pick someone random and harmless...)
“Come on, hurry!”
“Um... Rokujou-san... from the class next door...”
The name Yuu blurted out was the grade’s top idol.
“Eh?”
“I mean, it’s not like I like her, I just think she’s beautiful, so it’s more like... admiration?”
Rokujou Aoi. Beautiful, brilliant, and boasting top-tier popularity, she was the "cool beauty" every student admired.
“...Tch! So that’s your type,” Takami muttered under her breath.
“Eh? Did you say something?”
“Nothing! I mean, sure, Rokujou-san is beautiful.”
“I’m telling you, it’s just admiration! It’s not like I love her or anything.”
In the end, they barely talked about the committee at all; Yuu was just dragged along for Takami’s girl talk. As a high-level siscon, Yuu honestly had zero interest in some "beautiful girl" from another class.
However, it seemed his distance from Takami had shrunk regardless.
“Well, starting tomorrow, the Beautification Committee is in your hands. It’s only once a month, so just take it easy.”
“Yeah.”
“Oh, and ‘Akashi-kun’ is a bit too formal, so I’m gonna call you ‘Yuu’ from now on. You can just call me Takami.”
“Sure, I look forward to it. Chuujou-san.”
“Are you trying to start a fight?!”
Whether they were close or not was a mystery. They left Wack while bickering, which to any passerby probably looked exactly like a lover's spat.
Just then, a beautiful woman was walking briskly through the city. Pheromones practically radiated from her as her long, elegant legs moved beneath her skirt. Those shapely legs were encased in sheer black stockings, and her enticingly meaty thighs had every man on the street glued to her figure.
(Heh heh heh... ♡ I want to get home fast and flirt with Yuu-kun~)
While she looked like a perfect beauty, her internal self was a "Guhehe-Sister." Yurika, having finished her university lectures, was rushing home from the station. She was so giddy she wanted to skip, but her outward appearance remained that of a sophisticated, graceful woman.
“Yuu-kun ♡ Yuu-kun ♡ I can't wait to see—Eh!”
As she passed the Wack entrance, she saw it. Two people who looked for all the world like a playful couple.
“I told you to call me by my name!”
“Hey, stop clinging to me.”
“You’re so annoying! Even for a Yuu!”
“And you’re still Chuujou-san.”
“Geez! Fine, that’ll do for now!”
Yuu and Takami walked away from Wack, utterly oblivious to the woman standing right behind them.
“E-Eh... Yuu-kun...”
The smile vanished from Yurika’s face. Watching Yuu and Takami walk off side-by-side, Yurika felt like the ground was crumbling beneath her. She fought to stay standing.
“Y-Yuu-kun... why...?”
◆ ◇ ◆
Yuu was relaxing in his room when he heard the sound of Yurika returning home. His heart immediately began to pound with excitement.
“Ah! Onee-chan is back!”
Thump-thump-thump—
He heard footsteps on the stairs, which came to a stop right in front of his door.
Knock, knock!
“Yuu-kun, are you in there?”
To Yuu’s ears, Yurika’s voice sounded a little heavier than usual.
“I’m here.”
When Yuu opened the door, it wasn't the usual Yurika standing there. Her expression was dark and sunken, as if she were about to break.
“Oh? Onee-chan... what’s wrong?”
Without a word, Yurika entered the room and grabbed Yuu’s shoulders with a firm grip. Her eyes looked exactly like a yandere heroine from an anime.
“Yuu-kun... be honest with me. Who was that girl you were with at Wack today? Was it a date?”
“Eh? That was...”
Startled by the unexpected question, Yuu scratched his head awkwardly. (Wait, what? She saw us? But I don't have anything to hide...)
As Yuu tried to figure out where to start, Yurika’s interrogation continued.
“Tell me, Yuu-kun... do you like younger girls?”
“I-It’s not like that! She’s just a classmate!”
Tears began to well up in Yurika’s eyes.
“But... she was so cute... If you start dating a girl your own age... will you not need your Onee-chan anymore? I hate it... I don't want you to leave me, Yuu-kun...”
Yurika had realized a painful truth. School was full of encounters. Half the class was made up of girls.
“Uuuh... sniff...”
Finally, large teardrops began to fall. Yuu was thrown into a panic by the fact that he’d made his sister cry. But even as she wept, he couldn't help but find her beautiful and precious.
(Ehh! W-W-W-What do I do?! She’s crying!!)
Yuu tried to explain himself through his confusion.
“I’m telling you, there’s nothing going on with her...”
“Liar.”
“I’m not lying! We were just talking about girl talk... wait, no! The committee stuff!”
“Sniff... hic... WAAAAAAAH! NOOOO! YUU-KUN IS SO MEAAAN!!”
Yurika finally burst into a full-on bawl, just like a child.
“Whoa! Hey, stop crying...!”
Stomp-stomp-stomp—
Alerted by Yurika’s wailing, Emiko came rushing up the stairs from the first floor.
“Yuu! What are you doing?! You can’t make your older sister cry!”
“Ehhhhh?!”
Yuu wanted to argue against his mother’s unfair lecture, but he had to keep quiet to prevent his siscon secret from leaking. Ignoring her son’s plight, Emiko turned to the crying Yurika.
“Yurika-san, what’s the matter? What happened?”
“N-No, it’s not his fault. Yuu-kun didn't do anything. It’s just me... hic, sniff...”
“Oh! Could this be about what we talked about this morning, about you tutoring Yuu?”
The conversation seemed to have shifted into a topic Yuu knew nothing about.
“Yuu, your sister is going out of her way to help you study, so you have to listen to her!”
It seemed his mother had reached a massive misunderstanding. Yuu figured it was better than his sister-obsession being found out, so he decided to play along.
“Fine. I’ll listen to her and study.”
“Good. Then that’s that. Don't make her cry again!”
With that, Emiko headed back downstairs.
A heavy silence fell between them.
“Um...”
“Um...”
Their voices overlapped.
“Go ahead, Onee-chan...” Yuu said, yielding to her.
“Well... sorry! I just lost it... When I thought you were being taken away, I just got so scared... I mean, of course you’d find a girl you like at school... sniff...”
Tears threatened to spill from her eyes again.
“I’m telling you, it’s not like that! She’s on the same committee, and we were just talking about that! I don't like her or anything!”
“R-Really?”
“I swear! Besides, you know my tastes from the manga hidden in the back of my bookshelf.”
“Ah......”
Yurika remembered. She remembered the erotic "Sister-Moe" manga Yuu had hidden deep in his shelf.
“Fufu... fufufu... Yuu-kun, you pervert.”
“Hey! That’s unfair!”
A smile returned to Yurika’s face, and Yuu let out a long breath of relief. No one would have guessed that a perverted manga would be the key to their reconciliation. He was truly grateful for those sister-moe books.
“By the way, what was that about tutoring?”
At Yuu’s question, Yurika’s lips curled into a sly grin.
“It means I’m going to be your erotic teacher~ ♡ I’m going to teach you all sorts of things, very... thoroughly~ ♡”
“Wha—Are you an idiot?!”
“Ehehe, you’re so cute when you’re embarrassed, Yuu-kun.”
Relieved, Yurika began to tease him in her usual tone.
“Honestly, Yuu-kun, showing off by flirting with a classmate... you’re so mean. As punishment, you have to sleep with me tonight!”
“Hah? Haaaaah?!”
He hadn't been flirting, showing off, or being mean, but he’d somehow ended up with a punishment from the out-of-control Yurika. The idea of sleeping next to Yurika—who was currently radiating pheromones and high-spec curves from every possible angle—sent a chill of erotic excitement through Yuu that made his legs shake.
“U-um... I’m not a kid anymore. Sleeping together at this age is... a little dangerous.”
“Hmm, so you’re a man now? Well then, I guess erotic stuff is banned.”
“Ugh... sigh.”
Seeing Yurika’s smug, mischievous face as she plotted something inappropriate, Yuu sighed in anticipation of the erotic torture that awaited him. For a boy in the middle of puberty, sharing a bed with a sister this cute and sexy was surely pushing his self-control to the absolute breaking point.
◆ ◇ ◆
Late that night, after their parents had fallen asleep, Yurika crept into Yuu’s room.
“Sorry to keep you waiting, Yuu-kun~ It’s time for our sleepover! ♡”
“I wasn't waiting.”
“Oh, stop it. You know you want to sleep with your Onee-chan~.”
She hit the nail on the head. In truth, Yuu desperately wanted to sleep with her. Yurika had been holding back since Yuu had gotten older, so her own frustration had been building as well. Finally, the two people who both desperately wanted to share a bed were tucked in together.
“Pardon me~.”
Yurika climbed into the bed. It was her first full-scale offensive in a long time. No one could stop the World’s Strongest Perverted Sister now.
“Hup.”
Moving on all fours, Yurika crawled over Yuu, her chest and thighs brushing against him. Her beautiful hair cascaded over Yuu’s face. Between the ticklish sensation and the scent of her shampoo, Yuu felt like he was losing his mind.
“Uuuugh...”
The spots where she touched him felt like they were on fire. His heart hammered in his chest, and a pulsing sensation throbbed through his lower body. His feelings for her were on the verge of exploding; he wanted to pull her into a tight embrace.
(Ugh, this is bad! Onee-chan feels even more sexy lately... I can't hold my feelings back. I love her too much, I can't stop this!)
Unaware that Yuu was at his limit, Yurika pressed her body firmly against his.
“Ehehe ♡ You’re so warm, Yuu-kun.”
She hugged him from behind, burying her face in his back.
“Sticking close like this makes me feel so safe... Zzz...”
Apparently soothed by his presence, Yurika drifted off to sleep almost immediately.
(O-Onee-chan... her chest, her heat, her scent...)
Feeling her warmth against his back, Yuu felt like time had slowed to a crawl. His pulse raced, and a heavy ache throbbed from deep within him. He wanted to forget everything and become one with her.
How much time had passed—?
When Yuu turned around, he saw Yurika’s defenseless, peaceful sleeping face. It was a look of total trust, a face she only ever showed to him.
(Onee-chan... you’re way too defenseless...)
Right before his eyes were her two large, firm mounds. If he wanted to touch them, he could do so right now without her ever knowing.
(No! I decided I’d protect her! I won't be like those other guys who are only after her body. I have to win her trust! When I’m older, I’ll confess... and once we have a real bond...)
Yuu gently pulled the covers over the defenseless Yurika.
(Until then... I will endure any erotic attack she throws at me!)
Chirp, chirp, chirp—
“Nn... it’s morning...”
When Yuu woke up, Yurika was gone from the bed. She’d likely retreated to her own room before their parents noticed. She was meticulous about that sort of thing.
Despite her temptations and the overwhelming proximity of their sleepover, Yuu had resolved to endure until he could confess as a man. But he wondered exactly how long he could hold out. Against the "World’s Strongest Sister" who continued to level up her attack power every day, how long could Yuu’s defenses last?
Feeling a lingering, sweet ache deep in his body, Yuu slowly climbed out of bed.
◆ ◇ ◆
A woman who commanded the attention of everyone around her was walking down the school hallway. She had a slender, graceful figure and beautiful black hair that swayed with every step. She looked exactly like a hime-cut heroine from an anime or manga. No one could help but stop and stare. She was the center of attention.
Her name was Rokujou Aoi.
A girl of few words with a cool demeanor, she was the school’s undisputed idol.
“Whoa! Rokujou-san really is the cutest.”
A classmate struck up a conversation with Yuu. It seemed he, too, had fallen for Aoi’s beauty at first sight. But Yuu’s reaction was lackluster at best.
“You think so?”
“Hey! How can you be so indifferent to a beauty like that?!”
“I mean, if you say so...”
“Oh! Wait, are you more into Chuujou-san?”
“N-No, it’s not like that with her!”
Yuu denied it instantly at the mention of Takami’s name. Because Takami was constantly bothering him, some of the class seemed to have reached a misunderstanding. As a high-level siscon who only had eyes for his "I-Love-My-Sister," every other girl looked more or less the same to him.
However, trouble was about to drop right into Yuu’s lap.
◆ ◇ ◆
Lunch break—
“I believe it was this class...”
A beautiful girl suddenly appeared, causing the boys in the class to erupt in excitement.
“Woooooah! It’s Rokujou-san!”
“She’s a literal angel!”
The classroom was instantly in an uproar. Rokujou Aoi, the talk of the school, had come to Yuu’s class. Ignoring the hyped-up boys, Aoi looked around the room until her eyes landed on Yuu. She walked straight toward him.
“Eh......?”
Faced with the cool beauty, Yuu instinctively braced himself. She had sharp, elegant eyes, a refined face, and long hair that swayed as she moved. Her cool expression carried a faint hint of intimidation.
“You are Akashi Yuu-kun, correct? There is something I wish to discuss. Could you come with me?”
Startled by the sudden request, Yuu was at a loss. “Eh... E-Eh... Y-Yes.”
Jealous groans and envious shouts rose from the boys. “Why Akashi?!” they cried. Overwhelmed by Aoi’s commanding presence, Yuu stood up and followed her out.
(Wait, why me?)
Amidst the staring eyes, he walked down the hall and up the stairs to the rooftop. Once they were alone, Aoi got straight to the point.
“Listen, I am quite popular.”
“...Yes?”
Yuu was confused by the abrupt topic.
“I find it quite bothersome when so many people confess to me.”
“I’m sure it is...”
“So, while I can understand your feelings, Akashi-kun, I cannot meet your expectations.”
“Eh?”
“In short, the answer to your confession is No. I am sorry.”
“Hah?”
Being rejected out of the blue left Yuu’s brain in a scramble. “Wait... what are you talking about?” he asked with a straight face.
“Hah? I heard that you liked me, so I am here to reject you.”
“Eh? Who said who likes who?”
“You! Me! ...Wait, am I wrong?”
“Yes, you’re wrong.”
Now it was Aoi’s brain that was scrambling. “Hah? Haaaah? It’s me! The grade’s top idol!”
“I suppose so...”
“So... you don't like me?”
“Not at all.”
Fwoosh—
Aoi’s face turned bright red in a split second. She had completely misunderstood the situation—and she’d done it while sounding incredibly full of herself. She was practically shaking with embarrassment.
“Um... who told you this?”
When Yuu asked, Aoi became flustered. “I-It’s... it’s just a rumor! A rumor!”
“A rumor, huh...”
“L-Listen! Forget everything you just heard!”
“I don't think I can.”
“Why not?!”
Aoi stamped her feet, her beautiful hair flying in every direction. Her cool first impression had completely collapsed, revealing a much more impulsive, silly personality.
“Geez! What is this?! This is... this is humiliating! Why of all people would I—! Just you remember this! Uwaaaaaah!”
Aoi sprinted away, her face a deep shade of crimson.
“Talk about unfair...” Yuu muttered, left alone on the rooftop.
As he walked back down the stairs, Yuu thought it over.
(Wait... could it be... what I told Chuujou-san at Wack? But she said it was ‘just between us’...)
He remembered his conversation with Takami. To prevent his siscon secret from leaking, he’d used the name of the school’s top idol.
The moment Yuu stepped back into the classroom, Takami charged at him.
“Hey, Yuu! Why did Rokujou call you out?!”
“I-I don't know...”
“There’s no way you don't know! Get over here!”
This time, he was dragged out of the classroom by Takami. She pulled him all the way to a deserted staircase.
“For that Rokujou to call a guy out is a big deal! You’re gonna explain everything!”
An annoyed Takami had even stopped using the "san" suffix for Aoi. She was calling her by her last name now. As a popular girl herself, Takami clearly had a rivalry with the school’s number-one idol. But to Yuu, popular girls were irrelevant.
“More importantly, you didn't tell anyone what we talked about at Wack, right? That ‘just between us’ thing?”
“Eh? O-Oh... Of course not! I only told Ayu that it was ‘just between us’!”
She’d told someone.
“Ehhh... so you did tell someone.”
“It’s okay because I said it was ‘just between us’!”
You can never trust a girl’s “just between us.” It’s a chain reaction.
“The rumor you started spread and got back to Rokujou-san, so she came to reject me.”
“Why are you so sure it was me—Wait, you got rejected? Snort, fufu... oh, I see~.”
Suddenly, Takami’s face lit up with a smug grin. “Heh... so you got dumped. I see, I see. Well, chin up!”
Pat! Takami slapped Yuu’s shoulder.
“Fufu, well, you were aiming too high to begin with! You need to know your place, Yuu. Instead of some popular, stuck-up girl like Rokujou... maybe you should look for someone a bit... c-closer to home.”
Takami laughed happily. Yuu found it hard to accept being laughed at for being "dumped" when he hadn't even confessed. But he completely missed the shy, embarrassed look Takami had at the very end.
(This is so unfair... Why is everyone convinced I’m heartbroken?)
◆ ◇ ◆
After school, at the shoe lockers.
Yuu was in the middle of changing into his outdoor shoes when he happened to look up, locking eyes with a girl who just so happened to be standing there.
"Ah!"
"Oh!"
The girl was Rokujou Aoi.
An awkward silence stretched between them for a long beat.
"Well then... see ya," Yuu muttered, turning to make his escape.
But Aoi’s voice rang out from behind him, sharp and demanding. "Wait just a minute!"
"Ugh... Do you need something?" Yuu asked, his shoulders slumping.
"Do I need something?! You embarrassed me in front of everyone! You didn't think you could just walk away after that, did you?"
"Eeeh..."
Yuu sighed inwardly. I’ve been cornered by a total weirdo. He couldn’t help but wonder if the school’s top idol—the supposedly beautiful and refined Aoi—was actually just a persistent, high-maintenance pain in the neck.
"It’s me! The most popular girl in school!" Aoi ranted, stepping closer. "There are tens of thousands of boys who would die just for a chance to date me! You should be grateful just to be in my presence!"
"Actually, I'd rather just go home," Yuu replied flatly.
Aoi started to panic at his lukewarm reaction. "Haaah?! Hey, you! Are you telling me you aren't happy to be talking to me? You should be on cloud nine! You should feel like you’ve ascended to heaven just from the privilege of hearing my voice! Deep down, you’re totally in love with me, aren't you!?"
"No, not really. You aren't my type, Rokujou-san. Sorry."
"Why does it feel like I'm the one being dumped right now?!"
Stomp! Stomp! Stomp!
Frustrated beyond belief, Aoi threw a literal temper tantrum, stomping her feet on the floor. If any of her fans saw their "cool beauty" idol acting like this, their jaws would probably hit the floor.
"Even if you say that..." Yuu started, trailing off.
"T-This is a humiliation..." Aoi hissed, her voice trembling with agitation. "To think I would be rejected..."
She was so worked up that her logic was starting to spiral. Before they knew it, the conversation had shifted to make it look like she was the one confessing and being turned down.
"Look, um... You're pretty and popular, Rokujou-san," Yuu said, trying to offer a bit of pity. "I'm sure there are plenty of better guys out there for you. Keep your chin up."
"I told you, why am I the one being dumped?! Ugh! That’s it! I’ll never forgive you! I’m going to make you say you love me if it’s the last thing I do! Just you wait! Moooooooooooooo—!"
With a parting line worthy of a cartoon villain, Aoi stormed off.
To a world-class sister-complex sufferer like Yuu, her declaration that she’d "make him love her" sounded like nothing more than a giant, looming headache. He didn't care about the school’s most beautiful idol; he just wanted to get home as fast as possible to talk to his sister.
"Sigh... Man, nobody beats my sister," he muttered to himself.
With his heart full of I-love-my-sister energy, Yuu hurried home. He couldn't wait to see her.
However, Yuu had no idea just how "high-maintenance" Rokujou Aoi truly was. Nor did he realize that Aoi’s impending rampage was about to bring a world of trouble down upon his head.
◆ ◇ ◆
The moment Yuu stepped through the front door, Yurika poked her head out from the living room.
"Ah! Welcome back, Yuu-kun~!"
Just like that, the fatigue of the day seemed to vanish. To Yuu, his sister’s smile was the ultimate fuel.
"I’m home."
As always, being greeted by Yurika’s radiant expression made Yuu feel like his soul was being purified. Before their parents remarried, he used to come home to an empty house. He never imagined that having someone there to say "welcome back" could be such a source of happiness.
And when that someone was his beloved older sister, that joy was multiplied tenfold.
Outwardly, Yuu maintained a cool, nonchalant facade, but inside, he was fighting a desperate urge to sprint toward her, shout "Onee-chan!", and bury his face in her for a long, snuggly hug.
Of course, he would never actually do something so embarrassing.
Meanwhile, Yurika was busy trying to act casual while subtly probing into Yuu’s social life.
"Hey, hey, Yuu-kun. How was school today?"
"Hm? Nothing special happened."
"Eeeeh~? I have to make sure no 'nasty bugs' are trying to latch onto my precious Yuu-kun."
She wasn't hiding her intent at all. Yuu gave her a "here we go again" look.
"Not this again. I told you, there’s nothing going on. It’s not like I’m popular or anything."
"I wonder if that’s true~?"
Even though the misunderstanding with Takami had been cleared up, ever since that incident, Yurika had become hyper-sensitive to any girl associated with Yuu.
Ping!
Right on cue, Yuu’s phone chimed with a notification.
"Hm? Who’s that?" Yuu pulled his phone out.
『I went out of my way to message you! You should be happy!』
The sender was listed as "Aoi."
"Huh? Aoi... wait, as in Rokujou-san? H-How does she have my ID?"
Yuu was focused on his screen, but he suddenly felt a heavy gaze and looked up. Yurika was staring at him with half-lidded, suspicious eyes.
"Uh... what?"
"Yuu-kun... who is 'Aoi'? A girl? It’s a girl, isn't it?"
Yurika’s eyes narrowed, becoming sharp as needles.
"Ah, it’s nothing important. Really."
Ping!
Yuu flipped his phone over, trying to act natural as he made a break for his room. But his phone chimed again.
『Why aren't you replying?! Don't you dare ignore me!』
It was Aoi’s follow-up attack.
"Well, uh..."
Staaaaaaaaaaaaaaare—
Despite the intense pressure from Yurika’s glare, the messages kept coming in rapid succession.
Ping!
『I said, reply to me!』
Ping!
『You’ve got some nerve, leaving me on read!』
Ping!
『Why won't you answer?! I hate this!』
Ping!
『Hell-o?! Can you hear me?!』
Ping!
『Why won't you reply? This makes me look like some pathetic girl texting a boyfriend who isn't interested! It’s miserable!』
Yuu stood there, stunned by the sheer velocity of the assault.
"W-Whoa! She is so much work!"
Ring-ring-ring-ring!
She had finally escalated to a direct phone call.
"Aren't you going to answer?" Yurika asked. Her eyes were practically screaming that she didn't believe him for a second.
Yuu realized that trying to dodge the question now would only make him look more suspicious, so he reluctantly took the call.
Click.
"Hello?"
『You finally picked up! How long were you going to make me wait?!』
Feeling the tension of Yurika’s unwavering stare, Yuu chose his words very carefully. "How did you even get my ID?"
『I looked it up, obviously! More importantly, you’ve got a lot of nerve leaving my messages on read! The boys in my class would cry tears of joy if I even spoke to them! You should be thrilled to hear my voice! If you are, then you should at least—』
Click.
Yuu hung up instinctively. Between his sister’s gaze and Aoi’s rambling, he simply couldn't take the pressure anymore.
"Yuu-kun... wasn't she in the middle of talking?"
"Well..."
Ring-ring-ring-ring!
Aoi was calling back immediately.
(Aaaaargh! I’ve been targeted by a total freak! W-W-What am I supposed to do?! My sister’s eyes are full of suspicion!)
"You should probably answer," Yurika prompted.
"Oh, right... yeah..."
Click.
Once again, Yuu was forced to talk to Aoi right in front of Yurika.
"Hello?"
『Hey! What do you think you’re doing?! Hanging up on me is so rude!』
"S-Sorry..."
『You should be replying within twenty seconds of me contacting you!』
"Right... so, what do you actually want?"
『I don't 'want' anything!』
(Ugh... what am I supposed to do here? It’s because I hurt her pride yesterday, isn't it?)
Yuu figured the only way to get her off his back was to shower her with enough praise to satisfy her ego.
"Um, Rokujou-san."
『What?』
Yuu took a deep breath and let it all out in one burst.
"I was wrong. You are the most beautiful girl in our grade, the idol of the whole school. I’ve realized that a commoner like me should feel blessed just to speak with you. From now on, I will live every day in gratitude, showing proper respect to your overwhelming beauty."
That seemed to do the trick. Aoi’s mood shifted instantly.
『E-Eh? What’s with the sudden... well, as long as you understand. You’d better show me the proper respect from now on.』
"Right. Well, on that note..."
Click.
"Phew... hopefully that’s the end of it."
His relief lasted only a split second. He turned to see Yurika staring at him with those same "judging" eyes and realized his strategy had backfired spectacularly.
"Heeeee~ so Yuu-kun, you like this 'Aoi' girl? The 'most beautiful girl in the grade'?"
(D-Dammit! What was I thinking, saying that in front of my sister?!)
It was a total self-destruction.
"T-That was... there are a lot of complicated circumstances..."
"Heeeee~ so Yuu-kun is having 'sexual circumstances' with a girl~?"
"I said circumstances, not sexual! It’s the other way around! You’re doing that on purpose, aren't you!?"
"I think a naughty boy like Yuu-kun needs a very strict punishment, don't you?"
Caught in Yurika’s grasp, Yuu was dragged away to her room.
"Wait! Hey! Eeeeeeh!"
The moment they entered Yurika’s room, Yuu was pushed down onto the bed.
Clink! Clank!
From out of nowhere, Yurika produced a pair of toy handcuffs and locked Yuu’s wrists to the bedframe.
"Wait, why do you even have those?!"
"Ufufu~ I have them for punishing you, obviously."
Yurika’s "naughty" fantasies had been running so wild lately that she had impulsively clicked "buy" on a few strange items from an online shop.
"Ta-da! A feather duster~!"
Mimicking a character's voice, Yurika pulled a strange-looking item from her pocket.
"W-Wait... what are you planning to do with that...?"
"Hehehe...♡ You can't run away now, Yuu-kun~"
Yurika climbed on top of him, pinning him down so he couldn't move, and then began to approach with the feather duster waving playfully.
Cuffed and mounted, Yuu had no choice but to endure the onslaught of his "erotic" sister.
"Here we go! Tickle-tickle-tickle!"
Yurika hiked up Yuu’s shirt and began to tickle his armpits and stomach with the feather duster.
"Gwah! That tickles! Stop it!"
Yurika’s soft, plump thighs and rear were pressed firmly against him. Between the extreme stimulation of her body heat and the tickling attack, it was a truly "naughty" punishment. It wasn't his fault that things down south were rapidly reaching their limit.
(T-This is bad... My sister’s punishment is too intense. She’s gonna realize I'm thinking about perverted stuff. Endure it! I have to endure!)
Unaware of his internal struggle, Yurika continued to grind her soft hips against him.
"Now, now, if you don't reflect on what you’ve done, things are going to get very 'difficult' for you~"
Yuu was pretty sure "difficult" described the current state of a certain part of his anatomy. With Yurika’s soft backside resting right on his lap, she was bound to notice even the slightest change.
"Tickle-tickle-tickle~♡"
The feather duster moved from his chest to his stomach, and then began to descend toward his lower abdomen.
"Uwaaaaaaah!"
"Oh my~♡ Is it here? Do you like it right here~?"
Yurika had a playful, beaming smile on her face as she suggestively twirled the feather duster around his waist. And then, the feathers moved toward Yuu’s crotch—
"O-O-Okay! I get it! I’ll do whatever you say! I’ll obey your every command!"
Sensing that things were about to cross a point of no return, Yuu completely surrendered. He swore his loyalty to her like a knight to his queen.
"Ehehe~ Yuu-kun, you're so cute♡ Well, I guess I can stop the 'joke' here."
"Huh? A joke...?"
Despite the gusto of her attack, Yurika claimed it had all been a prank. She returned to her usual gentle self and unlocked the handcuffs. Was the "Sadistic Queen" act really just an act?
"Hey! What was that for?! Seriously!"
"Ehehe~ sorry, sorry. You were just so flustered, I couldn't help but tease you a little."
Yurika called it a joke, but she had been so into it that Yuu suspected she might actually have a hidden sadistic streak.
"Good grief..."
Yuu rubbed his wrists where the cuffs had been. He felt a wave of relief that his "physical reaction" hadn't been discovered.
"But really, you have to be careful of strange women. Women are scary, you know?"
"Yeah, yeah, I know."
Yuu thought the woman standing right in front of him was plenty "strange and scary" herself, but he kept that thought to himself.
◆ ◇ ◆
Back in his own room, Yuu flopped onto his bed and writhed in agony.
He had been mounted by his beloved sister, her thighs and rear pressed right against him. On top of that, he’d been tickled with a feather duster. It was only natural that he was feeling... frustrated.
"Ugh, that was awful. Does she do that stuff unconsciously? I can't take much more of those erotic punishments..."
At that exact moment, on the other side of the wall, Yurika was also rolling around on her bed, writhing.
She had restrained her precious little brother and punished him with a feather duster. To be honest, her secret desire had been to "tickle-tickle" Yuu’s "little brother" too.
It was only natural that she was feeling... frustrated.
"Haaaah...♡ That was close. I almost went too far. It’s Yuu-kun’s fault for having such a cute reaction!♡"
They were both hyper-aware of each other.
Yuu worried that he was about to develop some very strange fetishes, while Yurika felt a bit of self-reflection, fearing she might get addicted to the thrill. On opposite sides of the wall, the step-siblings only felt their feelings for each other grow stronger.
◆ ◇ ◆
The next morning at school, Yuu was taking his indoor shoes out of his locker when Takami, as usual, came over to poke fun at him. It was practically part of their daily routine.
"Morning, Yuu! You're looking as dull as ever today."
"Morning, Chuujou-san. And what do you mean, 'dull'?"
"Fufu! Look alive, will ya!"
To an outsider, this girl might have looked like she was just being mean, but it seemed more like she just wanted Yuu’s attention. Of course, a die-hard siscon like Yuu would never pick up on the subtleties of another girl’s heart.
For her part, Takami seemed to be harboring a faint, budding crush on Yuu. However, she didn't seem to realize it herself, treating him more like a younger brother who needed looking after. Perhaps Yuu simply gave off an "adorable little brother" aura that appealed to older-sister types, even though they were the same age.
Just when it seemed like another ordinary day was about to begin, a beautiful girl appeared like a sudden storm.
"Morning, Akashi-kun!"
The girl was, of course, Rokujou Aoi. She made a point of giving Takami a sidelong glance while only greeting Yuu. Naturally, Aoi’s "territorial" attitude irritated Takami instantly.
"Hah?"
"Ah... u-um, morning..."
Feeling a bit of an aversion to Aoi after yesterday, Yuu gave a hesitant reply while keeping a nervous eye on Takami.
(What is she doing here... I thought she’d be satisfied after yesterday...)
But Aoi didn't let up.
"Yesterday was so much fun, wasn't it, Akashi-kun?"
"Eh? U-Um..."
"Fufu! Don't be shy. You were the one on the phone saying I’m the most beautiful girl in the grade, and that you’re blessed just to talk to me."
Aoi brought up yesterday’s conversation as if she had been waiting for the perfect moment to drop the bomb.
"Wait just a minute!" Takami barked. She grabbed Yuu’s shoulders with both hands, venting her irritation. "Hey, Yuu! What is she talking about?!"
"N-No, it’s nothing, really."
"There’s no way it’s nothing!"
Aoi smirked. It was as if she had planned this from the start.
"Fufu~ Akashi-kun was just saying how he prefers a beautiful, refined girl like me over some crude classmate."
By bringing up Takami as a foil, Aoi was asserting her dominance. It seemed the popular girl from his class and the popular girl from the neighboring class were rivals... or rather, they got along like cats and dogs.
Naturally, Takami took offense. "Rokujou! Did you just call me 'crude'?!"
"Oh, Shoushou-san. Were you there?"
"It’s Chuujou! You’re doing that on purpose!"
(T/N: Aoi is intentionally demoting Takami's "rank" (Chuujou means Lieutenant General, Shoushou means Major General).)
The two beauties began to bicker.
Setting aside the energetic Takami, seeing the supposedly "refined" Aoi arguing so aggressively only served to reinforce Yuu’s belief that his sister was the only choice.
(Heh... as I thought, my sister is the best. These girls don't have her grace, or her 'maternal' vibes... she has this sense of security that just wraps around you. I want to go home already so I can play and talk with her.)
Even though the school day had just started, Yuu was already thinking about going home. He truly was a world-class siscon.
Suddenly, the two fiery girls turned their sights on him.
"Hey, Yuu! Tell her who’s cuter!"
"Akashi-kun, I’m clearly the more beautiful one, right?!"
The argument between Takami and Aoi had somehow shifted into a debate over who was more popular with the boys. To Yuu, it was a completely irrelevant topic.
"I don't know, you're both about the same, I guess."
"Hah?! Don't lump me in with someone like Rokujou!"
"There is no way I could be the same as this crude woman!"
"Ugh, so much work..."
Yuu looked between the two of them.
(What do I do... if I make Rokujou-san mad, she’ll probably bombard me with messages and calls again. But if I make Chuujou-san mad, something scary will definitely happen later... This is bad. I’m trapped either way.)
As Yuu agonized over his choices, a brilliant idea suddenly struck him.
(T-That’s it! I’ll just pretend I'm obsessed with an anime heroine to get through this! Perfect!)
...Was it, though?
"Um, actually, I’m really into this anime heroine from 《Otohime Dorm’s Resident Manager Onee-san》. It was originally a manga, but they just made an anime recently. The voice actress for the heroine, Haruka Otohime, is—"
"Eeeew..."
"Ah... so that’s your 'thing,' Akashi-kun..."
It felt like the two girls were looking at him as if he were a total creep. Just a feeling, of course.
(Dammit... the situation is settled, but I feel like I’ve lost something precious...)
Yuu had effectively snapped the "romance flags" of the two girls who were just about to enter his route. But for a boy who loved his sister so much he couldn't see anyone else, a romance with a classmate was never on the table to begin with. His happy daily life with his sister was far more important.
Still, he was a little worried that he now had the reputation of being a guy who liked "erotic" anime.
"Ugh, Yuu! Stop being an idiot and hurry up."
Takami grabbed Yuu’s arm. Behind her, Aoi spoke up, looking somewhat amused.
"Well, I guess I’ll let you off with a draw for today... Chuubou-san."
"It’s Chuujou!"
(T/N: Another intentional mispronunciation. Chuubou is slang for an immature middle-schooler)
Ignoring Aoi and her intentional mispronunciations, Takami dragged Yuu away toward their classroom.
The moment they walked in, Takami cornered him. "Hey, why are you getting all friendly with Rokujou?!"
"I’d kind of like to know that myself..."
"What do you mean?! You said you rejected her!"
Takami looked completely unconvinced.
"I mean, it’s mostly because of those rumors you spread, Chuujou-san. Because of the rumor that I liked Rokujou-san, it reached her ears, and now she’s following me around."
"Ugh..."
Yuu was exactly right. Because the rumors had reached the girl herself, her interest had been piqued, and now she was obsessed because she felt like she had been "dumped."
Until now, every boy had worshipped Aoi, treating her like a goddess. Yuu’s indifference and bluntness had likely triggered her competitive streak.
Takami, realizing she had accidentally increased her competition, cursed inwardly.
(Ugh, what is happening... Who was it that spread those rumors?! I told them it was a secret! Now that annoying Rokujou is involved, and she’s messing with my subordinate Yuu. I-It’s not like... I l-like Yuu or anything... but I definitely don't want Rokujou to have him!)
She seemed to have forgotten that she was the one who started the rumors in the first place. And while she denied having feelings for him, it was clear she was very interested.
As if to vent her frustration, Takami continued to pester him.
"Anyway, you aren't allowed to get along with Rokujou!"
"Even if you say that, she’s the one coming after me. I can't really help it."
"Ugh, so annoying! You just go back to watching that perverted 'Dorm' anime or whatever!"
"Gwah!"
He hadn't even said it was a perverted anime, yet he was already being treated like an erotic anime otaku.
◆ ◇ ◆
After school—
Today, Yuu was once again planning to head straight home to spend some quality time with his beloved step-sister.
"Now, what should we do when I get back?"
As he walked home, his head was filled with thoughts of Yurika.
(Lately, it feels like her skinship is getting more and more intense... She used to change in front of me without a care or walk around in just a towel after her bath, but lately, it feels like it’s escalating.)
He couldn't help but imagine his sister fresh out of the shower.
(Good grief, she’s such a handful! I know I shouldn't look at her that way, but I can't help but notice her bouncing chest and her soft rear. Guuuh... but I will endure! Because I love her! Uwaaaaaah! Onee-chan!)
Yuu was becoming a little—no, a lot—unstable. He could think of nothing but Yurika.
As Yuu arrived at his house, he saw a woman standing in front of the door.
"Ah... her..."
A surge of tension washed over him. The woman standing at the entrance was Rieko, Yurika’s biological mother, who had caused trouble before.
Yuu didn't know why she was here, but he stepped forward, determined to protect Yurika’s smile.
"Hey, what are you doing here?"
Rieko turned around, looking surprised. "Ah, you... that brat from before."
"Why are you here? If you make my sister cry again, I won't forgive you."
Rieko looked Yuu up and down, from his head to his toes, before meeting his eyes again.
"You... you’ve grown taller. You were just a little kid back then."
Since starting high school, Yuu had gone through a growth spurt. His voice was deeper, and he looked more like a young man.
"Ugh, I was a kid then, so what? I’m an adult now! 'If a man has not been seen for three days, one must look at him with new eyes!' That’s a quote from the Three Kingdoms, about Lu Meng of Wu—"
"Ah, I don't really care about that."
Yuu, who had been eager to show off his newly acquired Three Kingdoms knowledge, slumped his shoulders as Rieko cut him off.
"Hmph. Well, from where I’m standing, you're still just a kid."
"Kuh! Anyway, why are you here?"
"Is a mother not allowed to see her daughter? It’s none of your business."
Technically, a parent did have the right to see their child. But Yuu wasn't going to acknowledge it.
"My sister was crying because of the horrible things you said to her. I’m going to protect her! If you’re going to make her cry again, I’ll protect her with everything I’ve got! I won't let you hurt her ever again!"
"I have things going on too, you know. It’s not like I hate the girl. We just... got emotional."
Rieko seemed a bit more subdued than the last time they met. But Yuu didn't let his guard down.
"Oh, Yuu-kun, you're back?"
As they were talking, Yurika’s voice suddenly echoed from inside the house.
Creak!
The door opened and Yurika poked her head out. "Ah... M-Mom..."
In an instant, Yurika’s expression clouded over.
"Yurika..."
"W-What are you doing here? Don't tell me... you want more money..."
"No! Ugh! It’s none of your business what I do!"
Rieko, who had seemed quiet at first, suddenly raised her voice the moment she faced her daughter.
"You should just do what I tell you! Honestly, this girl!"
"N-No! Stop it!" Yurika crouched down, clutching her head.
"Hey, stop that!" Yuu immediately stepped between them to protect Yurika. He had to separate this mother and daughter, no matter what.
"What do you think you’re doing?!"
Emiko had just returned home. By pure coincidence, the two mothers of the step-siblings were now face-to-face.
"Haah?! Who the hell are you!?"
"And who might you be?" Emiko asked calmly, staring down the agitated Rieko.
"What do you want?! Wait... don't tell me you're Mikiya’s new wife..."
"Yes, my name is Emiko."
"Heh~ so it’s you. I’m Mikiya’s ex-wife. I don't know what you see in such a boring, mediocre man."
"Mikiya-san is a kind and considerate man," Emiko stated firmly. "It looked to me like you were just screaming at Yurika-san. She may be your daughter, but she is my daughter as well. Please stop doing things that make her sad."
At Emiko’s words—the words of a mother who truly cared for her—Yurika looked up in surprise.
"Ugh! Whatever! I’m leaving!"
With a dismissive shout, Rieko turned and ran away.
"Hey, wait! I’m going after her!"
Yuu chased after Rieko. There was something that had been bothering him. Unlike the last time, it felt like she had been trying to say something. And... in her hand, she had been carrying a bag from a sweets shop.
He had to be sure, so he chased after the woman.
Left behind, Emiko put her arms around Yurika’s shoulders. "Are you okay, Yurika-san?"
"Ugh... uuuu... M-M-Mo... Mom..."
For the first time, Yurika called Emiko "Mom."
In the several years since their parents had remarried, she had never been able to say that word. But hearing Emiko call her "my daughter" in front of her biological mother had finally cleared the blockage in her heart.
Despite the trouble with her birth mother, the bond between Yurika and Emiko had grown stronger.
◆ ◇ ◆
After running a short distance from the house, Rieko reached a small bridge and slowed to a dejected walk. Yuu caught up to her.
"Hey, lady."
The woman spun around, immediately complaining. "Who are you calling 'lady'?! What an impertinent brat. I told you my name is Rieko!"
"Well, you’re the one calling me a brat..."
The two faced each other.
"What do you want?! I'm not listening to any complaints!"
"No, I was just thinking... you had something you wanted to say to my sister, didn't you?"
At Yuu’s words, Rieko’s expression faltered. "What? What do you know about it?"
"That bag... it’s from a cake shop, right? What were you going to do with it?"
Rieko shoved the bag toward Yuu. "Here, you take it! I’m not going to eat this stuff! If you don't want it, just throw it away!"
"Just explain yourself. I don't want to see my sister sad."
"What’s the point in explaining to a brat like you..."
Rieko grumbled, but after a moment of hesitation, she began to speak in a low, halting voice.
"Yeah... I was going to give that to Yurika. Stupid, right? After all the trouble I’ve caused her, as if something like that would make things right..."
"Why...?"
"You heard that I kept running up debts, right?" Rieko looked off into the distance. "When I first married Mikiya and Yurika was just born, things were going well. But I got bored of the same old, unchanging daily life... and eventually, Mikiya started to feel like a tedious, boring man..."
"And then?"
"That was when I started going out and wasting money. I eventually left the house, leaving that girl behind... I’m an idiot. I always pick the wrong men, and I fail every single time. I’ve done nothing but cause trouble for her..."
A look of deep regret crossed Rieko’s face.
"It’s not that I hate Yurika. But when I talk to her, I feel like she’s looking right at all my flaws. I end up getting defensive and harsh. I realize what a failure of a mother I am, and I just... I end up screaming at her!"
"That’s..."
"After I broke up with my second husband, the next guy was a loser too... In the end, it turns out that Mikiya—the man I thought was tedious and boring—was the best of them. But I don't have a place to go back to anymore! I have nothing! That’s why she’s all I have left! She’s my only daughter, and I wanted to apologize... but we just ended up fighting again. This is what I get."
Yuu let out a long, deep breath after hearing her story.
(Sigh... okay, I get it now. This lady has been through a lot. But no matter how hard things are, I can't forgive her for being cruel to my sister. And wanting to cling to her daughter just because things didn't work out with her boyfriends? That’s pretty questionable.)
Yuu spoke slowly.
"I grew up in a single-parent home, so I only know my mom... but when you're a kid, your parents are your whole world. If a parent is cruel to them, a kid has nowhere to run. My sister has memories of how you were when she was a child, so she’s terrified whenever she sees you."
"What do you know, you brat? Acting all high and mighty..."
"Anyway, I can't let you see her right now. You both need a cooling-off period until you can be calm. You aren't allowed near her until she says it’s okay."
Yuu stated his terms clearly.
"Well... I guess that’s fair..."
"As long as you understand. I’ve decided that I’m going to protect her!"
"Are you playing the knight in shining armor? Hahaha! What is that?"
"Shut up."
"Well, if you're going to protect Yurika... you’d better do a good job of it."
"O-Of course I will!"
Rieko looked at the boy playing at being a knight, then looked up at the sky.
"Sigh... I wonder if there are any good men out there..."
Women who preferred "exciting" men were likely prone to trouble—infidelity, gambling, domestic violence. They seemed to attract all sorts of problems.
Lost in thought for a moment, Rieko turned her gaze back to Yuu.
"Actually, looking at you closely, you're quite the catch. Want to go out with me?"
"H-Huh? H-Haaaaaaaaaaaaaaah?!"
"You’re an adult now, right?"
"No, no, no, no! I’m still a kid!"
"But you just said you were an adult."
"Ugh..."
Targeted by Yurika’s biological mother, Yuu was completely flustered. This was a "Netorare" development that absolutely nobody asked for. Apparently, Yuu really did have a knack for stirring up the maternal instincts of older women.
"Of course not! The 'polis-men'... I mean, the police will come for you!"
When he was a kid, Yuu had thought calling the police "polis-men" sounded cool, but now it was just an embarrassing part of his chuunibyou past. He used to say it all the time, and looking back, he had no idea why he thought using English made it cooler.
"It was a joke. I’m going now."
Rieko gave a lonely smile, then turned and walked away, her shoulders slumped.
Once trust and family relationships are broken, repairing them is no easy task. Whether their relationship could ever be mended would depend entirely on Yurika’s mother from here on out.
Yuu thought to himself:
I want to make my sister happy.
I want to remove everything that causes her pain.
So that she can always be smiling.
Yes, because I want the person I love most to be happy.
Hurrying home, Yuu broke into a light jog. He couldn't wait to see her.
◆ ◇ ◆
When Yuu returned to the house, he found that the relationship between Yurika and Emiko had progressed at lightning speed. They looked for all the world like a biological mother and daughter.
"Mom..."
"Yurika."
The two of them were embracing, eyes brimming with tears. Gone was the slight awkwardness that had lingered between them before; it looked as if the wall separating them had finally been torn down.
(Whoa, when did that happen? Still, I'm glad they’re getting along. Was it because of that lady? Anyway, things are going well here, so I can breathe a sigh of relief.)
Yuu felt a weight lift from his chest.
◇ ◇ ◇ ◇
Once they were back in Yurika’s room and she had calmed down, Yuu explained the details of his encounter.
"...And that’s the gist of it. I gave her a piece of my mind, so it should be fine now. I told her that you both need a cooling-off period and that I won't let her see you until you say it’s okay."
"Yuu-kun... that’s amazing... You actually talked things through with my mother?" Yurika’s eyes sparkled.
"She said she wanted to apologize. But she also said that whenever she sees you, she’s forced to realize what a failure of a mother she is, and she ends up taking it out on you."
"Mom said that...?"
Yuu held out the bag from the bakery. "This is from her."
Yurika opened the package, and the sweet aroma of a delicious-looking Swiss roll wafted out.
"This is... from back then..."
It was a memory from when Yurika was very young—a cake she had begged her mother for during a trip to the city because she wanted it so badly. It was from a time when their bond hadn't yet been broken.
"Mom remembered..." Yurika looked down.
(Why...? Mom was always so temperamental, her emotions swinging wildly, but back then we were still a family... Why did it all fall apart? Why did she just throw me away and leave...?)
Yurika was lost in thought for a moment, then she looked into Yuu’s eyes and spoke.
"I don't think I can go back to the way things were with her just yet. She still snaps at me out of nowhere... and the gap between her good moods and her bad ones is just too much. But... maybe, if enough time passes..."
"Yeah."
"Yuu-kun, want to share the cake? The cake didn't do anything wrong, after all."
Yurika and Yuu went to get plates and forks, walking side-by-side in comfortable harmony.
◆ ◇ ◆
That night, Yurika was slumped over her desk, thinking only of Yuu.
(Yuu-kun... I can't believe he actually settled things with my mother. When we first met, he was just a cute kid I felt like I had to protect... but now, he’s the one protecting me.)
A soft smile spread across her face as she visualized him.
(I feel like my life has been heading in such a great direction ever since I met him. I used to feel like nothing ever went my way. Yuu-kun is like my hero.)
"Haaaah... Yuu-kun, I love you so much..." she whispered, her feelings overflowing.
(What should I do...? I can't stop these feelings anymore. I love him so much I think I might go crazy. I know he likes older women... but if his tastes change and he starts liking girls his own age...)
Suddenly, images of the girl Yuu had been with at Wac and the girl who kept messaging him flashed through her mind.
(He told me to wait until he’s an adult... but if I wait that long, someone else might snatch him up. If Yuu-kun ever left me... I couldn't stand it!)
"Yuu-kun!♡ Okay! Step one: co-sleeping!"
She had reached a conclusion. Her plan was to seduce Yuu with her "adult charms," ensnaring him until he loved her so much he’d never look at another woman. Of course, her own desire for some "skinship" played a large part in the decision as well.
(Hehehe... get ready, Yuu-kun. I’m playing for keeps now. I’ll seduce him, tease him, and drive him absolutely wild! I’ll make him so worked up his "little brother" hits the breaking point! If he gets so desperate that he attacks me and we create a 'fait accompli,' that counts as a win, right?!)
— Wait... is that really a win?
Tap, tap!
"Yuu-kun..."
Yurika moved like a ghost, her footsteps silent as she gave a quiet knock on Yuu’s bedroom door. It felt a bit like a midnight tryst, which was definitely bordering on the "out" zone.
"Eh? Onee-chan?"
Click!
The moment Yuu opened the door, Yurika slipped into the room like a shadow.
"Yuu-kun, let’s sleep together tonight. Onee-chan wants to cuddle."
"Wait, what?! What are you saying...? I told you, I’m not a kid anymore."
"It’s just sleeping."
They used to do this frequently when they were younger. However, Yuu had grown, and his hormonal impulses were exponentially stronger than they had been back then. He had zero confidence in his ability to maintain his reason while sharing a bed with the irresistibly attractive Yurika.
Looking at his step-sister’s alluring body—now even more voluptuous as a college student—Yuu felt a shiver of excitement travel up his spine.
"We can't. We're both adults now."
"Yuu-kun, if you make too much of a scene, you'll wake Mom and Dad."
"Ugh..."
Grin!
Everything was going exactly according to Yurika’s plan. If they argued here, they’d risk being caught by their parents sleeping on the first floor. His path of retreat had been cut off.
This was the Yurika-style Furin Kazan! [^1]
Move as fast as a Sister’s Godspeed as she slipped into the room.
Be as silent as a Tactician Sister as she cut off his escape with a scheme.
Invade like an Erotic Sister as she launched her sudden offensive.
Be as immovable as a Stubborn Sister until her co-sleeping goal was met.
Truly, she was a peerless, undefeated sister with a record of 130 wins and 0 losses. (Though her actual "combat" experience was limited entirely to mental simulations.) The meanings of the original strategy might have changed, but as they say, don't sweat the small stuff!
"Aaaah... if Yuu-kun won't sleep with me, I think I might start crying again."
"Whoa, okay! I’ll sleep! I’ll cuddle with you, just don't cry!"
Yurika climbed into the bed. But unlike before, she didn't just lie with her back to him; she hugged him from the front.
Clinging to Yuu’s front, Yurika pressed her soft body flush against his. She purposely pushed her two large mounds against him, leaving no space between them. She was thorough, even threading her beautiful, shapely legs between his thighs, subtly stimulating his "little brother."
They were completely intertwined, top and bottom, in a state of total contact. Compared to their old co-sleeping sessions, this was a massive... no, a multidimensional power-up.
"Whoa, h-hey! Why are we in this position?!"
"Yuu-kun~♡ Onee-chan can't sleep unless we're like this~♡"
"T-T-There’s no way that’s true!"
(Ugh! This is bad... Her legs are rubbing right against my... I’m... I’m at my limit...)
Yuu hit his breaking point within seconds of entering the covers.
"Uah, ah...!"
"Yuu-kun, if you make noises, you might wake our parents~"
"Nnngh...!"
Twitch, twitch, twitch—
A wave of near-terminal excitement crashed over him, making Yuu’s body convulse.
"I’m... I’m done for..."
"Fufu~♡ Yuu-kun~♡"
It seemed her "Sadistic Queen" mode from the other day had resurfaced. Yurika’s erotic assault was merciless. Seeing Yuu twitching and trembling, Yurika’s own excitement reached a fever pitch.
(I can't take it! Yuu-kun is too cute! I want to eat him up right now! It’s okay if we just... feel good together, right?)
Under the erotic sister’s relentless offensive, Yuu’s excitement transcended its limits and entered an alternate dimension.
(It’s over! She’s too sexy! I just want to go all the way right now! It’s okay if I just... explode, right?! —Wait, no! I can't!)
They were both at their absolute limits of endurance, but Yuu summoned the last of his strength to hold back. It was a feat of miraculous willpower. If he were a samurai, he’d be on the level of Yamanaka Shikanosuke, the man famous for the legend: 『I pray that I be granted seven calamities and eight sufferings.』
"Guh... ugh... Onee-chan..." Yuu stared at Yurika, his face a mask of agony.
"Eh? Yuu-kun?"
"I... I’m going to become a man who can protect you, someone worthy of you. Until then, I’m going to hold back. Because... because you're precious to me."
"E-Eeeeeeh!"
Yurika was simultaneously moved and shocked.
(Yuu-kun was thinking about me that seriously...? I’m happy, so incredibly happy!♡ But wait, that makes me look like a total failure of an older sister because I’m the only one thinking about perverted stuff! I'm so happy my heart is racing, but my body is totally switched on!♡ What am I supposed to do about this?!)
Yurika pulled her body away from him. Her face was flushed hot as she gazed at him.
"Yuu-kun, I’m so happy you think of me that way."
"Onee-chan..."
Yurika began to fidget. "Um, so... well... I’m happy, but... it’s a little lonely if we don't do anything... So, um, I was thinking we could do a little... skinship? Like, being a little lovey-dovey?"
"U-Um... yeah... maybe just a little."
"R-Right! Skinship is important!"
Yurika’s mood skyrocketed the moment she heard "just a little" was okay.
"Then... I... I want a kiss."
"Wh-What?! Eeeeeh?!"
"A-Ah, no, wait! On the cheek! Just on the cheek!"
"Ugh... but still..."
"It’s just a greeting in the West! It’s perfectly normal for siblings!"
"This is Japan, though... But if it’s just the cheek..."
"Really!?"
Suddenly full of energy, Yurika pinned Yuu down, mounting him. (Though arguably, the positions should have been reversed.)
Their heartbeats hammered against each other through their connected bodies. In the darkness of the room, Yuu stared up at his sister’s beautiful face as if possessed by a demon. He felt as though he were about to step into a forbidden relationship from which there was no return.
Yurika’s face drew closer. A face as beautiful and alluring as a succubus, casting a spell of charm and aphrodisiac all at once.
"Yuu-kun..."
"Onee-chan..."
Yurika’s moist, beautiful eyes shimmered with heat, and her soft lips parted slightly.
"Wait, hold on."
"Mmph...?"
Yuu placed his hand over Yurika’s mouth. "You said the cheek, right? You were definitely aiming for my mouth just now."
"Mmph... you're imagining things..." Yurika mumbled against his hand, trying to play dumb. She was a sister you couldn't lower your guard around for even a second.
"M-Move! I was kidding! I’ll do the cheek!"
She had clearly been hoping to steal Yuu’s first kiss. Yurika’s lips adjusted their target and approached his cheek.
"Yuu-kun~♡"
Their faces drew close, and those plump, soft lips pressed against Yuu’s cheek.
Mwah.
"Nnh... ugh..."
It was just a kiss on the cheek, yet a jolt of pleasure like an electric current surged through Yuu’s entire body. His romantic feelings and excitement hit the redline, causing a massive surge of dopamine to flood his brain.
It felt as though he had been locked in a prison of love. As if a proof of their contract had been branded onto him, a mark from which he could never escape. It was a brand that proved he belonged entirely to his older sister.
"Um... Yuu-kun..."
"That... this is..."
Because she was on top of him, Yurika could feel his body’s reaction—the fierce "upward momentum" of his member. The pleasant warmth of Yurika’s soft body radiated into him, her fragrant hair tickling his neck as it draped down, and Yuu felt himself on the verge of total collapse once again.
(I-I can't! I thought I’d held out... but I can't take any more of this! Since she’s doing this... she must feel the same way as me, right? If I just wrap my arms around her and kiss her back... she’d definitely accept me...)
Yuu’s resolve was on the brink of shattering, but he managed to hold on by a thread.
(N-No! I still can't! If I let my emotions take over now, I might destroy everything. Her trust, and our family bond.)
Yuu looked into Yurika’s eyes.
(I want to make her happy! I want to marry her and treasure her for the rest of my life! That’s why I can't do this now! I have to become a man first, someone who can convince our parents and everyone else!)
Grip!
Yuu grabbed Yurika’s shoulders and gently pushed her off.
"Okay, that’s enough, Onee-chan."
"U-Um... yeah..."
They sat side-by-side on the edge of the bed. Silence fell over them as they both sat there, frozen, their faces bright red. Even the aggressive Yurika was now overwhelmed, her brain feeling like it was about to boil over.
(T-That was close! If Yuu-kun hadn't stopped me, I would’ve gone all the way! This isn't just a 'Reverse Hikaru Genji Plan' anymore, I’m at my breaking point!)
Yurika stood up, pressing a hand against her lower abdomen.
"I... I’m going back to my room now."
"U-Um, okay."
Yurika retreated to her own room.
Once the door was closed and he was sure she was gone, Yuu flopped back onto his bed.
(That was too close! I almost did everything! But... she definitely noticed, didn't she...)
Yuu pressed his hands over his lower half. Surely she had felt his "reaction" while she was sitting on him. Between the shame and the uncontrollable impulses, he couldn't stop writhing.
"This is so embarrassing! So embarrassing! Aaaaaah!"
Meanwhile, back in her own room...
(That was too close! I almost did everything! But... h-he didn't notice, did he...?!)
Yurika pressed her hands over her own lower half. When she was on top of him, she had felt Yuu’s "change" through his pajamas. Her own body had reacted wildly to that fierce hardness.
Between the shame and the uncontrollable impulses, she curled her alluring body into a ball and writhed.
"What was that?! What was that?! Yuu-kuuuun~♡"
On opposite sides of the wall, the two of them burned with the flames of passion. Thinking of each other, they both engaged in some very "naughty" activities.
◇ ◇ ◇ ◇
The next morning—
When they met at the breakfast table, an air of profound awkwardness hung between them.
And for good reason.
After that kiss from Yurika last night, Yuu had spent the rest of the night doing some "naughty" things. Using Yurika as his "fodder," of course. He was so ashamed he couldn't even look her in the eye.
(Ugh... no matter how worked up I was, to think I used my sacred older sister as my fodder... I usually pick a sister-type heroine from a manga or anime who looks like her... but uwaaaaah! My head is so full of her that I can't use anyone else as fodder anymore!)
As for Yurika... after that kiss with Yuu last night, she had spent the rest of the night doing some "naughty" things. Using Yuu as her "fodder," of course. She was so ashamed she couldn't even look her brother in the eye.
(Ah~♡ I got so excited I used Yuu-kun as my fodder and did it so many times!♡ I used to just imagine having sex with him... but now it’s hopeless! I keep imagining a 'Sadistic Teacher' play where I tie him up and train him! I can't use anything but abnormal stuff as my fodder anymore!)
Their fantasies were slightly different in nature.
"Hey, Yuu. Are you feeling okay? You were probably up all night playing games again, weren't you?"
Emiko’s voice snapped Yuu out of his daze. She was worried that he was neglecting his studies for video games. Yuu made a face.
"I’m studying, so it’s fine."
"Are you sure?"
Yurika threw him a lifeline. "Ah, Yuu-kun is doing just fine. I’ll teach him if there’s anything he doesn't understand."
"Really? Thank you. I’m so glad you’re Yuu’s Onee-chan, Yurika. I’m counting on you."
"Yes, leave it to me."
Emiko clearly had total trust in Yurika.
However, Yurika was drowning in a sea of guilt. When she thought about the "naughty punishments" she’d given Emiko’s son and how she’d used him as fodder for her abnormal fantasies, a shiver of apologetic pleasure ran down her spine.
(Aaaah... I already love Yuu-kun so much it makes my heart race, but knowing I’m doing erotic things to her son behind her back just makes my body throb even more~)
Yurika suppressed her rising emotions and maintained a calm facade.
(But really, my feelings for Yuu-kun are the real deal. Emiko-san... no, Mom, please forgive me. It feels a little... no, a lot 'out,' but we held back, so that makes it 'safe,' right!)
※It’s incredibly close to being 'out,' but we’ll call it 'safe' for now.
"Well, I’m off."
As Yuu headed for the front door, Yurika followed him.
Pitter-patter-pitter-patter!
"Ah, Yuu-kun, you forgot something!"
"Eh?"
Yuu stopped as he was about to open the door and turned around. "Did I really forget something?"
Yurika reached the entrance, gave a quick glance behind her to make sure no one was looking, and leaned her face close to his.
Mwah!♡
She kissed him on the cheek.
"Eh... Eeeeeeh...!"
As Yuu stood there, trembling from the sudden kiss, Yurika whispered to him.
"That was your 'Have a good day' kiss!♡"
Yurika’s own face was crimson, but she continued as if nothing had happened.
"I’m glad I caught you in time. You can't go around forgetting things. Have a good day!"
"Ugh... uuuuu..."
Yuu finally realized just how terrifying this "World’s Greatest Sister" truly was.
Now that he had allowed even one "cheek kiss," she clearly intended to spend her days at home kissing him behind their parents' backs. Every chance she got, she’d be delivering "Good Morning" kisses, "Have a Good Day" kisses, "Welcome Home" kisses, and "Good Night" kisses—all of them full of forbidden thrill.
(D-Dammit! Why did I let her kiss my cheek?! She’s already so erotic I can barely hold back as it is... If she kisses me every day, I’m going to hit my limit!)
The soft sensation lingering on his cheek made his face feel like it was on fire.
Imagining the "punishments" (which were actually rewards) his sister would be doling out every day, Yuu was flooded with a confusing mix of happiness and dread. Could Yuu’s defenses—already on the verge of collapse—withstand Yurika’s increasingly powerful skinship?
Under the assault of his "erotic" sister, the pleasure was so intense that Yuu felt as if he were losing consciousness.
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