Having a girl stay over while the adoptive parents were away.
Just letting that thought surface already felt extremely improper. And if you set aside the whole 【spirit】 thing and her somewhat indescribable personality, Kyoumi was undeniably a genuine beauty.
“…It really isn’t proper for an unrelated boy and girl to spend the night under the same roof~”
Shidou stiffly shifted his gaze. Maybe it was just his imagination, but his cute little sister seemed to relax a little after hearing those words.
It probably wasn’t his imagination. After all, although Kotori had mustered the courage to try and take back her ribbons earlier, the moment she got them she had immediately hidden behind him. When he thought about it, she probably didn’t want Kyoumi staying the night.
“Yeah, there’s really no helping it~”
With that, Shidou concluded that Kotori also thought letting Kyoumi stay was inappropriate and felt relieved.
“Then Kyoumi will have to go to Fraxinus—”
“This is a golden opportunity, Onii-chan!”
“Eh?”
The idea that his sister shared his opinion turned out to be an illusion. Shidou stared at the girl whose eyes were sparkling as she grabbed his arm.
…That expression wasn’t exactly nervous. It was more like the face of someone who was clearly scared but still wanted to keep watching a horror movie.
“This is your chance to prove you’re not gay, Onii-chan!”
Kotori was brimming with the kind of energy one shows before embarking on a grand adventure.
“Hey! I can’t pretend I didn’t hear that!”
But the words that came out of her mouth shook the boy to his core. If this razor-sharp slander had come from the poisonous-tongued commander-mode Kotori, Shidou could still accept it. But when cute little-sister Kotori said it with a serious, encouraging face, the damage was multiplied several times over.
His head actually started hurting. Shidou placed both fists on either side of Kotori’s head and administered the 【Knuckle Brain Drill Punishment】.
“Gyaaaaaaaa stop it Onii-chan I’m dying I’m dying my head’s spinning——”
Kotori Itsuka let out a pained scream as the boy’s fists spun.
“Who makes up stuff like that about their own brother?!”
“But I heard it when I passed by your school gate! Something about second place on the 【Fujoshi-Voted Best School Couples List】! Something about 【Shidou ❤️ Tonomachi’s tragic love story】——!”
She struggled desperately and escaped the range of Shidou’s punishment… or rather, her words shocked the boy so much that his hands stopped, giving Kotori the chance to slip away.
Just how far had that ridiculous list spread?! There were already doujinshi?!
“No, wait—why were you even passing by my school?! Your middle school is pretty far from Raizen High! It’s not on the way home!”
Clinging to the logical flaw in her story like a lifeline, Shidou just wanted to skip this topic that was far too early for a thirteen-year-old girl.
“Because I hadn’t seen Onii-chan in days! I wanted to walk home together, so after school I asked everyone on Fraxinus to send me to your gate——!”
Clutching her aching head with both hands, tears welled up in the girl’s eyes, looking like she might burst into sad tears any second.
“Guu——!”
Just what kind of authority abuse have you been up to?!
He wanted to press the issue, but an image involuntarily appeared in Shidou’s mind:
White ribbons, innocent smile, Kotori sweetly asking the Fraxinus crew to drop her at the school gate, quietly waiting for her big brother to get out of school so they could finally walk home together after so long. Then she accidentally overhears a group of fujoshi talking about that weird list and hears a familiar name.
“Um… Itsuka?”
“Oh, Itsuka? That guy is totally—”
“Onii-chan is NOT like that!!!”
Shouting that, the girl wipes her tears and runs off in a panic, too scared to hear the truth, gives up on going home, and spends another lonely night on Fraxinus—end scene.
As expected, even if she was terrified of Kyoumi right now, the Kotori who was desperately trying to prove her brother was normal was still his adorable little sister. Moved (ノДＴ).
“I see, no helping it then…”
Shidou’s shoulders slumped as he lowered his head, pretending to accept her explanation—
“As if I’d say that! Gaooo!!”
“Kyaa——!”
Raising both arms and roaring like a monster, Shidou made the girl jump in fright. She stumbled back and hid behind the wall on the side of the hallway.
“No extra Chupa Chups after dinner tonight.”
Almost taken in by the girl, Shidou pointed his finger and declared her sentence.
“That’s not fair! I protest! Protest!”
From the edge of the wall, her bright red twin tails swung with her protests. Kotori wasn’t hiding very carefully.
“Protest overruled—”
“Guu…”
Letting out a reluctant grumble, Kotori peeked out from behind the wall and put on an obedient face. “Um… I’m rooting for you, okay? Do your best, Onii-chan!”
“…Ah…”
Shidou gave a short reply, walked down the hallway to her side, and gently ruffled her hair. “Go wait in the living room with Kyoumi. I’ll make dinner.”
“What about the Chupa Chups—”
“Nope~”
“Guuuum…”
Letting out a dissatisfied growl, the girl stopped looking back and ran tap-tap-tap toward the living room.
Kotori was still Kotori. Even in cute little-sister mode, she was forcing herself to cheer him on.
Meeting a spirit was a once-in-a-lifetime chance. Since they’d met, he couldn’t let the opportunity slip away. If he missed the chance to raise her affection because of embarrassment, that would be the real shame.
Shidou understood what Kotori understood. He understood what Kotori was trying to convey.
Normally, he should agree with Kotori’s decision…
But this time, Kyoumi had no intention of being captured.
【I understand the principle of first come, first served. This time, Kotori gets priority~】
【Next time, then. If this time you can’t look only at me without any reservations, then next time it’ll be both the hand-holding and the sealing.】
“…”
Sighing softly, unsure how to explain the situation, Shidou scratched his head and decided to stop thinking about it for now. He headed to the kitchen.
He just hoped tonight would pass peacefully… The parents’ room wasn’t suitable for a guest. He’d have to prepare the guest room—maybe the one on the second floor? But there was no extra bedding. Could she sleep on a futon? Otherwise he could give up his own room…
Taking eggs out of the fridge, Shidou pondered the evening arrangements. He turned around unconsciously. The Itsuka family kitchen wasn’t a separate room; it was only partitioned from the living room by a counter, so turning around let him see the living room clearly.
In his line of sight, Kyoumi was staring with great interest at the girl whose back faced the kitchen. The two sat side by side. He couldn’t hear any conversation, but at least things didn’t seem too tense.
“…Alright, cooking, cooking…”
Cracking the eggs and pouring the yolks into a bowl, Shidou calmed down and started preparing the meal.
From Kyoumi’s perspective…
The girl’s cheeks were puffed out like a balloon. Three plastic lollipop sticks protruded from her mouth. Stuffing several Chupa Chups in at once made her look both comical and oddly cute—like a certain animal.
“…A hamster?”
Kyoumi chuckled lightly and playfully poked the girl’s cheek.
“——Mm-mm-ph!”
Her hand was promptly smacked away.
——————————————————————
Author’s mutterings——
Progressing at snail pace…