Chapter 01
My Stepsister Is Way Too Much My Type
“…Haa.”
“What? Why are you sighing like that?”
After school, in the classroom, I let out a sigh at my desk. Sitting across from me, my classmate, Kanashizuku Kaori, looked at me curiously.
Kanashizuku had beige-colored hair, super-long and wavy, a tall and slim figure, and a beautiful face—without a doubt, a real beauty.
But because she was my friend, the only time I ever thought of her as attractive was when we first met back in our first year. Since then, I never held those kinds of feelings for her.
This time, however, I spoke in a darker tone than usual.
“Lately, I’ve really been in trouble. No, more than trouble—it’s to the point I feel like my dignity as a man is at stake.”
“What? You mean you’re panicking because we’re in our second year now and you still don’t have a girlfriend? Don’t worry about that. Honestly, forcing yourself into a relationship out of desperation would be way more pathetic.”
“No, that’s not it. This isn’t about something as simple as having a girlfriend.”
I explained to her that the matter was much more serious.
Kanashizuku’s expression, which had been casual until then, grew more serious as she asked:
“…So you’re dealing with some kind of problem you can’t solve on your own?”
“Not sure yet if I can’t solve it alone, but at the very least, I want someone I can talk it over with. And if possible, I’d like you to help me out moving forward.”
“Got it. You’re an important friend, so of course I’ll help.”
She nodded firmly. Then she continued:
“So… what exactly is this ‘trouble’ you’re talking about?”
Since she was being more serious than ever before, I answered just as seriously.
“Ah… I don’t know if ‘trouble’ is the right word, but this is a family matter.”
“A family matter…?”
“I think I told you before: back during summer vacation of our first year, for certain reasons, I took in a girl a year younger than me, who was then in her third year of middle school.”
“Right, you said. Officially, she became your little sister, right?”
“Yeah… but we’re not blood-related. So technically, she’s my stepsister.”
Having set up the context, I finally got to the main point.
“And it’s that stepsister who’s the problem right now.”
“What kind of problem could your sister be causing?”
I said it plainly.
“In short… ever since I became a second-year, she suddenly started saying she wants to marry me.”
“H-huh!? M-marriage!?”
Kanashizuku shouted in surprise and even shot up from her seat. I quickly raised my finger to my lips.
“Even if it’s after school and fewer people are around, that’s not the kind of thing you shout about. Keep your voice down.”
“Eh? Ah… ahh, sorry.”
She sat back down, trying to regain her composure. But, of course, that was not the kind of thing you could just shrug off.
“Marriage? What do you mean? She’s your sister, isn’t she?”
“Since she brought it up, I’ve been avoiding her as much as possible, so I don’t know exactly what her intentions are.”
“So that’s why you’ve been inviting me to hang out more after school lately? To avoid her?”
“That’s part of it. But honestly, I also just enjoy hanging out with you… Sorry, was that unpleasant?”
“…If you really mean you enjoy spending time with me, then it’s fine.”
Though she said it was fine, Kanashizuku let out a sigh before continuing.
“As it stands, there’s just not enough information. When you get home today, talk with this Yumi-chan, right? Ask her directly what she means by ‘marriage.’ Maybe it’s a joke, or some kind of metaphor—like from a game or something.”
“…Judging from Yumi’s atmosphere, I doubt that’s it. But okay, I’ll dig a little today and figure out what she really means. Tomorrow I’ll tell you everything—including how she seemed.”
“Yeah. Good luck.”
We decided not to hang out that day. Instead, we agreed I’d give her the details tomorrow. We parted ways in front of school, and I headed home—to where my stepsister Yumi was waiting.
When I walked in, Yumi’s eyes sparkled so much they almost looked like literal hearts as she greeted me.
“Welcome home, big brother!”
Lately, I’d only spoken to Yumi during dinner, keeping interactions to a minimum. But today, I figured I’d try talking with her outside of dinner, to probe into her true feelings.
…There was something I hadn’t told Kanashizuku.
There was another troublesome thing about Yumi.
And that was— her looks were way too much my type.
