Dumped by One, Chased by Another? My Ex's Sister Is a Gal and She's Coming for Me - Episode 23

Just two days after Haruki invited me in the spring, I found myself standing in front of the Ayase household.

It was a place that had seen a lot—almost like a second home to me.

Just then, a graceful woman stepped out of the house.

“Oh my, hello there, Akishima-kun.”

“Ah, long time no see, Setsuko-san.”

She was Haruki and Fuyumi’s mother. Her face, though lightly lined with age, bore a striking resemblance to Haruki’s. And to Fuyumi’s, too.

A sharp pang tugged at my chest.

I had to avert my eyes from Setsuko’s serene, Madonna-like face.

“Have you… been doing well, Akishima-kun?”

“Ahaha, well, as well as can be expected.”

“I see…”

She didn’t mention Fuyumi.

That in itself spoke volumes.

Haruki must have told her everything.

And even so, she was being kind to me.

I was grateful for her gentleness, but at the same time, I felt guilty for dragging her into all of this.

I should change the subject.

“Um… how has Haruki-chan been lately?”

“What do you mean?”

“Well, her hairstyle, her way of talking… it all changed so suddenly. I just wondered if she’s really okay.”

“Ah, I see what you mean.”

Despite her usually laid-back demeanor, it seemed Setsuko had noticed the change in her youngest daughter.

Well, it’d be a little too careless if she hadn’t noticed at all, so in a way, I was relieved.

“Well, girls that age often get a sudden urge to dress up and express themselves… It’s not that unusual. And honestly, I don’t want to pry too much. She still follows her curfew and behaves responsibly, so I want to respect her choices.”

“I see… I guess that makes sense.”

It wasn’t that Setsuko wasn’t thinking about anything—she had her own way of watching over Haruki.

It was very much like her.

Calm and unassuming, but always observant in her own quiet way.

“And as for her personality… I don’t think it’s changed much at all. At least, the way she speaks to me hasn’t changed one bit.”

“…Huh?”

I froze for a moment. It wasn’t that I didn’t understand.

It was more that I couldn’t believe it.

Because Haruki…

“Well, anyway, no point in chatting at the door. Come on in.”

“Ah, Onii-san, hi! You’re already here?”

“Yeah, hey there, Haruki-chan.”

She ran up to me, her footsteps light and quick, and I barely managed a greeting in return.

Even so, I couldn’t help but think—today’s outfit really suits her.

It was just a sweatshirt, but with her makeup perfectly done, it didn’t look plain at all.

In fact, it struck a balance between playful charm and youthful innocence—it was genuinely attractive.

◇

“So today, we’ll do a little test. I want to get a sense of your current level.”

I’d brought along a past mock exam for second-year high school students.

It was something I had used back at the cram school I worked at until recently.

It wasn’t restricted material—you were allowed to copy it with permission.

I had just happened to make a copy for a student before leaving, and now it was coming in handy.

“I’ll start the timer now. Ready, go!”

“Okay!”

Now I had nothing to do. Back at the cram school, I always had several students to manage, so I never had moments like this. For now, the main thing was not to distract Haruki.

I needed to disappear into the background.

I stilled my body and tried to make my breathing as quiet as possible.

…Though honestly, I hadn’t been able to relax at all lately.

Sleep had been elusive. Every time I closed my eyes, memories of that day came rushing back.

But somehow—though I couldn’t say why—just watching Haruki’s face as she focused on the test…

…it started to calm me down.

No good. My head feels heavy… consciousness is slipping…

“…san?”

“Onii-san!”

“Whoa!”

I jolted upright in a panic.

“Huh?”

“You were fast asleep. I finished the test ages ago.”

“Sorry…”

“It’s fine. You looked so peaceful. Honestly, kinda cute.”

“…Cute?”

No one had ever called me that in my life.

As she poked my cheek with her finger, I didn’t feel annoyed—just strangely warm.

And just then, a knock came at the door.

Setsuko-san entered, holding a tray.

“Setsuko-san?”

“Mom!”

“I brought some snacks… Oh, was I interrupting?”

“Not at all!”

“Mom, don’t tease me!”

Haruki’s flushed face made me smile as I took the tray from Setsuko-san.

I had a major sweet tooth—which is why café hopping had become one of my hobbies.

“Here you go.”

“Oh… wow.”

What she brought out was pudding in a glass jar. Not the plastic cup kind, but the kind that’s a treat for the eyes too.

“I want one too!”

“Sure, as long as you’ve been studying properly.”

“I totally have! Right, Onii-san?”

“Y-Yeah. She’s been working hard.”

“Oh, is that so? That’s good to hear.”

“It’s delicious!”

“It really is.”

The pudding was amazing.

It was the soft, custard type, topped with both caramel and whipped cream.

Thanks to the caramel sauce, it wasn’t overly sweet—just elegant and refined.

Sweets really are the best.

Though, maybe it wasn’t just the dessert.

Maybe it was the girl beside me, her eyes sparkling just like mine, that made it all the more delicious.

“You’re so cute.”

“…Huh?”

As we shared sweets together, the words just slipped out of my mouth before I could stop them.