Dumped by One, Chased by Another? My Ex's Sister Is a Gal and She's Coming for Me - Episode 26

“Akishima-kun.”

As I was about to head home after finishing my first day as a tutor, Setsuko-san called out to me.

“Good work on your first tutoring session.”

With those words, she handed me an envelope.

We had agreed that my tutoring fees would be paid in cash after each session.

That must be why she went out of her way to meet me like this.

“Thank you for today, Akishima-kun.”

“Oh, I was just doing my job…”

“No, I mean thank you for being kind to Haruki.”

“……”

What did Setsuko-san think of my relationship with her daughters—then and now?

Back when I was dating her eldest daughter, Fuyumi, I’m sure her younger daughter, Haruki, was hurting.

What did Setsuko-san think, watching all of that unfold?

One thing is clear: she truly seems happy that Haruki and I are getting along again.

Maybe… maybe she had always hoped for this.

That Fuyumi and I would stay as we were, and Haruki, even after sorting through her feelings, wouldn’t feel the need to distance herself from us—that the three of us could get along again someday.

Only Setsuko-san knows how she really feels.

“No, really, I should be thanking you—for all your consideration.”

“Consideration?”

“Letting us use the guesthouse. I really appreciate it.”

The Ayase estate had two buildings.

The main house, where Haruki and the others live, was the place I used to visit frequently.

And then there was the hanare—the detached guesthouse.

Originally, it had been the residence of Haruki’s grandparents.

After her grandfather passed away, her grandmother lived there alone.

She passed away shortly before I met Haruki, and since then, the guesthouse hadn’t been used.

So, I’d never stepped foot in it—until today.

That’s why…

“…In the guesthouse, I don’t have flashbacks of Fuyumi. You understood that, didn’t you? Not just Haruki, but you too, Setsuko-san.”

“Oh my, you caught on quickly. I didn’t think you’d notice.”

Setsuko-san gave me a gentle smile as she spoke.

One of my concerns about becoming a tutor again was my own trauma.

There are too many memories of Fuyumi in the main house.

I’d visited so often, talked with her so much.

Even after high school, we’d come together once a year to pay our respects.

…Come to think of it, maybe it was around that time.

That Haruki started to distance herself from me.

Maybe, from her point of view, it felt like we were rubbing it in.

Only she knows how it felt to her.

But I digress.

My memories with Fuyumi remain vivid.

Being back in the main house, steeped in those memories, would be overwhelming.

That’s why I’m using the guesthouse—a place untouched by those years.

“…It was you, wasn’t it, Setsuko-san? You took care of the guesthouse—cleaned it and got it ready?”

Even as a homemaker, that couldn’t have been easy.

Restoring a space left unused for years so it could be fit for studying—it must’ve been a lot of work.

“Well, it wasn’t just for your sake, Akishima-kun.”

“I know. The main reason was for Haruki, right? If you hadn’t done it, she would’ve tried to do it herself.”

Haruki doesn’t hesitate to act if it means helping someone—

or if it means being by their side.

She’d probably have taken on the burden herself, even if it meant sacrificing her own study time.

That’s exactly the kind of backwards selflessness she’s capable of.

“She’s helped me so much. I want to return the favor if I can. So, I’m really grateful for the opportunity.”

“That’s just like you,” Setsuko-san said, her well-shaped eyebrows forming a soft expression.

“…I’m not even your real child, and yet you’ve done so much for me—”

“Let me correct you on one thing.”

“…?”

“To me, you’re already like a son. That’s why I want to protect both you and Haruki.”

“…That’s…”

It felt like more kindness than I deserved.

“I know you’ve been through painful things, and I truly am sorry for that.

But you’re still young. Both you and Haruki—when things are hard, please don’t hesitate to rely on me.”

“…Thank you.”

Fighting back tears, I gripped the envelope tightly.

I’ve lost so much. I’ve experienced so much pain.

But in moments like this, I truly feel that it was worth it to keep going.

“And one more thing—since I’ll be paying you a generous tutoring fee, make sure you take Haruki out on lots of dates, okay? That girl gets lonely easily.”

“…Yeah. I know.”

I know all too well what kind of person Haruki is.

That’s exactly why I want to stay by her side.

“Hey! What are you two talking about over there?”

“Oh, just talking about how incredibly cute you are, Haruki-chan.”

“Eh?! R-really…?”

As Haruki came out to see me off, I smiled softly and said those words.