Dumped by One, Chased by Another? My Ex's Sister Is a Gal and She's Coming for Me - Episode 3

“Hello there, Onii-san.”

“…Huh?”

Who… is this girl?

I don’t recognize her face. Her tone of voice is unfamiliar too.

The only thing I could just barely recognize was the school uniform.

Actually, no— I’d just seen it the other day.

“Are you one of Haruki-chan’s classmates?”

She was wearing the same uniform as Haruki.

I’d seen it a few times now, including yesterday, so there was no mistaking it.

Even so, the questions kept piling up.

Assuming she is Haruki’s classmate—then why is she in my apartment?

And more importantly, how does she have a key?

Could she be one of Fuyumi’s acquaintances?

If that’s the case, I’d really prefer if she just left right now.

“Ah—makes sense. I guess you really couldn’t tell it was me like this, huh? That’s hilarious.”

“…It’s not, really.”

She giggled, covering her mouth with her hand as if this was all somehow amusing.

Wait a second.

That gesture… I’ve seen it before.

More than that—I’ve heard this voice.

I just heard it recently.

No—more accurately, I know someone with a voice like this.

I must’ve been suppressing the memory.

“Haruki-chan… is that you?”

“Yup! That’s right.”

I was speechless.

Just yesterday, Haruki had been your typical neat, black-haired high school girl. But overnight, she’d somehow transformed into a total gyaru.

What the hell happened?

A delayed rebellious phase?

Or maybe she snapped under the pressure of entrance exams?

“Ahh, you’re thinking weird stuff, aren’t you, Onii-san?”

Haruki poked my cheek with a smug grin.

It was… cute, honestly. But I was more confused than anything.

“By the way… the key. How’d you get it?”

“Oh, that person sent me a spare one. Said I should have it just in case something ever happened. I think it was Mom who actually made the rule.”

“Ah. That makes sense.”

The moment she said that person, Haruki’s expression twisted unpleasantly.

It wasn’t quite anger—more like disgust. The kind of face you’d make if you saw a bug or something rotten.

I knew immediately who that person referred to.

Anyway, at least now I understood how Haruki got the key.

And it made sense too. If this had been entirely Fuyumi’s idea, she never would’ve thought to have a spare key made.

As I was thinking that—

“Well then, I’m coming in.”

“Wait—uh, what?”

I was completely thrown off.

First of all—Haruki, in my apartment?

That, I could make sense of.

Fuyumi lived at home and had already told her family about me, so it wasn’t strange that Haruki would know where I lived.

The problem was why she had come here.

“So… why did you come here?”

“Hmm? You mean, why aashi came here?”

She used a first-person pronoun I’d never heard from her before and casually strolled into the apartment.

Then she began wandering through the kitchen, living room, and even the balcony, checking out every room like it was totally normal.

After finishing her inspection, she came trotting back over and suddenly grabbed my arm.

“…Is something wrong?”

“…I have to stop it.”

“…Huh?”

I thought I heard her mutter something under her breath, but it wasn’t clear.

Then, without warning, Haruki lifted her head and swung our joined hands playfully back and forth.

“I mean—wow! I always thought guys’ apartments were super messy, but this place is really clean! It’s even cleaner than mine!”

“It’s not that clean.”

I waved my hand dismissively.

Sure, it was tidy enough that I wouldn’t be embarrassed to have a girl over.

But honestly, that was only because I’d been keeping it ready in case Fuyumi dropped by.

That’s all it ever was—preparation.

Really, it’s just something any boyfriend would do.

…Well, would’ve done, I guess. I corrected myself bitterly.

“Anyway, I’m gonna make dinner now, okay?”

“Dinner?”

“Yup! Judging from that reaction, you haven’t eaten anything today, have you?”

“…”

Bullseye.

Ever since I caught Fuyumi cheating, I’d had no appetite. I hadn’t eaten a proper meal.

Just occasionally snacking on instant noodles or jelly cups—whatever was lying around.

I could still eat, technically. Just going through the motions of chewing and swallowing.

But I couldn’t bring myself to cook or even go out and buy food.

“I don’t have any groceries, though…”

“That’s fine! Can I just use whatever’s in your fridge?”

“Sure… go ahead.”

I didn’t have the energy to argue, so I just sat there watching Fuyumi’s little sister prepare a meal.

“Hmm-hmm-hmmm~”

Haruki hummed cheerfully as she cooked, still in her school uniform, now wearing a man’s apron over it.

Her hairstyle was different, too. You’d never guess she was Fuyumi’s younger sister.

Still, what triggered this whole gyaru makeover?

There had to be some kind of reason behind it.

“Okay, all done!”

“Oh—thanks.”

I’d been staring blankly at her, and didn’t even notice when she finished.

“Here you go—omurice!”

“Oh, wow…”

“It’s the one you made for me a while back. I wanted to try making it myself.”

“I see.”

That’s right—I’d cooked for Haruki a few times in the past.

But that was ages ago.

Once I moved in with Fuyumi for college, I hardly ever visited her family home again.

I forced back the nausea building in my throat and took a bite.

“…It’s good.”

Let me be clear:

It was better than anything I’d ever made.

“For real!? I’m so glad!”

“Yeah. It’s really good.”

“Great! I’ll cook again sometime—look forward to it, okay?”

“If it’s like this… I wouldn’t mind eating it every day.”

“…Wha—?!”

She made a weird little sound.

Was something wrong?

“Haha, geez—you’re such a smooth talker!”

Watching this bubbly gyaru beam with joy…

I don’t know why, but…

Just earlier, I was seriously thinking about ending it all.

But now, somehow, I couldn’t even imagine thinking that way.