Dumped by One, Chased by Another? My Ex's Sister Is a Gal and She's Coming for Me - Episode 48

“Yeah? What is it?”

Haruki responded as if it were nothing.

Still, her back was perfectly straight.

She was probably just as nervous as I was.

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“…………”

To be honest, today’s date had gone almost perfectly.

There were a few unexpected twists—like Haruki wanting to try bouldering and beach volleyball—but it had been a lot of fun, and we’d made it to our final destination.

A stylish café-restaurant, where we had just finished our dessert and were now sitting in a peaceful, relaxed atmosphere.

Well—we had been, just moments ago.

Truthfully, I’m still scared.

What if the relationship I’m hoping for is different from what Haruki wants?

People’s hearts are unpredictable.

I only truly learned that lesson just last month.

And that’s made me cautious.

A part of me wonders if it’s even necessary to say anything.

But still…

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“…………”

“Ah…”

As I hesitated—nervous, unsure if I should speak or stay silent—

Haruki looked at me steadily, her gentle expression never faltering.

If you looked closely, though, you could see her hands, clasped tightly together on the table, betraying her calm demeanor.

She was trying her best not to make me nervous.

And when I realized just how hard she was trying—

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—I found myself speaking before I knew it.

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“I like you. Will you go out with me?”

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The moment I said it, it finally hit me.

Ah… so that’s how I really feel.

I’m in love with Haruki.

I love her face, her golden hair, her voice, her kindness, her strength, her sense of justice—everything.

I love the way she always thinks about me.

I love the way she blushes when Setsuko teases her.

I love the way she smiles when she chats happily with Honoka.

I love the way she shares her warmth and energy with the kids.

And most of all, I love how she laughs at the little things when she’s beside me.

I love her more than anything in the world.

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Haruki froze for what felt like an eternity.

It might have been only a second in real time.

But to me, it felt like forever.

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“…Yes!”
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With a soft, blooming smile—like a flower blossoming in spring—she answered me.

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◇

“Hehe… ehehe…”

“You’re really happy, huh?”

After leaving the restaurant, we were heading home.

It’s worth noting—Haruki is still in high school.

Naturally, that means she’s not supposed to stay out too late.

That’s a strict rule in the Ayase household.

Until she graduates, she has to be home by curfew. That’s their policy.

Honestly, I think it’s fair.

In fact, the fact that her parents even allow us to date or live together someday shows how surprisingly open-minded they are.

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Despite the date being officially over, Haruki was still on cloud nine.

And I understood why.
Until now, our relationship had been kind of undefined.

She wasn’t my sister, obviously.

And calling her a “friend” felt wrong given the age gap.

But now, we had a name for what we were.

We were lovers.

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“I mean, I’m your girlfriend now! I actually became your girlfriend! I’m so, so happy!”

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Even though it was already November, Haruki’s cheeks were flushed pink.

She twirled beside me like a spinning top, dancing with joy.

It looked like she was so happy, she just couldn’t sit still.

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“I’m glad too.”

“Ehehe~”

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She turned to me with a huge, beaming smile in response.

Yeah… she really is the cutest girl in the world.

But if she keeps spinning like that, it’s starting to get dangerous.

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“Haruki-chan.”

“What is it, Onii-san?”

“Can I… hold your hand?”

“Hweh?!”

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Haruki turned bright red and froze in place.

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“Is that… not okay?”

“N-no, it’s not that… I just… wasn’t mentally prepared…”

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Even as she said that, her face still flushed, she shyly turned her gaze away and slowly held out her hand.

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“P-please take care of me.”

“…Yeah.”

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She was so embarrassed it was contagious—I felt my own face start to heat up too.

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“I mean, we are a couple now, so… this is normal, right?”
“Yeah, it is.”

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We laced our fingers together—the classic “lover’s hand-hold.”

Haruki’s fingers were slender, soft, and slightly cool to the touch.

It felt so nice, I didn’t want to let go.

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“Your hand is so warm, Onii-san. It’s big too—it makes me feel safe.”

“And yours is cute… and really pretty.”

“Well, I do take good care of my hands, you know~”

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Haruki puffed up proudly, showing off with a smug little grin.

Adorable.

So, this is what it’ll be like from now on—

Seeing all these little moments of hers, just for me.

I really like the sound of that.

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◇

“Well then, see you tomorrow.”

“Yeah. See you tomorrow, Onii-san.”

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We finally let go of each other’s hands in front of the Ayase home.

I watched Haruki step inside before turning to leave.

Just then, I think I heard her yell, “Mom! Stop teasing me already!”—

But I decided to pretend I hadn’t heard anything.