I Confessed to the Three Beautiful Sisters at School and Got Rejected, but After I Became their Stepsister, They Started Doting On Me (GL) - Chapter 10

One way or another, I felt like the emotional wall between Karin and her sisters had started to come down.

Now, what mattered was how the Tsukimori sisters’ relationship would change from here on.

This morning’s breakfast would be a true test of that.

Hehe… I’m looking forward to it.

“Akari, you’ve got a grain of rice on your cheek.”

“Oh! Sorry about that.”

Just as I was getting caught up in my thoughts, Karin’s attention ended up on me because of my own carelessness.

No, no, this isn’t what I wanted…

“Here, got it.”

“Thank you.”

She held up the single grain of rice that had been stuck to my cheek.

But instead of getting rid of it, she seemed to hesitate, her fingers hovering uncertainly in the air.

“Now what…?”

“Um, maybe just throw it away—”

“That’d be a waste.”

She cut me off before I could even finish.

“Ah, well… I suppose wasting food isn’t good, but…”

Should I eat it instead?

The rice that had just been on Karin’s fingertip…

Wait—would that be okay?

“Then I’ll eat it.”

“Oh—”

Before I could even suggest it, Karin popped the rice into her mouth.

The rice that had just touched my cheek… was now inside Karin’s body…!?

“W-Wait, you can’t do that, Karin!”

“Huh? What’s with the sudden panic?”

“You can’t eat something that touched me! What if you get sick?!”

“Akari… do you think you’re bacteria or something?”

“No, I’m just worried that someone as beautiful as you might get contaminated by me.”

“Wha—! Could you not say it like that!? And we live in the same house, you know!”

Either way, this was unacceptable.

Someone as gorgeous as Karin shouldn’t be ingesting something that had touched someone as insignificant as me.

Why did she have to eat it…?

“…What exactly are you two doing so early in the morning?”

A voice filled with exasperation interrupted us—Chiya, the eldest sister.

Of course, Chiya probably didn’t want her family’s pristine Tsukimori lineage being tainted by someone like me.

Even I understood that.

“Akari had rice on her cheek.”

“I can see that… but why not just tell her to remove it herself?”

“It was faster to do it myself.”

“…I see.”

Chiya looked like she still had something to say but ultimately kept it to herself.

Karin had finally started expressing her true feelings, but it seemed like there was still a distance between her and Chiya.

“You’re so kind, Karin, eating it for her like that,” Hiyori chimed in.

“I mean, it’d be a waste to throw away the rice you made, Hiyori.”

“Oh my, what a sweet thing to say.”

“Sweet? That’s not really my thing.”

“Then are you more of the fiery, passionate type?”

“That’s a big jump!”

Yep, as usual, Hiyori was as warm as ever—but sometimes, she could be a bit of a mystery.

Karin had definitely softened up a bit, but I couldn’t help but feel that the relationship between the two older sisters still had some room to improve.

“Here, this is for you.”

Just before we left for school, Hiyori suddenly called out to me.

That alone was surprising enough.

But what really shocked me was what she was holding.

“…Hiyori, is this…?”

“It’s a bento.”

A completely unexpected turn of events.

Resting in the palm of her delicate hand was a small cloth-wrapped bundle.

Clearly, it contained a homemade lunch.

What in the world was going on?

“Um… why are you giving me this?”

“I always make lunch for my sisters, but yesterday, I completely forgot to prepare one for you, Hanano-san. My apologies.”

H-Hiyori made me a bento…?

And she’s giving it to me…?

W-What is this?

Some kind of elaborate prank?

“If it doesn’t suit your taste, feel free to leave it unfinished.”

“That would be impossible!”

“Oh my, but I don’t know your food preferences yet.”

“It’s fine, I love everything!”

If it was something Hiyori made, I had full confidence that I’d love it, even if it were something I normally disliked.

“Oh dear, that’s quite reassuring.”

Hiyori smiled warmly.

Ahh… what a soothing presence.

◇◇◇

At school, I sat at my desk, lost in thought.

How could the Tsukimori sisters’ relationship not be smooth when someone as warm and nurturing as Hiyori was in the middle of it?

With someone like her around, wouldn’t they have to be close?

“Hah… what’s a loner like me doing analyzing other people’s relationships from a high horse?”

I let out a self-deprecating chuckle.

I couldn’t even manage my own social life—if someone overheard me contemplating other people’s dynamics, they’d probably laugh at me.

“What are you mumbling about by yourself?”

“Wha—Karin!?”

“You get startled way too easily, Akari.”

“N-No, I mean—look where we are!”

“…What? What about it?”

“We’re at school! School!”

Karin tilted her head, confused.

“Yeah? And?”

“A popular girl like you talking to someone as plain as me? That’s social suicide! It’ll ruin your image!”

“…Akari, you’re so pessimistic.”

“Huh?”

“Nobody’s thinking that.”

That’s definitely not true.

Just look—people were staring at us.

“Come on, there’s no way they aren’t thinking it.”

“You’re overthinking it.”

“Ah, I see now. This is like high fashion mixing with fast fashion to create a trendy new look, right? You’re combining ‘high brand’ (you) with ‘affordable casual’ (me) for a fresh aesthetic!”

“…I have absolutely no idea what you’re talking about.”

Karin furrowed her brows and massaged her temple in frustration.

“But even if that were the case, I chose to come talk to you, Akari. So whatever anyone else thinks doesn’t matter.”

“Karin…”

“Do you get it now?”

Hearing that directly from her—

“Could you… um, take a step back?”

“Why the heck would I do that!?”

Because this is too much!

It’s too overwhelming! My heart is racing, and I need a second to calm down!

“Just tell me what you were thinking about.”

“Ah—!”

Before I could react, Karin casually grabbed an empty chair and sat down right in front of me.

W-What do I do now…?

“If you don’t say anything, I’ll just stay here forever.”

I mean, I appreciate that, but… this isn’t ideal.

So I have to talk, huh?

“Well… I was just thinking about how I could get closer to Hiyori.”

Next, I wanted to bridge the gap with Hiyori and help mend the relationships within the Tsukimori family.

But what should I do to make that happen?

…

“Huh? Karin?”

She had asked, so I answered—but now she had gone completely silent.

“You really want to get close to Hiyori?”

“Ah, yes. I do.”

“…Hmm.”

“Uh, Karin?”

“I don’t knooow.”

“Huh?”

“What?”

W-What do you mean, what…?

I had expected some kind of advice or at least a reaction from her, but… nothing?

“Why not just try your best?”

“Ah… r-right.”

S-So that’s it?

She just wanted to hear my answer?

Okay, fine.

I’ll figure this out on my own.

“Anyway, I’ll just stay by your side forever.”

“Why would that be the conclusion!?”

That has nothing to do with what we were talking about!

“Well, why don’t you figure it out yourself?”

“Huh? What is that supposed to mean…?”

Karin was turning into an even more mysterious person than before.