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 11

Tsukimori Hiyori

Hiyori Tsukimori—
The second daughter of the Tsukimori sisters. A warm, gentle presence with a nurturing and serene nature.

She always carries a smile, a saintly figure who never stirs conflict with those around her.

That’s the impression I had of her—until now.

“For better or worse, Hiyori-neesan never asserts herself. That’s why it’s so hard to see her true feelings.”

The one saying this is Karin, the youngest of the three sisters.

For some reason, she’s sitting right beside me, refusing to move from that spot. I have no idea why.

Regardless, she’s been telling me all about Hiyori-san.

“But wouldn’t that make her the perfect mediator, balancing everything out?”

Chiya, with her cool and composed demeanor, and Karin, lively and full of energy—

With Hiyori-san standing between them, it seems like a perfect balance.

“How should I put this…? Hiyori-neesan feels like trying to grasp air, you know?”

“I see.”

In other words, she’s someone you can’t quite get a hold of.

“But if that’s the case, then maybe we’re alike in some ways.”

“Huh? How so?”

“No one can touch me either.”

“…Wait, are you saying that in a lonely, outcast kind of way?”

“Yes.”

If that’s the case, then Hiyori-san and I, both untouchable in our own ways, might just be on the same wavelength.

“Don’t say things that make it hard for me to respond…”

“You’re supposed to laugh, Karin-san.”

“It’s way too sensitive to laugh at!”

“Karin-san, you’re so kind as always.”

“No, it’s just that Akari, you’re the one with a strange perspective!”

Well, in any case, I’ve gathered some valuable information from Karin-san.

Now, it’s time to figure things out for myself.

◇◇◇

After school, I head home.

Even now, walking through the gates of the Tsukimori estate still fills me with nervousness.

It’ll probably take some time before I can truly call this place home.

“Oh my, welcome home, Hanano-san.”

“Wah—! I-I’m back!”

The moment I step inside, I run into Hiyori-san at the entrance.

She’s holding a heavy laundry basket in both hands.

“Ah, is that laundry?”

“Yes, there’s quite a lot, so I thought I’d hang them up on the second floor.”

Well, with a family of six, that’s to be expected.

Since their parents are always busy with work, Hiyori-san takes care of most of the cooking and laundry.

Honestly, she carries the heaviest burden when it comes to housework.

“I’ll help!”

“Oh my, are you sure?”

Perfect timing.

Getting the chance to talk with Hiyori-san like this feels like good luck.

We head to an empty room on the second floor.

Following her instructions, I help her hang up the laundry.

“How are you adjusting? Have you gotten used to the house yet?”

As she smooths out the wrinkles of a T-shirt, Hiyori-san casually starts the conversation.

“I’m getting there little by little, but I think I still need more time.”

“I see. But since you’re already getting along with Karin-chan, I’m sure it won’t take too long.”

“Y-yeah, hopefully… That’s why—”

To make that happen…

“I want to get closer to you too, Hiyori-san.”

“…Oh?”

Hiyori-san blinks in surprise.

What does that reaction mean?

Could this be… a good sign?

“S-so… what do you think?”

I ask hesitantly, and Hiyori-san quickly responds with a warm smile.

“Aren’t we already close?”

She says that so effortlessly while hanging up the T-shirt.

…It feels like she’s just being polite.

As if she’s maintaining a surface-level friendliness rather than truly engaging with me.

“So, you think we’re already close?”

“Yes. You’re my stepsister now, part of the family, so of course we should get along, right?”

Ah—

That’s not it.

That’s such a distant, formal way of saying it.

I don’t want just a relationship dictated by circumstances.

I want something deeper, a bond that connects us on a fundamental level.

Without that, I don’t think I’ll ever truly understand who Hiyori-san really is.

“Chiya-chan is the type of person who finds it difficult to accept others right away.”

“Hiyori-san…”

“Oh, I’m sorry. You’re trying so hard to fit in, and here I am saying something like that. I hope I didn’t upset you.”

“Do you call your older sister ‘Chiya-chan’ too?”

“Hmm?”

For the first time, Hiyori-san looks genuinely surprised.

Did I say something strange?

“Well, I thought calling Karin-san ‘Karin-chan’ makes sense since she’s younger, but you call your older sister the same way?”

“Ah… well… yes, I do.”

Calling the cool and slightly distant (which is what makes her great) Chiya-san “Chiya-chan”…

And coming from Hiyori-san, the younger sister, no less…

That’s kind of adorable.

“So… are we just going to ignore the part where Chiya-chan hasn’t accepted me?”

“Oh, I already figured that out.”

“…I see.”

For some reason, Hiyori-san looks taken aback.

Could it be that she’s actually worried about me not being accepted as part of the family?

“It’s fine. I’m used to people keeping their distance from me—happens at school too. I’m always alone, so it doesn’t bother me.”

“Y-you’re actually used to that…?”

“Yes. So for now, this feels just right.”

In fact, the reality of casually spending time with the revered Tsukimori sisters is already overwhelming enough.

Of course, I want to get closer to them eventually, but for now, even maintaining some distance—like Chiya-san does—is fine.

When you actually get to live with your idols, anything feels possible, and that’s exactly why it’s dangerous.

“…Hanano-san, you’re strong, aren’t you?”

“Huh?”

Wait a second. Me? Strong?

If anything, my self-image is the complete opposite—I’m fragile as can be.

I have no stamina, I’m terrible at sports…

“If it were me, I don’t think I could so easily accept being alone like that.”

“Hiyori-san, that’s not quite right.”

“Oh? What do you mean?”

As she stretches out another piece of laundry, Hiyori-san tilts her head slightly, a puzzled look on her face.

That simple domestic gesture, combined with her innocent expression, is way too cute…

“For me, being alone is just how it’s always been. It’s not something that particularly bothers me.”

“…Oh.”

I was an only child from the start.

My mother was always busy with work and hardly ever home.

I only had a handful of friends.

For me, “being alone” was just the norm.

“If anything, what bothers me more is the assumption that being alone is automatically sad.”

I don’t mind being by myself. What I dislike is the way people in groups tend to look at loners with pity.

“…I see. That’s an interesting way to look at it.”

Hiyori-san nods thoughtfully.

Oh?

Wait a second…

Did I just manage to say something meaningful to Hiyori-san?

Is this my chance to get closer to her?

“S-so… what I mean is… I’d like to learn from you what’s good about spending time with sisters…”

I try hinting at it.

If I don’t take the first step, Hiyori-san will probably keep things as they are, never closing the gap.

“Well, since sisters are individuals too, I suppose the most important thing is mutual respect.”

“Oh, uh… right.”

“Especially at our age, it’s crucial to maintain personal boundaries.”

“Y-yeah…”

Wait.

She’s not saying anything wrong, and yet—

Why does this feel like a roundabout way of telling me “don’t get too close”…?

“So, since I respect your strength in being alone, I’ll leave you to it now~.”

“Wait—Hiyori-san, hold on!”

Before I even realize it, she’s already finished hanging all the laundry.

Not only is she ridiculously efficient at housework, but she’s also managed to smoothly put some distance between us.

Such flawless execution.

This must be what Karin meant when she said Hiyori-san was like trying to grasp air.

It’s true—I still can’t get a clear read on her.

“I-if that’s how it is, then…”

Unfortunately for her, I’m not the type to give up easily.

There’s still a way.

Because at the end of the day—I am her stepsister.