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 13

The sun was beginning to set, and the hour hovered in that fleeting space before nightfall.

In the dim alleyway, we walked side by side.

“It really gets chilly around this time of day, doesn’t it?”

Haa… Hiyori-san exhaled into her cupped hands, trying to warm them.

Feeling the cold air settling in, she gave a slight shrug of her shoulders.

“Yes, it’s spring, but the chill still lingers.”

Wait—this is just me and Hiyori-san out together… right!?

I’ve got her all to myself—someone’s not going to hate me for this, right…!?

Even if it’s for the sake of the plan, is it really okay to be doing something like this…?

“During the day, it’s fine with just the uniform, but it really is a tricky season,” she said.

“I totally get that.”

Hiyori-san wore an oversized nylon parka over her school uniform.

It was a simple and dependable casual outfit, yet when Hiyori-san wore it, there was an added touch of refinement.

Why is that?

In any case, she’s in a different league.

“By the way, Hanano-san, aren’t you cold dressed like that…?”

As we chatted, I realized I was still in my uniform with nothing over it.

I was out here with no outerwear at all.

“I’m fine. As long as you’re with me, Hiyori-san, I don’t feel cold at all.”

“I’m not doing anything, though…?”

No, just looking at you makes me feel warm.

…Of course, there’s no way I could say something that creepy out loud.

◇◇◇

After about ten minutes of walking, we arrived at the nearest supermarket.

As Hiyori-san walked ahead, she reached for a shopping basket.

“Please wait, Hiyori-san!”

“Yes?”

I stopped her hand and grabbed the basket first.

“I’m carrying everything today. Please leave it to me.”

“But at least while we’re inside the store…”

There it is.

Hiyori-san, ever so considerate toward others.

But today, I wasn’t going to let her stop me.

“If your delicate hands were hurt carrying something heavy, that would be a disaster. Please allow me.”

“I feel bad letting you do everything…”

“No, no, it’s really no trouble at all.”

Fufufu…

I’ve already managed to have Hiyori-san rely on me.

Isn’t this going surprisingly well…?

“You don’t need to hold back with me. Just think of me as your humble servant.”

“I don’t have that sort of hobby…”

Ah, maybe I went too far. That might’ve creeped her out a bit.

“Then… think of me as your butler.”

“…I’m not sure you’re that reliable.”

Ugh…

My low background-character stats are coming back to bite me.

“Anyway, I’ll do anything for you. If there’s ever something you need, just say the word, okay?”

“…Alright.”

She replied half-heartedly, but for now, I’ll consider that a small victory.

After gathering all the ingredients needed for tempura, it ended up being quite a lot.

Naturally, the weight matched the volume, and it took both hands to carry everything.

“Are you okay?”

“This is nothing!”

“…Your arms are shaking, though.”

Right. I’d completely forgotten.

I’m not exactly strong myself.

There’s even a chance I’m weaker than Hiyori-san… No, that can’t be true.

“Just… battle tremors, maybe?”

“…Are you fighting something?”

I’m sorry.

I don’t really know what I’m saying either.

Anyway, with all the ingredients in hand, we headed to the register.

“I’ll handle the payment, so could you pack the groceries, Hanano-san?”

“Got it!”

I took the eco-bag Hiyori-san handed me and got to work.

It was a simple, natural-colored bag with no eye-catching features, yet in Hiyori-san’s hands it somehow had an air of elegance… (you know the drill).

“Huh?”

I finished packing everything neatly.

But… Hiyori-san, who I thought would be back any second, was nowhere to be seen.

I glanced around, searching for her— “Eh? What?”

For some reason, Hiyori-san was standing near the supermarket entrance.

And she was with someone I didn’t recognize.

“…An acquaintance, maybe?”

Hiyori-san was smiling, her expression cheerful.

Cheerful, but…

“Something about it seems… off?”

It was clearly a forced smile—or depending on how one looked at it, she even seemed troubled.

At moments, I could see her subtly making hand gestures as if to wave something off.

Was she trying to turn someone down?

“…This doesn’t look good.”

Sensing trouble, I rushed straight over to Hiyori-san.

“Come on, just for a bit, okay?”

“Um, well, like I said—”

Their conversation was fragmented, so I could only catch bits and pieces.

But I didn’t have the luxury to stop and fully grasp the situation.

“Excuse me, coming through~!”

“Whoa, who the hell are you!?”

“Hanano-san…?”

I stepped in between them.

With all the bags I was carrying, I must have created quite an imposing presence.

“Hiyori-san, we’ve finished our shopping, so let’s head home.”

“Uh, ah, well…”

Hiyori-san hesitated.

Her gaze was still fixed on the stranger who had been speaking to her.

“Wait a second. I was just inviting her to hang out for a bit…”

“No.”

“Huh…?”

“I’m currently on a shopping date with her! Could you not interrupt us!?”

I had a feeling this guy wouldn’t take a hint, so I decided to make things crystal clear.

“Ugh…”

“Eh…?”

They both froze, completely stunned.

“So, yeah, that’s how it is. Let’s go, Hiyori-san.”

“Uh… um…”

I took Hiyori-san’s hand and quickly led her out of the supermarket.

Once we returned to a quiet, empty alleyway, I slowed my pace and turned to her.

“So… what exactly was that all about?”

“Well… he invited me to have tea with him, since I seemed free…”

What a textbook pickup line…

“And what did you say to him?”

“I told him I appreciated the sentiment, but I had to go home to cook…”

Ugh…

Hiyori-san’s kindness had worked against her again.

“Hiyori-san, if you’re not interested, you need to turn them down clearly.”

“? But I did refuse.”

“If you say things like ‘I appreciate the sentiment,’ it just gives them false hope. They’ll think they have a chance.”

“But… it must take courage to approach someone like that…”

Agh… seriously, Hiyori-san.

“You can’t waste your kindness on the wrong people, Hiyori-san.”

“…What do you mean?”

“You’re kind to everyone, but you don’t have to give your time to people you’re not even remotely interested in. What would happen to Chiyo-san and Karin-san’s dinner if you wasted time like that?”

“Well…”

It’s not that I’m demanding that Hiyori-san cook.

The point is, even though she has priorities, she ends up blurring the lines because of her kindness.

That kind of misdirected compassion can lead to bad outcomes.

“If you find it hard to turn someone down, just call me.”

“But… then it would be like I’m using you, Hanano-san…”

…I see.

Even here, she’s holding back.

That’s just like Hiyori-san.

But I don’t think that’s the right way.

“Hiyori-san, if it’s something I can do, you can rely on me.”

“I couldn’t possibly…”

Honestly, I have no interest in anyone except the Tsukimori sisters. My capacity to care about others is practically zero.

Which means, in the end, I probably can’t truly understand what Hiyori-san struggles with.

“I honestly don’t understand why you go out of your way to be considerate to everyone.”

But if there’s anything I can do…

“If you’re always worrying about others—even your sisters—then how about me, your stepsister?”

I’m not quite family, not quite a friend, not a stranger either—just this ambiguous person.

“Why… why go so far?”

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

“…Huh.”

Hiyori-san looked at me, clearly taken aback.

“Anything’s fine. I just want us to help each other, and get to know one another better.”

“Is it really okay to do that…?”

“It’s fine. Even you must’ve felt a little stuck in that situation, right? See, I can be useful once in a while.”

“…”

“And if you’re so worried about others, then take my feelings into account too—I want to get closer to you, Hiyori-san.”

She blinked in surprise.

“…I see, so that’s your approach.”

With a soft chuckle, Hiyori-san smiled with grace.

“I never considered that kind of ‘consideration’ before… but it’s nice. I’m intrigued.”

For the first time, I felt like she genuinely accepted my feelings, straight on.