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 16

Tsukimori Chiya

At the top of this academy’s social hierarchy stands the Tsukimori sisters.

Among the three, the one who reigns supreme, known as the most outstanding, is none other than her.

It is not simply because she is the eldest daughter.

“President Tsukimori.”

“Yes, what is it?”

“Um, regarding the matter discussed during the last meeting…”

“Ah, that—”

Yes, precisely.

She, Tsukimori Chiya, bears the title of Student Council President.

On top of that, she consistently ranks at the top of her class.

‘Sure, she might be good at studying, but she’s probably bad at sports, right?’

She is no such predictable stereotype.

Of course, as someone not affiliated with any sports club, Miss Chiya lacks the extraordinary athletic prowess of Miss Karin.

However, even so, her physical abilities nearly rival those of the students in athletic clubs.

Even in physical education, she maintains top scores. Beautiful, intelligent, and athletic—a rare combination she embodies with ease.

That is why she, Tsukimori Chiya, reigns at the pinnacle of this academy.

“…Isn’t that a bit much?”

“Eh? Ka-Karin-san!?”

Why are you suddenly right next to me—and interrupting like that!?

“You were mumbling to yourself.”

“Did I say that out loud!?”

“Also, what was with that grand monologue…? I don’t want to hear that kind of thing about my own sister.”

“Then please don’t eavesdrop in the first place!”

It’s embarrassing, you know!?

“No, I just saw someone peeking at Chiya-nee from the end of the hallway…”

“Who’s that suspicious person!?”

Such obvious spying only puts a burden on Chiya-san.

As a devoted fan, I cannot let that slide.

“I meant you, Akari.”

“…Excuse me?”

“You really have no self-awareness, do you…”

Karin-san shook her head with a sigh.

It seems I’m the strange one here.

“Anyway, Karin-san, what brings you here?”

“Hmm? Oh, I’m on my way to club activities.”

Karin-san lifted a shoe case with one hand.

Most likely, it contained her basketball shoes.

“Good luck out there.”

“Thanks. So, what about you, Akari? What are you up to?”

“I’m…”

My gaze shifted back to Chiya-san.

She had just entered a particular room.

“I was thinking of, well, paying a little visit.”

“…Wait, is your next target Chiya-nee?”

Karin-san’s eyes sharpened.

Why the scary look all of a sudden?

“Yes, I was hoping to grow a little closer to her.”

I know it’s an unattainable dream.

Even so, I can’t help but pursue it.

“…Akari, are you saying you’re fine with any of us sisters?”

Her tone only grew sharper.

“No, I’m not fine with just any of the Tsukimori sisters. It has to be all three of you!”

“…That’s kind of a terrible thing to say, don’t you think!?”

Huh? Why…?

I was only expressing my honest feelings for the three of you…

Ah, I see.

I tend to forget, now that we’re growing closer.

To the Tsukimori sisters, I’m still that “strange little stepsister who’s in love with all three of them.”

Well… it’s a gross misunderstanding, but I’ll accept it for now.

What matters most is restoring the bond among the three sisters.

“In any case, I just want to understand what Chiya-san thinks and how she acts in her daily life.”

“Hm… I said this yesterday too, but Chiya-nee doesn’t really talk about herself, even with us. I think it’s pointless.”

Still, in the dynamics among the sisters, Chiya-san holds considerable influence.

As the eldest and a natural leader, her silence about herself may very well be one of the causes behind their discord—or so I suspect.

“No worries. I’ll ask her everything, down to the last detail.”

“She totally rejected you yesterday though… You sure don’t give up easily.”

“Something like that’s a reward in itself.”

Even a cold Chiya-san is wonderful.

“I really don’t understand what kind of person you are, Akari…”

Indeed.

For someone as gifted as Karin-san, someone like me must be incomprehensible.

But that’s fine. You all can continue to gaze down upon the world from your lofty heights.

I’m content simply looking up at you.

Student Council Room

Standing before that stately door, I couldn’t help but tremble. Was it because I’m a failure of a student…?

This was a place I would never usually dare to approach.

However, today, I had no choice but to step inside.

—Knock knock

“Come in.”

A clear, dignified voice rang out beyond the wooden door.

“Pardon my intrusion.”

I opened the door and crossed the threshold.

Beyond the thick carpet, seated in an imposing chair with the large window at her back, was Miss Chiya Tsukimori.

“Do you have something to discuss? If it’s a matter I can handle, I’ll hear it… Oh, it’s you.”

Her high-toned voice lowered as soon as she recognized me.

There’s no need to react so obviously, is there?

“Yes, I do have something to discuss. There’s something I’d very much like to ask of you, President Tsukimori.”

“…What is it?”

“Why did you aspire to become Student Council President?”

“…Excuse me?”

Heh heh heh.

Yes, in this setting, Miss Chiya is the Student Council President, and I am but a student.

With the other council members present, she cannot simply brush me aside.

And if I come to understand her thoughts regarding the student council, which occupies such a large part of her daily life, I should be able to grasp something of who she is.

“…I believe I explained my reasons during the election speech.”

Even so, Miss Chiya wouldn’t reveal her true thoughts to me, offering only a formal reply.

But such tactics won’t work on me.

“I was absent that day.”

“…Why?”

There’s no way I could admit that I fainted because she looked too divine standing on that stage…

“I was unwell.”

I chose to keep it vague.

Hearing that, Miss Chiya sighed in exasperation.

“Honestly, it’s because you don’t cook for yourself. You’ve been eating nutritionally unbalanced meals, haven’t you, and neglecting your health?”

“Uh, well… I suppose…”

It’s true my main meals have mostly come from convenience stores, so I can’t exactly deny it.

Her ability to deduce that much from so little information is almost terrifying.

“You should learn from Hiyori.”

…I couldn’t argue at all.

—Murmur, murmur

“…?”

But now the mood among the other council members felt off.

There was a definite stir in the air.

“What’s all the commotion?” Miss Chiya asked, noticing the atmosphere. One of the council members spoke up.

“N-no, it’s just… it’s unusual for you, President, to delve into a student’s private matters…”

“…Ah.”

Miss Chiya’s composed expression faltered.

“No, I simply did so because she said she had something to consult me about…”

“But you brought it up before she even said anything. And then you told her to follow her sister’s example… That suggests a fairly close relationship, doesn’t it?”

“No, we just happen to be in the same class, and so that sort of conversation came up…”

Uh-oh.

Miss Chiya seemed flustered by this unexpected turn.

“And that Hanano girl… wasn’t she the one who confessed to you, President?”

“…No, that’s…”

“To talk about family matters with someone like that… President, could it be that you’re…?”

Ah… things are spiraling wildly out of control.

“I would never do something so reckless! Stop with the wild assumptions!”

Miss Chiya tried to cut through the suspicion with sheer force of will.

Do I even have a chance to get a word in here?

“U-um, President Tsukimori… about what I was saying…”

“Tch…”

Miss Chiya pressed her lips into a tight line.

I see, the more she talks to me, the more it seems we’re on familiar terms—and that’s troubling for her.

…But is that really such a bad thing?

“Very well. If you wish to know about me, I will tell you.”

“Ah, thank you very much. Then, if I may—”

—Clatter

Suddenly, Miss Chiya rose resolutely from her chair and seized me firmly by the arm.

…Why?

“However, if we speak at length here, we’ll disrupt the work of the council members. Let’s move elsewhere.”

“Eh, um…”

Why does her grip on my arm hurt this much…?

“Understood?”

“Yes, ma’am…”

For some reason, Miss Chiya seemed rather irritated as she led me out of the student council room.