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 17

“This place will do.”

Miss Chiya finally released her firm grip on my arm once we arrived at an empty classroom.

Ah… to think that Miss Chiya’s hand actually touched me.

With gratitude in my heart, I rubbed the spot gently.

“…You’re being dramatic. I didn’t mean to hurt you that much.”

Miss Chiya frowned, her brow slightly furrowed.

Oh no, I didn’t intend to make it seem like I was in pain…

“No, I just thought it might bring me some good fortune.”

“What is that supposed to mean? Are you being sarcastic?”

She looked at me with an even more puzzled expression, as if unsure whether I was serious or joking.

Even if I speak honestly, it just doesn’t come across properly, does it…?

“Well, never mind. More importantly, what exactly do you want, barging in like that?”

I didn’t think I was barging in, but…

“I already said what I came here for. I just wanted to know why you’re involved in student council activities, Miss Chiya.”

“And what would you do with that knowledge?”

“…I wanted to understand you more deeply.”

Upon hearing that, Miss Chiya closed her eyes and knit her brows in displeasure.

“I have no desire for you to understand me.”

“But… I don’t feel the same way…”

“I already told you this, didn’t I?”

“Pardon?”

Miss Chiya has said many things to me, so I wasn’t quite sure which one she was referring to.

“I said, ‘I have no intention of acknowledging you as a sister.’”

Those were the words she said to me on the very day I became the Tsukimori sisters’ stepsister.

Of course, I haven’t forgotten them.

“Yes. I accepted that, and I believe I told you I was fine with it…”

By bl00d, we’ve become sisters in name, but I never expected to truly become a part of the family.

In fact, I’ve never even wished for something so presumptuous.

My basic stance is simply to watch over the Tsukimori sisters from afar.

It’s just that the current situation calls for more active involvement, that’s all.

“Then what have you been doing lately?”

“Pardon?”

“Don’t play dumb. You’ve already won over Karin—and now even Hiyori. What exactly is your goal?”

“…Huh…”

Does Miss Chiya really see me as some villain trying to corrupt them from within…?

I’m only doing what I think is best…

Perhaps it’s time to be honest.

“I just want the three of you sisters to get along.”

“…That’s an unnecessary intrusion.”

I’m well aware of that.

“Even so, I want you, too, Miss Chiya, to be on good terms with your sisters.”

“Don’t speak so selfishly. I’m not dissatisfied with our current relationship.”

“Is that really true?”

I asked again, and Miss Chiya pressed her lips together tightly.

“What are you trying to say?”

“Both of them said it—Miss Chiya, you don’t talk about your feelings.”

“…And what of it?”

“Because you remain silent, isn’t that why Hiyori and Karin have started distancing themselves?”

“I’m simply busy with my studies.”

It’s true that maintaining top grades must be incredibly demanding.

Moreover, this academy places great emphasis on student independence, and it’s well known that the workload for the student council here is heavier than in other schools.

I’ve heard that some students weigh the academic credit gained through student council work against the sheer amount of time it demands and find it unreasonable.

Even so, for Miss Chiya to commit herself so fully to student council duties, she must have a compelling reason.

If that reason cannot be shared, it’s only natural that the sisters grow distant.

“That’s why I want to know. Why are you so dedicated to the student council?”

“You’re persistent…”

“If you don’t tell me, I’ll show up at the student council room again tomorrow.”

I really don’t want to push her to the point where she truly dislikes me, but I can’t afford to hold back now.

“…I don’t understand how your mind works.”

It’s really quite simple, actually.

“So then, please go ahead.”

I clasped my hands together, pretending they were a microphone, and held them up to Miss Chiya’s mouth.

“…Annoying.”

With a look as though she were staring at something unpleasant, she brushed my hands away with a sharp slap.

It seemed the “microphone” didn’t suit her tastes.

“I’ll talk. But once I’m finished, you’re to go straight home.”

“Eh, ah, yes!”

Apparently, Miss Chiya had decided to answer me and slowly began to speak.

“…I just want to become a normal person as soon as possible.”

…Huh?

“That’s the reason you participate in the student council?”

“That’s right.”

Even hearing it again, all I could do was question it.

“Um, with all due respect… I think you’re already pretty normal, Miss Chiya. There’s no need to worry.”

“That’s not for you to decide.”

Maybe so, but if she’s not normal, then what does that make me…?

“When I think about the fact that her bl00d runs through me, I can’t help but doubt myself.”

“Her bl00d…?”

She must be referring to her mother…

“Well, I answered your question. Now, as promised, go home—and never ask me anything again.”

“Wait, you just slipped in an extra condition, didn’t you!?”

‘Never ask me anything again’—

I’m quite sure you didn’t say that before!

“Enough. Just go home quietly.”

“No, I’m not done yet! You’re still hiding something important, Miss Chiya!”

“I’ve nothing more to tell you. Go home, now!”

She began pushing me toward the hallway.

I spun around and tried to resist, but with Miss Chiya’s athletic ability, I didn’t stand a chance.

“Miss Chiya, please stop using force!”

“Silence. You just need to do as you’re told.”

—Rattle

Just then, the door swung open.

“…Akari? Chiya-nee?”

““Eh…?””

Standing there was a beautiful girl with twin tails swaying.

“Eh? Karin-san? What are you doing here?”

“Ah, I, uh… I just forgot my bag, so I came back to get it. More importantly, what are you two doing?”

“Doing…? Well…”

I was simply resisting Miss Chiya’s attempt to send me home, that’s all.

“Y-you were so against this at home, and now… D-don’t tell me things have already gotten to that stage!?”

“…Huh?”

Karin-san’s cheeks flushed red, her expression filled with confusion.

But what she was saying was so vague, I couldn’t make heads or tails of it.

“Karin, you’re clearly misunderstanding something!”

Miss Chiya raised her voice in protest.

Hmm?

“B-but I heard Akari say, ‘Miss Chiya, please stop using force!’ and then I heard you, Chiya-nee, say ‘Silence. Just do as I tell you,’ and then…”

“Karin, no, listen carefully. There’s an explanation for this!”

“And when I opened the door, the two of you were all over each other…”

“There’s a perfectly reasonable explanation!”

“Chiya-nee… When did you become that kind of person…”

Hmm, hmm.

From her reaction, it seems Karin-san has gotten the wrong idea.

She must have thought that, seeing Miss Chiya with me after school in a classroom, she was skipping student council work.

If someone as serious as Miss Chiya were doing that, anyone would be shocked.

I should explain things before the misunderstanding gets worse…

“You’ve got it all wrong, Karin-san! Miss Chiya was just worrying that she wasn’t normal, so I told her she was normal and everything was fine—”

“I knew it!!”

“Eh—wha—Karin-san!?”

With a scream, Karin-san clutched her head and dashed into the hallway.

Wha…? But I explained it… Why did she react like that?

“Are you an idiot!? Seriously, are you completely stupid!?”

“Guh…”

Miss Chiya grabbed me by the collar.

Also, that’s the first time anyone has ever insulted me so bluntly…

“How could you possibly think that was a good explanation!?”

“I just said the truth, as it happened…”

“Now Karin completely misunderstood everything!!”

“Ehhh…”

Why do my words never seem to get through properly…?