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 21

“Thank you for tutoring me yesterday.”

Before heading out after breakfast, I bowed my head politely to Chiya-san.

With everything that had happened last night, I never got the chance to properly express my thanks.

“It’s fine…”

Chiya-san furrowed her brow slightly, as if unsure how to respond.

That modest, unpretentious side of her is honestly one of the things I admire most.

“Still, please let me repay you somehow! I’ll do anything I can!”

After all, I was the reason she ended up losing sleep. I have to make it up to her somehow.

“That won’t be necessary.”

“But…”

“Not failing is the best thanks you can give. So don’t worry about it.”

…Chiya-san, you’re just too cool.

◇◇◇

At school.

“Hmm…”

I sighed, uncertain how to proceed.

No matter how hard I pressed Chiya-san, I doubted she’d just come out and tell me what’s really on her mind.

Some kind of catalyst… I felt like we needed one. But I couldn’t find it, and time just kept slipping by.

I tried keeping an eye on Chiya-san’s actions, but nothing particularly noteworthy happened—

“Zero progress.”

And just like that, the school day ended.

Well, I suppose there’s no need to rush. I’ll see her again once we’re home.

They do say slow and steady wins the race.

“Do you have a moment?”

“Wait—Chiya-san!?”

And suddenly, there she was—the person herself.

It’s rare for her to approach me at school like this.

Had this been a busier classroom, I’m sure we’d have drawn a lot of attention.

“You’re always so dramatic…”

“I mean, it’s just… it’s so rare for you to be the one initiating a conversation with me.”

“If it bothers you so much, I won’t do it again.”

Chiya-san turned on her heel and started walking away.

“N-No, that’s not what I meant at all!”

I quickly chased after her in a panic.

“So… what did you need me for?”

“…Do you have a little time?”

“Time? Yes, I do.”

Even if I didn’t, I’d make time for any of the Tsukimori sisters.

“Then I’d like your help with something. Is that alright?”

“Of course! What do you need?”

“Organizing some materials.”

“…Huh?”

That’s… an unexpected request.

Chiya-san led me to an unused room on campus.

When we stepped inside, I saw bookshelves filled with paperbacks, documents, and a scattering of handwritten A4 pages.

“This used to be the literature club’s room.”

“Used to be… so it’s not active anymore?”

“It was shut down after last year. No new first-years joined, so the club was disbanded.”

“Oh, I see.”

Even though no one uses it anymore, the cluttered shelves and scribbled notes made the room feel alive—like the lingering breath of those who had once called it theirs.

And now, no one visits. No one needs it.

There was a quiet loneliness in the air.

“It’s not often a club gets disbanded, so this sort of cleanup isn’t that common either. But when it happens, it falls under the student council’s duties.”

“So… we’re doing that now?”

“That’s right.”

“…I see.”

“Not thrilled about physical labor?”

Maybe my hesitant tone gave me away, because Chiya-san looked at me questioningly.

Of course I’d never turn down a request from her.

The only reason I’d faltered was… well, I just had a question.

“No, I’m happy to help. I just wondered why the other council members aren’t doing it too.”

Surely it’s not a job meant for the president alone…

“It’s exam week, remember?”

“Ohhh…”

…Right. I think a teacher mentioned that yesterday.

“You didn’t even remember?”

Yikes.
I could feel her silent judgment radiating toward me: ‘I literally just helped you study yesterday, and this is where we are?’

“Clubs are suspended during exam weeks too, aren’t they?”

“Exactly. That’s why no one else is here.”

“…But then, why are you here?”

“There’s no deadline for it, so technically it could wait. But I was asked to take care of it, and I’d rather finish early. That’s just how I am.”

“Chiya-san…”

“What now?”

“You’re… kind of too dedicated, aren’t you?”

From academics to student council to personal clean-up projects—doing all this in your free time?
I couldn’t imagine myself having that kind of motivation.

I just didn’t have it in me.

“That’s exactly why I brought you along—since you said this morning you’d do anything to thank me.”

“…That makes perfect sense now.”

Still… it made me happy that she was willing to rely on me.

“You can start by packing the books on that shelf into these boxes.”

“Understood!”

Whatever the task, if it meant helping Chiya-san, I was more than happy to do it!

About an hour passed as we worked side by side.

Just as Chiya-san said, packing up that many books was no small job.

Carrying the boxes to the storage room was no easy feat either.
Honestly, it was probably too much work for just two girls—but we managed to keep things moving smoothly.

“We’re finally getting close to the end.”

“Yes…”

Even someone like Chiya-san must’ve felt the strain of prolonged physical labor.

Her steps were starting to wobble… Wait, was she staggering?

“U-Um, Chiya-san, are you okay?”

She was swaying—there was no mistaking it.

“It’s nothing. This is hardly—”

Trying to play it cool, she stood up confidently—only for her legs to buckle beneath her.

“Eh…?”

Her eyes were dull, her body clearly off-balance. She didn’t even seem to register what was happening.

“Watch out!”

I dropped the books I was holding and lunged toward her, stretching out my arms.

“Nguh!”

“W-Whoa—!”

I managed to catch her—sort of. I couldn’t support her weight entirely, and we both ended up falling together.

I landed flat on my back, with Chiya-san collapsing on top of me.

Thud.
A dull pain echoed through my spine as we hit the floor.

“Oww…”

“S-Sorry! Are you okay!?”

Finally coming to her senses, Chiya-san frantically scrambled off me.

“It’s just a little bump… But what about you? Are you hurt?”

“I—I’m fine. Nothing serious…”

“Was it dizziness or something?”

“I’m not sure… It felt like my mind just went fuzzy for a moment.”

That’s… actually pretty dangerous.

“Chiya-san, don’t you think you’ve been pushing yourself too hard?”

Student council responsibilities, staying up late to study, and now suddenly heavy lifting?
It wouldn’t be surprising if it all caught up to her.

“I’m fine, really.”

“You say that now, after collapsing?”

Even I could tell her words and condition didn’t line up.

If you faint mid-task, that’s not fine—not even close.

“It was just a momentary lapse. Now let’s just finish—”

“Nope! That’s not happening!”

She tried to act like nothing was wrong and push herself back up, but I quickly moved to stop her.

“In that case, we’re going to the nurse’s office.”

“What are you saying—”

“I’m saying you’re the one talking nonsense, Chiya-san. Collapsing like that is not something to shrug off.”

“Still, I…”

“Didn’t you once say that people who can’t manage their condition are being lazy?”

“…!”

That struck a chord.

Chiya-san fell silent, as if admitting I had a point.

“Come on. Let’s go.”

I gently took her hand, but she stayed rooted to the spot.

“…But still, going to the nurse’s office is a bit much.”

“…Sigh.”

Stubborn as ever, huh?

“Alright, then…”

I pulled a nearby chair over and guided her down into it.

“What are you doing?”

“Just sit and rest for now.”

Chiya-san blinked, wide-eyed, clearly caught off guard.

“But the cleanup—”

“I’ll finish the rest. And if you insist on continuing, I’m calling a teacher.”

“…”

“Sit, rest, and if everything’s fine after a break, then I won’t say anything else. That’s the deal.”

“…Is that really okay?”

Her eyes flicked around nervously, unsure.

“It is. Just let yourself rely on me a little.”

“…Alright. Thank you.”

She lowered her head in apology, her voice quiet.

“You can count on me.”

But really, there was no need for her to look so sorry about it.

With a smile, I turned back to the remaining books—ready to take care of the rest myself, happily.