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 23

“…So?”

“Huh? What do you mean?”

Chiya-san asked me calmly, her voice soft and composed.

“How long are you planning to leave your hand like that?”

“Huh!?”

I looked down. My hand was still resting gently on top of Chiya-san’s head.

In the heat of the moment, I hadn’t even realized it… but now that I thought about it—
What on earth was I doing?!

I, a total background character, had just casually petted the head of the one and only Tsukimori Chiya, admired by the entire student body?!

There’s no way that could ever be allowed!

“S-Sorry!!”

I yanked my hand back and bowed my head in panic.

“……”

“Um… are you mad?”

Chiya-san said nothing, her gaze still fixed on me—and I started to feel a rising dread.

“There’s no reason for me to be angry.”

“R-Really…?”

I was sure I’d crossed a line…

“I said it felt… nice, didn’t I?”

She had… but I thought maybe she’d changed her mind since then.

“…Also.”

“Yes?”

Chiya-san hesitated, her voice trailing off.

Was there something still on her mind…?

“Talking about myself… isn’t as unpleasant as I expected.”

Wha—?! Did Chiya-san really just say that?!

“Y-Yes! Exactly, Chiya-san!!”

If there was one thing that had been missing from her relationship with her sisters,
it was the ability to speak openly about her feelings.

But now—she’d found value in it.

“And why do you look so happy about it?”

“Because of course I’m happy! You opened up to me!”

“Just that?”

“That’s more than enough.”

“…Is that so.”

She gave a small, thoughtful nod.

“Even if it’s just a little, please try sharing your feelings with Hiyori-san and Karin-san too.
I really think you’ll all understand each other better in no time.”

“…Maybe not right away, but… I’ll think about it.”

Oooooh!!

If Chiya-san opens her heart to her sisters, then everything will fall into place!
The three of them will be just like before—warm, close-knit, and full of love!

“Uuugh…”

Sniffle.

“…Why are you getting teary-eyed?”

“Because I’m just… so happy…”

“I… don’t understand you.”

Even if she was a little weirded out by me at the end… it was still a beautiful moment. So I’ll call this a win!

◇◇◇

Dinner time.

Finally—the moment I’d been waiting for.

No, not because I’m some kind of glutton.
It’s because the three sisters will all be here, gathered together!

How could I not be excited?

“Alright, everyone, please enjoy.”

Tonight, Hiyori-san had prepared tomato pasta.

It was filled with veggies—eggplant, onions, shimeji mushrooms.

And from the kitchen drifted the savory aroma of a consommé soup.

“It looks delicious.”

“Ufufu, I’m happy to hear that from you, Akari-chan.”

“Everyone thinks so, I’m sure.”

“Do they, really?”

Hiyori-san tilted her head modestly, as always.

“I’ve been saying it forever—Hiyori-nee’s cooking is amazing.”

Karin-san, already seated, chimed in like it was the most obvious truth in the world.

“She’s right. When it comes to cooking, none of us can hold a candle to Hiyori.”

Chiya-san nodded quietly in agreement.

“Oh dear… being praised by all of you at once is a little overwhelming.”

The eldest and youngest daughters offering their praise, and the middle sister bashfully receiving it…

So precious.

And—this atmosphere…
Isn’t it wonderful?

The air at the dinner table felt so different now—so warm, so full of light.
I could feel it, clearly.

“Karin, I heard from your advisor that your basketball performance has been excellent lately.”

“Ah—yeah, eheh… I’ve been doing pretty good. In our last practice match, I even scored 30 points.”

“Wow, you scored that many, Karin-chan?!”

“Y-Yeah…”

And now—

The eldest and second-born praising the youngest, who shyly blushed in response…

So precious.

“And you, Chiya-chan—I heard you’re one of the most outstanding student council presidents in years?”

“Ah, I heard that too! Wasn’t it something like… she finished some complex financial calculations the teacher was supposed to do?”

“It was just something student council was involved in anyway, so I handled it. Nothing special.”

“The fact that you could do that like it’s nothing is what makes you amazing, Chiya-chan.”

“For real! I wouldn’t even know where to start—and I definitely wouldn’t want to do all that math.”

The second and third sisters offering genuine praise, and the eldest accepting it without pride or arrogance…

So precious.

…Uh-oh. I think I’m getting a nosebleed.

“Ugh…”

“Eh? Akari, why are you tearing up all of a sudden?!”

“She really is Akari-chan, through and through.”

“You’re such a strange one.”

But this—this is what I’d always wanted to see!

The three Tsukimori sisters, smiling and close, just as I’d dreamed.

It felt like a scene straight from my fantasies.
To witness my beloved trio getting along so well… it was almost too good to be true.

…Thinking back, it’s been a long and rocky road.

I got roped into a confession, got rejected, became a stepsister only to be pushed away, then discovered the cracks in their relationship—
and I’ve been fighting my way through ever since.

And now… finally, at long last…

We’ve reached our happy ending!

If there were a story about me, this would be the undisputed final chapter—the perfect conclusion!

“…By the way, how’s your body holding up?”

Suddenly, Chiya-san turned to me with a question.

“I’m totally fine!”

She’d recovered herself, and now she was worrying about me after all the physical labor earlier.

“How thoughtful… I’m sorry for dragging you into something so exhausting today.”

“Oh no, really, it wasn’t—”

I started to reply, but—

“Huh? Dragging her in? What’s that supposed to mean?”

Karin tilted her head with suspicion.

Well… I suppose that phrasing was a little vague.

“Oh, I just helped Chiya-san with some student council work after school today.”

“After school…? Just the two of you?”

“Y-Yeah… it was just us.”

For some reason, Karin suddenly looked… displeased?

“Chiya-nee, you were alone with Akari again?”

“What about it? I simply asked her for help.”

“Still, was it really necessary to have her help with student council work after school? And just the two of you?”

“If we’re talking about unnecessary after-school activities, I’d argue your basketball practice sessions with her are even more frivolous.”

…Uh, wait a minute?

This vibe… isn’t it turning a bit tense?

“Say, Akari-chan—are you free tomorrow?”

With impeccable timing, Hiyori-san cut in with a smile, lightening the mood instantly.

Now that is the second daughter’s signature charm in action!

“Yes, I’m totally free!”

As usual, I have zero plans.

“I see. Then would you mind coming shopping with me? I was hoping for your company.”

“Of course! I’d be happy to—”

I was about to accept, when—

“Now that I think about it, there’s still a part of the storage room we didn’t finish. What’s your availability like?”

“Oh! And I really need to get in some extra basketball practice. Akari, wanna be my partner again?”

…Wait. Huh?

W-Wait a second, you guys…?

“Oh my, you two? Did you not hear me say I invited her first~?”

“I don’t see why personal errands need a priority ranking.”

“Come on, it’s Akari’s time—we should let her decide, shouldn’t we?”

Wha… wha…?

Th-The three sisters…?

Why are they all glaring at each other…?

No, no, no—this isn’t the warm harmony I was hoping for…

“Who do you choose—” “Akari-chan, you’ll come with—” “Akari, obviously I’m your pick—”

And then… they all turned to look at me.

“—right?” “—won’t you?” “—aren’t I?”

N-Nooooo!!

This isn’t the ending I dreamed of!!

Where did my perfect finale go?!