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 36

M-My stomach is in knots…

The reason is obvious.

It’s the three-legged race at the sports festival.

I was already feeling a little down about how it would highlight my loneliness—but then came the kind-hearted Tsukimori sisters.

Each of them, unbelievably, offered to partner with me… and that, ironically, was where the real trouble began.

“I mean, if we keep talking like this, we’ll never reach an agreement.”

“None of us are willing to back down, after all.”

“If we can’t decide now, then we’ll just go with the original plan and settle it tomorrow. You have until then to make up your mind.”

And just like that, I was saddled with the most difficult homework assignment of my life.

Now, the present.

“Alright, let’s begin assigning the events for the sports festival.”

At the front of the class, Chiya-san proceeded with her usual composed and systematic manner.

Meanwhile, I sat by the window, head in hands.

“…No matter who I choose, I’m going to hurt someone.”

There’s no safe option this time.

Choosing someone means not choosing someone else.

Why—why am I, of all people, stuck having to weigh the Tsukimori sisters on a metaphorical scale?

Whatever I decide, someone’s feelings are going to get hurt.

…To bring misfortune to the ones I admire most? Is that truly acceptable, Hanano Akari?

“And now, for the 50-meter dash, may I propose selecting participants based on their fastest times?”

“No! Absolutely not!”

—Silence.

…Wait, what!?

The entire classroom fell quiet. Every pair of eyes was locked on me.

Especially Chiya-san, who was smiling politely—but the look in her eyes said otherwise.

“Was there something wrong with my proposal? Or perhaps you wish to run in the event? That’s fine. In either case, you’ll be taking full responsibility for—”

“Ack! N-No, that’s not it! I was just talking to myself!”

I quickly bowed and begged her not to write my name down for the dash.

If someone like me—with the running speed of a sloth—joined the fiercely competitive sprinters, I’d just be a joke.

I just… wanted to protest the whole “choose one of the sisters” thing, not volunteer as tribute!

“Please refrain from making misleading remarks, even under your breath.”

“S-Sorry…”

Clearing her throat softly, Chiya-san resumed the meeting like nothing happened.

I quietly shrank back into my seat, mortified.

“Pfft… that was embarrassing.”

The one to say aloud what the rest of the class was thinking was Saezuki Riko-san, who sat diagonally in front of me.

As expected from a lively extrovert—she never misses a chance to laugh at someone’s misstep.

I could feel the shame rising in my cheeks.

“What was that all about? Did the Tsukimori girls finally get tired of you? I mean, acting all weird like that, anyone would, right?”

“…”

The first time she speaks to me in ages and this is what she says.

“What, silent now? Did the truth hit a little too hard?”

“…”

Maybe she’s sticking to verbal jabs now because she knows someone like Karin-san would step in if things escalated.

“I mean, really? Someone like you trying to buddy up with the Tsukimori girls? That’s laughable. You’re clearly not in their league.”

“…What did you say?”

I couldn’t help it—I flinched.

Saezuki-san must have loved that reaction, because a wicked little grin appeared on her face.

“You heard me. Someone as gloomy and boring as you has no business trying to get close to girls like them. Know your place.”

“Then what do you suggest I do?”

“Oh, I dunno… someone like you would be better off being my little servant or something. That’d suit you perfectly, don’t you think?”

“…Are you serious about what you just said?”

“Ahaha, why would I lie about something like that?”

Saezuki-san laughed mockingly, a smirk curling on her lips.

She seemed confident in her words—so confident, in fact, that she clearly had no intention of taking them back.

Very well, then. If that’s how you want to play it…

“Alright then, let’s move on and decide the pairs for the three-legged race—wait, what are you doing?”

Chiya-san’s voice rang out clearly.

I had stood from my seat and was walking directly toward Saezuki-san.

“W-What are you doing…? You’re not seriously doing this here, are you?”

She flinched slightly, clearly caught off guard by my approach.

But she’s the one who picked this fight.

“Yes. I’m serious.”

“W-What!? Are you for real…!?”

Without hesitation, I reached out and grabbed her wrist.

“H-Hey, wait—what!?”

Saezuki-san squealed in shock, but I didn’t let go.

“I’ve decided. I’m pairing with Saezuki-san for the three-legged race!”

“…Huh?”

Saezuki-san let out a baffled little sound.

And then—

“WHY!?”

Karin-san’s voice echoed from across the classroom.

“Oh my, my.”

That was Hiyori-san’s soft voice, tinged with confusion.

“…Could you explain this, Hanano-san?”

Chiya-san, still smiling, had a very noticeable twitch in her brow.

“Yes, of course. Saezuki-san just now kindly offered to pair with me.”

“I did NOT say that!?”

Her denial rang out from beside me, but I had trouble understanding what she meant.

“Oh? But didn’t you just say earlier, and I quote: ‘Someone like you has no business trying to get close to the Tsukimori sisters,’ and ‘You’d be better off being bossed around by someone like me,’?”

“I DID say that, but—!?”

“Then that means you’re offering to be my partner, doesn’t it?”

“What kind of twisted logic is that!?”

—Thwack! Crack-crack-crack!

The sound of chalk hammering against the blackboard filled the room.

Up front, bold letters now spelled out: Hanano – Saezuki.

“…Saezuki-san, you’re quite good at short-distance running, aren’t you? Then I’ll also have you run the 50-meter dash. Naturally, for the three-legged race, I expect you to pull Hanano-san along and achieve excellent results.”

“Whaaat!?”

Saezuki-san, who hadn’t even planned to enter the 50-meter dash, looked like she had plenty to say—but—

“Is there a problem? You were the one who invited Hanano-san, weren’t you?”

“N-No, I mean… but…”

“Or are you implying Hanano-san was lying?”

“No, that’s not it! I just meant… you know, it was more of a turn of phrase…”

Under Chiya-san’s icy stare, her confidence evaporated.

“H-Hey… why is Tsukimori Chiya so mad right now!?”

Saezuki-san leaned in and whispered urgently.

“Um… probably because all three of the Tsukimori sisters offered to pair with me.”

“HUH!?”

“But you said I wasn’t worthy of them, so I listened to you.”

“Wait, hold on. So now it looks like I stole you from them!?”

“Well… I guess it does look that way, doesn’t it?”

Chiya-san’s dagger-like glare turned Saezuki-san pale.

“I… I really didn’t want to make an enemy out of Tsukimori Chiya…”

She’s not just the student council president and class rep, but also the top of our grade.

There’s no reason not to fear the queen of this school—who holds both teacher and student loyalty alike.

“Yes. So, that makes us accomplices now.”

I gently placed my hand on her shoulder.

That’s right—we’re in this together now.

The truth is, I was never capable of choosing between the Tsukimori sisters.

In that sense, I actually related to what Saezuki-san said.

And so, the only path left to me… was to be the one who gets hated instead.

Thankfully, someone was kind enough to offer herself up to fall with me.

“…You… you planned this, didn’t you!?”

“Oh, come on, Saezuki-san. Don’t pretend like you didn’t volunteer.”

“THAT’S NOT WHAT I MEANT AND YOU KNOW IT!!”