I'm Being Threatened by My Sister's Ex-girlfriend. (GL) - Chapter 28

The charged smartphone had accumulated a lot of unread messages. Hayasegawa, Todo, Ninomiya. But as expected, there were no notifications from Hakobe.

The next day, I went to university as usual. Even though it had only been a few days, it felt strangely nostalgic.

Early in the morning, Todo messaged the group, “We’re definitely eating lunch together today, right?” I really think she’s an angel. I sent an apology sticker and suggested a place and time.

So, when the three of us gathered at the second cafeteria, I bowed deeply.

“I’m sorry for making you worry.”

“Really, Tsuguno-chan. Well, I’m glad it wasn’t anything Serious, but…”

Todo puffed her cheeks as she stabbed a piece of paprika from her salad with her fork.

“It’s scary when you don’t read the messages. You don’t answer the calls either. Right, Raika?”

“Well, yeah.”

Ninomiya, tucking her short bob behind her ear, nodded. Her left arm was snugly resting against Todo’s.

“If it was my parents’ house, I’d understand, but Shinonome-san lives alone.”

“If it was Raika, I’d be at her house, knocking on the door within half a day.”

Todo made a clever joke. Hayasegawa and I laughed.

Ninomiya glanced at Hayasegawa before speaking.

“Anyway, I’m glad nothing happened. Especially Hayasegawa, she was really worried.”

“Hmph. I don’t want to be the first to discover anything. Especially not in summer.”

Hayasegawa slurped her zaru soba, making a slurping sound. Her lips, moist with the broth, slid smoothly over the noodles.

“So, what happened? If it’s something you want to talk about, I’m here to listen.”

“No, it’s fine. I’ve already talked to Hayasegawa about it.”

“I see. You two are still so close.”

“Next time, you’re treating us.”

Hayasegawa sniffed, realizing she’d put in too much wasabi.

During the afternoon lecture, I kept thinking about Ichika’s words. She’d said that falling in love or not being able to move on was Hakobe’s problem. I think that’s what she said.

When I calmed down, I could see there was some truth to it. If there are perpetrators and victims in love, it’s definitely the one who falls in love who is the perpetrator.

Strong feelings, no matter what they are, have a kind of force. We tend to support those who are devotedly in love, but unwanted love is the most troublesome thing for the person on the receiving end.

So, it’s Hakobe’s fault. She’s the one who’s wrong and twisted.

I’ve known that from the start.

But still, living alone in the ashes forever is painful.

The next day, the daily lunch special at Mihama University was a three-piece fried set meal.

I bit into the heavy, oily batter, which absorbed the oil and felt like a burden in my mouth, forcing it down as I stuffed it into my stomach. I needed energy, and I needed the calories for what I was about to do.

After lunch, I called Ichika and Serina to the courtyard at Mihama campus. Well, it wasn’t so much a courtyard as a small secret base. The bare ground was exposed with small stone benches lined up. Tall deciduous trees were planted around the edges to block the view, making it the perfect spot for a duel.

I wasn’t sure how to explain the location, so I took a few pictures and attached them to a message. I didn’t specify a time, just wrote, “Hurry up and come.”

I was prepared to wait as long as it took, but the two of them showed up just after 1:00 PM.

I stood up from the stone bench and faced them.

“I’m here to make a declaration.”

“A declaration?”

Ichika tilted her head, and just that gesture made me want to turn and walk away.

“Yeah. It’ll be quick, so just listen.”

Ichika, looking puzzled, quietly crossed her arms.

I took a deep breath, testing the ground beneath me as if checking my footing. I pressed down on the dark, rain-soaked soil under the soles of my sneakers.

I took another breath.

“Hakobe is mine.”

And with that, I made my first declaration of war against my sister.

I stood as tall and proud as I could. There was no need to waver.

“I’ll make her like me more than she likes you.”

“…Huh?”

Ichika’s eyes, the same color as mine, narrowed with a mocking look. I clenched my fists, forcing myself to stand tall against the urge to run away.

Hayasegawa’s face flashed in my mind. I had to take responsibility for my choices.

Ichika scoffed.

“Hakobe-chan is my follower. You, Tsuguno, really think you can—?”

“Yeah. No matter how long it takes, I’ll take her from you.”

Saying it out loud, I could feel the weight of those words, and my legs shook slightly.

Ever since I was born, Ichika had always been ahead of me, walking in front of me, and I had always thought that would never change.

But now, even though it was a small thing, I was trying to surpass my own goddess.

“Hmph.”

Ichika’s eyes, as she stared at me, seemed unfocused. It felt like she wasn’t looking at me as I am right now, but at something else entirely.

Eventually, Ichika let out a long, deep breath and said bluntly:

“That’s something you’d say, huh.”

“Don’t keep treating me like a little sister.”

“I will. You’ll always be my little sister, even if we live forever, or even after we die.”

As frustrating as it was, Ichika was right.

It doesn’t matter that we’re bl00d relatives. Genes don’t matter. The truth is, I’ll probably always be unable to help it—I’ll always see her as my older sister, no matter what happens from now on.

“So, what’s your opinion on your older sister?”

“I think it’s fine. At least, it’s more positive than it was before.”

At those words from Serina, Ichika shrugged her shoulders.

“See? We did it. It’s family-approved now.”

“It doesn’t matter if anyone approves.”

“Of course not.”

Ichika laughed brightly, like the summer sunlight. That smile, which had always shone on me—annoying, frustrating, and yet, the smile I loved more than anything.

But…

“Also, there’s one more thing. Ichika, could you bend down a bit?”

“Huh? Like this?”

Ichika placed her hands on her knees and bent slightly.

I swung my shoulder bag with all my might and hit her across the face. She let out a shocked scream, rolling to the ground.

Ichika, in her beautiful indigo dress, looked up at me, mouth agape, her clothes now stained with dirt.

“I’m not forgiving you for treating me like a game… but I’ll let you off easy this time.”

I pressed my thumping heart down, trying my best to sound arrogant.

Ichika, looking down at her clothes, dirty with black mud, smiled again.

“This might be the first time you’ve hit me, huh.”

“Actually, not really. When we were in elementary school, you ate my pudding without asking, and I accidentally slapped you.”

“…That was my fault, huh.”

Ichika said this, squinting as if reminiscing about the past. Then, she shook her head, sat down on the ground, and pouted toward Serina.

“Hey. What’s with you? My best friend got slapped, and you’re just sitting there, no reaction?”

“Serves her right. A good lesson.”

“I don’t think I did anything wrong, though.”

I extended my hand toward Ichika.

“When you fall in love, sometimes the wrong thing feels like the right thing to do.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

Ichika’s palm met mine, our hands mirroring each other, exactly the same shape.

Ichika’s hand, just like mine, was the hand of a regular girl. Soft, just like a twenty-year-old’s. Definitely not the hand of a god.

“It means you can’t fall in love without being a little crazy. I’ve decided to make mistakes with Hakobe.”

I tightened my grip and pulled. Ichika stood up and slapped her skirt, trying to shake off the dirt. The wet mud had soaked into the fabric, and a light tap couldn’t do much about it. It was satisfying.

Ichika glanced at my face and turned away, muttering:

“Who do you think you are, acting all high and mighty.”

She then turned toward Serina.

“Tell her our home address. And give her a spare key too.”

“Huh?”

“You called Serina here for that, right? It’s fine, right, Serina?”

“I don’t mind.”

Serina fiddled with her smartphone. My pocket vibrated. A new address appeared in the chat room. The nearest station wasn’t too far from here.

“Both my parents work, so they won’t be home until evening. And here’s the spare key.”

A silver key flew through the air in a perfect arc, sparkling in the summer sunlight. I caught it with both hands, making sure not to drop it.

It was an ordinary dimple key, nothing special. But for me, this was “the last key.”