chapter 4

Next morning . After the most shocking day of my life,

A faint smell interrupts my sleep .

It is the smell of miso .

When I looked at the kitchen, I saw my sister wearing the same apron as yesterday and pouring the miso soup she made yesterday in a pot .

“Ah . Good morning . Onii-san . ”

“O… . . ”

Her smile is gentle like the morning sun .

She looks like my girlfriend, it makes my heart flutter .

I call her name in order to shake off these overlapping emotions .

“Good morning . Shigure!”

“Did you sleep well yesterday? Or were you excited by the fact that your cute little sister was sleeping over there and couldn’t sleep?”

“… I don’t know . ”

“Really? Fufu, that’s okay . Well, breakfast is ready . I’ll put it on the table, so please get away from the futon . ”

When she told me, I got out of the futon .

I’m tired .

I told her it’s nothing, but that was a lie .

Beyond the sliding door, a girl with the same face as my girlfriend was sleeping .

No way .

However, the time to be aware of it was unexpectedly short .

It is because before I went to bed yesterday, I knew the nature of Haruka and Shigure . They are similar but not quite the same .

Their personalities are polar opposite that, no matter how they lookalike, only I can see the difference .

Well, It felt like I should do well as her family .

But there is an uneasy feeling, what will happen if Haruka’s existence is known to this devil .

The reason for my lack of sleep, is because I was worried about Haruka, not Shigure .

… . So, how should I explain this situation to Haruka?

It’s an unavoidable problem and also very difficult .

What will she think? If she learns that I, her boyfriend is living with a girl who look exactly like her .

To be honest, I’m worried .

But this isn’t good for me, and it’s not something I could do with my own strength .

If I talk to Haruka she would understand .

And if I have to talk, it’s better to do it as early as possible .

Not on LINE . But face to face .

I’ll talk to her around the noon .

At 2 o’clock at midnight, I managed to conclude my worries .

That’s why I’m feeling tired .

I put away the futon while rubbing my sleepy eyes . Then set up the table .

Today’s menu is white rice, yesterday’s miso soup, fried egg, and shredded cabbage .

It’s been years since I’ve eaten steaming rice in the morning .

Maybe because my mother was still alive .

“…… . . Thank you . We will decide the household duties . ”

“I’d like to ask you, what was your breakfast when you were alone?”

“It was either bread or nothing . ”

“I understand . I can’t leave the kitchen to you, Onii-san . Let’s divide the work instead of the duties . I cook and do laundry . Onii-san will take care of the trash and washing the dishes . How is it?”

“If Shigure is fine with it . ”

“Well, let’s go with this . ”

We ate breakfast while deciding the rules for communal living .

Like yesterday dinner, Shigure’s food is really delicious .

Last night’s main dish was grilled salmon . This morning it’s fried eggs and miso soup .

I don’t think there’s much room to think about my cooking . Even if we cook the same dishes, her cooking skills are extraordinary .

The salmon was thick and sweet without being dry, and today’s fried egg is thick and soft-boiled .

The miso soup is also fragrant, and the texture of the enoki mushrooms* cut into short pieces is delicious .

[TN: A popular mushroom in Japanese cuisine]

She’s a real deal . Even if her name is not Haruka, Shigure is my sister .

I’m sure, I have become a pretty bad brother .

When I was wondering, Shigure put down her chopsticks and talk to me .

“By the way, Onii-san . I have an important thing to say before going to school . ”

“Hm? What?” “

“Today, I’ll be going to Seiun as well . ”

Seiun . There is only one place in the area called by that name .

Seiun High School . The school I go to .

It is a prestigious private school that is well known in Kanagawa prefecture .

“I see, then our school is the same . ”

“In the same class as well . Onii-san is in a special promotion, right?”

“Seriously?”

There is only one special promotion class in the Seiun .

Once you enter the special promotion, you will remain in the same group for the next two years .

“That means we’ll see each other all the time . ”

“Yes . That’s why, Onii-san . I want to keep it a secret that we became brother and sister . ”

“Hmm? Why?”

“You’re not thinking right . Well, our parents remarried but we just met yesterday . If you learn that a boy and a girl are living together, she would be the boy’s side dish . Right!”*

[TN: 男子の格好のズリネタ . Here zurineta is a slang word which means a material of masturbation]

“Bo~o!”

Miso soup! Miso soup went into my nose …!

“You, Girls don’t use such words!”

“It’s a fact, so I can’t say anything else . Anyway, I don’t want to carry that kind of name from the first day of school . ”

Well, it’s certainly an easily predictable future .

As an active high school boy, I can guarantee with confidence .

Shigure’s concerns are right .

“… In other words, do we have to lie?”

“No, you don’t have to tell a lie . It will be a hassle when a lie is unexpectedly revealed and we have to match the lies of two people . Just don’t say it . If the teacher asks in advance, keep silent . Fortunately, our surname is “Sato” . It’s a common surname, so if we don’t say it, they won’t notice . ”

“Okay, I don’t mind,”

There is no reason to refuse .

I don’t want to be used by my classmates for their silly delusions .

Even though it’s a rumor without roots and leaves, I don’t want Haruka to hear this .

So the reason for refusing Shigure’s proposal is…… .

Ah . No wait .

I can’t promise not to tell anyone .

Haruka has to know, and there are other people who visit this house frequently .

“I’m sorry . I promise I won’t say it randomly, but there are people I want to talk to . They’re the ones who visit this house all the time . I want to talk to them anyway sooner or later . I will include it . ”

I didn’t name Haruka because if she finds out that I have a girlfriend who looks exactly like her, She will make that nasty face again .

I’m not going to hide it, but I don’t want to tell her directly .

Shigure looked a little dissatisfied with my confirmation .

“… Friend, can he keep the secrets?”

“I can trust him more than you in that regard . ”

“…… . It can’t be helped . It’s okay . However, you have to give me a good morning kiss on my cheek as an apology . ”

Shigure grinned with a devilish smile .

This girl, doing that kind of thing again …!

“I’m telling you not to do that… . . !”

“Aha . Why is your face bright red? Isn’t it just a greeting to kiss your family member’s cheeks? It’s normal overseas . ”

“I don’t like the kind of tone that I have to do it in Japan because they’re doing it overseas!”

“I suppose you simply don’t have the nerve to kiss a girl’s cheek . But if you don’t listen to my selfishness, I won’t give you permission . Right? What do you want? Weak Onii-san!”

“No, Don’t underestimate me! To that extent… . nevermind!”

It’s a lie . I can’t do it .

It’s hard for me to get up just by holding the girl’s hand .

But now it’s confirmed what is her taste .

I can tell by looking at her face .

She’s grinning while watching me troubled .

She doesn’t want me to kiss her .

She’s just having fun watching me getting embarrassed .

If I don’t do it, she will go high .

. . …This is not good .

I have to tell her . If I don’t teach her the meaning of ‘a cornered rat will bite a cat’*, I will be swayed for the rest of my life .

[TN: 窮鼠猫を噛む]

I pretend to be strong, put my hand on the table, and stretched my upper body .

And then, I move close to Shigure who turned her cheeks as if to say ‘Hore-Hore . ’

“………… . ”

What is wrong with this white wobbly cheek .

This guy is the same person .

No, don’t come any closer .

I’m so scared of this, I’m getting teased .

I will do it at once and for all . And leave it to the momentum .

I am embarrassed . I bring my lips close to the cheek .

At the moment, the refreshing scent of the shampoo drifted softly .

I stopped moving .

Because the scent was the same as Haruka .

Damn it, not only the face but also the smell .

A bitter sense of guilt grows in my chest .

Though she is my step-sister, and its her cheek, I’m kissing the girl who just met yesterday .

I’ve never even kissed Haruka .

Isn’t this a betrayal to Haruka?

Can I do this and will I be able to face her during lunch break?

“Yes, yes! Stop!”

“U~o?”

I was lost in my thoughts and Shigure pushed me back .

She makes an awkward face .

“Oh my! Onii-san! You think I’m serious! It’s obviously a joke . Isn’t kissing for someone you like?”

“Oo, you told me to do it . ”

“Don’t tell me you’re serious about it . Onii-san you pervert ☆”

“… . . I’m feeling the urge to hit a woman for the first time in my life . ”

“Kyaaaa! No Domestic Violence… . Well I’m sure it was my bad . I’m sorry . ”

Immediately Shigure bow her head .

“You are free to tell your friends . If you think you need it, you can talk to anyone . It’ll be enough if you don’t tell to the public . ”

Then I got up and started cleaning up the dishes .

…… Somehow I became obedient .

What happened?

I don’t think I’m shy .

Understanding a girl’s heart is too difficult for me .