Chapter 1

My step-sister, Amane, is adored by the gods.

She is a flawless beauty, smart, and excels at sports. When she cooks, it’s as delicious as a high-end restaurant’s chef, and when she draws, she wins top awards at exhibitions and gets offers to buy her work for high prices. When she walks down the street, talent scouts from entertainment agencies approach her, famous fashion magazine photographers ask to take her photos, and no matter how many times she turns them down, she keeps getting hit on.

To top it all off, she has an amazing personality. Of course, her biological parents love her, and even I, her step-sister, am treated with great care. She is very just, kind, and considerate, so she is popular not only with the opposite sex but also with her own gender.

On Valentine’s Day, the only girl who receives mountains of chocolates is surely Amane. (I always get to share them with her because she can’t eat them all, but when I see that some of them seem to be “true love” chocolates, I get a bit worried.)

I am her less noticeable step-sister.

Risakura.

I lost my parents ten years ago, and with no other relatives, I was taken in by Amane’s father, who was a close friend of my father. I am a very ordinary person with no particular talents.

After school, in the school courtyard, I was dozing on a bench when I heard a lovely, bell-like voice that woke me up.

“Amane-chan, would you like to go home together?”

“Sorry, I’m going home with my sister today.”

Amane politely declined the nervous boy’s invitation with a slight blush and a smile. Seeing her face, which was even more beautiful than usual, the boy turned bright red and said, “It’s okay,” before running off, saying, “See you tomorrow!”

This is just a typical scene from the daily life of my step-sister, who is always surrounded by admirers.

Such is youth...

“Amane. Sorry for keeping you waiting!”

As Amane ran up to me, I yawned lazily and got up.

“It’s fine. I was sleeping anyway. Why don’t you go home with that boy?”

“Y-You saw that?”

Well, I didn’t just see it; you were practically showing off by doing it right next to me.

“I’m always at home, so we’ll see each other anyway. There’s no need to go home together.”

Spending time with the most handsome boy in school, who is famous for his good looks, would be much more fun. As I said this, slinging my bag over my shoulder, Amane puffed out her cheeks like a squirrel.

“Come on. You don’t understand at all!”

I wanted to pinch her cheeks but held back and asked, “What don’t I understand?”

“I was really looking forward to it because you rarely go home with me today!”

“...Really?”

“Because this is a uniform date!”

“...”

No, we’re step-sisters.

I don’t get it.

Sometimes, I think my step-sister and I have different brains.

Even though I haven’t done anything special, Amane has always been fond of me. Sighing, I started walking, and Amane hurried to catch up.

“Hey, sister. Let’s stop somewhere. A friend told me about a new cake shop where the tarts are really delicious!”

“Hmm.”

“And after that, a stationery store! I found a cute hairpin!”

“Really?”

Amane, holding my hand and entwining her fingers with mine, looked so happy as she chatted away. I nodded along with her story while casually keeping an eye on our surroundings.

I don’t mind being doted on by my step-sister, who is a natural idol, but I often get envied and challenged by jealous people. They usually don’t dare to confront me in front of Amane, who they don’t want to upset, but sometimes they throw things like baseballs, cutters, or scissors at me.

I’m used to it by now, so I try to avoid them without Amane noticing. If she finds out, it causes a big fuss.

Once, when I was distracted and almost got hit by a baseball, I had to work hard to calm Amane down when she wanted to confront the baseball team and demand to know who threw it...

It’s okay.

I’ll take care of the person who did it later, in secret.

...But I can’t say that, can I?

By the way, in the next home economics class, we’re making cupcakes. If they turn out well, I’ll bring some to you!”

Suddenly, a strange wind blew from behind the chattering Amane. I felt a premonition and frowned.

What is it?

Amane stopped and tilted her head in confusion.

“Sister, did you call me just now?”

Her words gave me goosebumps.

“I didn’t call you.”

The moment I answered,

——— SNAP!!!

A sudden, intense flash of light exploded behind Amane, and a frail body was pulled into a floating circle of light.

“Ahhh?!!!”

I tried to stop Amane, who was screaming, but the force pulling her in was too strong.

“Amane!!”

“Sisssster!!!”

Just as I thought I was being pulled in with her, I was already inside the light, tightly hugging her slender arms.

I started writing this on a whim. I’m writing it for my own enjoyment, but if anyone else enjoys it too, I’d be happy.