Volume 9 epilogue

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Epilogue

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“Soon… Just a few more minutes…!”

Constantly glancing at the clock on mycomputer screen, I nervously walked around the room. I know that whatI’m doing doesn’t help time pass any faster, but I can’t helpit.

“Hmm, it seems like there’s a bitmore time left… I wonder if Onii-chan finally managed to win thegrand prize…” I muttered as I clicked the refresh button on thebrowser page.

This is all I’ve been doing for thepast few minutes, but there’s still no sign of the results. Thatwas to be expected, of course, since the announcement wasn’t sosoon. Even still, I couldn’t just sit there and calmly wait.

…After all, today is the day when weget to find out if Onii-chan managed to win the grand prize. Hisnovel has made it to the final round, and in around ten minutes,we’ll get the results.

“…How could I calm down now?” Ikept pacing the room.

It’s true that there have been timeswhen Onii-chan’s novel made it to the final round. Butsadly, it’s never been quite enough for him to grasp victory, andhe lost, forcing me to go cheer him up—Naturally, that isn’t abad thing in itself, since it allowed us to get even closer, and oncehe cheered up again, he looked as cool as ever, making my heart beatfaster—

“Ah, what indecent things am I thinking about?!”

I quickly shook my head to rid myselfof these thoughts. In just those few seconds, I came up with ahundred different ways to spoil Onii-chan lots, but that will have towait until later…!

A-Anyway. Onii-chan has already missedthe grand prize before after getting this far, so I’m not reallyuneasy this time around. Also…

“This time, it feels like somethingis different.”

I feel like something special willhappen when the results get announced. Naturally, I have a basis forthat. Two weeks ago, Onii-chan was in a phone call. I couldn’tquite hear everything, but it must have been someone other thanHimuro-san or Shinozaki-san. I suspect that it might have been aneditor from the publisher that’s running the contest. I feel likethe chances for that are pretty high. Though when I asked Onii-chanabout it, he never gave me any details.

…To be exact, Onii-chan has told mealmost nothing concerning the light novel contest this time. I don’tknow much of anything about the phone call he was on, or about thenovel he submitted in general. All I’d heard was that he hadfinished his little sister novel, but no matter how much I askedabout it, he wouldn’t tell me any of the details. When I think backto it, something is definitely off. Why won’t he tell me anything?It’s the little sister novel I’ve been waiting for so long. Ofcourse I want to know all about it!

But, in the end, I heard nothing. Andlike that, the novel made it to the final round. I’m assuming (andalso hoping) that the contents are so overflowing with love forlittle sisters that he’s too embarrassed to show me. Yes, that hasto be it.

It doesn’t matter too much, becauseonce the results are announced, Onii-chan will definitely let me readhis novel. I’ve mentally prepared myself to indulge in thatmasterpiece, so holding off for a bit longer should be fine…Ehehehe…

I glanced at the clock again. Thismight be the first time that the ticking of time ever felt this slow.But finally, it came. At the exact moment the time on the clockchanged, I clicked the refresh button as fast as I could and ran myeyes over the homepage, scanning for Onii-chan’s novel.

…Where is it…? Where is it…?!After a short moment passed, I found it.

Grand Prize: ‘The story of my littlesister and I’ — Author: YU.

“Ah…!!!”

There’s no mistaking it! This isOnii-chan’s pen name! And the title is clearly that of a littlesister novel! So basically…!

“O-Onii-chan finally did it…!!!”

The moment I made sure of that, myvision grew blurry. After all this time, after all of his hard work,his dream was finally realized…!

“I’m so happy for you, Onii-chan…!”

I was as happy as I would be aboutmyself. No, Onii-chan and I are one and the same, so of course Iwould be delighted! Congratulations, Onii-chan! Feeling overwhelmed,I had to take a quick seat.

But after that first wave of happinesspassed, I felt a tinge of sadness as well… With this, he’llfinally become an author. That means that he’ll stop being mystand-in. Naturally, that means that my time as a light novel authorwill come to an end. This is something I’ve been preparing myselffor since the beginning, but now that it’s finally come, I can’thelp but feel a bit dejected. I felt the urge to reminiscence aboutwhat had happened during all this time.

We were lovey-dovey, flirty, and weeven made up… It was a precious time I will definitely neverforget, in all my life. Those days will remain confined in the past.But before I could dwell on it too deeply, that sadness vanished aswell, and my happiness for Onii-chan returned. This is something thatI’ve already come to terms with, so dwelling on it for too longwon’t do me any good.

“After all, my wonderful daystogether with Onii-chan will continue, just in a different way.”

Exactly. We’ll be very busy from nowon. As his little sister, I have to support Onii-chan in his job.After all, he’s a proper little-sister-novel author now! From nowon, I will have to be the one to support him during his datacollecting! Ehehe…! Fantasizing about what was to come, I couldn’thold back my laughter.

“…Ah, that’s right, I have tohurry and congratulate Onii-chan!”

I quickly returned to my senses anddashed out of my room, searching for Onii-chan. Right now, he’sprobably jumping for joy.

“Onii-chan!”

I completely forgot to knock and justbarged into his room.

“…Yes, thank you very much…”

I happened to catch Onii-chan while hewas about to finish the phone call he was on. But who… Ah, it mustbe someone from the editorial department, no doubt. He did win thegrand prize, after all, so they must have wanted to contact him asquickly as possible.

“O-Onii-chan, congratulations!”

Onii-chan must be grinning right now,I’m sure! He might even be so overwhelmed by emotion that he’llsuddenly embrace me! Ehehe, ehehehehe…!

“Ahh, Suzuka.”

Or so I thought, but Onii-chan wasacting the same as usual… H-Huh? What’s wrong? Where’s all thejoy and happiness I expected? I waited in confusion, expecting him tojump for me at any second, but that never happened. There’s nochange in the atmosphere either. Why is he so calm? His wish wasgranted, so shouldn’t he be happier? Why is he not saying anything?And first and foremost… Why does his smile look so sad anddejected?

“Onii-chan?”

I realized, something was off. Icouldn’t describe what it was, but something was making me pause.W-What is this? Onii-chan, say something… I grew worried. It seemedlike Onii-chan had realized that, as he slowly opened his mouth.

“Hey Suzuka…”

The moment I heard his voice, I knewthat something incredibly bad had happened. And he immediately gavefruit to my fears. A set of unbelievable words followed—

“I turned down the grand prize…”