Chapter 25

### Unexpected Sister's Perspective

After dinner, Maki, who had just come out of the bath, started climbing the stairs to the second floor where her room was located. On her way to her room at the back, she suddenly stopped in front of a door at the front of the hallway. The door, firmly closed, had a sticker with a cat illustration that read, "Knock, please."

Lately, Eri has been retreating to her room right away, which makes me a bit lonely. I can't play with Eri... As sisters, I want us to get along better on a daily basis. Maki slowly and silently turned the doorknob and smoothly pushed the door open without a sound.

Inside the room, Eri was lying on her back on the bed, gazing at something hanging from her hand, a necklace-like object. It seemed like something interesting was about to happen. Maki, acting on her intuition, boldly entered the room and approached the bed, peering at Eri's hand.

"What's that?"

"Ah!"

Eri, looking as if she had seen a ghost, let out a high-pitched voice and quickly straightened up, hiding the object behind her back. Maki immediately raised her index finger.

"What's that?"

"W-What are you talking about?"

"The thing in your hand."

As Maki demonstrated her psychic ability, Eri, seemingly giving up, brought her hand to the front and showed the object, dangling it. It looked like a gemstone, but it was just a colored stone, probably a power stone.

"Hehe~ I got a present~"

"From that guy? Hmm, it seems things have progressed quickly."

Eri laughed, "Yeah, I guess," but her smile was a bit forced. Maki, taking the stone, said,

"It's pretty. What is it?"

"I don't know the name, but it's supposed to have an effect of easing stress."

"Really? Are you stressed out?"

Eri's face turned serious for a moment before she forced a smile again, a bit strained. Maki, returning the stone to her hand, said,

"Still, to give a present out of the blue, that's quite a cheesy move."

"Yeah, but it's a bit annoying when he gets too pushy~"

"Really?"

As Maki leaned in closer, Eri's eyes started to dart around.

"Are you really sure?"

Leaning even closer, Eri suddenly squeezed her eyes shut. Then, her body started to tremble.

"Big sister!!!"

She suddenly wrapped her arms around Maki's back and pressed her face into Maki's stomach. Maki, maintaining her balance with both feet, held Eri.

"What's wrong, Eri~? Come on, tell me the truth."

"Stop petting my butt, pet my head."

Eri calmly pushed Maki's hand away. Maki tried again.

"Big sis!!!"

"Who's 'big sis'?"

"That guy knows how I feel and is teasing me! If this keeps up, I'll lose!"

"...What are you fighting against?"

"This can't go on! Besides, they say it works better when the man is the one being dominated? I hate being teased, it's annoying and frustrating. I don't have the kind of personality that enjoys being teased, I'm more of an S."

Maki thought, "More like an M," but decided not to comment and just listened.

"Besides, if you start from a lower position, it drags you down, right? The one who falls in love first has to do all the work, right?"

However, Eri's constant complaining was getting annoying, so Maki said,

"Since it's too much trouble, why don't you just confess to him?"

"That's embarrassing! What if he rejects me!"

"What's all this fuss about, in the end?"

Maki, trying to push Eri away, saw Eri's eyes well up with tears as she clung to her.

"Please, big sister, help me~"

"Oh, it's been a while since you've been in cute mode."

"What's that supposed to mean~"

Let me explain! "Cute mode" is a term Maki secretly coined for Eri's alternate form. When Eri is at a loss, she stops thinking for herself and regresses into a clingy, dependent state. In this state, she is very obedient and naive, and extremely cute, making her very tempting to tease. Maki, pulling Eri's cheeks, said,

"Want to know what's wrong?"

"Tell me?"

"Well, it's because you can't be honest. Why don't you practice saying 'I like you'?"

Maki spoke as if scolding a child. If this were the usual Eri, she would have given Maki a cold, disapproving look. But in cute mode, Eri, instead of getting angry, blushed and fidgeted, speaking in a lisping voice.

"...I, I, I like you, please like me back!!"

"Hmm? Are you a little mouse, Eri?"

"N-No!"

Maki couldn't help but smile. She was enjoying it so much that she wanted to tease Eri even more.

"That's so sad... You can't say it properly..."

"You're being mean, big sister!"

"Ouch, ouch!"

Eri, squeezing her eyes shut, started tapping Maki's knees.

"Ouch, ouch. Seriously, it hurts! Don't hit me with the stone!"

Eri's fists were heavy, and the sound was more of a dull thud. Using a gift as a weapon was not a good idea.

When they were younger, it might have been different, but even the cute Eri had grown quite large. If she left a bruise, it would be a problem, so Maki decided to calm Eri down.

"Calm down, Eri. ...Anyway, I've been thinking, that guy probably... has someone else he likes."

"Huh... But he said he doesn't have a girlfriend..."

"Hmm, naive. Do you really think he'd be honest about that? My gut tells me that Eri is... being kept on the side."

"Kept on the side?"

"Or maybe he's currently evaluating... meaning he has other girls he's interested in and is weighing his options. But the fact that he's giving you gifts means he definitely likes you."

"Uh-huh."

"He's probably watching your reaction. How you react to the gift. So, Eri, you're being tested right now."

"I see..."

Eri, with sparkling eyes, nodded in agreement, making Maki want to say more and even make things up.

"But a little shock can tip the scales! Don't worry, Eri. You're cute. You're very cute."

"Uh-huh!"

"But you need a bit more femininity, charm... and a bit of slyness. Sometimes, Eri, you can be a bit like a guy."

"Slyness!"

"As your big sister, I want to see a more erotic and cute little devil... I mean, show him that side."

"Erotic and cute..."

"Basically, go for the erotic and cute approach, full steam ahead!"

"Yeeaaah!"

Eri, suddenly full of energy, raised her fist and let out a loud cheer. She didn't seem as cute anymore. Maki tried to stop her, but it seemed the normal Eri had returned.

"Are you going to go for it? Are you going to be a little devil, Eri?"

"Yeaah, let's do it, let's do it!"

"Big sister, makeup! Lend me your stuff!"

"It's in the bathroom!"

Pointing to the bathroom, Eri dashed out of the room like a dog. Maki was a bit scared that her plan had worked too well. Eri might fall for some shady guy.

"Really, what's this about being a little devil? It's impossible. If you just stay in cute mode, any guy would fall for you... But I don't want to do that with some random guy..."

To Maki, this guy was a complete stranger, known only by name. The fact that he gave a gift suggested he was quite experienced with women, and if he turned out to be a typical playboy, Maki didn't know what to do. She wondered if she could somehow run into him somewhere.

"Big sister, it's bad, it's bad! Help me!"

Eri, with part of her face unnaturally white, rushed in. Maki, saying "Okay, okay," was pulled out of the room by Eri.