I Promised to Make the Class Honor Student My 'Little Sister'. It Seems She Wants to Be Spoiled a Lot - Volume 1 Chapter 11.1

Me, Touched by the Warmth of a “Family,” Protecting Something Important to My “Sister”

It’s been almost three weeks since I started living with the Kakogawa family.

A considerable amount of time has already passed… and I understand that it’s not good to be a burden on this family forever.

So, I’ve been searching for my next destination every day.

For expenses like utility bills and food costs, which must have increased because of me, I’ve been keeping notes to settle them eventually.

I’ve even tried to offer Yukari what I can pay with the cash I have on hand several times… but…

“I see, I get it! Ryuuki, you are such a kind person! That pure heart of yours is like a shining diamond… Exactly! Your feelings have settled everything!! That’s it. Done.”

One evening after dinner.

When I tried to give Yukari the money I could pay from my own pocket… this was her response.

“Done… my foot! Feelings don’t enrich the household finances, do they? Even if I give you all I have on hand right now, it’s still not enough. Just accept it for now.”

“…Alright, let’s drop this topic. Done!! No more.”

Yukari raises both palms and shakes her head from side to side.

What’s with her?

It’s the first time in my life I’m frustrated because someone won’t accept my money… Well, it’s actually the first time I’ve tried to give money to someone.

“Eh? Yukari-nee, you don’t want it? Then, I want it. Takato-senpai, here.”

Kizuna-chan, who had been watching our exchange from the dining table, suddenly stretched out her right hand.

This side is thinking, what’s with her too.

“Hey! Kizuna, that’s not okay. Where on earth is there a ‘big sister’ that begs for money from her ‘little brother’!!”

“Eh? But, Yukari-nee doesn’t want it, right? And Takato-senpai wants to give money. So, isn’t it fine if I take it?”

“It’s not fine at all, moo!”

Ao, who was cleaning up in the kitchen, scolded Kizuna-chan with an exasperated look.

My “younger sister” is way more reliable than my “twins” or “big sister”.

Well, the “family” hierarchy in our “home” isn’t determined by age, so I guess that’s to be expected.

“But, The worst part is Ryuuki, isn’t it?”

“That’s exactly it. It feels like I got scolded because of Takato-senpai.”

“How does that even make sense… Now I understand why bullying never disappears from the world.”

Faced with this unexpected blame-shifting, I was at a loss for words.

Seeing me like that, Yukari smirked and started wagging her finger from side to side, which was annoyingly normal.

“You know, Ryuuki? I appreciate the sentiment… but we’re ‘family’, right? Living as ‘family’, worrying about who eats how much or how much each person’s utility bills are… If you think about that, it’d be impossible to relax, right? That’s even more unpleasant.”

“…But. In reality, the financial burden has increased, hasn’t it? I’m not so far gone as a human being that I could relax ignoring that.”

“Ahahaha! My ‘twin’ is so kind, huh? Well, but… really, don’t worry about the money. Our household finances are managing more than you think. From Yukari-sama’s dictionary… the page with the word ‘impossible’ has been torn out and thrown away☆”

That’s just a missing page, not a dictionary.

I sighed and thought.

I can’t quite understand the logic, so it’s hard to be satisfied… but forcibly giving money would also make for a weird vibe…

“…If you say so, I get it for today. But when I find my next place to go, I’ll make sure to pay you back, okay? Is that alright, Yuka──”

“Huh? Next place to go, what’s that? Don’t tell me, Takato-senpai… you’re planning to run away from home again?”

I was about to call it quits for the day.

But Kizuna-chan interrupted me, sounding a bit displeased.

“Seriously tiresome… Moving in and then leaving right away. Even hermit crabs would be shocked.”

“Hermit crabs, huh. But you can’t expect me to stay forever, right?”

“Huh? Why? Didn’t we say you can stay as long as you like? I really don’t get the point of leaving.”

Well, normally, wouldn’t you think it’s strange for a complete stranger and a male at that, to stay at their house for a long time?

Well, if anything… maybe “normal thinking” doesn’t apply to us “family” who have signed a “family contract.”

“Well, anyway. There’s no trouble with Takato-senpai being here. In fact, as a ‘big sister’, it would be super inconvenient if you left. So stand tall and stay here. Alright? It’s a ‘big sister’ order.”

“──Yeah! In this case, Yukari-nee and Kizuna are right!! Ryu-kun, tsk!”

And finally.

Reliable, caring, always kind.

…And a little spoiled when it’s just the two of us.

That’s what Ao said with a smile.

“If Ryu-kun really hates living with us, that’s different. But if not… there’s no need to think about leaving. Because I, Yukari-nee, and Kizuna──we all enjoyed these past three weeks with Ryu-kun so much!!”

Hearing Ao’s words, Yukari and Kizuna-chan deeply nodded.

Their smiling faces… somehow, it touched my heart.

“…I get it. I’m sorry, all three of you.”

▲　◇　▼　◆

And the next morning, I headed to school with Ao again.

“Hey, hey, Ryu-kun. I said a lot yesterday, but you weren’t upset, right?”

Walking beside me, Ao looked up with a slightly worried tone in her voice.

Seeing the innocent sparkle in Ao’s sailor uniform-clad eyes… I inadvertently felt a rush in my heart.

“…Not upset or anything like that. Rather, I’m the one who should be sorry… for even talking about leaving as ‘family.'”

“No, don’t worry about that either. Because we’re ‘family’!”

Saying that, Ao laughed happily.

Holding her bag with both hands, she flipped her sailor uniform skirt and swayed her body as if dancing.

The brown leather pass case tied to her bag danced along.

Watching Ao like this… my eyes started to feel warm.

“Hey, Ao… family is noisier than I thought, huh?”

“Eh!? Wh-What a sudden complaint!? I humbly apologize, and we as a ‘family’ will make sure──”

“No, it’s not a complaint! Stop with the stock apologies, okay?”

Such──have become the ordinary interactions in the Kakogawa household.

I just couldn’t help but laugh.

“Eh, eh… you’re laughing… Is it because you’re so angry that you ended up laughing? Please forgive me, Ryu-kun. I’ve been having too much fun, sorry.”

“Ahaha! It’s fine. I’m not angry. Thanks for giving me… noisy and fun days.”

──My birth family was quiet.

My father was often absent due to his busy job as a doctor. When it was just my mother and me, we only had harmless conversations before I’d retreat to my room.

When my father came home… of course, there were shouting voices echoing.

Anyway, it was quiet.

──My current “family” is really noisy.

Yukari frequently suggests playing games together.

Every time mischievous Yukari teases, Kizuna-chan gets annoyed and angry.

While soothing Kizuna-chan and warning Yukari, serious Ao is there.

Yet, somehow──all three get along well.

Together with the three of them, I also get excited about games…

It’s really noisy and fun.

So… even though I understand it’s not good to be a burden on this family forever.

Even though I’m searching for my next destination.

Somewhere in my heart… I don’t want to leave.

Because.

This “family contract”… is so warm.