I Promised to Make the Class Honor Student My 'Little Sister'. It Seems She Wants to Be Spoiled a Lot - Volume 1 Chapter 8.1

A Languid Junior High School Girl, Hesitant to Become My “Family”

Today marks the end of May already…

Feeling the swift passage of time, I descend the stairs.

It’s been a week since I entered the “Family Contract” with Ao and the others─time flies.

I was on edge, expecting my father, who can’t stand being disobeyed, might come storming in any day… but that hasn’t happened.

There’s been no word from home.

In other words… they probably don’t want me back. A child who defies their parent’s orders is unwanted, something like that.

Well. That’s exactly what I wished for.

I have no intention of returning either.

“…………!?”

And just as I reached the first floor…

I bumped into Kizuna-chan unexpectedly.

“…………”

Maybe because she had just gotten home, Kizuna-chan was still in her uniform… looking at me intently through the gaps in her ash-gray hair.

The cardigan she wore under her blazer was unusually long, reaching down to her thighs, contrasting sharply with her skirt, which was so short… it was almost completely hidden by the cardigan.

The disparity between the top and bottom must feel extremely unbalanced.

But this must be… what middle school girls consider fashionable… probably.

“Uh… we, welcome back?”

I greeted her cheerfully, but got completely ignored.

Without a word, Kizuna-chan gave a thumbs-up, then…

…pointed behind her towards the bathroom.

“Ao-neesan is taking a shower. If you peek again, it won’t just be a wrongful accusation, you know?”

At those words──my blood ran cold.

“S-sorry! Didn’t know… I’ll head back upstairs. Thanks for telling me.”

“…It’s not like I care. Just don’t want Ao-neesan to get hurt.”

Hurt, huh.

The word itself is troubling, but for now, escaping to the second floor seems wise.

I thanked Kizuna-chan once more before… hurrying back up the stairs.

“…Don’t mention it. It’s annoying…”

I thought I heard Kizuna-chan mutter something from downstairs.

But I was in too much of a rush to catch it.

An hour or so later…

Called down for dinner, I descended to the first floor.

“Ah, Ryu-kun. It’s dinner time!”

In the kitchen was “little sister” Ao, wearing her usual baggy sweatshirt which somehow made her face look even more innocent than usual.

And then, she was wearing her favorite shorts as indoor wear. According to her, they’re comfortable and easy to move in… but honestly, they always leave me not knowing where to look.

“Whoa, smells delicious! Let’s have dinner, Ao. I’m starving after today’s long staff meeting.”

Yukari came in languidly, the “twin.”

Her hair was still tied up, but she had already changed into her usual home attire.

Which, by the way, consists of a tank top and sweatpants…

…The tank top alone feels way too defenseless; I can hardly bear to look.

Knowing full well how provocative her outfit is, she deliberately leans forward in front of me, playing such pranks. This person.

Our “twin” seriously has a wicked side.

“…………”

And finally, Kizuna-chan, still in her uniform, took her place at the dining table. Notably, our “relationship” is still undefined.

Right after sitting down, Kizuna-chan pulled out a hand mirror and started fixing her ash-gray hair with her hand.

She always pays attention to her makeup and hairstyle, Kizuna-chan does.

So, with the four of us gathered at the dining table…

We began our dinner.

“Today was a sale, so I bought crab cream croquettes! Two each, so don’t take too many, okay?”

“Hey, Kizuna. Wanna swap my tomato for your crab cream croquette?”

“What’s that? At least propose an equal exchange. And eat your tomato. Don’t be picky, you’re an adult.”

“Ah. Ryu-kun, are you okay with shellfish? Some people are allergic, you know.”

“Ah, yeah… I’ve never had an allergic reaction to food. Thanks, Ao.”

“Ryuuki… actually, I’m allergic to tomatoes. If I eat them, my clothes might burst off. Kyaa. Yukari’s delicate skin exposed to Ryuuki… So, swapping my tomato for your crab cream croquette is fine, right? Great, thanks!”

“That’s forceful. No way.”

“Hey, Yukari-neechan! Don’t blatantly lie! There’s no allergy that makes clothes burst off, only in perverted manga!!”

“That kind of manga exists? Huh, Ao knows a lot about perverted manga.”

“Idiot! Yukari-neechan’s crab cream croquette is confiscated, geez!”

“…………”

──Do you see what I mean?

It might seem like a fun dining table scene at first glance… but in truth, since sitting down, I haven’t once made eye contact with Kizuna-chan.

Actually, it’s always been like this with Kizuna-chan.

The wall separating me and Kizuna-chan is… surprisingly large.

“…Thanks for the meal. I’m going back to my room.”

“Ah, Kizuna! I bought some strawberries, wanna eat them together?”

“…I’ll pass. The three of you, enjoy.”

Right after finishing her meal, Kizuna-chan heads back upstairs.

“Sigh… Kizuna is still as shy as ever. She just can’t seem to warm up to Ryuuki.”

“Hmm… How can we get those two to get along better?”

While Yukari and Ao ponder,

I can’t help but think… it’s quite a tall order for Kizuna-chan to open up to me…

After all, to Kizuna-chan, I am…

An older male, not related by blood, and completely a stranger.