I Promised to Make the Class Honor Student My 'Little Sister'. It Seems She Wants to Be Spoiled a Lot - Volume 1 Chapter 8.3

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

“Like, seriously. Why is the PE teacher, Kabazawa, sooo gross? Just being there is like sexual harassment, you know?”

…Scary.

I instinctively avert my eyes.

I mean, they’re wearing middle school uniforms, so they’re definitely younger, but…

When gyarus are this hardcore, age doesn’t matter. It’s just plain scary.

Trying not to make eye contact, I quickly move to leave.

“Hey, Kizuna. Which accessory do you think is better, this or this?”

“…The star-shaped one. The heart is too big. It’d be hard to match with your outfit.”

─Eh?

Did someone just say… Kizuna?

I automatically turn my gaze towards the gyarus.

And then─I made direct eye contact with a gyaru I didn’t know.

“…What? You need something from us?”

The gyaru frowned and glared at me.

Probably, my intense gaze made her think I was picking a fight. It’s happened before because of my glare.

Seriously, give me a break.

“Don’t stare too much, okay?”

“No, I don’t really need anything… and I wasn’t staring.”

“Huh? You were totally glaring. Oh my god… I’m calling the cops, okay?”

The police again.

Lately, I’ve been getting threatened with police involvement too much.

Missing my train, getting lost, and now getting hassled by gyarus.

Really… this is just too much.

“Ah, sorry. That guy is an acquaintance of mine. Well… more like my sister’s acquaintance, but…”

That’s when─Kakogawa Kizuna intervened between me and the gyaru.

Her ash-gray, fluffy hair resembles cotton candy.

Petite and slender.

Despite her mature makeup, her crystal-clear, large eyes betray her innocence.

Ao’s real sister─Kizuna-chan, with her hands in her pockets, looked at me expressionlessly.

“…Takato-senpai. You need something? This area’s the opposite direction from the high school, you know.”

“I know, but… I missed my train. Then, as I was walking home, I somehow got lost…”

“What!? Seriously directionally challenged?”

My mishap made the gyarus burst into laughter.

But Kizuna-chan alone─let out a huge sigh before lazily lifting her hair and said,

“…Seriously lame.”

▲　◇　▼　◆

After missing my train and getting lost, I found myself being led home by Kizuna-chan under the sunset sky.

“Sigh… so tedious…”

Kizuna-chan, hands in her pockets, walked beside me with a listless expression. Despite her seemingly bad attitude, her doll-like features made her seem not at all intimidating. Instead, there was a certain charm to her, like a small child throwing a tantrum.

“You didn’t have to escort me, you know.”

“If you dropped dead around here, it’d be a bother. Ao-neechan would be sad. I wouldn’t be, but… plus, I was heading home soon anyway.”

“Really? Your friends seemed like they were staying out longer.”

“Yeah. They usually hang out late. I go home by 19:00 at the latest, though.”

“Why’s that?”

“Huh? Because Ao-neechan is waiting with dinner ready, why else?”

What a good kid.

Given her indifferent way of speaking and her gal friends, I had her pegged as a delinquent…

“…You thought I was like a delinquent, didn’t you? Just ’cause.”

“Uh… yeah.”

“Be more tactful, will you? Well… it’s fine, I guess.”

Saying so nonchalantly, Kizuna-chan slowly ran her fingers through her hair. The sunset’s red glow reflected off her ash-gray hair, making it seem eerily beautiful.

“…Yuka-neechan told me. You signed the ‘Family Contract’ with those two to avoid going home, right?”

Suddenly, Kizuna-chan broached such a sensitive topic.

“Normally, you wouldn’t continue with such a contract, right?”

“…Well, typically no. Plus, the whole ‘Family Contract’ thing isn’t exactly normal to begin with.”

“That’s true. It’s clear Yuka-neechan isn’t normal.”

Exchanging such words, Kizuna-chan intently looked into my face and said,

“So, why keep up the ‘Family’ act? Because you have nowhere else to go? So you’re… reluctantly playing ‘Family’?”

Why is Kizuna-chan asking this?

I wasn’t sure, but… her eyes were so earnest that I spilled my genuine feelings.

“There’s nowhere else for me… that’s certainly a part of it. But it’s not that I’m reluctantly continuing. I guess… I don’t want to leave because this ‘Family’ feels warm. That’s my honest feeling.”

“Warm?”

“Yeah. Ao-neechan cheerfully talks to me. Yuka-neechan annoyingly teases me. Seeing Ao-neechan, Yuka-neechan, and Kizuna-chan getting along… it all feels warm. This is what family is, I guess.”

The home I was born into wasn’t like that.

A stubborn father with strong opinions who wouldn’t tolerate dissent.

An overprotective, indecisive mother who couldn’t decide anything without consulting my father.

Always having to be mindful of my parents’ gaze. Suppressing my own voice.

──I was always freezing.

“Well… That’s why… living as a ‘Family’ at the Kakogawa house felt warm and fun. I ended up overstaying. Sorry.”

“…It’s fine. You don’t have to apologize.”

As I offered my apology, Kizuna-chan bit her lip and looked away.

“Anyway… I figured you’re not a peeper. Ao-neechan seems really happy when she’s talking to you. So… you can stay if you want. Stay as long as you like at our place.”

Her expression was softer than usual, not like her usual demeanor.

“…You’re just like your sister. Kind, you know.”

“Huh!? Sister, as in Ao-neechan? We’re nothing alike! I’m not kind at all!! If you’re trying to hit on me, do it somewhere else!”

“Who’s hitting on whom!? That’s a baseless accusation… I’m not so desperate as to pick up middle schoolers.”

“What!? Rude much!? Don’t treat me like a child, seriously tedious!!”

What am I supposed to do with this?

She’s a tough one… As I was thinking that, Kizuna-chan and I finally reached our house.

“Ah, Ryu-kun!”

As we entered, Ao, having heard us, rushed over from the living room.

“Geez, where were you? You should’ve been home first, and I was worried when I didn’t see you… Huh, Kizuna? You came back with Ryu-kun?”

“Ah… yeah. Ran into him along the way.”

“Oh, I see. Did you two manage to talk a little?”

“…Nope. Silent the whole way. Complete silence.”

That would be an awkward trip home.

Trying to play it off, Kizuna-chan, who seemed embarrassed or maybe just too bothered to elaborate, started to climb the stairs but then stopped suddenly.

“…Oh yeah, Ao-neechan. I think, maybe, Takato-senpai was hitting on me… or maybe not… kinda felt like it?”

“─What!? Wait, Kizuna-chan!?”

Of course, it was a lie.

No, to be precise, not even a lie? “Maybe… or maybe not…” That’s as vague as it gets.

But─too honest Ao,

Even took such nonsensical words to heart.

“…Ryu-kun? What’s this all about? Mind explaining in detail?”

“Whoa! Scary, scary! The smile pressure is becoming traumatic!! …Hey, Kizuna-chan! You’re supposed to help sort this out before going upstairs!?”

I desperately shouted, but Kizuna-chan just smirked and stuck her tongue out at me, caught in Ao’s interrogation.

“This punishment game… let’s call it the fare for guiding you home.”