Intermission Chapter: Runaway Girl’s Melancholy

With the end of August nearing, there were only ten days left of summer break for high school.

I was despairing in front of my never-ending homework. I had a math allergy, and just seeing the numbers and symbols made my head hurt.

Haruko-san had patiently tried to teach me, but I still couldn’t grasp it. Eventually, Haruko-san checked the clock and stood up.

“Sorry, Ichika-chan. I have to head to work. There’s cold noodles in the fridge for dinner, help yourself.”

Haruko-san said “Ittekimasu” and left the room. The sound of the door locking echoed.

…Haruko-san is… just too kind.

Living with her was very comfortable, but… I can’t trouble her any longer. Summer break is ending soon, and the new term will start.

I sighed and slumped onto the table. My math homework, due after the break, was still unfinished. There were so many parts I didn’t understand, and I wasn’t making any progress.

…Not finishing the homework is bad, but… I haven’t achieved my original goal at all.

My purpose for staying here — to get along with my stepbrother and achieve the “ideal family.”

My mom passed away when I was little.

Since I was so young, I barely remembered Mom. For me, family was just my dad.

I loved my dad and had no complaints. But in school lessons, TV dramas, and manga, I saw family structures I didn’t know. I wondered what it would be like to have a mom. I wanted a kind mom, and maybe an older brother or sister. Having younger siblings might be fun too.

But that was just a dream. I thought it was something I could never have — until.

Dad decided to remarry.

The day I first met Dad’s fiancée, I was shocked by my appearance. Light brown hair close to gold, ears full of piercings, a disheveled uniform, flashy gyaru makeup. Having a stepdaughter like this might scare her!

Thinking that, I sprayed my hair black, hid the piercings, removed my makeup. Like a model student, I went to meet my new mom.

──Nice to meet you. Let’s get along from now on.

The woman who would become my mother was beautiful and kind. I ended up pretending to be a good girl to win her favor.

Even after living together, I couldn’t back out… My dad was exasperated, but I continued to be a serious honor student at home.

When I heard about her college-aged son, my heart skipped a beat. I would have a brother! Not just a kind mom, but a brother too. It was a dream come true.

But my stepbrother never came home. Kyoto and Nagoya are close, he could come back anytime. Frustrated that he didn’t even show up during Golden Week, I decided to surprise him at his university’s open campus.

The university was bigger than I expected, with lots of people. I didn’t have high hopes, but I found my stepbrother surprisingly easily. He was giving a lecture in an economics seminar.

I didn’t understand the content, but my serious-looking stepbrother in a suit seemed impressive. Standing tall and speaking confidently, he looked like a true university student.

…I want to talk to him. I want to get along.

After the lecture, I looked for him and… caught him flirting with his girlfriend.

His girlfriend was a stylish beauty with a good personality. Seeing this as a chance to get closer to him, I exchanged contact info with her.

From Haruko-san, I learned that he was kind, reliable, smart, and a wonderful person. If someone so amazing said that, my stepbrother must be incredible.

With my expectations high, I finally met my stepbrother face-to-face.

──Nice to meet you. I’m Sagara Souhei.

Meeting him in person, Souhei-kun was a hundred times more unfriendly than I imagined.

It would have been fine if he was just shy, but he didn’t make any effort to keep the conversation going. He seemed distant, not wanting to engage with us.

──Just because we’re family doesn’t mean we have to force it. You don’t really want to get along with me, right?

Hearing him say that, I reached my breaking point. The good girl mask I wore for my mom shattered, and I exploded in anger.

…It was shocking. My desire to get along with my new family felt rejected.

Even so, I couldn’t give up on getting along with Souhei-kun. If I couldn’t get through to him, I’d try through his girlfriend. Acting impulsively, I skipped school and went to see Haruko-san. Forgetting to maintain my good girl act, I showed up in gyaru fashion… but Souhei-kun had seen through my facade anyway, so it didn’t matter.

While I got along well with Haruko-san, I couldn’t get any closer to Souhei-kun.

Hoping he’d come back during summer break, I showed up unexpectedly. We had dinner at a family restaurant, but it still didn’t go well. I realized Souhei-kun didn’t expect anything from our family, and I exploded in anger again.

Returning to Nagoya dejected, I began plotting my next move when my mom saw me in my flashy attire. Fearing she was disappointed, I couldn’t bring myself to go home. Before I knew it, I was on a Shinkansen to Kyoto. I could have gone to a friend’s house, but the first face that popped into my head was Souhei-kun’s.

Even though I sought Souhei-kun’s help, I expected him to tell me to go home. Feeling lost, I contacted Haruko-san, who brought Souhei-kun along. Haruko-san offered to take me in.

Running away without thinking, I decided this was an opportunity. It might be my last chance to get close to Souhei-kun. I couldn’t miss it.

A week has passed, but my stepbrother is still difficult, showing no signs of closing the gap.

──Becoming family isn’t easy.

…I know that too. But I want to be family.

That doesn’t mean the problem lies only with Souhei-kun. I can’t be honest and always end up saying mean things. It’s no wonder he might dislike me.

But what should I do? It’s the first time I’ve had a brother; I don’t know how to interact…

As I pondered, the doorbell rang.

Thinking it might be a delivery, I opened the door with a “Yes?”

Standing there was my sullen-faced stepbrother.