Chapter 6: Becoming a Family

Sunday evening. I decided to have a conversation with Ichika and stepped out of my room. Coincidentally, Nanase was also stepping out of her room.

“Hey, Nanase… heading to work?”

“Yeah, I’m working until 10 PM today.”

“What about her?”

“Ichika-chan is studying in the room. She said she still hasn’t finished her homework. It seems like she’s struggling with math.”

Despite the summer break almost ending, she still hadn’t finished her homework. I had always finished mine by July. Nanase was probably the same type.

“Oh! Souhei-kun, why don’t you teach Ichika-chan math?”

“Huh?”

The sudden suggestion took me by surprise. Nanase continued with a bright smile.

“Souhei-kun, you aimed for national universities, right? I didn’t study math for my entrance exams, so I can’t help her much.”

“I did study, but… I hardly remember anything.”

“You’ll be fine, Souhei-kun!”

With that, Nanase said, “I’ll leave it to you,” and went down the stairs.

She probably created an excuse for me to talk to Ichika. I felt a bit pathetic, relying on her for everything. Since she had set this up, I had to make sure to talk to Ichika properly.

Standing in front of the door, I swallowed hard and pressed the intercom.

“…Oh, Souhei-kun?”

Ichika, who answered the door, looked surprised to see me.

“What? Haruko-san is at work.”

“Uh, no. I’m here for you.”

Ichika frowned suspiciously, “For me? Why?”

Her bratty attitude made me doubt if she really wanted to get along with me…

“…Do you want help with your studies?”

Ichika’s eyes widened in surprise, “Really!?” Thinking it might be an unwelcome offer, I quickly added,

“Well, if you don’t need it…”

“No, I’m really having trouble.”

Ichika brought her notebook and reference book from the table. I stood in the doorway, taking them from her.

“What don’t you understand?”

“This part, and this part, and also this part.”

Almost everything. Her academic level seemed slightly below average.

I sat down, and while scrutinizing the text, I began to recall and teach her math. She picked it up faster than I expected. Despite saying she didn’t understand, she grasped the concepts quickly with a bit of help. With proper study methods, she could improve a lot.

“Souhei-kun, you’re good at math. I’m impressed.”

“It’s just normal.”

“Why did you choose Risseikan University? Couldn’t you aim higher?”

“By process of elimination. I couldn’t take the entrance exam for my first-choice national university because I had the flu.”

“Wow… Souhei-kun, you’re so unlucky.”

Ichika gave me a pitying look, but I didn’t feel that way. If not for that, I wouldn’t have met Nanase. Maybe I was lucky.

“Anyway, I really wanted to leave home… I couldn’t take a gap year, so my only option was Risseikan.”

Ichika pouted, “You really wanted to leave home that much.”

“…Yeah.”

“Souhei-kun, do you plan to get along with your family?”

Ichika looked at me with eyes like a forlorn puppy. Facing her direct gaze, I realized Nanase was right. I hadn’t really been looking at Ichika at all.

I hesitated but then asked bluntly,

“Do you want to get along with your new family?”

Ichika looked down and nodded silently.

…As Nanase had said. I reflected on my deep-rooted assumptions.

“You should have said so from the start…”

“You wouldn’t have listened! …But I wasn’t honest either… sorry.”

Ichika said, lowering her eyebrows dejectedly.

…Well, to be fair, it was both our faults.

Her attitude was confusing, but I had subconsciously assumed she had the same issues with family as I did.

Facing her directly, I spoke,

“You wanted to be family with me too, right?”

Ichika’s eyes wavered slightly. She didn’t respond verbally, but her grip on her T-shirt conveyed her feelings.

Ichika was trying to pick up the pieces I had given up on. I admired her for that… because I couldn’t do it.

“I didn’t really listen to you, did I? You were straightforward from the start.”

I had given up on facing family matters. I pretended I didn’t need to care about family, making excuses like “I’m not suited for this.” I was even avoiding becoming family with someone important to me.

“You’re amazing. You faced your new family without running away, trying to get along with Mom and even a helpless stepbrother like me.”

“…”

“So I’ll follow your example. I want to get along with my family… and be positive about becoming family with someone in the future.”

Ichika listened quietly, then slowly looked up. Her expression seemed clear and bright.

“…Souhei-kun, I always wanted a happy family.”

“…Yeah.”

“So Souhei-kun, cooperate with me. If you don’t, I’ll tell Mom about your kiss with Haruko-san at university!”

Ichika pointed her finger at me. I responded, “Please don’t,” and we ended up laughing a little.

◆◆◆

After my evening shift, I got a message from Nanase: [Let’s have dinner together tonight!]. It seemed she and Ichika had made curry. They were as close as ever, which was a relief.

It had been a week since Ichika came to Kyoto, but she showed no signs of going home and was still staying in Nanase’s room. They did radio exercises every morning, studied, ate, and slept together. Last night, they went to the bathhouse, and Ichika said, “Haruko-san has an amazing figure!” My step-sister was completely ahead of me. Not that I was jealous or anything.

I rang the intercom at the next-door room, and Nanase, barefaced and in glasses, peeked out. She put her finger to her lips and shushed me.

“What’s up?”

“Ichika-chan is taking a nap.”

“Huh? She’s not a child…”

On Nanase’s bed, Ichika was curled up like a cat, peacefully sleeping. Nanase smiled and watched her, saying, “She’s cute.” Nanase seemed a little too sweet on her; she appeared more infatuated with Ichika than me.

“She was studying until just now.”

“Did she finish her homework? The new term is starting soon.”

“She asked for my help, but I told her to do her best on her own.”

Nanase said, smiling brightly. She was kind and gentle but also serious and honest.

Even taking a nap comfortably, Ichika seemed completely at home in Nanase’s room. Did she even plan to return home? I understood how comfortable it was, though.

Reflecting on my high school days spent in the library with Nanase, she sat beside me and whispered softly, not wanting to wake Ichika.

“By the way, Ichika-chan suggested we visit Kiyomizu-dera tomorrow.” (tln : a Japanese Temple)

“Huh? Why?”

“She wants to do some sightseeing in Kyoto before going back.”

So, she might be preparing to go home soon. With summer break ending, she had no choice but to return.

“Souhei-kun, you’ll come too, right?”

“…Yeah, I’ll go.”

As I nodded, Nanase’s face lit up with joy.

“Great! We haven’t gone out much lately.”

“True…”

With everything going on, we hadn’t had much time to go out since summer started. Though with Ichika along, it wouldn’t really be a date.

…Come to think of it, we hadn’t had any affectionate moments since Ichika arrived…

Before she came, I was bewildered by Nanase’s assertiveness, but not being able to be affectionate made me want it more. Seeing Nanase fawn over Ichika, I couldn’t help but feel left out.

Glancing at the bed to check if Ichika was still asleep, I cautiously placed my hand on Nanase’s cheek. As I moved closer, Nanase’s face turned red.

“Huh!? No, we can’t… Ichika-chan is here…”

“She’s asleep, it’s fine.”

“But she might wake up…”

Even as she said that, Nanase didn’t seem entirely against it. Maybe she had a weakness for such situations. This was a new discovery.

“…If it’s not okay, I won’t.”

“…It’s not… not okay.”

Nanase sighed in resignation, closing her eyes tightly. We shared a brief kiss. I wanted more, but anymore would be too risky.

Just then, Ichika stirred and turned over. Panicking, I quickly pulled away from Nanase and pretended to look at my phone.

“…Huh? Souhei-kun, you’re here?”

Ichika, waking up and stretching, noticed me. Avoiding eye contact, I replied, “Y-Yeah.”

…That was close… but we made it, right?

Glancing at Nanase, her face was red, and she seemed dreamy. When I put a finger to my lips, she nodded shyly.