Yandere? Menhera? Bring It On, If You're Confident That I'll love You For Who You Are - Chapter 24

Reunion with My Sister

A few minutes later, I had changed back into my uniform and was heading towards the designated place. It was then that Yuuya handed me that invitation ticket.

According to what I heard, the ticket he received was for a two-hour free trial course, and apparently, the hot spring was originally established as an inn for tourists.

It wasn’t that regular customers couldn’t use it, but reservations were required, and given the summer season, not many visitors came for a casual dip.

In contrast, inside the building, unlike the almost private hot spring baths, there were quite a few people in the guest rooms and lounges, and there was even a small line at the meal ticket counter.

I thought about ordering something light, but I guess it couldn’t be helped.

I bought a drink from a vending machine and made my way to the dining hall. When I slid open the door to the Japanese-style room, I saw several elderly people eating. Among them, it was easy to spot the young woman, dressed in a yukata likely provided by the inn, convincing me she was one of the tourists.

“Hey, sorry to keep you waiting.”

“No, it’s fine. What about the friend you were with?”

“Ah, I sent him home ahead. It’s been a while, so I wanted to catch up, just the two of us siblings.”

As I said that, I took a seat opposite her.

All too suddenly, there I was, sitting across from my real sister whom I hadn’t seen in five years…

“Minato, you’ve really grown up. You look so different.”

“You haven’t changed much. Just to confirm, can I still call you ‘sister’?”

“Call me? Whatever you like.”

My sister answered indifferently to my question.

In that case, I’ll call you as I please.

“You were just starting middle school back then, so you’re a high school senior now, huh? I never dreamed we’d reunite like this.”

“The incident at the bath? I apologized properly for the fence. I’ll cover the repair costs, so don’t worry.”

“You’re still the same as ever…”

Despite being her real brother and of an age where such things matter, her natural disposition seemed to lack any sense of shame even after being seen naked.

“Well, anyway, it’s good to see you’re doing well. Have you decided on a career path?”

“Yeah. There’s something I want to do. I’m thinking of going straight to work.”

“Really? That’s surprising. With your grades, any university would be fighting to have you.”

“You’re overselling it. Besides, I’ve made up my mind.”

While exchanging casual conversation, I observed my sister again.

Her petite, youthful appearance hadn’t changed much from five years ago, as if she had time-leaped from that period to appear before me…

–Wait a second, isn’t that…

–..the male Kurogane. You know, the one often seen with Sumire-san.

–Ah, the degraded copy.

It was a memory that should have been buried in my brain, something I thought I had gotten over long ago, but recalling it now meant I was more concerned about it than I had realized.

“I’ve heard about uncle and aunt. Sorry I couldn’t visit them.”

“Well, I had a hunch, considering you didn’t attend the funeral. Knowing those parents, they probably weren’t interested, right?”

With that, my sister showed a somewhat lonely expression.

“Don’t worry about it now. More importantly, are you doing okay? Even if they’re rotten, they’re still family. Aren’t people looking down on you?”

“I think I’m fine. The school and the police asked me about it, but mom and dad always insisted they had only one child.”

“That’s the best choice they made to protect their child.”

Muttering sarcasm, I reflected on the days I lived with my real parents.

My mother, who rarely did housework or went out.

My father, who clung to grandma’s pension and savings while indulging in gambling.

In that environment, the only thing they ever hoped for was this sister of mine.

Since she was young, my sister was called a genius, a swordswoman who had honed her skills to the extreme. Despite the insurmountable status differences of gender and her small stature, she overpowered the other men in the same club and even managed to defeat adults on rare occasions.

Of course, what they felt for her was not love. They saw this genius sister as a new source of profit…

“It’s really refreshing, to come this far.”

“Yeah.”

Now, my real parents live off grandmother’s insurance money. I felt no anger.

They didn’t love us, but neither did we.

In that sense, we were even.

My sister, who probably understood my feelings the best, reached out with a calm smile and started stroking my head.

“Are you being cautious?”

“…!”

I closed my eyes, and involuntarily, I was confused by the sight of her, as if she was praising the efforts of a young son.

“Sorry for leaving you alone all this time. I can’t talk about it yet. But please believe this – I never forgot about Minato for a single day. I always wanted to walk with you by my side.”

She hugged my face tightly and whispered into my ear.

Her heartbeat was louder than usual, and I could tell she was nervous.

My sister, who had always been there for me when I had nothing as a degraded copy, offering warmth and closeness.

Even before I was born, I thought she would always be with me…

Even though I loved her so much…

“(Really, I’m pathetic.)”

I laughed self-deprecatingly and slipped out of my sister’s palm.

She didn’t resist much and let me go, and at the same time, a vibration came from my inner pocket.

==================

9/6 (Tue) (18:48)

I’ll be there in about 30 minutes. (Read)

==================

It was a plain message. I quickly composed a reply and stood up.

“Sorry, but it’s time. I need to get back.”

“Yeah, it was nice to talk after such a long time. And here, this is my contact information. If you ever need help, contact me right away. I’ll be there for you this time.”

“Alright. See you then – ‘Sumire’.”

I pocketed the piece of paper with my sister’s phone number and address and walked away.

As I slid open the fusuma door, my sister was watching me with a meaningful smile.

***

Twenty minutes had passed, and I was standing in an alley a little distance from the academy.

Most of the buildings there were either closed or had shut down, and there was no foot traffic at all.

It was past 7 PM, and in a space so silent that even the slightest sound was noticeable, I felt a faint but pointed presence at my back.

“Hmph… I’m impressed that you came before the appointed time.”

“Yeah, the reason being what it was.”

I sighed lightly and caught the fist that suddenly aimed at my neck.

I grasped the fist and, as I turned around, I took in the man who appeared before me.

Dressed in a black suit and sunglasses, he looked suspicious, but to me, he was particularly significant.

Naturally, I knew his name.

After all, he was the man who had urged my uncle and aunt to kill Rio, a bodyguard for the Asagami Group who had drilled “real combat” into me.