Yandere? Menhera? Bring It On, If You're Confident That I'll love You For Who You Are - Chapter 6

My Sister’s Return

The next morning, I awoke to a feathery, soft sound. Glancing at the alarm clock perched at the head of my bed, it read 8:05 AM—a somewhat late time to be getting ready for school.

It seems I forgot to set the alarm last night. With my consciousness still hazy, I turned my head to the side.

There she was, lying in the same futon, under the same blanket—it appeared we had shared our slumber.

“(What a sight… and she’s snuck in again during the night, huh?)”

Barely a meter away from me, my sister slept, with nothing on her except for the article wrapped around her neck.

In other words, stark naked, utterly defenseless.

Well, I’m certainly not so depraved as to harbor lustful feelings towards my blood-related sister…

“Mmm… ehehe~…”

My sister slept soundly, the picture of innocence and carefreeness.

Perhaps it’s the absurdity of her expression that makes all the previous events seem like a lie, even from the perspective of a brother like me blessed with such favorable looks?

Silently, I lowered the only piece of clothing she wore—a neck warmer wrapped around her.

“Hmm… Brother?”

“Ah, did I wake you?”

Her eyes opened slightly, betraying a hint of irritation, probably because she was still sleepy.

“…You’re quite bold in the morning.”

“Hey. You didn’t set up a camera or anything, did you? I hope not.”

“Who knows?”

In front of me, my sister smiled with delight. Was she trying to pin on me the moniker of a murderer, or perhaps that of a pervert?

As she ambiguously responded to my query, Rio began to remove the neck warmer I had touched.

“It’s fine, you know? If it’s with Brother.”

“My apologies.”

I raised my hand slightly and faced her neck—bearing scars that would never fully heal.

Knife wounds, holes gouged by screws, burn marks from cigarettes pressed against the skin. How many times had I seen these marks?

Marks that were once self-inflicted by my sister…

“Rio has no regrets, you know? Unlike you, Brother.”

“Don’t say such things.”

I responded to my sister’s provocative words, while the memories of the past regrets she mentioned flooded back to me.

“(Looking back, that was the beginning, wasn’t it… That was the start of everything…)”

It was back when we lived with our sister and biological parents. The day that became the catalyst for me to pursue the path of martial arts.

What began with my admired sister’s encouragement instantly captivated my heart.

It wasn’t just about mindlessly exchanging blows, but rather, it was like a fighting game, involving reading your opponent and engaging in psychological warfare.

Of course, when I first started out, my win rate was less than fifty percent, but with the expectations of my childhood friend Kanade, who was also my crush at the time, it became my passion, something I was willing to stake everything on.

As I began to win small tournaments more frequently, my academic grades inevitably suffered, but my parents said nothing.

Or rather, they probably just weren’t interested… that would be more accurate.

Perhaps that was the trigger. That was when my sister’s heart started to break beyond repair.

And now, as for why I continue to live like this…

“Brother.”

Rio’s grip on my hand strengthened. Unlike back then, I could feel a definite warmth in her touch.

“Don’t lie anymore… I hate that, okay?”

My sister’s empty, broken eyes. Could she really see me in them?

“I understand. Don’t glare at me like that. But listen…”

If the guilt, the punishment, the responsibility for saving her life all fall on me, I’ll atone for it.

If she demands retribution, I’ll accept it. If she wishes for my life, I’ll give it to her.

But…

“If you’re going to face me, be prepared for what that entails.”

My sister didn’t say anything. She just tilted her head like a broken doll.

For a while, a casual silence descended upon the room.

It was just like that time in the hospital… a silence so prolonged and heavy that it made us forget time itself.

Eventually, from beyond the entrance came a rumbling sound of footsteps. We snapped back to reality.

The living room door then burst open with force, and in came a girl with a familiar face.

“Mi-na-to!”

With a tempestuous shout, Kanade, my childhood friend and former crush, entered the room.

Her vigorous, sports club-like enthusiasm caused her to leap at me, and I, caught off guard, was embraced.

“Eh, Kanade-chan!?”

My head swayed left and right, front and back, and I nearly lost consciousness again. Rio quickly wrapped her neck warmer back around her neck and approached us.

“Stop it, I just woke up. You’re making my head spin.”

“Eh~? But Minato, your body’s all tense, isn’t it?”

Kanade laughed mischievously, like a playful child. Unexpectedly, she began to stroke my thigh as if launching a surprise attack.

Slowly, relentlessly, her fingers climbed up towards something a man would rather not have touched in the morning.

“Oh my, oh my? Even the great Minato-kun didn’t see this coming, huh? I can be quite bold when I want to.”

With practiced ease, a chick hand crept towards my manhood, and I was momentarily at a loss for words due to the pleasant ticklish feeling.

“(Ah, this is unexpectedly nice.)”

Now is certainly not the time to be admiring her possible experience.

“Brother!”

“Ah…”

The pleasure coursing through my thigh was short-lived as I was jolted back to reality by the angry voice of my naked sister, her face flushed as if she had a fever.

Relieved by her reaction, it seemed that things were, fortunately, all right this time.

“Don’t sexually harass Brother so early in the morning, Kanade-chan!”

“Calling a girl a sexual harasser, how rude. Besides, you’re not very convincing in that state, are you?”

With her right hand mimicking a gun, she aimed at my now fully aroused manhood and ‘fired’ her bullet.

Well, Rio’s argument about me being in danger of sexual harassment was certainly valid.

“Just kidding, it was a joke. I happened to be passing by and thought we could go to school together.”

“It’s not a joke anymore!”

Rio’s fury didn’t subside at Kanade’s lighthearted banter. As Kanade said, her words lacked persuasiveness in her current state.

Nevertheless, this was still rather endearing.

“Anyway! Let’s hurry up and go, Brother. Any later, and we’ll be tardy.”

“Yeah, you’re right.”

I quickly groomed myself in the bathroom. Time was short, so we skipped breakfast and left the apartment.

“And then, Minato was like…”

“Ahaha, that’s so like you, Brother.”

On the way to school, Rio and Kanade chatted amiably.

Rio is usually quite shy and reserved, but she seems to have a sister-like relationship with Kanade, who she’s known for a long time. They share interests and hobbies, and especially on holidays, they’re often together, choosing clothes, baking sweets, and sometimes even dragging me along to carry their bags from morning till night.

“(When did they become like this… these two…?)”

While pondering this, we reached the school a few minutes later.

There was still more than 10 minutes left before homeroom.

“For now, Rio, you should head to the staff room. Do you know where it is?”

“Yeah, I think I’ll be fine. Go ahead without me, Brother and Kanade-chan. I’ll be late if I don’t hurry.”

“Alright. Be careful.”

Rio ran off.

I had my concerns, but if I went with her, it could only complicate things.

Above all…

“You’re not going to follow her?”

“It’s just reporting to the teacher, right? Besides, given yesterday’s events, it’d be more trouble if I were with her. Fortunately, it seems Rio is being treated as the victim.”

“Hmm. You’re kinder than you let on.”

Contrary to her words, Kanade gave me a sharp look… but soon replaced it with her usual smile.

“But that’s right, isn’t it? Rio can’t always be by your side. You do think about things like that, don’t you?”

“Well, I am her brother, after all.”

“Reliable! I might feel a bit lonely, but you’re a good brother.”

“Right? I should be going too. Let’s continue this conversation on our next day off, tomorrow.”

“Sure. Next time, let’s make sure—absolutely—there are no interruptions, okay?”

Her smile was sincere, unfeigned, but I could sense the jealousy behind it.

Turning my back to Kanade, I began walking towards my classroom.

As expected, I could feel the stares of other students as I walked down the corridor.

Ignoring their gazes, I made my way to my classroom and found Yuuya already waiting atop his desk.

“Hey, Minato. Cutting it close, aren’t you?”

“Yeah, can’t afford to be late on the second day.”

As we spoke, I took my seat.

“By the way, you moved into that cramped room, right? So what? Now you’re sharing a futon with your cute little sister in her underwear—buh!”

I delivered a light blow to his face as a preemptive measure.

“Ow, ow. It was just a joke. Don’t get mad…”

“My bad. Ever since I moved, waking up has been… strangely womanly, even before Rio being there before her discharge. I couldn’t help it…”

“Wait, are you serious?”

“Yeah, that room… someone’s definitely there.”

The silence that descended was meant to be light-hearted, but Yuuya couldn’t help sweating bullets until I burst out laughing.

“Like that could be true. Don’t believe everything, idiot.”

“Man, you got me. I was worried there for a second.”

These kinds of conversations are always good to have.

“Really, you never change. So? How’s it going with Kanade? You guys getting along?”

“It’s going okay. Besides, we’ve been childhood friends for a long time. I think I know her pretty well.”

“Is that so? If you say so, then it must be true.”

Yuuya showed a happy yet complicated expression. I could guess what he was feeling.

From his point of view… it probably wasn’t great.

“Anyway, are you free after school today?”

“I don’t have any plans. Why?”

“Well, now that Rio’s back, the whole gang is together. How about we get together for a meal for old times’ sake?”

“Sounds good.”

I had anticipated this turn of events.

Despite the risks, it could be a chance to gain something even more valuable.

For that, Yuuya’s presence was essential.

“But we’re just going to the local Chinese place. Hina seemed happy when I told her you’d be coming.”

“Huh? Hina’s coming too?”

“Who else? She was the one who suggested it. That idiot kept asking me every day if you and Rio were coming back to school. I don’t know why she’d ask me that, right?”

Yuuya sighed as if exasperated.

However, I didn’t have the luxury to entertain that at the moment.

“What’s with that serious face? Don’t worry, we’ll cover your meal.”

“Sorry for the trouble.”

“Don’t be so formal. Hey, I’ll tell her you’re coming. She’s a bit worried you might decline.”

“Yeah, I got it.”

Nodding to Yuuya’s invitation, the bell signaling homeroom rang.

It wasn’t what I had expected, but it couldn’t be helped. I immediately took out my smartphone, switched from the home screen to the contacts, and composed a message to Hina, the one who had suggested the meal and Yuuya’s sister.

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9/2(Fri) (8:42)

Heard from Yuuya. Thanks for the invite. I’ll be glad to join. Please say hello to Rio for me.

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I sent the message without hesitation and put the phone back in my pocket. Barely a few seconds later, my phone vibrated with a reply.

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9/2(Fri) (8:42)

Thank you. I’ve already told Rio. We were worried, but I’m glad to hear you’re doing well. I’m looking forward to talking with both of you after such a long time! (Read)

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“(She responded quickly…)”

I had barely sent the message when I received this long reply, even though not even a minute had passed.

Though I only knew her through Yuuya and rarely met her alone, I was truly grateful for her pure concern.

With that thought, I returned my gaze forward and noticed that a girl sitting in the middle row was looking my way.

“Heh…”

With a faint smile, that girl—Amano Mio—waved at me. I couldn’t help but sigh.