Yandere? Menhera? Bring It On, If You're Confident That I'll love You For Who You Are - Chapter 7

Love and Romance

“Alright everyone, you’ve got your cups, right? Then, let’s toast to the Kurogane siblings’ return—”

“Ah, Minato-senpai. This meat is really good. Can I have seconds?”

“Yeah, over there.”

“Hey, what are you doing starting before the toast! You’re ruining the mood!!”

On the second day of the new term, perhaps because it was the weekend the next day, the classes ended in the morning, and it was the perfect time for lunch after school. We had gathered at a Chinese restaurant a few minutes’ walk from the school.

A private tatami room. A gathering of five high school students. In front of us lay an array of dishes and cups, creating an atmosphere that was quite literally a feast in every sense of the word.

“Ah, Yuuya-senpai, thank you for today. You opened this place just for us, didn’t you?”

“Don’t mention it. But man, it’s been really a while since all five of us got together like this. Oh, Kanade-san. Here, about the summer homework—”

“Yes, yes. You never change, do you, Yuuya?”

Yuuya eagerly handed over the homework printouts to Kanade, along with some writing utensils. Looking back, this kind of scene was pretty much the norm during our middle school days.

I should mention that summer vacation has ended, so it’s completely too late to start now.

“Sigh… Yuuya, really. I’m sorry, Minato-senpai, for this kind of moment.”

“Don’t worry about it. And again, thanks. Today’s looking to be a nice change of pace.”

“No, I’m the one who’s happy to be able to talk to you seniors after so long.”

Hina smiled radiantly, as if to say ‘please don’t worry about it.’

Now that I understood the true intentions of Ryo and Kanade, her presence was truly a healing one.

That being said, there was one thing I needed to confirm.

“Since starting high school, has anything happened? Like, has anyone done anything to you…?”

“…I’m fine. I can’t stay a child forever.”

“I see, that’s good then.”

Hina showed a somewhat complex expression, but for the moment, I felt relieved.

“Hmm, when did it become just the two of you? Maybe I should join in as the big sister.”

“Huh? Did we look so close that you got jealous? Do I have a chance too?”

“Ahaha. But I can’t hand him over while Ryo’s eyes are still black, can I?”

“You said it now, everyone~!”

The girls’ playful banter unfolded on the tatami. It was a loud and silly commotion.

In their eyes, there was a sure sign of ‘heart.’

“The girls look like they’re having a lot of fun. But still, this kind of thing is really nice, isn’t it?”

“Yeah.”

Yuuya smiled wryly, and I nodded in agreement.

A world where everyone laughs together without resentment or jealousy.

It was exactly the kind of day-to-day life I had been searching for…

“Really, there are so many rivals. But there’s no seat for everyone~. I’m going to monopolize the seat next to Minato from now on since we couldn’t meet much during the summer vacation!”

“…But that’s impossible now, isn’t it?”

That’s right—even if that moment was just a fleeting one.

“Huh? What do you mean by that, Rio?”

“Just what I said. Kanade-chan is now a person of the past for you. Now, and from now on, you won’t go back to being more than childhood friends. Because you and Kanade-chan are meant to walk different paths.”

“…Minato-senpai, a person of the past?”

“Um… Rio-chan?”

Hina felt doubtful about Rio’s words. Yuuya, noticing the subtle change in the atmosphere, tried to intervene with a flustered look, but Kanade’s counterattack began immediately.

“A person of the past, huh… Yeah, that’s right. If Rio’s words are correct, Minato should walk a different path from you too.”

“…What do you mean?”

“Nothing much? Just that I can clearly say this: you are the only sister with a blood connection to Minato. That won’t change and can’t be changed. So—even if Minato has feelings of love for Rio as his sister, he will never fall in love with Rio as a ‘woman.’ That will never come true.”

“!!!”

Those words were the most taboo for a sister to touch upon.

I instantly grabbed Rio’s wrist, stopping the object she was about to use on Kanade’s chest from going any further.

“Eh…?”

“Ri, Rio-chan!? What are you doing…”

Yuuya and Hina couldn’t comprehend what was happening.

Or rather, it would be more accurate to say they couldn’t.

It was no surprise. The object Kanade was about to use on her chest—if one had the will, it could take someone’s life, a deadly weapon.

“I’ll kill… I’ll kill you…!”

Rio directed unmistakable murderous intent and madness at Kanade. In contrast, Kanade’s expression did not change from a smile.

Yuuya went pale, and Hina kept her gaze of astonishment fixed.

“Thanks, Minato. But really, that’s dangerous, huh? Do you always carry such things with you?”

Kanade stood up, using her bag that was nearby as a shield.

“I’ve been thinking lately. Love and romance are similar, but different. After all, love doesn’t need to be returned, right? But when it comes to romance, it’s not the same. You want to make him notice you, you want to make him yours—that desire… You, with your blood connection, don’t even have the right to challenge that. If I put it this way, you’ll understand, right? You are nothing more than a sister to Minato.”

“!!!”

Rio’s resistance grew stronger. She clenched the weapon in her hand tightly and twisted her body desperately trying to grab Kanade.

I held Rio’s back down and lifted her left arm, which held the fruit knife, behind her.

“I won’t hand him over… Never to you again!!! Minato is mine… since that day…!”

“Thanks for the meal. Sorry, but I’ll be going ahead. Yuuya, will you invite me again?”

Yuuya didn’t answer. He was completely at a loss for words in the face of a scene so far removed from normalcy.

Without paying attention to Yuuya or listening to Rio’s crazed shouts, Kanade left the place.

“Aaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!! Aaaaaaaaahhhhhhh!!!”

A scream. It was like the death throes of someone who refused to admit defeat.

“(That’s why I told you, be prepared.)”

In front of such an absurd and pathetic sister, I muttered that to myself.

A few minutes later, staff from the restaurant who had heard Rio’s death throes came running.

Fortunately, there were no injuries among us, and since it was a private room, other customers were not affected, so we were spared from having to call the police.

Eventually, Rio, who had regained her sanity and was exhausted, said she was going home first and left.

As a result, only Yuuya, Hina, and I were left.

“Um… Minato-senpai?”

“Sorry, Hina, Yuuya too. Could I have a little bit of your time?”

“Ah… sure…”

First things first, I guess I should explain things to these two.