From that day on, Takuma started coming home frequently.
Especially after he quit the baseball team. Their final summer ended in a heartbreaking loss in the regional semifinals, and both Takuma and Manaka left the team in tears.
The time they had previously devoted to baseball after school and on weekends was now entirely devoted to their budding romance.
"Takuma, you're tickling me..."
They had sex at his house sometimes, but more often it was in Manaka's room. With the two of them holed up in her room for long periods, Ryosuke might have started suspecting something.
Still—even then, they couldn't stop.
All the sexual restraint they'd practiced for the sake of the team seemed to have transformed into overflowing desire. For both Takuma and Manaka...
*****
Life with his "family" changed too.
Ever since then, I felt I'd completely bonded with Ryosuke. At least, that's what I thought.
"Nee-san"
Hearing him call me that started to feel good.
Despite his initially aloof demeanor, once he softened, he revealed an unexpectedly affectionate side.
And...
He's still so cool.
Though mature for his age, his striking features still carried a gender-neutral innocence befitting his years. According to other sources, girls his age, and even some upperclassmen, called him "Prince Charming."
...Though in reality, he lacked any noble aura whatsoever.
The smug satisfaction of knowing his true self at home, the sheer joy of receiving Ryosuke's unconditional smiles.
Wanting more of his attention, Manaka occasionally pulled pranks.
After bathing, she'd deliberately stroll past him in a vulnerable state: wearing only a tank top that barely covered her chest, and hot pants that revealed almost scandalous glimpses of her thighs.
"You're dressed like that again?"
"Well, it's just the house. What do you expect?"
"I'm a guy too, you know—"
My stepbrother is so cute when he averts his gaze awkwardly.
Even before, I'd often felt men's eyes on my well-developed chest, which always made me uncomfortable. But after losing my virginity, my attitude changed.
Takuma is obsessed with this body of mine. I can even tease this "cool prince" like this—finally realizing I've become a captivating, grown-up woman. It feels good.
"It's only for family to see, so it's fine, right?"
"Marin's copying me. You should be careful."
"Yaaay. Heh heh."
"What?"
"I just realized... Ryosuke's really acting like a big brother now."
"What's that supposed to mean...?"
Ryosuke glares at me indignantly, but when he sees Manaka's body, he immediately looks away again.
He's such a kid at heart.
I feel a warm sense of amusement, chuckling inwardly.
Teasing him has become one of Manaka's favorite pastimes.
Speaking of changes in our daily life, Ryosuke now handles all the cooking.
My mother had never been particularly interested in food, and that hadn't changed even after her remarriage. On the Shito side, Ryosuke's father seemed equally indifferent to household chores.
To begin with, neither of my parents had been home much lately.
They usually returned late at night and left for work early in the morning, so there had only been a handful of times when the whole family had sat down together for a meal.
Manaka, for her part, loved to eat but was terrible at cooking.
So naturally, Ryosuke had taken charge of that.
"Enough of that, Nee-san. Stop staring and sit down already."
Manaka stood at the counter, watching her step-brother move with impressive efficiency in the kitchen.
"I'm bored."
"You're in the way."
"Ugh, that's mean!"
She whined, but she continued to tease him with her loosely collared T-shirt.
"...Manrin, help me instead of him."
When he glanced back, he saw Marin leaning against the refrigerator. Her expression was sullen, but...
"Why me?" Ryosuke grumbled, but he stood beside his younger sister and gripped the knife as instructed.
"Good. Take your time. And absolutely don't cut your left hand."
"..."
The patient brother teaching and the silent sister following his lead—it was a heartwarming scene.
"Ryosuke, why are you so good at cooking? Did you practice because you wanted to impress girls?" I teased.
Ryosuke looked up with a cheerful grin. "Maybe because no one else around me would do it?"
"Ugh."
That wasn't very endearing. Still, I felt a pang of guilt for teasing him.
"You've been cooking all this time?"
"My father never did it, and my mothers... well, they never seemed interested either."
I knew he'd had three stepmothers by now.
Ryosuke's expression remained unreadable. He wasn't angry, sad, or lonely. Of course, I couldn't know his true feelings.
Marin glanced sideways at Ryosuke's face.
"Marin, focus."
"...Yes."
My younger sister answered honestly. I'd never seen Marin act like this before. Even with our mother, she's always been prickly. She's willing to let Manaka into her heart, but even then, her attitude is somehow different.
Obedient—
Yes, she seems obedient.
A little jealousy flared. It was like a kitten that had only bonded with me suddenly cozying up to someone else in the blink of an eye. Not that it's a bad thing, exactly...
And while I'm admittedly terrible at housework, it still irks me that Ryosuke pays so much attention to Marin alone.
"I should probably start cooking too," I muttered, testing his reaction.
"Please don't. That just gives me more work."
"What?! I do a little too, you know! I wash the dishes!"
"The dishwasher does most of the work, though."
"Ugh...!"
"–Heh."
We both turned to see who had let out a stifled laugh.
It was Marin.
The girl who rarely smiled was stifling a small chuckle.
"... Nothing."
Manaka remained facing the cutting board, her expression unchanged, but she seemed to be blushing.
She met Ryosuke's gaze and smiled.
Huh? This is actually fun.
Before she knew it...
Thanks to Ryosuke, the house had become a lot more enjoyable. The whole household revolved around him, and that somehow felt comforting.
Everything was going smoothly. Her relationship with her boyfriend, her relationship with her step-brother...
...but just a little more.
She wanted to get closer to her step-brother. To this younger boy who everyone envied.
As an older sister—no, as an older sister.
Manaka muttered inwardly, trying to suppress the "bad feelings" welling up deep within her.
*****
After the family dinner for the three siblings ended, Ryosuke bathed after his sisters, dried his hair, and left the dressing room.
The hallway was deathly quiet.
His parents hadn't returned home yet, and it seemed Marin had gone to her bedroom on the first floor—while Manaka had gone to her room on the second floor.
Unfortunately, he was accustomed to this silence.
It feels like I'm at the bottom of an aquarium.
That's how Ryosuke often feels about his home. Quiet, orderly, and lit only by artificial light in this narrow world.
...Recently, outsiders have been showing up, but I'm used to that. Or at least I think I am.
Trying not to wake the other two with the sound of my footsteps, I ascend the stairs. Then, with a click, the door opens. It's Manaka.
"Nee-san?"
She must have heard my faint footsteps and come out of her room. As usual, his older sister-in-law—Manaka—is in her habitual state of underdressed vulnerability: a tank top and hot pants.
"I just wanted to talk to you for a moment."
She closes the door behind her with a hand behind her back and gives him a slightly coquettish look.
"Sure, but... is this about you breaking another plate again today?"
"Hey! It was only the second time!"
"Still breaking dishes?"
My younger sister, Marin, is quite different from me in personality. She's more dexterous and delicate. Though sometimes careless and clumsy, her charm always covers for it.
"Anyway, that's not what I wanted to talk about. I've been thinking lately, Ryosuke, you've really got a good vibe going."
"What brought this on all of a sudden?"
"Remember how cold you used to be?"
"Ah, that..."
It's not that I particularly disliked Manaka and the others—I didn't care whether my father got more step-siblings.
"I figured there was no point in being friendly to someone who might leave at any moment."
"Huh?"
This wasn't the first time my father remarried. Both Ryosuke's birth mother and his first stepmother left soon after arriving—my father simply isn't suited to loving a single woman. That's why his relationships always fall apart quickly. And he always finds a replacement just as fast.
Ryosuke understood this well. In other words, there was no particular benefit for him in trying to get along with his "new family."
"Besides, my father actually prefers that attitude."
"...He'd rather I have a bad relationship with my step-siblings?"
"More like..."
He preferred rebellious behavior.
That man had no interest in children. He'd rather not have to bother with them at all. By acting the part of a "rebellious teenager," Ryosuke could avoid unnecessary family obligations.
"You know, I can tell people, 'It's best to leave him alone during his rebellious phase,' and use that as an excuse. I bet he says the same thing to Nee-san's mother."
So, Ryosuke behaved exactly as his father wished.
I'm good at reading what others want and acting accordingly—at home, at school. I don't even remember what it's like to be myself—I mean, maybe "myself" never existed at all.
"That..."
Manaka's shocked expression softened into pity.
(...I don't need your sympathy, though.)
This was my first time getting step-siblings, so I was a little curious about them.
I observed them, wondering what they were like.
Marin's cool demeanor reminded me of myself. Even without blood ties, it seemed like she would accept me as her "younger sister" without question.
As for Manaka—
"Hey, Ryosuke. If you ever feel like being pampered, go ahead and act spoiled. I'm older than you, after all. And if you get lonely, you can act spoiled—"
She was aware of her charm—or perhaps it would be more accurate to say she had only recently become conscious of it. Through her sex with Takuma, she had discovered the pleasure of being desired by a man.
That's why she deliberately feigned vulnerability, even provoking her younger brother-in-law. It seemed she derived immense pleasure from seducing younger men.
But she... should have chosen her target more carefully.
"Nee-san. 'Spoil yourself'?"
"Well, when you can't sleep, I can at least be someone to talk to. Our rooms are right next door, after all—"
"...Right."
In the dimly lit hallway, beyond her awareness, Ryosuke swiftly closed the distance. His right hand caressed Manaka's cheek, tilting her head as he captured her lips in a sudden kiss.
"Huh? Nngh—?!"
He pressed his lips against her bewildered mouth, silencing her. The soft skin he held still carried the lingering scent of sweet body soap.
"W-What are you doing, Ryosuke...?"
Her face, usually composed, now showed only confusion, as if she lacked the composure to even feign anger.
"I told you, didn't I? I'm a guy, Nee-san."
Ryosuke chose his words carefully.
Words to corner her. Words that would please Manaka.
"You're always dressed like that, showing up in my line of sight. Do you think I can just endure that?"
"Ah... ugh..."
"If that's what Nee-san says, then I'll take advantage of your indulgence from now on."
"Huh? Uh..."
"Goodnight, Nee-san."
Slipping past Manaka, Ryosuke entered his room.
*****
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