Hayashi Megumi has a terrible mindset.

“Morning, Meg-chan! You’re up early, huh?”

“Morning, Shiho-chan… achoo.”

The living room.

I replied to Shiho-chan, who was lounging on the sofa watching TV, and let out a sneeze.

“Hey, hey! How was last night?”

“Huh?”

“With big brother! You slept together, right?”

Shiho-chan was all excited, standing up from the sofa and inching closer to me.

“…Uh.”

I averted my eyes from her enthusiasm.

What exactly was I supposed to explain…?

I had a feeling I couldn’t just brush this off, but I was still trying to figure out if there was a way to dodge it.

Because if I told her what happened last night, I’d probably get an earful from Shiho-chan about Yamamoto.

…What Yamamoto did last night.

He tried to hog the entire bed, leaving me with no space.

And then, he fell asleep all by himself, leaving me in the dust.

And then… when I mustered up all my courage.

Ugh.

“Listen, Shiho-chan, that jerk Yamamoto was awful, okay?”

It was a bright, clear day.

“Last night, that guy fell asleep before me.”

My petty grumbling didn’t match the cheerful weather at all.

“I mean, I get it, he’s got his own routine from before, but still.”

No matter how much I talked or complained.

“…The fact that he doesn’t even see me as a woman…”

My mood wasn’t getting any better.

“But, like, at least notice me a little!”

Seriously…

Honestly…

He’s always like this.

Even when I try to provoke him, he just brushes it off.

Every time I gather my courage, it’s all for nothing.

He never, ever does what I want…

…What if.

What if he actually hates me?

“…Meg-chan?”

“Huh?”

“Uh, you… had a really bad look on your face.”

“…What kind of look?”

Shiho-chan gave me an awkward, troubled smile.

Was my face really that bad?

…But maybe that’s only natural.

I had a dream earlier.

A dream about high school, about memories with Yamamoto.

Calling it a memory sounds nice, but that dream wasn’t something I could romanticize.

For him, it might even be something he’d rather forget.

But that’s all I have.

Those are the only moments that connected me and him during high school.

Even though we spent three years in the same class, our relationship was so shallow.

There was a time when I one-sidedly hated him.

Maybe I was the reason he and Akari broke up.

So, of course… even if he’s letting me stay here now, it’s probably just for appearances.

It wouldn’t be strange if he actually hated me.

No, it’s only natural that he would.

“…Getting my hopes up all by myself, how stupid.”

“M-Meg-chan?”

“Sorry, Shiho-chan.”

“Huh?”

“…Sorry.”

I wasn’t sure what I was apologizing for.

I tried to think about why I’d said it, but the more I did, the tighter my chest felt, so I shook my head and sank into the sofa.

Shiho-chan, caught off guard, hesitated before sitting down next to me, my head still lowered.

“H-Hey, big brother’s taking forever to wake up, huh!?”

Her voice was forced, trying to sound cheerful.

I felt ashamed for making such a young girl worry about me.

“…He was out like a light.”

“R-Really? That’s surprising. Back when he lived here, he was always up early! Is this how late he usually sleeps over there?”

“No, he’s usually up way earlier.”

“Oh, really?”

Come to think of it, what’s up with Yamamoto today?

Normally, he’s all about “consistency is key” or whatever, sticking to his self-imposed rules no matter what.

As I was thinking about that, the living room door swung open.

“Yaaawn.”

It was Yamamoto.

With a sleepy face, yawning, he shuffled into the living room.

I turned my face away from him with a huff.

“Big brother, you woke up pretty late today, huh?”

“Hm? Yeah, I guess so.”

Yamamoto’s voice was groggy.

I kept my eyes turned away.

Shiho-chan looked between us, clearly confused.

“I-I’m gonna go make breakfast!”

“Oh, thanks!”

Rubbing his eyes, Yamamoto plopped onto the sofa and thanked her.

Shiho-chan’s slippers slapped against the floor as she headed to the kitchen.

There was no conversation between me and Yamamoto.

Maybe I should say something, if only to spare Shiho-chan from this awkward atmosphere.

But if I spoke up…

I might end up asking Yamamoto what he really thinks of me.

And then…

And then, if he…

“What I think of you? Isn’t it obvious? I hate you, of course.”

If he said something like that…

No.

No, no.

Yamamoto wouldn’t say that.

Right.

That’s right, that day, he let me stay at his place.

He saved me from that guy.

Yamamoto wouldn’t…

But…

“Hayashi.”

My body jolted.

Out of nowhere.

He’d called my name.

…Yamamoto.

What do I do?

I’m scared.

I’m scared of being rejected…

Yamamoto…

“Thanks for yesterday.”

He said it with gratitude.

“No big deal.”

For a moment, I was stunned, but I managed to reply, my voice trembling.

“Just returning the favor.”

“…I totally overslept today.”

“No kidding.”

“It’s thanks to you, Hayashi.”

“…”

“Because you came with me to my family’s place. Honestly, I was a little nervous about coming back here.”

…What’s that supposed to mean?

“But having you here made it work out somehow.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

Still rubbing his sleepy eyes, Yamamoto kept talking.

Oh, I get it. He’s half-asleep, so he’s not being his usual twisted self.

Because he’s half-asleep…

Is this his true feelings?

“I’m glad I got to introduce you to my family.”

“…Why?”

My voice was still trembling.

“Why do you think that?”

“Because you’re my family, you know.”

…Come to think of it.

He said something like that to me once before.

Family.

…Family, huh.

“I see.”

I see.

I see…

Family, huh.

“…Hey, Yamamoto?”

I felt completely at ease.

But for some reason, my voice was still trembling, and my eyes were fixed on the floor.

“I… might want to be more than just family with you.”

It was a sudden burst of emotion.

When he said “family,” it reminded me of that time I’d made a move on him.

Probably, I was feeling the same thing now that I did back then.

That’s why I said something like this.

I pushed him, saying I wanted to be more than family.

Someone once called me a queen.

But my words right now are too pathetic to be called queenly.

Even now, I was swept up by cowardice.

I ended up saying it in such a vague, half-hearted way.

But…

But if it’s Yamamoto…

Surely, he’ll respond.

“Hey, Yamamoto?”

I lifted my face.

Yamamoto…

“Zzz.”

He was asleep again.

Sleeping so peacefully, too.

“Breakfast’s ready! Oh, big brother’s asleep again?”

“Shiho-chan.”

“Hm?”

“I’m eating his share too.”

“Oh, okay.”

Shiho-chan’s breakfast was insanely delicious.

After a while, I rode the train back to our Tokyo place with Yamamoto, who’d finally woken up.

“Hey, Hayashi, you seem kinda pissed or something.”

“No big deal.”

On the train, I kept giving Yamamoto the cold shoulder.

It’s July now, isn’t it!

How’s everyone doing?

I’ve finished Tears of the Kingdom and now spend my days listening to background music for work.

Except I don’t have any work to do!

No, wait, I should be working on this novel.

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