Episode 3: “So, I’ve started practicing with my stepsister…”

“Hah… hah… hah… Aniki, wait—just give me a second…”

“Come on, Akira! We’re almost there!”

“Ugh~… This is way too hard~…”

The crisp morning air carried our labored breathing as Akira and I jogged through the neighborhood. Nothing too ambitious—just a light run around the local streets. We’d each grabbed a banana for energy and done proper warm-up stretches before heading out, but even so…

“Aniki~… I can’t take another step~… Just carry me~…”

And there she was, throwing in the towel before we’d even hit the fifteen-minute mark.

“We’re only halfway through. Didn’t we agree on thirty minutes, five days a week starting today?”

“But… but~…”

“Come on, no whining!”

The whole reason we’d ended up in this situation was our incredibly lazy lifestyle over the past three months. When Akira and I were home, we barely moved at all. Outside of mandatory gym class, our days consisted entirely of gaming and manga reading—we were practically allergic to physical activity.

“Why do I have to suffer through thirty minutes of running first thing in the morning~…”

“I explained this yesterday, didn’t I?”

There were two very good reasons for this torture session.

The first was obvious: building stamina for the upcoming play. Apparently, moving around on stage while projecting your voice demands far more energy than you’d expect. I didn’t have personal experience, but I remembered my old man mentioning that successful stage actors made physical fitness a priority.

The performance was only three weeks away. With full rehearsals starting soon, we’d be completely wiped out by showtime in our current pathetic condition. So somehow, some way, I had to get Akira into decent shape before then.

The second reason was improving her vocal projection. I was genuinely worried that belting out stage lines would require serious lung capacity. Watching her struggle with this simple jog made it painfully clear—she was gasping for air way too quickly. At this rate, she might lose her voice entirely before reaching the climax of a play that ran over an hour.

With all this in mind, I’d mapped out everything from morning runs to evening vocal exercises the night before. But she’d been complaining the entire time, trailing behind me like a lost child desperately chasing after a parent, calling “Wait! Wait!” while I tried to maintain our pace.

I had to admit, it made me feel oddly paternal, and she looked absolutely adorable doing it—part of me wanted to just give her a piggyback ride and call it a day. But no, no, no, I’d resolved yesterday to be strict about this training regimen.

“Come on, you can do it!”

“Ugh… Aniki~…”

“That whiny voice isn’t going to work on me. You’re the one who decided to do this, remember?”

“I know, but~…”

“Just ten more minutes to go.”

“Aniki, you’re such a sadist~!”

“Don’t call me a sadist when you’re the one who traps people in endless fighting game combos—”

──That said, maybe I should dial back the pace just a bit…

“We’re almost there. Hang in there.”

“Hah… hah… hah…”

“Just a little more to the finish line.”

I matched her frantic breathing pattern and ran alongside Akira until we finally made it back to our house.

“Alright, we made it~”

“Hah… hah… hah~… That was absolutely brutal~…”

Akira doubled over, hands braced on her knees, shoulders heaving dramatically.

“You okay there, Akira?”

“This is terrible… How are you completely fine after that, Aniki…?”

“Well, this was nothing for me. I used to be in the basketball club, remember?”

“You? No way~…”

“Why would I make that up? Come on, time for cooldown stretches. Let’s walk it off.”

“Ugh~…”

Honestly, the workout hadn’t been challenging for me at all. I’d initially planned for five kilometers, but Akira tired out much faster than expected, so I’d shortened our route midway through. Plus, I aimed for a seven-to-eight-minute kilometer pace, but after the first ten minutes, I knew that was completely unrealistic.

We ended up covering about three kilometers in thirty minutes—roughly a ten-minute kilometer pace, which was more like leisurely jogging than actual running. For me, it felt like barely more than a brisk walk.

Still, I hadn’t anticipated Akira having quite this little stamina. Despite her short haircut and generally energetic appearance, she wasn’t nearly as fit as she looked. Probably the result of our usual sedentary routine.

But pushing too hard on day one might leave her with traumatic memories, which would definitely backfire.

──Maybe I should throw in some encouragement.

“You did great, Akira. Not many people could maintain that pace on their very first attempt.”

“R-Really?”

“Absolutely. Pretty impressive for day one.”

“Ehehe, yay… Aniki actually praised me…”

Akira collapsed onto the asphalt and lifted her T-shirt to wipe the sweat from her forehead. But then—

“Akira, your—it’s showing! Cover yourself up!”

“Huh? What’s showing?”

“Your T-shirt—underneath!”

The sweat had made her T-shirt semi-transparent, which was problematic enough, but lifting it up exposed her pale stomach and a glimpse of black underwear.

“You don’t need to freak out like that… It’s just a sports bra.”

“Even so, you need to be more aware of people around you…”

“Ahaha, sorry, sorry. Was it a bit too stimulating for you, Aniki~?”

More like a surprise attack. She’s completely oblivious, which somehow makes it even more troubling…

“So, can I use the shower first?”

“Yeah…”

Akira grinned mischievously and added, “…Want to join me?” in a teasing tone.

“Don’t even remind me about that…”

“Ahaha, alright, I’ll go first then~”

The shame and regret from that incident had mostly faded, but the memory of her back from that time was proving surprisingly hard to forget.

＊　　　　　　＊　　　　　　＊

That afternoon after school, I headed to the drama club room with Akira and Hinata.

The drama club operated out of the special building on the opposite side of campus from our regular classrooms—a place I rarely visited except for the occasional lab class. The special building housed science labs, home economics rooms, and served as the headquarters for most cultural clubs, such as the band and crafts.

The drama club’s classroom sat at the far end of the third floor, directly below the music room. After a polite knock, we opened the door to find the drama club members already gathered around a central desk, chatting animatedly about something.

“Hello~ Is Kazusa-chan here?”

Hinata, who already knew them, entered first, with Akira and me following close behind.

“Hinata-chan, we’ve been waiting! And Akira-chan, welcome!”

So this was the club president, Nishiyama Kazusa. She was petite with large, round eyes that gave her an endearingly cute vibe.

“Oh? Are you a second-year student?”

“Yeah. Majima Ryouta. I’m the stepbrother of Himeno Akira here.”

“Majima… Oh! You’re the rumored big brother!? Nice to meet you—I’m Nishiyama Kazusa!”

“Nice to meet you too. …Rumored?”

“Oh, don’t worry about it! It’s just our thing!”

I was curious about what kind of rumors she meant, but decided to let it slide…

“So why are you here, Majima-senpai?”

“Kazusa-chan, Ryouta-senpai is going to help out with drama club activities.”

Hinata smoothly explained before I could respond myself.

“Really!? We’ve been desperately short on guy power—this is fantastic!”

Nishiyama practically bounced with excitement at this news. So far, she seemed like someone with very big reactions to everything.

Well, like Akira had said, she didn’t give off any bad vibes at least.

“Then let me introduce our members. From the right: Ito Amane, Takamura Saya, Hayasaka Riho, and Minami Yuzu.”

Each girl bowed politely in turn, but matching faces to names was going to take some time—and that’s when I noticed we had a problem. Right now, I am literally the only guy present.

I’d assumed there would be male members, but apparently the club consisted entirely of girls. Figuring I couldn’t really blend into a group dynamic like this, I added a disclaimer upfront.

“I’m more of an occasional helper, so I might not be much use to you. Just let me know if there’s anything specific I can do.”

After all, my primary goal was to support Akira. I didn’t say it out loud, but helping the drama club itself was definitely secondary.But Nishiyama smiled brightly and said, “Got it! Then I’ll pile on tons of tasks♪” while clapping her hands together in front of her chest.

Yeah, big reactions and definitely a bit quirky, I noted to myself as I glanced subtly at Akira beside me. She’d been hiding behind my back, nervously fidgeting with her left elbow.

This kind of group setting seemed challenging for someone like her, who wasn’t accustomed to club activities—would she really be okay here? For now, I’d keep a close eye on her and step in if she needed assistance.

“Kazusa-chan, is the script ready?”

“Of course! Our vice president is incredibly talented~”

Nishiyama pulled forward Ito Amane, the plain-looking girl with glasses from earlier.

“Kazusa-chan, that’s so embarrassing~…”

Ito blushed from the praise and glanced around nervously. She wasn’t quite as bad as Akira, but clearly quite shy as well.

Ignoring her embarrassment, Nishiyama continued cheerfully.

“We have extra scripts, so take one for yourself, big brother.”

“Are you sure?”

“Absolutely! And I’ll prepare a club application form for you—”

“Nah, that’s not necessary.”

“Tch…”

Yeah, more than quirky—she’s definitely a handful… Now that I had a sense of Nishiyama’s personality, I’d just keep watch to make sure she didn’t pressure Akira or the others into anything uncomfortable.

After introductions, we confirmed the casting arrangements and discussed the upcoming schedule. Basically, all the regular drama club members besides Akira and Hinata would be playing double roles.

I’d be helping Ito with backstage work, such as sets, props, and costumes, but there was a slight concern.

“…Hey, Nishiyama, isn’t this workload a bit much for me?”

“It’s all about fighting spirit!”

Fighting spirit, huh… Whatever.

Today, they had various club maintenance tasks to handle, so full rehearsals would begin tomorrow. This Saturday would run from afternoon to evening, with Sunday off.

During Kanon Festival week, when they could access the main stage, they’d conduct full run-throughs in the gymnasium; otherwise, rehearsals would take place in the clubroom—that’s what they called this classroom.

While listening to the logistics, I casually observed the other members besides Nishiyama and Ito. They didn’t seem unmotivated at all. Nishiyama was… well, an outlier, but Ito and the other four appeared genuinely serious about the production.

Though not particularly energetic—more like literature club types. It wouldn’t surprise me if Nishiyama had somehow recruited them from the literature club into drama, but who could say…

With that, the meeting wrapped up. Akira and Hinata had extensive dialogue to memorize, so they were instructed to learn as much as possible at home.

My tasks were roughly outlined as well, but—

“Majima-senpai, I’ll prepare loads and loads more work for you, so look forward to tomorrow♪”

“Y-Yeah…”

From the general atmosphere, she definitely wouldn’t be holding back… This was giving me an increasingly bad feeling…

＊　　　　　　＊　　　　　　＊

On the walk home that day, I found myself between Akira and Hinata, discussing the upcoming play. Flipping through the script again, I couldn’t help but comment.

“You two really do have an enormous amount of dialogue… Can you honestly memorize all this in just over two weeks?”

“The drama club girls have it much harder. Except for Ito-san handling narration, they’re all managing two separate roles.”

“Well, I’m not the one performing, so whatever—but are you going to be okay, Akira?”

“I’m starting to feel really nervous…”

Akira peered at the script in my hands with a genuinely stunned expression.

“It’ll be fine. With daily rehearsals plus practicing at home, it should sink in naturally through repetition.”

“Does it really work that way?”

“Plus, Ito-san seems to have adjusted the dialogue to make it more manageable. For example—”

Hinata leaned in close to me, just like Akira, and pointed to a specific line in the script.

“—like here, this was originally much more complex phrasing, but she simplified it to be more readable.”

“O-Oh, I see~…”

Our shoulders were completely touching now. Hinata didn’t seem bothered by the contact at all, but I was doing my best not to let it affect me. I still wasn’t used to how naturally close she got. It felt different from being near Akira somehow.

“How do you know about the original version, Hinata-chan?”

“I saw ‘Romeo and Juliet’ performed once when I was around second grade.”

“You remember something from that long ago?”

“Yeah, bits and pieces. This is actually one of my favorite scenes—”

Hinata stepped back two or three paces, took a deep breath, and then—

“—Our budding love, lured by the breath of summer, will surely bloom beautifully the next time we meet. Until then, just wait a little…”

—suddenly performed Juliet’s line complete with gestures.

When that voice, brimming with energy yet possessing a crystal-clear transparency, reached my ears, it bypassed my brain entirely and struck straight at my heart.

It was just a single line—but when Hinata delivered it, why did it make my chest tighten like that? Fighting back the dizziness that threatened to overwhelm me for a moment, I turned to Akira and said, “H-hey, Romeo’s response comes next, right?” and forcefully passed the scene to her.

“Me!? Um… —O-Okay, I’ll hold back on making any vows. B-But I haven’t heard your answer yet…”

Akira recited the line in a flat monotone while looking thoroughly embarrassed, and Hinata seamlessly continued the performance.

“Because you asked me first. Saying it twice would be far too embarrassing…”

“P-Please—just once more—…”

Then Hinata clasped her hands together in a prayer-like gesture over her chest. Her eyes were already glistening, whether from sadness, joy, or heartache… From the top of her head to the tips of her toes, she conveyed every emotion so directly—

“What a fool you are, Romeo… But love me. If you truly care for me, then… believe in me…”

—and at those words, both Akira and I turned bright red and fell completely silent.

Just to be clear: we were standing on a public roadside.

“—Something like that… Um, what’s wrong with you two?”

“……………”

“……………”

Simply put, Akira and I were mortified with embarrassment.

After parting ways with Hinata, Akira and I walked home feeling oddly restless the entire way. Maybe it was from witnessing such polished, serious acting up close, but I couldn’t deny that I’d found Hinata not just cute, but genuinely beautiful.

＊　　　　　　＊　　　　　　＊

That night, after dinner and baths, Akira, and I immediately dove into script reading. But first, we needed to cover the basics.

“So how much do you actually know about ‘Romeo and Juliet,’ Akira?”

“Um, not much in detail… I only have a vague understanding of the plot.”

“Same here. Maybe I should read through the summary first. Since that Ito girl adapted it, there might be some differences from the original.”

As expected from someone that eccentric Nishiyama praised so highly, Ito’s script came with detailed character backgrounds and even a carefully written summary attached.

“Alright, I’ll read it out loud—”

—『Romeo and Juliet』

The famous masterpiece by William Shakespeare, as everyone knows.

The setting is the Italian city of Verona in the fourteenth century. Two feuding noble families had been locked in bloody conflicts for generations.

One summer evening, Romeo is invited by his friends to sneak into a masquerade ball held at their rivals’ estate. There, he encounters his destined woman, Juliet.

The two who fall in love at first sight exchange handkerchiefs embroidered with each other’s initials and promise to meet again before parting.

A few days later, Romeo sneaks into Juliet’s family compound and overhears her soliloquy from beneath her balcony.

“Ah, Romeo. Why must you be Romeo?”

Juliet was lamenting after learning that the man she’d fallen for was the son of her family’s enemies.

Unable to contain himself, Romeo reveals his presence, and the two swear their eternal love to each other.

The next day, Friar Laurence, consulted by Romeo, sees hope in their love to finally end the feud between the two families—

“—and that’s where the first act ends, apparently. It looks like a two-act structure.”

When I glance at Akira’s face, she’s wearing a completely dreamy expression.

“Sigh~ How romantic… Two people overcoming the barrier of their family backgrounds to be together~”

“Sorry to interrupt while you’re getting swept away, but I’ll continue reading—”

—However, on his way back, Romeo gets caught up in the family feud, commits murder, and is banished from the city.

Immediately following that incident, Juliet’s parents arranged her marriage to another man.

Juliet, who loves Romeo deeply, visits Friar Laurence seeking advice to escape the unwanted marriage.

Following the friar’s plan, Juliet drinks a potion that puts her in a death-like state, and the next day she’s placed in the family tomb as a corpse.

Unaware of this deception, Romeo arrives at the tomb believing Juliet is truly dead, mourns her death, and drinks poison on the spot to join her. Moments later, the awakened Juliet follows him by piercing her own chest with Romeo’s dagger.

The heads of both families recognize that the cause of this tragedy lies with their ancient hatred, . Finally, the two feuding noble houses reconcile.

Such is this tale of love and tragedy—

“—apparently. A sudden tragic ending in the second act, huh?”

When I comment casually, Akira puffs out her cheeks indignantly.

“Why does it have to end like that? Isn’t that just awful?”

“Don’t ask me—take it up with the great Shakespeare himself.”

“No way! Two people who love each other should end up together! Happy endings are the only acceptable way!”

“Ah~ Well, it’s the classic pattern where they reunite in heaven, right? —Though that doesn’t seem to be included in this particular script.”

“Don’t just dismiss it as a ‘pattern’~…”

As I’m scratching my head thinking there’s nothing I can do, even if she complains to me, she asks, “Aniki, are you really okay with this kind of ending?” But I have absolutely no idea how to respond.

“It’s just a play, so following the script exactly is probably for the best, right?”

“But… but~”

Akira remains somewhat sulky after that exchange. After a while, she finally seems to accept reality and lets out a big “Sigh~.”

“Then I guess I’ll do my best to memorize the script properly.”

“Good. Before that though, shouldn’t you practice enunciation and articulation?”

“Enunciation practice?”

“It’s more like vocal training. Apparently, it’s effective to practice speaking while doing abdominal or back exercises.”

“Ugh~… Morning runs, and now muscle training too?”

“It’s probably better to do the training properly. I’ll join you for it.”

“Understood… And what should I do for articulation practice?”

“Well, tongue twisters and similar exercises? Let’s try this—‘Raw barley, raw rice, raw eggs!’ Come on, repeat it.”

“That’s easy—”

Akira takes a deep breath and then—

“—Ryaw barー! Ah…”

—immediately bites her tongue.

“……………”

“……………”

Akira’s face flushes red, but I regard her with an extremely calm expression.

“Akira… One more time.”

Akira takes another breath.

“Ryaw barー!”

And it’s still completely mangled…

“…The barley, rice, and eggs can wait.”

When I say that, Akira’s already crimson face turns an even deeper shade of red.

But still, what is this soothing sensation I’m feeling… For some reason, I feel a warm, fuzzy sensation inside.