Chapter 3: “A Home Date with My Fake Girlfriend”

The night before my date with Misaki, when I told Kokoa about it, her excitement shot through the roof.

“—Hey, are we gonna play with Nee-nee!?”

Every time she thought of Misaki, she’d ask, ‘Is Nee-nee not coming to play…?’ so she must’ve really missed her. She got so hyped she nearly leaped out of bed, so I gently held her down, a grin spreading across my face.

“She’s coming to our house, so don’t give her a hard time, okay?”

Originally, the plan was to go out and have fun in town to convince everyone at school we were dating. But—now that I thought about it, I’d blown quite a bit of my allowance at the festival the other day, so going out wasn’t really an option. Instead, I deliberately invited Misaki to our house in the classroom, loud enough for everyone to hear.

The classroom erupted into chaos, so I bet most of them bought it. Of course, I’d already coordinated with Misaki beforehand, so she didn’t slip up and ruin the act.

“Is Nee-nee coming soon?”

Maybe she wasn’t listening closely, because Kokoa tilted her head, eyes sparkling with anticipation.

“No, she’s coming tomorrow.”

“Boo…!”

Not liking my answer, she puffed out her cheeks dramatically to make her point. She probably wanted to play right now. But there was nothing I could do about that.

“You can play with her tomorrow, so let’s get to bed early tonight, okay?”

I tucked the blanket back over Kokoa and gently patted her head. Kokoa’s always been a deep sleeper, so once she’s out at night, she’s down until morning. So, getting her to sleep early was the plan.

Or so I thought—.

“No…!”

Talking about Misaki seemed to have fully woken her up, and she had no intention of sleeping. I messed up… I should’ve waited until tomorrow to mention Misaki.

“Not gonna sleep?”

“Nuh-uh…!”

Kokoa sat up and nodded firmly. When she gets like this, she’s stubborn as a mule, so no amount of reasoning will work. If I leave her be, she’ll probably get sleepy on her own, so maybe it’s fine once in a while.

“C’mere, Kokoa.”

“Mhm…!”

I spread my arms, and Kokoa’s face lit up as she flung herself into a hug. I scooped her up and headed back to the living room. Then I plopped down on the sofa, setting Kokoa on my lap.

“Wanna watch some anime?”

Back in Mom’s day, people recorded their favorite shows, but now we’ve got streaming sites that make it super easy. All you need is a laptop or phone, so I let Kokoa watch when I want her to sit still.

But—.

“Hmm, nah.”

After thinking it over, Kokoa shook her head. Guess she wasn’t in the mood for anime. When Kokoa’s like this, she—.

“…”

Starts playing by herself, using my hands. She’ll press my palms together or squish them against her face—playing without much thought, just going with the flow. So I relax and let her do whatever she wants.

As she kept going—.

“…”

She looked up at my face.

“What’s up?”

“Hehe!”

When I called out to her, Kokoa flashed a happy grin. Then she went right back to playing with my hands. Looks like this was enough for her today.

I just sat there, waiting for Kokoa to start dozing off, and once she was out, I carried her to bed.

◆

“—Nee-nee~!”

Spotting the person we were waiting for at the station’s ticket gate, Kokoa waved both arms wildly. That got the attention of the person—Misaki—who noticed us.

“Hi, Kokoa-chan!”

“Hiii~!”

Greeted by Misaki, Kokoa beamed and returned the greeting with a big smile. She’d been restless since morning, probably dying to see her.

“You came to pick me up?”

“Mhm…!”

To Misaki’s question, Kokoa nodded enthusiastically. That proud look on her face was adorable. Since Misaki didn’t know where my house was, we came to get her, and seeing Kokoa so thrilled made it the right call.

—But then, a question popped into my head. Come to think of it, Suzumine-san knew my house pretty well, didn’t she? Not many people at school should know where I live…

“Nii-nii.”

Just as I started to mull it over, Kokoa tugged at my clothes.

“What’s wrong?”

“Hug…!”

I crouched down to her eye level, and Kokoa spread her arms wide. I thought she’d want Misaki to hold her since she’s so attached, but seems like she wanted me to hug her. Honestly, it made me happy.

“—Here we go!”

I carefully wrapped my arms around Kokoa and lifted her slowly. Right away, she snuggled her cheek against mine, like it was her designated spot.

“Hehe, you two are as close as ever.”

Misaki watched us with a warm, fond smile. Honestly, I’m pretty confident we’re the closest siblings in the world.

“Haven’t greeted you yet. Hey, Misaki.”

“—!?”

When I greeted her, Misaki visibly flinched. Then she stared at my face, looking surprised. It seemed like she wanted to say something…

“Misaki?”

“Oh, uh… hey…”

After a moment of hesitation, Misaki returned the greeting with an obviously forced smile. What’s going on with her?

“Something bothering you?”

“N-no, nothing!”

Yeah, there’s definitely something. Talk about an open book.

“I won’t get mad, so just say it.”

When I pressed her, Misaki glanced at me, maybe checking if I was really not mad.

“…I was just surprised because Raito-kun greeted me…”

She fidgeted, pressing her index fingers together, and looked away like it was hard to say.

“What kind of guy do you think I am…?”

—That said, I kinda get why she’d think that. Thinking back, I don’t often greet people at school first. Most people act annoyed when I talk to them, so I don’t bother. Still, I’m pretty sure I’ve at least said goodbye to Misaki properly before…

“Gotta set a good example for Kokoa, you know.”

I kept it short and simple so Misaki would get it.

“Ohh, I see!”

She nodded repeatedly, like it all clicked for her. For some reason, that left me feeling a bit annoyed.

“Gweetings, impowtant…!”

I’m not sure how much she understood, but Kokoa, who’d been listening, piped up proudly. That’s the result of my daily lessons shining through.

“That’s right. Kokoa, you make sure to greet everyone properly, okay?”

“Mhm, I do…!”

“Good girl, good girl.”

I gently patted Kokoa’s head as she nodded confidently.

“Ehehe!”

Just that was enough to make her smile like she was over the moon—she’s seriously an angel.

“Kokoa-chan’s just too cute, isn’t she?”

“She’s an angel.”

“Hehe, sure, sure.”

She brushed me off lightly. Man, she’s really gotten used to me.

“—Still, I never thought I’d actually go to a guy’s house. It’s kinda surprising.”

As we walked toward my place, Misaki said something curious.

“If you wanted to, you could go anytime, right?”

With Misaki, all she’d have to do is hint she’s interested, and guys would be tripping over themselves to invite her. At the very least, if she said she wanted to go, most guys would jump at the chance to take her home.

“That’s not a nice thing to say.”

She must’ve thought I was teasing, because she shot me a sulky glare.

“Nii-nii, no being mean!”

Even Kokoa, picking up on the words, scolded me. I’ve suspected it for a while, but if Misaki and I ever fought, Kokoa would probably take her side.

“I’m not being mean, okay?”

I patted Kokoa’s head to distract her, since getting on her bad side would be a hassle. Kokoa, petted, squinted like a happy cat and pressed her head into my palm. Her straightforwardness is a lifesaver sometimes.

“It might feel a bit awkward, but don’t stress too much. Kokoa’s here, so we won’t be alone or anything.”

Misaki didn’t seem nervous, but I figured I’d mention it just in case. If it was just the two of us, things might get weird, but with Kokoa around, nothing’s gonna happen. I’m sure Misaki knows that too.

“Thanks for being considerate.”

“It’s not a big deal. More importantly, you sure about this?”

“Huh?”

When I brought up today’s plans, Misaki tilted her head with a confused look. Guess I wasn’t clear enough.

“Lunch. You’re making it, right?”

That’s what she offered when I invited her over. She’s been making me bento every day, so maybe she sees this as an extension of that.

“Oh, that! Yeah, it’s fine. I want Kokoa-chan to enjoy it too.”

Apparently, she’s cooking for Kokoa, not me. Well, I get where she’s coming from.

“Today’s not Nii-nii’s food?”

“Nope, Misaki’s making it for us.”

“…”

Kokoa stared silently at Misaki. When she does this, she’s usually thinking something over—.

“Mhm…!”

Like she’d made up her mind, Kokoa gave a big nod. She was probably worried about lunch but decided it’d be fine if Misaki’s cooking.

“That a passing grade?”

“Looks like it.”

“Then I better not let her down!”

Misaki seemed fired up, so this worked out perfectly.

◆

“Food♪ Food♪”

Right now, while Misaki was cooking lunch, Kokoa was happily bouncing on my lap. The delicious smell wafting from the kitchen was probably getting her hopes up.

“Hehe, it’s almost ready, so hang tight!”

Misaki, holding the frying pan in her left hand, flashed Kokoa a gentle, beaming smile. She really does love kids—playing with Kokoa seems to make her genuinely happy. Watching them, they almost felt like a mom and daughter. Or rather, it almost tricked me into thinking I was in a happy family of three.

“Sorry for making you cook right after getting here.”

Misaki started cooking because, the moment we got home, Kokoa whimpered, ‘Tummy’s hungry…’ with teary eyes. She probably wanted a break, but Misaki’s so kind she gave in to Kokoa’s whining, and I’m grateful for that.

“It’s fine. I’m the one who made you guys wait, after all.”

She got to the station around one in the afternoon. It’s a bit late for lunch, but not too late.

“Thanks for saying that. It helps.”

“No problem!”

Misaki kept cooking with a smile. I already knew from her daily bentos that she’s a great cook, but watching her now, her skills are really impressive. She must cook all the time.

“…”

“Kokoa?”

Out of nowhere, Kokoa stood up from my lap. Then she toddled over toward Misaki.

“—Hey, don’t get in her way, it’s dangerous!”

I had a hunch what Kokoa was up to, so I quickly scooped her up from behind. Her cheeks puffed out in protest.

“Muu…!”

“She’s using fire and knives, so it’s not safe.”

I explained properly to my sulky little sister, who was giving me pleading eyes. If I startled Misaki by clinging to her, it’d be a hassle, and I’d just get in her way, so I have no choice but to hold Kokoa like this.

“Oh my… Did Kokoa-chan want to watch the cooking?”

Seeing Kokoa in my arms, Misaki tilts her head slightly. In response, Kokoa stretches out both hands with all her might.

“Nee-nee~!”

She’s probably trying to say, Help me. It’s a bit pitiful, but I can’t let her get hurt, so I’m not letting go.

“Raito-kun, I’ll be careful, so it’s okay if you come closer.”

It seems Misaki is saying I should approach while holding Kokoa to keep her from wandering around.

“Is that alright?”

“Yeah, if Kokoa-chan wants to see, I think it’s better to let her.”

“Well then…”

I glance down at Kokoa in my arms. As if she knew I was looking, Kokoa tilts her head back to meet my gaze, her big, teary eyes pleading with me.

Can’t be helped, I guess… Since Kokoa wants to see, I want to show her, so I decide to take Misaki up on her offer. Besides, if Kokoa wants to watch the cooking, her height won’t cut it anyway, so I’d have to hold her regardless.

“Kokoa, no squirming or reaching out, okay?”

“Mm…!”

When I warn her beforehand, Kokoa nods vigorously. Just to be safe, I keep her at a distance where she can’t reach the knife or Misaki, and we move closer to watch the cooking.

“Sorry, you’re always indulging our whims.”

“If anything, I’m the one who’s always getting indulged by you, Raito-kun, so don’t worry about it. Plus, it’s nice that Kokoa-chan’s interested.”

As expected, Kokoa’s cuteness is a force to be reckoned with.

“Nii-nii…!”

“Alright, alright.”

Kokoa tugs at my clothes to hurry me along, so I carefully close the distance to Misaki, mindful of our positioning.

“Nee-nee, what’re you making?”

Still in my arms, Kokoa tries her best to peek into the frying pan.

“Omurice~”

Misaki answers Kokoa while tossing butter into a preheated frying pan, separate from the one where she finished making the chicken rice.

“Omurice!?”

It’s one of her favorites, so Kokoa reacts instantly. I can tell her excitement’s kicked up a few notches, so I pay even closer attention to her movements.

Kokoa’s eyes lock onto the bowl of whisked eggs, watching intently as Misaki picks it up.

“Raito-kun told me Kokoa-chan loves omurice, so I’ve been practicing.”

With that, she pours the whisked eggs into the pan where the butter has melted. Then, she starts shaking the pan back and forth with her left hand while stirring the eggs with chopsticks.

“Ooh~!”

It must look like a performance to her. Watching Misaki stir the eggs, Kokoa starts clapping her hands excitedly.

Misaki seems delighted by Kokoa’s applause, smiling brightly as she continues stirring. As the eggs begin to set, she starts shaping them into a fan-like form with the chopsticks. Then, with a flick of both wrists, she taps the pan rhythmically—forming the eggs into a perfect rugby-ball shape.

Misaki slides the egg onto the chicken rice and hands Kokoa a kid-safe knife.

“Try cutting straight through the middle of the egg.”

“Mm…!”

Kokoa nods enthusiastically at Misaki’s beaming smile. As instructed, she slices into the egg—and the gooey, runny center spills out. In an instant, the creamy egg envelops the chicken rice.

What she made was a fluffy, melty omurice.

“W-Wow…”

Kokoa stares at the omurice, her eyes sparkling as if she’s found a treasure. Honestly, this is probably her first time seeing an omurice like this. The ones I make are just regular omurice, wrapping chicken rice in a plain egg.

“Now for the finishing touch.”

Misaki flashes Kokoa a grin. I thought it was done, but—she grabs the ketchup. As she drizzles it over the fluffy omurice, a certain image slowly takes shape.

“Kitty…!”

Realizing what’s being drawn, Kokoa lets out a delighted squeal. Just as Kokoa said, Misaki’s drawing a cat on the omurice. Of course, it’s not a real cat but a cute, cartoonish character. She must’ve practiced this to make Kokoa happy.

“You like kitties, right?”

“Mm! Kokoa loves kitties!”

“Hehe, good.”

Misaki smiles warmly, then glances at me.

“Ours can wait, right?”

“Yeah, that’d be a big help.”

Since we need to feed Kokoa first, it’s great that she’s willing to make ours separately.

“Nii-nii…!”

“I know, just hang on a sec.”

Urged on by Kokoa, I set her down in a small chair meant for young kids.

“…”

Kokoa stares at me intently, waiting for the spoon to appear.

“Wanna eat by yourself?”

“Ahh~”

When I hold out the spoon to check, Kokoa opens her mouth wide. Guess she wants me to feed her. I usually feed her, and it seems that doesn’t change even with Misaki around.

“Alright, you know what to say first, right?”

“Mm, itadaki… mashu…!”

Kokoa dutifully clasps her hands together and says her pre-meal thanks. In response, Misaki—

“Go ahead, dig in.”

—returns a gentle, almost motherly smile, full of warmth.

◆

“Suu… suu…”

After finishing her meal and feeling full, Kokoa waits for us to finish eating, then climbs onto my lap and starts dozing off. She sleeps properly in her bed at night, but for naps, she prefers my lap. Seriously, she’s an angel.

“Her sleeping face is too cute…”

Even Misaki is completely smitten by Kokoa’s sleeping face. That’s just how devastatingly adorable Kokoa is.

“Can I, like, poke her cheeks?”

“She’ll wake up, so no.”

“…”

Kokoa’s soft, squishy cheeks must be tempting her. When I tell her not to touch, Misaki’s shoulders slump in disappointment.

“When she’s awake, she’ll happily let you poke them like before.”

“Oh, right! I’ll just wait till she wakes up then.”

With that reassurance, Misaki perks up and starts gazing at Kokoa’s sleeping face again.

I doubt she’s gonna stare like this until Kokoa wakes up… right? But Kokoa’s sleeping face is so captivating, she might just keep at it.

“Thanks for the omurice. It was delicious.”

Taking the chance, I share my gratitude and thoughts about lunch.

“Hehe, glad you liked it. Kokoa-chan seemed to love it too.”

“That fluffy omurice was a first for me, so it must’ve been a shock for Kokoa. She might only want that kind of omurice from now on.”

She kept saying, “Yummy…!” the whole time she was eating. She must’ve really loved it.

“Hehe, I doubt it’ll go that far… but some restaurants specialize in omurice like that. Want me to tell you about a place sometime?”

Misaki’s probably offering out of kindness. But I avert my gaze slightly before responding.

“Ah, sorry. We don’t really eat out much…”

I feel bad since she’s trying to share, but it’d be worse to let her tell me about a place we can’t go to. So I turn her down, but—

“Oh… I’m sorry…”

—she apologizes, looking guilty, without even asking why.

It’s not like she needs to apologize…

“No, I’m honestly grateful you wanted to share. Thanks.”

I don’t want her to feel bad, so I make sure to thank her.

“…Um.”

For some reason, Misaki fidgets nervously before speaking again.

“If you’re okay with it, I could teach you how to make that omurice…?”

Looks like she came up with an alternative. It’d be great to learn for when Kokoa begs for it, but—

“You worked hard to master that for Kokoa’s sake, so it feels a bit wrong to just have you teach me…”

—I can’t help but hesitate.

“You’re so serious…”

Looking at me, Misaki lets out a fond, exasperated smile. Her words stir something in me.

“Never thought I’d hear you call me that…”

“What’s that supposed to mean…?”

“That you’re the serious one.”

And I mean dead serious. I don’t say that out loud, though, since she’d probably sulk.

“…Being serious is a good thing, I think.”

Unable to deny it, Misaki puffs out her cheeks and looks away, clearly sulking. Guess she sulked anyway—seems like she’s aware of it herself.

“I didn’t say it’s bad, but if you’re saying it like that, doesn’t it mean you think it’s a flaw?”

“That kind of teasing isn’t nice either.”

She can tell I’m doing it on purpose. Honestly, I don’t mind bantering with Misaki like this. If anything, it’s fun. She might not feel the same, though.

“Well, being serious is a good thing. But being too serious can be a problem.”

“Are you saying I’m too serious?”

“No, you’re overthinking it.”

Truthfully, I do think she’s overly serious, but I wasn’t being sarcastic just now. It just slipped out.

“You’re kind, Raito-kun, but… you’ve got a mean streak, so it feels like you’re being snarky.”

Misaki stares at me with sulky eyes, her lips pursed. Man, she’s really holding a grudge this time. I don’t think I even said she was too serious…

“You’re practically perfect, Misaki. No flaws to speak of.”

For now, I decide to smooth things over. If Kokoa wakes up and sees Misaki sulking, I’ll have to deal with Kokoa’s wrath.

“Th-That kind of flattery isn’t good either…!”

But for some reason, I get scolded instead. Her face is pretty red, too.

“It’s not flattery…?”

“Saying stuff like that without thinking isn’t good either…!”

When I clarify it’s what I really think, she gets even madder for some reason. I genuinely think Misaki’s kind, serious, and smart—a great person. But maybe girls are just hard to understand…

◆

“…”

After a bit, Misaki calms down, but we run out of things to say, and an awkward silence hangs between us. I’m not much of a talker, and Misaki seems a bit stiff, maybe because she’s at a guy’s house. Maybe I should bring up a topic, but… honestly, I’d rather quietly watch Kokoa’s sleeping face than force a conversation.

“Um…”

Unlike me, Misaki seems uncomfortable with the silence and speaks up. When I look at her, her eyes dart away for some reason.

“Is it okay if I… see your room, Raito-kun…?”

“…”

She drops another bombshell, and I’m at a loss for words. This girl… she seems so proper at school, but she’s surprisingly bold, huh?

“Ah, I don’t mean anything weird…!”

“In this case, it kinda feels like there’s only something weird…?”

No way she just wants to see my room for no reason.

“N-No, I mean… it’s not like I want to do anything strange or… or pervy…”

Thinking I’m suspicious of her, Misaki blushes and stammers, looking down in embarrassment. If it’s that hard to say, she doesn’t have to force it. Man, she’s such a serious girl.

“I can guess what’s up. You want to check out my room so you can describe it if someone asks, right?”

Probably to prepare for when Suzumine grills her. That girl seems like she’d come at you with no mercy when she’s digging for info…

“You figured it out…?”

“If you’re not after that kind of thing, it’s the only reason that makes sense, right?”

“~~~ !”

Even though I avoided saying it outright, Misaki must’ve imagined it, because her face turns beet red, and she squirms in embarrassment. I kinda knew it, but she’s got zero tolerance for anything remotely spicy. She shouldn’t bring it up herself then.

“I’d feel uneasy letting you go alone, so I’d have to come with you… but are you okay with that?”

I get why she wants to go, so I won’t stop her, but going into a guy’s room who isn’t her boyfriend could be risky. I don’t think she’s oblivious to that.

“…”

“If it’s Raito-kun, I feel like I’d be safe…”

“Hey now… You seem to assume a lot, but I’m a guy too, you know? Mistakes can happen just as easily.”

Being trusted so carelessly is kind of a problem. I have no intention of making a move or causing any trouble, but that’s just me. Even if someone else seemed to have a personality like mine, they might just be putting on an act while secretly having feelings for Misaki. If that happens, and Misaki thinks, It was fine with Raito-kun, so… and does the same thing with them, she could end up getting hurt. So, while I’m playing the role of her boyfriend, I want her to learn to be a little more skeptical.

“You’re pretty bold, Raito-kun, saying stuff like that so casually…”

“Maybe I don’t sugarcoat things.”

That’s probably why people end up disliking me, but I have to say it for her own good.

“That part of you… I think it’s kind of nice…”

She’s probably still lingering on what happened earlier. Misaki’s cheeks were faintly flushed as she smiled happily.

Faced with her like this, I—

“You’re kinda weird…”

I told her exactly what I was thinking. But in an instant, Misaki’s expression turned pouty.

“That part of you isn’t great, you know…!”

Even she didn’t seem to appreciate being called that.

“I mean, liking it when someone’s super blunt with you? That’s pretty weird, right?”

“You might be clumsy with words, Raito-kun, and maybe you don’t always say things nicely, but there’s genuine kindness in what you say. That’s why I said it’s nice…!”

Misaki carefully broke it down for me, as if to make sure I didn’t misinterpret her. Doesn’t she ever get tired?

“Wait, that’s not what I meant, though…?”

I thought we were talking about my bluntness or whatever.

“Don’t nitpick like that…! Anyway, that’s what I meant when I said it’s nice…!”

This time, she didn’t want to explain further. Her cheeks flushed even deeper as she pushed forward forcefully.

Looking at her now, the expressions Misaki shows at school are probably just one part of who she is. Since getting closer to her, my impression of her has changed quite a bit. Personally, I find this childish side of her more relatable and likable than the refined, kind-to-everyone goddess she seems like at school.

“My bad for teasing you.”

Since I made Misaki sulk, I apologized honestly. If I keep making her pout like this, I guess it’s no wonder she calls me ‘mean.’

“Are you the type who’s mean to the girl you like, Raito-kun…?”

Still not satisfied, Misaki shot me a sidelong glare. If I told the guys at school she was looking at me like this, they’d probably be jealous.

“You realize that’s basically saying, You like me, don’t you? Are you aware of that?”

It was obvious Misaki hadn’t thought that far, but I couldn’t resist pointing it out. Still, I think this one’s on her.

“…Mean…”

In the end, Misaki puffed out her cheeks again. I feel bad for her, but I kinda get why Suzumine-san enjoys teasing her.

“You already knew I’ve got a bad personality. I don’t act mean just because I like someone, so don’t worry about it.”

“I don’t think your personality’s bad, though…”

“…”

Even after all that teasing, she still thinks that? She’s just too good-natured. In Misaki’s mind, being ‘mean’ and having a ‘bad personality’ must be separate things.

“By the way, we were going to my room, right? Kokoa can sleep on the bed, so it’s fine.”

It’s nice having her sleep on my lap, but it might strain Kokoa’s body. We don’t know when she’ll wake up, so it’s better to let her rest on the bed.

…Well, when she wakes up and realizes she’s on the bed instead of my lap, Kokoa’ll probably sulk.

“—Such a cute room…”

That was the first thing Misaki said when she stepped into my room. Probably because the room’s color scheme is pink, and it’s filled with tons of stuffed animals, like cats and others. All the furniture is tailored to Kokoa’s tastes. Ever since she was born, I’ve been using my allowance to slowly put this together.

“Sorry it’s not a manly room.”

Misaki’ll probably have a hard time talking about my room with others. I can already see people making fun of me for having a girly room. Though, I doubt Suzumine-san would mock me for something like that.

“No, I think it’s a lovely room… It really shows your kindness and love, Raito-kun…”

Misaki, who’d been gazing around the room, had a dreamy look in her eyes, her cheeks flushed. With her gentle, narrowed eyes, I wondered what she was thinking about. She’s the first friend I’ve ever shown my room to, so I don’t have any frame of reference to figure it out. Still, I guess she can imagine why the room’s like this, since she knows Kokoa.

“You really take everything in a positive light, don’t you, Misaki…”

Most girls would probably find it creepy, and that wouldn’t be surprising.

“It’s not like that. I have things I don’t vibe with too, you know.”

“But you’re still seeing this in a positive way, aren’t you?”

“With you, Raito-kun, I can see the kindness behind it…”

Embarrassed by her own words, Misaki looked away. Her profile was even redder than before.

“There’s a high chance you’re just imagining things.”

“Hehe, I don’t think so.”

Where does all that confidence come from? She’s such a mystery, especially since she turns into a mess when dealing with Suzumine-san.

“Anyway, just take a seat wherever.”

As I said that, I laid Kokoa down on the bed. She was sleeping so peacefully, it made me feel good just watching her.

“…”

“Hey, I said you can sit anywhere, you know?”

I’d told her to sit earlier, but Misaki was still standing, staring at me, so I repeated myself. But she shook her head.

“I’ll wait until you sit first.”

Apparently, she was waiting for me to sit down. What’s she planning now…?

Standing around felt awkward, so I sat on the bed, leaning back a bit.

And then—

“Here we go…”

Misaki sat down so close our shoulders were touching. Actually, they were totally touching.

“Isn’t that a bit close…?”

“But this is how lovers sit…”

Misaki looked away as she explained her intentions. I get that lovers might sit close like this, but…

“Nobody’s watching, so we don’t need to act like a couple, right…?”

Even Kokoa’s asleep. I don’t see the point in pretending right now.

“If we don’t practice regularly, it won’t come naturally when we need it to…?”

“Even so, do we really need to go this far…? Doesn’t it bother you, Misaki?”

“If it bothered me, I wouldn’t be doing this on my own, would I…?”

Misaki leaned her head on my shoulder. Then, she intertwined her fingers with mine like lovers do—it really felt like we were a couple.

I see… If a super gorgeous girl like Misaki was always doing stuff like this, yeah, I could see someone falling for her. Since I know she doesn’t like me that way, I’m deliberately trying not to think too much about it. But if it was someone else, they’d probably get the wrong idea, right?

“…”

Misaki started squeezing my hand playfully. When I glanced at her, her eyes weren’t on me but on our joined hands. Was she trying to cover up the awkwardness, or was she just messing around? It kinda felt like she was being affectionate with my hand.

“If people saw us like this, they’d have no choice but to believe we’re a couple.”

“Huh?”

“…”

I’d said it thinking she might be practicing the couple act, but her confused expression made it clear she wasn’t thinking that at all. She was seriously just playing around.

“Are you a clingy type, Misaki?”

“I-I don’t think you should ask people stuff like that…”

Misaki’s face turned bright red, and she looked down. Seems she was aware of it.

“…But… I might’ve wanted an Onii-chan like you, Raito-kun…”

Should I take that as confirmation? Misaki’s got some similarities with Kokoa. When Kokoa sulks, she reacts a lot like Misaki, and she also loves playing with my hands. Maybe when Kokoa grows up, she’ll be like Misaki.

…Nah, no way. I feel like Kokoa’s gonna grow up to be a super cheerful, carefree kid. At the very least, she won’t be as considerate of others as Misaki is.

“You’d be in trouble if someone like me was your brother.”

“Not at all. Kokoa-chan seems so happy.”

Misaki said that, her gaze shifting to Kokoa. She does look happy—but that’s just because she’s asleep and making a blissful face…

“Well, I do want Kokoa to be happy…”

“With you around, she’ll be fine.”

Seriously, where does all that confidence come from? She’s such a weird girl.

“—Squeeze, squeeze…”

Once the conversation died down, Misaki, maybe feeling unsatisfied, started playing with my hand again. She even started making little sounds, so she must be in a good mood. Every now and then, she’d poke at my hand with her fingers, which tickled a bit—but since she seemed to be having fun, I let her do whatever she wanted.

◆

“—Nnh…”

“Oh, is she waking up?”

Hearing Kokoa’s voice, I turned to see her slowly opening her eyes. Looks like naptime’s over.

“Nii-nii…”

“Hm?”

“Sleepy…”

—Or so I thought, but she’s still drowsy. Waking up’s always a struggle, huh.

“She’s just too cute…”

Seeing Kokoa like that, Misaki was, as usual, completely smitten. An angelic little girl looking all sleepy—it’s no wonder.

“Nee-nee…!”

Noticing Misaki, Kokoa suddenly sat up with a burst of energy. Misaki’s voice must’ve blown her sleepiness away. Somehow… as her brother, I feel like I lost to Misaki.

“Hehe… Good morning, Kokoa-chan.”

Misaki gave her a gentle smile and patted her head. That’s not fair. With a smile like that, of course a little kid would warm up to her instantly.

“What were Nee-nee and Nii-nii doing?”

“—!”

Kokoa tilted her head, asking Misaki with an innocent smile. To Kokoa, it was probably just a simple question. But Misaki’s face turned red, and she caught her breath. She’s way too shaken. Now Kokoa’s gonna get the wrong idea…

“Hm…?”

Noticing Misaki’s odd reaction, Kokoa tilted her head again.

“We were just talking.”

Since Misaki was frozen, I answered Kokoa’s question for her. It’s not a lie, technically. She was playing with my hand, but we were chatting the whole time too.

“Kokoa wants to talk too!”

Kokoa spread her arms wide toward Misaki. She’s not one to sweat the small stuff, so she’s already forgotten about Misaki’s weird reaction. More than that, she just wants to chat with her.

“A hug?”

“Nah, I think she wants to sit on your lap.”

Kokoa usually asks for a hug when we’re moving somewhere. When she spreads her arms like this otherwise, it means she wants to sit on your lap. Though, sometimes she just climbs up on her own, so it depends on her mood.

“Alright, here I come.”

Misaki stood up and reached for Kokoa, who was sitting on the bed. Holding her tightly to keep her from falling, Misaki carefully sat back down and gently set Kokoa on her lap.

Now on Misaki’s lap, Kokoa started happily swaying her head.

“Comfy enough?”

“Mhm…!”

Kokoa nodded contentedly, leaning her head against Misaki’s chest. That caused a certain large something to squish and change shape, which was kinda awkward to witness. Meanwhile, Kokoa was innocently pressing her head against it. Misaki’s chest, which is pretty big compared to our classmates, must make a great pillow for Kokoa. Since it’s just a little kid, Misaki doesn’t seem to mind, so I figured it’s best not to say anything.

“Nee-nee~”

“Wha~t?”

“Just saying hi~!”

With her big sister gone, Kokoa must be thrilled to have Misaki play with her. She even started doing the kind of play she only does when she’s in a super good mood.

“Seriously, she’s so cute it’s dangerous…”

“You’re not allowed to take her home, okay?”

Misaki’s so smitten with Kokoa that I feel the need to warn her, just in case.

“I wouldn’t go that far, but…”

As she says this, Misaki gives me a look like she’s got something to say. Here we go, she’s about to say something wild again.

“Can I… come over to play again?”

Yup, saw that coming… If Misaki wants to see Kokoa, she’s got no choice but to come to my place. She must really, really like Kokoa.

“Yeah, sure!”

Misaki was asking me, but Kokoa answers first. Kokoa herself looks up to Misaki like a big sister, so it’s natural it’d turn out like this.

“Can I come every day?”

“Mmm…!”

“No way, every day’s too much…”

I feel bad for Kokoa, who’s nodding eagerly, but every day would be a problem. I can just imagine her running into Mom one of these days.

“Not okay…?”

“Nii-nii…?”

The two of them stare at me with teary, pleading eyes, like they’ve teamed up against me. That’s just not fair.

“Misaki, don’t you have to study?”

“I only ever do previews and reviews, so I’m fine.”

“…”

Just previews and reviews, and she’s second in our grade, right behind Suzumine-san…? And the score gap was barely anything, wasn’t it…? No wonder Suzumine-san gets sharp with Misaki sometimes—it’s probably because of stuff like this. Suzumine-san’s at cram school late almost every day, after all.

“Genius, huh? Gotta say, I’m jealous…”

“It’s not like that, really…”

Misaki scratches her cheek, looking embarrassed. Just previews and reviews, and she’s second in the grade—that’s genius enough for me.

As I’m thinking about this, my shirt gets tugged gently.

“Nii-nii, is it… not okay?”

Kokoa, sensing I’m still hesitating, comes closer and looks up at me with those big eyes. She knows exactly how to use her charm—smart kid.

“Well, if Misaki wants to come over, I guess it’s fine…?”

In the end, I can’t say no to Kokoa’s cuteness. But the conversation doesn’t end there—

“Nee-nee, wanna eat dinner together?”

Kokoa’s question means Misaki’s staying for dinner, too. Well, she’s apparently cooking, but since we’re going grocery shopping together, word’s bound to reach Mom through the neighborhood grapevine…

“—Nii-nii, carry me…!”

Excited about the trip to the supermarket, Kokoa spreads her arms toward me. Yup, when it comes to this, it’s always me.

“…”

Misaki looks at me with a hint of envy, but no way. I’m not giving up my Kokoa-cuddling privileges to her. I quickly scoop Kokoa up before Misaki can try anything.

“Kokoa-chan loves being carried, huh?”

Misaki leans in, peering at Kokoa, who’s pressing her cheek against mine. Stop it, don’t try to steal Kokoa from me. Kokoa’s cuddling rights are mine and mine alone…!

“Mmm…!”

Oblivious to my resolve, Kokoa nods happily. But she doesn’t reach out to Misaki.

“You’re lucky to have such a kind big brother.”

Misaki, maybe realizing she’s not getting a turn, gently pats Kokoa’s head instead.

“Ehehe…”

Kokoa, who loves being petted, melts with a soft giggle, her cheeks loosening adorably. That smile still grabs my heart every time.

“Alright, shall we go?”

Misaki lets go of Kokoa and flashes me a gentle smile. I feel a little guilty for being so suspicious of her.

“Yeah, let’s go.”

Trying not to let my unease show, I start walking right away. Kokoa looks up at my face curiously but doesn’t say anything.

And so, we head outside—

“Oh my, Rai-chan! You’ve got such a cute little girl with you!”

We run into a neighborhood auntie. Of all people, it had to be her…

“Yeah, my frie—”

“Nii-nii’s girlfriend…!”

I was about to introduce Misaki as a friend to brush it off. But Kokoa, faster and beaming with excitement, answers first.

Misaki shrinks back, blushing, and gives a quick bow. Then she steps behind me, like she’s hiding. Yeah, anyone would think she’s a shy “girlfriend” right now.

“Oh my, oh my, oh my, oh my!”

The auntie’s clearly hyped up, her eyes sparkling as she looks at me. By tomorrow, every housewife in the neighborhood will know about Misaki. There’s no escaping this now…

“Um, please don’t tell my mom yet. I’ll introduce her myself eventually.”

Correcting that she’s just a friend won’t work—this auntie’s not listening anymore. She’s the type who stops hearing once she’s made up her mind. So, the best I can do is ask her to keep quiet.

But—

“Got it, got it! I won’t tell your mom!”

Yeah, I don’t trust her at all. Mom’s busy with work and probably won’t run into her, but if they do meet, this’ll be the first thing she brings up.

Still, doubting her might offend her and make things worse, so—

“Thank you. Well, we’ll be going now.”

—I decide to make a quick escape.

But—

“Oh, come on, don’t be like that! How’d you land such a cute girl!? An idol—oh, idols can’t date, so maybe a model!?”

The hyper auntie grabs my shoulder, not letting me go. I get that Misaki’s drop-dead gorgeous and could pass for an idol or model. It’s natural she’d be curious, but getting caught by this woman means a long conversation…

“Nee-nee, are you a model!?”

Kokoa, of all people, starts buying into the misunderstanding…

“Misaki’s not an idol or a model, okay? Right?”

“Yes, that’s right…”

Misaki’s unusually quiet, like a borrowed cat. I thought she could handle anyone with her charm, but maybe aunties are her weak spot?

“What, really!? She’s so pretty, what a waste…!”

“I agree Misaki’s beautiful and cute, but…”

“—!?”

Misaki visibly catches her breath at my words. A quick glance shows her face turning red. I mean, she’s gotta be used to hearing this by now, right…?

“Just because she’s beautiful doesn’t mean she has to be an idol or model. It’s not something you do unless you want to.”

I’m curious about Misaki’s reaction, but I flash a smile at the auntie to keep things moving. Seriously, I just want her to let us go already…

“—Nii-nii, I’m hungry…”

As I’m racking my brain for an escape, Kokoa tugs at my shirt. Her cheeks are puffed out, and she’s pouting.

“Sorry, Kokoa’s hungry, so we’ve gotta go.”

“Oh dear, can’t keep her waiting. See you all later!”

The auntie, suddenly all smiles, waves and walks off. Kids come first. That’s a universal rule. So, she let us go without a fuss. Kokoa’s great at reading the room in moments like this.

“We’ll shop soon, so hang in there, okay?”

“Mmm, I’m okay.”

I check in with her, and she gives me a bright smile. When she’s really hungry, she looks sad, so she’s probably not that hungry yet.

“Good girl.”

Thanks to Kokoa, we’re free, so I pat her head.

“…”

“Misaki?”

“N-no, it’s nothing…!”

Misaki’s been staring at me, so I call out, and she shakes her head vigorously. She looks down, away from me, but her profile’s still red. Is she still hung up on what I said earlier…? Being called cute shouldn’t faze her, of all people.

◆

After dinner—

“Well, I’ll head home now.”

Having finished cleaning up the dishes and lingering a bit, Misaki stands to leave. By the way, Kokoa’s already fast asleep in my arms. She’s such a good sleeper.

“Misaki, is your house close to the nearest station?”

“Huh? Like, maybe ten minutes’ walk…?”

Why’s he asking that?—That’s what her expression seems to say.

“It’s dark out, so I’m wondering if I should walk you home.”

With Misaki, it wouldn’t be surprising if she had a stalker or something.

“Oh… you’re worried about me…?”

For some reason, Misaki’s cheeks flush slightly, and she looks at me with hopeful, warm eyes.

“Of course I’m worried. I’m playing the boyfriend of the school’s ultra-popular beauty, after all.”

“R-right…”

And, predictably, she gets all flustered. Why does she get embarrassed over stuff like this…?

“But I’m okay… The path home’s pretty well-lit…”

“Then I’ll walk you to the station.”

Still holding Kokoa, I stand up.

“Is that okay…?”

“Let me do at least that much.”

If I’m her boyfriend, walking her to her home station’s the least I’d do.

“Hehe, such a gentleman.”

“Nah, it’s not like that.”

Misaki flashes a happy smile and follows behind me. If she’s sulking, I’d have to smooth things over, but if she’s in a good mood, I can just let her be.

“…”

Once we’re outside, Misaki keeps glancing at me restlessly. What’s up with her now?

“Forget something?”

“N-no, it’s not that…”

Still fidgeting, Misaki keeps darting looks between my face and my arms. I’m starting to get the hang of this—when she’s like this, she wants to do something.

“Do whatever you want.”

I don’t know what it is, but I nudge her along.

And then—

“Mmm…”

She gently pinches the sleeve of my shirt with her fingers. Since I’m carrying Kokoa, she must’ve opted for my sleeve instead of clinging to my arm. Always keeping up the fake-dating act—Misaki’s so diligent.

“…”

The quiet night street—we’ve both gone silent, and it’s getting a little awkward.

“If I’m walking too fast, let me know.”

“It’s fine, you’re matching my pace.”

I throw out a random topic, but it fizzles out quick. Yeah, that was my bad for picking something with no follow-up. I’ve never been great at keeping conversations going, probably because I haven’t had much practice with friends.

As I’m thinking this, Misaki speaks up.

“Summer break…”

“Hm?”

“Wanna… go to the beach?”

Bathed in the streetlight’s glow, Misaki’s cheeks are slightly red as she looks up at me. She’s probably thinking about how Suzumine-san was eager to go.

“Do you want to go?”

“Maybe… yeah, I think I do…?”

Her response is kinda vague. I’m starting to doubt if she really wants to go.

“You’re okay with me seeing you in a swimsuit?”

I don’t know what Misaki’s thinking, but I figure I should address any concerns upfront. Plenty of girls wouldn’t want a guy they’re not into seeing them in a swimsuit—that’s pretty normal. And for someone like her, who’s friendly with guys but seems to keep a certain line drawn, it might be even more true.

—Or so I thought.

“Well, you’re my boyfriend, Raito-kun… so I guess it’s fine…”

Apparently, as her fake boyfriend, I get the privilege of seeing her like that. Sometimes I can’t tell if this girl’s guard is ironclad or practically nonexistent. I mean, if her boyfriend was some guy fishing for something in return, maybe she’d need to play along…

“You don’t have to force yourself, you know.”

I’m not looking for anything in return, so I’ve got no intention of making those kinds of demands on Misaki.

“I’m not forcing myself…”

In response to my concern, Misaki gave a small shake of her head. That said, her face is a lot redder than it was a moment ago, isn’t it? Still, maybe it’s best not to poke at her too much…

“If you want to go, Misaki, I think it’s fine.”

I’ve never taken Kokoa to the beach either, so it’d be nice to bring her along this time. The problem is… with Misaki and Suzumine-san in swimsuits, fending off guys hitting on them sounds like a hassle. Guess I’ll just have to step up when the time comes.

“You really are kind, Raito-kun…”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Because you respect what I want.”

Does that really make me kind? I thought it was just… normal.

“Respecting your girlfriend’s wishes is just what a boyfriend does, isn’t it?”

“And thinking that’s just normal is exactly why you’re kind.”

With a gentle smile, Misaki playfully poked my arm with her finger, looking genuinely happy. Is that really how it works?

“With you, Misaki, it feels like everything I do gets labeled as kind.”

“That’s not true at all.”

Thinking I was teasing her, she shot me down with a slightly scolding tone. If this keeps up, she’s gonna start pouting again. We’re almost at the station, and parting ways with her sulking would be a bit of a problem.

So, I decided to change the subject.

“By the way, if we’re going to the beach, we might need a car…”

There might be beaches we can get to by train or bus, but I wouldn’t know. At least for me, I’ve only ever gone by my parents’ car or a school trip bus.

“Oh, if we ask my Onee-chan, I think she’d take care of it.”

“…”

Misaki flashed an innocent smile, as if to say, No need to worry about a thing! Hold on, is that really okay?

“Won’t that basically make us an officially approved couple in her eyes…?”

I mean, she’s not gonna think her little sister’s just going out with some random guy friend, right? Or what, is Misaki planning to introduce me as Suzumine-san’s boyfriend or something…?

“Oh… I already told my Onee-chan you’re my boyfriend…”

Looks like my concerns were already a moot point. I see. Well, if that’s the case, then yeah, there’s nothing to worry about now.

“It’s fake, though. Is it really okay to introduce me to your family like that…?”

“But at the festival, some of my sister’s friends were there, and it got back to her, so…”

So to keep things from getting weird or exposed, she introduced me as her real boyfriend, huh… We’re already an officially recognized couple in her family’s eyes… Great, one more complication to deal with.

“Oh… we’re at the station already…?”

Caught up in our conversation, we reached the nearest station in no time. Since we weren’t done talking, Misaki looked at me with a troubled expression.

“The train’s coming soon, so let me just confirm one last thing. Did your sister say anything about your boyfriend?”

“She was thrilled I got a boyfriend and even congratulated me!”

So she’s probably a kind person, just like Misaki. In that case, maybe this won’t turn into a huge mess…?

“Well, let’s just be careful not to raise any suspicions.”

“Right. Well then, good night!”

With the train about to arrive, Misaki waved with a smile and headed into the station. That girl’s natural airheadedness is really something else… I couldn’t help but think to myself.