Chapter 3 | “A Little Sister’s Plea and Her Jealousy”
Thanks to Charlotte-san’s guidance, I reached a clear decision, and the very next day, an unexpected visitor arrived at my doorstep. Calling her a guest, though, might be a slight misnomer.
“G-Good morning, Onii-chan,” Karin stammered, standing nervously at the entrance in casual clothes. It was her first time visiting, and her unease was palpable.
“Morning, Karin.” I tilted my head, surprised. “I thought I was picking you up at the station…”
“I… I wanted to make sure I got here on time, even if I missed a stop or got lost, so I took an earlier train…” Her voice trailed off. In other words, she’d arrived at the station a full thirty minutes ahead of schedule.
“So you came straight here, huh? Didn’t get lost?”
“Nuh-uh.” She shook her head. “I followed the smartphone navigation carefully.” The way she emphasized “carefully” was oddly endearing, hinting she wasn’t too familiar with the app.
“Good job,” I said with a grin. “I’ll walk you back later. Come on in.”
I guided Karin to the room where Charlotte-san and the others were waiting. As I opened the door, Charlotte-san, busy soothing a fussy Emma-chan, looked up with a warm smile.
“Good morning, Shinonome-san,” she greeted.
“G-Good morning, Charlotte-san… And, um, Emma-chan, good morning…” Karin’s voice wavered slightly, her shyness evident.
Emma-chan, still grumpy from waking up, turned her gaze toward Karin, likely because her name was called. Then, her eyes lit up. “Ah, Neko-chan…!”
“Neko-chan?” I echoed, puzzled.
Emma-chan reached for one of the two stuffed toys beside her—the cat plushie Karin had given her. “Neko-chan…!” she repeated, clutching it tightly.
It clicked. Emma-chan was calling Karin “Neko-chan” because she associated her with the cat plushie. “Looks like she really loves that one,” I remarked.
Karin’s face softened into a smile as Emma-chan proudly displayed the plushie, clearly treasuring it. Emma-chan’s mood seemed to lift, and she showed no shyness around Karin—a relief, considering Karin had repaired her beloved plushie and gifted her a new one. That trust was evident.
“Neko-chan, wanna play?” Emma-chan toddled over to Karin’s feet, her intentions clear.
Karin froze, her grip tightening on my shirt sleeve. Even though she could understand simple English like this, her discomfort with forwardness was obvious.
“She just wants to play,” I said gently, keeping my tone encouraging. “Why don’t you give it a try?”
“Mmm… but I don’t know what to play…” Karin mumbled, hesitant.
“How about the cat plushies? Look, there are two of them.” I gestured to the cat plushie I’d given Emma-chan and the one from Karin. “That’d probably make her happy.”
“Okay…” Karin nodded, still uncertain.
“Just sit wherever’s comfortable,” I said, plopping down on the floor. Karin followed suit, and I noticed Emma-chan staring at me intently. I knew that look.
“Emma-chan, come here,” I called, sitting cross-legged and spreading my arms. As expected, she climbed right onto my lap, settling in like it was her throne. To her, my lap was a given.
“You’re so used to this…” Charlotte-san remarked with a wry smile, watching us.
“Haha, it’s just how it is,” I replied, chuckling. “Shinonome-san, are you thirsty?”
As Charlotte-san prepared tea for Karin, we waited for her return. When she came back, Emma-chan grabbed the plushie I’d given her, while Karin held the one she’d gifted, and the two began to play. But—
“Nya! Nya-nya! Nyaa!” Emma-chan exclaimed.
“Funya? Nyaa~?” Karin responded, mimicking her.
They were both speaking in cat language, leaving me utterly clueless. Emma-chan had started it, and Karin was just following along, but their “conversation” was comically mismatched. Still, since they spoke different languages, maybe this was their way of connecting. Emma-chan likely knew her words wouldn’t get through, so she’d switched to cat mode—or, more likely, she was just pretending to be a cat.
“Hehe, what a heartwarming scene,” Charlotte-san said, settling beside me, her shoulder brushing mine.
“You’re not joining in?” I asked with a teasing smile. After all, Charlotte-san had once used cat language with actual cats—adorably so. With just Karin and Emma-chan here, I figured she could let loose.
“I don’t have a plushie,” she replied, feigning disappointment.
“How about a cat impression?” I suggested, half-joking.
“…Nyan-nyan?” She tilted her head, bending her right wrist twice in sync with her words, striking an irresistibly cute cat pose. My heart melted.
“—Ah, want to use it…?” Karin, noticing Charlotte-san’s impression, offered her the plushie she was holding.
“N-No, no, I’m fine,” Charlotte-san said, shaking her head, a bit flustered. “I’d rather just watch.”
“Really…?” Karin asked, uncertain.
“Yes, Emma wants to play with Shinonome-san too,” Charlotte-san reassured her. That seemed to convince Karin, who returned to playing with Emma-chan.
Watching them enjoy themselves warmed my heart. Karin loved plushies, so this kind of play was probably a rare treat for her. Seeing her connect with Emma-chan felt special.
“Onii-chan,” Emma-chan called, tugging at my clothes.
“What’s up?”
“Mmm, what’s that?” She pointed at Karin, tilting her head.
I blinked, confused. “What’s she asking?”
“Onii-chan,” she said again, pointing at me, then at Karin. “What’s that?”
It dawned on me. Emma-chan wanted to know what to call Karin, just as she called me “Onii-chan.” In her mind, Karin had shifted from “the plushie person” to someone close.
“‘Onee-chan,’” I said, teaching her the Japanese word for “big sister.”
“Onee-chan?” Emma-chan repeated, her pronunciation smoother than when she’d first said “Onii-chan.” Her Japanese practice was paying off.
“That’s right. And, you know, this girl is my little sister.”
“Onii-chan’s!?” Emma-chan’s eyes sparkled with excitement, gazing at Karin like she was someone extraordinary.
“To Emma, family is special, and Akihito-kun is special, so Akihito-kun’s family is special—that’s probably how she feels,” Charlotte-san explained, observing Emma-chan’s reaction.
The word “family” stung with a twinge of guilt, but I was glad Emma-chan saw Karin as special. Karin’s slight blush and happy smile at Charlotte-san’s words were even better.
“Why doesn’t Onee-chan speak English?” Emma-chan asked, her innocent eyes fixed on Karin. She’d assumed my sister would speak English too.
Karin, understanding the question, looked startled and glanced at me for help.
“Emma-chan,” I said gently, “even family doesn’t always speak the same language. Charlotte-san can speak Japanese, but you’re learning Japanese, right?”
Emma-chan nodded, patting my knee with a hint of disappointment. She was chatty with me and Charlotte-san but quiet with strangers. She clearly loved talking to those she was close to.
“When you learn Japanese, you’ll be able to talk with her, okay?” I added.
“Mmm!” she agreed brightly.
“If there’s anything you want to ask or say, I can translate for you,” I offered. Charlotte-san could interpret too, but I wanted to keep the moment light.
Emma-chan tilted her head, thinking, then asked, “Why don’t Onii-chan and Onee-chan live together?”
I froze. It was a fair question, but a tough one. “Well… I’m living alone to learn about the world,” I said, dodging it. It wasn’t entirely a lie.
Emma-chan swayed side to side, studying my face, clearly not grasping “learning about the world.” But she nodded to herself, accepting it because I’d said it. Unlike Charlotte-san’s sharp intuition, she was refreshingly laid-back.
“Anything else you want to ask?” I prompted, steering away from the tricky topic.
“Why does Onee-chan hide her eyes?” she asked, pointing at Karin’s bangs.
Kids really went for the sensitive stuff. This could be a chance to help Karin, though. “Karin, Emma-chan wants to know why you hide your eyes. Can you talk about it?”
“Ah, uh…” Karin hesitated. She’d likely pieced together Emma-chan’s curiosity from her words and gestures, but the direct question clearly unsettled her.
“Akihito-kun, delving into personal matters…” Charlotte-san began, her tone cautious.
“Yeah, I know,” I said, meeting Karin’s gaze. “But I thought if I could help somehow, I’d like to. I have a guess about why Karin hides them.” I pointed to my left eye.
“—! Since when did you notice…?” Karin’s voice trembled, her fear evident. She knew I wasn’t bluffing.
“I happened to see it during Charlotte-san’s welcome party,” I admitted softly. “Of course, I’m not going to make a big deal out of it.” I hadn’t even told Charlotte-san—it was Karin’s secret to keep.
“…But I don’t want to talk about it,” she murmured, her voice barely audible.
I nodded. We’d grown closer, and she trusted me enough to spend time together, but her eyes were a deeply personal matter. “Well, if you ever feel ready to talk, just let me know. One thing I can say is that your eyes are really beautiful, Karin.”
To ease her tension, I gently patted her head. “Onii-chan…” she whispered, nodding slightly. She was honest, and I knew delicate issues like this took time. Maybe someone else would help her open up someday.
“Emma-chan,” I said, turning to her, “Karin’s eyes have a secret. That’s why she can’t show them easily.”
“A secret…!” Emma-chan’s eyes sparkled with excitement. I’d have to keep an eye on her to ensure she didn’t try lifting Karin’s bangs, but I trusted she wouldn’t.
After that, Emma-chan’s questions were lighter, and I translated with ease.
◆◆◆
“Well then, shall we get started?” Charlotte-san said at noon, her smile bright as she addressed Karin. Today, Karin would be cooking with us.
“Karin, you don’t usually cook much, right?” I asked.
“Mmm… I’m not allowed because it’s dangerous…” she replied, her tone tinged with frustration.
“Well, cooking can be risky if you’re not used to it,” I said, understanding her mother’s caution.
“No, Mom always treats me like a kid…” Karin huffed, clearly exasperated.
Charlotte-san and I exchanged a glance. Karin’s youthful appearance and demeanor made it hard not to see her as younger than she was. Even I sometimes treated her like a much younger sister, though she didn’t seem to mind, probably assuming it was just sibling affection.
“We don’t want you getting hurt,” Charlotte-san said kindly, “so please stay calm and follow my instructions, okay?”
“Mmm, please take care of me…” Karin bowed politely.
Charlotte-san returned a warm smile and a nod, then winked at me, her eyes saying, I’ll make sure she’s safe. I nodded back, reassured.
“—Ah…” Charlotte-san paused, her expression shifting as if struck by a sudden thought.
“What’s wrong?” I asked.
“No… it just hit me that this is quite a situation…” she said, her voice brimming with delight.
“What do you mean?”
“Not only am I teaching a friend to cook, but I’m teaching my boyfriend’s little sister to cook. That’s not something that happens every day.” Her eyes sparkled, as if she were living out a manga scenario—or simply thrilled to bond with my sister.
“Shinonome-san, may I call you Karin-chan?” Charlotte-san asked, her tone unusually bold.
“Eh, s-sure, but is that okay…?” Karin stammered, confirming it was alright. She wasn’t used to such familiarity, which explained her hesitation.
“Yes, please…! And if you’d like, you can call me Onee-chan,” Charlotte-san added.
“Eh…” Karin froze, and honestly, so did I. What had gotten into her?
“Th-That’s, um… embarrassing…” Karin mumbled, clearly flustered by the idea of calling a classmate “Onee-chan.” It wasn’t dislike—just pure embarrassment. She called me “Onii-chan” so easily, though.
Then it hit me. Was Charlotte-san hoping to be seen as family, like I was to Karin? Maybe I was overthinking it, but it felt plausible.
“Is it no good…?” Charlotte-san asked, her eyes wide and pleading.
Karin’s gaze darted around, her resolve crumbling under pressure. “Um… if it’s when no one else is around…” she conceded, likely meaning she’d say it even with me present.
“Thank you…! Well then, shall we start cooking, Karin-chan?” Charlotte-san beamed.
“Y-Yeah, Onee-chan…” Karin replied shyly, following a radiant Charlotte-san to the kitchen.
“Lottie was in a good mood,” Emma-chan remarked, her quiet observation mirroring my thoughts.
“They’re getting along well, huh?” I said, smiling.
“Mmm, Emma’s friends too,” she added, satisfied. All was well.
Watching Charlotte-san and Karin begin cooking, I couldn’t help but imagine a future filled with moments like this.
A few dozen minutes later—
“I didn’t do it well…” Karin murmured, eyeing the finished dishes: tamagoyaki, tofu steak, simmered hamburgers, and salad. Some looked pristine, others… less so. Karin’s inexperience showed in misshapen pieces and messy plating, with the salad’s uneven cuts standing out.
“Well then, itadakimasu,” we said in unison, hands clasped. Emma-chan, once confused by the gesture, now joined in flawlessly, fully adapted to Japanese customs, as Charlotte-san had encouraged.
“Onii-chan, that…!” Emma-chan pointed at the misshapen tamagoyaki.
“This one?” I asked, picking it up with chopsticks. She must’ve known it was Karin’s.
“O-Onii-chan, that might not taste good, so…” Karin grabbed my hand, worried Emma-chan would dislike it.
“It’s fine,” I reassured her. “Right, Charlotte-san?”
“Yes,” Charlotte-san said confidently. “The shape may be off since she’s not used to it, but I think the taste is delicious.” She’d tasted everything while cooking, so her judgment was reliable. Plus, with her guidance, the flavors were bound to be good.
“Mmm, yummy…!” Emma-chan declared, her face lighting up after trying Karin’s dish. Her blunt honesty meant it was genuinely delicious.
“She says it’s yummy,” I told Karin. “That’s great, huh?”
“R-Really… That’s good…” Karin sighed in relief, patting her chest. I nearly got distracted by the motion but caught Charlotte-san’s gaze and quickly averted my eyes.
“Emma-chan, what else do you want to eat?” I asked.
“Mmm, that one…!” She pointed to another of Karin’s less-than-perfect dishes. Since she could eat Charlotte-san’s cooking anytime, she was likely choosing Karin’s on purpose. They all tasted great, and when she finished, she hugged me contentedly.
Of course, I tried Karin’s dishes too, and they were every bit as delicious as Emma-chan’s smile suggested.
◆◆◆
After the meal, Karin approached Emma-chan, who was dozing on my lap. “Emma-chan, you look sleepy…?” she asked, her curiosity soft.
“This kid gets sleepy right after eating,” I explained.
“Really…? But sleeping right after eating is bad for you…?” Karin frowned, concerned.
“Yeah… But sleep is important for young kids too. Lately, I’ve been making sure she waits about thirty minutes before napping.” Charlotte-san and I often spoiled her, but we prioritized her health. Naps were crucial, so we ensured she waited before sleeping, following her preschool’s routine.
“Raising kids is tough, huh…” Karin mused.
“But it’s rewarding too. Kids are cute, after all,” I said. Emma-chan’s adorableness made the challenges worthwhile, and with Charlotte-san’s help, it never felt overwhelming.
“It helps that Akihito-kun is here,” Charlotte-san said warmly.
“That’s my line,” I shot back, grinning.
“…You two won’t have trouble raising kids in the future,” Karin muttered softly.
Charlotte-san’s face turned crimson. “K-Karin-chan, that’s too soon! We’re not at that stage yet…!” she stammered, flustered.
“Huh? But if things go well, that’s how it’ll be, right…? I thought the Onee-chan thing was for that…?” Karin blinked, confused.
“Th-That’s, um…!” Charlotte-san faltered, her panic evident. Karin’s innocent comment had clearly struck a nerve.
“Muu…! Too loud…!” Emma-chan grumbled, cranky from the noise. Sleepy and irritable, she wasn’t pleased.
“Sorry, Emma…” Charlotte-san mumbled, sulking as her little sister scolded her, their roles hilariously reversed.
“Charlotte-san, I’ll grab a blanket. Can you watch Emma-chan?” I started to hand her over, but Charlotte-san stood.
“Ah, I’ll get it,” she said, leaving the room. It was probably better to let her fetch the blanket than deal with a grumpy Emma-chan.
“You’re like a married couple…” Karin remarked, watching our exchange.
From an outsider’s perspective, we might seem that way. “You’re really close, huh…?” she added.
“Charlotte-san’s a great girl,” I said simply.
“You live together…?” Karin asked, tilting her head. I’d told her we were just neighbors who hung out a lot, but our closeness was obvious.
“Keep it a secret from our parents, okay?” I said, putting a finger to my nose. Karin nodded repeatedly, her cheeks flushing as she likely imagined our situation.
“Onii-chan’s all grown up, huh…” she murmured.
“Nah, I’m still a kid,” I laughed. “I couldn’t survive on my own.” With Charlotte-san handling chores and the Himeragi conglomerate covering expenses, I was far from independent.
“—I brought it,” Charlotte-san announced, returning with the small blanket we used for Emma-chan’s naps.
“Thanks,” I said, laying Emma-chan down. She slept soundly, as cute as ever.
“Karin?” I noticed her staring at my face, but when I called out, she looked around nervously.
“Ah, um…” she mumbled, hesitant.
“You can say whatever’s on your mind,” I encouraged. “No need to hold back.”
“Really…?” She looked up at me with wide, upturned eyes.
“Of course. I’m your big brother, after all.” I smiled, creating an open atmosphere.
It worked. Karin’s face lit up, and she spoke softly. “W-Well then… I want to sit on your lap…”
“…Huh?” I froze, not expecting that.
“Um, I mean… I wanted to sit on your lap, but… if it’s no good, it’s okay…” Mistaking my pause for rejection, Karin looked down, dejected.
I couldn’t ignore my sister’s disappointment, but I glanced at Charlotte-san, worried about her reaction. Our eyes met—she was watching me too.
“I-It’s fine…!” Charlotte-san said with a strained smile, her voice trembling. “She’s your sister, so you should let her sit…” She was clearly forcing herself, her nervous sweat betraying her discomfort.
Still, Karin’s request had taken courage. Rejecting her now might close her off for good. Charlotte-san likely understood that, which explained her reluctant approval.
“…Karin, it’s okay. Come here,” I said, deciding to make it up to Charlotte-san later.
“R-Really…?” Karin’s eyes widened.
“I’m your brother, so there’s no way I’d refuse my sister’s request, right?” I took her hand, acting natural to hide my hesitation.
Karin smiled shyly and sat on my lap, settling sideways. She was small, so I’d expected her to be lighter than Charlotte-san, but surprisingly, she felt similar. Girls were mysterious like that.
“This is kinda nerve-wracking…” Karin admitted, her face slightly flushed, her body tense.
Something soft pressed against me, impossible to ignore. As I tried to focus elsewhere—
“Muu…!” Emma-chan’s grumpy noise snapped me back, her sleepy irritation cutting through the moment.
Charlotte-san’s cheeks puffed out as she fixed her gaze on me, her eyes flashing with more than just a pout—there was real anger there. She’d clearly seen right through my thoughts.
…What do I do now? A cold sweat prickled my skin.
“Onii-chan, you’re sweating… Am I too heavy…?” Karin asked, her voice tinged with worry.
“No, it’s fine,” I reassured her, shaking my head with a strained smile. “It’s a different kind of sweat.”
Yeah, a completely different kind. Karin’s misunderstanding was almost a relief, but… would Charlotte-san forgive me once Karin left?
“U-Um, Onii-chan… can you, like, pat me too…?” Karin’s hesitant request pulled me back. She wanted the same affection I gave Emma-chan.
How could I refuse my sister? I gently rested my hand on her head, her glossy black hair silky under my fingers. Despite our family’s struggles, she took such good care of it—her flawless skin, too. Even if it’s a brother’s bias, Karin was more than cute enough. If she weren’t so shy, she’d probably be wildly popular.
But while I focused on Karin, Charlotte-san’s silent stare bore into me. She likely didn’t even realize the pressure she was exerting—just her unwavering gaze was enough to make me squirm. Kind girls who keep their feelings bottled up can feel a little pitiful sometimes…
“I like this…” Karin murmured, oblivious to Charlotte-san’s mood. She nestled closer, rubbing her cheek against my chest, clearly relishing sitting on my lap and having her head patted.
…Why was my stomach starting to churn?
“Does Karin do this kind of thing with her dad often?” I asked, trying to shift my focus.
“No… Dad’s always busy…” Karin’s voice softened. “Ever since I was little, he’d come home late… like when I was already asleep. And most mornings, he was gone before I woke up…”
So she hadn’t had much chance to be spoiled. Yet Karin grew up kind and still loved her dad—probably because he made time for her in those rare moments.
“But lately, since the debt’s gone… he’s been home a lot more…?” she added, a faint hope in her tone.
“That’s good…” I replied, nodding. Paying off a friend’s runaway debt wasn’t something just anyone could do. Her dad must be a decent guy, at least.
“Akihito-kun…” Charlotte-san’s voice cut through, soft but deliberate.
“Hm, what?”
“Um… are you thirsty? I’ll get you something to drink.” She stood and headed to the kitchen, her tone gentle but purposeful. She was probably being considerate, giving me a moment with Karin.
“Thanks, I’ll take one,” I called after her. “Karin, you want something?”
“Ah, mmm…” Karin nodded, signaling to Charlotte-san that she did.
“There’s orange juice too,” I added, remembering how Karin had sipped it at a café. I’d bought some just in case, though I never got a clear answer last time since she’d choked. She might like it.
“Is that okay…?” Karin asked, her voice small.
“Of course. Sorry, Charlotte-san, make Karin’s orange juice.”
“Sure, Akihito-kun,” Charlotte-san replied. “Orange juice for you too?”
“Nah, tea’s fine for me. You drink whatever you like, Charlotte-san.”
“Thank you.” She paused, then chose orange juice, same as Karin.
By the way, Emma-chan wasn’t picky and would drink most juices. If she were awake, she’d probably want orange juice too.
As Charlotte-san busied herself in the kitchen, I kept spoiling Karin, who clung to me happily. All the while, I sweated under the weight of Charlotte-san’s quiet pressure.
◆◆◆
“—Alright, I’ll walk Karin to the station.”
Since she was leaving before dark, I decided to see her off. With Emma-chan napping, Charlotte-san would stay at the house.
“Really, it’s okay…? I can go back alone…” Karin protested softly.
“Just to be safe,” I insisted. “You’re a girl, after all.”
It might’ve been overprotective, but I wanted to make sure she got there safely. Besides, there might be things Karin could only say when we were alone.
We left the apartment together, the cool air a relief after the tension inside.
“Walking alone with Onii-chan… might people get the wrong idea…?” Karin mumbled, glancing around.
“Yeah, maybe,” I admitted. “But it’s probably fine.”
At school, Karin and I were strangers. Since Charlotte-san was my girlfriend, being seen alone with another girl could spark misunderstandings. So I’d thrown on a mask and hat to avoid being recognized.
“Right… Um, about my eyes… sorry…?” Karin’s voice dropped, barely audible.
“No need to worry,” I said gently. “I get that you don’t want to talk about it. But I think your heterochromia is really beautiful, Karin.”
Karin’s right eye was black, her left a striking white—a rare condition she hid, likely because of bad experiences. She covered both eyes, not just the white one, probably to avoid drawing attention to it. Even so, her hidden gaze sparked curiosity, though her timid nature kept most people at a distance. The teachers likely knew, but to me, her eyes were so beautiful she didn’t need to hide them.
“Onii-chan, you wouldn’t understand… what it’s like to be different…”
“I do understand,” I said quietly. “I’ve been through a lot too.”
“Ah—” Karin gasped, looking up at me. The wind shifted her bangs, revealing her stunning eyes.
“S-Sorry…!” she stammered, realizing she’d touched a nerve. She knew a bit about my past, which was probably why she apologized so quickly.
“Don’t worry about it,” I reassured her. “I’m the one who brought up a sensitive topic first.”
“But… I said that without thinking about your feelings…”
“It’s fine. You can say whatever you want. I’m your brother, right? There’s nothing you need to hold back.”
Since I’d chosen to be Karin’s brother, I didn’t want it to be in name only. I wanted to be someone she could rely on, someone who’d listen to anything and take on whatever she felt.
“Why…? Why are you so kind, Onii-chan…?” Her beautiful eyes wavered as she asked, her voice trembling.
“Being kind to my sister is only natural, isn’t it?”
“Is it…?” She tilted her head, unconvinced.
I knew not every sibling was close, but to me, it made sense. “Yeah. At least, I think you’re important to me, so I can’t be cold to someone I care about, right?”
“Right…” This time, she nodded, her breath warm and relieved, as if my words had finally sunk in.
We reached the station sooner than I expected. “We’re here,” I said. “If there’s anything else you want to talk about, just message or call me.”
“Mmm… thanks.” Karin smiled, her expression bright with gratitude, and turned to head inside.
But then she stopped.
“What’s wrong?” I called out, thinking she had something left to say.
Karin turned back, parting her bangs with a deliberate hand, her serious gaze locking onto mine. She revealed her eyes on purpose—maybe because she trusted me enough to let me see them, or perhaps because she felt guilty for hurting me and wanted to make amends.
“I-I… I really want to be with you, Onii-chan… I want us to live together… If it’s not okay with Dad and them, then I’ll come to your place…”
“Karin,” I said softly, my tone gentle but firm as I gave her a warm smile.
And then—
“That’s not possible.”
I shook my head slowly, making it clear it was out of my hands.
“Onii-chan…” Her voice wavered, her expression crestfallen.
“I’m happy you feel that way, and I know I’m being hypocritical saying this, but… we’re living off our guardians’ money. We can’t just do whatever we want.”
I wanted to grant all of Karin’s wishes, but some things were impossible. It wasn’t entirely out of the question—her parents seemed indebted to me, so if we both pushed, they might agree. With their debt cleared, they could probably cover her expenses. But letting Karin live with me could entangle her in the Himeragi conglomerate’s issues, and I refused to let that happen.
“Besides, you love your parents, don’t you?”
“Y-Yeah…”
“Then there’s no need to leave them. We can see each other at school, and if you call me, I’ll come to you anytime. Please be okay with that.”
Karin fell silent, her gaze dropping to the ground. I glanced around to ensure no one was nearby, then stepped closer.
“There’s something I have to do,” I said quietly. “So we can’t live together right now—but once it’s done, you can come stay over.”
I pulled her into a gentle hug, patting her head softly. For a moment, I considered promising to live together once my tasks were complete or I started working. But with Charlotte-san and the others in my life, and my reluctance to take Karin from her parents, I sidestepped it instead.
“Promise…?” Karin asked, her voice steady, without her usual “Is that okay?” It must mean that much to her.
“Yeah, it’s a promise,” I said firmly. “The train’s coming soon, so you should go.”
The train came every thirty minutes, and missing this one meant a half-hour wait. I gently nudged her forward. Karin kept glancing back, so I waved until she vanished from sight.
When I got home—
“—Nya, nyaa?”
For some reason, Charlotte-san was waiting at the entrance in the cat costume she’d worn for Halloween.
Uh, yeah… I might’ve made her too jealous.
“Um…” I hesitated, grappling with the unexpected sight.
And then—
“Come here,” I said, deciding to just roll with it.
“Pardon my intrusion…” Charlotte-san dropped the cat impression and happily settled onto my lap. The outfit was revealing, leaving me unsure where to look.
“There, there,” I said, patting her head as usual.
“Mmm…” She squirmed ticklishly, her warm, seductive breaths brushing against me. With her outfit and the way she clung to me, it felt like she was tempting me—and honestly, I couldn’t complain if she teased me a little, right…?
Even knowing her clinginess stemmed from jealousy, I couldn’t act recklessly. Above all, I didn’t want to disrupt Charlotte-san’s joyful cuddling. After indulging her until she was content with cheek-rubbing, she suddenly turned to me.
“Akihito-kun, you were staring at Shinonome-san’s chest a lot, weren’t you?” Her accusation was startlingly direct.
Still nestled on my lap, her sulky, accusing eyes bore into me from painfully close range. “I don’t think I was staring that much…?” I ventured.
“I think you looked every few seconds,” she countered firmly.
“Maybe you mistook me looking at her face…?”
“After looking at Karin-chan’s face, your eyes briefly dropped to her chest.”
Was that really the case? I’d been hyper-aware of Charlotte-san’s gaze, so I’d tried my hardest not to glance at Karin’s chest. “You don’t look at mine at all…” she muttered, her voice barely audible, tinged with a sulky edge.
“Huh…?” I blinked, straining to catch her words.
She’d probably done it on purpose, but the timing made it impossible to ignore. “What’d you say?”
“Akihito-kun, you like bigger ones, don’t you?” Her bluntness hit like a thunderbolt.
“—!? N-No, that’s not it…! I don’t care about size…!” I stammered, flustered.
“That’s a lie. Books say boys love big ones.”
“What kind of books are you reading!?” I exclaimed. Size preferences varied from person to person, and I genuinely didn’t care about it. Compared to others her age, Charlotte-san’s were plenty generous—it was just that Karin’s were unusually large.
“It’s written in lots of books,” she insisted.
“Ugh… Preferences differ, you know…?”
“True, some people prefer smaller ones…” she conceded, likely drawing from her book knowledge again. Come to think of it, she sometimes received packages from specialty stores. That might explain why Charlotte-san was surprisingly well-versed in risqué topics.
“Anyway, I don’t judge people by chest size, so don’t worry about it, okay?” I said, hoping to reassure her.
“…” Charlotte-san fixed me with a skeptical stare, her eyes betraying how hung up she was on the issue. “If you want to look, just look at me…” she whispered.
“—!?” I froze, caught off guard.
“You have me, Akihito-kun… If you’re going to look, look at me… I don’t like you looking at other girls…” Pressing her sulky face into my chest, she clung tighter. As my girlfriend, she clearly didn’t want her boyfriend’s eyes wandering to other girls. This costume was her effort to hold my attention, and her earnestness was utterly endearing. Still, I hadn’t expected such bold words—though, thinking back, she did have her bold moments.
“Sorry, did I make you anxious?” I asked softly.
“It’s not anxiety, but…” So it was pure jealousy fueling her upset.
“I like you the most, Charlotte-san, and I won’t get distracted by other girls. I’ll try not to cause misunderstandings.” Jealous Charlotte-san was adorable, but I didn’t want to hurt her. We’d agreed I’d pamper her if I made her jealous, but it was better to avoid it altogether. At the very least, I needed to prevent misunderstandings.
“…What kind of cosplay do you like, Akihito-kun…?” she asked out of the blue.
“What’s with the sudden question?”
“I need to make sure you don’t look elsewhere… If you have a favorite cosplay, I’ll do it…?” Her pleading eyes gazed up at me, and combined with her already distracting outfit, that expression made me want to pull her closer.
“You don’t need costumes to be super attractive, Charlotte-san. Besides, cosplay’s about the wearer enjoying it, right? So do the cosplay you want. I think you’d look great in anything.” I was touched she wanted to cater to my tastes, but I’d fallen for the real Charlotte-san. She didn’t need to change for me. If she enjoyed it, I’d happily watch, eager to support whatever she loved.
“So… even anime characters would be okay…?” she asked hesitantly.
“Of course.” Honestly, compared to this revealing cat cosplay, I’d have an easier time knowing where to look with anime characters. I was seriously proud of myself for keeping my composure right now.
“I see… Then I’ll think about it…” She seemed convinced.
Charlotte-san had always loved cosplay, and given her passion for anime, manga, and doujin culture, she’d probably adore attending Japan’s biggest doujin event next month. It’d be perfect timing. I silently vowed to resolve the Himeragi conglomerate issue by then at the latest.
After that, once Charlotte-san had calmed down, we enjoyed some playful teasing while I pampered her. However, because Emma-chan had napped too long, she struggled to fall asleep that night, which was a bit of a hassle.
