Chapter 4 | Is Going Shopping with My Stepsister a Date?

“Sorry to keep you waiting, Onii-san.”

On the weekend, Mahito was waiting in front of the station when his stepsister came running up, out of breath. Under her usual cardigan, she wore a frilly shirt. A choker adorned her neck, a black ribbon decorated her collar, and she had on a high-waisted skirt paired with boots—a polished, going-out outfit. Her hair was neatly styled with braids and other arrangements.

Honestly, even as her brother, Mahito couldn’t help but feel his heart skip a beat at how pretty and cute she looked.

For some reason, he was meeting up with his stepsister at the station on a Sunday morning.

—Going shopping with Yuuri feels like something we haven’t done since elementary school.

Once they entered middle school, they usually went shopping with friends, so the chances to go out together as siblings had dwindled.

Mahito shook his head.

“Nah, I wasn’t really waiting long, so it’s fine.”

As he said this, Mahito couldn’t help but give her a puzzled look.

“By the way, why’d we meet up out here? Couldn’t we have just left the house together…?”

Living in the same house yet deliberately meeting outside didn’t make sense to Mahito, and he voiced his confusion.

Yuuri shook her head.

“Well, um, my friend offered to help me put together an outfit, so I took her up on it.”

Apparently, she had gotten changed somewhere else.

“Oh, girls do stuff like that, huh?”

“Yes, they do.”

Her firm declaration left Mahito with no room to argue.

Then, as if switching from that resolute attitude to a shy maiden, she held up her smartphone, half-hiding her face. On the screen was a LIME chat window.

“Also, I’ve always wanted to try using LIME to meet up with you, Onii-san…”

The LIME screen showed their conversation: things like “I’m already here” and “I’ll be right there!”

—What’s with that cute little wish…

The sheer simplicity of her desire made Mahito clutch his forehead and lean back dramatically.

Then, Yuuri timidly looked up at his face.

“So, um, how do I look? Does it… suit me?”

“Oh, uh, yeah. It suits you. You look cute.”

“…! R-Really? That’s a relief.”

Twirling her silver hair around her finger, Yuuri smiled, visibly relieved.

As the two stood there, a couple passing by muttered something under their breath.

“Look at them, totally a new couple. So awkward, it’s hilarious.”

“Oh, stop it. It’s probably their first date, right? It’s cute.”

“…!”

Mahito and Yuuri hurriedly stepped away from each other.

Sure, the situation might look a bit like a date, but she was his stepsister.

Yes, his stepsister.

But to an outsider, it definitely looked like a date.

Mahito looked up at the sky, feeling utterly lost.

—How did things end up like this…

It all started a few days ago.

◇

“…I just got it so easily. Onii-san’s LIME ID.”

Having gotten his contact info, Yuuri muttered to herself, sounding a bit deflated. It had felt so unnatural to be the only one not knowing her stepbrother’s LIME ID, but he had casually said, “Oh, we hadn’t exchanged them yet, huh?” and given it to her without a second thought.

It didn’t seem like he was hiding it or anything.

—I totally jumped to conclusions. How embarrassing…

Speaking of embarrassing, there was that moment she’d pinned her stepbrother against the wall. The shame came rushing back, and Yuuri squirmed on her bed.

Still, she had achieved her goal.

Yuuri opened the photo Yamanashi had sent her.

—Now that I think about it calmly, sending a selfie as my first LIME message would be kind of weird, right?

Her original reason for wanting Mahito’s LIME ID was to show him this “stylish outfit” that was Yamanashi’s hobby.

But sending a photo like that out of the blue might freak him out. Plus, showing him this outfit would be embarrassing. She realized now that she’d been swept up in Yamanashi’s praise at the time.

“Still, I went through the trouble of getting his LIME ID…”

She wanted to talk about something, but what?

It was a surprisingly tough question. Since school started, Yuuri had tried to be honest and open about her thoughts, but it felt like all she did was make her stepbrother uncomfortable. There were tons of things she wanted to talk about or ask—like what they used to talk about before, or school stuff, or his friends…

“Friends…”

That word brought back the other day after school. She’d stayed late at Yamanashi’s house, and on her way home, she’d spotted Mahito walking with a female classmate. Sure, Mahito must have friends in his class, and some of them could be girls. But for some reason, the sight stirred an overwhelming sense of “he’s being taken away,” and she couldn’t sit still.

Looking back, that was probably the real reason she’d pinned him against the wall that night.

…Sadly, Yuuri hadn’t noticed there was another guy with them, making it a group of three walking home together. Either way, she recognized the anxious, urgent feeling driving her.

“…No, no, what am I thinking?”

She and Mahito were siblings. Wanting to get along with him was normal, but this possessive feeling was something else entirely. After writhing on her bed for a bit, Yuuri turned her gaze back to her phone.

This was her first LIME conversation with her stepbrother. She couldn’t write anything careless. Staring at his profile, a thought struck her.

“…Is this some game character?”

Mahito’s icon was a chubby, onion-headed knight-like character. He’d mentioned being into games, and the image looked like CG, so it was probably from a game.

—Yes, asking about this shouldn’t be weird!

It was the perfect conversation starter.

Just as she started typing a message, she heard a call.

“Yuuri, dinner’s ready!”

“Coming!”

At Mahito’s voice, Yuuri closed her phone and replied. When she got downstairs, it wasn’t her mom but Mahito standing in the kitchen.

“You made dinner tonight, Onii-san?”

“Yeah, both of them are coming home late today.”

Mahito’s apron and the delicious aroma naturally brought a smile to Yuuri’s face.

“Hehe, I love your cooking, Onii-san.”

“Glad to hear that.”

Tonight’s dinner was ginger pork. The scent of soy sauce and ginger stirred her appetite, and she couldn’t help but swallow hard. Mahito gave a wry smile as he spoke.

“Can you scoop the rice?”

“Sure.”

Yuuri grabbed their rice bowls from the cupboard and portioned out rice for both. The ginger pork was already plated, and Mahito poured miso soup for them. While Yuuri set the table, Mahito washed the frying pan, and Yuuri wrapped the leftovers for their parents.

She still couldn’t cook, but helping with chores like this was a big change for her.

—I want to be able to stand in the kitchen with Onii-san…

She still wasn’t sure what being siblings really meant, but she thought it would be wonderful to have a relationship where they could cook together.

—It’s almost like… a married couple…

That stray thought made Yuuri realize her face was turning red.

“Yuuri? You okay?”

“Hyuii?! N-N-N-N-Nothing’s wrong!”

“O-Okay?”

Mahito gave her another puzzled look. Calming herself, Yuuri sat at the table, and they clasped their hands together.

“Let’s eat.”

Biting into the crispy, flour-coated meat, the juicy flavor burst out, accompanied by the refreshing aroma of ginger and a light, satisfying crunch. The thick-cut cabbage on the side, glazed with sauce and glistening, offered a crisp freshness that washed away the meat’s richness, setting the stage for the next bite to feel as thrilling as the first. To the left, the miso soup waited, its gentle shiitake fragrance inviting. After the lively dance of meat and cabbage, the soft soup and rice soothed her tired tongue.

It was comforting. The undeniable taste of home made Yuuri’s face soften with delight.

“Mmm, it’s so good!”

“I’m happy you’re enjoying it, Yuuri.”

“Oh, by the way, is your LIME icon from some character?”

“Yeah, it’s from a game called Gutasoul.”

“Cool, I’d love to check it out sometime.”

“Sure, but playing it yourself could be fun too. It’s a tough game, so I won’t push you, but playing versus watching gives a different kind of immersion.”

“Maybe I’ll give it a try then…?”

“If you get stuck, I’ll help you out.”

At those words, Yuuri nearly bounced out of her chair. Honestly, the games Mahito played seemed tough, and she wasn’t sure she could handle them, but the idea of him teaching her made her heart soar.

As they enjoyed the warm meal and chatted happily, Yuuri suddenly covered her face.

—I already asked everything I wanted to!

Well, they were together at home all the time, so if they walked home together, they’d naturally talk about the day’s events. In other words, having his LIME ID didn’t really serve much purpose. Even conversations with their parents, who they saw less often at meals, were mostly about school notices—nothing that required LIME.

She didn’t really need to ask for it after all.

—No, knowing it is a different thing!

Wanting to know her stepbrother’s LIME ID wasn’t weird. Mahito must have thought so too, since he gave it to her so easily. But having it and not using it felt like a huge waste.

—Some kind of opportunity to use it…

Even for meetups, they were siblings. They’d leave the house together if heading to the same place, and if they got separated, that’d be more of a hassle for Mahito than a reason to use LIME. Deliberately getting lost would just be mean.

She racked her brain, then had a thought.

—But a meetup would be a chance to use it, right?

For something like shopping after school, she’d use LIME to coordinate with Yamanashi, who was in her class. It’d be a natural way to use it. Her means and goals were getting muddled, but Yuuri seriously considered it.

To confirm her idea, she turned to Mahito and opened her mouth.

—Tsukki says even going shopping counts as a date, which is kinda scary…

She didn’t realize that recalling that comment right before speaking was a hopeless mistake…

“Onii-san, wanna go on a date this Sunday?”

“Pffft—————————!”

Her colossal blunder made Mahito spectacularly spit out his miso soup.

“Ack, cough cough! What’re you saying?!”

A beat later, Yuuri realized what she’d said, and the room spun around her.

“N-N-N-N-No, I mean, not exactly, but, um, I just wanted to go shopping!”

Wiping the table nearby, Mahito nodded as if convinced.

“Oh, shopping, got it… Do girls call shopping a date?”

“Uh, well, something like that, maybe?”

Only Yamanashi would say that, but Yuuri answered as if it were common among all girls.

Mahito muttered, clearly thrown off.

“…Huh, so that’s a thing. If a girl I didn’t know said that, I’d totally misunderstand. Don’t say that to guys, okay, Yuuri?”

“Wait, Onii-san, have you been asked out on a date before?”

As Mahito nodded seriously, as if he’d learned something, Yuuri stared at him, stunned. She didn’t know what he was like at school, but she thought Mahito had a face that girls would like. Tall and dependable was one thing, but a boyish, protectable look had its own appeal too. It wouldn’t be surprising if someone tried to hit on him. Just yesterday, wasn’t he walking home with some girl she didn’t know?

As Yuuri fretted, her stepbrother slumped, looking dejected.

“Nah, nothing like that…”

“…Phew.”

Yuuri let out a sigh of relief.

—Wait, do I actually not want Onii-san to get a girlfriend…?

Imagining a girl chummily standing next to her stepbrother made her feel inexplicably unsettled.

—No, I don’t want to be that kind of clingy sister…

Well, families are probably like that, right? That must be it. She didn’t want to think about it, but if her parents got divorced or remarried, it’d be way more than just unsettling.

Mahito tilted his head.

“So, what’s this shopping for? Something heavy?”

“Oh, um…”

Yuuri, who hadn’t thought it through, faltered.

“W-Well, it’s a surprise for when we get there!”

“Huh…?”

Her oddly dramatic phrasing drew a wry smile from Mahito, but he nodded in agreement.

And so, out of the blue, the siblings ended up going on a… not a date, but a shopping trip.

◇

“—So, where are we going?”

On Sunday, meeting at the station, Mahito asked Yuuri. He’d panicked earlier when passersby commented on their “date,” but now he’d regained his composure.

—When she asked about LIME, I thought my heart was gonna jump out of my chest…

When Yuuri first got a smartphone, Mahito had thought about exchanging contact info. But their relationship was already getting awkward back then, and she never offered hers. He didn’t have the courage to ask, so he’d gone all this time without knowing. If it hadn’t been for the unusual situation of his stepsister pinning him against the wall, he probably would’ve reacted unnaturally.

—Still, being able to chat like this now makes me a little happy.

Opening the LIME app, he saw that besides their meetup exchange, messages had been piling up. Over the past week, Yuuri had been sending him messages before bed or during school breaks. Most of it was lighthearted stuff, with more stickers than actual text—things like being hungry before bed, feeling sleepy in class, or managing to talk to someone other than her friend Tsukki for the first time. Mahito couldn’t help but feel a pang of empathy for her stumbles, but it was all trivial.

Replying to her didn’t feel bad at all, and before he knew it, he’d gotten used to it. To his stepsister, he was probably like a “brand-new Onii-san.” It wasn’t surprising she’d want to poke at him like this. Honestly, he was just glad she felt that way about him now.

So, for today at least, Mahito wanted to show his stepsister, who was relying on him, that he could be a dependable brother.

But…

—This past week, Himemiya-san’s been really nice, hasn’t she?

Since lending him her notes, they’d started talking more, even outside of studying. Before he knew it, it had become normal for him, Himemiya, and Azumagi to walk home together as a trio. Himemiya didn’t talk much about herself, but she often checked if Mahito had any worries. She asked a lot about his home life, and every time, Azumagi would listen in with a nervous expression.

At first, Mahito thought she was like that with other classmates, but that didn’t seem to be the case. If anything, she seemed bad at talking to others, getting flustered when classmates approached her. So why had she ended up as class rep? …Probably because someone said she’d be good at it, and she couldn’t say no.

Either way, Mahito didn’t think he was imagining that she treated him differently.

But that wasn’t what really bothered him.

—It’s like… she seems oddly cornered or something…

Like she was in a rush, maybe. As if some deadline was looming… or like she was crumbling under guilt. He couldn’t quite put it into words, but it all felt like she was “being pushed into a corner.”

Honestly, she worried him in a different way than Yuuri did.

—No, focus on Yuuri right now.

Himemiya was on his mind, but he was here shopping with Yuuri. Pushing his friend to the back of his mind, Mahito waited for his stepsister’s reply. He still didn’t know what they were shopping for.

“Uh, let’s see…”

Was their destination nearby? Yuuri stood on her tiptoes, peering through the crowd with a hand over her brow. …Well, both siblings were pretty short. Standing on tiptoes didn’t help much.

Still, she seemed to spot her target and raised her voice.

“There! Is that place okay?”

Yuuri pointed to the shopping mall by the station.

Mahito gave a wry smile.

“You’re the one who wanted to go shopping, so wherever you want is fine, Yuuri.”

“Th-Thank you. Then, that store.”

The mall was connected to the station by a pedestrian bridge, letting them enter directly on the second floor. At the entrance, a trendy high-end pastry shop had a pop-up, and Mahito gently pushed his stepsister’s back to keep her from getting sucked in. That stuff was for office workers buying gifts, not something high schoolers could afford.

Inside, women’s clothing stores lined the halls. The central area was an open atrium, and from there, he could see cosmetics shops and an ice cream place on the first floor. Yuuri was heading toward the escalator leading down.

Mahito nodded to himself.

—Yuuri’s a first-year high school girl, so she’s probably getting curious about makeup.

Her gyaru friend wore makeup, so it was only natural for Yuuri to take an interest as well.

Buying her first cosmetics alone might feel daunting, and asking a friend could be embarrassing, so relying on her idle stepbrother wasn’t a bad choice. Whether Mahito would actually be helpful, though, was another question entirely.

As he convinced himself of this, Yuuri turned back.

“Oh, it’s the third floor, Onii-san.”

Ignoring the cosmetics shops, she headed up the escalator, leaving Mahito—who’d been so sure—to quietly sulk.

Up here, alongside women’s clothing, were stores selling goods made from natural materials. Yuuri pointed to one such shop. It had a feminine vibe, but Mahito probably wouldn’t get scolded for entering.

“Huh, I’ve never been in a place like this,” he said. “What’re you looking for?”

As he asked, Yuuri peered inside and muttered, “I’ve never been here either…”

“You haven’t either?!”

Mahito’s stunned outburst made Yuuri blush as she explained.

“W-Well, since I’ve never been, I wanted you to come with me…”

“Oh, right, that makes sense.”

Nodding in understanding, Mahito felt a bead of sweat trickle down his cheek.

—What even is this store…?

The shop was filled with mysterious little bottles, dishes, accessories, and bags. In a corner, there were even interior decor items. It felt like a chaotic collection of nice-looking things with no clear theme.

Mahito was so out of his element that he had no clue what was going on. And the prices were outrageous. Why was a palm-sized bottle 3,000 yen? The clothes on the wall had four zeros in their price tags. Yet fancy gold accessories were sold for the same price as the bottles.

He couldn’t grasp the pricing logic or whether these were good or bad items. Did girls instinctively understand what was in here?

Overwhelmed by the unfamiliarity, Mahito snapped to attention.

—No, today’s the day to show I can be reliable!

He slapped his cheeks to psych himself up.

Yuuri let out a bright exclamation. “Oh, this!”

Surprisingly, she’d picked up an apron. It was mixed in with the clothing, though he had no idea why it was there. Holding it to her chest, she asked, “What do you think, Onii-san?”

“An apron? It’s nice, I guess, but why an apron?”

Tilting her head, Yuuri blushed slightly as she answered.

“W-Well, you’re really good at cooking, right?”

“It’s not that big a deal.”

“It is a big deal!”

Waving her hands emphatically, she then twirled her silver hair shyly and mumbled, “I mean, it’s not that Mom’s cooking isn’t good, but I start getting shaky if I don’t eat your cooking at least once a week…”

“Don’t make my cooking sound like a drug!”

It wasn’t that addictive, but she clearly loved it.

“So, um, it’s great that it’s delicious, but always relying on you feels a bit… as a girl, I should probably step up…”

“So, starting with an apron?”

“…Yes.”

Mahito couldn’t help but laugh. “Come to think of it, you’ve always been the type to start with appearances.”

“Th-That’s not…”

She didn’t deny it outright, faltering slightly. Still, her wanting to learn to cook was something to celebrate. Mahito took the apron seriously.

“What kind are you looking for, Yuuri?”

“Well, I only have the one I made in middle school home ec, so I don’t really know what’s good or bad…”

If she knew, she probably wouldn’t have asked him to come. Scratching his head, Mahito said, “I’m still using the one from middle school too. Honestly, as long as it keeps your clothes clean, anything works, but…”

As he spoke, he browsed the aprons on the hangers. “How about picking one based on color first?”

“Yeah, good idea… What color should I get?”

“I think white or blue would suit you.”

“White?”

White or blue would pop against her silver hair. Sure, stains might show, but washing it right away would fix that. Yuuri picked up a white apron, thinking it over.

“Um, how about this one?”

She held it to her body. It looked like linen, thick yet breathable, with a large pocket on the chest that seemed practical.

—Pretty functional and nice.

Mahito nodded in approval. “Looks good. I think it suits you.”

At his honest reply, Yuuri beamed. “Then I’ll go with this one!”

“You’re deciding that fast?”

His surprised reaction made Yuuri’s eyes widen. “W-Was that bad? You said it suits me, so…”

“No, it does suit you! I just thought you’d look at a few more…”

Yuuri shook her head. “I didn’t want to drag you around too much…”

“Don’t worry about it. I decided to stick with you today.”

“S-Stick with… I mean, really?”

Looking pleased, Yuuri twirled her silver hair. “But I really do like this one, so is it okay if I buy it?”

“Of course.”

As they headed to the register, Mahito stopped Yuuri from paying and pulled out his wallet.

“Onii-san?”

“You’re getting all motivated, so I’ll cover this one.”

“But…”

“It’s fine, it’s fine.”

Luckily, the apron wasn’t as expensive as he’d braced for, well within Mahito’s allowance.

—Since we stopped talking, I haven’t even given her proper birthday presents.

Making up for that after her memory loss might feel like cheating, but he didn’t think there was any reason not to do it now. After paying, he handed Yuuri the paper bag with the apron.

But Yuuri, looking apologetic, said, “Um, Mom gave me money for the apron…”

Mahito, who’d tried to look cool, couldn’t help but collapse to his knees.

—Of course she did!

For things like stationery or grocery shopping, their mom always provided money. It wasn’t surprising that an apron fell into that category.

—Things never quite go as planned, do they…

The image of a dependable brother felt impossibly far away. As Mahito slumped dejectedly, Yuuri hugged the apron with a delighted expression.

“I’ll treasure this apron. It’s a present from you, Onii-san.”

“R-Really? I’m glad you like it.”

Her utterly genuine smile caught him off guard, but Mahito smiled back.

—Yeah, as long as Yuuri’s happy, that’s what matters most.

It wasn’t about him showing off. His pride as a brother or being reliable could wait for another day… though he was starting to doubt if he even had such qualities.

Then, Yuuri looked down at her wallet with a troubled expression. “What should I do with the apron money Mom gave me? Should I give it to you?”

“If you do that, it won’t feel like a present anymore…”

Not that it mattered, but it would ruin the gesture. He could just give it back to their mom, but that felt like a waste somehow.

As he puzzled over it, Yuuri clapped her hands together. “How about we use it to buy you an apron?”

“Mine?”

He already had one, but Yuuri nodded proudly. “You’re still using the one from middle school, right? This could be a chance to get a proper one.”

“Well, yeah…”

That one was made in home economics class, sewn with a sewing machine he’d barely known how to use, and the seams were starting to fray.

It was still usable, but getting a new one before it fell apart wasn’t a bad idea.

“You’re right. I’ll take you up on that then.”

When Mahito nodded, Yuuri bounced with excitement and clapped her hands. “Then we can wear matching aprons!”

“Eh?”

“Eh?”

Mahito, caught off guard by the idea of matching aprons, let out a dumbfounded yelp. Yuuri twined her index fingers, looking up at him anxiously.

“W-Was that a bad idea?”

“N-No, not at all,” he answered, scratching his head.

—Is it okay for siblings to match? No, it’s probably fine…

When they were younger, they’d worn matching clothes sometimes. Now that they were both in high school, he wondered if it was okay, but to Yuuri, he was a “newly met stepbrother.” It wasn’t hard to understand why she’d want something matching. He was probably overthinking it.

After a moment’s hesitation, Mahito nodded back. “Alright, I’ll let you buy it.”

“Hehe, what color do you want?”

The shelf had a surprising variety of colors.

“Black, maybe? It hides stains well.”

Aprons were meant to get dirty, and black would keep stains less noticeable. Yuuri nodded in agreement.

“Black feels mature and suits you, Onii-san.”

“C-Come on, saying stuff like that…”

Even if it was flattery, being treated as a proper older brother felt genuinely nice. Worried he might be making a weird face, he watched as Yuuri picked up his chosen apron.

“I’ll go buy it then.”

At the register, the clerk, a young woman, smiled warmly. “Matching aprons for the two of you? I’m jealous.”

Yuuri’s face turned red, though her smile stayed.

—Oh, she just didn’t realize.

After paying, Yuuri turned back with stiff, tin-soldier-like movements, still red-faced, and held out the bag.

“S-Sorry, Onii-san. I didn’t think that far.”

“No need to apologize. We’re siblings, so matching isn’t weird or anything.”

“R-Right, we’re siblings…”

Yuuri muttered, sounding either relieved or disappointed. Her reaction flustered Mahito.

—Why do I feel like I let her down?

She’d mustered the courage to invite him shopping today. He wanted her to go home happy. What could he do to make her smile?

As he racked his brain, another store on the floor caught his eye.

—That’s it!

He called out to Yuuri, who was still blushing and looking down. “I’m a bit tired. Wanna take a break somewhere? There seem to be a lot of tasty-looking places.”

She was a girl, after all. And girls loved sweets, right? At his suggestion, Yuuri’s eyes sparkled noticeably.

“Let’s go!”

Clearly pleased, she bounced and agreed. “There’s a place I’ve been wanting to try. It’s a bit pricey, but if we split it, we could manage. Is that okay?”

“Of course.”

When Mahito answered, Yuuri smiled and held out her hand.

—We used to hold hands and run around like this all the time when we were little…

When had they stopped holding hands? Even if it felt unfair to Yuuri now, if they could start over…

“Alright, let’s head there!”

Carrying the same shopping bag, he reached out to take her hand. Touching his stepsister’s hand for the first time in years, it was different—slender now, but still soft and warm, just like back then…

“…Hm?”

The nostalgic warmth in his chest was blasted away like a storm the next moment.

Yuuri had intertwined her fingers with his.

That alone wasn’t strange, but she’d laced all five fingers with his—a so-called “lover’s hold.”

—Isn’t that weird?

This felt… off, didn’t it? While Mahito froze, Yuuri continued talking, unbothered.

“It’s a fancy pancake place, but the portions and prices are a bit much for one person. My friend Tsukki couldn’t afford to come with me either.”

“Y-Yeah, I see.”

He responded, but his mind was elsewhere.

—Is this kind of hand-holding normal?

He glanced around. There were families and couples, but the families with kids held hands normally. Even among couples, this grip seemed rare. It felt like they were doing something pretty advanced, but she was his stepsister. Come to think of it, he barely saw any siblings out together at all.

—Maybe it’s normal for girls, though?

Yuuri had said shopping with friends was called a “date,” so maybe this was part of that vibe. He snuck a look at two high school girls passing by—they weren’t even holding hands.

—…Yeah, this is definitely weird, isn’t it?

Unable to contain his confusion, he looked at Yuuri and saw her ears were bright red.

—You’re embarrassed too?!

So maybe this was a mistake, and she’d ended up holding hands like this by accident. It was hard to imagine all five fingers slipping perfectly into place by chance, but life was full of unexpected twists. After all, his lifelong sister turned out to be a stepsister who forgot only him. He’d just have to accept it.

—Her hands are so delicate…

He’d known she was petite, but touching her like this made it stand out even more. Seeing her red ears and knowing she was embarrassed made him hyper-aware of it. He felt his own face heat up.

—No, don’t get swept away!

He and Yuuri were siblings. Blood-related or not, memory or no memory, that didn’t change. So this kind of hand-holding wasn’t okay.

But then he paused.

—Is it okay to point this out…?

If she was embarrassed, she probably realized it was a mistake. In that case, calling it out here wouldn’t be gentlemanly. He’d heard somewhere that the worst breach of manners was pointing out someone’s mistake in public. He should’ve talked to Yuuri more, but he felt this wasn’t something to bring up.

So, what should he do?

“I’ve never been to a place like that, so I’m looking forward to it!”

Mahito decided to pretend he hadn’t noticed. Honestly, he didn’t know what else to do.

—Stay cool. Panicking just makes me more aware of it.

He told himself, trying to act calm. His hand was getting sweaty, and he was nervous, but it was a small relief that Yuuri seemed flustered too.

◇

—Ughhh, I did it again!

Meanwhile, Yuuri was screaming internally. Mahito had been so kind during the apron shopping and even bought her one. She’d wanted to show her gratitude, so she’d mustered the courage to hold his hand… or so she thought.

—Why the lover’s hold? Why?!

She didn’t think you could accidentally hold hands like this, but somehow it happened. Her sweaty hand made her worry he’d find it gross. She didn’t understand, but since she’d initiated it, letting go would be rude. Even if Mahito was kind, he couldn’t be happy about this.

—But is it okay to keep walking like this?

She snuck a glance at the other shoppers, but only couples held hands this way—and only the really lovey-dovey ones.

—Me and Onii-san, like a couple…?

Her heart raced with a guilty thrill, but she and Mahito were siblings, blood or not. To her, he was a kind guy she’d just met, but to him, she was still his sister, memory or no memory.

Fantasizing was fine—she was a bit of a closet pervert—but she knew she shouldn’t actually feel that way.

She stole a glance at Mahito’s face.

“I’ve never been to a place like that, so I’m looking forward to it.”

…He doesn’t seem fazed at all. Well, he looks a bit startled, but that’s it. He probably thinks it’s just his stepsister messing around or not worth noticing.

—It feels like I lost, and it’s frustrating…

Here she was, her heart racing like crazy.

—How do I make Onii-san, who’s so calm even with a lover’s hold, get flustered?

Sadly, this stepsister completely failed to pick up on her stepbrother’s inner turmoil. That aside, how could she make him flustered?

—Should I just link arms with him?

No, that would probably freak him out before it flustered him. Humans need a sense of restraint, after all. It felt like she’d already gone too far with the lover’s hold, but whether to push the accelerator further was still up for debate.

—Hugging him… would be too high a hurdle.

Beyond the hurdle, it might make him worry about her sanity. She’d never recover from that. Sure, a few days ago she’d pinned him against the wall and tilted his chin up, but that was unrelated to the current situation and thus irrelevant.

So, what should she do?

“Is this the place?”

“Oh, yes.”

While she was agonizing, they’d reached the shop. At the entrance, a display pancake—or rather, a pancake tower—was showcased. Seeing it, Mahito let out a hesitant sound.

“Yeah, I can see why eating this alone would be tough.”

“R-Right?!”

Well, he seemed willing to go in with her. She’d think about how to fluster him once they were inside.

The shop was crowded, being a Sunday. There were more female customers, especially couples, than families with kids. Still, there were empty seats, and they were quickly shown to a table by the window.

Mahito spoke up, sounding troubled. “Uh, Yuuri…?”

“Yes? What is it?”

“Well, I don’t think we can sit down while still holding hands like this…”

Looking down, she saw her hand. Yuuri was still gripping Mahito’s hand tightly in a lover’s hold.

“Hwaa?!”

Letting out a bizarre, apocalyptic-hero-like cry, Yuuri jumped.

“Shh! We’re in a shop.”

“Y-Yes…”

Unlike the flustered Yuuri, Mahito was calm. She hurriedly let go and sat down. Too embarrassed to look at him directly, she kept her eyes down.

Mahito, meanwhile, was calmly gazing out the window. His slightly awkward movements suggested he was a little rattled, at least. Noticing her gaze, he turned and smiled.

“It’s kinda scary looking out when we’re this high up.”

“Y-Yeah, eighth floor, right?”

Apparently, his stiff expression was just from the height.

—What’s with this sense of defeat…?

She really wanted to make him flustered. This was a competition now. She couldn’t keep losing. Her original purpose was completely lost, but Yuuri didn’t realize it.

◇

—Why am I getting so flustered by my little sister?

Mahito was desperately resisting the urge to cover his face and curl up. In the end, his stepsister didn’t let go of the lover’s hold until they sat down. She’d jumped when he pointed it out, so maybe she’d forgotten about it partway through.

—I’m the only one freaking out here, like an idiot…

The lover’s hold was shocking, but it wasn’t the only thing throwing him off. For example, her scent. Being close enough to hold hands, a faint, sweet, refreshing fragrance wafted over.

It wasn’t perfume—maybe shampoo or something? His stepsister used her own shampoo and conditioner, and the bathroom was lined with bottles of hair oil and toner that Mahito didn’t understand. It was probably from those, but it was undeniably a girly scent.

Then there was her silver hair brushing against his hand as they walked. Soft, glossy, and perfectly straight to the tips—she must put a lot of effort into it. Every step made the ends lightly graze the back of his hand. He had to fight the urge to ruffle it, struggling to stay composed.

And looking around, the place was full of couples. Even with his stepsister, staying unaffected in this situation was impossible.

…No, with the old Yuuri, it wouldn’t have been like this. It would’ve just been a bit awkward. But the current Yuuri, unaware of their past estrangement, was being super clingy.

A Yuuri who didn’t know him. A stepsister with no blood relation. A girl who used to be his sister but was now like a different person.

Stepsister or not, she was still his sister. He knew that. His head knew that. Yet his heart didn’t care and kept racing.

—I guess I still haven’t sorted out my feelings…

He could think about it objectively, but that didn’t mean he could process it right away. So all he could do was pretend to be fascinated by the view outside.

“Onii-san, is this pancake okay?”

“Oh, yeah. I don’t know much about this stuff, so whatever you want is fine.”

While he was flustered, Yuuri ordered drinks and a pancake. As expected of a high school girl, she was confident ordering in a place like this. Glancing at the menu, the pancake and two drinks cost about as much as the apron. Yeah, not a casual spot.

If he could’ve smoothly covered the bill, he might’ve looked like a reliable brother, but he’d already spent most of his money on the apron. Without her splitting idea, they wouldn’t have come in.

—Maybe I should get a part-time job soon.

Playing games alone at home didn’t require much money, but going out and hitting shops stretched his allowance thin. He didn’t know if he’d go out with his stepsister again, but he didn’t want to say, “I’m broke, let’s skip it.”

As he thought about it, Yuuri muttered, “Onii-san, have you ever had a part-time job?”

“Huh?”

Her words, like she’d read his mind, almost made Mahito jump.

“N-No, why?”

“Well, I’m a high schooler now, so I was thinking it might be good to try one…”

Her gaze was on the menu stand, where a “Now Hiring” sign was posted. Apparently, she’d been thinking the same thing.

Mahito crossed his arms, pondering. “Yeah, some friends from my first year did it. Some jobs sounded fun, others pretty tough. Finding the right fit seems important.”

It was sad he had to specify “first-year” friends. Whether it was customer service like at a convenience store or diner, or physical labor like moving or delivery, every job had its challenges.

“I’m all for you getting a job, but you should choose carefully where you work,” he said, closing the menu.

No need to worry about money when they were about to enjoy a meal.

“Until then, we can pool our allowances, right?”

Yuuri blinked, surprised. “You’ll come with me again?”

“W-Well, if you’re okay with it…”

He’d accidentally implied they’d go out again. But Yuuri beamed at his response.

“I’m totally okay with it! Let’s come again!”

Her enthusiasm made Mahito smile back naturally. “Alright, let’s do it.”

As they talked, the pancake arrived.

“Whoa…”

Both siblings gasped in unison. Five layers of pancakes, each wider toward the bottom, were stacked high, with thick whipped cream and colorful berries sandwiched between. At the top, probably ice cream, was already melting from the pancake’s warmth, forming a honey-laced river.

The display out front was impressive, but seeing it up close, with the aroma, was overwhelming.

Two sets of knives and forks were provided, but how were they supposed to tackle this? As Mahito hesitated, Yuuri moved first.

“I-I’ll cut it.”

“Y-Yeah, go for it.”

She didn’t slice it in half right away. Instead, she cut the topmost, smallest layer into four bite-sized pieces. Piercing one with her fork, she did something unexpected again.

“Here, Onii-san.”

“…Huh?”

For some reason, she held out the pancake on her fork, as if saying, “Eat it.”

—Is your driver’s seat stuck on the gas pedal?

Swallowing the words that nearly slipped out, Mahito shook his head. Just when he thought he’d regained his composure, she hit him with another curveball, leaving him dizzy.

—Calm down. Do siblings even do the “say ahh” thing?

Well, maybe. He vaguely remembered doing it before elementary school, but they were high schoolers now. For a brother and sister to do this, it wasn’t the same as childish play, was it?

Confused by her intent, he looked at Yuuri. Her face was bright red, her fork trembling, and tears were welling in her eyes.

—If it’s that embarrassing, don’t force yourself!

Why was she resorting to such bizarre behavior? And what was she feeling to do this?

—I’m her big brother, and she’s my little sister…!

She had to know that, even as a stepsister. So she couldn’t be seriously mimicking a couple. Then what was her intention?

As he puzzled, Yuuri kept pushing the pancake toward him, looking like she wouldn’t back down until he ate.

—Fine, whatever happens, happens!

Resigning himself, Mahito opened his mouth.

“Nom!”

The pancake hit his tongue, cold cream and warm pancake dancing together. It was probably super sweet and delicious, but honestly, he couldn’t taste a thing. He couldn’t possibly look at his stepsister’s face, but Yuuri was looking down, her eyes swirling.

After ten seconds of chewing and swallowing, Mahito finally voiced his question. “Uh, why the ‘say ahh’?”

He needed to clear this up. Some things were better left to the flow, but this wasn’t one of them. Honestly, he was so confused he couldn’t take it anymore.

Yuuri timidly raised her gaze. “…Um, did it make your heart race?”

“Well, yeah…”

Nodding honestly, he saw Yuuri puff out her chest triumphantly for some reason.

“Then I win!”

“What kind of competition is this?!”

Raising his voice as expected, Yuuri muttered sulkily while intertwining her fingers. “I mean, earlier when we held hands, I, uh, messed it up, didn’t I…?”

“Well, yeah.”

Good. That was a mistake for my stepsister too. Feeling relieved by that fact, Yuuri continued with a dissatisfied tone.

“I was all flustered, but Onii-san was so calm, it kinda frustrated me.”

Mahito nearly collapsed onto the table.

—So you went with an “aah” because of that? Isn’t that a bit much?

It seemed his stepsister was the type to use any means necessary to win. Come to think of it, when they were kids, she’d keep playing competitive games until she won.

Clutching his head in bewilderment, Yuuri smiled with satisfaction. “But seeing that kind of expression on Onii-san’s face makes me a little happy.”

“That’s… good, I guess?”

“I’m satisfied, though?”

“I see…”

Meanwhile, I’m mentally and physically exhausted from being toyed with.

—Well, Yuuri looks happy, so I guess it’s fine.

Covering his face, Mahito spoke with a hint of reproach.

“You don’t have to worry. I was flustered too, you know.”

“Eh, really?”

To his stepsister’s voice, sounding more satisfied than surprised, Mahito replied with a sigh. “You grabbed my hand so suddenly like that. You think I wouldn’t be shocked?”

“…That’s not what I meant, though.”

Yuuri puffed out her cheeks in dissatisfaction, and Mahito finally managed a smile. Then, remembering the towering stack of pancakes still in front of them, he cut a portion onto his own plate.

“These pancakes are super sweet but really delicious, huh?”

“Yes! I’m so happy to finally eat them.”

Seeing his stepsister’s beaming smile, Mahito felt a warm fondness.

—Yeah, this is the right distance.

He nodded, recalling the familiar hamburger lunch they’d had. This was the perfect distance for siblings. Somehow, it finally felt like he could eat in peace.

◇

A few dozen minutes later, after working together to demolish the pancake tower, their stomachs were stuffed. Lunch might be out of the question.

“I’m gonna head to the restroom real quick.”

“Okay.”

Mahito, holding his full stomach, headed toward the restroom. Yuuri, on the other hand, still looked like she had room to spare. Did girls’ stomachs just not register sweet things…?

There was no restroom in the shop, so he had to use the one in the shopping mall. Following the signs, he was suddenly called out to from behind.

“—Hey, Utsurogi-kun?”

“Huh? Oh, Himemiya-san.”

Turning around, he saw Himemiya standing there. She seemed to be shopping too, dressed in a one-piece dress and a sweater. It was the first time he’d seen her out of her school uniform, and he almost didn’t recognize her. Thanks to her square glasses and voice, he managed to figure it out.

Today, her long bangs were parted with a hairpin, revealing her face clearly—a hidden beauty shining through.

—This is exactly the kind of look Azumagi-kun should see.

Thinking of his friend, he smiled at his classmate, who he was often indebted to. “First time running into you outside school. Shopping, Himemiya-san?”

“Uh, yeah…”

Himemiya hesitated, as if troubled by his response. It wasn’t that she didn’t want to meet on a weekend… but rather, she seemed tormented by some kind of guilt. Not that he understood why she’d feel guilty here, but that’s how it looked.

As he tilted his head, Himemiya brought a hand to her mouth shyly, summoning her courage to speak. “Um, could I have a moment of your time? There’s something I really need to tell you.”

“Fweh?”

Hearing such a line for the first time in his life, Mahito panicked. There weren’t many guys who wouldn’t be shaken by those words.

—W-Wait, is this… a confession?!

He was so shocked that even his need to use the restroom vanished.

—T-this is bad! I have Yuuri… I mean, Azumagi-kun has feelings for Himemiya-san…!

He glanced back at the shop. His stepsister was still at the pancake place, but Mahito didn’t have the guts to say, “Sorry, I don’t have time right now.”

Nodding slightly, Himemiya moved toward a secluded corner by the wall. Flustered but trying to stay calm, Mahito spoke up.

“S-So, what’s this about…?”

All he could do was respond sincerely. As he asked, Himemiya pressed her lips together, as if struggling to find words.

Well, if it were something easy to say, she would’ve said it at school. Azumagi kept interrupting, but there were moments when he wasn’t around.

Still, the silence didn’t last long.

“Um, well…”

Just as the timid girl mustered her courage—

His arm was suddenly yanked tightly. Himemiya gasped sharply. Turning around, Mahito saw his stepsister, her eyes brimming with tears and her cheeks puffed out.

“Yuuri…?”

“Onii-san, what are you doing?”

He realized too much time had passed for a simple restroom trip.

—Yeah, I’d be mad too if I were left alone at the shop!

But Yuuri’s expression wasn’t her usual razor-sharp knife mode. It was more like the cute, normal anger of a teenage girl.

“S-Sorry. I just ran into a friend from school…”

“It didn’t look like that kind of vibe, though?”

Well, she wasn’t wrong. Even Mahito didn’t think this was a casual chat with a friend.

—But I can’t just blurt out that it felt like a confession moment!

So, how could he explain this situation?

“N-No, it’s not like that. Right, Himemiya-san?”

Struggling to justify himself to his fuming stepsister, he called out to Himemiya for help.

At that, Yuuri let out a puzzled voice. “Eh? Himemiya…?”

But there was no time to dwell on it.

“…Wait, Himemiya-san?”

For some reason, Himemiya was trembling, her face pale as if she were about to cry. Her gaze was clearly fixed on Yuuri.

—Does she know the old, knife-sharp Yuuri or something?

Even so, this level of fear seemed unnatural.

“I-I’m sorry…”

The trembling Himemiya finally burst into tears.

“H-Huh?! W-W-What’s wrong?!”

“Eh?! I-Is this my fault?!”

As the siblings panicked in unison—

“You guys! What’re you doing to Yui?!”

Turning toward the sudden voice, they saw a young man charging toward them.

Mahito instinctively stepped forward to shield Yuuri and Himemiya, but then he recognized the guy’s face.

“Wait, Azumagi-kun?”

“Huh, Utsurogi?”

The one rushing over was Azumagi, Mahito’s only friend in class. He’d been charging like he was about to take down a villain, but upon seeing Mahito, Yuuri, and Himemiya, he stopped, mouth agape.

“W-Wait… what’s going on here?”

“Uh, I’m not entirely sure myself…”

At the very least, the confession-like atmosphere was gone. More to the point, Himemiya was clinging to Azumagi’s clothes, looking vulnerable.

Mahito knew how Azumagi felt, but he couldn’t help feeling a bit betrayed.

After a moment, Azumagi touched Himemiya’s shoulder. “Yui, what happened? They didn’t make you cry, did they?”

“N-No, Ritsuto-kun. I just… I did this on my own…”

At those words, Mahito tilted his head curiously.

He knew Azumagi had a thing for Himemiya, but he didn’t think they were close enough to use first names. Yet now, they seemed incredibly close.

Exchanging glances with Yuuri, Himemiya finally lifted her head. Then, she bowed deeply.

“I’m so sorry! I was in that car during the accident!”

“…Huh?”

Caught off guard by the unexpected words, Mahito’s eyes widened. Azumagi seemed clueless too, standing there dumbfounded.

As Mahito stared blankly, Yuuri whispered softly. Onii-san, you know, Himemiya-san was involved in that accident.

“…Oh!”

It finally clicked. When Yuuri was in that traffic accident, the driver’s last name was Himemiya. So much had happened afterward that Mahito had completely forgotten.

They were probably out for a family meal or something. Come to think of it, he vaguely recalled a few people getting out of the back seat.

That said, his sister had been hit, so he hadn’t had the presence of mind to look at anyone’s faces besides the driver’s. Apparently, Himemiya had been there too.

—It was dark, so I didn’t notice at all.

But Himemiya must have seen them.

Now that he thought about it, if the accident involved a classmate’s sister, that’d be more than just awkward.

—So that’s why she was worried about me.

Still looking down, Himemiya continued. “Back then, I was speaking to my dad, and I think that’s why he couldn’t brake in time. So I wanted to at least apologize… but I thought it’d be troublesome to bring it up when your sister was going through so much…”

Now that she mentioned it, Himemiya had approached him right after Yuuri was discharged. She might’ve been waiting for things to settle down.

Mahito covered his face.

—So that’s the “confession” she meant!

Having braced himself for a love confession, Mahito wanted to disappear from embarrassment. But Himemiya had mustered the courage to come clean. Summoning his own resolve, he forced a smile.

“Himemiya-san, don’t worry about it. My sister’s fine, and I think it was more our fault anyway. Right, Yuuri?”

“Yes. We caused you trouble back then.”

Calmer than Mahito, Yuuri bowed sincerely. She had been the one who ran out, and she had no issues besides her memory. Even that memory issue wasn’t directly tied to the accident, and the Himemiyas had handled almost everything afterward. If anything, Mahito was the one who should be bowing.

Still, he voiced a lingering question. “Uh, are you two pretty close or something?”

At that, Himemiya and Azumagi exchanged glances and nodded.

“We just go shopping together sometimes… but I’ve known Ritsuto-kun since kindergarten.”

“Yui, that’s what you call childhood friends, you know?”

It seemed they were on an actual date. Mahito slumped in defeat.

—Then act like it so I don’t misunderstand!

He’d thought he was being confessed to and felt like a total clown. Still, he shook his head and pulled himself together.

“Like I said, don’t worry about it. My sister’s fine.”

“But…”

Himemiya hesitated. As she stared at him, Azumagi spoke up instead.

“Uh, I heard your sister had some aftereffects or something…”

“Oh…”

He hadn’t shared specifics, but he might’ve made them worry unnecessarily.

—But memory loss isn’t something you just tell everyone…

As he struggled to respond, Yuuri spoke up. “I’m fine. I’m living just like I did before.”

Her firm words seemed to relieve Azumagi and Himemiya.

“Got it. Sorry for saying something weird.”

“It’s okay.”

With that, the two headed off. Watching their backs, Yuuri whispered to Mahito.

Onii-san, are those two dating?

Seeing them now, even a stranger might think so. Mahito, unable to resist his nosy side, nodded.

They totally look like it, right?

That said, as they walked away, their shoulders were close but they weren’t holding hands or anything. Azumagi had never shown any such signs either. Somehow, it felt like a sibling-like distance too.

—More than friends, less than lovers, maybe?

He couldn’t help but quietly root for the slightly awkward pair. After a moment’s thought, he whispered back.

Well, stuff like that has its own pace, so we shouldn’t pry too much.

Mahito was just as curious, but for his friend’s dignity, he gently admonished Yuuri. Then, he gave Yuuri an awkward glance.

“Uh, sorry about earlier.”

“About what?”

“The memory thing. I didn’t tell Azumagi and them, but I mentioned aftereffects, so it probably put you in a tough spot, right?”

In the end, Yuuri had to cover for him. At that, she shook her head casually, her silver hair swaying, almost mesmerizing him.

“It’s fine. I know you couldn’t just say nothing.”

Then, for some reason, she suddenly clung tightly to his arm.

—Why does it always end up like this?!

Before Mahito could protest, Yuuri spoke. “I’m gonna work hard to get just as close to Onii-san as the old me, if not closer!”

Realizing what she’d done, she let go of his arm and continued shyly. “So, please keep looking out for me.”

Her words struck Mahito.

—Right. The current Yuuri doesn’t have to be the same as the old Yuuri…

It wasn’t that he wanted her to be exactly the same, but he might’ve been unconsciously comparing them. The stepsister who didn’t know him and the sister he couldn’t reconcile with. Clinging to that unresolved past was his issue, but he should face his stepsister as her stepbrother. That’s what accepting her meant, wasn’t it?

So this time, Mahito extended his hand. “I might be a lame stepbrother, but here’s to us.”

“I don’t think you’re lame at all.”

Yuuri took his hand. This time, it was a normal handshake.

“Onii-san, there’s another shop I wanna check out.”

“Anywhere you want. I promised to stick with you all day.”

“Ehehe, then next—”

By the time they left the mall, it was evening.