Hayashi Megumi and the Little Sister

Several banners hung from what appeared to be a cram school building. It seemed this place had a track record of sending multiple students to prestigious middle schools last year.

“It should be about time for it to end.”

Hearing Yamamoto’s words in passing, I waited with him for his little sister to come out of the cram school.

After a while, kids started streaming out of the building.

Looking closely, I noticed several parents, likely there for their children, standing around the cram school. Some students were chatting happily with them.

“Haha, see you later!”

Spotting a girl coming out of the cram school, Yamamoto started walking toward her without a word.

I followed behind him.

The girl, parting ways with her friends, noticed Yamamoto after a moment.

“Oh, big brother?”

“Yo. Been a while.”

“It really has. What’s up today?”

“You’re the one who told me to come pick you up, right?”

“Huh, did I say that?”

Yamamoto looked exasperated, while his little sister played it off with a teasing grin.

Just listening to their brief exchange, I got a sense of the kind of relationship they had.

“Big brother, who’s that?”

Yamamoto’s sister noticed me.

…Even though she’s just his little sister, I felt a slight pang of nervousness.

“Oh, this is Hayashi. My friend.”

“Huh, a friend like that? Why’re you here with her?”

“…I thought I’d introduce her to everyone.”

His sister gave him a skeptical look.

I was left hanging, thanks to Yamamoto not bothering to introduce his sister properly.

Yamamoto, apparently satisfied with his half-hearted introduction of me, looked a bit smug.

Hold on, dude… that was nowhere near enough!

“I’m Hayashi Megumi. Nice to meet you. Mind telling me your name?”

I tried to speak to his sister in the gentlest tone I could muster.

I couldn’t afford to make a bad impression here.

While keeping my cool on the outside, I was inwardly desperate.

“Yamamoto Shiho.”

“Shiho-chan, huh? Nice to meet you!”

I flashed a smile as I spoke to Shiho-chan.

Her attitude toward me, however, didn’t seem to soften one bit.

“So, Megumi-san, what’s your deal with my brother?”

“Huh?”

She’s… asking me?

I glanced at Yamamoto, but since he wasn’t the one being questioned, he just stood there with a relaxed expression.

Looks like I had no choice but to answer.

“Right now, I’m living with your brother for a bit.”

Shiho-chan’s eyes widened in an instant.

She probably knows Yamamoto way better than I do, so she must be thinking something like, My brother, of all people, has a roommate?

“Are you two dating?”

“N-no, it’s not like that…?”

“What, you’re living together but you’re not dating?”

“Yeah… that’s about right.”

“…Seriously?”

Shiho-chan’s face twisted into one of confusion.

Well, it’s a reasonable reaction, I guess.

But there’s no way I could tell a kid her age that I’d been dealing with domestic violence from my ex.

“Are you, like, using my brother or something?”

Shiho-chan’s blunt question left me at a loss for words.

She’s sharp for her age—fifth grade, huh. When I was her age, what was I even doing?

…Probably daydreaming about being a magical girl or something.

That’s beside the point… What am I supposed to say to her?

I probably shouldn’t say anything weird.

…From Shiho-chan’s perspective, it’s a natural question.

Her precious big brother is living with some random woman, and they’re not even dating. Of course she’d be upset.

“No one’s using anyone. She was going through some personal stuff and got hurt, so I’m letting her stay with me for a while. That’s all.”

Yamamoto came to my rescue.

His response was smooth, hinting at my situation while being considerate to all sides.

“…You, hiding a girl?”

“Is that weird?”

“Uh, yeah, it’s weird.”

“…Guess so.”

Yamamoto looked a bit dejected.

That reaction probably meant he genuinely didn’t think it was strange.

Sorry, Yamamoto.

Even I think it’s kinda weird, especially knowing you from high school.

“…Well, I owe her big time. She’s basically handling all the chores at home.”

“So, what, you’re the one using Megumi-san?”

“Pretty much.”

“You’re awful, big brother. What about Akari-chan?”

“…We talked about that before, didn’t we?”

“So you’re just leaving her in the dust? That’s okay with you?”

…It seems like, in Shiho-chan’s mind, Akari is way more important than me.

That stung a little.

But when it comes down to it, choosing between me, a stranger she just met, and Akari, who she’s close to… the answer’s obvious.

Besides, it’s my fault that Yamamoto and Akari broke up.

It’s all my fault…

I’d been so excited about meeting Yamamoto’s parents, and dealing with his childish whining, that I completely forgot… Don’t I owe both of them an apology?

…Man, Shiho-chan is tough.

I’m no match for her.

I’m already feeling a bit defeated…

“Anyway, wanna head home?”

Shiho-chan was the one to suggest it.

“Sure thing.”

“…Megumi-san.”

“Huh?”

“Is it okay if we hold hands on the way home?”

“Huh?”

Shiho-chan’s suggestion threw me off completely.

“What, you don’t want to? Just hold her hand, man.”

“Big brother, shut up!”

…Talk about a rollercoaster.

I held Shiho-chan’s hand as we walked home. It was a happy moment. There’s no better way to describe it.

Hmm, pretty normal, lol.

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