Chapter 1 | Life with My Stepsister

 

“O-oi! Are you okay?” I called out, concern lacing my voice.

“…Ugh, nngh… nnh…!” The girl writhed on the floor, her movements betraying what seemed like genuine pain.

To me, she was a complete stranger, shrouded in suspicion, but the way she had collapsed tugged at my worry. I stepped closer, trying to get a better look, but she was bundled in a thick wearable blanket, despite the summer heat. All I could make out was a soft, squirming lump. Judging by her small frame, she might’ve been around fifth grade.

I figured I should help her up, at least. But the moment my foot hit the stairs, the wood creaked under my weight, and the girl’s head snapped toward the sound. In an instant, she sprang to her feet and scuttled into the living room on all fours, the blanket rustling loudly with her frantic movements.

“What, an insect…?” I muttered, a bad feeling creeping up my spine.

Despite my unease, I descended the stairs and made my way to the living room. There, peeking over the back of the sofa, was the girl—only the upper half of her face visible, her eyes obscured by the low-pulled hood. She watched me warily, silent, her presence as elusive as a shadow.

 

 

“Uh, hey. Is your head… okay?”

“…It hurts…” Her voice was faint, barely above a whisper.

“Figured. Wanna go to the hospital?”

She shook her head silently, refusing without a word.

She didn’t seem gravely injured, but a head injury was nothing to dismiss lightly. My concern lingered, gnawing at me.

“There’s one thing I need to confirm. Who are you?”

“…A resident… of this place.”

“What a coincidence. So am I.”

“…Suspicious.” Her eyes narrowed, sizing me up.

“From my perspective, you’re the suspicious one. What’s your name?”

“…Ri… Ris…”

“Ris? Ris-chan?” The name suited her somehow—her small frame and skittish demeanor gave off a squirrel-like vibe.

“…Treating me like a small animal…” she muttered, her tone tinged with indignation.

“Alright, let’s talk properly. I’m coming over there.”

Her eyes widened, glinting with a mix of fear and suspicion. “…Those eyes, filled with hunger, remind me of a ferocious carnivore, drooling as it creeps closer, seeing a powerless girl as mere prey.”

“Huh?”

“…The man, roughly pinning down the resisting girl, feels delight in her screams echoing through the house, digging his claws into her soft, pale skin—”

“Hold on! What are you talking about!?” I cut her off, my voice rising in disbelief.

“…Scary…” she whispered, shrinking further behind the sofa.

I’m absolutely certain I’ll never get along with this girl. The thought hit me with startling clarity—it was the first time I’d felt such instant incompatibility with someone I’d just met. But I couldn’t ignore a stranger in my own house.

“First, let me clarify the situation. This is my house.”

“…It’s my house too.”

“Oh, right… When did you start living here?”

“…A week ago.”

A week ago. My mind raced. Was that why Dad insisted I come back home? Because of her? Wait—when I brought Sturmangriff here the other day, when I reunited with Dad… was she already here? Upstairs, maybe, while I was yelling at him?

“How did you get to this house?”

“…My new father brought me here.”

“New father… You mean my dad?”

“…Probably. You look alike.”

“First time I’ve ever wanted plastic surgery,” I muttered, half-joking.

“…That’d be a shame. You’re so cool, it’d make women wail in despair…”

“That’s not flattering at all! That’s practically calling me a monster!” I could already picture women fleeing from me in panic. So much for my “handsome” reputation—it was clearly just Rinka’s biased filter. The proof was right in front of me: this girl, cowering behind the sofa, desperate to escape. My confidence was crumbling by the second.

“…My old house’s address got leaked, so I moved here…”

“Address leaked? You sound like some celebrity.”

An idol? I entertained the thought briefly but dismissed it. I couldn’t imagine an idol this eccentric. Sure, there were outliers like Rinka or Nana, but they were exceptions, not the rule. Only one realistic possibility came to mind.

“So… a streamer, maybe? Those are popular lately.”

She hesitated, her gaze dropping to the floor before she nodded. “…Something like that.”

A theory began to take shape in my mind. Given the situation, one possibility stood out. “Could it be… you’re my sister?”

“…I could be your older sister.”

“No way, definitely not.”

“…Tch, looking down on me…” Her sharp tongue caught me off guard.

“You’ve got a surprisingly sharp tongue. Just to confirm, are you my stepmother’s daughter?”

“…Yes.”

“…No way.” My head spun. I hadn’t been told about this! The revelation hit like a punch, leaving me reeling.

“…It’s possible. It’s reality,” she said flatly, as if stating the obvious.

“Y-yeah, guess so. Also, you knew about me and still called me suspicious?”

She fell silent, avoiding my gaze.

“I see, the type to go quiet when it’s inconvenient…!” I sighed, exasperated. The most unbelievable part was Dad keeping this from me. His ability to stay silent about something this huge was staggering. Alright, time to sort this out. So, I’ve had a sister all along. She’s been living here for a week because her address got leaked. And she’s apparently a streamer.

“No good, even sorting it out, it’s too sudden—I’m panicking…!”

“…Losing it…?” She peeked from behind the sofa, her expression a mix of concern and wariness.

Losing it? I was on the verge of going insane. If this were a game, I’d chug a recovery potion and be fine, but reality offered no such conveniences.

“Well, whatever… It’s not fine, but whatever. Dad probably wanted us to meet, though he didn’t explain. So, what now?”

“…What now?” she echoed, still half-hidden.

“We’re meeting for the first time. Should we do something together?”

“…Scary, so no way. Let’s do nothing.”

“I’m being super guarded against, huh…”

“…You’ve got that sweet face and voice that effortlessly charms women… Danger level SS.”

This girl spouted incomprehensible nonsense while actively trying to flee from me. Still, I wanted to close the psychological distance, even just a little.

“I’m Kazuto. Is it okay to call you Ris?”

“…Fine.”

Her name was Ris? Unusual, but it fit her. “How old are you?”

“…Fifteen… First-year high school.”

“Got it, one year younger than—wait, high school!? You’re an elementary schooler, right!?”

“…I’m a full-fledged high school first-year onee-san.”

“You don’t look it at all, and you’re not an onee-san…” I wasn’t being sarcastic—she genuinely looked like she belonged in elementary school.

Ris glared at me, clearly annoyed, as I stood there dumbfounded. “…Next time you treat me like an elementary schooler… you’ll regret it.”

“Regret how, exactly?”

“…Before you know it, the neighbors will start avoiding you.”

“That’s legitimately terrifying…!” She didn’t specify what she’d do, but the vague threat left my imagination running wild. She was clearly used to wielding intimidation.

“…Promise you won’t do anything weird to me.”

“Of course.”

“…And don’t come into my room.”

“Got—”

“…And try not to get involved with me.”

“…Got it.”

The distance between us was a chasm. Complete rejection, total wariness—not exactly the warm welcome you’d expect from family.

“We’re family, so I’d like to get along, at least a little…”

“…We’re strangers bound by the label of family. That’s all it is.”

Her words cut deep, tightening my throat. To most, my desire to connect wouldn’t seem strange. Wanting to get along with family felt natural. But to her, it was an imposition, almost offensive. She reminded me of Rinka in a way—guarded, sharp, unyielding.

“…Looking forward to living together.”

“Y-yeah… Sure, same.” But with a new family member who had zero interest in bonding, all I felt was unease.

Today’s summary: I found out I’ve had a sister for years. What the heck.

☆

That night, in my room, I played an online game, mining absentmindedly, my thoughts consumed by Ris. Her cold rejection stung, leaving a lingering sense of loneliness. Going back to Rinka’s house didn’t feel right either—not yet. Even if Ris kept her distance, ignoring her completely didn’t sit well with me. I just wanted us to get along enough to coexist without tension.

“What should I do… Oh, it’s Rinka.”

A call came in, so I paused my mining and grabbed my phone. “Kazuto, got a moment? I just want to talk, even a little…”

“I’m good.”

“…Something wrong?” Her voice was soft, probing.

“Huh?”

“Your voice sounds a bit down.”

Rinka’s perceptiveness never failed to amaze me, picking up on my mood in just a few words.

“Are you hugging your Rinka doll properly? I know you miss me, but please bear with it a little longer. I’m… enduring too.”

She hadn’t picked up on it at all. I stifled a laugh. “No, Rinka, that’s not it. Actually—”

“Not it? So you’re saying you’re not lonely without me…? Don’t tell me you’re cheating?”

“I’m not! I’m all about you, Rinka!”

“I know you’re crazy about me. That’s exactly why, when we’re apart, you might try to fill the loneliness with another girl.”

“No way! There’s no other girl!”

“Is that so? If you wanted, you could have as many mistresses as you like.”

“Mistresses…? I’m devoted to you, and when I’m lonely, I just watch your live videos!”

“Y-you love me that much…! N-no, but I’ve heard about it. Some husbands, to cope with their wife’s absence, bring other women home…!”

“I’m telling you, that’s not it—please, just listen!” After my desperate plea, I briefly explained everything, including the bombshell about my sister.

Rinka fell silent for a moment before speaking slowly. “I’m sorry, I really do trust you. But lately, maybe because I’m tired… I can’t help feeling anxious sometimes.”

“No, it’s fine. Everyone has moments like that.”

“Kazuto… You’re so kind. I love that big heart of yours too.”

Her “I love” sent my heart racing. Big heart? I was just used to handling her quirks.

“Still, she’s quite the cautious girl. Scared of even you?”

“What’s with the ‘even you’…? I don’t know what to do from here.”

“What do you want to do, Kazuto?”

“I want to at least not be seen as a threat. We’ll be living together, after all.”

“Oh? You’re not saying you want to be close as family?”

“That feels… a bit tough.”

Becoming family and acting like it right away? Impossible. But we could take small steps toward each other—enough to live comfortably.

“Just be yourself.”

“Myself, huh.”

“When we played online games, you weren’t overthinking, were you?”

“Yeah… I just wanted it to be fun, for Rin to have fun, to share that joy.”

“Such childlike innocence, hehe.” Her soft, soothing chuckle warmed me through the phone.

“I want to greet Ris-chan too. If she’s your sister, she’s my family—my little sister.”

The family connection was between me and Ris, not Rinka, who was already claiming her. I didn’t correct her, though.

“Oh, sorry, I’m being called.”

“Got it. Let’s call again tomorrow if we have time.”

“Yes, thank you.”

The call ended. Probably some idol-related business pulling her away. Rinka had it tough…

“Oh, I need to contact Kasumi-san.” I dialed, and she picked up instantly, her playful tone cutting through. “Got it, got it. So Kazuto-boy has a sister, huh… That’s wild. You didn’t know until now?”

“Nope.”

“That’s insane! Sounds rough for you, Kazuto-boy.”

Her teasing was her way of cheering me up, no doubt.

“So I’m thinking of staying home for a few days. I want to at least earn a bit of trust from Ris.”

“Cool, good luck. But… things might be a bit tricky here.”

“What do you mean?”

“Well—hold on, Nonoa… Yeah, it’s Kazuto-kun… Sorry, Kazuto-kun, I’m passing you to Nonoa.”

“Kazuto-nii-chan?” Her small voice came through, bright and familiar.

“Yup, it’s me.”

“It’s almost dinner time! You gotta come back quick, or it’s no good!”

Her strong “no good” was adorable, like a tiny scolding.

“Sorry, Nonoa-chan. I’ve decided to stay at my house for a while starting today.”

“Your house?”

“Yeah, my place.”

Silence fell. My heart began to pound. This was… tension. Nonoa-chan always hated when I left. This was—

“…Liar.”

“Huh?”

“Kazuto-nii-chan, you liar!”

“N-Nonoa-chan—!”

“You said you’d stay home all summer! Kazuto-nii-chan, you liar!”

“It’s not like that! There’s a reason—”

“I hate Kazuto-nii-chan!!”

The words hit like a blade. I felt like I was spitting blood—metaphorically, but the mental damage was real. My vision blurred with tears, a sinking despair as if the floor had collapsed beneath me.

“Uh, Kazuto-kun? You okay? I’ll explain to Nonoa, so don’t worry too much, alright?”

“Kasumi-san… How much do ropes cost these days?”

“Kazuto-kun!? What are you planning with a rope!?”

Maybe I’d meet an angel in heaven.

☆

Two days passed, and I hadn’t spoken to Ris at all. She was blatantly avoiding me. She left early in the morning and returned late at night, locking herself in her room when she was home. We occasionally crossed paths in the hallway, and I’d try greeting her, but she’d only nod vaguely before hurrying off. No chance to connect, no matter how small the attempt.

 

I caught a glimpse of Ris in casual clothes this morning, slipping on her shoes at the entrance. Gone was her usual blanket, replaced by light, summery attire. Her hair, neatly tied into a small side ponytail, hinted at a subtle care for fashion. That’s about all I know for now.

“Haa… This is tough,” I muttered.

Everyone around me seems so outgoing. Approaching someone myself? I’m terrible at it. Should I flash my best smile and invite her to play an online game with a sparkling “Wanna join me?” …?

“No way, she’d find that creepy. Worst case, she’d call the cops…!” I grimaced, trying my “handsome” smile in the mirror. It looked distorted, awkward. Nonoa-chan would probably burst into tears.

“Guess I’ll watch Star☆Mines instead,” I sighed.

I played a Star☆Mines video on my PC, zoning out to the cute five-member idol group. Nana’s bright smile, Rinka’s sharp coolness… My mood lifted instantly.

“…Hm?”

My eyes fell on the smallest girl in the group—Komori Risuzu. Petite, with a side ponytail, she wore a slightly nervous but earnest expression. The “cute” member of Star☆Mines, known for her clumsiness—tripping on stage, dropping mics, or accidentally bonking herself with them. Despite her awkwardness, her relentless effort made her a fan favorite. A bit shy with words, she looked younger than her actual high school first-year age. The perfect “clumsy loli” you’d want to cheer for… except she had a sharp tongue.

Apparently, when the group struggled to gain traction, they tried different directions, and her snarky persona clicked. I once peeked at her SNS. She replied to a fan’s comment with, “Huh? My fan? …Lolicon.” Other posts included gems like, “Take a bath before the live. You guys smell like wet dogs,” “No need to act cool. Your virgin stench gives you away,” or “Some fans have teeth that look melted. Spend money on a dentist instead of lives or merch.” She even wrote, “I want money. Everyone, pamper me and spoil me endlessly.”

I don’t get the appeal, but she has the most passionate fans in Star☆Mines. Her SNS is pure chaos.

“…She looks familiar…?” I tilted my head at Komori Risuzu’s video. Of course she does—I’ve watched her plenty. But something felt off, like I’d seen her somewhere else. What was it?

“No, no, focus on Ris,” I told myself.

If I’m this worried about her, Ris, as a girl, must be even more stressed. Whether we get close or not, I should help her feel less guarded, make her see I’m not a threat.

“…A self-introduction. We only know each other’s names.”

First, I’d let her know about me. Then help her feel safe.

☆

That night, I decided to introduce myself and acted immediately. Sitting in the living room, I stared at the stairs to the second floor, hoping Ris would come down at least once. After a while, I heard footsteps. Wrapped in her usual blanket, Ris shuffled into the living room with unsteady steps.

“…!” She noticed me, flinched, and instantly went on guard.

“Can we talk for a bit?” I asked.

“…” Silent, Ris turned to head back to the stairs.

“Wait! Let’s introduce ourselves! I think we should get to know each other!”

“…We’re family. Our hearts connect without words,” she mumbled.

“Really? Then tell me what I’m thinking right now.”

“…Guhehe, lolis are the best…”

“Not even close! Also, you’re aware you give off loli vibes, huh.”

“…I’m a strong woman. I can accept myself as I am.”

“But you get mad when I call you an elementary schooler.”

“…Fyu, I’ll kill you… lolicon scum…!”

“This kid’s terrifying… Her mouth’s seriously foul,” I muttered, trembling in mock fear as Ris started heading for the stairs again.

“Wait, please. Just a little… I want to talk.”

“…”

“I’m begging you.”

“…If you’re groveling, I’ll show mercy and talk,” she relented, returning to sit across from me.

Even at this distance, her hood hid her face, a clear sign of her determination to keep it concealed. For the record, I didn’t grovel—I just bowed my head.

“So, I’m Ayanokoji Kazuto, second-year high schooler,” I began.

“…Mm.”

“My hobby’s online games.”

“…Online games?” she echoed, a faint spark in her voice.

“Yeah. I’m hooked on Black Plains.”

“…!” I thought I saw Ris twitch. Did she know it?

It’s a popular game with commercials, so it wasn’t strange if she did.

“Do you play Black Plains too, Ris?”

“…I played a bit. Not anymore,” she said curtly, clearly not eager to dwell on it.

I rambled on about myself—favorite and hated foods, what my friends were like. I avoided mentioning Rinka or Dad to keep the mood light. Ris listened quietly, not interrupting.

“So? Do you get that I’m not some dangerous guy to be wary of?”

“…Your desperation is what’s scary…” she shot back.

“…” I faltered, feeling the sting. What do I even do?

Maybe, as an online game addict, my social skills were lacking. The sudden self-introduction felt awkward, and I knew I wasn’t great at keeping a conversation flowing. In games, connecting with people was easy, but in person…!

Seeing me struggle, Ris spoke, her wariness still evident. “…Why do you want to get close to me? What’s your goal?”

“I don’t have one. I just want you to feel safe.”

“…Safe?”

“Yeah. Home should be a place where you can relax, not think, just be comfortable, right?”

“…That’s true. But…”

“But?”

“…Nothing.”

“Got it… I’m not someone who’d hurt you, Ris.”

“…You pushed me down the stairs first thing.”

“I didn’t push you! I just… yelled a bit…”

“…You treated me like an elementary schooler.”

“That’s my bad. I’m sorry, really.”

I bowed so low my forehead nearly hit the table. Calling her an elementary schooler was rude.

“…Hehe,” a small giggle escaped her.

“Huh?” I looked up, catching the twist of amusement on Ris’s mouth before she quickly turned her face away.

“…Not a bad guy. I’ll trust you… a tiny bit.”

“O-oh, okay.”

“…Should I talk about myself too?”

“That’s up to you. I’m not forcing us to get close.”

“…I see.”

“If we naturally get closer, great. If not… that’s just our natural distance.”

Being close was ideal, no doubt. But for now, I’d settle for a relationship that felt natural.

“Oh, I forgot one hobby. Should’ve mentioned this first.”

“…What?”

“I’m a fan of the idol group Star☆Mines.”

“—Huh?” Ris’s head snapped up, her eyes, hidden in the hood’s shadow, locking onto mine.

“You know them?”

“…Know them? They’re insanely popular right now.”

“Right?”

“…Who’s your favorite?”

“Obviously…” I paused for effect, noticing her tense anticipation. “…Mizuki Rinka!”

“…Scram,” she muttered, deflating.

“Why!?”

“…But, good taste. I… love Mizuki Rinka too. I respect her.”

“Right!? Totally, right!? Rinka’s amazing, isn’t she!?”

“…” She stared, unimpressed.

“…Can you tell I’m weirded out right now?”

“I got it mid-sentence… Sorry.”

“…It’s fine. Getting hyped about what you love is human.”

“You get it, huh.”

“…Yeah. But calling her by her first name like you’re lovers… that’s creepy.”

“Urk!”

“…Hardcore fans are dangerous…”

“I-I’m fine!”

“…Your eyes are darting… If you cross the line as a fan… no good.”

“Y-yeah…!” I nodded, feeling her stern gaze scolding me from beneath the hood.

Ris seemed quiet but didn’t hold back when she spoke. She might be a fresh and fun person to be around.

“…No bad people among Mizuki Rinka fans. I’ll admit, you’re a good guy.”

“That’s a wild way to judge. Pretty risky criteria, don’t you think?”

“…Don’t be a hardcore fan. Just support her as a fan…”

“I-I get it!”

Her intense stare made it clear she was still suspicious, but I couldn’t exactly tell her Rinka and I were already dating—way past the “hardcore fan” stage.

“Oh, hey! Wanna come to my room? I’ve got Rinka posters up!”

“…Luring a loli with sweet bait… what’s your plan?”

“Nothing! And just to be clear, I’m not into lolis!”

“…That’s harsh… You called me a loli again…”

“Sorry—wait, you said loli first!”

“…Hurry up and show me the poster.”

This girl was too much of a free spirit.

☆

I brought Ris to my room, standing proudly before my Rinka poster, arms crossed with confidence. “Check it out, my prized Rinka poster…!”

“…I have this one too,” she said flatly.

“You do? I’m so embarrassed. I went all out bragging.”

“…I’ve got way more posters. Postcards too, and a photo book. Getting excited over one poster, what a rookie…!”

“Haha, hold on. If you were a guy, I’d be throwing hands right now.”

“…He just declared violence with a refreshing smile…!”

“Just so you know, this poster’s special. Don’t be shocked—it’s autographed!” I boasted. Online, there were no autographed Rinka posters in circulation. This one was one of a kind.

“…That’s impressive…!” Ris admitted, her tone grudgingly awed.

“Right? Isn’t it?”

“…But all my Rinka merch is autographed…”

“What? No way.”

“…It’s true. Heh, getting hyped over one signature…”

“That’s impossible…! Show me proof!”

“…Kuk, fine.”

Smirking smugly, Ris dashed to her room and returned with several photo books. “…Kuk, witness the overwhelming difference in firepower…!”

“N-no way… They’re all real signatures! She actually signed them…!” I flipped through the books, each one bearing Rinka’s unmistakable signature. I could tell real from fake by now, and these were genuine.

“Ris, that’s amazing. Seriously amazing.”

“…Well, yeah… Fuhyuhyuhyu!”

“That’s a unique laugh.”

“…Starting today, can I be the big sister?”

“That’s a whole different issue. I’m older.”

“…Tch, acting all high and mighty just for being born a year earlier…!”

“I’m not acting high and mighty. You should respect your elders.”

“…Wait, hold on… This… No way, this is—!” Ris’s voice trembled with intense excitement as she stared at something.

“What’s up?”

“…This is—Rinka doll! Foooohhh…!” She lunged at the Rinka-chan doll on my desk, grabbing it with both hands and examining it from every angle, practically peeking under its skirt. “…I’ve never seen Rinka-san merch like this…! No, it shouldn’t exist… I’d never miss it… Non-commercial… Handmade… But the quality’s insane… This is a pro’s work. The head, limbs, butt lines, intricately designed panties… Every detail, down to the stitching, screams care and love for its future owner. Foooohhh…! Especially Rinka-san’s beaming smile, impossible in reality, amplifies its charm as a creation—guh… I lose… Foooohhhh…!”

“Uh, Ris-san?”

“…I acknowledge it. From today, you’re the big brother.”

“I’m not happy getting recognized for this…!”

“…Just calling you that formally. I don’t actually think of you as one.”

Tsundere, huh. But it was definitely her true feelings.

“…How much are you selling it for?”

“Not selling.”

“…Fair. This is priceless…! But just seeing this doll makes moving here worth it…!”

She was getting shockingly talkative.

“…Onii, I want to thank you.”

“Thank you?”

“…Yeah. After showing me something this incredible… I can’t not repay you.”

Her firm resolve quietly touched me, especially her casual use of “Onii.”

“Then can you show me more of your Rinka merch? All I’ve got is this poster and doll.”

“…That’s light for a fan… Fine, come to my room.”

Ris led the way out, waiting in front of her room in the hallway. I was genuinely surprised she’d invite me in—she was so cautious, letting someone into her room meant a lot of trust. Thanks to the Rinka doll? Wow, Rinka’s amazing. It was like there was some magical or cursed power in it.

“…Onii, what’re you doing…?”

“Oh, I’m coming.”

She called suspiciously, so I hurried over.

Ris’s room… I didn’t know how to describe it. The carpet bore a giant magic circle. The walls were plastered with Rinka and Star☆Mines posters, but the ceiling had multiple skull decorations dangling down. Shelves held a crystal ball, a large object resembling a reptile hand, and ominous items scattered on the floor I couldn’t even name. The desk had several candles. It screamed total occult vibe—not exactly polite to say, but pure chuunibyou.

[T/N: Chuunibyou is a Japanese term for adolescents acting delusional or dramatic, often believing they have special powers or a grand destiny.]

At this point, she looked like a cultist worshiping Mizuki Rinka.

“…Onii? What’s wrong?”

“N-nothing.”

“…I’m not chuunibyou.”

“You read my mind?”

“…I graduated from chuunibyou. This room… is just a remnant.”

“Right.”

Ris moved here a week ago. If she set this up in that time, I was skeptical she was over chuunibyou. But room decor was personal. Even without chuunibyou, some people loved occult aesthetics… I think.

“Oh, what’s this?” I noticed a bug cage on a corner shelf, housing a single stag beetle.

“…Choki-Choki the Third.”

“Huh?”

“…That’s its name, Choki-Choki the Third. My partner since fourth grade.”

“That’s a long-lived bug. Third means it’s the third generation?”

“…First generation. Third sounds cooler.”

“I-I see. You’re kinda quirky, Ris. In a way, you’re a genius.”

“…Me, a genius? Fuehehe!” She didn’t catch my sarcasm, flashing an odd smile.

Her behavior and naming sense were a bit off from the norm. …Oh, Choki-Choki the Third just flipped over.

“You like insects, huh?”

“…Not really, just normal.”

“But you keep one?”

“…I was lonely…”

“Lonely?”

“…Yeah. I wanted a living thing close by…”

Her sudden, earnest tone caught me off guard. She continued, looking down. “…Mama’s never home. So I wanted to feel another life besides mine.”

“Ris…”

“…I want to be spoiled by Mama. No matter how hard I try, she doesn’t praise me. She’s never even home.”

She was baring her heart, and I couldn’t find words. Until now, Ris seemed bold, but right now, she was just a lonely girl. This downcast, lonely figure—maybe this was her true self.

“…I just want someone to praise me, for anything.”

“Ris—”

“…I want someone to acknowledge my existence…”

“—!” Her words pierced my chest. What should I say?

“Hey, Ris.”

“…What? Don’t give me cheap encouragement—”

“Play an online game with me.”

“…Huh?” She looked up, caught off guard.

I kicked myself internally for blurting it out. Why did I say that? But I didn’t stop, piling on more words. “The Black Plains I mentioned. Let’s play it together. It’s fun.”

“…I quit after an hour.”

“Didn’t like it?”

“…I had other stuff to do, so I couldn’t… and just left it.”

“Then let’s play now.”

“…That’s too sudden.”

“Why not? Do what you want when you want—that’s all.”

“…You’re pushier than I thought.”

“I used to be super passive, you know…”

I’d changed, and the reason was obvious.

“…Fine, I’ll play.”

“Awesome! It’s gonna be fun, trust me.”

“…Your eyes are sparkling. You love online games too much…”

She looked exasperated, but I was sure she’d be hyped in no time. Even Rinka got hooked, after all.

☆

Ris had a laptop, so we decided to play in my room. I sat at my PC, turning to see Ris casually sprawled on my bed, starting her laptop. She’d even brought Choki-Choki the Third’s cage and set it beside her.

“Not a big deal, but… you’re awfully chill lying on a guy’s bed.”

“…If it’s someone else’s bed… I can roll around in dirty clothes without a care.”

“That’s awful!”

She wasn’t bold, just self-centered.

“…The update’s making the game take forever to start…”

“Can’t help it.”

“…Hurry up, you junk laptop…!”

“Don’t take it out on your stuff… That laptop looks pricey. The keyboard’s all colorful, and the design’s fancy.”

It was clearly a gaming laptop, probably expensive.

“…Guess how much.”

“Hmm… 100,000 yen?”

“…Cheap thinking… Kuk, 300,000.”

“That’s insane! And you call it junk!?”

No way a high schooler could afford that. Was she like me, getting money handed to her? Still, that was crazy expensive. She must be loaded.

“…I’m not just a leech. I earn my own money.”

“Oh, right, you’re a streamer. Tell me your channel name.”

“…No way.”

“Come on. While we wait for the update, I wanna watch your videos.”

“…Absolutely not.”

She said it without looking away from her screen, dead serious about keeping it secret. Feeling awkward, I steered the conversation back.

“You bought such an expensive laptop—you must’ve been serious about gaming, right?”

“…I was into FPS.”

“FPS, huh? Those can make you pretty foul-mouthed depending on the crowd.”

“…Yeah. It felt like it was bad for my personality, so I quit.”

“Got it. Though it seems a bit late for that.”

“…I didn’t quit. Technically, I got banned.”

“So you were always this sharp-tongued!”

“…I was lonely, okay…”

“Why the cutesy tone… I’m already creeped out.”

I meant to kill time with casual chat, but I kept uncovering Ris’s dark secrets. Digging deeper felt risky, so I forcibly changed the topic.

“You always wear that blanket, huh. It’s summer—aren’t you hot?”

“…I’m cold… I’m sensitive to it.”

“That’s an extreme case of being cold-sensitive.”

“…No family around, so my heart’s cold. At least I keep my body warm.”

That was a heartbreaking reason. Every topic I brought up hit a landmine.

☆

Ris’s update finished, and we logged into Black Plains to meet up. She’d quit before finishing the tutorial, so she needed to relearn the controls. I waited in the starting village.

“…Onii, I’m done. Heading over.”

“Got it. I’m in the central plaza. My name’s Kaz.”

“…Kaz from Kazuto… Way too straightforward.”

“Haha, my friends said the same.”

That friend—Rinka—picked a pretty straightforward name too.

“…So straightforward it makes me worry about your creativity. You’ve survived this long? Read more books to build your vocabulary or consciously learn new words.”

“That’s harsh, cut it out. If you’re so critical, what’s your name?”

“…Kuk, behold my brilliant sense…!”

“No way, this character’s you, Ris—!”

A black-clad girl appeared before Kaz, an assassin dressed head-to-toe in black, her face hidden by a hood, straight out of a movie. Her displayed name was Kurotsuki Ruseze. …What was with that? It had a faint chuunibyou flavor. Not that assassins were chuunibyou, but her avatar name and real room’s aesthetic leaned that way.

“…This is a chuunibyou remnant… Not my current creation.”

“You showed it off pretty confidently, though.”

“…Forgot.”

Convenient memory.

“…By the way, Kurotsuki Ruseze lost her hometown to an empire’s invasion, swore revenge, and joined an assassin group, but she can’t fully embrace ruthlessness. Her occasional softness puts her in danger, but her assassin talent shines.”

“Wow, you’ve got a detailed character backstory.”

“…Impressive? Fuehehehe…”

She’d take any praise, huh. She might actually be a cute girl.

“Ris, anything you want to do? Usually, you clear quests to level up and gather items.”

“…I hate tedious stuff.”

“O-okay. But quests are the standard, efficient way to start.”

“…I’m a woman unbound by norms. And the masses’ ‘efficient’ methods often have flaws…!”

“Uh-huh. So what do you want to do?”

“…Level up as fast as possible.”

“Then quests it is. I’ll help, so let’s tackle them.”

“…Get to work, minion.”

“Who’s the minion?”

I made Ris accept a quest, then moved Kaz toward the village exit. But Kurotsuki Ruseze didn’t follow. Puzzled, I glanced back. For some reason, the chuunibyou-ish assassin was talking to every NPC…

“What’re you doing, Ris?”

“…These people might hold clues to unravel the world’s mysteries. Gathering intel.”

“That’s kinda nonsensical, but beginners do talk to every NPC.”

I’d played long enough to know plenty of newbies. Not all, but many loved chatting with NPCs. I wanted to let her do her thing, but at this rate, she’d miss Black Plains’ fun before time ran out.

“Kurotsuki Ruseze is an assassin, right? Won’t standing out be bad?”

“—Hah! One who lives in shadows shouldn’t stand in the light…”

This kid was a riot, totally immersed in the game.

“…Handle the intel-gathering, lackey.”

“Who’s the lackey?”

After that, I stuck with her on quests. Kurotsuki Ruseze’s leveling went smoothly, with no issues in monster battles. Ris was skilled. At first, she fumbled with controls, but within an hour, she got the hang of it. Black Plains emphasized action, with combos and all. It was tough for beginners to fight strategically, but Ris handled it fine, maybe even better than rookie Rinka.

“You’re a deft girl, Ris. Already mastering skills and aiming for combos. Really impressive.”

“…Me, impressive? Fuuhehehehe!”

“That’s one heck of a laugh…”

Weird laugh aside, she was genuinely happy to be praised.

“…Something’s off.”

“What?”

“…Why do quests give experience points to level up? What even is experience? What’s leveling up? Is this world ruled by the concept of experience points? That’s the great mystery. Also, too many isekai novels have game-like stats.”

“Let’s not get meta with the critiques.”

We had odd tangents that threw us off, but…

“…Kaz—Onii. Hey, Onii, help!”

“What’s with the bossy tone? What’s up?”

“…Kurotsuki Ruseze suddenly hit her rebellious phase… She won’t move!”

I looked back to see Ris frantically mashing her keyboard.

“Calm down. I’ll check.”

“…Did my laptop break? My 300,000 yen… sniff.”

“It’s fine. If my guess is right…”

A 300,000-yen item breaking would be sad. She was teary-eyed. I stood and peeked at her laptop. As expected, the chat window was open, filled with random characters.

“See? You opened the chat window. It’s typing there.”

“…Oh! You’re right.”

“Common mistake. You probably hit enter by accident.”

“…Not broken. Thanks, Onii.”

“No biggie.”

“…As thanks, I’ll take 1,000 yen.”

“Than—wait, I’m the one paying! Knock it off!”

☆

We kept grinding quests, one involving housing—a home-building system. Black Plains offered various houses, and you could buy all sorts of furniture, from personal homes to mansions for guild members.

“…Onii, I want a house too.”

“You don’t have enough money yet, right? No can do.”

“…An online game junk—Onii like you should be able to afford a mansion. Buy it.”

“Hey, you almost called me a junkie, didn’t you?”

“…Your imagination. So, the mansion?”

“Well, I can buy one, but…”

I hadn’t played for years for nothing. Plus, I’d spent an amount on microtransactions that’d shock most people. Point is, I was deep enough in to easily afford a mansion.

“…Onii, you’re not in a guild?”

“Nope.”

“…Then let’s make my guild. I want a mansion as our base. So buy it.”

“That’s insanely self-centered. I mean, fine, but…”

Making a guild and buying a mansion? No issue there… except Rinka. I couldn’t help but think about her. Rin and Kaz actually had a house we’d split the cost for, bought by Rin. As for guilds, we were both unaffiliated. No real reason—it just never came up.

“…Onii, a cute sister’s request.”

“You only play the sister card when it suits you, huh… Big bro’s sad.”

“…Buy the mansion, and your sister’s affection will skyrocket.”

“That’s way too transactional…! Fine, I’ll buy it.”

“…Yay!”

I was probably the most gullible guy in the world right now. Indulging my sister’s whims must be a big brother’s duty… I guess.

“…It says my level’s too low to make a guild.”

“Oh, right, there’s a level restriction. More quests?”

“…No, I want a guild now. You make it. I’ll take over as guild master.”

“Got it.”

I’d joined guilds before but never made one myself.

“…Can I name the guild?”

“Sure.”

“…The Raven’s Perch. How’s that?”

“Sounds good. You’ve got a knack for this.”

“…Me, a knack? Fohehehehe!”

That laugh… And the name was just shy of full chuunibyou. The “raven” part sealed it.

We created the guild and headed to the residential area to buy a mansion—a dazzling white, medieval-style two-story building with a colorful fountain and a garden for crops. Kurotsuki Ruseze and Kaz stepped inside, exploring each room slowly.

“…It’s empty. Every room’s bare.”

“Gotta buy furniture.”

“…Thanks.”

“I’m buying that too, huh… Fine.”

“…Onii, you’re kind. The type who accepts everyone and suffers for it.”

“Damn, I can’t deny that!”

“…In showbiz, you’d be the first to get exploited, drowning in debt.”

“That’s weirdly specific…?”

It was like she’d lived in showbiz and knew it well. Maybe streamers heard more about that world than most. …I still didn’t know what kind of streaming she did.

“Think about what furniture to buy. I’m hitting the bathroom.”

“…I wanna go too.”

“Wanna go first?”

“…Too lazy. Do mine for me.”

“Got it, leave it to me.”

While Ris browsed furniture, I left for the bathroom. Walking down the hall, I paused, struck by a realization.

“That conversation was weird…!”

Not noticing it right away made me a serious level of clueless.

☆

Finishing up in the bathroom, I headed back to my room, a sly grin creeping onto my face. “Heh, that Ris is getting hooked fast.”

Our interactions had given me a solid sense of progress. Black Plains had tons of elements, meaning there was something for every playstyle to get addicted to. Ris was seriously into crafting her character and fought skillfully. She overanalyzed the lore sometimes, but that just showed how immersed she was.

“Nice, this is going great. Another Black Plains buddy added…!” I couldn’t stop grinning with excitement. No good—if Ris saw this face, she’d be creeped out.

I rubbed my face to compose myself before opening the door.

“…Onii, some weird woman invaded our base.”

“Weird woman? Oh, another player showed up. Happens sometimes.”

The default settings allowed anyone to enter, so it wasn’t strange for a random player to wander in. I’d change it to guild-members-only later.

I sat at my PC and glanced at the screen—huh!? Right next to Kaz, lounging on the bed…!

“…This weird woman… calls herself ‘Rin.’ She’s creepy.”

A blonde elf archer—Rinka!

“O-oh… This feels really bad.”

My blood ran cold. Rinka was definitely going to misunderstand this situation.

“…She’s been going on about cheating, marriage, building a house to bring women to… weird stuff. She’s scary. Should I report her?”

“She’s my wife. Please don’t report her.”

She was my real-life girlfriend too, but saying that would complicate things, so I kept quiet. She was also the popular idol Mizuki Rinka—I couldn’t reveal that on my own.

Checking the chat, I saw personal messages from Rin flooding in: “Kaz! What’s going on!? There’s a strange woman here!!” “Who’s Kurotsuki Ruseze!?” “Reply quick! Now!” “You’re really cheating! You even built a mansion!” “You made a guild too! How long have you been involved with Kurotsuki Ruseze!?” “I said I’d overlook some cheating, but explain properly!!” “KazKazKazKazKazKazKazKazKazKazKazKaz” “Can I call?” “I’m preparing to go to your house now.”

…This was bad. The chat was overflowing with her furious messages. Honestly, I just wanted to log out.

With trembling hands, I typed a reply in the personal chat. “Rin, it’s not what you think.”

“Oh, finally replying! What’s going on!?”

On-screen, Rin puffed up her cheeks cutely in anger. Her gestures were adorable, at least.

“Kurotsuki Ruseze is family.”

“I’m your family!”

That’s just your claim, Rinka.

“No, I mean, Kurotsuki Ruseze is the sister I told you about.”

“What, you cheated with your sister!? You idiot, Kaz!!”

“No!! Just listen to me!!”

“…Onii, you’re in deep… pfft,” Ris snickered, peeking at my screen from behind.

“What’s so funny, Ris? This is a legit crisis!”

“…She’s seriously acting like you’re married in an online game… Dangerous person.”

“She’s not dangerous, but…”

“…Family isn’t some cheap bond you can form in a game.”

“—”

I started to retort but stopped, closing my mouth. That was her perspective, shaped by her experiences. If I hadn’t met Rin—Rinka—I might’ve felt the same.

“…Don’t tell anyone online about me.”

“Oh, sorry.”

Her voice was cold, flat, devoid of emotion. A brief silence followed until Ris, staring at Rin, spoke again.

“…Onii, leave this to me.”

“What are you planning? I’m getting major bad vibes.”

“…I’m a woman who’s survived countless battlefields with my words… Calming this Rin is child’s play.”

Dread filled me, but I decided to watch for now. Ris flopped back on the bed, reached for her laptop, and typed with her index fingers. Kurotsuki Ruseze sent a single line in general chat to Rin: “Old hag, get lost.”

“Whoa, hold up!! Ris-san!?”

“…The best way to crush a human’s heart is to speak the truth.”

“Who said to crush her heart!! And that’s not even true!!”

“…It’s like when a girl posts a selfie on SNS saying, ‘Ugh, I’m so ugly~’ and you reply, ‘Wow, you really are ugly.’ …By the way, you get blocked instantly.”

“That’s completely different! What’s that story? Your own experience?”

“…It’s not that I’m ugly, I’m super cute, but their obvious fishing for compliments pisses me off.”

“Okay, I get that you’re twisted… But Rin’s gone quiet. She was spamming chat every second, and now nothing.”

“…Kuk, I’ve won again. With just one line.”

This was literally the worst…

A garbled message came from Rin in general chat: “kszuelfanifsaofadfa.” Her intense panic was palpable. Then Ris piled on—

“Your panic’s showing in your typing. Deep breaths, lol.”

“Don’t provoke her!”

“…Just giving advice…”

“Really!? That was advice!? Then what’s with the ‘lol’!?”

At this point, talking directly was better. I grabbed my phone, left the room, and called Rinka. It connected in five seconds. She was silent.

“Rinka? You okay?”

“Sniff… Kazuto… I’ve become the old hag, haven’t I… sniff.”

“No, no! That was just Kurotsuki Ruseze talking nonsense!”

“Just a few days apart, and our marital bond’s cracked… No, it’s not a crack—it’s a chasm, like an earth-shattering disaster… sniff.”

“Don’t cry, Rinka! The one I love is… y-you, only you…!”

“…Can you say that again?”

“Th-the one I love… is you, Rinka.”

Suddenly embarrassed, I managed to get it out.

“Say it again, Kazuto.”

“The one I love… is you, Rinka.”

“One more time.”

“It’s you… The one I love is only you, Rinka.”

“Sorry, one more time. I’m recording this.”

“Hey!”

She had more composure than I thought…!

I wanted to say something, but I carefully explained everything instead. “So, to get closer to my sister Ris-chan, you indulged her whims, made a guild, and built a mansion.”

“Y-yeah! Exactly! Thanks for getting it so quick.”

“Obviously? I’m the cool idol Mizuki Rinka, always thinking calmly and arriving at the truth, no matter the situation.”

…Weren’t you freaking out just now? Not a shred of calm in sight.

“So, are we good?”

“Except for being called an old hag, yes.”

“That girl can be sharp-tongued sometimes… But she means no harm, so don’t worry.”

“Is there ever a purpose other than malice for calling someone an old hag…?”

I could picture Rinka tilting her head over the phone, but I pushed the conversation forward. “She’s had a similar life to me, always alone, unable to rely on anyone. That might’ve made her sharp-tongued.”

“That’s how it is… Don’t worry, Kazuto.”

“Rinka?”

“Ris-chan, your sister, is my family too. From now on, I’ll treat her with the utmost love as her big sister.”

“O-oh, yeah, thanks.”

Would Ris accept Rinka’s approach, though? From our interactions, it was clear Ris had strong feelings about family.

“By the way, how’re you logged into Black Plains?”

“Laptop. I bought one. Now I can play with you even when I’m not home—oh, sorry, I’ve gotta log off.”

“Something urgent?”

“Yeah, something like that. Bye…”

The call ended. She must be really busy. Back in my room, I checked my PC—Rin had logged off too.

“…Onii, that Rin woman’s seriously dangerous. Danger level SS. Better steer clear.”

“Haha…” I could only give a wry smile to Ris’s serious warning.

Rin’s actually Mizuki Rinka, the idol you admire, you know.

☆

“…Look, Onii. The sky’s getting bright through the curtain gap.”

“Whoa, you’re right. We stayed up all night and hit morning.”

“…My eyes are stinging… My head’s spinning.”

Ris, sprawled on my bed, rubbed her eyes. It’d been a while since I pulled an all-nighter gaming.

“Guess we should stop.”

“…Yeah. …Oh no, I’ve got work this afternoon…”

“You should sleep, even just a bit.”

“…I’m hungry.”

“Let’s go downstairs and grab something to eat.”

We stood shakily, barely able to move, and left the room. Walking alone was tough, so we supported each other, stumbling down the stairs to the first floor.

“…Onii, need a break.”

“Yeah…”

I was exhausted from the rare all-nighter too. Knowing this would happen, we still couldn’t stop—that’s online games. Knowing we’d regret it, we still couldn’t quit—that’s online games. And never learning our lesson? That’s being an online game addict.

We flopped onto the sofa, too weak to sit up. Ris leaned against me, resting her head limply on my shoulder.

“…Online games, crazy…”

“Fun, right?”

“…Yeah. But alone, I’d have quit halfway.”

“Got it…”

“…Zzz…”

“Ris?”

“…Zzz… zzz…”

Her face was hidden by the hood, but I heard soft, comfortable breathing. Should I sleep too? …No, Ris said she had work this afternoon. Not sure if it was streaming, but I’d set a timer before sleeping…

I felt the weight of Ris’s head on my shoulder. Through online games, our bond had definitely deepened.

☆

The next day, Ris was surprisingly busy, heading out early again, just like the day before yesterday. Was she hanging with friends or working as a streamer…? When I asked, she just said, “…Secret,” and wouldn’t tell me. Maybe she didn’t fully trust me yet.

Still, at night—

“…Onii, wanna… play online games?”

She showed up in my room with her laptop and bug cage. Spending the prime of our high school summer vacation glued to online games might seem questionable… but it was what it was. This was my kind of life.

“…Onii, what’re we doing?”

“Let’s start with mining.”

“…Tch, you mining freak.”

“Huh, you say something?”

“…Suddenly turned into a deaf protagonist…”

I was getting shade for some reason… but I was having fun and feeling fulfilled. I bet Ris was enjoying this life too. I wasn’t forcing us to get close, but through online games, I could tell our emotional distance was shrinking naturally. We’d keep having fun, peaceful days like this.

Or so I thought—maybe that was a jinx.

A refreshing morning. As I changed into casual clothes, recalling last night (Kurotsuki Ruseze kept dying to a dungeon boss, and Ris’s stubborn retries were oddly cute), there was a loud BANG BANG!! on my door.

“Onii! Onii! Waaaaah!!”

The panicked, sobbing voice wasn’t normal. Hearing Ris’s loud cry for the first time, I rushed to open the door. The moment I did, I was met with Ris’s tear-streaked face, sobbing uncontrollably. Her red eyes still spilled tears, wet cheeks showing she’d been crying for a while. She wasn’t wearing her hood.

It was my first time seeing her face clearly, but there was no time to process it.

“Ch-Choki, Choki-Choki the Third!!”

“The stag beetle!? What happened…!?”

“H-he’s flipped over… not moving… waaaaah!!”

Losing all composure, Ris clung to my shirt, wailing loudly. I’d never seen a girl cry this hard and didn’t know what to do.

“O-Onii! Onii! Waaaaah!!”

“F-for now, let’s check!”

Dragging Ris, who gripped my shirt, I hurried to check the bug cage. Sure enough, Choki-Choki the Third was flipped over, motionless.

“Since when?”

“…Sniff… W-when I woke up… he was flipped over…”

“This morning, or maybe overnight…?”

“…Oh… He’s flipped over before… sometimes couldn’t get up…”

I’d seen him flip over a few times too. Maybe he was weakening as his lifespan neared its end? I didn’t voice the thought, staring at Choki-Choki the Third. It could be playing dead. With Ris’s permission, I opened the cage and gently touched him with my fingertip. No reaction.

“…Choki-Choki the Third… are you okay?” Ris asked in a hoarse voice, tears streaming.

He was clearly dead. …But I couldn’t say it. Seeing Ris, usually so snarky, sobbing and praying for me to say “he’s okay,” I couldn’t bring myself to tell her the truth.

“…I’ll look it up online.”

“…Okay… hic.”

Maybe there was some phenomenon I didn’t know about, and he was still alive. I searched on my phone, hoping. I wanted this to work out. For Ris, who’d spent so much time alone, Choki-Choki the Third must be irreplaceable. But reality was cruel. Research revealed a lifespan issue. Ris said she’d had him since fourth grade—six or seven years. Depending on the species, stag beetles lived about one to three years. With good care, some long-lived species could survive over five years… but it was summer now, not hibernation season. The chance he was dormant was low.

I tried various methods to check if he was alive, but they only confirmed he was likely dead.

“…Onii…? Is Choki-Choki the Third alive?”

“…”

“U-uh… uh…!”

She must’ve known while asking, known but refused to accept. Ris gripped the bug cage, staring at Choki-Choki the Third with tear-soaked eyes, no longer wailing, just silently letting tears fall.

☆

We made a grave for Choki-Choki the Third in the backyard, in a sunny, decent spot. Ris stood beside me, staring blankly at the grave. She’d put her hood back on, so I couldn’t see her expression, but I could imagine her feelings. Choki-Choki the Third was an emotional anchor for Ris, like how online games filled a void for me… No, more like a family member, that’s how much he meant to her. She’d just lost someone who’d been by her side forever.

We stood silently, watching the grave as time passed. As the sun’s heat started pooling in my hair, Ris muttered softly, “…Choki-Choki the Third… died.”

“Ris—”

“…I’m alone again…”

Her flat words squeezed my chest tightly.

“…I don’t even like bugs. It’s just a bug… Just a stag beetle… There’s tons of bugs on this planet…”

It was obvious bravado. Her hands were clenched tight, her voice trembling. Anyone could tell she was desperately holding back tears.

“…B-bugs… I can just buy another… So this… isn’t that sad…”

From here, I was probably not acting like myself—at least, not like the me before meeting Rinka.

“Hey, Ris.”

“…Hic… W-what?”

“We’re family, so you don’t have to hold back. If you want to cry, let it all out.”

“…That’s cheesy. Family’s just a label for strangers. We’re just living together by chance. Just… siblings in name…!” Her words dripped with anger, spoken without looking at me.

“…You think you’re special ’cause I keep calling you Onii? Totally wrong… I just call you that ’cause it’s easier… I don’t actually think of you as my big brother.”

“…”

“…We’re not real family.”

“You’re right. No blood connection at all.”

“…Yeah.”

“So what?”

“Huh?”

Caught off guard, Ris faltered for a moment.

“I said before, I’m not forcing us to get close. That doesn’t mean keeping you at a distance. It means I’ll treat you naturally.”

“…Naturally?”

“Yeah, like… I want to be there for you, Ris, because of how I feel. I want to enjoy our days together… maybe like real siblings, if possible.”

“…”

“We’ve got similar backgrounds, but I’m on your side, Ris.”

“…On my side…”

She murmured as if savoring the words, and I nodded.

“It’s not about being kind because we’re family. It’s because you’re you, Ris.”

“…”

“And I can say with certainty, I’ll keep being on your side.”

“…Even if I insult you?”

“That’s just your way of communicating, right? I’ll accept it all.”

“…So, you’re a pervert who enjoys being insulted…”

“Did I say that? I was being super serious, you know?”

“…Kidding.”

Ris let out a soft, natural chuckle. Oh, just a joke… The heavy atmosphere dissipated, replaced by a relaxed, approachable vibe. That’s why I wanted to say this now.

“You said you wanted a living presence nearby, right? From now on, I’m here.”

“—!”

“Family’s supposed to be together… Your home now has me, your family. Wherever I am, that’s your home to return to.”

I said everything I wanted to, thinking of Rinka as I spoke. I understood her feelings from back then now. It was pure. When someone’s crying in loneliness, you want to do something for them. That’s natural human instinct. And wanting to connect with others…

Ris sidled closer, pressing her arm against mine.

“…A hopeless online game addict big brother, huh.”

I couldn’t deny that one. Still, I could at least be there for her.

“…”

I felt no need to say anything more. We fell silent, time stretching on. The sound of cars and kids playing blended in the distance. The heat made sweat bead around my neck. Yet my focus remained on the girl beside me.

Without a word, we kept gazing at the grave.

☆

The day after Choki-Choki the Third’s death, Ris headed out early, looking busy. I booted up Black Plains for some fun. An ordinary day passed, and it was late at night. Ris came back around 8 PM but went straight to her room without talking. I thought our bond had deepened through our shared Rinka fandom, gaming together, and the Choki-Choki incident, but maybe not.

Feeling a bit sad, I logged out of Black Plains and slipped into bed, ready to sleep. As I reached to turn off the light, there was a knock at my door. I opened it, and of course, it was Ris, her face hidden by her usual hood.

“…Oni… Oni…”

“Hm? What’s up?”

Ris’s mouth moved like a goldfish, struggling to say something. “…O-Oni, Onii… Onii-cha… Oni…!”

“Huh? What’s wrong?”

“…Th-this… you demon!”

“Why!? Did I do something!?”

As I panicked, Ris cleared her throat with a small cough, recomposing herself.

“…Oi, Onii.”

“What a brazen way to call me… What’s up?”

“…Pee.”

Pee? Oh, she meant she needed to go.

“Go ahead.”

“…”

“No way, you want me to come with you?”

“…Family.”

“Even family doesn’t go to the bathroom together.”

“…You said family sticks together.”

“I did, but that’s too extreme…”

“…I’m gonna leak… Okay?”

“Of course not!”

“…5, 4, 3—”

“Alright, alright, I’ll go with you!”

“…Hehe.”

Ris giggled softly at my exasperation. Seems she enjoyed teasing her brother.

Sighing, I took Ris to the bathroom. I waited outside, idly scrolling on my phone. When she came out, she stood blankly in front of me.

“Uh, something up?”

“…”

“Ris?”

She seemed to want to say something, staring up at me. Finally, with a determined expression, she spoke.

“…I want to sleep together.”

“Uh, no, that’s kinda…”

“…Why not?”

“We’re high schoolers, you know? Feels inappropriate.”

“…A brother getting excited over his sister.”

“I’m not excited. It’s just common sense to avoid it.”

“…You said family sticks together.”

“I did, but… Hmm.”

I crossed my arms, conflicted. Rinka’s face flashed in my mind.

“…So you are a pervert excited by his sister…”

“I’m not, and I’ve never looked at you that way. Not once. Besides, I have—”

“Hmph!”

“Ow!”

She kicked my shin without mercy…! It was surprisingly strong, and I buckled from the pain.

“W-what was that for, Ris!”

“…Dunno, just pissed me off.”

“Emotionally unstable much…!”

I glared at her, but Ris ignored me, scampering up the stairs. The door slammed shut with a bang.

“Ugh… Why?”

I didn’t get Ris’s behavior. Could losing Choki-Choki the Third have thrown her emotions off balance…? If so, I should’ve been kinder.

Regretting my actions, I climbed the stairs and walked down the hall. At Ris’s room, I knocked and spoke.

“Hey, sorry, Ris. I didn’t refuse because I dislike you.”

“…”

No response. The room was eerily silent, like no one was there. Realizing I was being ignored, I sighed. That was Ris’s way of reaching out. Asking to sleep together must’ve taken a lot of courage.

Back in my room, I slipped into bed, filled with regret. “I messed up… Sorry, Ris.”

“…It’s fine.”

“—Huh?”

A reply. I bolted upright, scanning the room, but it was just me.

“…Gulp.”

No way. I got out of bed and peeked under it. There, staring right at me, was a pitch-black figure—!

“Waaaaah!! Why’re you there!?”

“…Onii, too loud. Be quiet at night.”

“Don’t talk about manners from there! Get out already!”

Ris crawled out from under the bed, stood, and muttered, “…Onii, you said family sticks together…”

“That again! I did say it, but!”

“…Liars… get the death penalty…”

“That’s too harsh!”

“…I wanna sleep together.”

“Can’t you… sleep alone in your room?”

“…It’s cold. Alone is cold.”

Her weak words left me speechless. Ris was a very lonely girl. Hard to imagine from her usual attitude, but our interactions had shown it. Maybe her bad attitude was a flipside of that loneliness.

…If it’s my sister, it’s not cheating, right? On the other hand, I felt like Rinka would say I should sleep with her. Though she’d probably get jealous.

“Alright, let’s sleep together.”

“…Mm.”

I’d explain to Rinka tomorrow, just in case. Thinking that, I slipped into bed. Ris slid in next to me, peeking out from the blanket.

“That wearable blanket’s not hot? It looks stifling.”

“…I can get you one too.”

“I’ll take you up on that in winter.”

“…Want one for winter too?”

“No, totally different. I mean I don’t need it in summer.”

Wearing that in summer would easily cause heatstroke.

“…But maybe I can take it off now.”

“Huh?”

“…Not that cold anymore. It’s warm now.”

“Got it…”

I thought she meant emotionally, not physically. Her odd actions aside, Ris trusted me now. Otherwise, she wouldn’t ask to sleep together.

“…H-hey, Onii.”

“Hm?”

“…I’ve got something important to say.”

“Important?”

“…Yeah. Something I’ve been hiding.”

“What’s that?”

I asked as gently as I could. Still, Ris hesitated, embarrassed.

“…Um… It might change how you see me…”

“It’s fine, it won’t.”

“…Ngh, so embarrassing…”

“…”

Ris covered her face with both hands, squirming. Kinda cute. It was the same cuteness I felt with Nonoa-chan—probably how you feel about a sister.

“…Onii, can it wait?”

“Sure. Whenever you’re ready.”

Our conversation ended there. Without talking, sleepiness crept in with time. I heard soft, reassuring breathing from right beside me.

Ris was a lonely girl starving for love. Our similar backgrounds let me understand her core. It wasn’t romantic, but I wanted to make her happy.

—Oh. If I introduced her to Rinka, she’d be thrilled, right? Ris was such a Rinka fan, collecting all her merch. Just a hunch, but I bet Rinka would dote on Ris like crazy. She said she’d treat her with love. They might get so close I’d feel like a third wheel.

…Alright, I’d have them meet. Then the three of us could play online games together—

“Bwah!!”

A random punch slammed into my face! Reeling from the surprise and pain, I turned to defend myself, but a barrage of kicks hit my side. No surprise—it was Ris’s doing. But she was asleep…! Her sleeping habits were terrifying, flailing her limbs, unleashing unintentional violence…!

“No good! I wanna sleep under the bed instead!”

☆

“…As expected, Rinka-san is the idol to save this chaotic world… Just watching her heals my heart—oh, pause at that scene. The thigh glimpse, just shy of panty territory, was perfection.”

“You’ve got the soul of an old man. No way I’m pausing.”

In the living room, we sat side by side on the sofa, watching Rinka’s live on TV, chatting away. Well, chatting—more like Ris getting weirdly hyped.

“…Rinka-san’s my sun, my idol… She’s dazzling… so dazzling, especially her thighs.”

“It’s all about thighs, huh. There’s more to appreciate, you know.”

“…Her chest is average-sized.”

This kid was the worst. And average was fine!

“Still not taking off that blanket?”

“…Kinda embarrassing.”

Ris turned away shyly. Was she embarrassed about showing her face…? I saw her crying face the day Choki-Choki died, and now that I thought about it, she was pretty cute. Idol-level cute. But her wailing left such a strong impression, I couldn’t recall her features clearly.

“…O-Onii, in Star☆Mines, who’s your favorite after Rinka-san?”

“Hmm, Kurumizaka Nana, maybe.”

Honestly, it was mostly because she was my friend. …Wonder how Nana’s doing.

“…What about Komori Risuzu?”

“Uh…” I thought for a bit. Kinda meh, I concluded. “I don’t pay much attention to her, but she’s got a rep for stirring up drama on SNS. Online, they say she’s the loli archetype that’s easy to get popular, yet she’s the least popular in the group… Though she’s got the most hardcore fans, apparently.”

“…What do you think, Onii?”

“Not much. I’m all about Rinka.”

“…Cheesy.”

“Huh?”

“…Guess I’ll keep the blanket on for a while.”

Ris muttered, visibly downcast. Oops, was she a Komori Risuzu fan too?

Desperate to recover, I racked my brain and recalled last night’s call with Rinka. I’d asked her to meet Ris. Naturally, Rinka agreed enthusiastically, saying, “Of course! She’s my cute little sister.” Classic Rinka… in every sense. Now, how to introduce them?

I wanted to introduce Rinka as my girlfriend—it was the truth. The issue was whether Ris could handle that. Idols with revealed partners usually got flak from fans. Sometimes, fans posted long, hate-filled rants online, brimming with resentment or even threats.

…What about Ris? Better check just in case.

“If Rinka had a boyfriend, what would you do?”

“…Impossible. It’s so impossible, I don’t need to consider it.”

“T-that extreme?”

“…Rinka-san’s been hit on by creepy guys so many times, she really hates men with ulterior motives. Especially sleazy adult men.”

Her tone sounded like she’d witnessed it, like someone close to Rinka.

“Is that from online?”

“…Uh, yeah, online.”

“Got it…”

“…But lately… she’s had this giddy vibe, like she’s got a guy—n-no, never mind.”

Ris shook her head vigorously, dismissing her own thoughts.

“So, Ris, you’re okay with Rinka having a boyfriend?”

“…If it makes Rinka-san happy… But a boyfriend’s absolutely impossible. …That said, he’d have to be hot, athletic, rich, and kind.”

“That’s a high bar… What if it was a guy like me?”

Sweating a bit, I asked cautiously. Ris answered without hesitation.

“…Absolutely impossible.”

“Ugh!”

“…A guy like you should spend his life taking care of a girl like me.”

“What, like a caregiver?”

But she was okay with Rinka having a boyfriend. So it was fine to introduce them. She said a guy like me was no good, but her tone sounded like a joke.

“You free tomorrow night?”

“…Mm. I’ll be back then.”

“Cool, cool. So, I want to introduce you to my girlfriend. That okay?”

“…?”

Ris froze, her movements halting completely. Did she not hear? I repeated myself.

“I want to introduce my girlfriend tomorrow night.”

“…You, a girlfriend?”

“Yup.”

“…Isn’t she just imaginary?”

“She’s real. Not imaginary.”

“…Bet she’s just a screen character who won’t come out.”

“My wife’s shy and—no, that’s not it! She’s flesh and blood! Cute enough to rival 2D!”

“…Tch.”

“That was a blunt tongue-click!”

Ris visibly soured, turning her back to me.

“Uh, Ris-san?”

“…”

“Ris?”

“…Not cold, but I’m annoyed.”

She said that and clammed up completely. I wanted to peek at her face, but she’d turned away, so I couldn’t. …What was going on here? Was she shocked that a guy like me had a girlfriend…?

“…Were you staying at her place before?”

“Well, yeah.”

“…”

Ris fell silent again, lost in thought. After a while, she muttered, “…Fine…” I sighed in relief. If she’d refused, I wouldn’t know how to explain it to Rinka.

“…No way your girlfriend’s Rinka-san, right?”

“Wha!?”

“…Just a thought from earlier.”

“W-well, who knows!”

“…No way, right? You two have no connection.”

“Actually, Rinka and I are classmates.”

“…Hardcore fan vibes, seriously dangerous.”

Hardcore fan? Nah, it was way beyond that.

☆

The next night arrived. Rinka was due at my house soon. Ris sat on the sofa, fidgeting restlessly, surprisingly nervous. Shy with strangers, huh.

“…Onii, maybe I don’t want to meet her.”

“It’ll be fine. You’ll definitely be glad you did.”

“…I don’t feel that way.”

Ris looked down anxiously. Definitely shy with strangers. When we first met, she was all guarded, hiding behind the sofa. But once she knew it was Rinka, she’d be thrilled, no doubt.

Excited, I waited until the intercom rang. Must be Rinka. As I started to stand, Ris grabbed my shirt tightly.

“Ris?”

“…Onii, are you going to keep staying at her place?”

“That’s—”

Her frail, anxious voice told me what she needed right now. I hesitated because of Nonoa-chan. I’d promised to stay with her all summer… and broke it. I felt guilty, no question. But right now, I decided Ris came first.

“I’ll stay in this house.”

“…Good.”

Ris let go of my shirt quickly. How didn’t I see this coming? Lonely Ris was anxious about me leaving again. Learning I had a girlfriend, she probably thought I’d go far away again.

“Don’t worry. We’ve only known each other a week, but we’re proper family… And I think my girlfriend’s gonna dote on you like crazy…!”

“…That sounds loaded…”

Rinka already saw Ris as her sister, her family. No issues here. Reassuring myself, I headed to the door with light steps and opened it.

Of course, it was Rinka. Her tightly closed mouth softened into a smile when she saw me. “Kazuto… It’s been so long. I’ve waited so much for this moment.”

Rinka’s warm, loving gaze hit me, filled with emotion. Her reaction was so intense, I got embarrassed. I was just as happy, though…

“Hey, Rinka. Come in.”

“I’m excited. Finally meeting my cute little sister, Ris-chan.”

“Yeah, I think Ris’ll be thrilled. She’s a huge fan of yours. …Oh, keep the marriage thing quiet. It’d shock Ris.”

“Fine. For now, we’ll be temporary lovers.”

Not temporary, it’s real. I made my usual mental retort and led Rinka to the living room. …Heh, I could already see Ris shouting “Foooohhh!” in her weird excited way. And finally, the moment arrived.

We stepped into the living room and spotted Ris on the sofa. The sofa’s back faced us, so Ris hadn’t noticed Rinka yet. Rinka took a deep breath, then slowly walked around to face Ris…!

“Ris-chan, good evening.”

“—Huh?”

Ris let out a dazed sound, as if she couldn’t process reality. This was getting fun. Prank success! I wanted to hold up a “Ta-da!” sign. Holding back a laugh, I headed to Ris too.

…Huh? This wasn’t the reaction I expected.

“Wait, hold on. That unique aura you’re radiating… Could you be—”

“…R-Rinka-san…? Why are you… here…?”

Rinka seemed to sense something. Ris, meanwhile, wasn’t overwhelmed with joy at seeing her idol or unsure how to react. She was just utterly confused, unable to grasp the situation.

As a puzzled atmosphere swirled, Ris stood—and took off her hood. The face revealed was stunningly beautiful. No, cute. As expected from her small frame, she had youthful features. But her expression was heavy with confusion, eyes wide as she faced Rinka.

…Wait, hold on! That face looked familiar—!

“…Rinka-san?”

“Risuzu?”

They stared at each other, blinking rapidly.

“Huh, Ris? No way—”

“Komori Risuzu. She’s a member of Star☆Mines, just like me.”

What the—!?