Episode 8: “So, my stepsister is now attending the same high school as me…”

Summer vacation had drawn to a close, and today marked the first day back at school.

I crammed the homework I’d barely finished last night into my bag and slipped into my uniform. Thanks to Miyuki-san’s care, it was pristine—fresh from the cleaners, free of wrinkles. The dress shirt, meticulously ironed, felt crisp and almost new despite its usual wear from countless washes, wrapping me in unexpected comfort.

It was just past seven in the morning.

Downstairs, Akira was already at the dining table, eyes fixed on the morning news flickering across the TV as she ate breakfast.

“Morning, Aniki.”

“Morning. —Akira, what time did you get up?”

“Around five, I think? I’m kinda nervous, so I woke up early…”

“Gotcha. It’s your first day at a new school, huh? You ready?”

“Yeah. Oh, hurry up and eat, Aniki!”

“Right, right. By the way, where’s Miyuki-san?”

“Mom had a shoot this morning, so she left early.”

“I see. Guess we’d better lock up properly then.”

I sat across from Akira.

The table held a simple spread—salad, scrambled eggs, and grilled sausages, likely prepared by Miyuki-san before she left. I popped some bread into the toaster and set the kettle to boil. Soon, I was stirring instant soup mix into a bowl and instant coffee into a mug. The toaster dinged, ejecting perfectly golden-brown slices.

“Let’s eat.”

The phrase slipped out naturally. I hadn’t grown up saying grace, but over the past month, it had become a quiet habit.

“Ugh… I’m so nervous…”

“We’re not even at school yet, and you’re already freaking out?”

“I mean, it’s my first time transferring schools! And having to introduce myself in front of everyone…”

“Hahaha, It’s like a rite of passage. Just do it like we practiced—say your name, greet everyone, and smile.”

I emphasized the word smile, knowing it was key. Miyuki-san’s biggest concern was whether shy Akira could settle into her new school. Akira herself seemed to share that worry, her restlessness evident since the day before yesterday.

We’d rehearsed her introduction last night, and now it was all on her.

“You got this.”

“Yeah,” she replied, her voice shaky.

As her big brother, I couldn’t help but feel a twinge of worry. If anything happens… No, I shook off the thought. Let’s just hope everything goes smoothly.

＊　＊　＊

After clearing away the breakfast dishes, Akira and I locked up the house and set off for the station, our chatter light and aimless as we walked.

The stroll from our house to Arisu South Station took barely five minutes. From there, it was a quick ten-minute train ride to Yūki Academy Station, followed by another short five-minute walk to Yūki Academy itself.

As we reached the platform at Arisu South Station, Akira fell silent. I glanced over, curious, and caught her stealing nervous glances at another student wearing the same Yūki Academy uniform. Her restlessness was palpable, her fingers fidgeting.

It was clear her “borrowed cat mode” had taken over.

[T/N: In Japanese, “borrowed cat” or “karite kita neko” (借りてきた猫) is an idiom that describes someone who is usually lively and talkative but becomes unusually quiet and meek in a new or unfamiliar environment.]

Whether from nerves or anxiety, Akira hadn’t let go of my uniform sleeve since we’d left the house. The lively stepsister who’d endlessly play games and call me “Aniki” while clinging to me had vanished. In her place stood a refined, demure girl, her shyness almost tangible.

It might’ve been wrong to think it, but seeing her like that sent a quiet flutter through my chest.

We boarded the train, and I stood close to Akira, keeping her steady in the crowded carriage.

After a single stop, her head suddenly bumped against my chest. Then, a soft mumble slipped from her lips: “Haa… It’s fine, just like we practiced, just like we practiced…”

She pressed her head gently against me, as if trying to anchor her nerves.

“Akira, you okay?”

“Yeah, I’m fine. Being like this…”

Each sway of the train brought her forehead lightly against my chest, sending a faint, tingling warmth through me.

“You sure you’re okay?”

“Yeah. Just… let me stay like this a bit longer. I’m recharging…”

“What am I, your battery charger?”

“Yeah… ’Cause just being with you, Aniki, gives me so much energy…”

I wondered how we looked to the other passengers, this quiet moment between us. A flush of embarrassment crept up, and I shifted my gaze to the ads above the handrails, suddenly hyper-aware of my own heartbeat, hoping no one else could hear its quickening rhythm.

Akira finally released my sleeve as we passed through the ticket gate at Yūki Academy Station.

The closer we got to school, the thicker the crowd of students heading the same way became.

“Aniki, you’re walking kinda fast…”

“Oh, sorry…”

Instead of her usual sneakers, she wore loafers—the ones she and Miyuki-san had picked out at the mall two days ago.

“Loafers are so hard to walk in…”

“It’s just a matter of getting used to them,” I reassured her. “They’re tough at first, but you’ll break them in soon enough.”

“Like how I got used to sticking close to you, Aniki?”

“Don’t go saying that outside the house…” I muttered, feeling a flush of warmth. Truth be told, I wasn’t quite used to it yet either.

“My ankles are starting to hurt a little…”

“We’re almost there. Hang in there.”

“Okay, I’ll tough it out…”

“By the way,” I added, curious, “why’d you pick loafers? Sneakers would’ve been fine, you know.”

“’Cause loafers totally go with this uniform…”

She had a point. Glancing at the other female students around us, I noticed barely any wore sneakers.

“Yeah, you’re right…” I said, giving her a once-over. “They look good on you, you know.”

“Really?”

“Really.”

Looking at her again, Akira’s uniform suited her perfectly, transforming her usual vibe into something polished yet still unmistakably Akira. I couldn’t help but marvel at how a single outfit could shift someone’s presence so much—and at the fact that I was walking beside such an adorable little sister. Did Kousei feel this way strolling with Hinata?

My thoughts were interrupted when I caught sight of a familiar blonde ponytail bobbing ahead.

“Oh, spotted some friends.”

“Huh?”

“You know, the ones I told you about who helped clean your room.”

“Those two?”

“Yeah. Wanna go say hi?”

She gave a small, hesitant nod but stuck close to my back, her nerves apparent.

“Kousei, Hinata-chan, morning!” I called out lightly from behind.

“Hm? Ryou… ta—”

“Ryouta-sen… pai—”

Both Ueda siblings turned and froze, their eyes landing on Akira, who peeked nervously from behind me.

“Hahaha… It’s been a while, huh?”

“Y-Yeah…”

“Uh, well, yeah…”

The air felt heavy with awkwardness. Hinata’s expression was oddly gloomy, and Kousei seemed unusually stiff.

“Oh, let me introduce you. Come on, Akira.”

“Himeno… Akira…” she murmured, offering a shy bow.

＊　＊　＊

—Let me clarify something.

“Himeno” is Akira’s legal surname.

In Miyuki-san’s case, having remarried my dad, she had already joined his family registry as Majima Miyuki. But Akira remained under her biological father’s registry. I’d always assumed that when parents remarried, the kids’ registry automatically shifted too, but it turned out to be more complicated. I’d only learned this recently and still didn’t grasp all the details.

Akira, though, had chosen to keep “Himeno” rather than switch to “Majima.” Neither my dad nor Miyuki-san knew why, and when asked, Akira only said, “I want to keep it this way.” I suspected it tied back to her affection for her biological father, but I didn’t pry further.

Still, “Himeno” Akira, huh…

With a surname carrying “princess” in its meaning, it somehow made her seem even more delicate and girly.

“Oh, so you’re Himeno-san, huh?” Hinata’s tone carried a hint of stiffness as her eyes darted between me and Akira.

“This is Ueda Kousei,” I said, gesturing toward him. “He’s got a good face but can be a real piece of work—”

“Hey.”

“—And this is Hinata-chan, Kousei’s little sister. She’s in the same grade as you, Akira.”

“H-Hi…” Akira managed, offering another awkward bow.

“Um… So, what’s the deal with you and Ryouta-senpai, Himeno-san?”

“Oh, right! We’re siblings. You know, the kid of my dad’s new wife I mentioned before.”

The Ueda siblings exchanged a quick glance.

“Wait!? It wasn’t a little brother!?”

I laughed, scratching the back of my head. “Yeah, turns out it’s wasn’t a brother but a stepsister…”

“…Huh?” Both Kousei and Hinata froze, their mouths slightly agape, staring at us in stunned unison.

＊　＊　＊

At the gates of Yūki Academy, I gave the Ueda siblings a quick rundown of how things came to be, carefully sidestepping the bath incident.

“—Got it. You’re such an idiot, man,” Kousei said, not holding back his usual bluntness.

“Oh, so she’s your little sister!” Hinata-chan chimed in, her tone light and accepting. Thankfully, she didn’t seem exasperated by the mess I’d stumbled into.

Akira, meanwhile, stayed quiet, her gaze flickering between us. Her expression was hard to read, a mix of discomfort and something unsaid.

“You’ve got it rough, huh? Living with this moron.”

“Oi, you’re one to talk, lousy big brother,” I shot back, though his jab hit closer to home than I’d like to admit.

Akira stood beside us, her face still complicated, like she was wrestling with words she couldn’t quite voice.

“What’s up, Akira?”

“Aniki, the time…”

“Huh? We’ve still got time before the ceremony.”

“No, I mean, I need to go to the staff room…”

Right. She’d mentioned being called to the staff room earlier.

“Oh, I can show you to the staff room!” Hinata offered, her smile bright and eager as she looked at Akira who seemed a bit hesitant.

It’s a perfect chance for the two girls, both in the same grade, to hit it off.

“Akira, go with Hinata-chan.”

“Huh…”

“Hinata-chan, can I count on you?”

“Yup!” Hinata beamed. “Oh, and nice to meet you properly! Can I call you Akira-chan?”

“Just… Akira is fine. The ‘-chan’ feels a bit…”

“Got it! Nice to meet you, Akira!”

“Yeah.” Akira replied, her tone warming slightly.

The two girls started to warm up toward each other, their voices mingling as they walked.

But two striking beauties side by side naturally drew eyes. Whispers rippled through the crowd of students—guys practically drooling, girls buzzing about Akira, whose sharp features could easily pass for a pretty boy, murmuring, “Who’s that girl?”

Kousei and I trailed behind, watching them head toward the school entrance.

“Man, you seriously thought she was a guy for three weeks?” Kousei said, his tone dripping with disbelief.

“Yeah, well…”

“I knew you were dense, but damn…”

“Ugh…”

“So, how’d you figure out she was your sister?”

I couldn’t exactly tell him about the bath incident—not even to Kousei.

“Just… by chance, you know. —Anyway, I called you to ask how to deal with a little sister—”

“That’s what that call was about? I thought the summer heat fried your brain.”

“Geez, some friend you are…”

“I was gonna dump it on Hinata anyway.”

“That’s exactly why I hesitated to ask in the first place!”

Kousei threw me an exasperated look, but it quickly melted into his usual grumpy expression.

“So, your sister… Akira, right? Is she like that at home too?”

“Nah, she’s actually kinda different—” I started, giving Kousei a quick rundown of how Akira acts at home. He listened, then muttered, “Huh, interesting,” his tone unusually thoughtful.

“—Well, with Hinata around, she’ll probably be fine,” he added.

“Seriously, I’m so glad we ran into you two this morning…”

As I said that, Kousei, walking beside me, stopped just before the entrance.

“Your sister’s pretty cute, man,” he said out of nowhere.

“You, of all people, complimenting Akira? Don’t tell me—”

“Not like that, idiot. I’m just saying, seems like you’re the one who’s smitten.”

“…Don’t be stupid. She’s just my sister.”

“Hope so. But, Ryouta, you haven’t forgotten Mendel’s laws, right?”

“Yeah…”

Kousei, who’s known me since middle school, is the only one who knows my secret. Mendel’s laws don’t involve blood ties—that’s the real weight behind his words.

I understood what he was getting at. If something happened between me and Akira, it’d hurt Dad and Miyuki-san. But that worry was pointless. I’m not like that woman. Acquired traits aren’t inherited, and I’d never do anything to make my family unhappy.

“…Sorry for poking at it. Don’t give me that scary look.”

“Nah, you were just worried, right? Thanks.”

Kousei slung an arm around my shoulder, his usual casual gesture.

“By the way, aren’t you forgetting something?”

“Huh? Like what?”

He glared at me. “…The meal, man. You said you’d treat us for helping clean her room, remember?”

“Oh, right…” I mumbled, the promise slipping my mind entirely. Honestly, I was shocked Kousei even remembered.

“I’m swamped with my part-time job for a while, so at least take Hinata out to eat or something.”

“Nah, that’d be kinda…” I trailed off. Eating alone with Hinata? Way too awkward.

“She was waiting for you to call all summer, you know.”

“Hinata-chan? No way, really?”

“Dead serious. —So, don’t just focus on your sister. Look out for mine too.”

With that, Kousei walked off, leaving me standing there.

Kousei’s usually so quiet, but today he was surprisingly chatty. Look out for his sister, huh? I don’t have the confidence to handle a girl as put-together as Hinata.

Still, maybe it wouldn’t be so bad to go out to eat with Akira and Hinata, just the three of us next time.

＊    ＊　＊

The rumor of a beautiful transfer student had spread through Yūki Academy like wildfire.

During lunch break, as I ate with Kousei, I caught snippets of conversation from some guys in our class. “They say her name’s Himeno or something,” one whispered.

“Your sister’s causing quite a stir, huh?”

“Well, she is my sister, after all.” I replied, unable to hide a hint of pride.

“Ugh, that smug look’s annoying… Anyway, you sure it’s okay to just leave her be? The guys might be swarming her already.”

“Yeah, it’s been on my mind…” I admitted. If the rumor had reached the second-years, it had likely spread to the first- and third-years too. I’d heard there were some troublesome seniors in the third year.

“If you’re worried, why don’t you go check on her?” Kousei suggested.

“No way I’m going alone!”

“What are you, a girl? So annoying…” he muttered, but I was already wolfing down my lunch.

I dragged a reluctant Kousei up to the next floor. As we climbed the stairs and turned right, a crowd came into view, milling about in front of a classroom down the hall.

“That’s gotta be it.”

“And it’s Hinata’s class, too…”

Apparently, Akira had ended up in the same class as Hinata. A gaggle of guys bustled back and forth, no doubt trying to steal a glimpse of the new beauty. Kousei and I weaved through them, reaching the classroom door.

Peering inside, I saw a wall of girls clustered in one corner. Scattered around, guys sat here and there, sneaking glances toward the window. From where I stood, the center of the crowd was out of sight.

“She’s definitely in the middle of that,” Kousei said.

“Yup. Looks like Hinata’s caught up in it too.”

Our guess was spot-on. When a taller girl shifted, I caught a glimpse of Akira and Hinata through a gap in the crowd. Akira’s head was bowed, her expression troubled—likely overwhelmed by a barrage of questions. Hinata stood beside her, clearly trying to back her up. What a great kid.

“Your sister’s popular with the girls too, huh?”

“Back at her old school, she apparently got confessions from girls too,” I said, recalling how Akira used to grumble that being liked by girls was more of a hassle than being liked by guys.

“Well, with that crowd, it doesn’t look like the guys can even get close.”

“Yeah, seems like she’s fine for now. Let’s head back—”

As I turned to leave, one of the girls spotted Kousei. “Oh—Hinata, Kousei-senpai’s here! Oh my gosh, he’s so cool!”

The wall of girls parted with a whoosh, and Hinata and Akira turned toward us. Then, out of nowhere, Akira broke free from the crowd and rushed straight at me, grabbing my left arm.

“Huh? Akira?”

“…!”

She looked up at me, her eyes glistening as if on the verge of tears.

I glanced around hastily. The once-noisy classroom and hallway fell deathly silent, every pair of eyes locked on me standing there with Akira clinging to my arm.

This was… beyond awkward.

“Uh, hey, I’m Akira’s big brother…” I said, scratching my head with a forced smile. But the crowd just stared back, their faces practically screaming, “Huh?”

＊    ＊　＊

At the quiet back of the school building, Akira let out a loud “Haaah” sigh.

“Sorry, Aniki…”

“Don’t worry about it,” I reassured her.

Akira seemed to feel bad that I’d ended up drawing unwanted attention. Sure, being the center of everyone’s stares wasn’t exactly fun, but when I thought about how Akira had been dealing with those looks all along, I couldn’t bring myself to blame her. By now, the Ueda siblings were probably smoothing things over in the classroom, so we could leave it to them for the moment.

“Man, it was exactly as expected, huh?”

“What was?”

“I mean, a beauty like you transferring in was bound to cause a stir.”

“D-Don’t tease me…” She shot me a genuinely annoyed look, rubbing her left arm nervously.

“The rumors were going around in our class too, so I thought you might be in trouble—”

“You came to rescue me?”

“Huh? W-Well…” Her words caught me off guard, making it sound more heroic than it was. Sure, I’d ended up helping her, but it was more that I was worried about her. For Akira, though, that situation must’ve felt desperate enough to need rescuing.

A shy beauty… not exactly the best combination. Saying something like, “Looks like you’re already a star on your first day!” would probably just come off as sarcastic. So instead, I chose my words carefully.

“It’ll probably calm down after a while. But if you’re ever in trouble, you can always count on me.”

“Aniki…”

“That’s right. I’m your big brother, after all.”

With that, I hesitated for a moment before gently placing my hand on her head.

Back when I was a kid, whenever I was sad, Dad would pat my head like this, and somehow, it always made my worries and pain melt away. His hand felt like magic to me. Whether Dad or I actually had any magic was beside the point, but as I patted Akira’s head, she mumbled, “It’s embarrassing,” but a small smile tugged at her lips. Her silky hair felt so nice under my hand that I almost didn’t want to stop.

I worried it might seem childish, but Akira stayed quiet until I finally pulled my hand away.

“Hehe, thanks, Aniki…”

“Feeling better?”

“Yup!”

Just then, the warning bell rang, and we started back toward the school.

Watching Akira’s back as she walked ahead, I still felt a twinge of worry, but she seemed like she’d be okay. Still, this situation might drag on for a while. I didn’t want to lean on her too much, but I’d have to ask Hinata later to keep an eye on Akira.

＊    ＊　＊

Back in the classroom, Kousei was slouched at his desk, his usual grumpy expression firmly in place.

“Where’d you and your sister sneak off to?”

“That’s how you’re gonna phrase it?”

Kousei’s scowl deepened, a flicker of irritation in his eyes. “It was a mess after you left, you know. Hinata had it rough.”

“Not you?”

“Nah, too much hassle, so I came back here. Anyway, Hinata sent me a LIME message saying they grilled her about you and your sister.”

“Ugh, that’s my bad…”

“She told them you’re siblings, apparently.”

“That’s a relief…” I let out a breath. “I’ll thank her later.”

“You can leave your sister to Hinata. She’s got it covered.”

I half-expected him to just be passing the buck, as usual, but there was something more in his voice—a quiet confidence in Hinata. Beneath that grumpy exterior and careless attitude, Kousei’s got a kind, loyal streak. He doesn’t put people down or judge them without reason. It’s why we’ve stayed friends for so long.

“By the way, Kousei, you seem kinda pissed off.”

“Not really…”

“Something up?”

“Shut up.”

Even after all these years, sometimes I still can’t quite figure this guy out.

[T/N: LIME is a fictional messaging app commonly used in Japanese light novels, similar to real-world apps like LINE.]

＊    ＊　＊

The homeroom teacher’s lecture about suspicious people lurking around school dragged on past the final bell, but at last, we were released. “Especially you girls, try to walk in groups when going to and from school,” he’d droned, his voice fading into the background as I gathered my things.

I stepped out of the classroom alongside Kousei. We usually walked partway home together, and today, we’d planned to meet up with Akira and Hinata at the school gate, the four of us heading back as a group.

As we approached the entrance, the gate came into view in the distance. A crowd had gathered there, and a bad feeling twisted in my gut. I quickened my pace, Kousei keeping stride beside me.

Sure enough, Akira and Hinata stood cornered by a group of third-year guys—likely the troublesome seniors I’d heard whispers about. Their voices carried, brash and overconfident.

“Hey, what’s your name? Wanna exchange contacts?”

“So, you got a boyfriend or what?”

“That girl’s cute too!”

Akira and Hinata looked visibly uncomfortable, pressed against the gatepost in silence, their faces tight with unease.

I called out from behind the third-years, trying to keep my voice steady. “Uh, excuse me…”

One of them turned, sizing me up. “Hm? What’s up, kid? Second-year?”

“Those two are with me, so…”

“Oh, really? And?” His tone was mocking, dismissive.

“I’m heading home with them, so could you guys move?”

“Dude, I can’t even hear what you’re mumbling about,” another sneered.

“We’re talking to these girls, so don’t butt in, alright?”

My blood surged for a split second, a flash of anger threatening to spill over. For Akira and Hinata’s sake, I swallowed it down, forcing myself to stay calm.

I was still scrambling for what to do next when Kousei’s voice cut through, low and sharp.

“Hey, third-years, get lost,” Kousei growled, his glare piercing as he caught up to me.

The seniors flinched. “Ugh… It’s that second-year, Ueda…”

“Let’s go, man…”

Intimidated by Kousei’s presence, they scattered like startled birds, retreating without another word.

Kousei turned to his sister, exasperation in his voice. “…Geez, Hinata, how many times have I told you? If guys like that come around, scare them off.”

“B-But they’re seniors, and I was scared…”

“They’re not scary.”

Akira, still shaken, stepped closer to me, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. Her fingers lightly tugged at my left sleeve. “Aniki…”

“Were you scared?”

“Yeah…”

“It’s okay now.” I placed my hand on her head, giving it a gentle pat, just like I had at lunch. Relief softened her expression, and she gave me a clingy look, as if she might hug me right there—though, thankfully, she seemed too shy to try in public.

“Alright, let’s head home—” I started, glancing at the Ueda siblings. Kousei was scowling, his usual grumpy expression dialed up, while Hinata’s lips were pressed tightly together.

“What’s wrong?”

“”Nothing…”” Their voices overlapped in eerie unison, perfectly synchronized.

Well, those siblings were always close, so I shrugged it off.

After that, we walked home, chatting about nothing in particular.

Akira stayed quiet, her fingers still lightly clinging to my sleeve as we moved. Kousei wore his typical scowl, but Hinata’s unusual silence nagged at me, just a little, as we made our way down the familiar streets.