Episode 1: “So, the school festival is coming up soon…”

Monday morning, six o’clock sharp.

I jolted awake a full thirty minutes before my smartphone alarm was set to go off. After stretching once, I snapped to attention and quickly scanned my room—but everything seemed normal this morning, so I released a sigh of relief and pressed a hand to my chest.

What was I checking for, you ask? Well, I’d like to explain, but since it looks like the source of my concern is heading this way right now, I quietly turned my attention toward the door.

The doorknob turned with the deliberate slowness of a clock’s second hand, and the door opened without so much as a whisper. Through the gradually widening gap, what peeked in wasn’t a burglar, but—

“Morning, Akira.”

“Hwah!? You’re awake, Aniki!?”

—Just as I expected, it was Akira.

Her face flushed crimson like a child caught red-handed in some mischief, unable to hide her embarrassment.

“Why were you trying to sneak in like that?”

“W-well, that’s… um~… Obviously to wake you up, Aniki!”

“Is that so?”

Lately, Akira has made it her mission to wake me up every school morning. I appreciate the gesture, really. Being roused by your stepsister first thing in the morning is like something straight out of a manga or anime dream scenario. The problem is, her method of waking me up is… well, let’s just say it’s not exactly conventional.

“More like, why are you up before I even get here, Aniki?”

“Is that a bad thing? I guess I just sensed danger and woke up naturally.”

“…Tch. And I had a new move planned too.”

“Hey, don’t go adding unnecessary variations to the flying body press.”

Yeah. Akira’s wake-up method essentially consists of professional wrestling moves.

If it were something like gently shaking my body while saying, “Onii-san, it’s morning, please wake up,” or bouncing around on my stomach going, “Nii-nii, it’s morning! Time to get up!” that might still be acceptable…

“By the way, what kind of variation were you planning?”

“Um, jumping and then both knees—”

“No, never mind. I get the picture…”

“Then Aniki, I’ll demonstrate now, so go back to sleep.”

“Absolutely not! Listen up, Akira, you need to understand something. You can’t use wrestling moves on an amateur who’s asleep, especially when you’re an amateur yourself. Elbows and knees are dangerous. That’s not something amateurs should mess around with lightly.”

“Um… So it’s okay if you’re awake, Aniki?”

“Were you even listening? It’s absolutely not okay even if I’m awake!”

When I scolded her, Akira clicked her tongue with another “tch,” or so I thought—

“I’m only doing this kind of thing for you, Aniki…”

—This time, she twisted her body shyly and looked up at me with those puppy-dog eyes.

“That didn’t have nearly the effect you think it did…”

I was thoroughly exasperated. This kind of thing—like the flying knee drop she was about to attempt on a whim? Why do I have to feel like my life is in mortal danger every single morning because of my stepsister?

“Thanks to you, I’m starting to develop a habit of waking up early. Whether it’s instinct or some cellular-level response, I wake up from pure survival instinct anyway.”

When I said that with a hint of sarcasm, Akira made a bored expression.

“For me, seeing your sleeping face every morning is the highlight of my day.”

“That’s exactly the kind of thing you shouldn’t make a habit of—”

—We’re not lovers or a married couple, after all. Even as step-siblings, that still feels… off somehow.

“Anyway, breakfast seems ready, so get changed and come downstairs, okay?”

“Yeah, sure. Got it.”

Akira headed downstairs with light, bouncing steps, but I just stared blankly at the door after she left. Well anyway, time to get up.

＊　　　　　　＊　　　　　　＊

After getting ready, I went down to the first floor, and unusually, both Dad and Miyuki-san were there this morning.

“Morning, Dad, Miyuki-san.”

“Morning, Ryouta. You’ve still got some serious bedhead going on, you know?”

Dad—Majima Taichi—works in film set design, and lately with the busy season in full swing, he’s been coming home late at night. By the time I wake up in the morning, he’s usually still fast asleep. He sometimes stays overnight for work too, so meeting like this in the morning is actually quite rare.

“Oh my, it’s true! What a waste for such a handsome young man, Ryouta-kun.”

Miyuki-san, smiling warmly at my disheveled hair, is Dad’s remarriage partner and my stepmother. She’s a makeup artist who works on movie and drama sets, and apparently met Dad by chance through work. She’s so beautiful, it makes perfect sense why Akira turned out to be such a beauty herself—the kind of gorgeous mom you’d want to show off—but her slightly airheaded side is something of a character flaw.

This morning, she must have an early call time at work. She was already dressed to go out, her makeup flawlessly applied.

“This is unusual, seeing both husband and wife together.”

“Yeah. I’ve got a half-day off, so I can take it easy a bit longer—”

Dad glanced at the wall clock and informed Miyuki-san, “It’s ten past seven.”

“Ah! I have to leave now!”

“I’ll take care of the dishes. Just leave them.”

“Hehe, then I’ll leave it to you, Taichi-san.”

“You got it.”

Miyuki-san entrusted the cleanup to Dad, pulled off her apron, and dashed upstairs to the second floor. It’s been about three months since the remarriage, and even with both of their unpredictable work schedules, their relationship seems rock-solid for now. What’s more, I can’t remember seeing Dad look this genuinely happy since the divorce.

“…I’m glad for you, Dad.”

“Yeah. Taking a half-day to relax in the morning is pretty great.”

“That’s not what I meant…”

Dad gave me a confused “Eh?” look. Well, yeah, that was my fault for being unclear.

Actually, there was one more positive development. That is—

“Ah, Taichi-san, I’ll help too.”

“Thanks, Akira. That’s a big help.”

—Like this, Akira had started calling Dad “Taichi-san” instead of “oji-san.” She’s probably following Miyuki-san’s lead, but it seems like Dad and Akira’s relationship is gradually bridging the gap too.

Akira put on the apron Miyuki-san had been wearing over her uniform, stood next to Dad, took the freshly washed plates, and started wiping them dry with a dish towel. As I watched that scene, I felt an immense sense of relief.

Thinking back to three months ago when I first met Akira—

“Look, I’m gonna say this upfront, but I’m not here for any cozy family bonding.”

—She’d said something like that, but once we got to know each other, she turned out to be straightforward and cheerful. Now, she’s completely unguarded around me, as close as any little sibling could be.

Though the flying body press wake-ups and her slightly (?) mischievous side can be quite troublesome… There are a few other things that worry me, but overall, our relationship is in a good place.

Really, though—how did I spend those first three weeks thinking Akira was a guy and treating her like a brother? With that cute apron over her uniform, no matter how you look at it, she’s clearly just a beautiful girl. I’m honestly ashamed of my past self for mistaking her for a pretty boy—and suddenly, Akira’s hair swayed as she turned, and our eyes met.

Akira secretly smiled at me and casually winked.

Cute… No! Idiot, they’ll notice!

I hurriedly glared at her, and she grinned mischievously. Dad continued washing dishes right there, completely oblivious…

—This is how Akira strikes when I let my guard down. Including these tactics, this stepsister is just too cute for her own good…

I let out a quiet sigh so no one could hear, and then came the patter of Miyuki-san’s footsteps descending from the second floor.

“Ryouta-kun, I have a favor to ask. Is that okay?”

“What is it?”

“I’ll be home late again today, so can you and Akira handle dinner? There’s some prepared food in the fridge.”

“Got it. Be careful on your way.”

“Thanks, Ryouta-kun. Well, I’m off then.”

“Have a good day—Ah, Miyuki-san, your wallet and keys!”

“Ah, sorry!”

Miyuki-san made an “oops” face, then smiled and said “I’m off” to Dad and Akira before trotting toward the entrance.

—This is our Majima family. Once again, I was surprised at how this life has become completely natural.

Dad’s here, Miyuki-san’s here, Akira’s here, and me… Just a few months ago, I couldn’t have imagined it, but I’m starting to really love these slightly noisy days as a family of four.

As I pondered that deeply, a steaming mug was placed in front of me with a soft clink.

“Here, Aniki, I made some coffee for you.”

“Thanks, Aki—Hey, wait a minute…!?”

I glanced at Dad and hurriedly lowered my voice.

“…This is the mug you were just using, right?”

“Yeah, so what?”

“What do you mean, so what—I was just wondering why it’s not my usual mug…”

“Because it would make more dishes to wash.”

“Ah, that does sound reasonably efficient…”

“So don’t worry about the whole ‘indirect kiss’ thing or whatever. I don’t mind.”

“Ugh!”

The way she said it felt deliberately provocative. But yeah, at this level, getting worked up about it means I lose.

“Fine. Then I’ll gratefully accept it—”

“My lips…”

“—Cough cough!?”

She muttered something outrageous under her breath, making me spit out my coffee spectacularly.

“Whoa, hey! That’s gross, Aniki! It’s gonna get on my uniform!”

Whose fault is that supposed to be…

＊　　　　　　＊　　　　　　＊

“Are you still mad about earlier, Aniki?”

Right after leaving the house, Akira teased me about the coffee incident.

“Yeah, kind of.”

“Sorry. As an apology, I’ll give you a hug—here.”

Akira spread her arms wide.

“See, that’s exactly it, that’s the problem! Akira, could you maybe tone it down a bit…”

“Tone it down? What do you mean?”

“Don’t play dumb. You’re enjoying my reactions, aren’t you?”

I looked at Akira with exasperated eyes as she grinned mischievously.

“Busted, huh? But well, this is training too.”

Training—according to Akira, it’s training to get used to having a little sister. From the moment I learned she was my stepsister, not a stepbrother, I suddenly started seeing her as the opposite sex and became distant.

So what Akira proposed was to maintain the same close distance as when I thought she was a brother. In fact—

“If we get even closer than we are now, you won’t be conscious of it anymore, right?”

—It evolved into the theory that being half-aware of her as a girl is what creates the distance. So, she decided to go all out and get intimate, starting this “get used to a sister” training.

But after that, it was a boomerang of consequences—all the ways I’d actively engaged thinking she was a brother came back to hit me. Naturally, with no immunity to girls, I was thrown into complete confusion.

—Is this really training to get used to a sister?

Along with that doubt, I was genuinely worried. If we keep this up, our relationship might shift from siblings to something more like opposite sexes… It wasn’t just needless anxiety.

In the end, Akira ended up developing feelings for me as the opposite sex. This kind of situation is probably unprecedented in history. If there are similar cases, I’d like to learn how to handle it.

But anyway, Akira’s recent advances feel really precarious. It’s more nerve-wracking than heart-fluttering, better described as a “tightrope effect” than a “suspension bridge effect.” One wrong step and it’s straight down.

…Just to be safe, I should warn her.

“Akira, what you did this morning is absolutely off-limits.”

“…Which thing?”

“You know, with Dad right there, the… wink, and the indirect kiss… Anyway, that stuff is forbidden!”

“Ah, that. But it’s training, so don’t overthink it.”

“No, at that level, it’s not sister training anymore, right? Telling me not to worry about it is what’s impossible.”

Then Akira stepped in front of me, blocking my path, and looked up at me. I instinctively stopped walking.

“Well, maybe it’s more like training to get used to me specifically?”

“I’m plenty used to you already. We don’t need it anymore, seriously…”

“Nope. Aniki, you still aren’t trying to close the distance with me.”

—That’s not in the family direction! I retorted internally.

“Anyway, Akira, no pulling that stuff in front of Dad and them.”

“For you, getting caught would be bad, right, Aniki?”

“Wouldn’t it be bad for you too, Akira?”

“Hmm… If we get caught, then we’ll deal with it when it happens.”

“You’re pretty nonchalant about it, huh? Where does that confidence come from…”

Then Akira smiled and said, “Because you said you like me, Aniki, right? You promised to take responsibility if we get caught.”

She pinched the sleeve of my shirt lightly. That—yeah, I did say that. But bringing it up now is unfair. That was when I still thought she was a brother, and we ended up in the bath together—No, let’s not dig up that particular day…

“If we get caught, I might get kicked out of the house.”

“It’s fine. If that happens, I’ll leave with you, Aniki.”

Akira said that, now peering into my face with a bright smile.

“Where should we run away to, Aniki? Going somewhere no one knows us and living quietly together sounds nice.”

“Hey now…”

Is she joking, or serious…?

“You’re jumping way ahead. We’re still kids, so instead of running away, isn’t it more important to endure for now?”

When I lightly scolded her, Akira laughed “Ahaha” without a hint of remorse.

“You’re really kind, Aniki.”

“Eh? How so?”

“I can tell you’re seriously thinking about how to keep everyone from getting hurt.”

“Well…”

“You’re trying to protect the happiness of me, Mom, and the whole family, right?”

Family happiness—that’s what I want for myself. It doesn’t necessarily align with what Akira wants.

Right now, choosing family happiness means not crossing the line beyond a sibling relationship with Akira—honoring her feelings. Still, it means we can’t become lovers or anything more. But really, it’s not about seeing them as opposites; it’s just the current situation.

If these circumstances were different, I’d probably accept Akira’s feelings honestly.

“Sorry for troubling you. Even knowing how you feel, Aniki, I just can’t hold back my own feelings…”

“No, seriously, please do—”

—Because I might not be able to hold back myself either, but I didn’t say that aloud.

“And while I’m apologizing…”

“What?”

“Even so, I wanted to tell you that I’m ready to give up all sorts of things to run away with you, Aniki.”

“Eh?”

“Because I really love you, Aniki.”

“———!?”

Sheesh, this stepsister of mine… Saying something like that right to my face. Why does she always try to stir up her brother’s heart so much?

“Ehehehe, sorry, Aniki. I got you all flustered again. But it’s because I’m happy, so I couldn’t help it.”

“Huh? Happy? About what?”

“You said earlier that holding back is more important right now, right?”

“Yeah, uh-huh.”

“That means you actually want to get closer to me too, but you’re restraining yourself, don’t you?”

“……!? Um, well, that’s, you know…”

“Once I thought about that, sorry, Aniki. I actually can’t hold back anymore.”

Akira’s eyes suddenly sparkled with mischief. Somehow, I had a very bad feeling about this—

“Akira-san! Let’s calm down a bit, okay? We’re in public here—”

Before I could even finish, Akira leaped straight at me.

“—Hey! Oi, Akira, don’t hug me from the front like that—!”

“Aniki, carry me like a princess to the station!”

“I won’t! You’re heavy! Let go!”

At least it was a relief that there were no passersby around, but would anyone believe we’re siblings in a situation like this?

—Just like that, Akira clings to me today with her carefree smile. But actually, she has one significant problem she’s dealing with.

＊　　　　　　＊　　　　　　＊

To get to the private Yūki Academy we attend, we have to take the train partway. We board at Arisu South Station and get off at Yūki Academy Front Station, then it’s a five-minute walk. The one-way trip takes less than thirty minutes.

However, Akira suddenly grows quiet around the platform at Arisu South Station. It’s become the usual pattern.

“Still not used to it, Akira?”

“Yeah. Sorry…”

“You don’t have to apologize.”

“Thanks, Aniki…”

As if her playful clinging from earlier was a complete lie, now she was hiding behind me, looking downward. Probably because she spotted other Yūki Academy students on the platform.

This is when Akira switches from “home mode” to “borrowed cat mode.” Akira is extremely shy around people. When this “borrowed cat mode” activates, Akira sticks right to me and won’t let go.

No, in a way, the clinging part is the same as usual, but instead of being like a lively little brother who’s all playful, she transforms into a prim and timid little sister. So even for me, I’m still uncertain about how to handle this dramatic change.

A month has passed since the second semester started, but Akira’s shyness remains completely unchanged.

“The train’s here.”

“Yeah.”

“Let’s get on.”

Akira murmured a small “yeah” again and followed behind me.

Once aboard, Akira and I stand side by side right by the door as usual. During this rush hour for commuters and students, the car is fairly crowded, and seats are never available. Most passengers are absorbed in their smartphones or quietly chatting with friends.

After the train started moving, I looked at Akira standing beside me, still gripping my sleeve. Her face was indeed tense. Her previous school didn’t require a train commute, so she’s especially uncomfortable with crowded trains full of people.

If I were her real brother, what would I say to my sister at a time like this?

“Good thing it’s sunny today, huh?”

“Yeah…”

What was particularly good about it being sunny? I said it myself, but I don’t even know. Probably if it were cloudy, I’d say “It’s cloudy, huh?” or if it were raining, “It’s raining, huh?” It would be nice if I could say something wittier, but I ended up escaping to the usual weather small talk.

“How’s studying going? Keeping up okay?”

“Yeah.”

“If there’s anything you don’t understand, ask me. Well, I’m not confident I remember last year’s material, though…”

“Thanks, Aniki…”

The conversation didn’t expand, and it stopped right there. Filling the silence with words is more for my own anxiety than for Akira’s sake. I just can’t help worrying whether Akira feels uncomfortable being with me.

I suddenly turned my gaze to the cityscape flowing by outside the window, and then pondered whether I could do something about Akira’s shyness.

Shyness—even saying that, there are apparently various types. In Akira’s case, one-on-one she ends up with a somewhat prickly attitude (not that she means to), but with groups, she shrinks up like now.

Regardless of what she thinks, I want to do something about Akira’s shyness. Miyuki-san feels the same way. She occasionally asks about how Akira is doing outside, and each time I reply “Leave it to me”—but in reality, I haven’t accomplished anything.

—Well, if Akira herself doesn’t mind it being like this, it might just be meddling…

As I was thinking that, Akira’s head nudged against my chest.

“Haa… Sorry, again today…”

“I know. Recharging, right?”

“Yeah… Sorry, just a little longer, like this…”

“It’s fine, it’s fine…”

Akira leaned her forehead against my chest in an apologetic posture. This action of Akira’s, which is more common on Mondays, apparently helps relieve her tension.

At first, I was the one getting tense, but lately I’ve started getting used to it. But along with getting used to it, maybe it’s improper, but one desire has begun growing in me. I want to embrace this small body just like this.

“Thanks, Aniki. For always being by my side…”

“Well, I’m your personal charger, after all.”

“…I love you.”

“Ah, yeah, uh-huh…”

Being told that in this situation throws me completely off balance. Sheesh, this stepsister… Why does she… No, for now, I’ll just lend her my chest.

＊　　　　　　＊　　　　　　＊

About ten minutes after boarding, we arrived at Yūki Academy Front Station. After exiting the ticket gate and walking a bit, mixed in with the students heading to school, I spotted a particularly eye-catching pair—no, the Ueda siblings.

As I approached to catch up, the siblings were discussing something.

“Morning, Kousei, Hinata-chan.”

“Ah, good morning, Ryouta-senpai, Akira.”

Hinata turned around and greeted us with her usual cheerful expression. In contrast, Kousei gave us a quick glance with his usual sour expression and muttered “Sup” shortly before facing forward again.

“Kousei, you’re as unsociable as ever…”

“Don’t need to be sociable with you guys.”

Hinata tugged at Kousei’s uniform as he spoke with boredom.

“Come on, Onii-chan! They’re friends, so try to get along!”

“Ah, yeah yeah.”

“There you go with that attitude again!”

“Ahahaha… Well, well, Hinata-chan, calm down…”

The Ueda siblings are always like this. The contrasting pair sometimes argue, but fundamentally, I think they’re close. This exchange is a form of communication too.

“Sorry, Ryouta-senpai. My brother is like this…”

“Shut up.”

And Kousei lazily raked his blond hair upward.

“No need for you to worry, Hinata-chan. Kousei’s just being his usual self.”

“Yes, sorry…”

Hinata’s really a good kid. She’s excellent at being considerate of others, and both Akira and I owe her a great deal. But maybe because of that bright personality, her sense of personal space is a bit close, which can make me flustered sometimes.

On top of that, recently with the meal invitation situation, facing her feels a little embarrassing. …I still haven’t replied yet.

“By the way, what were you two talking about earlier?”

“Yes. I was asking Onii-chan about next month’s Kanon Festival.”

“Ah, it’s already that time. The Kanon Festival, huh…”

“Last year it overlapped with my middle school cultural festival, so I couldn’t attend.”

“I see. So this is your first time?”

“Yes. But Onii-chan says he doesn’t remember, he forgot—”

When Hinata puffed up and looked accusingly at Kousei, he scratched his head irritably and said, “Don’t ask me.”

As I smiled awkwardly with a “Well, well,” my sleeve was tugged.

“Aniki, what’s Kanon Festival…?”

“Ah, Kanon Festival is the name of Yūki Academy’s school festival—”

—And while explaining to Akira, I decided to inform Hinata about it too.

Kanon Festival—the name of the school festival held annually at Yūki Academy. It runs for two consecutive days: the first day is for current students only, and the second is open to the public. The celebration concludes with a campfire party, which is quite rare these days.

Last year, Kousei’s and my class operated a curry shop. We didn’t turn a profit, but it created wonderful memories, and I feel like the class bonded somewhat. Well, Kousei and I weren’t particularly enthusiastic, but I have memories of us two guys somehow having fun—

“—So, think of it as a reasonably enjoyable school festival.”

“It sounds fun! Right, Akira?”

“Yeah.”

When Hinata addressed her, Akira’s expression seemed to soften slightly.

“See? Should’ve asked Ryouta from the start.”

“Really, I should have asked Ryouta-senpai first.”

“Yeah yeah, you two…”

The Ueda siblings looked about to start bickering again, so I intervened.

“So anyway, Ryouta, teach Hinata everything about it.”

“Huh, me!?”

This sloppy hand-off is Kousei’s specialty. If he finds something troublesome, he immediately dumps it on someone else. When I consult him about anything, he usually ends it with “Ask Hinata,” so he’s completely useless as an advice-giver.

Well, actually, I can’t deny I’m dependent on Hinata too. Especially with Akira-related matters, she’s helped so much I can’t thank her enough.

“Fine~ Since my unreliable Onii-chan won’t help, I’ll ask Ryouta-senpai.”

“There you go, Ryouta. Nice to be depended on, huh?”

Kousei’s smirking grin is annoying. As if he had successfully shoved the hassle onto someone else.

“So, when does the real preparation for Kanon Festival begin?”

“Hmm… Based on last year’s experience, I think the class selects executive committee members around the first week of October and starts discussing what to do. Clubs probably start moving around then, too—”

—I said, but I’m not entirely confident. Kousei and I were more focused on enjoying the fact that classes got canceled for preparation, wishing it could continue forever, so we were pretty careless about the actual schedule.

“Anyway, there should be a discussion after school next week or so… probably.”

“Got it, Ryouta-senpai. Teach me more later, okay?”

And Hinata smiled brightly. As we talked and walked, we arrived at school and separated to our respective classrooms.

＊　　　　　　＊　　　　　　＊

Right after entering the classroom, I placed my belongings on my desk and spoke to Kousei. There was one thing I was genuinely curious about.

“Kousei, about Hinata-chan…”

“Hm?”

Kousei continued fiddling with his phone without looking my way.

“Don’t you think you should act a bit more brotherly toward Hinata-chan?”

“Brotherly, how?”

“Um, like being a little nicer…”

“I am, aren’t I?”

“Where?”

“We go to school together.”

“…Is that being nice?”

I thought for a moment, but it somehow feels insufficient.

“How are things going at your place lately?”

“Well, school’s still completely different from home, but at home… well, you know? We’re close.”

“Close how much?”

“N-normal, I guess…?”

“What’s normal?”

“Normal is normal. We play games together, study together—”

—Sleep together, bathe together… that’s definitely not everyday stuff, certainly not normal. Maybe just a bit more physical contact… Is that our family’s normal?

“…Why are you blushing?”

“I-I’m not!”

“Hmm… Whatever—”

Kousei looked exasperated.

“—In your case, it’s not just being nice, you seem overprotective of Akira.”

“Well yeah, we’re siblings… If she’s in trouble, I want to help…”

“So you’re gonna look after her forever like this?”

“Uh…”

When I couldn’t respond, Kousei sighed deeply.

“If you think of her as a sibling, maybe don’t spoil her so much? Normal siblings maintain some distance.”

“Yeah, maybe…”

Overprotective of Akira… Well, it’s true I can’t leave her alone, but maybe I should think more carefully about how I treat her. Her depending on me too much might not be beneficial for her…

Alright, then starting now, I’ll try maintaining a little distance gradually.

＊　　　　　　＊　　　　　　＊

The next morning. Again, I woke up thirty minutes before the alarm. Akira hasn’t arrived yet this morning either.

Maybe because Kousei called me overprotective yesterday, my chest feels somewhat uneasy. As I stared blankly at the ceiling for a while, the door slowly opened just like yesterday. Akira must have come to wake me up again.

I closed my eyes and pretended to sleep.

—I’ll wake up at the perfect moment and turn the tables on her. Dodge the flying body press perfectly and then climb onto her back.

As I simulated the scenario in my head, I soon felt someone standing beside me.

“Aniki, are you awake…?”

Akira asked quietly. I remained unresponsive, waiting for Akira’s next move, and—

“I love you, Aniki—… Chu.”

—I thought I felt breath on my cheek, then a soft lip sensation touched my left cheek.

“I’ll keep telling you every day…”

I almost twitched in surprise, but I pretended it tickled and rolled over to face away from Akira. What I know starts from here, and I don’t know what happened before I woke up.

“Aniki, it’s morning…”

A gentle voice whispered in my ear, not really intending to wake me up.

“Aniki’s sleeping face is so cute after all…”

I was completely caught off guard.

—Does Akira do this every morning!? Kiss me while I’m sleeping!?

My heart pounded even harder. Thinking I’d completely missed the timing to wake up, now she started poking my left cheek with her fingertip repeatedly.

I sighed inwardly, then—

“—Morning, Akira.”

As I slowly opened my eyes, I saw Akira’s face, bright red and panicking.

“Eee—!? Aniki, when did you wake up!?”

“…Around when you started poking my cheek—”

—I lied.

It felt embarrassing somehow, difficult to say aloud. After that, the morning kiss wasn’t mentioned, but the sensation of lips on my cheek lingered like a gentle burn.

—Well, anyway?

The distance thing can wait for later…