Chapter 6 | April 5th (1:00 PM)

(St. Liliana Academy – Dormitory)

 

Now, the school was closed on this day.

Blessed with good weather, I had invited a certain guest to the dormitory to fulfill a promise with my sister.

“Wow. It’s nostalgic~”

Standing in front of the gate and looking up at the two-story dormitory with sparkling eyes was Ms. Jinno Kaoruko. Despite her age, she has a childlike face, with a gentle smile and droopy eyes as her trademarks. She is my editor.

“I thought it would be more run-down, but it’s much more intact than I expected. It’s still perfectly usable as a dormitory~”

“No, no, there are quite a few places that are falling apart, you know? Well, we’re planning to have a contractor come in soon to fix things up, so it should be much better than it is now.”

“Buildings really deteriorate quickly when people stop living in them~. Oh, by the way, Akito-kun, you look a bit pale. Are you feeling okay?”

“Huh? Really? No, I’m fine.”

“Is that so~? That’s good then. A professional writer’s job includes managing their own health, so please be mindful of that. ……Oh, and is that person over there?”

“Yes, that’s my sister. ……Hey, Akiko, come over here.”

When I called out to her, my sister, who had been at the entrance, came over.

“……I’m Himenokōji Akiko. Nice to meet you.”

“I’m Jinno Kaoruko. Nice to meet you too~”

They exchanged introductions.

The soft, smiling Ms. Jinno and Akiko, whose guarded expression was evident. It seemed like quite the mismatched pair.

So, let me explain how things led to today.

Earlier, when Ms. Jinno called the dormitory, Akiko was the one who answered.

↓

Ms. Jinno made a comment that made it seem like there was something inappropriate between us.

↓

Akiko was furious and demanded an explanation from me.

↓

Later, I was made to promise to introduce Ms. Jinno to prove my innocence.

……And so, after asking Ms. Jinno, she kindly agreed to come today.

“Ah, but really, I’m sorry, Ms. Jinno. I know it’s your day off.”

“No, no, it’s fine. In fact, it’s perfect timing for me. I’ve been meaning to come for a while, but I haven’t had the chance without a reason like this~”

“Ah, I see. That’s a relief. ……Speaking of which, I’ve been wondering something.”

“Yes?”

“Your comments seemed like someone who has a connection to this dormitory. Or is it just my imagination?”

“No, it’s not your imagination~”

With her usual relaxed smile, Ms. Jinno nodded.

“Because I’m a graduate of Liliana.”

“Eh? Really? I didn’t know that.”

“Hmm, I guess I never mentioned it, huh?”

“Geez, you should’ve told me. We could’ve talked about lots of things.”

“By the way, I lived in this dorm for three years.”

“Seriously!?”

Then you should’ve said so earlier!

Maybe she was keeping it a secret to surprise me? No, that doesn’t seem like her. Or maybe she just forgot? No, that doesn’t feel right either.

Hmm. She’s still as hard to read as ever.

“So, I’m a reliable partner at work, a senpai from the same school, and a senpai from the dormitory. That’s why I want to train Akito-kun even harder from now on, so please take care of me~?”

“Ah, thank you. Please take care of me too.”

I bowed my head in response to Ms. Jinno’s bow.

She’s talking about training me hard, but she’s so laid-back.

“Muu……”

As for my sister’s reaction to Ms. Jinno……

“She’s someone he works with, a school senpai, and a dorm senpai…… and she’s really cute…… with all these factors, she’s clearly a dangerous person…… but she seems so innocent and nice…… it’s really hard to judge……”

She seems to be struggling with various thoughts.

“Um, Akiko-san,”

Ms. Jinno stepped forward and said,

“I’ve been wanting to meet you for a long time. I’m really happy that my wish has finally come true today.”

“Ah, yes. Nice to meet you.”

“So, there’s something I really want to talk to you about.”

“? What is it?”

“Well, it’s……”

Saying that,

Ms. Jinno took a deep breath,

“──I think Akito-kun is really horrible~!!”

She shouted at the top of her lungs (though it was only about 20% louder than her usual tone) and thoroughly scolded me.

“Really, really, Akito-kun is just terrible. Even when I tell him, ‘You absolutely have to finish the work by this date,’ he doesn’t do it at all. Even when Akito-kun confidently says, ‘It’s fine, I’ll definitely finish by then,’ he still doesn’t get the work done. And when I check how much progress he’s made, it turns out he hasn’t done even a single page──no, he hasn’t made any progress since the day I assigned the work~!”

“Ah, ah……”

“First of all, Akito-kun is still a complete beginner──no, his career is still very short, so this is a crucial time for him to earn the trust of our partners. I’ve told him this over and over again, but Akito-kun just doesn’t listen. Seriously, if Akito-kun doesn’t shape up soon, I’ll keep getting scolded by the president. What do you think about that!? Akiko-san~!”

“Ah, yes. Um. I think that’s very bad.”

Jinno Kaoruko-san is famous for not being scary even when she’s angry, so even though she’s venting her frustration, there’s no real intensity. Still, it’s clear that she’s genuinely troubled, and Akiko seems a bit flustered.

By the way, I’ve asked her to keep my job (as a novelist) a secret from my sister, but with the way Ms. Jinno is acting now, it seems like she might accidentally let it slip (or she’s already half-spilled it).

Maybe I should step in at the right moment? But stopping her when she’s worked up might backfire……

“So, Akiko-san!”

“Yes.”

“Please make your onii-chan behave properly! Otherwise, I might lose my job~!”

“Ah, ah. I’ll do my best.”

“Please, I’m counting on you! I’ll do anything to turn Akito-kun into a proper adult~!”

“Anything?”

Kira~n.

A strange light glinted in my sister’s eyes.

“So, if it’s to help Ms. Jinno by reforming my onii-chan, anything is allowed, you say……?”

“Yes!”

“And for that purpose, everything else can be prioritized, right?”

“Exactly!”

Hey, are you okay, Ms. Jinno? You’re getting carried away and saying anything goes…… When she gets flustered, she really loses sight of the consequences. If she’s not careful with her words, this could end badly──

“Understood. Leave it to me.”

I told you so.

Akiko’s breathing heavily, clearly thrilled.

“Since it’s a request from someone my onii-chan works with, I have no choice. I, the unworthy Himenokōji Akiko, humbly accept this mission.”

“Wow, thank you! With Akiko-san’s help, I feel like I have the strength of a hundred people~!”

“You can entrust it to me as if you’re on a big ship. I’ve already come up with ideas to reform onii-chan.”

“Really!? What are they!?”

“Yes. I call it ‘The Operation to Make Onii-chan Melty for His little sister, So He’ll Obey Everything She Says and Be a Kind Onii-chan Today.’”

“……Eh?”

“The goal of this operation is very simple. First, make onii-chan like me even more than he does now, and then make him listen to what I say. As they say, ‘Simple is best,’ so it’s better not to overcomplicate things.”

“? ……?”

“And to make onii-chan melt for me, I’ll start implementing various strategies from today. First, thorough expressions of affection, like good morning kisses and goodnight kisses. Next, thorough physical contact. Holding hands, patting my head, carrying me, letting me sleep next to him, and so on. By giving him lots of rewards, onii-chan will cherish me even more. And that means onii-chan and I will spend more time together. If I’m by onii-chan’s side all the time, I can constantly check if he’s causing trouble for Ms. Jinno. It’s a perfect plan…… I’m scared of my own genius……”

“Ah…… um……”

Ms. Jinno was completely overwhelmed by Akiko’s outburst.

Well, yeah.

If you’re faced with that kind of thing at first meeting, that’s a natural reaction.

“So, can I leave the onii-chan reform plan to me, Ms. Jinno?”

“……Um, forgive me for asking, but……”

“Yes. What is it?”

“Akiko-san, are you maybe…… a huge brocon?”

“Yes, that’s right!”

My sister answered confidently, puffing out her chest.

“Being a brocon is my personality, a gift from God! I’ve loved onii-chan and only onii-chan since the day I was born!”

“So, Akiko-san, you see Akito-kun as a man, right……?”

“Of course!”

“……Oof~”

Akiko showed no sign of shame, and Ms. Jinno looked deeply uncomfortable.

Hmm. Maybe it’s time to wrap this up.

“Hey, Akiko. Ms. Jinno is feeling awkward, right? Let’s stop here.”

“Ah. Yes, I’m sorry, onii-chan. I got carried away and ended up being rude to our guest.”

“Yeah, be more careful next time. So, are you satisfied now?”

“Yes? Satisfied with what?”

“That Ms. Jinno and I don’t have some strange relationship, right? That’s why I asked her to come here today.”

“Ah, of course! Ms. Jinno is a very nice person who shows understanding for minorities!”

“Good. I’m glad.”

She seems to be interpreting things conveniently, but whatever.

Right now, it’s not about my sister but our guest.

“Um, sorry, Ms. Jinno, we’ve been talking for a while. Let’s go inside. Akiko has prepared tea and snacks.”

“……Onii-chan is a siscon, and his little sister is a brocon…… This is bad…… very bad…… Something must be done……”

“Ms. Jinno?”

“Ah, yes!? What is it!?”

“Let’s go inside. I’d love to hear more about your memories of this dormitory.”

“Ah, yes. Sure. Then, if you don’t mind, I’ll take you up on that offer.”

Ms. Jinno smiled as she said that, but her expression remained stiff.

The impression of my family has hit rock bottom…… Well, I’ll make sure to fix this in the next part of the story.

◆

And as I expected, Ms. Jinno’s expression gradually brightened.

“Wow! It’s exactly the same~!”

The moment she stepped into the dormitory, Ms. Jinno’s energy skyrocketed.

“Wow, this is still here~”

“Ah, but this part is broken! So sad~”

“Oh, look, this scratch! I did this~. Back then, I got scolded so hard……”

She affectionately shared her memories of her former residence. Her quick mood swings and ability to move on make her who she is.

Well, anyone would feel excited in this situation. This building was originally scheduled to be demolished, after all. To Ms. Jinno, it must feel like finding a wallet she thought she’d lost forever.

After walking around the dormitory, we had a tea party in the dining hall.

The dorm’s residents, who had been informed of the visit in advance, also joined.

“Well, welcome. As the student council president and a dorm resident, I wholeheartedly welcome you, senpai.”

“You’re beautiful and cute, totally wasted on Akki.”

“Beautiful women always seem to gather around Akito, it’s been that way since forever…… Well, that aside, there’s no reason to be rude to a senpai who’s come to visit. Let’s do our best to make her feel welcome.”

The council president, Nasuhara-san, and Ginbei.

Their reactions varied, but overall, their impression of Ms. Jinno seemed positive. Well, Ms. Jinno is the type of person who exudes innocence and kindness at first glance, so unless something major happens, it’s hard to have a bad impression of her.

In any case, the tea party proceeded in a pleasant atmosphere.

The cheesecake Akiko baked and the premium Assam tea Ginbei brought out were both excellent, adding to the charm of the tea party. Ms. Jinno’s stories about her memories and the dormitory’s traditions and customs were also fascinating. It was a very meaningful time overall.

And just as the event was winding down, Ms. Jinno, who had been smiling the whole time, suddenly looked serious and spoke up.

“Um, excuse me. Can I ask something~?”

After this preface, she looked around at the underclassmen and said,

“Um, I wanted to ask about Akito-kun……”

“Hoho. What about Himenokōji Akito?”

This was the moment for the older members to step in──so the council president took the lead.

“You’ve got a dark look on your face, like you’ve got something you’re really worried about. Did this guy do something? If so, as the student council president, I’ll take responsibility. Don’t hesitate to tell me.”

“Well, no, it’s not like that. It’s not like Akito-kun has done anything that’s caused actual harm or anything.”

“No, no, Jinno-san, you don’t have to say it for me to understand. After all, Jinno-san is an absolute beauty, so it’s no wonder Himenokōji Akito would lose his head over you, right?”

“Huh? Lose his head, you say?”

“Well, anyone can imagine it, right? A beauty like Jinno-san and a young man with too much pent-up sexual energy… put those two together, and there’s only one possible outcome. Right, Himenokōji Akito?”

“What do you mean, ‘Right, Himenokōji Akito?’”

I glare back at the student council president with a deadpan expression.

“Please don’t project your own values onto everything. Besides, the one with pent-up sexual energy here is you, President, not me.”

“Hey, hey, lying to yourself isn’t good. Saying you don’t feel anything in front of a beauty like Jinno-san is almost disrespectful. In fact, the moment I laid eyes on her, I was already turned on… If the situation allowed it, I’d have already had a go with her and we’d be having pillow talk in bed by now. Right, Jinno-san?”

“Huh? Uh, um, yes?”

“Hey, President. Please don’t flirt with my important work partner. …Sorry about that, Jinno-san, our president is just like this. Please don’t take it to heart.”

“Uh, sure.”

“Hahaha. Well, Jinno-san looked a bit tense, so I thought I’d lighten the mood with a frank joke, and it just slipped out.”

“What part of that was a frank joke? That was just sexual harassment.”

“If you think so, why don’t you ask the person herself? Whether she felt uncomfortable with my talk or if it worked as I intended.”

“There’s no need to ask something like that. There’s no way that kind of conversation would lighten the mood—”

“Ah. It actually did lighten the mood.”

Contrary to expectations, Jinno-san responded with a calm answer.

“I was definitely surprised, but I didn’t feel uncomfortable at all. Well, the content of the conversation wasn’t exactly refined, but it was more like… charmingly playful? Nikaido-san, you’re such a mysterious person, aren’t you?”

“…See? Told you.”

“Seriously…”

Jinno-san’s soft smile returned, and the student council president looked triumphant.

Meanwhile, I was left utterly dumbfounded.

“Nikaido-san, even though you’re much younger than me, you seem so reliable and composed. You’re really suited to be St. Liliana Academy’s student council president.”

“I’m honored by your praise. How about tonight? Why don’t you spend the night with the woman you’ve taken a liking to, and we’ll enjoy the morning together?”

“Oh, no~. I’m not into that kind of thing, I’m pretty normal~.”

“Oh, my bad. But Jinno-san, everyone says that at first. If I backed down just because I was rejected, I’d be a disgrace as a woman. I’ll try again another day, so be prepared.”

“Oh my, oh my. You won’t gain anything by wooing an old lady like me~?”

…Hmm.

It’s true that Jinno-san doesn’t seem to dislike it. In fact, she seems to be enjoying the silly conversation. It’s less like she’s handling the president and more like the president is steering the conversation in that direction.

I see, so this is the skill of a seasoned playboy. Even while joking around, they never make the other person uncomfortable. It’s almost like the techniques of a top-tier host.

“So, what was it you wanted to talk about, anyway?”

“Ah, yes, that’s it! Um, well…”

Jinno-san clears her throat, and her shoulders tense up again.

Huh? But what could it be?

A topic that makes Jinno-san this nervous… If it were about work, she wouldn’t need to bring it up here, so it’s probably something personal. But in this situation, I can’t think of anything that would—

“Um, I’d like to ask everyone something.”

With a determined look in her eyes, Jinno-san finally speaks up.

“Don’t you think Akito-kun is an extreme siscon?”

…

…………

……………………

A brief silence and an awkward atmosphere fill the room.

After a moment, the president speaks up.

“Out of all the things you could’ve said… Jinno-san, you didn’t even need to say it. Himenokōji Akito = siscon is more undeniable than the first law of thermodynamics. It’s a universal truth, you know?”

“Well, that’s true.”

Nasuhara-san agrees as well.

“He really doesn’t seem to care about anything other than his sister. If his sister is sick in the east, he’ll go nurse her. If his sister is tired in the west, he’ll carry her luggage… Everything revolves around his sister.”

“Rather than a siscon, he’s more like a sister idiot.”

Even Ginbei nods in agreement.

“To him, everything in the world can be divided into two categories: his sister and everything else. With such a simple binary, his entire life is dictated by it. In a way, it’s an easy way to live.”

Huh?

Wait a minute?

Aren’t I being pretty harshly criticized here?

“Right!? That’s exactly it!?”

Meanwhile, Jinno-san looks like she’s finally found validation.

“Of course, I don’t have any objections to him caring for his sister. In fact, I think it’s wonderful that siblings get along so well. But, well, I can’t go into details, but Akito-kun’s siscon tendencies are affecting his work—well, actually, it’s having a positive impact on his work, but still, Akito-kun is just such an extreme siscon that he’s almost crossing a dangerous line, don’t you think!?”

“Yeah, totally. That’s exactly it.”

“That’s right. Anyone who sees him would think the same.”

“Indeed. He’s quite the troublesome individual.”

…Hmm.

It seems like a certain group of people are really hitting it off. It’s like someone who wanted to say, “The king has donkey ears!” but couldn’t, finally letting loose and getting excited.

Well, but still.

No matter what they say, my “official stance” remains unchanged.

“Hahaha. What are you all talking about? I’m not a siscon at all. Come on.”

“…I’m impressed by how thick your skin is.”

The president sighs at my response.

“Why don’t you just admit it already? To the rest of the world, you’re clearly a super-class siscon.”

“No, no. Of course, I care about my sister. We’re siblings, after all. And she’s my only family in this world.”

“It’s natural to care about your family. I understand that.”

Nasuhara-san gives me a cold look.

“But there’s a limit to everything, or rather, a degree. In your case, Akki, it’s clearly gone too far. You might not realize it yourself, and outsiders might not notice, but… your life revolves entirely around your sister. To those of us living under the same roof, it’s painfully obvious.”

“No, no. Saying I don’t care about anything else is going too far. And I don’t think I’m that lenient with Akiko. In fact, I’m pretty strict with her. Just the other day, we decided to live in separate rooms, right? I was the one who supported that decision, even though Akiko was crying and protesting.”

“Well, if you only look at the surface of your actions, I suppose that’s true.”

Ginbei joins in on the attack.

“Based on the facts we know, or the phenomena we’ve observed, at most, Akito is just a ‘normal brother who loves his sister.’ Even the fact that he spent six years trying to get Akiko back can be seen as an act of familial love. But Akito, to those of us close to you, we can feel it in our bones—just how extreme your siscon tendencies are. No matter how much you try to cover it up on the outside, you can’t hide what’s inside.”

“See!? See, see~!”

With backup from all sides, Jinno-san looks like she’s just won a major victory.

“Right!? Everyone agrees, right!? Akito-kun, you really are a siscon. Please admit it and start walking the right path~. Okay? Okay?”

Despite her childish face and her best attempt at a dignified expression, Jinno-san’s plea doesn’t really resonate with me.

But thinking about it again, she really is a good person.

If she wanted to prove I’m a siscon, she could’ve just revealed that I laminate my sister’s photos and keep a ‘sister diary’ where I check on her every day.

Of course, Jinno-san is tight-lipped, and I only told her because I trusted her (though now I wonder if that was a mistake)… But the fact that she’s keeping quiet about things she shouldn’t say is honestly touching.

It makes me happy, and I’m truly grateful that she cares about me as her assigned writer. Having Jinno-san as my editor is a stroke of luck I should be thankful for.

I’m also grateful to my fellow student council members, who, in their own ways, are looking out for me. Thanks to them, my student life will be even more fruitful.

…But still.

That’s that, and this is this.

Well, let’s wrap up this pointless argument.

“Alright, everyone, let’s do this.”

“Do what, exactly?”

“It’s simple. Let’s ask the person in question.”

With that, I call out to my sister, who hasn’t had a chance to speak yet.

“Hey, Akiko. What do you think?”

“What do I think? Well—”

My sister looks puzzled.

“I don’t think Onii-chan is a siscon at all.”

“Whaaaat!?”

Jinno-san is the first to react.

“W-why not!? Even though Akito-kun is like that, why would Akiko-san deny it!? Uh… huh!?”

“W-well, no need to be so surprised…”

Flustered by the strong reaction, Akiko explains.

“It’s true that Onii-chan cares about me a lot. But that’s just normal sibling love. There’s nothing more to it.”

“B-but that’s—”

“In fact, if there were something more, I’d be doing a victory dance and celebrating! If anything, I’ve been working day and night to make Onii-chan into a siscon. You could even say that’s my goal.”

“Well, that might be true, but—”

“In fact,”

Akiko puts her hands on her hips and sighs.

“If Onii-chan were a huge siscon and saw me as a romantic interest, and if I were aware of that, my approach to him wouldn’t be as half-hearted as it is now.”

“…Ah.”

Jinno-san is speechless, and Akiko shrugs and continues.

“If I were too aggressive, Onii-chan would pull away. That’s why I’m holding back at this level. But if Onii-chan were a siscon and saw me as a romantic interest… that would be such a dreamy scenario. If that were the case, I’d quit school right now and find a place where we could live together, just the two of us. We’d hide the fact that we’re siblings and live as a happy couple… Ah, what a wonderful life that would be. Of course, that’s only if Onii-chan were a siscon.”

With the face of a dreamy maiden, Akiko leaves the student council members speechless, exchanging glances.

Yep.

Looks like the match is over.

“So, Onii-chan.”

“Hmm? What is it, Akiko?”

“Are you actually a siscon who sees me as a woman?”

“Nope. Not at all.”

“Sigh… I knew it. I knew it, but everyone kept saying it, so…”

“By the way, everyone was saying that I only care about my sister, that I’m crossing a dangerous line, and all that. What do you think, Akiko?”

“What do I think? I don’t think that at all. Onii-chan is cold to my advances, and he talks to plenty of other women… You can’t call that a proper siscon. Onii-chan should work harder to become a real siscon.”

“Yeah, sorry. Not happening.”

“Please become someone who only has eyes for me and crosses all the dangerous lines.”

“Yeah, sorry. Not happening.”

“Boo… Onii-chan, you’re so mean.”

“Well, no need to be so disappointed. As your brother, I still love you more than anyone else in the world.”

“Uuu~… Of course, that makes me happy, but I still want Onii-chan to see me as a romantic interest!”

“Yeah, yeah. Not happening.”

“Then even if you don’t see me as a romantic interest, please marry me!”

“That’s an even higher hurdle than seeing you as a romantic interest.”

“Then even if you don’t marry me, please go to the legal affairs bureau and submit the necessary paperwork!”

“That paperwork is basically marriage. Not doing it.”

“Then swear eternal love to me in front of God!”

“Please get away from there.”

“Okay, then—”

“I’m not kissing, hugging, or patting your head either.”

“Ugh! You’re shutting down all my options in advance! Onii-chan, you’re so cruel! As punishment, please sneak into my room tonight!”

“Yeah, sure. Let’s do that.”

“Huh?”

“I’ll get plenty of sleep during the day, eat stamina-boosting food, and drink expensive energy drinks. Then I’ll sneak into Akiko’s room in perfect condition. I won’t let you sleep tonight.”

“W-wait, but, uh, I wasn’t prepared for this sudden development! I mean, I’m always ready, but this is so sudden! What should I do? I don’t even know how to handle Onii-chan’s intensity… Ah, sorry, I need to take a shower first! You’ll give me that much time, right!?”

“Or we could just do it right here, right now.”

“Whaaaat!? S-so aggressive all of a sudden… But, uh, this is my first time, and I’m not sure if I can handle Onii-chan’s intensity… Ah, what should I do? Should I study up on it now? Ah, sorry, I need to take a shower first! You’ll give me that much time, right!?”

“Hahaha. Akiko, you’re as cute as ever.”

“Huh!? From the way you’re talking, I think you just tricked me, didn’t you!?”

“Ahaha. Well, well. Hahaha.”

“Goddamn! Playing with a maiden’s pure heart! Onii-chan, you’re so cruel! So cruel!”

“Hahaha.”

…And so, that’s how it went.

While casually brushing off my sister’s playful punches, the matter was settled.

Jinno-san, the president, Nasuhara-san, and Ginbei all let out deep sighs in the corner of my vision, but I’ll pretend I didn’t see that.

“No matter how you look at it, they’re a couple of idiots…”

“Even the hot springs of Kusatsu couldn’t fix those two…”

“At this point, you just have to give up on those two…”

I think I heard voices like that, but I’ll ignore those too.

Me and my sister, and everyone around us, are all at peace.

Yeah. It’s best to leave it at that. Yep.