Tak! Tak! Tak! The forceful sound of typing echoed throughout the room. Looking out the window, I saw the town bathed in an orange glow. I'd been so focused on my work that I hadn't realized how much time had passed.
I'd been working for quite some time, but strangely, I didn't feel particularly fatigued. The moment I finished a section, the moment I completed an episode, a rush of happiness, satisfaction, and freedom would wash over me, naturally lifting my spirits. The instant I pressed the final Enter key, any fatigue would be blown away.
Some time had passed since I formed the master-servant contract with Shino. I'd grown accustomed to her outrageous behavior and the mixed emotions—curiosity, jealousy, envy, and even hostility—mingled in the gazes my classmates directed at us when we were together.
My relationship with Shino... It's hard to describe. It's not exactly student-like, but we're living something akin to a half-cohabitation.
The words she spoke, claiming to be a maid and offering to help with household chores, have become reality. She comes home with me two or three times a week, prepares dinner, and even prepares breakfast for the next morning.
Of course, during those nights, we share a bed and do what comes naturally. To my former self, this life seems like a dream, and I find myself wondering how it all came to be. Lately, I've seriously begun to think I might have accumulated too much merit in my past life. I might have saved people from famine or epidemics or something like that. Otherwise, I'd be too blessed in this life.
As this lifestyle continued, Shino's personal belongings gradually accumulated in my home. Pajamas, toothbrush, facial toner. She even left a few casual clothes here, and now she has three maid uniforms.
Even if we were to start living together completely, I suspect our life would go smoothly without any major issues, given how thoroughly Shino's personal belongings have invaded my room.
Every time she comes over, her belongings multiply, making me suspect she might actually be serious about moving in someday.
Now that our living situation has changed so much, it's inevitable that I've undergone some small changes myself. Specifically, I've become more proactive about household chores. I can't just leave everything to Shino. Even tasks I used to dread, like cleaning the bathroom and toilet, I now tackle with a light hum.
In other words, we've managed to divide the household chores effectively. It makes me think that even if Shino and I were to start living together for real, we might actually make it work.
Well, this is just the fantasy of a guy who writes erotic novels. It's not happening in reality. In fact, Shino isn't coming over today. Whenever I post a new chapter of my erotic novel, she always says she doesn't want to disturb me and goes back to her place.
...I suspect she just wants to read it and jerk off, to be honest.
"Alright, done."
The submission to the site is complete. I feel like I'm standing in a meadow under a clear sky, with a refreshing breeze rustling the grass, my arms spread wide. It's a bracing feeling.
Still in a good mood, I decide to go shopping. Normally, I buy half-priced bento boxes at the supermarket when I'm alone, but today I figure I can treat myself to something I really want, even if it's not discounted.
Just as I stand up...
Ping, poong.
A lethargic chime sounds. It's the intercom at the front door.
I wasn't expecting any visitors. Did Shino change her mind? I wonder as I head to the door and open it.
"Forgive me for this sudden visit at such an ungodly hour. Please excuse my rudeness."
A girl in a traditional kimono, carrying a large pouch, bowed deeply before me.
Stunned, I couldn't muster a response. She raised her head, met my gaze, and offered a gentle, charming smile.
Her attire was a simple, unadorned indigo kimono. The girl herself had the fair complexion and refined features of a Japanese doll.
Her bangs hung slightly over her eyes, and her long hair was cut just below her shoulders. She looked like a character from a folktale, utterly ethereal.
Yet, within her small face, her large, round eyes gave her an innocent, youthful appearance. Considering her petite stature and short height, she was almost certainly younger than me.
Her smile felt friendly, but unfortunately, I didn't have any childhood friends I'd sworn future vows with who had moved away, nor any arranged fiancée my parents had chosen. I was certain I'd never met this girl before. Had I mistaken this for a friend's house?
"Gouji Takatsuki... is that you?"
"Huh? Oh, yeah. That's me, Gouji Takatsuki."
The voice brought me back to my senses. Perhaps it was my hobby's fault—I'd been so absorbed in observing the mysterious girl before me that I hadn't even returned her greeting. How utterly rude of me.
Her voice was cool and refined, like the gentle trickle of a brook—soft but clear, almost whispered. A whisper voice, they call it. A calming voice that made you want to listen to it forever.
I wanted to listen, but I couldn't afford to.
Her words made it clear that the mistake wasn't with my house.
Since she knew my name, there was no doubt that I was her purpose.
"Ah, we've finally met. Kotoha has been waiting for this day for a long time."
The mysterious girl sighed in relief, as if a weight had been lifted, and patted her chest.
Her smile was calm and kind, reserved yet pure and undeniably endearing.
"Wait... Are you...?"
That smile triggered a realization.
Though it was the polar opposite of this girl's gentle smile, it overlapped in my mind with the defiant grin of my sharp-eyed classmate.
"Yes. My apologies for the delay. My name is Tsurugi Kotoha. I am Onee-sama Shino's younger sister."
Ah, so that's it.
Despite the differences in eye shape and overall aura, upon closer inspection, the structure of their faces was strikingly similar.
Imagine Shino from three or four years ago, make her even smaller, give her large, drooping eyes that are cute and innocent, soften her demeanor... She'd almost seem like a completely different person, but that's how Tsurugi Kotoha would be completed.
"I've heard so much about you, Onii-sama Gouji, from Onee-sama. It's an immense honor to finally meet you."
"Brother?"
"Ah... I'm terribly sorry. I just..."
Startled, I blurted out a question. Kotoha-chan flinched, her gaze darting around awkwardly, her cheeks flushing crimson.
She was visibly flustered, shaken, and embarrassed.
"Kotoha... has always... admired the idea of having a brother... My only sibling is Onee-sama Shino, but no, that's not to say I'm dissatisfied with her..."
Japanese is such a tricky language. I stumbled over my words, realizing what I might have just said.
But I think I vaguely understand why she calls me "brother." I'm an only child, and when I was younger, I always wanted a sister or a brother. There was even a time I asked a friend's older sister if she'd be my Onee-san. If Kotoha had heard about me from Shino, even without ever meeting me, she might feel that way.
"Sorry, I was just a little curious. You can call me whatever you like. Anyway, we shouldn't stand here talking. Let's go upstairs."
"Are you sure that's alright?"
"Yeah. I can't offer you much in the way of hospitality, but... Kotoha-chan, do you prefer green tea or coffee?"
"Oh, no, really, don't trouble yourself. Your kindness is enough... Ah..."
Kotoha-chan seemed flustered, her hands fluttering nervously before her chest. Could she really be related to Shino?
I urged her to come inside, and she continued her fidgeting, managing a hoarse, "Thank you for having me."
...Is this girl really related to Shino?
*****
"Here you go."
"Thank you. I'll enjoy it."
As Kotoha-chan sipped the tea I'd prepared, her eyes softened, and she sighed contentedly. Just moments ago, she'd seemed tense and rigid, but the warmth of the tea seemed to have relaxed her.
When I'd asked if she preferred green tea or coffee, she'd timidly chosen green tea. It seemed her taste buds differed from her coffee-loving sister, Shino.
"I'm terribly sorry for barging in like this. Thank you so much for welcoming me so warmly."
"Don't worry about it. More importantly... you came alone, didn't you, Kotoha-chan?"
"Yes. Onee-sama shouldn't know that I'm here today," Kotoha-chan replied, her gaze falling to the green surface of the tea. Her words were unremarkable, but the moment she mentioned Shino, her well-shaped eyebrows furrowed slightly. I sensed a kind of determination or resolve. Could it be that her relationship with Shino isn't as close as I thought?
"So why come to my house? Did you need something from me?"
I tried to subtly change the subject, wondering if I'd touched on a sensitive topic. No, it was probably just my own unfounded anxiety, but I still felt nervous.
"Yes. Actually, I'd like you to sign this for me."
"Sign?"
Kotoha-chan pulled a binder from her pouch. It looked like the type that opens in the middle to hold loose-leaf pages.
Still unsure of the situation, I took the binder anyway... and suddenly felt nervous. To be honest, I had no idea what Kotoha-chan wanted me to sign or what this binder was really about, so I felt like I was facing Pandora's box.
Wanting to be under the spell of the tea magic myself, I took a sip of the tea I'd brewed for myself, then opened the binder.
The title The Story of How I Trained a Cool Transfer Student into a Bitch leaped into my vision.
"Ugh! Buh-chock! Buh! Goh! Gohoh!"
"Ma...?! Are you alright...?!"
I tried to hold it in for a moment, but it was useless. I accidentally sprayed green tea everywhere, and Kotoha-chan rushed over to me. She wiped my mouth with a handkerchief she pulled from her pocket and patted my back. I inwardly praised myself for quickly lowering my head to avoid getting my binder wet.
Of all the titles, I never expected to see that one.
"Sorry... Thank you. More importantly... what's this?"
"Kotoha... I find myself wanting to turn the pages. The frustration of being denied that fleeting motion for even a fraction of a second is unbearable. So, without asking, I had it printed. My apologies."
I flipped through the pages, and sure enough, every word was familiar.
It's undeniably embarrassing, but... well, if it means she likes it that much, I can't really be upset. It's fine for personal enjoyment—oh, wait, no, hold on. My thoughts caught up to me belatedly.
"...Are you reading it?"
"Yes. I always read Takeki-sensei's works with great admiration. The cool, aloof heroine drowning in carnal desires and falling into depravity—it's so thrilling. Imagining that scene, getting worked up, and comforting myself... I often lose track of time and end up reading through the night. I don't usually have strong preferences for heroines, but the ones in your stories are like my Onee-sama... They really get to me."
Like my Onee-sama? Actually, Shino was the model. But I didn't have the guts to say that.
Kotoha blushed and covered her cheeks, her closed eyes likely conjuring vivid images.
I understood now. The girl before me was undeniably Shino's younger sister. And apparently, they had a good relationship. That put my mind at ease.
"It's that kind of work... I figured Onee-sama, who enjoys self-degradation, would definitely like it, so I recommended Sensei's work to her."
"Wait, wait. So Kotoha-chan taught Shino that... thing?"
"Yes. She got more invested in it than I ever expected. But her appreciation for Sensei's work is no less fervent than Onee-sama's."
I was speechless. This was only the second time I'd experienced this feeling in my life, and I was no more accustomed to it now than before. The thought of this girl before me—a junior, someone who seemed rather reserved—reading my erotic novel...
I never imagined something like this would happen. Originally, I wrote it down so I could vividly recall my masturbation fantasies at any time. Honestly, I just hoped that somewhere out there, a guy with peculiar tastes—someone with similar kinks to mine—would jerk off to it.
Kotoha-chan has a strikingly beautiful face, the kind that could be described as mature and elegant. Yet, a hint of childishness around her eyes reminds you she's younger, making her seem both sophisticated and endearingly cute.
This girl—reading my erotic novel, getting aroused, and comforting herself... In other words, masturbating. Of course that would get me excited.
The image popped into my mind instantly, vividly. She seemed to prefer green tea, and her appearance reminded me of a Japanese doll. So, the scene that came to mind was Kotoha-chan in a traditional Japanese room, sitting on a futon spread over tatami mats, a binder open in her lap as she rubbed her smooth, youthful cleft with her fingers.
"O-Onii-sama... This..."
"Ah, no, this..."
It's probably just a bad habit of mine, but I instantly get hit with erotic fantasies.
So... right in front of Kotoha-chan, who was wiping my damp pants, I ended up flaunting a big, tent-like bulge.
"Well... you see, a woman came to your man's house uninvited. It's hardly surprising if she disappoints your expectations..."
Gulp. Kotoha-chan, looking nervous, swallowed hard. When she reached for her belt, it immediately loosened and slid smoothly off.