"Ahh...ah"
Even though I'm under such a clear blue sky, for some reason I can't stop yawning.
That's what I thought as I walked along the familiar path.
"You seem to always be sleepy."
Shiori, walking next to him, said with a half-amused look on his face.
"I couldn't sleep well thanks to someone somewhere."
"Well, poor thing. I'll sleep next to you so you can sleep in peace."
Shiori said with a gleam in his eyes.
"I'll pass."
I shook my head and refused with all my might. Seriously, please stop.
The sun showers down its rays like a shower, the trees lining the streets are changing color, and the smell of the leaves on the wind is so refreshing that it makes your heart turn green.
On this midsummer day, Shio and I walked side by side on the sidewalk.
Our school, Shumei High School, is a famous school with a fairly high average score even within Tokyo, but the reason I, a very unintelligent person, was able to get into such a difficult school is because Shiori kept track of my grades every day until the day of the entrance exam. I was able to pass with flying colors thanks to my hard work, but frankly, I'm not sure if I can keep up with the studies from now on.
I had said the same thing before the entrance ceremony, but when Shiori said, "I'll help you with your studies every day," I broke out in a cold sweat.
He said it like he was joking, but his eyes weren't smiling...his eyes.
Since then, I've come to think that having an excellent younger sister is a bad idea.
"Hey, Shiori. You can still--"
"No."
"Can't you transfer schools?" I tried to ask, but Shiori interrupted me.
"Since we were able to be in the same class, I don't want us to be in the same class."
"You see them all the time at home, don't you?"
"Because he might cheat on me when I'm not looking."
Shiori said, staring intently at my face.
"I want to be by your side forever."
"Somehow..."
"Hey, bro?"
Before I could finish my sentence, Shiori's face began to twitch and twitch.
"Did you know, brother? Even on sunny days, it can rain."
"Is that so...?" I asked, despite the sweat starting to run cold.
"Yes - it's called blood rain."
As he spoke with a smile, Shiori's face was so cool that he didn't even notice the summer heat.
"Yes... yes, let's hurry. If we don't hurry we'll be late."
"Yes ♪"
This time, Shiori nodded with a big smile. It seemed that blood rain had been avoided.
With a sigh of relief, we walked side by side along the school route.
The cloudless blue sky shone sunlight onto our feet, casting a light so cheerfully that it was hard to believe that the ozone layer was still being absurdly destroyed.
"--It's hot again today."
It's natural that summer is hot, but you can't help but throw it at someone.
However, Shiori's face flushed and he gave a completely off-topic answer.
"That's right. When I walk with you, I feel so happy I could melt."
"Are you ice cream?"
I couldn't help but interject, but the person in question didn't seem to mind.
"Hehe. In that case, would you like some?"
"You idiot, that sounds different."
It's always been like that, from my childhood to now.
Shiori's thought process has always been one and the same: "As long as I'm here, everything is fine."
All I have are memories from long ago, all I have are of us being together.
I couldn't help but find my only little sister adorable.
He always thought of Shiori first and when she started crying he rushed over to help her.
Looking back now, maybe that wasn't a good idea.
She had become a perverted woman who attacked her own brother completely naked.
If I could, I'd like to give my younger self a lecture, but no matter how much I regret it, I can't go back to the past.
...Well, it's not like I don't like the way things are now so much that I want to do it over again.
I was standing in front of an intersection, about halfway between my house and school.
"Um, um..."
As expected of siblings, we turned around at the same time and saw a familiar face standing there.
"Good morning, Shiori-chan. Su-kun..."
"Yo. Good morning Honoka. Hmm, what's up?"
"...match"
When I returned the greeting, he suddenly stopped moving and just stood there.
She just stares at me, her shoulders shaking nervously like a small animal.
This is Miyaji Honoka, our childhood friend.
Her reddish wavy brown hair was curled neatly around her shoulders, and her large eyes and curled eyelashes suited her perfectly. Her nose was high and well-defined, making one think she was some kind of rich young lady, but her constant timidity was her only flaw.
"Ah, ah..."
I don't know what she's so anxious about, but she looks into my eyes and opens and closes her mouth.
Seeing this, Shiori gives me a cold, freezing gaze.
"Honoka-chan, why are you giving my brother such heated stares?"
"Hii?! Um, well... I'm sorry!!"
Honoka bowed her head, bending her back 180 degrees in response to the imposing presence of the sign.
"No, it's nothing to be angry about... Are you okay, Honoka?"
"Eh? Ahhhh."
Honoka looks at me, shaking her head.
I guess it had the opposite effect. I tried not to stimulate it as much as possible.
I said to Honoka, who was cowering like a small animal.
"Hey, just act normal. You're cuter when you smile."
"Is...cute?..."
She turns her tear-filled eyes towards me.
"Right. So, have confidence in yourself."
I held out my hand as gently as I could.
"Yeah...Thank you, Su-kun."
"Brother! What's with you acting all lovey-dovey with Honoka-chan?!"
"Yaw!"
Honoka tried to take my hand, but she flinched when Shiori struck her with lightning, and crouched down with her knees in her arms.
I mean, who's acting all lovey-dovey?
"I'm sorry Su-kun, it's just because I'm no good."
Saying this, he bowed his head again and again.
"N-no... it's not like that, so calm down, okay?"
He said while lightly patting Honoka on the head.
"... Flute."
Seeing Honoka pout with a look of happiness on her face for some reason, Shiori's eyes widen.
"Brother! Why is it always Honoka-chan?!"
"Ahhh! I'm so sorry!!"
While I was comforting Honoka, Shiori's face turned red and he started yelling at me.
"Taku, it's always like this when the three of us get together," I sighed in my mind.
Our houses had been in the neighborhood since she was little, but because she was naturally timid, she was always bullied by bad kids, and her parents were very strict about education, so there was no place for Honoka to go.That's when I secretly took Honoka out of the house.
When I say we took her out, I mean we just went sliding down the slide at the park and built sandcastles, which were just normal kid's play, but Honoka seemed to be having a great time and laughing. By the time we got home covered in mud, it was getting dark, and I still remember my mom giving me a severe scolding.
From that time on, Honoka and I started hanging out together as childhood friends.
Shiori also joined us then, and the three of us started hanging out together more often.
It was around that time that Shiori's jealousy became intense.
I sighed for the umpteenth time today and thought to myself.
Sometimes...I want to go to school quietly.
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