Chapter 21
In my previous life, my sister rarely got involved with the people around me.
But there was one rare exception—Kasumi.
My sister… knew that my parents were living overseas and wouldn’t attend the graduation ceremony, so she actually prepared her own official documents and name to attend in their place.
That was the first time she met Kasumi, my friend, and with her usual quirky energy, she swept Kasumi up and the three of us went out to eat together as a graduation commemoration.
To be honest, I was really happy back then. From that moment, I truly felt that she had become my real sister—not just an advisor or mentor, but a genuine family member.
Back then, my sister acted entirely on her desires and emotions.
So she would jump right in with her usual energy even when meeting someone for the first time, and watching her do that was nerve-wracking.
But this time, my sister isn’t like that. So I could relax—
“Hey hey, a couple of high school girls on their way home! Thanks for always being nice to Akira! As a thank-you, I’ll pay for your meal here. It’s on me! I’ll even get you some Chicken Crisps! Best cost performance, you know!”
“What kind of greeting is that for a first meeting…? Kasumi, sorry for the surprise.
This is a distant relative of mine—a maid sent by my parents because they left me home alone.”
Of all things, she didn’t even bother pretending to be a cool, composed maid—she came at full energy as usual… Kasumi froze in shock!
“Oh? What’s the matter, high school girl? And your friend, too. Oh! I was only planning to treat Kasumi, but since you’re with her, I’ll give the girls here a special treat too. All three of you—”
“Okay, let’s calm down a bit, onee-san. We’ve already ordered, so let’s just wait at our seats quietly.”
“Aw man, it’s the first meeting with Akira’s best friend and now you’re telling me to chill—”
Maybe my sister felt some resistance to “tricking” people with a performance.
She met Kasumi in a similar way in my previous life, and Kasumi accepted her then.
…Hopefully it wasn’t just that she was excited to be at Maok and her energy got the better of her.
After that, we moved to a booth and the five of us—Kasumi, her two friends, me, and my sister—sat down to eat together.
Come to think of it, I barely knew anything about Kasumi’s social circle. She even had female friends?
“Um… let me introduce myself properly. I’m Kasumi Hokujou. I’m Akira’s friend.”
“‘I’m Akira’s friend,’ what do you mean? Kasumi’s been my friend for three years.”
“Oh ho, so eventually, while saying ‘male-female friendship doesn’t work,’ Kasumi-girl corners Akira against the wall and makes a move? Big sis likes situations where the guy ends up on the receiving end!”
This girl…!
“Hahaha, I like situations where women have the upper hand too. Akira, seems like you have an interesting maid to keep you company, huh?”
“She makes things lively every day. Sorry about that, both of you. You came all this way with Kasumi, and we kind of intruded.”
“Oh, no, it’s fine. I got to talk to the famous Higashiyama-kun today, so that was cool.”
“Yeah. I’d noticed him from afar and thought he was amazing, and he’s Kasumi’s friend too?”
The two girls who were friends with Kasumi apparently weren’t even in my class, maybe not even the next class over.
They were from the advanced class, which is on a different floor from the regular classes, so they only just realized that I’m close with Kasumi.
“Akira, savor this moment. You probably won’t get to have lunch with a harem of girls paying attention to you like this ever again.”
“Shut up! That’s not true! …Just roll with it, she’s like this.”
“You really are close to Akira! He seems happy every day. Could it be… your sudden focus on advancing and training is because of this maid? Trying to impress her?”
Right, Kasumi was curious about my sudden changes.
…A bit annoying, but fine, let’s just go with that.
“Oh? Really? But that makes sense. When Akira was still a kid, he was totally clingy with big sis!
She came back after several years, and wanting to show her he’s doing well isn’t strange at all.”
“Wow, Higashiyama-kun, that’s kind of cute of you!”
“So that’s why you admire big sis. Do your best, Higashiyama-kun!”
“Really? Akira’s working hard for such a cute reason? Surprising~”
Akira takes 100 damage to his mental state!
Akira has fainted!
What is she making up for a backstory…?
And why is she winking at me with that perfect “I did a good job” smile?
That thumbs-up… I could crush it…
“Ah, my number’s called, so I’ll go get it. Girls, save our seats. Akira, come with me to get everyone’s orders.”
“Got it. Wait here, everyone.”
…Now, what am I supposed to do with this pseudo-maid…
“See? I made the perfect cover story for you.”
“Why do you make it seem like I’m working hard for such a cute reason…?”
“Eh? But Akira, you do work hard for me, right? Big sis believes Akira is always a kid who works hard for me.”
“…Guh… I can’t deny that…”
“It’s fine. Not all of it is a lie anyway. At least, not for me.”
For a brief moment, I saw a fragile, almost tearful, sponge-like vulnerability in my sister’s expression.
“…Well, I won’t deny it. Though, big sis, you’re the clingy one now, aren’t you?”
“…True! It does get a bit muggy in the summer though.”
After picking up the hamburgers, my sister and I returned to our seats, and she began distributing each item from the menu.
Then, as if struck by an idea, she smiled brightly and said—
“Hey, welcome to McDonald’s. This Chicken Crisps is on me—please accept it.”
Suddenly, her expression went blank, and with a calm, mysterious intonation, she began sliding the Chicken Crisps she said she’d treat us to across the table to the three girls, as if performing some kind of trick.
…? What on earth was she doing?
“…Damn! Her knowledge of McDonald’s is outdated! I was sure it would be a hit!”
“Uh… thank you very much.”
“Thanks for the meal?”
“Um… sorry, I guess…?”
“Sis… what were you trying to do…?”
It seemed my sister was enjoying being at McDonald’s far more than expected.
Her energy was somehow about forty percent higher than usual…
After parting ways with the three girls, we did some grocery shopping and then returned home.
We ended up getting home later than expected, and by the time we turned on the TV, only the late-night news was on.
Well, classes start as usual tomorrow, so staying up too late isn’t really an option.
But since “as usual” applies, that meant—
“It’s my first time making a bento, so I’m going to give it my all!”
“Really, something simple is fine, okay? Just a few onigiri and some side dishes. Frozen is fine too.”
Yes, my sister was going to start making bento for me.
“Eh! I was planning to fully use your body’s specs, capable of recreating the history of Earth cuisine, to make a bento that would completely blow people away!”
“What were you planning to make…?”
“Uh? ‘Galantine’ and ‘Mole Poblano’.”
“…No idea what that is… Onigiri is fine.”
“Is that so? Then I’ll make you the most delicious onigiri ever!”
With the new semester starting in earnest tomorrow, at least having a daily lunch to look forward to gives my motivation a big boost!
But at that moment, I didn’t notice something important.
A flood of notifications had arrived on my smartphone.
And I had completely forgotten…
About the contact I had exchanged numbers with—Senpai Souryuuji Misaki.
“Alright, it’s an early morning tomorrow, so let’s go to bed. You go ahead to bed first.”
And once again, I forgot that I’d be sleeping with my clingy sister tonight as well.
Summer vacation is over—maybe it’s finally time for me to get used to sleeping alone…