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“And so! I’ve decided to stay over tonight!”
“Isn’t that fine?”
“I’m telling you, Senpai, your reaction is way too bland!”
No, it’s a bit too late for that, since she stays at our house quite often. Noa puffed out her cheeks in dissatisfaction at my reaction.
“Senpai, it’s a sleepover, you know? A super-beautiful, active middle school girl is staying over, you know?”
“Don’t call yourself a super-beautiful girl... well, I do admit you are a beautiful girl, though.”
“Wait, don’t suddenly show your soft side like that!”
“I’m not showing any soft side.”
As I said before, from a general perspective, her cuteness is on a different level even for a middle schooler. Compared to Kotono, she’s an equally impressive beautiful girl. But that doesn’t mean I get excited or have any impure thoughts.
Position-wise, she’s like a troublesome sister... just like Kotono.
“Hmph. Why don’t you have some dirty delusions like a normal high school boy? Like accidentally bumping into each other in the bath, or getting excited while I’m sleeping in a defenseless pose.”
“That kind of rom-com development is impossible.”
“Why?”
“Do you think I’d ever leave myself that open?”
No matter who it is, I thoroughly avoid anything that could lead to a crime or an 'incident'. Clinging to my arm is one thing, but I won’t go near them if they’re naked or unconscious while sleeping.
You never know when someone might become an enemy and sue you. It’s a form of self-defense. When I explained this, Noa looked away with half-closed eyes and muttered something.
“(You could show a little more openings, though...)”
“What was that?”
“It’s nooo-thing at all!”
Wait, is she angry? Did I do something to upset her?
...Well, it’s common for her to get suddenly moody. I shouldn’t worry about it.
“Kotono, where are Dad and Mom?”
“Well, apparently they’re staying out tonight. They said they decided to go see a superb view that can only be seen first thing tomorrow morning.”
Seriously, my parents are way too abrupt. Well, I guess it’s too late to complain about that too. Since they’re both almost forty, as their son, I wish they’d settle down a bit.
...Maybe the Red Thread makes you stop caring about that kind of thing.
“Noa, did you tell your uncle and aunt?”
“The two of them gave me the okay as usual.”
Noa’s parents are also way too casual about letting her go to a friend’s house... I am a guy, after all, so I wish they’d be a bit more cautious. Well, since my parents and Noa’s parents have a long-standing relationship, they probably trust me.
“Staying over is fine, but make sure you study properly.”
“Boo, Onii is so stiff.”
“You only need to make things hard on the bed, Senpai.”
““Right?””
“Don’t say ‘right’!”
What is this girl doing, casually sexually harassing me! And Kotono, don’t you join in on the joke!
“Good grief... I’m going to order Delivery Eats, what do you guys want?”
“I want a hamburger!”
“I want donuts!”
“Noa, donuts aren’t a meal.”
“What are you saying, Kotono? Sweet things are the nutrient source for middle school girls. If you eat sweet things, you can live to be a hundred!”
“Really!?”
Like hell you can.
“I’ll buy you donuts for dessert, so eat something proper. Otherwise, you won’t grow big.”
“No way, Senpai, you’re so lewd.”
“I’m not talking about your chest.”
Noa covered her chest while flashing a provocative smile. Today, the way she’s acting is kind of annoying, or rather, she’s acting seductive... oh wait, being annoying is normal for her. Anyway, I feel like she’s a bit different than usual. Having been together for three years, there’s no doubt about it.
I ordered lunch on Delivery Eats and glanced at Noa. She was humming to herself while tapping away on her smartphone on the living room sofa. Hmm, now’s the chance.
“Kotono, a moment.”
“Yes, yes?”
I called Kotono out to the hallway and closed the door.
“Is she acting strange today?”
“...Onii, you noticed?”
“When she’s that different from usual, yeah. I don’t know the reason, though.”
“If you’re not careful, you’ll get stabbed one day.”
“Kotono, don’t underestimate your big brother. Someone with a knife is easy... wait, that’s not what we’re talking about right now.”
“Wait, Onii! I feel like I just heard something outrageous!? What, have you been attacked with a knife before!?”
“Youth is cruel, isn’t it?”
“You can’t just brush that off with ‘youth’?!”
I was young back then. It was a youthful indiscretion. So, this conversation ends here.
“More importantly, it’s about Noa. She’s strange today. Did something happen?”
“...Onii, you’re perceptive about most things, but you’re so dense about certain specific things.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Think about it yourself.”
I’m struggling because I don’t know...
Kotono let out a deep sigh and gently stroked my head. Usually, I’d brush her off immediately, but because of her expression full of affection, I just let her keep stroking for some reason.
“Well, Noa will be fine.”
“Really?”
“Really, really. But... if that girl gathers her courage, then please face her head-on. Noa is my precious best friend, after all.”
“............”
“Yeah, I understand.”
“Nishishi! ...Oh, that’s right. You also have to face Riran-tan properly.”
“That’s not a problem.”
I answered that immediately. I’ve realized that I like her. We’ve reached the point where we call each other by our first names. So, it’s fine. ...I think it’s fine. But Kotono had a complicated expression after my answer.
“Hmm... I don’t think what I want to say is getting through perfectly... oh well. I’ll just say one last thing.”
“O-Oh. Mph!?”
She squeezed my cheeks hard with both hands... It hurts. When I looked at Kotono to protest, I was overwhelmed by her smile that brooked no argument.
“If you make both of them cry... I won’t even forgive you, Onii! ☆”
“...Okay.”
Just then, the doorbell rang. It seems Delivery Eats arrived while I was talking to Kotono. Kotono’s pressure vanished as she headed to the front door shouting, “Food time!”
...Face her head-on, huh... I don't know what it's for, but if something like that happens... I’ll face it too.