July 19, Monday.
A few days had already passed since summer vacation started.
I should be doing my summer homework, but as a reward for my recent hard work, I’m indulging in laziness and oversleeping.
Summer vacation is the best.
Since it’s a weekday, my dad and mom are apparently at work as usual. To all the working adults out there, thanks for your hard work.
I can go training anytime, so I’ll sleep in late this morning.
Even though I thought that, I woke up at 7:00 AM out of habit.
I could go back to sleep, but I need to eat breakfast properly.
For now, I washed my face and entered the living room.
“Ah, Onii. Good morning~”
“Akito, good morning. You have bedhead, you know?”
“Oh, good morning. It’s early, so forgive the bedhead.”
Let’s see. Protein, protein.
Put it in the shaker, add water.
Shake, shake.
Shake, shake, shake.
Sha...
“...Hmm?”
Wait, who did I just reply to?
I rubbed my sleepy eyes and looked at the living room.
There was Kotono, studying in the living room.
And next to her was Riran.
......
“Ngh!?!?”
Eh. Ah, eh... R-Riran!?
Riran is sitting next to Kotono... Eh, what? Huh?
Is this a dream? Am I dreaming that Riran is at my house?
I hurriedly pinched my cheek. Yeah, it hurts.
Eh, then that means... she's the real thing?
I approached Riran and stared at her.
“W-What is it? ...Nyoh!?”
I pulled her cheeks.
Ooh, they're soft. Like mochi.
“Nyanyanya!? Whath are you doing!?”
“No, I just thought you might not be real.”
“I'm the real one, though!?”
“Onii, don't flirt in front of your little sister.”
I'm not flirting. I'm just checking if she's real.
Squish. Stretch.
Yeah, she's definitely the real thing.
......Wait, the real thing?
“...Why is Riran at my house?”
“Let go of me before we talk!”
Ah, sorry.
I let go of her pleasant-to-touch cheeks.
Riran rubbed her cheeks and made a pouting face.
Seriously, stop being so cute in the morning. My heart can't take it.
“That was so rude all of a sudden. To just mash a girl's cheeks like that.”
“My bad, my bad. ...But why is Riran at my place?”
“This is why, Onii!”
Kotono grinned and showed me her smartphone with a “Ta-da!”
It looked like a messaging app, but... huh?
Riran: If I don't have plans, I can't see Akito (´；ω；｀)
Kotono: Want to come to our place now? (*´ 艸｀) Uhihi
Riran: I'm coming ((っ・ω・)っ
......O-Oh.
“Nooooo!! Why did you show him!? Hey, Kotono-chan! Why did you show him!?”
“Eh, because it was cute.”
“That's not a reason!”
Riran collapsed, her face bright red.
If you're that embarrassed, you shouldn't have sent it.
“Ah—... Riran.”
“Sniff... What... Are you going to laugh at me too?”
She’s actually crying, Riran-san.
“Um... If it's me, you can see me anytime if you just contact me. So you don't have to do something so indirect.”
“...Really?”
“Yeah. Really.”
“Then, every day.”
“I'd appreciate it if you'd consider my private time, though.”
As expected, if we meet every day, I'll have almost no time for myself.
Ah, it's not that I dislike meeting Riran. I just have my own plans too.
“Muu. ...Fine. Then, next time I want to see you, I'll contact Akito directly.”
“Yeah, do that.”
I downed my protein in one go and washed the shaker.
Now then.
“So, what's the plan? Should we go out somewhere?”
Even so, it's only just past 7:00, so nothing will be open.
“Ah, wait. First, I have to help Kotono-chan with her studies.”
“Riran-tan, don't worry about me. You taught me in a way that was really easy to understand, so I'll manage the rest on my own.”
“No. I've been thinking, but Kotono-chan, you need to solidify your basics even more firmly. You want to go to the same high school as your brother, right? You have to work hard.”
“Th-th-th-th-that's not it! It's not like I want to go to Gingko High School just because Onii is there!”
Eh... She never consulted me about her career path, but she did with Riran. That's a bit sad.
“...Well, then you'd better work hard on your studies. Good luck, Kotono.”
“Don't pat my head! Garurururu!”
She brushed my hand away and growled at me.
Are you a dog?
Well, if Kotono says she's going to study, I can't get in the way.
“Then I'll be in my room, call me when you're finished.”
“Understood. All right, Kotono-chan, shall we try the fourth major question next?”
“Okaay.”
Before leaving the living room, I glanced at the two of them.
Riran was teaching Kotono, who was racking her brain, with great care.
Looking at them like this, they look like real sisters.
...No, in the future, they will become sisters. Even if it's by marriage.
Back in middle school, I never thought I'd become family with Riran...
Which means, I'll be the head of the household.
“...I guess I'll work hard on my studies too.”
I have a promise with Neika's dad, so I have to get into a good university.
With my motivation slightly improved, I returned to my room.