“Eh!? Onii and Riran-tan, you're going to live together!?”
After returning home, I explained to Kotono, who happened to be there, what had just happened.
Even though I say what happened, I just gave her a rough explanation that we would start living together in a week.
As expected, she was incredibly surprised.
Well, that's natural. Even I'm surprised myself.
“Yeah. So I might not be able to come back here for a while.”
However, I plan to come back at least once or twice a month.
Cohabitation is something unknown, and Riran and I decided on this after discussing it so that we could both relax and not let stress build up.
“Hee... I'm surprised that things had progressed that far between Onii and Riran-tan.”
“I'm surprised too.”
“What are you saying as one of the people involved? But where are you going to live? Around here? Can I go play there right away?”
“No, I don't know the location yet until it's prepared.”
“I see...”
Kotono sank into the sofa with a slightly lonely expression.
Could it be that she's feeling lonely hearing that I'm leaving the house? What a cute little sister. I should pat her head.
“If Onii leaves the house, who's going to drive me to school?”
“Give me back my touching moment.”
She was saddened by the loss of her errand boy. Big brother is actually quite sad about that remark.
While we were talking, Mom, who was in the kitchen, laughed happily.
“Haha. It seems Kotono-chan still hasn't been able to separate from her big brother. She's been following Akito around since she was a baby. How nostalgic.”
“Ma-Mama! Don't just say whatever you want!”
“It’s not just whatever I want. If you like, shall we watch a video? It’s on my smartphone.”
“Gyaaaaa! De-Delete that already!”
Busy, noisy, bustling. What, so Kotono really is lonely after all.
“It's okay, Kotono. I'll come home regularly.”
“Sh-Shut up! Idiot, idiot!”
“What's with calling your brother an idiot. I don't remember raising you that way.”
“I don't remember being raised by Onii either! Hmph, I don't care anymore!”
With that, she rushed out of the living room.
Hmm, did I tease her too much? She's still a child.
Just as I thought that, she peeked her head back in.
“Onii. When the place you're living is decided, tell me. ...Because I'm coming to play.”
“...Haha. Yeah, I understand.”
“It's a promise!”
Leaving only that behind, Kotono went to her room.
She'll probably tell Noa too. That girl will likely interrogate me about various things.
...No, rather, she'd probably say something like "A cohabitation situation for my favorite ship, hehehe."
Recently, even though Noa looks like a gyaru on the outside, she's been becoming incredibly otaku-like.
While I was thinking about that, Mom spoke to me while washing the dishes.
“Akito, if there's anything you don't understand, ask me anytime. Cohabitation isn't an easy thing, you know.”
“...Yeah, I know.”
“Also, don't you dare make Riran-san sad, okay? You've been a heartbreaker since you were little.”
“When and who did I ever make cry?”
“...It's a misfortune to have no self-awareness. I wonder how you grew up like this.”
“Hey, you're the person who raised me.”
When I tried to argue back, Mom was already doing housework while listening to music with her headphones on.
Honestly, where in the world am I a heartbreaker?
Well then, I'm full and sleepy... Let's take a bath and rest for today.
When I went to my room and was preparing my pajamas and underwear, my smartphone rang loudly.
Who is it at this hour... Oh, it's Noa. She must have heard from Kotono already.
“Hello.”
『Senpai, Senpai! I heard from Kotono! That you're starting cohabitation with Ane-san!』
Her tension is as high as ever. Even though it's already night.
“Yeah. Starting next Saturday.”
『Congratulations! As expected, it was so fast I was surprised!』
“Well, I'm surprised too.”
I respond extremely coolly, but inside, I'm also looking forward to it incredibly much.
I mean, I'm going to live with my fated person. Isn't that natural?
『My favorites living together... nuhehe. My delusions are making progress...!』
“Don't have weird delusions.”
『I won't! It’s just a little bit of flirting and being all over each other!』
“You are doing it, you middle schooler.”
『I don't want to hear that from a Senpai who is actually cohabiting while in high school.』
She has a point.
I was hit with a sound argument by Noa. She's getting good at this.
『But, I see... It means I won't be able to play with Senpai or Ane-san as easily anymore. It's kind of lonely...』
“Well, you and Kotono are examinees after all. But you can come over to play once in a while.”
『I got your word, hyahhoo!』
“Hey, wait. What was that lonely tone of voice just now?”
『All women are actresses, you know.』
What's with that.
Noa is laughing with a "nishishi" over the phone.
Then, as if she remembered something, she let out an "Ah.".
『Ah, that's right, I saw it on SNS! The wedding advertisement for Senpai and Ane-san!』
“Geh. You saw it too?”
『Of course! It's an advertisement that went that viral! Now then, why don't you tell me all the details!』
Ah... This is going to involve being interrogated about every single detail until the middle of the night. How troublesome...