Finding the Shape of Love - Chapter 6

“Well, since we’ve come this far. While we’re allowed to raise our voices, we’re rational people. I think we should discuss this calmly and collectedly. Okay?”

“……”

After entering the karaoke box and confirming that Koume had put down her belongings and properly closed the door, I sat on the sofa with Yoko on my lap. Watching Koume sit to my left out of the corner of my eye, I spoke to my sister. Yoko was glaring at me with a ferocious expression that made it hard to believe she liked me at all.

“Um, I don’t know the circumstances, but I don’t think rational people suddenly restrain their sisters.”

“Koume doesn’t know this, but our sister here is practically an animal. There was a chance she’d suddenly start screaming and getting violent, so I had no choice. I’ll let you go now, so first calm down and take a seat. Okay?”

“Who are you calling an animal! I’m angry because you’re the worst, you heartless person!”

Even though I said “okay?” there was no response, but since we weren’t getting anywhere like this, I released my hands only to be suddenly yelled at. She raised her hips, turned around, and yelled down at me – it was incredibly loud.

“First, sit down. I’ll explain.”

“……”

When I tapped the seat to my right and urged her, Yoko reluctantly took her seat. It seemed the blood that had been rising during our move here had somewhat subsided.

“First, let me just introduce her – this is Koume, the junior I told you about.”

“I know.”

“Mhm. And Koume, since you’re probably confused, I’ll explain from the beginning.”

“Ah, yes.”

“First, Yoko and I are genuine blood-related sisters.”

“Yes. I never doubted that?”

“Good.”

I didn’t think she’d doubt it, but well, you need some preface, right?

“And well, Koume and I started dating recently, right?”

“Yes…”

While feeling healed by Koume’s shy, adorable responses, I carefully entered the main topic, prepared for whatever reactions might come from either side.

“When I bragged about it to my sister, it came to light that this Yoko-chan here has rather extraordinary feelings toward me.”

“Eh? …Um, does that mean she has purely strong feelings, like having very deep family love?”

“Please take it in the straightforward, common meaning – romantic feelings.”

“Ehh……”

Koume, who had checked just to be sure while looking confused, flinched at my clear annotation and turned her gaze to Yoko. At this, Yoko, who had been listening silently, flushed bright red and stood up.

“S-so what! It’s none of your business!”

“No, it is my business! This concerns none other than Asahi-senpai!”

At Yoko’s words, Koume also made an annoyed face and stood up.

“Don’t stand, don’t stand. Violence isn’t allowed.”

With no choice, I also stood and pressed down on both their shoulders to make them sit. Yoko looked like she wanted to say “you’re one to talk,” but I ignored it. While I had dealt with disobedient Yoko by force in the past, it wasn’t violence, so it was safe.

“I’ve never looked at Yoko in that way, and I turned her down, but she still persistently tells me to break up.”

“I see. So that’s why you pretended to break up, is that it?”

At my explanation, Koume responded sympathetically and directed a harsh look at Yoko. At that gesture, my heart ached. The result was indeed like that, but this made it seem like only Yoko was the scumbag.

Having come this far, hiding it was pointless. I decided not to go along with Koume’s words and properly apologize as planned.

“In terms of result, yes. I’m sorry. I didn’t plan to lie from the beginning – I thought it was troublesome so I genuinely considered breaking up. I didn’t feel bad about you, Koume. Being with you was fun. But it wasn’t worth enduring the hassle of being pestered by my sister. I’m sorry. Even though you took me seriously, Koume.”

“Se-senpai…”

At my straightforward apology, Koume’s mouth fell half-open as if she’d lost her words. She must have had illusions about me. She probably thought I was a wonderful, kind, good senpai. But that’s not true.

I’m sorry for destroying her dreams and hurting her. But I should have done this from the beginning. Because I already fully understood that Koume is a good girl. This is fine.

Since I created this monster, I’ll give up on love until I can responsibly separate from Yoko.

“Thank you for liking someone like this scumbag. Next time, please like someone better.”

“Wa-wa-wait!? Huh? Didn’t this just turn into a breakup scenario!?”

“Eh? Well no, I mean, come on – someone with a sister complex like this?”

“No, well, sister complex or not, I know you’re family-oriented, and I like that about you too.”

“Eh?”

Koume waved her hands in a fluster and raised her voice, but her way of speaking didn’t sound like she wanted to break up. As I tilted my head, Koume fidgeted with her hands while looking somewhat awkward.

Huh? Did I talk about my sister who wasn’t present in front of Koume like that? I mentioned she existed, but hmm?

“I know senpai is a bit of a hassle-avoider, and I find that part of you cute and like it too. So, I have no intention of breaking up. Rather, you turned me down once, right? That makes me happy.”

“Eh?”

Regardless of me trying to recall my past exchanges with Koume, she continued like that, blushing and smiling cutely.

Wait, not “cute.” Is that how she felt? While there were points I was curious about, like where she found out about the sister complex, had she been watching me at school and such even before confessing, more than I thought?

…I see. Hmm, I don’t feel bad about it. I was depressed thinking I might be a scumbag, but Koume accepts even that me as not being a scumbag and says she likes me. Somehow, I might be starting to like Koume too.

“I see… Well then, even though I’m like this, please take care of me from now on too.”

“Yes!”

“Why does it turn out like that! This was definitely heading toward a breakup just now!”

“Whoa, Y-Yoko.”

The mood had been good, but as expected, or rather, Yoko stood up and yelled from behind.

My situation with Koume was settled, but well, Yoko wouldn’t accept that so easily. She thought we broke up but it was a lie, and when she thought we’d break up, we don’t.

Well, but it can’t be helped.

I turned around, stood up facing Yoko, and decided to properly face Yoko this time while trying to calm her down. Being too lenient had been bad, right?

Now it should be fine even if she makes a scene, so let’s make Yoko face reality.

“Yoko, I’m sorry for lying to you in the end. But I just couldn’t bring myself to say it. Well, just forget about this scumbag of an older sister and find new love.”

“Idiot! I’m the one who knows best that you’re a scumbag! But I still like you, so it can’t be helped!”

“……”

What? Was I obviously a scumbag to anyone from the start?

Well, certainly, despite my self-perception of being kind and easily swayed who ends up listening when asked, I don’t get asked much by classmates, and I’ve never been asked to do errand-boy type favors.

Eh, could it be that even my classmates had me figured out? Ugh. I thought they saw me as a model student. This is embarrassing.

“Understood. Even so, since I’m a scumbag, I won’t pay you any further attention. Okay?”

“…Fine. But if that’s the case, then I’m your sister, so I’m a scumbag too, and I’ll do as I please. For my part, I’ll make you break up, and I’ll make it so you can’t manage without me!”

Whoa. Even after all this, Yoko still likes me? I’ve heard love is blind, but is love maybe like imprinting? Once you fall in love, even if bad aspects appear later, you like all of that too? …No, if that were the case, normally there wouldn’t be people getting divorced, so probably not.

“Hmm. I’d like you to stop, but since I don’t know how to make you, well, let’s leave it at that.”

There was no way to persuade Yoko, who declared this while glaring. It was impossible to begin with, and even though she accepted being turned down, persuading someone this determined was hopeless.

So, when I gave up and said that, my sleeve was timidly tugged from behind.

“Um, Asahi-senpai. I’d really like you to try a bit harder to persuade her. For me, even though she’s your sister and not in your sights, having a love rival living with you is tough.”

Koume had half-closed eyes and looked somewhat exasperated. Love rival? Koume-san, aren’t you liking me too much?

“Even if you say that. I’ll say clearly that I don’t have those feelings, and separately, if it becomes impossible, just say so and we’ll break up.”

“…That’s unfair.”

“Hey, …Koume-san! Don’t get all lovey-dovey with my sister in front of me. This is in front of your sister. What kind of nerve do you have?”

At the sulking Koume, Yoko showed her face from beside me, hesitated for a moment about how to address her, then called her that. She probably debated whether to use her name without honorifics but added -san since she’s older – that part was cute too.

“I don’t think it’s good to only use your position as a sister when it’s convenient.”

“Ugh, w-well, that’s true but… ge-getting lovey-dovey in front of a middle schooler is questionable!”

“Uu… hey, using age is unfair.”

“Yes yes, don’t argue with me in between. It’s noisy.”

I’m not good with arguments. I don’t want to have them myself. And I don’t want to be involved with people having them. Honestly, I’d prefer if they did it somewhere else.

But even I know it would be terrible to say that to these two in this situation and flow. It’s kind of like they’re arguing because of me. …Wait, is it? I’m not really at fault, am I? If I said being popular is bad, then maybe. Maybe.

“Anyway, for today, let’s call it a day. Today was normally just an older sister coming to buy her sister’s first underwear, so it wasn’t a date, and Koume, we just happened to meet and you have other things to do, right? Thinking about it, I really forced this conversation space, sorry.”

“Ah, no no, not at all, I was free, and I was the one who called out. But… uu, leaving you two alone like this, I still have resistance to it.”

“Well, that can’t be helped though. It’s not like I can leave home. I’ll be more distant and cautious from now on too.”

I didn’t intend to treat her the same as before as a sister. That said, she’s still my sister, and I’ll probably still interact with her as an older sister should for necessary things, but that just can’t be helped. It’s not like we’re cutting ties completely.

“…Yes. I understand. I’m sorry for causing trouble. But please, don’t forget about my existence.”

“I won’t forget. I’ll contact you again.”

“Yes…”

Yoko looked like she wanted to say we were getting lovey-dovey again, but perhaps because she knew we’d be going home together after this, she stayed silent.