I Confessed to the Three Beautiful Sisters at School and Got Rejected, but After I Became their Stepsister, They Started Doting On Me - Chapter 53

And so—after everything that happened—the sports festival finally came to an end.

There were twists and turns, sure, but at last, I could return to my peaceful life.
In other words, back to quietly observing my favorites from the shadows.

Now then, time to watch over everyone again in peace.

“Hey, Akari. If you’re free tomorrow, wanna go out with me? …What? Club activities? …Well, I’ll figure something out.”

For some reason, Karin—who’s normally all about club commitments—was now inviting me to hang out.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m really happy she asked.
But skipping club practice isn’t okay, and Karin’s been getting great results lately. So I gently encouraged her to keep giving it her best.

“Akari? It’s lunch time. Here, say ‘ahh’~ …Hm? Why are you turning away? Can’t eat my food today?”

This time, it was Hiyori, suddenly trying to feed me with her own chopsticks like we’re a couple or something.

Ever since the whole heart-shaped lunch incident, Hiyori’s behavior toward me has been… odd.

I politely declined, saying I was perfectly capable of eating on my own.

“Now that the festival is over, don’t you think it’s time to get serious about your studies? …If you need help, I suppose I could assist you.”

Even Chiya—usually the strict one—expressed concern about my grades, offering to help if needed.

But with how busy she is with student council work, I didn’t want to take up her time.
I bowed my head and told her I’d ask for help when the tests got closer and I was really in trouble.

Thud.

Back in my room, I finally took a deep breath.

“…Honestly, maybe everyone should focus more on their own lives.”

I mumbled to myself.

It’s not that I’m unhappy.

It’s just… everyone’s been so focused on me lately.

I mean, I am really happy.

But still—maybe they’re paying a little too much attention to me?

I’m sorry if I’m just being overly self-conscious. Please chalk this up to the silly ramblings of a dumb girl.

But it feels like this started around the time of the sports festival. Like something shifted.

Is this… what it means to become a family?

Hmm…

As an only child, it’s a feeling I’m still not used to.

◇◇◇

And so—back to school.

Today, I made a point of getting there earlier than usual.

I ate breakfast in a rush and left home on my own.

The reason was simple:
If I stayed too long, one of the Tsukimori sisters would’ve invited me to walk with them.

During the festival, I got plenty of attention, sure—but that was a special occasion, and I could play it off as part of the event.

But if I keep doing that kind of thing in everyday life… it starts to feel different.

I’m perfectly content just watching the Tsukimori sisters from afar.
There’s no need for me to be standing beside them.

“Oh, there they are.”

Peeking out the classroom window, I spotted them—the three of them walking to school together, as always.

It doesn’t take much to recognize them. Even from a distance, they’re easy to spot.
At this point, it might as well be one of my special abilities.

Heh… divine as ever.

Watching them from this distance feels just right.

“…Why are you staring so hard?”

“Ugh!”

I jumped at the sudden voice behind me.

Turning around, I found Satsuki Saezuki, giving me a suspicious glare.

What was her deal?

“Don’t ‘ugh’ at me.”

“…Sorry. You startled me.”

“What kind of reaction was that?”

“Well then, I’ll just excuse myself.”

I turned my gaze back to the window, focusing on the Tsukimori sisters and etching their radiant image into my memory.

“…Seriously, still staring at them? You really like those three, huh?”

Satsuki Saezuki had now positioned herself in front of my desk and started following my line of sight.

You don’t need to say it out loud like that!

“Didn’t walk to school with the Tsukimori girls today?”

It’s not like we go to school together all the time, but the fact that she remembered at all really showed just how invested she was in the sisters, too.

“I’m not on their level. I don’t belong beside them.”

“But they still invite you, don’t they?”

“Which is why I politely decline.”

That’s why I left early and came to school alone today.

“Have you ever thought about why they invite you?”

“…I have, actually.”

“I told you something like this before, but clearly, it still hasn’t sunk in.”

“That’s not true!”

The Tsukimori sisters treat me like family—like a younger sister. That’s all there is to it.

I don’t need to look for any meaning beyond that.

“You’re wrong.”

She cut through my thoughts with absolute certainty, like she could read my mind.

And I hadn’t even said anything out loud.

“…Why do you think you know, Saezuki?”

I’m basically the certified expert when it comes to understanding the Tsukimori sisters, even acknowledged by Chiya herself.

“You’re the one who doesn’t get it.”

“Why are you so sure about that? What makes you say it with such confidence?”

Seriously, I’d love to hear her reasoning.

“…The fact that you ask that question just proves it.”

She shrugged, exasperated.

That’s exactly the gesture I wanted to make right now.

“They’re your favorites, aren’t they? Then maybe you should try understanding how they feel for a change.”

“…Even if I accept that, why would you go out of your way to say this to me?”

Even if she were right, what would she have to gain from telling me this?

“…Because I feel bad for them.”

“You… feel bad for them?”

“Yeah. The Tsukimori sisters.”

“I’m sorry, what?”

Today’s Saezuki was full of vague, roundabout comments, and I couldn’t pin down what she was really getting at.

“I’m telling you this because I’ve started to feel the same way they do.”

She feels the same as them…?

What kind of shared feelings could Saezuki and the Tsukimori sisters possibly have?

“I mean, sure, if you’re talking about both being part of the popular crowd or something…”

“…Whatever. If that’s how you want to see it, fine.”

“Wait, which is it?”

She was changing her stance like flipping a switch.

“You not understanding is actually more convenient for me.”

“…”

Not understanding the Tsukimori sisters… benefits her somehow?

That phrasing definitely stuck with me.

“Go ahead. Keep looking away from the truth, Akari.”

“What’s that supposed to mean…?”

“Because while you do, I’ll be the one to steal them away.”

And with that, Saezuki turned and walked away from my desk.

…Ugh.

Saezuki is just as much of an enigma as ever.

Support