I Confessed to the Three Beautiful Sisters at School and Got Rejected, but After I Became their Stepsister, They Started Doting On Me - Chapter 58

Hmm…

Back in the classroom, I sat at my desk, deep in thought.

Riko Saezuki had told me to reevaluate my relationship with the Tsukimori sisters.

Chiya Tsukimori had said not to worry about what others think—and even told me she liked me. But then insisted we weren’t family or friends.

“None of this makes any sense…”

I wanted to face the Tsukimoris seriously, but one of them—Chiya—had left me with the most cryptic comment of all.

At this rate, the truth might just end up buried in some unsolvable labyrinth.

“No… that’s not good enough, is it?”

If I let this question sit unanswered, the problem would never go away.

And besides, I didn’t need to let Chiya-san’s words define the whole situation.

After all…

The three Tsukimori sisters each had their own opinions and ways of thinking.

“In that case…”

Before I knew it, school had ended for the day—but no matter. There’s no time like the present.

It was time to take action.

Thump, thump… swoosh!

Swish.

“Nice shot! That’s our Karin!”

“Hehe, not bad, huh?”

The gymnasium.

I was peeking in from the sidelines, quietly watching the girls’ basketball team practice.

Just in time to see Karin Tsukimori nail a perfect shot and high-five her teammates.

As expected of the team ace. Wearing a T-shirt and gym shorts, her hair tied back in a ponytail—she radiated a cool, refreshing energy like a true athlete.

Rattle, rattle…

“Oh, perfect timing.”

Just then, the basketball Karin had shot rolled right over to my feet.

I quickly bent down and picked it up.

“Wha—whaaa!? Akari?!”

Karin came rushing over the moment she saw me holding the ball.

I hadn’t been to the gym in quite a while, so I guess my sudden appearance really did catch her off guard.

“Yep, it’s me.”

“Wait, what are you doing here?! You scared me!”

“There’s something I wanted to ask you.”

“Uh, okay? Ask away! Anything.”

I hugged the basketball tightly in both arms, holding it close to my chest.

Before I handed it back… there was something I needed to clear up.

“Karin-san… what do you think of me?”

“—!? W-Wha—wait, what?!”

Her eyes widened and her voice cracked. Definitely not the kind of question she was expecting.

But still…

“It’s not something to be that shocked about. I just want to hear your honest opinion of me.”

“W-Wait a sec! Why now of all times?! And look, all the other team members are totally staring at us!”

Sure enough, the other girls were whispering and glancing over at me.

I guess a random girl in a school uniform suddenly walking into the gym was bound to attract attention.

Still…

“Karin-san. Please ignore everyone else.”

“O-Other people…?!”

“This is between you and me.”

“W-Well, yeah… I guess, but—this is a lot! You’re coming at me so suddenly—!”

But Chiya-san had told me, remember?

“You don’t need to listen to what other people say. And there’s no need to hold back with us.”

…Exactly.

Which means there’s no need to hesitate when it comes to speaking openly with the Tsukimori sisters.

“So please, Karin-san. Tell me.”

“Wha—uh—wait, what—?!”

I took a determined step forward, closing the distance between us.

Karin flinched slightly at how close I’d gotten.

“I’m not asking anything complicated. Karin-san, how do you feel about me?”

“Wh-What do I—about you…? Th-That’s…”

Her eyes darted away from mine, clearly trying to escape my gaze.

“What’s the matter? Back in the equipment room, you were the one getting all up in my space, weren’t you?”

“—Eeeep!!”

…Huh? A sudden squeal echoed from the other side of the gym.

I didn’t think anything strange had happened, but for some reason, a few of the girls watching started squealing in excitement.

“Ahhhh! Akari! Could you not bring that up right now?! Not here! Not like this!”

Her panicked reaction… honestly said more than any words could.

“Oh, and now you’re calling me ‘Akari-san’? Are you trying to distance yourself from me? Or are the reactions of your teammates more important than how I feel?”

“Th-That’s not it! I-It’s not like that at all! It’s just—you’re being way too sudden, and maybe this isn’t the best place, you know?!”

“Or are you just embarrassed to let people know you’re associated with me? If that’s the case, then fine. I understand now what I am to you.”

It’s disappointing, sure… but if that’s the truth, I’ll accept it.

I’m not family, not a friend—just someone she’s ashamed of.

“I said I will tell you! Just… not here! This isn’t the place for it!”

“So I am someone you can’t be honest with unless you change locations?”

“Why are you being so extra right now?! You’re coming on so strong one second, and then suddenly super negative the next! Your emotional balance is whack! ”

“Whack…?”

Now that she mentions it… maybe it is.

Saezuki-san hit me with her deep, thoughtful advice.

Chiya-san left me spinning with her cryptic declarations.

And now Karin-san is dodging a straight answer too.

I just want something simple. Something clear.

And no one is giving me that.

Maybe I really don’t know what to do anymore.

Yes… that’s probably it.

Looking at myself from the outside, I realized something:

I’m about to explode.

“Mmmph…”

“Uh, Akari? Why are your cheeks… puffed up like that?”

All these jumbled emotions I couldn’t process or let out…

They swelled up inside me, and before I knew it, I was puffing out my cheeks like a balloon.

“I feel like… I understand this basketball’s feelings now.”

I looked down at the ball still in my arms and felt a strange sense of connection.

“…What?”

“It’s like—when something is stuffed full of everything that isn’t itself, it just bounces around all over the place.”

Even this basketball—if it weren’t pumped full of so much air, maybe it could be a little softer, a little gentler. Maybe it wouldn’t have to keep rebounding so hard off the floor.

“Right now, I am this basketball.”

“Uhh… Akari-san?”

“That’s why I’m not giving it back. I’m taking Ball-kun home with me!”

“Akari-san?!”

She still hasn’t given me an answer.

I do feel bad for the basketball team, but I can’t leave this ball in the hands of someone who doesn’t understand its feelings!

“Please excuse me!”

“Akari-san! Wait! The ball—at least give the ball back!”

“Akari is the ball! The ball is Akari!”

“Okay, seriously! You’re scaring me!!”

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