I Confessed to the Three Beautiful Sisters at School and Got Rejected, but After I Became their Stepsister, They Started Doting On Me - Chapter 59

“I’m… home.”

I opened the front door, which felt heavier than usual today.

In the end, Karin Tsukimori had taken the basketball from me.

“If you really want a ball, I have one at home, okay?”

“No… it has to be this one.”

“This is a school ball. And it’s used for practice.”

“…stare…”

“N-Nope! That look won’t work on me! Not this time!”

That’s how it went. I tried my best to hold on, but she had a point—and I couldn’t bring myself to push any further.

And just like that, without getting a clear answer from Karin-san, I left the gym behind.

“Welcome home, Aka-chan.”

As I stepped into the living room, Hiyori Tsukimori greeted me with her usual gentle smile.

“Yes, I’m back.”

“Oh my, what’s with that pouty face?”

She noticed my expression right away, her tone soft but curious.

“I’m just… a little frustrated, that’s all.”

“Oh dear, what happened? Would you like to talk about it?”

“Yes… I’d like that.”

“My, how honest of you.”

With a warm chuckle, Hiyori-san led me to a chair at the dining table, then headed toward the kitchen.

“Um, Hiyori-san?”

“Just a moment, please.”

As I waited, a comforting aroma began drifting from the kitchen.

Soon, she returned with a steaming mug and a small plate of treats.

“Coffee. Why don’t we take a short break?”

“Ah… thank you.”

I took a sip from the mug, and the bitter flavor of the coffee paired with the subtle mocha scent spread through my nose.

Then, I tried one of the truffle chocolates dusted in cocoa powder. The sweetness combined with the coffee’s bitterness, creating a perfectly balanced, blissful taste.

“It’s delicious.”

“I’m glad.”

Hiyori-san smiled softly as she took a sip from her own cup.

The elegance of her every gesture made me feel almost embarrassed to be sitting there, sharing the same coffee. She really was… picture-perfect.

“Though your pouty face is adorable too, I still think you’re cutest when you look happy, Aka-chan.”

She said it with a bright, sincere smile—completely unbothered, like it was the most natural thing in the world.

“C-Cute… please don’t say that. I’m really not…”

“Oh, I’m just being honest about what I see.”

T-This woman…

She says these things so casually, without even realizing the impact they have.

There’s absolutely no way I could ever be described as cute. No matter how confused someone might be, that would still be a stretch.

“So, what happened?”

“Oh—right!”

Between Hiyori-san’s soothing presence and her sudden heart-thumping compliments, I’d nearly forgotten the whole reason I came in.

“Well, it all started with Saezuki-san…”

I began recounting everything that had happened—my confusing conversations with Riko Saezuki, Chiya Tsukimori, and then Karin-san.

“I see… so none of them gave you a clear answer.”

“Yes. Exactly.”

Hiyori-san listened quietly the entire time, nodding thoughtfully.

“But compared to Chiya-chan and Karin-chan, I think I did give you a pretty straightforward answer, didn’t I?”

“Um…”

“Oh, come now, at the sports festival?”

Ah—she must be talking about the lunch. The one filled with hearts.

“Even when you say you ‘like’ someone, that feeling can take on many different forms.
How you choose to interpret it… is entirely up to you, Akari.”

It was true—Hiyori had, in her own way, put part of her feelings into words.

“But… you never actually told me what you think of me, did you?”

There was something playful in the way she answered—like she was leaving the rest up to me on purpose.

That blurry line between us… still hadn’t been clearly drawn.

“Would you like me to say it now?”

“…Huh?”

She asked it so casually, without changing her expression at all.

“You’ve taught me a lot—not just about getting along with others, but about the importance of speaking up for yourself. But sometimes, pushing your feelings onto someone else too strongly can be a burden.”

“So… you were holding back for my sake?”

“Yes. And I thought I’d made myself pretty clear. Honestly, I believed my actions spoke louder than any words could.”

“…I see…”

“But I have my own share of guilt too. That’s why I wanted you to be the one to decide.”

“Guilt?”

I wasn’t sure what she meant by that.

But before I could ask, her next words completely captured my attention.

“That’s why… there’s something I want to ask you as well.”

“You want to ask me something?”

“It’s the same thing you asked me earlier.”

Hiyori smiled gently as she spoke, her voice steady and kind.

“I want to know what you think of me, Akari.”

“That’s…”

“Whether you see me as a stepsister… or as just another person—it’s okay either way. What matters is that the choice is yours.”

“…”

That was the exact thing I had been wrestling with about the Tsukimori sisters.

But when the same question was asked of me… I found myself speechless.

…Why?

Why couldn’t I say it?

“I suppose it’s rude to answer a question with another question, isn’t it?”

“N-No, not at all…”

Still, I couldn’t answer. And I knew the fault was mine.

But Hiyori didn’t scold me or look disappointed. She simply met my eyes with quiet sincerity.

“It’s alright. Would you like me to tell you how I feel about you, Akari?”

“Um… if you don’t mind…”

She placed a gentle hand over her chest, like she was holding something delicate and important.

“If you’re ready to hear it… then I’ll tell you everything that’s in my heart.”

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