I Confessed to the Three Beautiful Sisters at School and Got Rejected, but After I Became their Stepsister, They Started Doting On Me - Chapter 63

“U-um… do you really want to hear my story that much…?”

“I said I do, didn’t I? You were acting clearly off, so I’m trying to listen and help you out. Just spit it out already.”

Satsuki Saezuki leaned in closer, pressing me with her presence.

Trying to step back didn’t help—behind me was the river. I had nowhere to run.

A classic case of having my back to the wall… quite literally.

“Don’t you have a part-time job to get to?”

“I’ve still got time. Besides, if you’re really worried about that, the faster you talk, the better, right?”

If you ask me, heading to her job sooner would be a far more productive use of her time…

But clearly, Saezuki-san wasn’t about to back down. She was closing in like she wouldn’t take no for an answer, so excuses wouldn’t work here.

Well… I did want to vent a little anyway. So, I guess it’s fine.

“It’s about… when you said I should reevaluate my relationship with Tsukimori-san and the others.”

“I did say that. So?”

“That’s why I tried. But it felt like no one really gave me a clear answer, or rather… everyone kept me at a slight distance. It’s like… I felt left out, I guess…”

I can’t put it into exact words, but the loneliness was real.

I thought we had grown closer. I thought we were building something deeper.

But that was just my misunderstanding.

Nothing had really changed at all.

I was too naive—too unaware of how relationships work—and I got carried away all on my own.

“So, it didn’t go the way you hoped it would.”

“Yeah… pretty much.”

“So, what did you want, exactly?”

“Sorry?”

I echoed her question, puzzled. Saezuki-san didn’t look away, nor did her expression change.

“What kind of relationship did you want with Tsukimori and the others?”

“What kind…?”

“Quit trying to hide it.”

“Huh?”

“That whole ‘they’re my favorites’ thing you keep saying. It always felt like you were dodging something.”

“I’m not dodging anyth… wait…”

I tried to deny it, but the words caught in my throat.

Because… I had already admitted it myself earlier.

I had thought of Tsukimori-san and the others as my oshis—my idols—but I was still upset that I couldn’t become someone special to them.

That means… my feelings weren’t limited to just being a fan.

“Tell me—what did you really want?”

“…I think I was hoping I could become someone special to them.”

Anything would have been fine.

I just wanted to share something meaningful with them… to be someone they could open their hearts to.

I think I needed something—anything—that would make me feel like I belonged, like I had a place.

“…That’s why I told you, didn’t I?”

“Sorry?”

Her voice suddenly dropped to a mumble, and her gaze drifted across the river, far away.

“I told you… you could just get involved with me instead.”

“U-um…”

Why would Saezuki-san say something like that, with such a hesitant voice?

There shouldn’t be any reason for her to go that far.

…Unless.

“Um, like I explained, I’m really not that important to Tsukimori-san and the others. You don’t need to worry—I won’t get in the way of your love life, I promise.”

Saezuki-san, who’s in love with the Tsukimori sisters, must want to keep a potential rival close.

But don’t worry.

I’m not a threat to anyone’s romance.

Please, feel free to pursue your feelings however you want.

“I. Told. You! That’s not what this is about, and I’ve said it every time!!”

“Oh… right. Well, if you say so…”

“You don’t believe me at all! Don’t just brush it off like that!”

“…But if that weren’t the case, you wouldn’t have tried to get me to confess to Tsukimori-san, right?”

Trying to reduce the number of romantic rivals… wasn’t that Saezuki-san’s real plan all along?

Even if she denies it now, it’s too late.

“That’s why I said—it’s the opposite! The opposite!”

“…The opposite?”

Saezuki-san’s voice grew louder, and her face flushed red to match.

From a cynical perspective, she looked just like a girl in love.

And if what she said was the opposite…

“Wait… does that mean Tsukimori-san and the others are in love with you, Saezuki-san?”

…Huh?

“Arghhh! Right, of course! That’s exactly the kind of person you are!”

“…Pardon? What exactly are you talking about?”

Even though I was genuinely trying to follow along, Saezuki-san looked utterly dissatisfied.

But seriously—romance is an extrovert’s event. There’s no way I could understand it.

“Fine, fine! Even you should get it if I say it like this!”

She suddenly grabbed my shoulders—tight.

As if there weren’t already nowhere to run, now I couldn’t even move.

“Uh, um… Saezuki-san?”

“Listen carefully. I mean it!”

Breathing heavily through her nose, her sharp gaze locked onto me with intense focus.

Then, like someone making a bold decision, she exhaled deeply.

“I like you. Not Tsukimori. You, Hanano Akari. And not like-like, I mean love love. Hardcore. The real deal! Got it!? Even you have to understand that much now, right!?”

…

………

………………

………………………Huh?

“That’s why I said it was the opposite. I’m the one who likes you. Tsukimori doesn’t matter—I pushed you to confess to her so you’d get rejected and finally look at me.”

“…Eh?”

“You kept saying you ‘support’ the Tsukimori sisters, using that weird excuse to avoid your feelings. I wanted to make you be honest.”

“Uh… um…”

“If it’s me, we can be something special. You get that, don’t you? If this doesn’t make me special, then what does!?”

“You listened to me…”

“In other words, I never meant to mock you. I just… didn’t know how to talk to you.”

“Wait—w-wait a second!!”

“Whoaa!?”

I flailed and raised my arms, freeing myself from her grip.

Yeah, I kind of shouted in plain speech, but hey—cut me some slack. I was panicking, okay?

“Saezuki-san, are you seriously saying all this!?”

“Of course I’m serious! What would I get out of lying about something like this!?”

“Exactly! That’s why it’s scary! What are you thinking?!”

“I’m thinking I’m in love with you, that’s what!”

Hiiiiiiiiiiiiii!!

What is wrong with this person!?

How can she just say something like that with a completely straight face!?

“Saezuki-san! Just in case you’re misunderstanding something, let me make this clear—I’m a girl, you know!?”

“I know that already! Don’t insult me!”

“Then why are you falling for a girl!?”

“Because love doesn’t care about gender!!”

Hiiiiiieeeeeeeee!!

Okay, technically, she’s right.

But still! I was a loner who didn’t even have friends until recently—and now I’m a love interest!?

And not just anyone’s—an extroverted girl’s!?

No no no no, I can’t keep up!

My brain and heart are spinning in a million directions!

“Just think about it for a second! Our compatibility!”

…An extrovert and an introvert.

“That sounds like the worst match.”

“Don’t mess with me! It’s actually pretty good!”

What twisted logic makes her think the two of us are some perfect match!?

“Who was the first person you really interacted with after we advanced a year?”

“…You, Saezuki-san.”

“And when you needed a partner for the three-legged race, who did you pick?”

“…You again, Saezuki-san.”

“And when someone was talking crap about you in the bathroom, who stood up for you?”

“…That was you too!”

“See!? I keep popping up, right!? Even without realizing it, you’ve been involving yourself with me! If our compatibility sucked, that wouldn’t happen!!”

W-Well… when she puts it that way…

I mean, I guess that kind of makes sense?

“So—what do you think?”

“W-What do I think, you ask…”

This is way too sudden.

The atmosphere, the pace—none of this is normal. I’m completely overwhelmed.

“Ah! There you are!”

“There you are, Akari!”

“What kind of mindset do you even need to end up all the way out here?”

Just then, I heard the familiar voices of the very people who had been troubling my thoughts earlier.

The Tsukimori sisters had found us.

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