I Confessed to the Three Beautiful Sisters at School and Got Rejected, but After I Became their Stepsister, They Started Doting On Me - Chapter 69

“Haa… that was… surprising.”

Who would’ve thought Hiyori-san would get that bold?

…Or maybe, Hiyori-san’s always been pretty forward in how she approaches me?

Thinking about it, I start to wonder—just how long have they all been harboring these feelings for me?

…Blush.

Nope. Let’s not go down that road.

If I overthink it, my brain might overheat and I won’t be able to sleep at all.

My hair is dry, I’ve changed into pajamas, and now all that’s left is to get some rest.

It’s been such a chaotic day—I should sleep soundly tonight.

“Good night.”

I burrowed under the covers and closed my eyes. Sleep came for me almost immediately.

◇◇◇

That hazy boundary between dreams and waking—the moment when consciousness begins to dissolve into darkness.

—Creeeak

Somewhere in that drowsy haze, I thought I heard the sound of something opening.

Was it real? Or just a sound from a dream?

It didn’t really matter. The pull of sleep was stronger.

I let myself drift into unconsciousness…

—rustle, rustle

…?

Rustling?

The sound was oddly close. And then, as if a draft snuck in, I felt a sudden chill against my skin.

That loss of warmth pulled my senses back from the edge of sleep.

—press

But then, a soft warmth enveloped my whole body.

I immediately forgot the brief cold. My body instinctively relaxed into the comfort.

“Ah… Akari, are you asleep?”

—As if I could sleep after hearing that voice right in my ear!!

The heaviness in my eyelids vanished in an instant.

I couldn’t move my body for some reason, but I managed to turn my head toward the voice.

“…”

“…”

Our eyes met. Perfectly. Like some kind of slow-motion movie scene.

Wide-eyed. Both of us.

“…Karin-san. What are you doing?”

“…Sleepwalking? Maybe?”

Oh, that’s what you’re going with?

So, let me get this straight.
Karin-san sleepwalked into my room, climbed into bed, wrapped her arms around me, and only now realized it?

Right. Uh-huh. Sure, makes perfect sen—

“There’s no way I can accept that explanation!! What even happened to get us here?!”

This is pushing it, Karin-san. Even for you.

“D-Do you… not want me here…?”

“U-uh… I-I mean… if you put it that way…”

Right in front of me is Karin-san’s beautiful face.
Long lashes. Gem-like eyes. A perfectly straight nose. Soft, full lips.

Her twin tails were down tonight, flowing smoothly around her shoulders in a silky bedtime version of herself.

…Wait—what is this situation, exactly!?

“I… I just really wanted to apologize properly.”

“Apologize…?”

Despite how bold she had been just moments ago, Karin-san now looked meek, her voice faint and timid.

With a face like that, there’s no way I could push her away.

“I mean… when you came to see me after school, and I didn’t have a real answer for you, I think I made you upset…”

“Oh, no… That wasn’t your fault…”

Honestly, that moment was more about me than her—everything I’d been holding in just exploded all at once.

Karin-san hadn’t done anything wrong. I was the one who’d let my own frustrations build up.

“I should’ve just been honest from the beginning, but I didn’t have the courage. I kept avoiding it. That was on me.”

“No, no, really—it was me who was wrong. I never imagined all of you felt that way about me and… I acted really immaturely. I’m the one who should apologize.”

“Then… you forgive me?”

“Of course I do.”

Karin-san’s face lit up with a radiant, blooming smile.

In truth, I should be the one thanking her—for being so kind even after everything.

“And, well… I wanted to apologize right away, but there’s never really a chance for us to be alone—at home or at school. So I figured, if I missed this moment, I might not get another chance…”

I-I see.

It’s true that, living together, private moments are hard to come by.

And Karin-san’s the type who wants to express things right away, so this was probably her only window.

…

Wait, wait. No. There’s still a major issue here.

“Um… I get why you’re here now, but… can you explain the whole ‘hugging me in bed’ part?”

I understood her reason for visiting my room.

But how did that translate to her climbing into my bed and holding me like this?

A simple, “Hey, can we talk?” would’ve worked just fine, right?

“…I just saw your sleeping, and… I couldn’t help myself?”

Karin-san stuck her tongue out playfully.

Ah. Cute.

No no, wait—what am I thinking!?

“I—I don’t know what kind of ‘oops’ leads to hugging someone in their sleep!!”

“Oh, then why don’t you come to my room tomorrow night? Maybe you’ll understand the feeling?”

“W-What kind of logic is that!?”

“Hmm… So you don’t like this, Akari?”

“N-No! I mean—when you put it like that… It’s not like I hate it, but…”

Still, how am I supposed to stay calm like this?

When she’s this close—when I can feel her breath, her warmth—it’s overwhelming.

“…Or is it my body? Is it not good enough for you…?”

Bweh!?

I’m gonna start coughing up blood at this rate!!

“A-Akari!?”

“F-Forgive me… I lost control for a second.”

Her gaze was so intense, so full of emotion, and her embrace so tight—I couldn’t help reacting like that.

“I mean… I don’t have curves like Hiyori-nee or Chiya-nee, so maybe hugging me feels… kinda lame or something.”

P-Please stop…

Stop saying such cute things!
My self-control—my rationality—is about to explode!!

“You’re overthinking it! You’re super soft and warm and comfy just as you are, Karin-san!”

Sure, among the Tsukimori sisters, Karin-san’s the most slender.
But that’s only because the other two are way too curvy.
Karin-san is stylish, like a model—soft, gentle, and absolutely lovely to hold.

…I think that’s right?
My brain might not be working properly anymore.

“Oh, really? Then I guess I can stay and sleep here tonight!”

That is not what I meant!!

—BAM!!

“What was that sound!?”

The loud bang made me jump.

It was the door, flung open with full force.

Footsteps approached—each one heavy and direct.

“…What exactly do you think you’re doing, Karin?”

A voice cold enough to chill the entire room.

So cold, it felt like the temperature in here actually dropped—wait a second.
This feels familiar… very familiar.

“Hey, Chiya-nee…”

Even Karin-san’s confident smile froze into a twitchy grimace.

“Is there a rule about sisters sleeping in the same bed that I’m not aware of?”

“…There’s no rule against it either, right?”

Wow. Even their excuses are in sync.

“Karin?”

“Eep.”

Unlike Hiyori-san, Karin-san gave up arguing almost immediately and curled up in submission.

…You can really feel the whole “older sister/younger sibling” hierarchy here, huh?

Chiya-san grabbed her by the scruff and yanked her out of bed.

My body was finally freed.

“Go back to your room.”

“Yesss…”

With small, reluctant steps, Karin-san shuffled out of the room.

Finally. Looks like I can actually sleep now.

—Rustle, rustle.

…Huh?

—Press.

…W-Wait. No. Again!?

“…”

“…”

We stared at each other.

Our faces were this close—warm breath, soft body heat…

Déjà vu.

“…Chiya-san?”

“Yes?”

“What… are you doing?”

“I’m hugging you. Isn’t it obvious?”

Yes, yes, it is. That’s why I asked.

But her cool voice and calm gaze made me feel like I was the weird one for even questioning it.

“Chiya-nee? I’ll get mad, you know?”

Karin-san’s voice, back again—just like in the bath.

Why are these sisters so in sync!? Is this some kind of telepathic link!?

“This way, you’ll understand how it feels when someone else does the same to you.”

“Chiya-nee…”

“…Just kidding.”

Dragged away by the neck, this time it was Chiya-san being escorted out by Karin-san.

Now that’s a rare sight.

“But still… I bet hugging me felt better.”

“Hey!! You know I’m sensitive about that, so don’t say stuff like that!!”

“Well, Hiyori is more feminine, so I can understand how you’d feel.”

“Then that’s even more reason not to say it!!”

“If you hadn’t been there, Karin… I might’ve completely fallen apart.”

“Stop pretending to be poetic!! You’re just glad I’m ranked lower than you!!”

Their voices echoed down the hallway—bickering, dramatic, lively.

Looks like this night…
Is going to last just a little longer.

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