I Confessed to the Three Beautiful Sisters at School and Got Rejected, but After I Became their Stepsister, They Started Doting On Me - Chapter 76

The day of the culture festival.

I was living through a waking nightmare.

Our class’s event: a maid café.

And I was one of the ma— guhhghk!

…Anyway, the point is, I had to do it.

The maid team was split into two groups: a morning shift and an afternoon shift. Each group would take one turn working the café.

And as for the maids in my shift…

“Welcome back, Master~”

A soft, soothing voice full of sweetness.

With her gentle demeanor and curvy figure, Hiyori was the textbook definition of a perfect maid.

Every customer she served left absolutely delighted.

“Uh, um… Lady? I’ll cast the spell now, okay? What was it again…? Oh! Right! ‘Make it delicious—magical!’”

That was Karin, fumbling her way through a magic chant over a plate of omurice.

…Adorable.

Her natural charm and awkwardness in a maid outfit created such a cute contrast that you couldn’t help but smile watching her.

“It’s quite crowded outside, so do take care on your way. We hope to see you again, milady.”

Chiya, with her elegant bow and perfectly measured words, gracefully saw off each departing guest.

S-So beautiful…

Her cool, poised presence was the image of an ideal maid. (Yes, again.)

She was too flawless. Almost untouchably so.

“A heart with ketchup? Hah, not a chance. I’ll write your name instead, just eat it like that.”

Saezuki, surrounded by her many friends, was happily chatting away while taking orders.

Using her social skills to draw in customers, she ran her section like a successful little business.
Proof that being a good maid isn’t all about textbook perfection—there’s more than one way to shine.

“Um, m-milady… y-your seat is this way…”

And then there was me.

While those four showcased their individual talents and charisma, I… was stuttering, awkward, and out of place.

Not cute.
Not charming.
No contrast, no friends to fall back on.

I was painfully, obviously out of place—Hanano Akari, the odd one out.

I want to disappear…

◇◇◇

My morning shift ended, leaving me with free time until the afternoon.

“Alright, Akari! As promised, I’m taking you around the festival with me!”

Back in her school uniform, Karin popped her head into the hallway with a bright smile.

Everyone had agreed to spend their breaks with me in shifts.

It was… a really nice gesture.

“…Sigh.”

“What’s wrong, Akari? You’re just staring out the window.”

“…I was just thinking how nice it’d be… to be a cloud.”

“A cloud?”

“Clouds just float wherever the wind takes them. No need to work in a maid café.”

I could drift up there in the sky… far, far away from this world.

“…That’s kind of dark, huh?”

“Come on, being gloomy is just my thing, isn’t it?”

“Whoa, super negative…”

I glanced over at the class, now staffed by the second shift of maids.

They were all… really good.

“Karin, it’s not too late. Let’s have me swap places with someone from the kitchen team for the afternoon.”

Anyone would be better than me. Honestly.

“Aw, don’t say that. You ended up with us—let’s make the most of it, yeah?”

She gave me a bright, cheerful smile, trying to lift my spirits.

But…

“…Wasn’t it you guys who made sure I ended up with you?”

—GUILTY TWITCH.

I swear I could hear her spine straighten in panic.

So I was right. Not that I didn’t already know.

It was sweet, in its own way… but still.

“I’m sure someone’s out there whispering about how I’m the only one who doesn’t belong. Maybe the whole school knows by now…”

“There’s a weed in the flowerbed of maids,” or something.

I have no place in this school…
Wait—did I ever?

“You can’t walk around the festival with that mindset, you know.”

“…If I were a cloud, I could at least look down at it from above.”

Yes… I’ll become an abstract concept—watching over the school from the sky.

“Okay, Akari. You’re being weird again. Come on.”

“Ehh?”

She grabbed my wrist suddenly—firmly.

“Just come with me already!”

And just like that, Karin dragged me off.

Her grip was surprisingly strong.

“…Huh?”

The place Karin brought me to was behind the gymnasium.

“Come on, have a seat.”

She pointed to a bench nearby, and the two of us sat down together.

“Karin… why are we here?”

I’d expected her to take me around the festival, not away from it.

“Break time, obviously. You looked like you were totally worn out, so I figured this spot would be perfect.”

“Ah… yeah, I guess so.”

It’s true—everywhere else was packed with people.

This quiet, hidden spot was… comforting.

“…You know, I think you were a really good maid.”

She said it out of nowhere, her voice a little shaky as she chose her words.

“Karin… could you not bring up my traumatic past?”

“It’s already a traumatic past!?”

“I’ve decided to leave it behind. It’s history now.”

*“You’ve got another shift this afternoon!!”

I refuse. I refuse to acknowledge that fact!

“If we’re going by that, I totally didn’t measure up to Chiya-nee or Hiyori-nee either. We both tried our best at something that’s not our strength, right? So don’t beat yourself up over it.”

“Please don’t lump me together with someone as naturally charming as you…”

Sure, contrast can be cute.
But gloom plus gloom just makes everything heavier…

“Hey!”

—Bonk!

“Ow…”

She flicked me on the head.

“I’m serious. I really thought you did well, okay? So don’t say stuff like that.”

“B-But… I just don’t think I can compare to someone like you, Karin…”

“Are you saying I’m biased?”

She gave me a sulky, side-eye look full of damp-eyed disappointment.

“Um… I-I mean, it’s not impossible, right?”

I mean, Karin does like me, so… a little favoritism wouldn’t be surprising.

“But even if I am biased, don’t you think that just means that’s part of what makes you charming?”

“…Huh?”

“You caught my eye. You made me think, ‘She’s really cute like this.’ And the one who made me feel that way… was you, Akari.”

How am I supposed to respond to something like that…?

I—I don’t know what to do…

“You’re not good at believing in yourself, I get it. But can’t you believe me, just a little?”

“…If it’s coming from you, Karin, I can’t not believe it.”

As I said that, Karin reached out her hand.

“You know, Akari… you’re way more special and wonderful than you think you are.”

She placed her hand gently on my head.

A soft, warm touch spread from her palm into my hair.

“You’re the one who made me fall for you, so please… try to believe in yourself more. That’s all I ask.”

As she slowly stroked my head, her warmth settled into my chest and spread—growing hotter, and softer.

It was the first time I’d ever felt something like this.

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