Reincarnated as the Heroine’s Big Sister, but My Little Sister Fell for Me Instead - Chapter 15

The procedures for Lian’s registration as a saint candidate began in early autumn.

Documents arrived from a national agency, necessitating visits to the administrative building of the academy. Verification of magical aptitude proof, lineage proof, and letters of recommendation. This translated into a weekly summons to the administrative building.

The time she spent coming to the library decreased slightly.

The first week, Lian arrived later than usual in the evening. “The procedures took longer than expected,” she said. I nodded. That was all.

But the same thing happened the second week, and the third.

I decided not to mind. She would return once the procedures were finished. It was simply that an external obligation had been added to Lian’s life outside the academy.

Yet at night, in my room reading documents, I found myself thinking about the times the seat opposite me in the library was empty. Lifting my head, the view seemed wider than usual. A sensation, as if something were seeping from deep within my chest, settled over me.

Thinking about Lian again. I shook my head and returned to the documents.

One evening, Lian came to the library.

A little earlier than usual. Just as I found that odd, she spoke as soon as she sat down.

“I’ve made a friend.”

I looked up. I looked at Lian’s face.

“She’s in the same year. We ended up together during the procedures and started talking.”

“I see.”

“Her name is Malette,” Lian said, seeming a little happy. “She’s bright and easy to talk to. I feel like she’s similar to you, Sister.”

“To me?”

“In how calm she is.”

I wasn’t sure if that was meant as a compliment to me. It was true I might be considered calm, but as for being bright and easy to talk to, that wasn’t right.

“If the person Lian calls a friend is bright and easy to talk to, then I don’t think she resembles me at all.”

“Really?” Lian pondered briefly. “Well, maybe. But somehow, the atmosphere she gives off feels that way.”

“Bring her next time.”

Lian’s eyes widened in surprise. “Is that okay?”

“I’d like to meet the person Lian calls a friend, that’s all.”

“…You sound kind of like a father saying that.”

“How rude.”

Lian laughed. She opened her book. Today, the sound of pages turning was quicker. The rhythm was good. She must be in a good mood, I thought. She must be genuinely happy to have made a friend.

Watching that, something within me also loosened slightly.

Lian had made a friend. That was undoubtedly a good thing.

The following week, Lian brought her friend.

There were two sets of footsteps descending the stairs to the library basement. Lian’s light footsteps and another set with a more stable center of gravity, with a metronome-like tempo.

Lian came first, followed by a female student.

“Sister, this is Malette Ignite.”

“Nice to meet you.”

Malette bowed her head. She had bright brown hair. Her expression was soft. She had a friendly face that crinkled at the corners of her eyes when she smiled.

I was surprised by the name, as it didn’t appear in the game. I didn’t know if she was a nameless, faceless mob character in the game or a character I’d become acquainted with due to some change in the story’s progression.

“Rene de Croire. Lian’s sister.”

“I know of you. You’re quite famous at the academy, after all.”

The phrasing ‘famous’ gave me slight pause, but I sensed no malice or sarcasm. She seemed to be stating it merely as a fact. That was the tone.

“You’re in the same year as Lian.”

“Yes. Lian and I ended up together during the procedures and started talking often after that. Lian always talks about you, Lady Rene, so I’ve been wanting to meet you. I’m very happy.”

“She talks about me?”

“About how amazing your magic is, Sister, or how you often read books together in the library,” Lian said with a slightly embarrassed face. “Various things.”

Malette laughed. “You really are close, aren’t you?”

The two sat side by side in the seats opposite me. Lian and Malette began talking. About the procedures, classes, how the physical training instructor was overly intense.

While reading my documents, I listened to their conversation.

Malette’s responses were natural. She didn’t interrupt Lian. But she also had her own words. I understood why Lian liked her. It was easy to talk to someone like this.

“Lady Rene,” Malette looked at me. “Do you always research here?”

“That’s right.”

“That’s amazing. I couldn’t keep it up.”

“Everyone has their own aptitudes.”

“I’ve heard there are few documents on dark attribute research. Isn’t it difficult?”

“It’s difficult, but I can continue because it’s interesting.”

Malette nodded. She wore an expression of interest but didn’t probe deeper. She knew her manners.

She’s not a bad person, I thought.

As Lian’s friend, she was more than adequate.

After Malette left, Lian and I were alone.

“What did you think?” Lian asked.

“She seems like a nice girl.”

“Right?” Lian looked somewhat proud. “I was hoping you’d like her.”

“I wouldn’t go so far as to say I ‘like’ her.”

“But you thought she wasn’t a bad girl, right?”

I couldn’t deny it.

Lian opened her book. Then she looked up again.

“Sister.”

“What is it?”

“Starting next month, I’ll have to attend the temple once a month.”

I knew. As the saint candidate registration progressed, a connection with the temple would form. I had anticipated that.

The temple. The national ministry overseeing saints, also responsible for selecting one saint from among several saint candidates.

“I see.”

“There might be overnight stays sometimes.”

“Just for a day?”

“For now. But I was told it could increase depending on the situation.”

Overnight stays. Lian being absent from the academy for more than a day.

I wanted to decide not to mind. A single day shouldn’t be a problem. Lian had obligations. Obligations as a saint candidate. That was according to the game’s scenario.

“I understand. Be careful when you go.”

“Yes,” Lian was looking at me. “Won’t you be lonely?”

“I won’t be lonely.”

“Really?”

“Really.”

Lian smiled slightly. She wore an expression of disbelief.

“If you won’t be lonely, Sister, then I will be lonely.”

I didn’t answer.

I turned a page.

I placed the word ‘lonely’ in my mind. Lian being gone for a day. That was all it was. Before, that was normal. Wasn’t it like that every day for the two years before entering the academy?

But now—

“I’ll stop by the library before I leave,” Lian said. “Both on the morning I depart and the night I return.”

“You don’t have to push yourself like that.”

“I want to do it.”

Lian began reading her book. The sound of pages turning resumed.

I also returned to my documents.

Attendance at the temple once a month. Restrictions on her movements were gradually beginning. I sensed the game’s scenario starting to move. Lian was being drawn toward the center.

But tonight, Lian was here.

Reading a book in the seat opposite me.

That was enough, I thought. For today, at least.