Chapter 18: The Storm Called, Kyoko

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Translator: Soafp

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The morning light quietly begins to illuminate the room.

As the hands of the clock on the wall move forward, the soft sunlight slowly slides across the floor, gradually fading the shadows of the furniture.

Outside, the crisp winter air envelops everything, and the frozen blue sky spreads out beyond the window. Despite the cold that should make the breath turn white, the warmth of the heater inside the room is comforting, wrapping the quiet morning in its embrace.

However, this warmth does nothing to lighten the burden on my heart.

I pull the blanket up to my head in bed and curl up, remaining motionless as if I want to hibernate right there.

What comes to my mind is what happened yesterday.

──When I was at the café with Marin and Kagura, suddenly, out of nowhere, Miyabi and Aoi appeared.

It goes without saying that the atmosphere became strange after that.

Miyabi and Aoi were on guard against Marin and Kagura, who were constantly close to me, and the two girls began to assert themselves.

As a result, in front of me, the two pairs were glaring at each other, exchanging words back and forth.

The tension in the air was beyond uncomfortable.

I ended up forcing a conversation to end and somehow managed to calm the situation, but honestly, all that remained was awkwardness.

“……Haa.”

I feel heavy this morning.

I want to stay in bed like this all day, without thinking about anything, without caring about anything, just quietly getting through the day.

──Just then.

“Hey, Hajime! You there? I’m coming in!”

A familiar boisterous voice echoed from beyond the door to my room on the second floor.

My heart skipped a beat.

“……Kyo-nee today, huh?”

Aizawa Hibiki. My older sister, who is usually a university student and living on her own, has for some reason come back to our parents’ house this morning.

…I have a bad feeling about this.

“Hey, are you awake? You are, right? Alright! I’m coming in!”

“Eh, wait──”

Click!

Before I could stop her, the door swung open with force.

And then──

“Brotherrrrrrrrrrrrr!!!”

“Uwah!?”

──Bam!

What filled my vision was Kyoko-nee’s long golden hair and the large chest of hers swaying with momentum.

Before I knew it, I sank into the bed, with Kyoko-nee on top of me.

Soft.

But… heavy!!

“It's been a while! I missed you!!”

Looking up at Kyoko-nee’s face from close up, I was struck by how much she looked like a model or actress.

A straight nose, lips forming a graceful curve, eyes with a strong will.

There was not a flaw to be found. I couldn’t help but admire how beautiful she was, even though she was my sister.

But the next moment──the lively voice from her mouth and the sensation pressing against me almost blew away my thoughts.

“G-Guehh…!? Kyoko-nee, wait, I can’t breathe──!!”

“Aww, you’re still so weak! You need to get more brotherly doses!”

“What do you mean by doses!? And get off me!!”

“Nope! I'm getting my brother fix now, so you're going to let me hug you like this!”

Saying that, Kyoko-nee hugged me even tighter.

The arm wrapped around my back was unrelenting, locking me firmly in place.

No matter how much I tried to escape, it was impossible.

Plus, she was so close.

I could smell her shampoo, faintly sweet from her hair, and my cheek was pressed against her soft skin. And most importantly──her chest.

“……I can’t breathe. It’s really hard to breathe!!”

“Eh? Aren’t you just being cute and needy?”

“No! This is serious──!!”

My face was completely buried in Kyoko-nee’s ch*st, on the brink of suffocation.

“What's up, Hajime? Is this your way of being clingy? I guess I'll let you!”

“I-I'm not trying to be clingy!! Seriously──!!”

I was squirming desperately, but Kyoko-nee just laughed, enjoying herself.

“Why did you come here this morning, anyway!?”

I finally managed to lift my face a little and asked, and Kyoko-nee leaned in close with a wide grin.

“It's obvious, right? To celebrate you winning the award.”

With that, Kyoko-nee gave me a light pat on the back.

“It was two days ago that I won the award, though? Plus, Dad and Mom──”

“So what? I can celebrate your achievement today, so that's fine, right?”

Kyoko-nee winked at me.

“What do you want to eat? Barbecue? Sushi? Or maybe sweets? I'll treat you to anything you want. Or… we could spend the whole day on a lovey-dovey date?”

“…..Eeh?”

For a moment, my mind went completely blank.

“You and me, on a date, holding hands, walking around the city? Watching a movie together, leaning on each other? Or enjoying a dinner at a restaurant with a beautiful night view, and then heading to a hotel──”

Kyoko-nee was speaking in a playful tone, but her eyes were serious.

“Whaaaaaa!? What are you saying this early in the morning…!?”

“Fufu, why are you so flustered? If you want it, I'll go along with it anytime.”

With a casual toss of her hair, Kyoko-nee made her intentions clear.

“Remember how you used to be so clingy with me when you were little? Maybe you should try letting yourself be spoiled by me again, just like back then?”

Her eyes, almost pleading, and her face clearly longing for affection.

“T-That was when I was a kid, okay?! There's no way a high schooler like me would act like that with a woman…!”

“I see, so you’re seeing me as a woman now, huh?”

Kyoko, my older sister, slightly narrowed her eyes and gave me a provocative smile.

“N-No, that’s not what I meant…”

“Then it’s decided. We’ll spend the day together, just the two of us.”

“…No, it’s not decided!”

I was taken aback by her forcefulness.

“Fufu, well, I only suggested it as an option. What you choose is up to you, but whichever you pick, I come as a set, so be prepared for that.”

“Ehh…”

Seeing my troubled expression, Kyoko smiled contentedly.

“So, what will it be? Tell me anything you want.”

“…Well, I guess I’ll let you treat me to lunch, Kyoko.”

“Alright, it’s settled then!”

Kyoko nodded happily, and at that moment—

“Alright! To celebrate, let’s hug again!”

“Wait, wha—”

—Bam!

Kyoko lunged at me with even more force than before.

“Ugh!? Wait…!”

“You’re really amazing, little brother! Well done, well done!”

She held me tight and started rubbing my head enthusiastically.

“Wait! My neck… it’s choking me!”

“Hmm? You’re tensing up. Are you embarrassed?”

“N-No, that’s not it! It’s just that… I’m really choking!!”

Kyoko tightened her hug even more, and my face was completely pressed into her chest.

“Ugh!”

…It's soft.

But more than that, I can’t breathe.

“Hmm? Do you like my ch*st that much?”

“N-No… this is… really… bad!”

Noticing that something was off, Kyoko finally realized what was happening.

“…Oops, sorry. I got a little carried away.”

She finally let go, and I took a big breath.

It felt like my body was being set free, and I slowly relaxed my shoulders.

How many times is this now…?

“Haah… please, cut it out already.”

Kyoko gave me a wry smile.

“Sorry, sorry. It’s been a while, so I just got carried away.”

“That doesn’t excuse it…”

I slumped my shoulders and looked up at Kyoko.

“Geez, you’re always so pushy.”

“Fufu, well, well, take the love from your big sister and be happy about it.”

“I'm not complaining about how I receive it…”

“See? You’re breathing fine now, right?”

“Yeah, for now.”

Kyoko laughed and gave my head a light pat.

“Anyway, I'm going to spoil you today, so get ready.”

Even though I was still catching my breath, I sighed and nodded.

“…Alright.”

Despite the awkwardness from yesterday's incident at the café, I couldn't help but feel good about Kyoko celebrating me with such enthusiasm.

It lifted my spirits a little.

That said, though… this whirlwind visit was something else…

“You've got some time before lunch, so rest up.”

“…Thanks, Kyoko.”

When I said that sincerely, she nodded with satisfaction.

“Alright, then I'll relax in your room!”

“Wait, what?”

Before I could react, Kyoko casually plopped down on my bed.

“This bed smells like you, and it feels so relaxing, just like when I was home.”

“Wait, hold on! This is my bed! And what do you mean, ‘smells’?”

“Your bed is my bed too. No objections accepted.”

With a smug expression, Kyoko crossed her arms and leaned back.

—She really hasn't changed at all.

I've always been at her mercy, but having this noisy yet warm time together wasn't all that bad.

I shrugged my shoulders slightly and gave a small smile.