Arc 1.5 – Episode 3: Handsome Step-Brother?! – Part 1

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[Side: Rina]

My name is Nagaoka Rina—or at least it was. From now on, I’ll go by Kuzuha Rina.

The reason is pretty simple: after my mom lost her job due to company downsizing, our finances took a nosedive.

At first, I never would've imagined becoming someone else’s child—specifically, a relative of my mom's. But Kuzuha-san, my mom's cousin, somehow heard about our situation and offered to adopt me.

I didn't want to leave my family, but if joining the Kuzuha family meant my parents would have an easier time, it felt like the right thing to do. Besides, the Kuzuhas were financially stable, and they even promised to let me go to the high school I'd wanted to attend.

That meant I could go to Yusho Private High School, which I'd almost given up on because of the tuition fees. Why Yusho? Because my older brother, Nagaoka Shuuji, and my childhood friend, Saito Yuka, both go there.

I just wanted to be with them, like always.

Of course, I thought maybe they could just lend us the money. But it was a huge amount, and we had no guarantee we could pay it back, even if we borrowed it. So, the Kuzuhas made things clear by offering to make me their actual dependent. After thinking it over, I told my parents I was okay with becoming part of the Kuzuha family.

“I object! If money's the issue, I can get a part-time job and help out!”

My brother was totally against it.

“Shuuji, you're on a scholarship, right? You need to focus on your grades to keep it. Taking on a part-time job would just be too much. If you end up losing that scholarship, I won't forgive you.”

Mom shut him down.

He couldn't risk his grades dropping over a part-time job since his scholarship covered most of his tuition.

In the end, I did all the necessary paperwork and officially became Kuzuha Rina. I'd keep using the Nagaoka name until middle school graduation, but in high school, I'd switch to Kuzuha.

Kuzuha-san—my new adoptive mother—welcomed me warmly.

Even after joining the Kuzuha family, they let me visit both the Nagaoka and Kuzuha families whenever I wanted.

I could even keep my room at the Nagaoka house, and I had a room at the Kuzuhas'.

But there was another option too. Kuzuha-san had a son—my new older brother—who rented an apartment near his high school.

Coincidentally, he also went to Yusho Private High School, the same as my brother. Since his apartment was closer to my middle school as well, they suggested I move there first and get to know him before high school.

Living with my stepbrother… Even though we were family now, the thought of sharing a space with a guy made me nervous. But I wouldn't be staying in his room; instead, I'd stay next door with his childhood friend, who had already agreed.

It made sense—I'd be around someone closer to my age—so I accepted the offer.

The day I arrived at my new stepbrother's place, my heart was pounding as I rang the doorbell.

“Hello? Who's there…”

An incredibly handsome guy opened the door! He was tall, fit, and had a face straight out of a magazine. Actually, now that I thought about it, hadn't I seen him in a magazine a friend had?

No way—this is my new stepbrother? Is this a dream?

“Uh, um! Are you Kuzuha Kyoichi-san?”

“Yeah, that's me. Oh! You must be my new stepsister?”

“Yes! I'm Nagaoka… no, Kuzuha Rina! I'm your second cousin and, well, now your stepsister! Nice to meet you!”

I bowed deeply, almost in half.

“Yeah, nice to meet you too. As you probably heard, you'll be staying next door, with my childhood friend. Let me introduce you.”

Kyoichi-san smiled and rang the doorbell to the next room.

“Hello.”

The door opened right away, and a girl with braids and round glasses appeared.

“Hi there. Is this Kyo-kun's new little sister?”

Kyo-kun? I guess that's what she calls Kyoichi-san? They seemed really close! I never called my brother or Yuka anything like that.

“Yes! I'm Kuzuha Rina! Nice to meet you!”

I bowed again.

“Rina-chan, huh? I'm Yorifuji Ichigo. Kyo-kun's childhood friend, his girlfriend, and soon-to-be fiancée. Feel free to call me ‘Onee-chan' if you'd like.”

“Um, well…”

I was a bit overwhelmed by everything Ichigo-san said. It wasn't that I had an issue with calling a stranger “Onee-chan”—it was something else entirely.

She's Kyoichi-san's girlfriend?

I don't mean to sound rude, but they didn't look like a typical couple.

So Kyoichi-san wasn't picky about looks when it came to dating?

That's… surprising.

It was the opposite of my brother, who kept flirting with cute Yuka-chan but never took it further.

Just from this, I felt like Kyoichi-san must be a good person.

Ichigo-san invited me inside. The apartment was a simple one-bedroom with a small kitchen, but if we divided it up, we could make it work for two.

“Okay, I'll open up the dresser, so go ahead and put your clothes away.”

“Oh, right.”

I opened my bag and started putting my clothes into the dresser as Ichigo-san suggested. It looked like they'd cleared out the bottom two drawers for me, knowing I was coming.

“Huh? That's all you have, Rina-chan?”

“Um… yes.”

All my clothes fit into a single drawer. Since the Nagaoka family had been struggling financially, I'd only bought the bare minimum. It felt a bit embarrassing, like I was showing just how poor we were.

“I see… Well, we'll add to it little by little.”

That was all Ichigo-san said as she started fiddling with her phone. I guess it didn't bother her.

“Oh, right. You have a phone, right?”

“Yes.”

Even in middle school, it'd be hard to keep up with friends without one, so I'd been given the cheapest model.

“Great. I'll give you Kyo-kun's and my phone numbers and LINE IDs, so add us, okay?”

I entered their contact info. Whoa, I got Kyoichi-san's (the hot guy's) contact info! I mean, I know we're family now, but still… it's kind of exciting!

“Alright, we're heading out now, so wait a sec while I change.”

Ichigo-san opened the top drawer of the dresser and started changing. I caught a glimpse of her lingerie—super fancy, the kind you see in boutique windows. Just seeing her clothes made me feel a little envious.

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NOTE:

The remarriage of Rina's parents, seen through Ichigo's perspective, explains that Shuuji is actually her stepbrother. Since Rina was too young when her parents remarried to understand the situation, so she grew up believing both Shuuji and her father were her blood relatives.