Arc 1.5 – Episode 4: Handsome Step-Brother?! – Part 2

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【Side. Rina】

I followed Kyoichi-san and Ichigo-san into the family restaurant. I rarely came to places like this—usually only for family celebrations or outings with friends—so I was pretty excited. And since this was a welcome party for me, they told me I could order anything I wanted, and they'd treat me.

Still, I hesitated a bit and ended up choosing a menu item that was slightly cheaper than the one I really wanted, thinking it was too expensive. But Kyoichi-san and Ichigo-san seemed to notice what I had my eye on.

They both ordered it and suggested we share.

That's when I truly realized they were really treating me like family.

“Thank you for the meal. It was really delicious.”

“You're welcome. Now, let's go check out some clothes.”

“Wait, what?!”

After that, they dragged me around to different clothing stores.

“Hey, Kyo-kun, which one do you think suits Rina-chan better—this one or this one?”

“…The one on the left.”

Wait, seriously?! I'm going to wear something Kyoichi-niisan picked out for me?

“Really? I like the one on the right better, so let's just get both!”

“Hey, hold on.”

Wait, both?! We're getting both?!

The one Kyoichi-niisan chose was on the left. I'll remember that. Just like at the restaurant, Kyoichi-niisan paid for everything.

Kyoichi-niisan must be really wealthy… A handsome, rich guy as my big brother—it feels like I'm living in a shoujo manga.

Though, I was super embarrassed when he followed us into the lingerie store. He didn't want to come in, but Ichigo-neesan grabbed him, so he couldn't escape.

So now Kyoichi-niisan knows exactly what kind of underwear I'm wearing?! That's so embarrassing!

Between excitement and embarrassment, my emotions were all over the place. Before I knew it, we were back at the apartment. When I put away the new clothes we bought, the bottom two drawers of the dresser were completely full.

“Hmm, maybe we should get a new dresser just for Rina-chan,” Ichigo-neesan murmured as she looked at the now-full dresser.

Does that mean Kyoichi-niisan is going to buy me even more clothes? I'm kind of excited. But I don't want to seem greedy, so maybe I should think about getting rid of some of my old clothes that I've kept forcing myself to wear.

For the next few days, I spent time with Kyoichi-niisan and Ichigo-neesan—studying for my entrance exams, playing games, upgrading my phone to the latest model, and getting cosmetics I could never afford. It was all so much fun. At first, I felt like I'd been sold off to another family for money, but now I think I'm lucky to have joined the Kuzuha family and become Kyoichi-niisan's sister.

Then, on my first weekend here, I got a call from Kuzuha-san—my new mom. She asked if I was getting along well with Kyoichi-niisan and the others, and I happily told her we were getting along great. She also mentioned they'd soon be preparing a room for me at the Kuzuha family home and suggested I visit the Nagaoka household to pack up anything I wanted to bring.

After confirming all that, I ended the call. My stuff, huh… I'd left most of the furniture behind, bringing mostly clothes, so I guess I'd take my books and a few small things. I wondered if I'd get to see Shuuji-nii when I went back home. I called my mom to let her know I'd be coming today and confirmed that my brother would be home too.

When I saw Shuuji-nii, I wanted to brag about my cool new big brother, the clothes, and the phone he'd bought me. I glanced at the picture I'd taken with Kyoichi-niisan on my phone, grinning at the thought of showing off.

After a thirty-minute journey by train and walking, I arrived at the Nagaoka family home. “The old family home”… it felt strange calling it that, but now that I'm officially a Kuzuha, I guess it's just a way to differentiate.

I rang the doorbell, and my mom came out to greet me. She seemed worried, so I told her how kind Kyoichi-niisan and his childhood friend, Ichigo-neesan, had been to me, helping with my studies and buying me clothes and a new phone. When I showed her the picture with Kyoichi-niisan, she squealed about how handsome he was and asked me to introduce him sometime.

“Rina? You're back?”

Hearing us, my brother came out of his room.

“Oh, it's been a while, Shuuji-nii! Look at this new outfit! Kyoichi-niisan bought it for me. Isn't it cute?”

I quickly spun around in front of him, showing off my clothes. He looked a bit taken aback.

“Uh, yeah. It's cute… but who's Kyoichi-niisan?”

“He's my new stepbrother from the Kuzuha family—Kuzuha Kyoichi. Here, look at this picture. He also bought me this phone.”

I showed him the picture of me and Kyoichi-niisan on my phone.

“What?! This guy is Kuzuha Kyoichi?!”

“Yeah, why? I heard you're in the same high school. Do you know him?”

“Rina! You shouldn't get close to him! He's got a reputation for being a womanizer, always fooling around with different girls! You might end up getting used by him too!”

Hearing my brother badmouth Kyoichi-niisan felt awful. Kyoichi-niisan, a womanizer? Me, being used by him? No way. He's so in love with Ichigo-neesan. Besides, he hasn't even tried anything inappropriate with me! Most likely, it's just a rumor spread by jealous girls drawn to Kyoichi-niisan's good looks.

“Don't say things like that! Kyoichi-niisan is cool, kind, and a really good person!”

“That's just because you're being deceived!”

My brother argued back, but he just seemed jealous of Kyoichi-niisan. As the argument heated up, my mom stepped in, pulling us apart. She asked me more about Kyoichi-niisan, and through my tears of frustration, I told her everything that had happened since I'd moved into the apartment.

After listening to my story, my mom chose to believe my version of Kyoichi-niisan's character.

But if I stayed here any longer, I'd probably end up fighting with my brother again, so I quickly packed my things and went back to the apartment where Kyoichi-niisan and Ichigo-neesan were waiting.

Hmph! I don't care about my brother anymore! I'm going to stay close to Kyoichi-niisan!