I paid off the debt for the most beautiful sisters in the school, and then they barged into my house where I live alone. “Please go back home; you don’t need to repay the favor.” “No way.” “We don’t want to~☆”

I sat down on a random bench with Erika, trying to regain some composure.

For the record, I’d only bought a juice and was sipping it through a straw.

While surreptitiously watching Erika happily munching on a crepe, I decided to sort out the conversation we’d just had in my head.

Upon reflection, was it even appropriate for a total stranger like me to pry into her life like that? Honestly, I was starting to doubt myself.

The reason I impulsively questioned her earlier was because she’d used the term “defective,” a word I’d also used to mock myself. It was too unexpected.

It was far removed from the image I had of Erika.

After organizing my thoughts, it was simple.

I had simply intruded too far into her life because I was surprised. I hate it when people intrude into my private life, too. Her being angry is only natural.

“Sorry for being unpleasant earlier,” Erika apologized, looking somewhat uncomfortable.

“No, my fault. I shouldn’t have pried like that.”

“Um, no, it’s different, or rather, um…”

Erika closed her eyes and hummed, as if struggling to find the words.

“I didn’t want you to dislike me. Yeah, that’s probably it.”

Dislike her?

So she thinks if she explained the ‘defective’ part, I might dislike her?

“I’m not going to—”

“Yeah, I know you won’t dislike me. I know you’re that kind of person. But I panicked when you suddenly asked me.”

Erika chuckled, saying, “Fail, fail.”

Why I don’t dislike her?

Because I’ve decided to live my life without having particular interest in others, neither liking nor disliking them.

“You’re really kind,” Erika said.

“No, you’re misunderstanding. Both you and Karen have misunderstood me. People who give you money always look good, at least for a while.”

“I told you not to trust people based on appearances alone. I’m not kind.”

“Yeah, you always say that.”

It’s a fact. You two are too quick to trust me.

“Then, let me tell you as an intrusive, yet not kind brother,”

“Alright,”

Erika spoke up after finishing her crepe.

“I was, well, having fun with men and getting paid for it.”

“What did you say?”

So she was, essentially—

“Karen didn’t tell me the details, but I knew we needed a lot of money. I thought I should do something, but no one would hire a middle schooler.”

She was desperate for money but couldn’t work a legitimate job due to her age. But she could make money through “illicit” means.

“A friend told me I could make money just by having fun with guys. I thought I could easily earn it. It wasn’t much, but I kept it a secret from Karen because I didn’t want to worry her. I knew it was wrong.”

If she knew her sister would object, then she must’ve known the risks, but she had no other choice.

“But honestly, I don’t feel like I did something wrong. People talk about morals and ethics, but no one helps you for adhering to those things. That’s why I don’t really care about the societal norms everyone else follows.”

That hurts.

I know that morals, ethics, and societal norms are necessary for society, and Erika probably knows this too.

But our experiences have taught us that these concepts don’t always help when you need them the most.

“I know that people like my sister are truly righteous. Kind, diligent, cute… I can’t live like that.”

“So you’re defective?”

“Right. And in the end, I couldn’t do anything for Karen. The one who paid off the debt was some random guy.”

My head is hurting. She’s misunderstanding so much, and she doesn’t realize it.

“What are you good at?”

“Huh? Well, I’ve been cooking since I was about eight. People around me were busy, so I naturally started doing it myself.”

“So you haven’t done nothing. Your cooking is good enough that I was willing to pay for it.”

“Is that consolation?”

“No, I actually found your cooking valuable. In fact, I’ve been keeping accounts. You two just aren’t taking the money.”

“In that case, I don’t need it. I know you have quite a bit of money, but if Karen’s not taking it, neither am I.”

“I’m not rich, but I do have some money. It wasn’t earned morally, though.”

“Eh?”

“Like you, I also used immoral means. In my case, some ‘bad adults’ helped me out.”

“So I won’t dislike you. I won’t say it’s right, but I won’t despise you either. You worked hard to earn money for your family. That’s a genuinely good thing. Overall, you’re a caring sister.”

Erika looked at me blankly.

“If you’re worried about your sister finding out, it’s a draw. She didn’t tell you about the debt either.”

Honestly, I don’t know what’s “right.” But if society’s morals say they’re wrong, then society is the one that’s twisted.

“Just be careful with the risky gambles, okay? You could’ve found another way. You guys have the potential to succeed when you grow up—”

Suddenly, Erika hugged me.

“Hey, what—”

“Fall in love with my sister.”

“Excuse me?”

Her eyes, a little moist, seemed to draw me in.

“Erika!”

She chuckled. “Then I need to try harder to make you ask us to stay with you, huh?”

“Seriously, what are you talking about?”

She looked at me with a twinkle in her eyes. I averted my gaze.

“We’ve got our own life plans. Just live a normal life and you’ll be fine. You guys can be happy that way.”

“Fine, then I’ll try even harder until you ask us to stay.”

“Really, what’s wrong with you?”

“Because I’m cute?”

Is she some sort of psychopath?

As we walked, I couldn’t help but notice that Erika’s smile seemed more captivating than ever.

At the meeting spot, Karen was already waiting.

She’d apparently had a hard time choosing underwear and hadn’t spent much time looking for me.

After that, the three of us shopped together, mostly with Erika excitedly choosing clothes for Karen. Karen, on the other hand, seemed pretty worn out.

“Finally, it’s your turn,” said Karen.

“Excuse me?”

“I’ll use the money I’ve been saving up.”

“Me too! I can’t afford much, but I’ll try to pick something nice.”

“No, I have clothes! And you’re already tired, Karen.”

“No, I’m fine if it’s for you. I’ll do my best.”

These two are seriously something else.

By the time we finished shopping and headed home, it was already dark. I felt as if my body had been thrown into a washing machine.

But it was also strangely fulfilling.

Erika, who’d been non-stop laughing and talking, finally seemed to tire out.

My heart is also tired, but the girls didn’t seem to notice.