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~☆”

“Hey hey, what are we going to do during the winter break? Oh, the three of us, of course.”

During dinner, Erika said this with unusual enthusiasm.

Sure enough, the long break is almost here.

I don’t quite understand when it was decided that we would hang out, but does that ‘three of us’ include me?

“If you want to have fun, you sisters should just go by yourselves.”

I would be content just playing video games at home during the long holiday.

“Do you have any places you want to go, sister? The three of us, I mean.”

Hey, don’t ignore me. I said the two of you should go.

“If we go, it will be the three of us, of course. Erika, don’t you have homework?”

They’re stubbornly intent on going as three, huh.

“Don’t worry, I’ll do that too, probably.”

But Karen brings up motherly concerns, as always.

It’s typical for her, but maybe it’s a sign of hardship that she’s so domestic at this age.

“Studying can wait. We’ve been living together for quite some time now. Let’s make the most of the holiday and deepen our friendship~”

“We’re not a club or circle, we don’t need to have some kind of friendship-building gathering.”

“Do you really dislike spending time with us that much?”

Guh…

I don’t know if she’s serious or not, but it does make me hesitate a bit when she looks hurt.

Erika’s face when she’s like this deals mental damage because she’s usually so cheerful.

“So, you want to go, right, sister? To enrich his everyday life?”

“Of course, if it would bring vitality to Seiichiro’s daily life, I’d go anywhere.”

What’s with that heavy resolution?

The difference in the mood between her answer and her sister’s question is jarring!

We’re just talking about hanging out, right?

Hmm. I could refuse outright here, but do I have a strong reason to do so? Not particularly.

But the problem is…

“Where and what are we going to do?”

What could we do, the three of us?

Both are different types but until now have had nothing to do with someone like me.

“Um, we don’t have much money, so something that’s free?”

That narrows it down even further.

“Look, if we’re going out, we could spend some money.”

“No, we can’t rely on you for everything.”

Uh…

“Haha, my sister doesn’t want to be a burden anymore. Although I think it’s okay to take advantage of your kindness~”

“Erika, don’t say unnecessary things.”

A burden, huh.

Do I consider them a burden?

“…It’s not that heavy, you know.”

Those words just slipped out.

The room falls silent. Erika is looking at me, stunned.

“What?”

“You mean, you don’t find us burdensome? I’m so happy. It means you want to go out with us.”

“Huh? No, that’s not it! I just thought I should offer some benefits because you’re working for me without taking a salary!”

“Fuku-ri-ko-se? Don’t know what it means, but it’s super cute how you’re desperately denying it now~”

This girl, I swear.

“Anyway, you two figure out the details.”

“Aww, there’s no need to be shy.”

“I’m not shy!”

As I’m about to leave the room to avoid any more awkward situations, Karen’s voice catches me.

“Seiichiro.”

“Hm?”

“It’s fun to go out, of course. But I also enjoy just talking like this, you know?”

…Is that so.

That conversation happened right before the winter break.

We entered the vacation period without deciding whether we would go out or not.

But it turns out, we didn’t need to make that decision.

“I got these travel vouchers, sort of like invitations, through a small connection. I can’t go because I’m busy with work, so you should take them. Go with the Kamishiro sisters.”

“Suspicious.”

The call came out of the blue from Mrs. Higashi right before the break.

“What’s so suspicious? I really got them.”

“So, everything else is a lie?”

“Don’t doubt a lawyer too much; otherwise, I won’t defend you when you need it.”

A bit hard to retort to that, since I had relied on her recently in regards to the Kamishiro sisters.

“Just give those adorable ‘maids’ some paid vacation or something. You’re not using them for anything else usually, are you?”

“Who are you calling maids?”

“It’s just an example. Have fun.”

“…Yeah, yeah.”

Financial issue resolved. Now it’s definitely going to be a trip for the three of us.