Chapter 31 - By the way, I was Only Wearing a Yukata
Regaining consciousness, I slowly open my eyes.
I see a figure amid the bright lights. Also, something soft cradles the back of my head.
“Oh, you awake?”
A face peeks into my field of vision.
“…Eh, Rika?”
“It’s Erika. And right now, you’re resting on Erika-chan’s lap.”
Ah, I thought so. This is what they call a lap pillow, huh?
Oh, come on…
“What’s with you sisters!?”
“Hey, hey, don’t get so worked up. Sure, first my sister in her birthday suit and now Erika-chan’s thighs—it’s a lot to take in. But calm down, okay? You just woke up. You’ll get a nosebleed.”
Who does she think is to blame for all this?
Not just the lap pillow, but her outfit is a problem too! The yukata from the inn is thin! If you do a lap pillow like this, it’s—well, it’s just not appropriate!
“Um, thank you for the pillow but why are you—”
“Ah, not yet.”
“Hey!”
As I try to get up, she presses down on my head with both hands. The back of my head is forced into Erika’s thighs, and I seriously feel like I’m going to get a nosebleed.
“What on Earth do you two want with me?”
“Eh? We just want you to rest a bit more. You might collapse if you stand up now.”
“That’s not what I mean! Overall! My sister bursts into the bathroom, and now you’re offering me a lap pillow while barely dressed? What’s the deal?”
“You’re talking kinda girly there.”
I have to divert my focus or I’ll lose my sanity!
“Hmm, well, what can I say? We like you, don’t we?”
“W-what?”
“We wouldn’t do this kind of thing to a guy we don’t like. Think about it.”
The kind of people who would do this kind of thing wouldn’t be doing it to anyone in the first place!
But right now, that’s beside the point.
“You ‘like’ me? You mean…”
“Didn’t my sister tell you? We like being with you. We love it.”
“She did say that, but—”
“That’s it for now. We’re not saying become our boyfriend or take responsibility or anything. So don’t worry. You’re good.”
I don’t get what’s okay and what I should be relieved about.
But I understand that Erika and Karen enjoy our current life a lot.
“True, it’s not like I can have a girlfriend or get married, and I don’t have any responsibilities to take on.”
“Is that so?”
“Yeah. How can someone afraid to trust people make promises or contracts to be with someone forever?”
“Do you still not trust us? Not at all?”
Erika doesn’t sound despairing or angry. A brief glance shows me she’s even faintly smiling.
“No, I do trust you. At least right now. But next year? Five years from now? Ten years from now? People change over time. Including me.”
I mean, look at my parents. I have no idea what kind of person I’ll become. I can’t count on that.
It’s not just that I’m afraid of being betrayed by Erika and Karen.
What’s terrifying is… betraying them myself.
So we probably shouldn’t get any closer than we are now.
“Hmm. People do change, yeah. But I’ll do my best, you know? To keep you trusting me. I bet my sister will do the same.”
“I’m not worth it.”
“No, you are. Even if you’re not, I’ll make you worth it. Because we think you’re great.”
Erika’s words are abstract, but they strive to go straight to my heart.
“There are plenty of other guys out there. Guys better than me.”
Worrying that their lives will be wasted on me is probably my most negative thought. I don’t know how to change that.
“Other good guys? Like someone who would suddenly take on someone else’s debt for them?”
“It just happened that I had money on me at the time. You could easily find a wealthy, good-looking guy if you wanted to. You could easily snag one,” I say.
Erika giggles. “What’s so funny?”
“I don’t want someone just because they’re wealthy. He has to be someone who would take care of me when I’m sick, listen to my concerns, and treat me kindly, you know?”
“There are plenty of wealthy, good-looking guys who are also kind.”
“I wouldn’t want them, even so. What I want is someone a little twisted, you know? Cute but earnest at his core. Sensitive to pain, with a delicate heart. Someone who will play games with me, eat my cooking every day, and sometimes give me compliments. If you can introduce me to someone like that, then maybe I’ll consider it.”
Erika looks at me with a confident smile as if to say, “Well? Got anything?”
“You have a talent for wrapping men around your finger,” I say.
“So you’re victim number one, Makoto-nii-san? But I don’t need a number two.”
“We’ll see.”
“You don’t think I’m some kind of femme fatale, do you? I’m not really into guys, you know.”
“I’d be more concerned if a middle schooler told me she was ‘into guys.'”
“I was more into my sister than boys. I’m not with you because you’re a guy, Makoto-nii-san. I’m with you because you’re you.”
I sigh. This sister complex…
“Being with family is different, but all I want is to have fun with you and be like this when times are tough.”
Erika, still holding my head in her lap, pulls me in closer. Her scent and warmth envelop me.
“Of course, if I’m ever feeling down, it’ll be your and Onee-chan’s turn to do this for me, okay?”
So this is how it feels to be held by her sister when things are tough. It’s strangely comforting.
Still, my heart is racing like crazy.
“Erika, you’re too warm.”
“Ah, sorry. You just felt so comfortable.”
What am I, a stuffed animal?
I sit up, taking advantage of the gap when Erika moves away.
“Are you alright now, Nii-san?”
“Yeah, thanks to you.”
My head’s no longer spinning, though for other reasons it’s still somewhat unstable.
“Listen, Erika.”
“What is it?”
“You’re probably doing this innocently, but you’re a dangerously charming girl.”
“I told Karen too, but living with you guys is fun. I could even say I like our current life.”
“Really!?”
Her expression changes instantly, child-like one moment and seductive the next.
“Yeah, really. But there are things I need to think about. Your feelings make me happy, but I can’t easily give you the answer you want.”
“I don’t want you pulling away from me now, okay? I’ll cry.”
“I can’t compete with that.”
“And yet, I can’t give you anything right now.”
“Hmm, well, that’s fine for now. I’ll work hard too.”
Erika nods seriously. What she’ll work hard at, neither of us says.
By the way, when I woke up, I was already wearing a yukata. Erika had apparently put it on me.
I sort of wanted to die right then and there.
“It’s okay, Makoto-nii-san! I’m not an expert, but I think you looked decent in it!”
“Shut up! Forget it! Forget it as fast as you can!”