Ch.371IF Side Story: Seems I’ve Arrived a Bit Early (68)

As time passed in increments of months, Shii’s change in attitude became much more noticeable.

Shii seemed very satisfied with her image as a “precocious little sister.” Well, thinking back to the novel’s content, Shii’s natural disposition seemed to enjoy taking care of others, so I couldn’t say her choice was entirely wrong.

Souta treated Shii very naturally, and Shii likewise treated Souta naturally. They were both satisfied with that kind of relationship.

And then, at some point, me who had inserted myself between them.

Though the timing of our meeting was a bit ambiguous, in some sense, couldn’t I also be considered in the position of a childhood friend?

In the original work, there was a character named Nanami. She probably exists in this world too. The friend who existed before Souta went abroad.

That Nanami, and another senior character whose name I can’t quite remember.

And the tsundere main heroine Yuka Yuuki. Befitting a light novel serialized in the mid-2000s, that novel was a typical harem story for its time.

Everyone would probably meet once they got to high school.

I sipped the tea bag green tea that Shii had brewed for me. And I observed Souta and Shii who were sitting around the table with me.

The two were focused on a movie they had rented from the video store. The latest theatrical release of a manga series that anyone would recognize by name. Well, by my standards it was an animation from quite a while ago, but the atmosphere was still good.

I had been like that too. In my childhood, going to the video store with my sibling, carrying allowance from mom and dad to rent the latest animated movie, or renting the latest film to watch with mom and dad.

Somehow it felt wasteful to watch a rental just once, so I would rewind and watch the video over and over until it was time to return it.

“……”

I picked up one of the snacks that Shii had brought on a tray and put it in my mouth while pondering once more.

Well, it’s nice to be able to create childhood memories in my own way. It feels good to enter into the memories of that time, and the cartoon is fun too.

But why doesn’t Shii guard against me?

Although blood-related little sisters rarely become main heroines unless the work explicitly targets that, typically “little sister characters” are often classified as one of the heroines.

Even if not explicitly romantic feelings, they often harbor admiration for their brother from childhood, so when that brother dates another woman, they react somewhat sensitively as if their brother is being taken away—yes, the kind of characters that would make anyone with a real little sister not just lose their composure but not even be able to laugh.

Well, if my little sister had been like that, it would have been a bit disgusting, but anyway, she’s someone else’s little sister. I know the past of these two, and there’s a somewhat understandable setting for why Shii is attached to Souta.

Because she doesn’t want to be abandoned again.

…

Though I’m not one to talk since I’m always clinging to Kagami, Shii started showing the attitude of an “ideal little sister” because she doesn’t want her brother to leave her side.

If that happens, Shii would truly be alone in the world.

So, according to the novel’s content, shouldn’t I also be a target of vigilance in some sense?

Is it because I treat Souta so casually that she thinks there isn’t even the option of “dating”? Well, if Shii is perceptive, that could be the case. Given my attitude toward Souta, and Souta himself probably couldn’t think that way if only out of fear of my dad.

Perhaps sensing that I was looking back and forth between them, Shii looked at me.

I turned my gaze away slightly as if avoiding her eyes, and looked back at the TV.

Just then a funny scene came on, and Souta and Shii laughed together. I hurriedly pretended to laugh along.

Well, anyway.

The rest of it was quite enjoyable.

Honestly, from the middle, memories slowly came back, and I had to struggle to resist the urge to spoil things as my mouth itched to speak.

*

Shii’s eyes are sparkling in front of me.

One thing is certain: Shii is incredibly comfortable with me.

That’s not to say I don’t like it. I don’t particularly find it burdensome either. After all, Souta and Shii play quite important roles in my relationship network now.

However, I wonder if there’s too little formality between us.

I heard she wanted to call me senior, but judging by how she treats me, it seems more like she’s treating me as a friend with almost no age difference.

“So…”

I quickly organized my thoughts and recalled what Shii had said.

“You want to go to the sea?”

“Yes!”

Seeing how politely she always speaks, I wonder if she might have been influenced a bit by Kagami?

No, the original Shii was like this too.

I held the photo Shii had shown me.

It was… the sea, indeed. But not the typical sea people visit during “summer vacation.” Well, people living outside Tokyo might visit it, but still.

“Odaiba?”

I asked seriously.

“Is this place called Odaiba?”

Shii answered, her eyes still sparkling.

Odaiba Beach is literally Tokyo’s waterfront. How much of a waterfront? It’s just attached to Minato Ward where I used to live. Strictly speaking, part of it is under Minato Ward’s jurisdiction, but anyway, it’s within the same ward.

When thinking about going somewhere, don’t people usually think of somewhere a bit more special? Somewhere a bit farther, away from Tokyo’s hustle and bustle, a quiet place where you can barely hear car sounds. Well, such places would probably have people chattering instead of car sounds, but still.

“You can get there by subway. It’s a place we could go to even today.”

I answered while handing the photo back to Shii.

“Oh, oh, is that so?”

“Yes.”

I’ve been there before. It’s not even far from home, so it would be strange not to have visited.

It’s a pretty place, crowded, and has a sort of tourist feel to it, which is nice, but… how should I put it, maybe because it’s the neighborhood I lived in?

“I thought it was a really far place…”

Shii murmured, seeming a bit shocked as she took the photo.

Seeing that it’s a photo rather than from a book, newspaper, or magazine, it seems to be a personally taken picture. Neither Shii nor Souta were in it, though.

The back of the photo had yellowed with age. Perhaps it was taken some time ago.

“What were you talking about?”

Souta asked as he came down from his room. He had just come home and gone straight to our conversation without even taking his bag to his room, then hurried upstairs when Shii glared at him, and was now coming back down.

“Shii was—”

“Ah!”

As I was about to say something, Shii quickly waved both hands. Judging by her reddened face, it seemed she was a bit reluctant to tell Souta.

Why?

Such a question crossed my mind momentarily, but there was no need to embarrass Shii.

Watching Shii quickly put the photo in her pocket, I changed the subject.

“I want to go to Odaiba with Shii.”

“Odaiba?”

Souta blinked.

Come to think of it, perhaps Shii was a bit embarrassed that she didn’t know this place was nearby.

Even if it’s taught in school, one doesn’t scrutinize every single photo in textbooks. Besides, Shii had missed school for a while and wasn’t in an environment conducive to studying hard.

“Yeah, well, it’s close too.”

Thinking about it, if we’re taking Souta, going too far might be a bit much. Among the people living together, the only males would be Souta and dad, and Souta still feels uncomfortable around dad, while dad is very wary of Souta.

Honestly, I think it’s unnecessary wariness. Even Shii doesn’t guard against me.

…Anyway.

But it would be a bit awkward to leave dad behind, and also a bit awkward to take only Shii. Taking Souta’s friends would be even more awkward.

Maybe in a few years when we’ve known each other longer and are completely comfortable with each other, I could consider it then.

“Odaiba…”

Souta glanced at Shii. Though I had changed the subject midway, somehow Souta seemed to immediately realize this was Shii’s idea.

Well, is that obvious? Shii was so flustered, and her face is still red.

…

At this point, I think I understand a bit.

Shii follows Souta as if he were her parent. Souta also cherishes such a Shii very much. Within the family, they are the only ones who truly care for each other.

But even so, both of them must have had times when they were happy. Times when the whole family was still happy.

This photo might have been taken during those times. While on an outing together.

If she asked her mother to go, she would have refused saying it was too far, and her mother wouldn’t have allowed her to keep a photo of her father and son together.

In the end, this is all she managed to keep.

“Let’s go. Maybe not right today, but when we all have time.”

“Yeah, that sounds good.”

Souta nodded and said.

I looked at Shii.

Though her face was still flushed, Shii was smiling broadly.

Is she that happy?

…

Well, I enjoy going out with Kagami too.