Ch.405IF Side Story: Seems I’ve Arrived a Bit Early (102)

My image at my school isn’t particularly bad.

I don’t typically treat other kids harshly. I had worried that teenagers’ thoughts would be very different from mine, but after meeting them, there weren’t many serious conflicts.

That makes sense, since I also spent my teenage years in the 2000s. Coming from an era where everything had “smart” attached to it, there were certainly some adjustments when things suddenly became less convenient, but having lived through that period once before, it doesn’t feel completely awkward.

Well, the country I lived in wasn’t this one but another across the ocean. Still, perhaps because I’ve lived here since childhood, or maybe it was a special benefit I received when crossing to this world, I can speak Japanese just fine.

Plus, I inherited Kagami’s… face. I sometimes think that if I had inherited her figure too, I might have been less popular. Kagami is tall enough to be compared to men, and her figure stands out in many ways.

I’m quite fortunate to have escaped the “jealousy” aspect.

There’s one reason for that—

“Koko is coming to our school?”

“Yeah. Her grades shouldn’t be a problem. As for her personality… well, I think she’ll adapt somehow.”

—It’s because I’m close with Souta. People around us think we have feelings for each other. The boys don’t approach me, so I don’t monopolize the class popularity.

Souta has been growing more handsome with age. While he was more on the “cute” side in elementary school, now he’s much taller with a more masculine face.

Like a harem protagonist, he leans toward the “pretty boy” look and might even pull off crossdressing decently, but he definitely gives off male vibes.

Souta and I surprisingly feel no romantic attraction toward each other.

On my side, it’s natural since I’m “me,” but Souta’s case is more complicated.

First, Kagami’s presence was too powerful. No matter how much I might look like a pretty girl, my figure can’t compare to Kagami’s. Even at my age, Kagami was tall with a prominent figure—if she wore heavy makeup and dressed like an adult, people would have been convinced.

Anyway.

Souta saw Kagami, with her ideal appearance that contrasted so much with mine, quite often. My dad would quickly intervene if Souta seemed to be getting too close to me, and above all, we act too much like siblings, so Souta doesn’t show any romantic interest in me.

Well, regarding the Kagami situation, I do feel a bit sorry for the other heroines he’ll meet later.

“Hmm, I see.”

“You don’t seem too worried?”

“I’ve seen her several times. She’s not a bad kid. Oh, is that what you’re worried about?”

“…Well, yes.”

Until now, I’ve either been lucky or surrounded by nice kids, but there’s always the possibility of encountering someone different.

From what I can tell, Koko’s intelligence isn’t below average. Our school is for students with average grades, and the fact that she can attend such a regular school suggests she doesn’t have cognitive disabilities.

However, separately from that, Koko’s common sense is lacking in many ways. Unfortunately, she didn’t have someone like me who would devotedly take care of her.

And typically, such “differences” can become “grounds for bullying.” Logically, they shouldn’t be reasons for bullying, but bullies always find and attach reasons no matter what.

“…”

“Why are you staring at me like that?”

When Souta stared at me intently, I frowned and asked, which made him chuckle in disbelief.

“Nothing. Just thinking how deeply you care about your sister.”

Strictly speaking, Koko is the older one, but I decided to let that slide.

“…”

I see.

Souta also has a younger sister. And that sister can’t exactly be called normal either.

Her unusual way of speaking… while not a problem in itself, if you trace back the cause, it ultimately stems from her unfortunate past.

Doing everything possible to avoid being abandoned by Souta.

Because Shii has already experienced abandonment by her parents.

Perhaps she thinks that if she becomes a perfect and excellent little sister, Souta will have no reason to abandon her.

Though Souta would surely do his best to care for his sister regardless.

“You brought this up because you want me to help, right?”

“…Yes.”

After hesitating a bit, I finally answered honestly.

“Having someone she knows help will make things better.”

“Got it.”

Souta shrugged and replied.

“Shii and I are always receiving help from you anyway. That much is only natural. You didn’t even need to ask.”

“…”

I glanced down from the rooftop for a moment.

I’ve heard somewhere about the differences between Japanese manga and reality. Just like the rooftop at the school I attended in my previous life was locked, Japanese school rooftops are actually locked in most cases. They’re maintenance areas, and if students could access them, who knows what those sensitive adolescents might do up there.

But the rooftop where the two of us are standing is almost identical to those seen in light novels and manga from that era. There’s a safety fence that extends quite high, but it’s still a rooftop that students can access.

It’s almost strange that no one else comes up here during lunch.

I bit into the koppe bread I was holding. It’s not very popular since there’s nothing inside, but it’s not bad for a light snack after lunch. Though it would be better with some strawberry jam.

“You accept everything Shii says too.”

“There’s nothing special about accepting it.”

Souta seemed uncomfortable with the silence and spoke up, so I responded like that.

Shii is cute. She works hard at everything and gets good grades. She might seem a bit anxious at times, but that’s all—she rarely causes me any trouble.

Speaking formally to me, calling me “senpai,” trying to follow me to school… those things don’t bother me at all. To me, it just looks like a close friend being friendly.

Ah.

I see.

Just as I think about Shii that way, does Souta think about Koko the same way?

Each has their own circumstances and some unique aspects, but nothing that can’t be accepted.

Hearing that made me feel at ease.

We stayed on the rooftop a bit longer, only going back down after I finished my bread.

*

Time passed, and winter arrived.

Around Christmas, some kids want to make various plans. Friends gather for Christmas parties, or even if not parties, just getting together is fun.

But… why?

I consider the kids I befriended in middle school as friends, but for some reason, when I think of Christmas parties, Harumi and Yuu come to mind.

Those times when we gathered at someone’s house, stayed overnight, read manga, exchanged gifts, and ate cake.

Perhaps because of that, I hesitate a bit to do such things with other kids. I don’t know the exact reason myself. It’s just hanging out, after all.

So, this year again, I decided to stay home without making any special plans, using the excuse that I’d spend Christmas with my family.

But this year, I had a legitimate reason.

“Kotone?”

“There. How’s this?”

I said as I put a party hat on Koko’s head.

“Uu?”

Koko’s expression suggested she didn’t understand why something needed to be placed on her head.

“It’s Christmas Eve today.”

“Christmas Eve?”

Receiving a look that seemed to ask what that was, I pondered for a moment how to explain.

The eve of Jesus’s birthday… but thinking about it, explaining that would require explaining all related common knowledge for her to understand. Usually, people learn and understand these things gradually as they live, but Koko didn’t have that process.

Koko still has so much to learn.

“…It’s a day when we eat delicious food.”

“Delicious food!”

Koko eats everything well.

But she does have foods she prefers. She generally likes foods that elementary school children would enjoy. Especially since earlier, Koko had been restless as if she’d caught the scent of cake.

“Christmas Eve, good!”

“Yes, that’s right. It’s a good day.”

I said that and stood up.

“Uu?”

But Koko looked up at me and tilted her head.

“Hmm? What is it?”

“What about Kotone?”

Koko said that while pointing at the party hat on her head.

“…”

Hmm.

After thinking briefly, I took out another party hat from the set of party supplies I had tossed on the bed.

“I want to put it on you!”

When Koko said that and reached out her hand toward me, I smiled and handed her the hat.

The two of us went downstairs wearing party hats.

Call it coincidence.

Kagami was also wearing a party hat.

Dad laughed loudly seeing Kagami and the two of us.

…

I should take off the hat before Shii and Souta arrive.

I thought while coldly observing Dad’s reaction.