「So, putting aside the fact that Shou-niisama is such a coward that you won’t make a move even when alone with a cute kouhai who says this much…」
「You suddenly got harsh.」
Asaki tends to say things like this whenever she gets the chance, so it’s hard to tell if she’s serious or joking.
I’m not going to deny the affection Asaki has for me at this point, but if I were to make a move, she’d probably come up with some reason or another, like creating a fait accompli, and I wouldn’t be able to escape.
I can’t say I don’t have any feelings for Asaki, but the situation in which she likely developed feelings for me is so unique that I wonder if it’s not just a kind of suspension bridge effect.
That’s why now that we’ve returned to our peaceful daily lives, I think those feelings might change, so I don’t accept the affection that Hikari and Asaki show me.
I think it would only lead to unhappiness for both of us if it ended in regret later.
「──If you’re thinking about such things, it’s none of your business. Shou-niisama.」
「Stop reading people’s minds without permission.」
──It seems she had already anticipated my level of thinking.
But now that I know Asaki is my cousin, I might need to think about various things regarding my relationship with her. I never imagined we were relatives.
Perhaps she came to my house today specifically to talk about this.
「Now, let’s put the digression aside and get to the main topic…」
「That was quite a shocking revelation, though.」
It seems I was wrong. The previous conversation was apparently just a digression for Asaki. No, for me, that could very well be the main topic.
「Ehh, isn’t it? Although what I said is true, do you think our relationship will change because of it?」
「Well, I have some thoughts, but it doesn’t change, I guess.」
「I didn’t tell you this story with any particular intention. So it’s just a digression.」
「So, if that’s not the main topic, what is?」
Considering how heavy that digression was, the main topic must be even more shocking… I can’t help but brace myself.
「Actually, it’s about Misaki-neesan…」
It seems it’s going to be about the student council president after all. Come to think of it, she’s my cousin too… Although we didn’t know, remembering today’s interactions makes me feel a bit awkward. I mean, declaring war on my cousin? What kind of situation is that?
Anyway, I never thought that we siblings, who thought we had no relatives, actually had family, and that they were so close by. That’s why I feel so confused.
Moreover, I’m apparently on the verge of becoming enemies with that cousin, although it’s not certain yet. Asaki might have her own thoughts about today’s events.
Thinking so, I waited for Asaki’s words.
「She seems to have a strong desire to dominate, but actually, she prefers to be domi──」
「Wait, what do you mean by that?」
Suddenly, my brain felt like it was going to crash. What meaning does that information have? Or rather, it’s the kind of information I’d rather not know. Why do I have to suddenly hear about my cousin’s preferences?
「Well, it’s just the preferences of Nee-san that I’ve investigated.」
「I’m curious how you researched it, but why do I need to know the student council president’s preferences?」
As always, I can’t read Asaki’s thoughts. Especially this time, I had no idea what she meant.
「I was thinking of having Shou-niisama to make fall Misaki-neesan.」
「Ha?」
Fall? Like, from the third floor of the school building?
If she meant to completely crush her, I might understand, but what does she mean by fall?
「As I mentioned earlier, Nee-san is quite capable. If we can get her on our side, we can gain some support from the Kujou family, and her appearance is certainly not bad… rather, I think it’s very good.」
「What exactly are you trying to make me fight against?」
I can’t deny her appearance since I’ve seen it. As for being capable, she’s been educated as the heir of a prestigious family and serves as the student council president of the esteemed Kujou Academy. So she can’t be incompetent.
If there are family connections involved, I don’t know, but since Asaki says so, I guess there’s no mistake there either.
「You’ll understand in due time. Of course, if you say Misaki-neesan isn’t your type, I won’t force you…」
「No, I don’t think that’s the issue here…」
Why does Asaki talk as if I have a choice in this?
If she saw today’s interaction between me and the student council president, she’d know it wasn’t exactly friendly.
「Well, I just came to tell you this today.」
「Eh? This is the main topic?」
「That’s right, is there a problem?」
Asaki looks at me as if to say, “What are you talking about?”
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「No… it’s nothing.」
At least for me, the digression had many times more impact than the main topic…
「Well then, now that our conversation is over.」
Asaki stands up as she says this.
「Ah, are you leaving? Then I’ll see you off──」
「Let’s take a bath together.」
「No, go home.」
How does it come to that?
As always, I can’t predict these outlandish statements from Asaki.
Just when I think she’s being serious, she suddenly says something ridiculous, and when I think she’s joking, she suddenly brings up a serious topic.
Well, I can’t imagine how taking a bath together could lead to a serious conversation, so this must be completely a joke.
「I’ll keep it a secret from everyone, so don’t worry.」
「The only thing I’m worried about is your head.」
I sigh and look down at her attitude, as if to say, “What happened to the tension from a moment ago?” Then, when I looked up, Asaki was sitting next to me before I knew it.
It seems she stood up earlier to come over here.
Then Asaki grabbed my arm and pulled it towards her chest. My arm, which was grabbed… disappeared between Asaki’s breasts. Seriously?
Soft yet resilient… If I had to add sound effects, it would be something like “fuyo fuyo” or “funyon funyon,” a sound that could make you lose your composure. Above all, it’s very warm. I reflexively almost pulled my arm out, but I let Asaki do as she pleases.
This isn’t the first time Asaki has shown this kind of physical affection.
The tendency is that when something frustrating happened that day, she often comes to me for comfort like this.
So, although I feel a bit embarrassed, I decide to let Asaki do as she pleases, as long as it’s just this much.
Of course, I don’t allow this much when there are people around. Because it could ruin my life.
「Well then, let’s go to the bath like this──」
「That’s not happening.」
Asaki puffs her cheeks slightly, glares at me, and tightens her grip on my arm.
But even if she tightens her grip, in this state, it doesn’t hurt or itch. If anything, the pleasant sensation just got stronger.
However, I’m a man too, and it’s not good for my mental health to continue this any longer.
「Asaki, can you let go soon?」
「Just a little more, just a little more…」
As she said this, Asaki hugged my arm affectionately and rubbed her cheek against it.
In the end, I’m soft on Asaki too. I inwardly smile wryly as I stroke Asaki’s head with my free hand. It felt like I was comforting a cat, and seeing Asaki narrow her eyes in pleasure, I thought she really was like a cat.
In the end, this state continued for a little over ten minutes until Asaki was satisfied and let go.
After that, I escorted the now calm Asaki home and bought some cup noodles at a convenience store on the way back. Upon returning home, I ate those cup noodles for dinner and then lay down.
Although I had various thoughts after hearing the conversation, as Asaki said, just because we’re relatives doesn’t mean anything will change immediately.
So maybe I don’t need to think too hard about it.
That’s what I thought, but then I wondered why Asaki chose to tell me this story at this timing. She’s not the type to talk about such things without meaning.
But in the end, I went to sleep that day without reaching a conclusion.
And the next day──
When I woke up in the morning, Natsu was there as usual, preparing breakfast. It seems Asaki isn’t coming today.
Well, our houses are far apart, so she won’t come every day. I convinced myself.
After finishing breakfast, Natsu and I head to the academy together. I’ve gotten used to the whispers from the other students by now, and if I think of it as background noise, it doesn’t bother me as much.
During break time that day, Hikari came as usual. I was a bit curious if Asaki would come after what happened yesterday, so I asked Hikari how Asaki was doing.
「Hmm? Asaki-chan didn’t contact Shou-nii?」
It seems Asaki is absent from the academy.
She didn’t seem unwell yesterday, but maybe she fell ill today.
Or perhaps there’s some other reason, so I didn’t worry too much and went about my school day as usual.
Well, anyone can have a day off from school, so at that time, I thought it was just that.
──Two days passed, and Asaki still didn’t come to school.