Episode 14: Interlude
I have a stepsister now.
Well, Mum is a woman too, so things like this happen. I wasn’t all that surprised when I first heard, and didn’t think much of it either way. I’m not particularly interested in this new family, as long as nobody gets in my way. Whoever Mum picks probably isn’t a bad person.
That said, when I actually heard the details about my stepsister, I was surprised.
Tsukishima Yuna.
A classmate at the same high school, but apparently older than me by birthday, which technically made her my older sister.
We’d been in the same class since first year, but had barely spoken. Top of the year academically, student council president since winter of first year. Just from that, she sounds like an extremely serious type — but the gap with how she actually looked was a little entertaining.
Her hair was dyed an inconspicuous shade of brown, her skirt was properly short. She didn’t seem like the type to flatter teachers, and she always had this faintly bored air about her.
So when I heard Yuna was going to be my stepsister, it didn’t bother me much. Not someone I particularly liked or disliked, but she didn’t seem like the type who’d interfere with my life either.
That’s what I thought of her — which is why meeting her in person for the first time was such a surprise. She was nothing like the impression I’d had. The moment I spoke to her she went red and couldn’t meet my eyes properly, and when I went to play in her room she was off the whole time. Curious, I watched her at school too, and there she was exactly the person I’d expected.
Even someone like me, who isn’t all that interested in romance, can recognise this much. She has feelings for me. Something specific.
I asked, half-teasing, just to test it — and she looked like the world had ended. So I suppose it’s true. There was no need to make a face like that. I think it’s everyone’s own business who they fall for, and being liked doesn’t bother me or feel unpleasant. If someone forced themselves on me that would be a different story, but this isn’t that.
I don’t know what she’s actually thinking, but going through this awkwardly when we’ve just become sisters doesn’t seem like a good idea. So I decided I’d try to act normal around her as much as I could — but the way her expression kept shifting in front of me was so cute that I ended up teasing her anyway.
The composed face she wears at school, completely undone in front of me, ears burning red, desperately trying to play the part of an older sister. Honestly, I think it’s extremely cute.
The night I sent the selfie, finding her collapsed on the kitchen floor was a little dangerous. I shouldn’t have meant anything by it, but for a second I felt my own composure slip too.
“What do you think of Tsukishima-san?”
I asked it casually to Ashiura Rikka sitting across from me at lunch, opening my bento box. Meat rolls with vegetables and potato salad today. I really can’t compete with Yuna, who makes something different every single day.
“What, out of nowhere? You into her?”
“Hmm. I wonder.”
I gave a vague answer and put a meat roll in my mouth. The seasoning was the kind that makes you want more rice.
Watching me, Rikka unwrapped her rice ball with a suspicious look.
“Ao, do you even have feelings like that for people? You turn everyone down so easily.”
“I do. I’m only human.”
Turning down a confession from someone I don’t like and not being capable of liking anyone are different things, I think.
“If you say so…”
“What, what? What are we talking about?”
Miki Kazuha came back from the kiosk and dropped into the seat beside me, the chair scraping. Good thing Yuna wasn’t in the classroom today. Kazuha’s voice carries, and if Yuna had been here our topic would’ve been obvious in seconds.
“Whether Ao has a thing for Tsukishima-san.”
“Isn’t Tsukishima-san the council president? She’s cute.”
“I like how she wears a different cardigan every day. And the fact she’s terrible at sports is kind of endearing too.”
“Oh, that time she fell during sports day. Sorry to her, but it was kind of cute.”
“Right? It’s nice knowing even a perfect president has things she’s bad at.”
“Hm.”
So Rikka and Kazuha think that way too. Knowing someone other than me has feelings for Yuna leaves something uncomfortable sitting in my chest.
And besides — Yuna is perfect, but she isn’t, really. Her perfection is probably the result of effort. Hearing people toss around the word “perfect” without thinking about it makes me want to argue.
I glanced down at my phone while the two of them carried the conversation.
No shift today. Maybe I’d invite Yuna out. Free after school today? Want to hang out before heading home? I sent something like that.
I shooed the two of them away once lunch ended, still going strong about classmates, and got ready for afternoon classes. Yuna came back into the classroom with Fuuka and our eyes met for a second before she immediately looked away.
“Hmph…”
Checking my phone again, still no reply. I could go ask her directly, but class was starting, and if there was still nothing by after school, I’d just talk to her in person. I decided on that.
The bell marking the end of fourth period rang, and my eyes, which had been going back and forth between the blackboard and the clock, drifted to Yuna’s seat. Before I could even start walking over, she’d already grabbed her bag and left the room.
Maybe I went a little too far.
Sending the selfie and asking what she thought of it. I don’t think I did anything that serious. I joke around like that with Rikka too, and it wasn’t like I sent anything risky.
I don’t know if she’s still stuck on that, but Yuna might be more innocent than I think. She gives off this air like she’d be used to that kind of thing, but maybe she’s actually thoroughly pure underneath it.
Thinking that made me want to see an even cuter reaction. I’m the only one who knows this side of Yuna that nobody else gets to see. Realising that made something in my chest lift in a strange way.
What should I try next. What would it take to see an even more special expression from her. Carrying a curiosity about my stepsister that didn’t look like it would settle down anytime soon, I headed toward Rikka’s seat.