ALL NOVEL 28: Brother Naa
“Hey? Is that Aika? Good evening. Do you remember me?”
“Huh, wha– Senior Kamidama!?”
“What, you two know each other?”
Aika, who stopped her bike with a screech, was shocked to see Kamidama peeking over her shoulder. After a few seconds of stiffness, she cleared her throat and frowned suspiciously.
“Senior Kamidama and I went to the same middle school. We were both in the student council, so I owe her a lot.”
“I told you, just call me Kagari.”
“Kamidama, the former student council president, was very good to me.”
“Why are you distancing yourself!? Aika~!”
Kamidama hugged Aika tightly, who, while pretending to dislike it, seemed not entirely displeased. It was a scene straight out of a Yuri manga.
For a moment, I thought it was going to be a dramatic showdown, but the tension quickly dissipated. Given that both girls were stunning, the scene was more eye candy than surprising or shocking.
Both of them had incredible social skills and networks, far beyond mine. So, it wasn’t strange for them to have a connection, even if they didn’t go to the same middle school.
“More importantly, why are you with Senior Kamidama, brother? And at this hour, alone?”
“Well, it’s a bit of a long story…”
“I’m going to be Uraku’s wife.”
“!!?”
“Hey! Don’t say things that make it more complicated right off the bat! And it’s completely wrong!”
“Hehe, that’s right. For now, I’m just his fiancée.”
“!!!?!?”
“Kamidama, you’re doing this on purpose, aren’t you!?”
As I moved to cover her mouth, Kamidama let out a playful scream. What is with this person…?
Usually, I’d just be exasperated, but the icy glare piercing through me made it impossible to stay indifferent.
Please, I’m begging you… I pulled Kamidama away with a desperate look.
“You two seem quite close. Despite avoiding family matters.”
“Stop putting barbs in your words. It hurts, you know…”
“It’s only natural to hurt you. You should feel more hurt, brother.”
“You’re right… It’s my problem, after all.”
Couldn’t you be a little gentler…? It was a purely personal issue, so I had no words to respond and fell silent.
Kamidama clapped her hands as if remembering something.
“Oh, so the ‘Naa’ Aika mentioned was Uraku.”
“Wa-wait, Kamidama-senp—”
“You always said he was your beloved older brother since you were little, Aika.”
“~~~~~! Senior Kamidama!!!”
Aika, blushing furiously, confronted Kamidama, who just smiled gently.
It was a scene reminiscent of “softness overcoming strength.”
Meanwhile, hit with an overload of information, I could only stare blankly at the two of them.
I never thought Aika disliked me, but…
Knowing she thought so highly of me made me happy and guilty at the same time.
Because the one betraying that good feeling was none other than me.
Thinking it presumptuous to consider how she felt about me when I couldn’t respond honestly and kept turning my back on her.
Especially since it was familial love, not romantic.
Feeling unworthy of receiving it, Aika’s sharp gaze turned towards me.
Aika, slightly shorter than me, had a powerful upward glare.
“Th-that was a joke from Senior Kamidama. You understand jokes, right? You get it, right? Brother?”
“I get it, I get it. Just don’t get so close, don’t lean in, don’t keep this intimate distance!”
“That’s a lie! Then why won’t you look me in the eye, brother?”
“I told you, it’s because you’re too close…!”
Being stared at from such close range makes my heart race. I wished Aika would be more aware of her beauty—actually, Kamidama too.
Kamidama’s antics could be dismissed as her being crazy, but Aika was different. Having watched her since she was little, she was genuinely cute.
From a cool little girl to a cool beauty, she was sure to become a cool woman.
“Don’t worry, I know Kamidama is a crazy woman.”
“…? I didn’t say that much…”
“What? Hey, I’m not getting enough support here.”
I thought I showed understanding, but it didn’t work at all. Aika seems to really like Kamidama…
What should I do… I wondered, feeling a tug on my arm. It wasn’t Aika—it was Kamidama, who hugged my arm.
“Hehe, I was surprised. I never thought you two were siblings.”
“…Well, we’re not related by blood.”
“Even so. And I’m happy if Aika becomes my sister-in-law.”
“Why are we naturally talking about marriage…?”
We aren’t even dating, I wanted to complain, but I noticed Aika’s eyes widen cutely. She then asked softly,
“B-brother, are you dating Senior Kamidama…?”
“No, no! See, Kamidama, now there’s a weird misunderstanding!”
“It’s okay, it’ll eventually become true. It’s just a matter of time.”
“Stop saying scary things…”
Did you see that? Kamidama is actually like this—a dangerous person, I thought, but Aika put her hand on her chin, looking thoughtful.
Yes, yes, tell her. Don’t say weird things…
“So, Senior Kamidama is my sister-in-law…?”
“What!? That’s how you’re reacting!?”
My silent scream was unheard by anyone.