BEAUTIFUL FOREIGN STUDENT
VOLUME 5
TRANSLATED BY: KANINGROUP
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CHAPTER 3
A Little Sister’s Pleas and a Girlfriend’s Jealousy
The day after I finally came up with a solid answer, thanks to Charlotte-san, a rare guest visited my house.
Well, calling them a guest might not entirely be accurate.
“—G-good morning, Onii-chan.”
​
Karin stood nervously at the entrance in her casual clothes, looking uneasy on her first visit.
“Good morning, Karin. I thought I was supposed to pick you up at the station…”
“I took an earlier train just in case I got on the wrong one or missed my stop…”
In other words, she arrived at the station thirty minutes earlier than planned.
“So you came straight here, huh? Did you get lost on the way?”
“Nope, I diligently followed the GPS on my smartphone .”
The way she said she "diligently" followed the navigation was quite endearing. It seemed she wasn't very used to it.
“Great, I'll take you home later then. Come on in.”
I then led Karin to the room where Charlotte-san was waiting.
"Good morning, Shinonome-san."
As I opened the door, Charlotte-san, busy with a fussy Emma-chan, greeted us first.
"G-Good morning, Charlotte-san... And good morning, Emma-chan..."
"............"
Emma-chan, who was still in a foul mood from just waking up, turned her gaze towards Karin upon hearing her name.
"Oh, kitty...!"
"Kitty?"
I tilted my head in confusion when she immediately called Karin "kitty" upon seeing her. Emma-chan then picked up one of the two stuffed animals beside her, specifically the stuffed cat that Karin had given her.
​
"Kitty...!"
It turned out that she called Karin "kitty" because Karin had given her the stuffed cat.
"She really likes that stuffed cat you gave her."
Karin smiled at Emma-chan, who happily showed off the stuffed toy. She probably understood just how much Emma-chan treasured it.
Emma-chan’s mood seemed to be improving, and she wasn’t shy around Karin, which was a good sign. It was clear she trusted her, especially after Karin repaired her beloved stuffed animal and gave her a new one.
“Do you wanna play too, kitty?”
Emma-chan trudged over and approached Karin’s feet, seemingly eager to play together.
“......”
Although Karin should be able to understand simple English like that, she still seemed a bit hesitant. She clung tightly to my sleeve, uncomfortable with being approached so directly.
“She just wants to play. Why don’t you play together?”
I gently encouraged Karin, seeing that it was a rare opportunity for her.
“Um… but, I don’t know what to play with her…”
“How about playing with the stuffed animals? See, there’s two of them.”
One was given by me, and the other by Karin. Playing with those would definitely make Emma-chan happy.
“Got it…”
“Just sit wherever you like.”
Prompting Karin to sit down, I joined her on the floor. Emma-chan then stared at me intently, and I immediately knew what she was thinking.
“Come here, Emma-chan.”
I sat cross-legged on the floor as I spread my arms out, calling Emma-chan. Then, as if it was the most natural thing, she sat on my lap. It had really become the norm for her to do so.
“You really are used to this…”
“Ahaha… This is how it usually is. Are you thirsty, Shinonome-san?”
Charlotte-san and Karin chatted while watching Emma-chan and me, laughing in a resigned manner. Well, I somewhat understood what they were getting at.
We waited a bit for Charlotte-san to return, as she was making tea for Karin. When she came back, Emma-chan and Karin were playing with their stuffed animals—Emma-chan with the one I gave her and Karin with the one she had given.
But—
“Meoow! Meow meow! Meoww!”
“Meow? Meow~?”
I couldn't make sense of their conversation; it was like they were speaking in some sort of 'cat language.' Emma-chan started it, and Karin joined in, but their exchange was incomprehensible.
​
However, since they both spoke different languages, that might actually be a good thing. Maybe Emma-chan, knowing that her words wouldn’t be understood, switched to ‘cat language’ for that reason.
—Nah, they’re probably just pretending to be cats.
“Hehe, what a heartwarming scene.”
“Aren’t you going to join them, Charlotte-san?” I asked Charlotte-san, who had silently sat down next to me as she leaned on my shoulder with a smile on her face.
When it came to ‘cat language’, she was the one who had used it with a real cat, after all. It was cute, and with only Emma-chan and Karin here, it would be fine for her to join in.
“I don’t have a stuffed animal.”
“What if you pretend to be a cat?” I suggested, half-jokingly. Then—
“...Meow meow?”
Cutely tilting her head , she bent her right wrist twice in sync with her words as she struck a cat pose.
No, that’s just way too cute.
“—Ah, would you like to use this…?”
As I was soothed by Charlotte-san’s cuteness, Karin, who had noticed how Charlotte-san was pretending to be a cat, offered her the stuffed animal she was holding.
“N-no, no, it’s fine. I’d rather watch.”
Not intending to take it, Charlotte-san shook her head slightly, looking somewhat flustered.
Karin’s so timid that she’s quick to yield to others, so I should be more careful with my words…
Well, Charlotte-san’s flustered reaction might partly be due to her being embarrassed being seen pretending to be a cat.
“Is that so…?”
“Yes, and I think Emma wants to play with you too, Shinonome-san.”
Charlotte-san’s words seemed to have an effect, and Karin then began playing with Emma-chan again. Watching the two of them play happily made me feel content.
Karin seemed to love stuffed animals, so she probably enjoyed this kind of play. I was glad to see her bonding with Emma-chan, as it was uncommon to find someone who enjoyed playing with stuffed animals as much as they did.
As I watched the both of them play—
“Onii-chan.”
Emma tugged at my clothes.
“What’s up?”
“Uhm, how do you call?” Emma-chan pointed at Karin, tilting her head.
…What am I being asked here?
​
“Onii-chan.”
Emma-chan called and pointed at me when I tilted my head. Then, she pointed at Karin.
“How to call?”
Ah, I see… That’s what she meant.
Apparently, Emma-chan was curious about how to address Karin using the same term she used for me. In Emma's mind, Karin had evolved from being merely the person who gave and fixed her stuffed cat to becoming someone close to her.
“Say, ‘Onee-chan’.”
I taught Emma-chan the Japanese word for ‘big sister.’
“Onee-chan?”
Perhaps because she had been practising Japanese as of late, she was able to say ‘Onee-chan’ much more smoothly than when she first called me ‘Onii-chan’. I was happy to see her progress.
“That’s right. This girl’s also my sister, you know.”
“Your sister?!”
Emma-chan’s excitement upon hearing that she was my sister was obvious. She gazed at Karin as if she was looking at someone special.
"Emma-chan holds family in high regard, and since you, Akihito-kun, are important to her, she likely sees your family as special too," Charlotte-san explained, noting Emma-chan's behaviour.
Although I feel a pang of guilt whenever we're called a family, I was genuinely happy that Karin was seen as someone special. Above all, it was great seeing her blush slightly and smile happily at Charlotte-san's words.
“Onee-chan, why don’t you speak English?”
Was it because she found out that Karin’s my sister?
With an innocent look, Emma-chan asked Karin a tough question. It seemed that she assumed Karin could speak English since she was my little sister.
Karin understood enough English to be a bit shocked. She then looked at me with a troubled expression, clearly asking for help
“Emma-chan, just because we’re family doesn’t mean we can all speak the same languages. Charlotte-san can speak Japanese, but you’re still learning it, aren’t you?”
By relating it to herself, I explained it in a way that Emma-chan could easily understand. She tapped my knee with a look of disappointment, having understood that.
Although she talks quite a bit with me and Charlotte-san, she doesn’t talk much to others. She probably likes talking with those close to her.
​
“We can talk more when Emma-chan can speak Japanese, alright?”
​
“Okay.”
“If there’s anything you want to ask or talk about, I’ll translate for you, okay?”
Even if she couldn’t speak directly, Charlotte and I could translate for her. Emma paused for a moment, then tilted her head at my suggestion. “Why don’t Onii-chan and Onee-chan live together?”
She then asked an incredibly difficult question.
Right, of course. It’s something normal to wonder about…
​
“Uhm… I’m living alone to learn about society.”
Troubled, I ended up avoiding the truth. Well, it wasn’t exactly a lie, either…
Emma-chan tilted her head curiously, swaying slightly from side to side as she stared at me. It seemed she didn't quite grasp what learning about society meant, after all.
However—
“Mm.”
As if she had come to her own conclusion, Emma-chan nodded to herself. I felt like she was thinking, “I don’t really get it, but if Onii-chan says so, then it must be true.”
Unlike Charlotte-san, this child had quite a carefree side to her.
“Is there anything else you want to ask?”
Feeling uncomfortable with the topic, I quickly changed it before Emma-chan could delve deeper into it.
“Onee-chan, why are you covering your eyes?”
This time, she asked Karin the reason behind her hiding her eyes. As expected of a child, she was able to dive into a topic that others would find sensitive with no hesitation. It had been a while since I got that stumped by Emma-chan’s questions.
However, it could actually be an opportunity to address Karin’s problem.
“Karin, Emma-chan wants to know why you’re hiding your eyes. Can you tell her?”
“Ah, um…”
Karin might have realised from Emma-chan's words and actions that she was curious about her eyes. However, she still couldn't bring herself to talk about it when asked directly.
“Akihito-kun, you shouldn’t delve too much into personal matters…”
“Yeah, I know. But still, I want to help in any way I can. At the very least, I’ve got an idea of why Karin’s covering her eyes.”
I pointed to my own left eye as I looked at Karin.
“Wha—, when did you notice…?”
Karin must’ve realised that I wasn’t just bluffing. She looked at me, slightly frightened.
“I happened to see it at Charlotte-san’s welcome party. Of course, I’m not making a big deal out of it or anything.”
I hadn’t told Charlotte-san about Karin’s secret either. It was nothing to gossip about, especially since it was a very important matter to her.
“...But I don’t want to talk about it.”
Since we started talking, I feel like I've gotten closer to Karin. She’s been making an effort to spend time with me, so she must have some level of fondness for me.
Even so, the matter of her eyes still seemed to be too much of a burden for her to discuss.
“Well, I hope you can talk about it whenever you’re ready. One thing I can say for sure, though, is that your eyes are really beautiful, Karin.”
It wouldn’t be right to keep pressing further, so I gently patted Karin’s head instead to comfort her.
“Onii-chan…”
“If anything happens, talk to me, alright?”
“Okay…”
Karin, being the meek child that she was, simply nodded in obedience. Delicate issues such as hers could only be overcome with time. Perhaps someone else could help her better than I could.
“Emma-chan, there’s actually a secret behind Karin’s eyes. That’s why she’d rather not show them .”
​
“A secret…!”
Perhaps it was due to her childlike nature, but she seemed to get excited at the mention of a secret. I needed to keep an eye on Emma-chan to ensure she wouldn’t try to lift Karin’s hair, though I trusted she wouldn’t actually do it.
After that, Emma-chan started asking ordinary questions, so I was able to translate for her with peace of mind.
​
​
â—†
​
​
“—Now then, shall we begin?”
As lunchtime approached, Charlotte-san smiled as she spoke to Karin.
Seems like they’re going to cook together today.
“You don’t usually cook much, right, Karin?”
“Yeah… I’m not allowed to, just because it can be dangerous…”
“Well, it’s true that cooking can be dangerous if you’re not used to it.”
“It’s not that, my mom just keeps treating me like a child…”
It felt like Karin wasn't happy about it, but Charlotte-san and I understood her mother’s concerns. Karin, who looked and acted much younger than her age, would naturally end up being treated like a child.
Even I felt like I was dealing with a way younger child at times. Well, Karin probably thought that I was just treating her like a little sister, which was why she didn’t seem too bothered.
“You mustn’t get hurt, so please stay calm and do as I say, okay?”
“Mm, I’ll do my best…”
Karin nodded, bowing her head. Charlotte-san did the same, before winking at me as she raised her head.
I’ll be keeping an eye on her to make sure she doesn’t get hurt.
That was the meaning I sensed behind her wink.
“—Ah…”
However, Charlotte-san started to ponder about something out of nowhere.
“What’s wrong?”
“No, it’s just… It’s a bit late to say this now, but I was just thinking of how incredible this situation is.”
“What do you mean?”
I wasn’t quite sure of what Charlotte-san had realised, but she looked immensely happy.
“Teaching your friend how to cook is one thing, but it’s not every day you get to teach your boyfriend’s sister.”
So, she’s happy because it’s like something straight out of a manga? Or is she just happy to be teaching her boyfriend’s sister how to cook?
I wasn’t sure, but I was glad to see Charlotte-san happy nevertheless.
—And then, just as I was thinking that…
“Shinonome-san, can I call you Karin-chan?”
Strangely, Charlotte-san was actively approaching someone other than me.
“Uhm, t-that’s alright, but are you sure…?”
Karin was okay with being addressed like that, but she appeared to be checking if it was truly okay with Charlotte-san. She wasn't used to being called that, so her concern was understandable.
“Yes, of course! You can also call me ‘Onee-chan’ if you want to, Karin-chan!”
“Uh…”
Karin froze at this unexpected turn of events. In fact, I was also taken aback.
What’s gotten into Charlotte-san all of a sudden?”
“T-that's a bit… um, embarrassing…”
Karin appeared hesitant to refer to a classmate as her 'big sister', not because she disliked it, but because she found it embarrassing, despite her easily calling me 'Onii-chan' without any hesitation.
—Wait a minute. So, Charlotte-san wants Karin to call her ‘Onee-chan’...?
I felt like I could’ve been interpreting things in a way that was just too convenient for me, but I just couldn’t think of any other explanation for Charlotte-san’s behaviour.
“You don’t want to…?”
“..........”
As Charlotte-san gave her a sad look, Karin shifted her gaze uncomfortably.
“Erm… only if there’s no one else…”
Easily swayed, Karin gave in without much resistance. She did say ‘no one else’, but she’d probably still call her that even if I was around.
“Thanks a lot! Well then, shall we start cooking, Karin-chan?”
“Y-yeah, Onee-chan…”
Karin, looking embarrassed, was then led by Charlotte-san’s radiant smile into the kitchen.
“Lottie seemed really happy.”
Even Emma-chan, breaking her usual silence, seemed to share my impression that Charlotte-san must’ve really been overjoyed.
“The two of them get along well.”
“Yup, Emma’s their friend, too.”
Emma-chan also looked content, so everything was fine.
As I watched Charlotte-san and Karin cooking harmoniously, I couldn’t help but think just how nice it would be if we could continue living like this in the future.
Several minutes later…
“I couldn’t do it well…”
The finished dishes — Tamagoyaki, tofu steak, simmered hamburger steak, and salad — were sorted based on visual appeal. Karin's lack of experience showed in her dishes, which seemed to have fallen apart or failed during plating; even the salad, with uneven cuts, looked messy.
“Alright then, let’s eat.”
The four of us put our hands together and said our thanks for the meal.
Emma-chan, who initially didn't grasp its purpose and merely tagged along, had grown accustomed to it. Just as Charlotte-san said, 'When in Rome, do as the Romans do,' Emma-chan had successfully adapted to Japanese culture.
“Onii-chan, that one…!”
“You want this one?”
“Yup…!”
I picked up the misshapen Tamagoyaki that Emma-chan had pointed out. She must’ve known that it was made by Karin. I had thought she only wanted to eat the things that looked good, but I guess this child had her own considerations.
“O-onii-chan, that one might not taste good, so…”
However, Karin, lacking confidence in its taste, tried to stop me. It might’ve been fine if I was the one eating it, but she was probably afraid of making Emma-chan eat it.
“It’s fine, right, Charlotte-san?”
“Yes. It’s a bit misshapen because you’re not used to it, but I think it’s delicious.”
Charlotte-san tasted the food while cooking, so naturally, she had also sampled what Karin made. Besides, there was no doubt it would taste good, given she was following Charlotte-san’s instructions.
​
“Mm, tasty…!”
Emma-chan smiled adorably the moment she had a taste of Karin’s cooking. She wouldn’t have hesitated to say that it wasn’t good if it was, so it must’ve actually been delicious.
​
“It’s good, huh? That’s good to hear.”
“I-I see… I’m glad…”
Karin breathed a sigh of relief as she patted her ample chest. I nearly got distracted by the movement, but feeling Charlotte-san’s gaze on me, I quickly averted my eyes.
​
“Emma-chan, what else do you want to eat?”
“Mm, that one…!”
After that, Emma-chan consistently opted for the worse-looking dishes. It seemed she intentionally favoured Karin’s cooking, perhaps because Charlotte-san's dishes were usually available. Every dish appeared to be delicious to her because, after we finished eating, she happily hugged me.
â—†
“..........”
“Emma-chan seems sleepy, doesn’t she?”
After she had finished cleaning up the dishes, Karin approached Emma-chan, who was dozing off on my lap, with curiosity.
“This kid gets sleepy right after eating.”
“I see… but isn’t it bad for her health to sleep immediately after eating?”
“You’re right… But sleep is important for young children too. Lately, I’ve been making sure she waits about half an hour after eating before letting her sleep.”
Charlotte-san and I tended to spoil her, but in the end, we had to make sure that we were doing what was best for Emma-chan so she didn’t suffer.
That's why we didn’t immediately let her sleep; we prioritised her health, but it wasn’t quite that straightforward. Recognizing the importance of napping for children, we made sure to properly space out her naps. Emma-chan’s class at her nursery still took naps, so we simply went along with their schedule.
“Parenting sure is tough, huh…”
“But it’s also rewarding. Kids are pretty cute, after all.”
Raising Emma-chan definitely had its challenges. But more than that, she was incredibly adorable. Just being with her made us happy, so taking care of her was nothing.
Besides, having Charlotte-san there with me made things much easier.
“I’m grateful to have Akihito-kun here.”
“That’s my line.”
“...The two of you won’t have any trouble with parenting in the future.”
As I returned Charlotte-san’s smile, I heard Karin mumble something under her breath. Charlotte-san’s face then suddenly turned bright red out of nowhere.
What did Karin say?
“K-Karin-chan, it’s too soon for that! We’re not at that stage yet…!”
“Hm? But that’s how it’ll be if things turn out well, right…? Wasn’t that also why I called you ‘Onee-chan’...?”
“That’s, um…”
Charlotte-san seemed quite flustered. Her red face and panicky demeanour made it clear she was embarrassed.
Naturally, I could then guess what Karin’s comment was about.
“Hmph…! You’re so noisy…!”
Charlotte-san’s raised voice woke Emma-chan, who got upset. This child sure gets cranky when she’s sleepy.
“Sorry, Emma…”
She shrunk back as her little sister scolded her. Their roles were completely reversed.
“Charlotte-san, can you watch Emma-chan while I get the futon?”
“Oh, I’ll bring it here.”
I thought it was about time to put Emma-chan to bed, so I was ready to pass her to Charlotte-san, but then she left the room. I figured it was better to let her handle the futon than deal with a cranky Emma-chan myself.
“You two really are just like a married couple…” Karin candidly commented, observing Charlotte-san and me.
I guess it was true that from an outsider’s perspective, we might’ve looked like a married couple.
“The two of you get along really well, don’t you…?”
“Charlotte-san sure is a good person, huh?”
“Are you living together…?”
When I explained it before to Karin, I told her that we were often together since our rooms were right next to each other.
But it wasn’t surprising she figured out that we were actually living together.
“Don’t tell our parents, okay?”
I put my index finger in front of my nose, indirectly confirming it. In response, Karin nodded with her cheeks slightly flushed, probably imagining a bit about our cohabitation.
“Onii-chan, you’re already an adult, huh…?”
“I’m still a child. I can’t live on my own yet.”
Charlotte-san took care of the housework, while my budget came from the Himeragi Group. I might have ended up dying in the streets if I was on my own.
“—I’ve brought it.”
“Thanks, Charlotte-san.”
I laid Emma-chan on the small futon she used for naps as Charlotte-san had gotten it. Recently, we had been making sure she slept well on that futon.
Yep, she’s sleeping soundly again today. She’s so cute.
“..........”
“Karin?”
“Ah, um…”
I spoke to Karin since she had been looking intently at my face, but her eyes then started to wander aimlessly.
I wonder if she has something she wants to say.
“Just say whatever you want, alright?”
“Really…?” Karin asked, glancing upwards at me.
“Of course. I’m your brother, after all.”
I tried to make it easier for Karin to talk since she seemed hesitant, and maybe due to that, she happily began speaking.
“T-then… I want to sit on your lap…”
“...Huh?”
I froze for a moment since it was different from what I anticipated.
“U-umm… I wanted to sit on your lap… but it’s alright if I can’t…”
Karin hung her head, thinking I was against it, looking dejected. I couldn’t just leave my sister like that, of course. However… letting her sit on my lap made me worried about Charlotte-san.
I glanced at her to see her expression, and as she was also looking at me, our eyes met perfectly. Then—
“I-I think it’s fine…? She’s your sister, so it should be okay to let her sit on your lap…” Charlotte-san encouraged me with a smile, despite her voice trembling. She was definitely forcing herself to say that, and she was even nervously sweating.
However, Karin was clearly timid; mustering the courage to make that request likely took all she had. If I turned her down now, she might never feel comfortable asking me for anything again. Charlotte-san seemed to grasp that, which perhaps explained why she conceded..
“...It’s alright, Karin. Come here.”
I decided to do my best to follow up with Charlotte-san, and so I accepted Karin’s request.
“R-really…?”
“As your brother, I can’t refuse my little sister’s request, can I?”
I took her hand without a trace of hesitation. Karin blushed and smiled as she settled onto my lap. Despite her petite frame, I expected her to feel lighter than Charlotte-san, but strangely, she didn't.
Rather, she’s even heavier…?
Karin was slender too, but man, girls sure are mysterious.
“This is a bit nerve-wracking…”
Karin looked a bit nervous, having not been used to it, and her face was a slight red. As she continued to sit sideways, something incredibly soft was pressing against me.
It was hard to ignore it. As I was focused on Karin’s chest…
“Hmph…!”
​​
​
Charlotte-san was watching me with her cheeks puffed out, but rather than sulking, she seemed mad. It would appear that she had completely figured out what I was thinking.
…Crap, what do I do? I’m starting to sweat.
“Onii-chan, you’re sweating… Am I heavy?”
“You’re not, don’t worry. This is a different kind of sweat.”
I shook my head with a smile, seeing Karin misunderstand. That’s right, I was sweating due to a different reason.
…Will she forgive me after Karin leaves…?
“Um, Onii-chan… Could you pet me too…?”
It appeared that Karin wanted me to do for her what I had been doing for Emma-chan. Unable to refuse my little sister’s request, I gently placed my hand on Karin’s head. Her glossy, beautiful black hair was silky and pleasant to the touch.
Even though I heard that she was less well-to-do, it appeared that she still took good care of her hair. Her skin was also clear, and although I might’ve been biased as her brother, she had an incredibly cute face.
Karin would definitely be popular if she were more outgoing.
“..........”
Charlotte-san started to exert a silent pressure on me as my attention was drawn to Karin.
…No, I doubt she even realises it.
It was just that her intense gaze made me feel an uncomfortable pressure. I thought about how unfortunate it was sometimes when gentle people can’t say what they want to.
“I like this…”
And Karin, unaware of Charlotte-san, started rubbing her cheek against my chest. She seemed to enjoy sitting on my lap while having her head petted.
…I didn’t know why, but my stomach was starting to hurt.
“Karin, does your dad often do this for you?”
"No... my dad has always been busy. Since I was little, he's been coming home so late that I would usually be asleep by the time he arrived, and most mornings, he was already gone when I woke up."
In other words, she probably didn’t have a lot of chances to get pampered. Despite that, Karin grew up to be kind and still seemed fond of her father, probably because he spent his time with her whenever he could.
“But lately, since the debt has been settled… I suppose he’s been spending more time at home…?”
“I see…”
Well, it was rare to be able to pay off a friend’s runaway debt. He must’ve been a great adult in the eyes of others.
“Akihito-kun…”
“Hmm? What’s up?”
“Um… Are you thirsty? I can get you something to drink.”
Charlotte-san offered as she stood up, heading to the kitchen. She was most likely being considerate.
“Thanks, I’ll have some. What about you, Karin?”
“Ah, mm…”
Karin nodded, indicating to Charlotte-san that she too wanted something to drink.
“I also have orange juice.”
I bought some since I saw Karin drinking it at a café, so I thought she might’ve liked it. She choked the last time I asked her about it, so I never really got an answer.
“Are you sure…?”
“Of course. Sorry, Charlotte-san, but please give Karin the orange juice.”
“Sure. Would you like orange juice too, Akihito-kun?”
“No, I’ll have tea. You can have whatever you like, Charlotte-san.”
“Thanks.”
Charlotte-san paused briefly before opting for orange juice, just like Karin. Come to think of it, Emma-chan wasn't very particular and would happily drink almost any juice. If she were awake right now, she'd probably want some orange juice as well.
After that, I indulged Karin as she sweetly drank all her juice, all while sweating under the intense pressure from Charlotte-san.
​
“I’ll be taking Karin home now.”
I planned to walk Karin to the station since she wanted to get home before it got dark, while Charlotte-san stayed home as Emma-chan was still sleeping.
“Are you sure…? I can get home by myself…”
“It’s just to be safe. After all, you’re a girl, Karin.”
It might seem a bit overprotective, but I really wanted to walk her to the station. Besides, there could've been stuff Karin only felt comfortable discussing when it was just the two of us. So, we left the apartment together.
“The two of us are walking alone, Onii-chan… Would others get the wrong idea…?”
“Well, maybe. But don’t worry, they probably won’t.”
Karin and I were complete strangers at school. Given that I had Charlotte-san as my girlfriend, being seen alone with another girl might cause a misunderstanding. So, to avoid being recognised, I wore a mask and a hat.
“I see… Um, about my eyes… I’m really sorry, okay…?”
“Ah, don’t worry about it. I get why you might not want to talk about it. Still, I think your heterochromia is beautiful, Karin.”
“—...”
Karin’s eyes were unique, her right one being black and the other white. The fact that she hid them probably meant she had some bad experiences due to them in the past.
She covered both eyes since just covering one up might draw attention to herself. Well, hiding both eyes still drew attention, but Karin was so timid that most people didn’t even approach her.
Of course, the teachers knew about this. Even so, I thought her eyes were so beautiful that there was no need to hide them.
“You wouldn’t understand, Onii-chan… what it’s like to be different from everyone else…”
“I do. After all, I’ve been through a lot as well.”
“Ah—”
Karin gasped as she looked up at my face. Her bangs shifted with the movement, revealing her beautiful eyes.
“I-I’m so sorry…!”
The reason why Karin apologised so quickly was probably because she knew a bit about my background.
“Don’t worry about it. I’m the one who touched on a sensitive subject first.”
“But… I didn’t consider your feelings…”
“It’s okay. You can say whatever you want. I’m your big brother, aren’t I? You don’t have to hold back.”
Once I committed to being Karin’s older brother, I aimed to embody that role fully. I wanted to proudly declare myself as her big brother, which is why I'd listen to whatever she wanted to share and support her in expressing her feelings to me.
“Why…? Onii-chan… why are you so kind…?”
Karin asked me, her beautiful eyes trembling.
“Isn’t it natural to be kind to your younger sister?”
“It is…?”
Karin tilted her head, seemingly unconvinced by my answer. Well, I knew that not everyone was kind to their siblings.
“Yeah, it is. At least, you’re important to me, Karin, and I can’t be cold to someone important.”
“I see…”
Unlike before, she repeatedly nodded her head as she exhaled warmly. It seemed like she finally understood.
“We’re already at the station. If you have anything else to talk about, just message or call me.”
“Yeah… thanks.”
Karin smiled happily, thanking me as she was about to enter the station.
However, she suddenly stopped.
“What’s wrong?”
I called out to her, thinking that she might’ve had something left to say. Karin turned around, parting her bangs with her hand, and looked at me with a serious expression.
Perhaps she showed her eyes since she thought it was fine for me to see them, or maybe she just felt guilty and wanted to make it up to me.
“I-I, um… I really want to be with you, Onii-chan… I-I want to live together… if not with d-dad and the others, then with you at your place…”
“Karin.”
Having understood what she wanted to say, I called Karin’s name with a gentle smile and voice. However—
“We can’t do that.”
I slowly shook my head, gesturing that it was just impossible.
“Onii-chan…”
“I’m happy you feel that way, but I have to be frank with you… We’re living off our guardians’ money. We can’t just do as we please.”
I’d have loved to grant my little sister’s every wish, but some things were just not possible.
However, I suppose there's a possibility of that occurring. Karin's parents owed me a debt, so if we asked, they might grant us permission to live together. Furthermore, once their debts are settled, they might even support her living expenses.
Even so, having Karin live in that house might get her involved in the issue with The Himeragi Group. I wanted to avoid that at all costs.
“Besides, you still love your parents, don’t you?”
“Y-yeah…”
“Then you don’t need to leave them. We can meet at school, and I’ll come to see you whenever you call. Please bear with that for now.”
“..........”
Karin fell silent as she looked down. I glanced around to ensure no one else was nearby before slowly approaching her.
“I’ve got things I still need to do. That’s why we can’t live together, but once everything’s settled, you can come and stay with me.”
I embraced Karin, softly patting her head. For a fleeting moment, I considered the idea of promising her that we could live together once my tasks were fulfilled or whenever I could start working. However, with Charlotte-san and everything else to consider, I hesitated to separate Karin from her parents, so I chose not to mention it.
“You promise…?”
Karin didn’t ask, ‘Are you sure?’ like she usually did. That was just how important it was to her.
“Yeah, it’s a promise. You should go now, the train will be here soon.”
The train came every half an hour, so if she missed this one, she’d have needed to wait another thirty minutes, and so I gently pushed her back. Karin kept looking back at me, making me wave to her until she was out of sight.
Then, when I arrived home—
“—M-meeow?”
For some reason, Charlotte-san was waiting in the hallway, dressed in the cat costume she wore for Halloween.
Uh, well… I think I might’ve made her a bit too jealous…
“Um…”
I ruminated on what to do in this completely unexpected situation. Then—
“Come here.”
I decided to just quietly accept what was happening.
“Pardon me…”
Charlotte-san stopped pretending to be a cat, happily sitting on my lap. I wasn’t sure where to look with her revealing outfit…
“There, there,”
“Mmm…”
I patted her head as usual, making her squirm in ticklishness. Her breath escaped in a heated, sultry way, which made me feel as though I was being seduced.
I mean, dressing up like this and acting so affectionately, she wouldn’t have the right to complain if I teased her a little, right..?​​​​​​
Despite having those thoughts, I didn’t do anything rash, since I knew Charlotte-san was just cosplaying as a cat to seek affection because she was jealous. Besides, I didn’t want to disturb her when she looked so happy.
And so, after indulging her until she was satisfied by rubbing her cheeks against mine—
“Akihito-kun, were you staring at Shinonome-san’s chest just now?”
She was very direct in her complaint. With her still on my lap, her face was as close to mine as ever, and it hurt to see the reproachful look on her pouting face.
“I don’t think I was staring just at them, though…?”
“I think you were looking at them about once every few seconds.”
“Weren’t you just misunderstanding it whenever I looked at Karin’s face…?”
“After looking at Karin-chan’s face, your gaze briefly went to her chest.”
Did that really happen…?
I was conscious of Charlotte-san’s eyes, so I tried not to look at Karin’s chest, and yet…?
“Even though you barely look at mine…”
“Huh…?”
Charlotte-san muttered something in dissatisfaction, too quiet for me to hear. She probably did so on purpose, but it still made me curious due to the timing.
“What did you say?”
“Akihito-kun, you prefer bigger ones, don’t you?”
“—Wha?! Y-you’re wrong…! I don’t care whether they’re big or not…!”
“That’s a lie. It says in books that boys love the big ones.”
“What kind of books are you reading?!”
Everyone had their own preferences when it came to size, and personally, I didn’t really give it much thought. However, I did think Charlotte-san’s was on the larger side compared to other girls our age.
It was just that Karin’s were unusually big.
“It’s described in various books.”
“U-uuuuhm…? Everyone has their own preferences, right…?”
“That’s true, but some people do prefer smaller ones, though…”
I wonder if this knowledge also came from books…?
Come to think of it, we sometimes receive items from adult stores through the mail… Maybe Charlotte-san had quite a bit of naughty knowledge after all.
“Anyway, I don't judge people by the size of their breasts, so can you please not worry about it?”
“..........”
Charlotte-san stared at me intently, her eyes full of suspicion. She must’ve been quite concerned about the matter with Karin’s chest.
“If you want to see, you should just look at mine…”
“.....—Wh?!”
“I’m here for you, Akihito-kun… so if you want to look, you should just look at mine… I don’t want you to look at other girls…”
With that, Charlotte-san pouted as she pressed her face against my chest. As my girlfriend, she probably didn’t like it when my attention wandered off to other girls.
Even that cosplay outfit was clearly her trying hard to get my attention… She was such an adorable girl.
…Even so, I didn’t expect her to be so bold with her words… Then again, now that I think about it, she was a bold girl at times before this.
“Sorry if I made you anxious, okay?”
“It’s not that, I just…”
So it would appear that she was simply unhappy out of jealousy.
"I like you the most, Charlotte-san, and I don't lay my eyes on other girls. I'll try my best not to cause misunderstandings."
Charlotte-san being jealous was cute, but I didn't want to make her suffer because of it. We had agreed that I would pamper her if she ever felt jealous, but it was better not to make her feel jealous in the first place.
At the very least, we should strive to avoid misunderstandings.
“...What kind of cosplay do you like, Akihito-kun…?”
“Why the sudden question?”
“I also have to make an effort not to let your eyes stray… If there’s a cosplay you like, I’ll do it…”
With that, Charlotte-san looked up at me with a pleading gaze. To begin with, because of her appearance, I didn't know where to look... and with such an expression on her face, I ended up wanting to push her down.
“You’re already so charming even without any fancy outfits... and cosplay is something the person wearing it should enjoy, right? That’s why I think you should do the cosplay you want, Charlotte-san.”
"In that case... even anime characters would be fine, right...?"
“Of course it would.”
In fact, I wouldn’t mind an anime cosplay that was less revealing than her current cat outfit.
Honestly speaking, I think it’s commendable how I’m even managing to keep my composure right now.
“I see… Then, I’ll think about it again…”
She finally seemed content. Knowing her love for cosplay, anime, manga, and doujin culture, I thought she would be delighted if I took her to Japan's largest doujin events, scheduled for next month.
I swore to resolve the issue with The Himeragi Group by then at the latest.
After Charlotte-san's emotions settled, we enjoyed a delightful time teasing and pampering each other. Meanwhile, Emma-chan's habit of excessive napping caused the troublesome issue of her struggling to fall asleep at night.