――Where is the landing point for the little sister character, to begin with?
I find myself pondering this, perhaps because I can’t understand Azusa’s feelings.
For example, well… in works that feature a little sister, ‘dating’ or ‘marriage’ might be the goal.
Or if the sister is in a position as a sub-heroine, while the main heroine becomes the legal wife, the sister could continue living together as family—like a de facto wife.
However, hmm.
While it’s good to think about it, in the end, it doesn’t seem to be of any use.
I feel absolutely certain that our relationship won’t land on those points.
(Oh well. I was inadvertently thinking in a storytelling way, like in the old days…)
Snapping back to reality, I lightly smack my own head with a wry smile.
Even though I’ve graduated from that way of thinking, if I let my guard down, my mind tends to drift into strange directions. Perhaps being in my childhood home is causing me to recall those old feelings.
Despite being different from the time when I was bound by the story.
Maybe it’s because it’s my parents’ house that I’m recalling the old feeling.
I usually live with Shiho and often go abroad, so I return here about once a month.
Even then, I only have meals with Azusa, and when it gets night, I return to the apartment I’m renting.
Though I visit regularly because Azusa still lives here, my mother has told me, “You can sell it if you want or live here. Do as you please.”
(Come to think of it, is it Azusa who’s attached to this house?)
She never tries to leave the house.
I don’t think she’s considerate of me, but that might be a factor in our recent misunderstanding.
“What should I do?”
In my room, I lie on the bed and gaze at the ceiling.
The room filled with books remains unchanged from my student days, and lying on the bed gives me the same feeling as back then.
It’s been a while, but it feels like it’s warmly accepting me.
“…”
Inadvertently, it’s so comfortable that I feel like I could fall asleep like this.
—Wait a minute. Isn’t that strange?
“Why isn’t it covered in dust?”
Usually, I don’t use this room at all.
As I mentioned earlier, even when I occasionally return home, I often don’t enter this room.
And yet, why is it maintaining its old state?
Why is it clean without a speck of dust?
There’s only one possible answer.
“Did Azusa clean it…?”
Speaking out loud, I look around.
Upon closer inspection, things are neatly organized.
I don’t feel like someone is living here, but it seems intentionally maintained in this state.
Why?
What kind of feelings does Azusa harbor toward me?
I’m inexplicably curious.
“No, I can’t.”
I couldn’t just sit still.
I should probably wait for her to calm down and then talk.
However, if I do that, she might hide her feelings.
That’s not good, I thought.
I quickly head to the next room.
I know she probably won’t come out even if I knock.
So, on a whim, I try turning the doorknob.
Naturally, I thought the door would be locked.
Unexpectedly, the door opened smoothly.
“…Azusa?”
I call out.
First, I peek into the room… Azusa, as if she had been waiting for me, was looking at me.
“You finally opened it.”
I thought she had a dark expression.
I assumed she was sulking, acting stubborn, or seemed lonely.
“I’ve been waiting for your resolve, Onii-chan. Come over here… Let’s talk.”
But Azusa was brighter than I had expected…
