Chapter 101Her Reason to Stay Here
Independent – the feeling of being able to take care of yourself on your own. If you take this very seriously, this is not the type where you have to do your school homework or take care of paperwork from the city, but the type where you have to prepare your food, clothing, shelter, and even wash and iron your clothes, right?
"I think it's great, but... ...isn't it too early?"
"..."
"...?"
Her petite body and unreliable behavior. If she were Natsukawa, I might be somewhat sure about that, but for Ichinose-san seems like it's still too early. I think it's much more natural that a first-year high school student is not recommended to do a part-time job yet.
Ichinose-san bowed her head in silence. The reason she started working part-time was probably because she wanted to be independent, but there seemed to be another reason why she wanted to be independent. Is she having problems at school? Honestly, it seems like there are a lot of things she's worried about. Seriously though, this is probably not the area I should be discussing.
"—...I want to break away from my Big Bro."
"Eh?"
Eh? You were about to tell me? Moreover, I think I can hear a rather pathetic reason. Breaking away from your Big Bro? Do you want to get away from your Big Bro? That's another reason that can probably cause a lot of damage to your Big Bro. From what I heard just now, I guess it's someone else's problem, like, "Oh, right!", but if Ichinose-san were my little sis, I might also be overprotective. I might be too afraid that there would come a time when my little sis would say something like that to me..., which is why I'm glad that I don't have a little sis.
Eh, wait a minute? Ichinose-san's Big Bro...?
"Um, sorry. Is it possible that Ichinose-san's Big Bro is a third-year senpai, who is also a member of the Disciplinary Committee?"
"Yeah..."
When I asked, Ichinose-san gave a brief reaction and nodded her head. I knew it! I knew it was that bear-senpai from back then! He did look big but always had a friendly face and was always smiling. Honestly, I didn't think that he looked anything like the petite Ichinose-san, but when I think of Ichinose-san and Bear-senpai, I think I understand why he has such a gentle personality.
"Why? Though in my opinion, he is a kind-hearted senpai, so I don't think you need to distance yourself from your Big Bro, can't you be as cute as you want?"
"..."
"Oh–... um...? Even though you feel like being spoiled, you can't anymore?"
When I asked her, Ichinose-san nodded her head again. Yeah, it's indeed a very complicated topic... but it's a family matter right now. In that case, I guess she should be spoiled by her mother or something, but how could I possibly know about other people's family situations, I don't want to pry into the bushes and make a snake out of it... ...Yeah, I think this is enough to fulfill my "punishment".
The point is this: she wants to be spoiled by her dear Big Bro, but there are circumstances where she can't be spoiled anymore, so she has to break away from her Big Bro and she has no choice but to become an independent person. So, to nurture that sense of spirit, she can't just quit this part-time job. Oh, it sounds like that.
"...Oh, I see. I understand why Ichinose-san is working so hard."
"Independent" is indeed an exaggerated word to use in this situation. I thought it would be a more complicated situation, but... I thought it was a cute excuse. I'm sure it's a big deal from Ichinose-san's point of view, but I guess it's the path that everyone has to take if they "want to be independent of their Big Bro". Most little sisters in this world have a strong image of detaching themselves from their Big Bro, but... well, it's a question of whether or not she'll feel embarrassed when she finds out that she's related to you. Bear-san seems to have a good reputation, and Sasaki is the new boy and as handsome as toothpaste.
"I... ...love Big Bro very much."
"Eh?"
"That... even now, I still love him, but..."
Eh, um, eh? Do you still want to tell me? You don't have to be very open when you tell me everything about how much you love your Big Bro. Oh, she's "very open" as a teenage girl— Wait, at a time like this, how come I'm thinking something dirty? Gosh, my mind is so messed up. We're in a precarious situation right now, aren't we? Switch your mind, my head.
Ichinose-san turned her head towards me slightly and continued talking while lowering her head. I don't know, was she just mumbling to herself and didn't want to talk to me? There is currently a handy application if you want to tweet, you know, Ichinose-san...!
"Um, Ichinose-san?"
"When I read books at home, I'm always held on Big Bro's lap, with his belly as my back. It feels warm, cozy, and has become a habit for me..."
That's so awesome. They seem to have an ideal sibling relationship. Hearing this makes me want to have a little sis too... —No, no, no, so why would you talk to me about something like that? Don't you hate me? You wouldn't talk about it to someone you don't trust, would you? Yeah, it's a sweet story, but...
"Ichinose-san, that–"
"One day, Big Bro invited an Onee-san, who was his classmate..., her name was Yuri-san to the house. Gradually, he started to meet her more often, and my time to chat with him became less and less..."
Oh–, "Yuri-san", right? Do you remember her? She's a fellow member of the Discipline Committee, a female senpai called "Yuri-chan" by Bear-san, right? She's a nice girl who led the transport team at the School Visit Trial event attended by junior high school students.
Yeah, I remember her. They were flirting in front of me. I remember that I felt four times more tired. I don't know if the people around them tended to avoid them. But I knew for sure that Bear-san and Yuri-chan were doing the right thing, so I couldn't say anything.
Wait a minute, that's how it happened, isn't it? Yuri-chan-senpai and Bear-san-senpai are constantly making out and flirting with each other, so Ichinose-san somehow feels lonely, right?
"But still, I still wanted to spend time with Big Bro.... ...and one day after school, when I got home, I decided to tell him how I felt after I came home."
Oh... –W-Wait a minute, isn't this a bad conversation? I have a bad feeling about this. Is it something that I can handle with my soul? I mean, is it okay if I listen to this?
"When I got home, I found that there was a pair of shoes that belonged to someone other than my family and I immediately realized that they were Yuri-san's. But at that point, I didn't care anymore and couldn't help myself..."
"Ichinose-san, stop. Wait, stop."
"Oh..."
Stop, please. Because I've somewhat understood about it at this point. So you don't need to continue the story out loud. Calm down, because it's like we're diving on a bed of thorns. Moreover, if you continue like this, you'll be diving with your hand holding on to my leg.
"..."
Oh, stop looking like you're about to cry. Eh? You look like you're about to cry. Is there something wrong with me right now? You don't have to tell me things that hurt, okay? Hey, isn't it bad to continue? I don't want to traumatize you for two days in a row.
"Cough... hmm" Sorry, I just had a little phlegm. Please continue?"
"..."
Ichinose-san nodded her head. When I asked her to continue the story, her teary face returned to normal. I think talking is quite good for Ichinose-san's mental health. I-If you want to talk that much, then I'll listen to you! I'm ready to listen to anything you say...! I'll bear with it!
"...I climbed the stairs to Big Bro's bedroom and opened the door without knocking."
After a short pause, Ichinose-san began to speak somewhat more calmly this time. I felt as if her eyes had lost their light and shadows were beginning to cover her face. If she was trying to vent her pent-up anger, perhaps the stop I made like that pause was the right solution. And that made my heart unable to stop beating.
"...Th-Then... ...Um..."
"..."
"Th-Then–!"
Please...! Please don't surprise me...! My heart feels like it's about to explode! At least let my mind calm down first.
"Yu-... ...Yuri-san pinned down Big Bro.... and they were... ...kissing...!"
Wh-Whoah!!!
Author's Note: Aaahhh!!!
TL: Reeze27
ED: Reeze27
PR: Reeze27
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