Nyanta & Pomeko

Chapter 2: The past is not gone.

When I opened the door, I found my stepsister, Haruka, standing there.

　She seemed to be in a hurry.

"Huh?　You're late, aren't you?　Did you go home with Shizuka-chan?"

　I see, she was watching me with the security camera since we were talking in front of the house.

"I'm home now. I'm sorry to say ......, but may I come up?"

"Oh, um, yeah ......, hey, bro, let's make more friends, okay?　You used to be so cheerful......and let's not use polite language....... B-be friends with me......."

　Nothing resonates in my mind. If this had been in junior high school, it would have been different.

　I was still weak and hopeful at the time.

　When bad rumors about me started to circulate, my stepsister didn't believe me, kept saying, " I hate molesters!"

　I don't feel anything anymore when I remembered.......

　I'm not going to let my childhood friend's false confession hurt my heart. As long as I say it once and for all so as not to be misunderstood, I'm fine.

"Haruka-san, excuse me."

"Big brother......"

　We're not blood related, we're not brothers or sisters.

　We're just roommates.

　I was going to go back to my room.

" Oh, welcome back, Shin-kun. You're late, aren't you?　Hurry up and get ready. I know I'm late because of my work, but we're going out for dinner today to celebrate your entrance."

　I didn't hear of any such plans.

"No, I'm fine. Have fun with your family."

　When I was a child, I used to look forward to going out with my family.

　Even after the incident, my parents still invited me as part of their family duties.

　I was mentally young at the time, so I went along with them, but when I went, the family atmosphere would deteriorate.

　So I stopped going on trips and eating out.

　It felt good to be home without anyone else. Maybe I had felt loneliness when I was young. But now, I feel nothing.

　I enjoyed studying and writing novels by myself all the time.

　My family tells me, "You're the big brother——" and my stepsister comes first in everything I do.

　But that can't be helped. Things need to be prioritized.

　My priority is peace.

" Dear ......, don't keep sulking ......, your father is away on his own, and we are a family, so you should be more–"

"I'm sorry. I'll be more careful."

Me sulking?　I have no such feelings. I never thought about it.

　The best option is for me not to go. The best way to not ruin the family.

　In fact, my stepsister and stepmother both look more cheerful when I'm not there.

　Although my stepmother had a bitter look on her face, in her heart she was probably relieved that I wasn't going.

　Study hard and have a serious school life. It's the least I can do to atone for the trouble my rumors have caused my family.

　I bowed to them and went back to my room.