Nyanta & Pomeko

Chapter 7: Lonely food court

" Makoto, do you have a minute?"

　It was a weekend morning. I woke up early, posted my latest story, and was just about to leave the house.

　If I didn't leave my room for a long time, my stepmother and stepsister would get involved.

　We always spent our weekends at the park or at a commercial food court.

"Excuse me, I have to run an errand with my friends......."

　Of course, I don't have any friends. If I had plans to meet someone, I would give up thinking that I would be bothering that person.

　My stepsister popped up from behind my stepmother.

"Hey, hey, Onii-chan. I feel like something shocking happened, but I can't remember anything. Do you know about it, Onii-chan?"

"I don't know ......."

　I can't believe she forgot the inconvenient parts. ...... She's a horrible girl.

Stepmother let out a sigh and told stepsister.

" Haa... Why don't you take a lesson from Makoto?　You can study and exercise."

"Heh, I know. I'm proud to be his sister now!　...... Oh, that's right, we're going shopping together today!　I'm looking forward to going out to eat!"

"Then hurry up and get ready. Makoto is already ready."

"No, I'll just be a nuisance if I go. Please enjoy yourselves."

　Step-mother turned bitter.

"You know, ......, there's nothing wrong with going out with the family....... Forget about the past. You're in high school now, don't dwell on it forever."

　–You're in high school now, huh

　I'm not going to be dwelling on it. I don't feel anything in my heart from those words.

　I'm not trying to be a jerk.

　In fact, why are you even bothering with me now?

　At the time of my junior high school graduation ceremony, my stepsister and stepmother would have gone out together without saying a word to me.

　I went straight home. They came home late at night.

"Oh, I heard from Haruka that you went to the launch with your friends. So, yeah, you were alone. ......"

"There's nothing wrong with that. I would like to work part-time until I enter high school. Please give me permission."

"You can't get a part-time job......When school is not in session—"

"Thank you very much."

"Well, seriously, since we're here to celebrate—-"

"It's a waste of money. Good night."

　My stepmother's personality has not changed now or in the past. People's personalities don't change.

　You can't change it.

　I threw the words at her again with emphasis.

"My friends are waiting for me, so I don't want to be told to go out with them out of the blue."

　My stepsister interrupted me.

"O-Onii-chan......, please stop having air friend....... Hey, why don't we go out together?　It's fun, right?　Eat meat?　Hehe, I want to walk hand in hand with Onii-chan"

　I see, you know me well because we go to the same school.

" Makoto, come on. You are the eldest son of this family. With your academic ability, you can go to a good university, get a job at a good company, find a good mate and live a happy life. What you lack is the ability to communicate with others. So with a family–"