Nyanta & Pomeko

Chapter 36: look forward

As we left the building, we could hear some noise coming from the alley next to us.

　Anri tilted her head.

"Huh?　Doesn't it sound like your stepsister's voice ......?"

　It's true that this town is the closest downtown area to our house.

　It wouldn't be surprising if there were students from our school. Besides, my stepsister likes karaoke.

　...... It certainly sounds like my stepsister's voice. I'm curious .......

　My feet were about to head for the alley on their own.

　Anri looked at me and gave a small nod.

　As I entered the alleyway, I saw men and women in plain clothes talking to each other.

　It was hard to see because of the men's backs, but there was definitely my stepsister and a girl I didn't ...... know.

"Yeah, yeah, let's just sing together. Oh, I'm really trying to be an idol, so I can sing really well—-"

"Hii ......, don't do that... I hate ...... flirtatious men."

"Idiot!　Don't touch Nanako's shoulder!　I'm calling the police!"

"Oh, This karaoke guy is my friend. He'll give you a discount on the room rate."

"Come on, Nanako, we had a lot of fun in middle school. We're both high school students, you know.

"Abababa. L-Listen......, someone help me, ......."

　My heart jumped.

　It had been too long since I had heard my stepsister's weak voice.

　No, my stepsister was crying because of something I said. I was just pretending not to see it.

　I felt a soft thump on my back.

　My body was moving on its own.

　My eyes met with my stepsister who was being cornered by a flirtatious man.

　My stepsister's head seemed to have a hovering question mark on it.

" Hey, hey, hey, are you listening?　We and–"

"Haruka, it's time for you to go home. I'm here to pick you up."

　I put my body in between the man and my stepsister.

　My stepsister looked dumbfounded with her mouth open. Her friend who was next to her also looked surprised.

"Hey, don't get in my way. I'll–"

　I slowly turned around and looked down at the man.

"...... This is my little sister. Do you have a problem with that?"

　My mouth moved on its own. As the walls in my mind disappeared, I began to lose track of what I was doing.

　I had been verbally abused by my stepsister.

　But those things are in the past. Let the past be the past and don't drag it into the present–

　Just be a family man, a brother who cares about his sister...

"Oh? You're her brother?　That's–"

"H-hey, wait, ......, that's the guy from the violent incident, ....... Come on, let's go."

　The men fled with blue faces.

　Anri, holding a cell phone in her hand, ran up to me. When she saw that we were safe, she let out a sigh of relief. She was probably going to call the police if anything happened.