CH 56

That night, as we had discussed, Amane-nee-san and I slept next to each other on our futons.

It was just after midnight, and Amane-nee-san was probably very tired after having just returned to Japan. She was fast asleep.

She was already looking like an adult woman, but she was wearing pajamas with a cute bear pattern on it.

The gap between us made me smile, but I also wondered if it was okay for her to be so vulnerable with me next to her.

Even before she went to study abroad, we slept in separate rooms.

I lay on the futon next to her and watched her sleeping face.

The lights in this room and the next room are both turned off for sleeping, but the nightlight is still on.

Amane-nee-san turned over in her sleep.

She mumbled happily in her sleep, “Haruto-kun.”

I’m going to sleep, too.

I wrapped myself in a blanket and closed my eyes.

But I couldn’t sleep.

I thought about Rei-san, Kaho, Amane-nee-san, my father, Akiho-san, and the Tomi house.

I thought about all of these things and my eyes would brighten up.

While I was still thinking about these things, I heard something move.

Is someone getting up and trying to drink some water?

But my imagination was wrong.

When I looked up from the blanket, a figure leaned over me.

It was Rei-san.

When I was startled and tried to move, she put her index finger on my mouth.

“Don’t make noise.”

I stared into her blue eyes, disturbed by the touch of her index finger.

Rei-san averted her gaze and gently hugged me.

“What’s wrong?”

I asked Rei-san, not really paying attention to what was going on.

I was afraid that Amane-nee-san and Kaho might wake up.

Besides, I was lying on my back on the futon, while Rei-san was lying on my face, snuggled up against me.

Rei-san was snugly on top of me, and the feel of her supple legs, the texture of her chest, and the heat of her sweet breath all came straight to me.

Rei-san’s eyes were moist.

“I haven’t been able to talk to you lately, Haruto-kun, and I’ve been lonely.”

“Well, I feel like we’ve always been together.”

“But Sasaki-san is there too. So I missed being alone with you.”

Rei-san whispered in my ear.

When you put it that way, maybe it’s true.

Since Kaho came to this house, she has usually been with us when we go to school or have dinner.

“That’s why I came.”

Rei-san’s cheeks flushed with embarrassment.

She looked at me teasingly.

“I’m happy for you. I’m glad to know that Sasaki-san isn’t your sister.”

“Yeah.”

“Now Haruto-kun and Sasaki-san can be real boyfriend and girlfriend too, right?”

Rei-san lowered her eyes, looking anxious.

Rei-san told me that she likes me.

I think she’s worried that I might start dating Kaho.

“I think it’s fine, I do.”

“Eh?”

“It’s natural for Haruto-kun to choose Sasaki-sanb. You two have known each other since childhood, you’ve known each other for a long time, and you’re attracted to each other, right? If that’s the case, there’s no way I can get in the way.”

“I wonder if that’s … true.”

“I’m sure it is. But, even so, I still love Haruto-kun.”

Rei-san quickly brought her face close to mine and our lips met.

I felt my cheeks turn red.

Rei-san laughed with a face that looked like she was about to cry.

“I can feel your taste, Haruto-kun.”

“My taste?”

“Yes. It tastes like Haruto-kun, who I love. Haruto-kun, kiss me too.”

Rei-chan looked at me mischievously but a little sadly.

With her cheeks bright red, Rei-san said, “If you don’t kiss me, I’ll stay here on this futon forever.”

I hesitated for a moment and then gently moved my face closer to hers.

She shivered.

Maybe she thought I would kiss her lips in the same way.

But I let my lips touch Rei-san’s cheek a little.

When I pulled away, Rei-san looked at me resentfully.

‘Haruto-kun’s mean …. Why won’t you kiss me on the lips?”

“It’s nice to do something like this once in a while. It feels like we’re close to each other.”

“Maybe so, but…”

Rei-san put her cheek against mine in a spoiled manner.

“I wanted to sleep next to Haruto-kun. For Haruto-kun, Amane-san may be family,but … I want to be part of your family too.

“This is Rei-san’s home and … Rei-san is my family already.”

I said in a quiet voice.

I was embarrassed to whisper, but I didn’t mean to lie.

Rei-san’s large blue eyes widened, and she smiled happily.

“Thank you.”

“So let’s solve the problem of the Tomi family.”

Rei-san gave a small nod.

The remaining problem was the relationship between Rei and her parents’ family, the Tomi family.

The members of the Tomi family, including Rei-san’s half-sister, Kotone Tomi, hated her.

Therefore, they would try to target Rei-sane at our home.

As long as that is the case, Rei-san cannot feel at ease and consider this place to be her home.

Kaho’s problem was solved.

Now it’s Rei-san’s turn.

I gently took her hand in mine, and she squeezed it back.