CH 44

My encounter with Kanade-chan’s mother, Sumire, was shocking to me.

First of all, she said that she was the one who was originally going to marry my dad, and now Sumire-san’s current husband is actually also my dad’s brother, so  Kanade-chan was inevitably my cousin.

“Too much information?”

“… Yes, it is. Seems like way too much to listen to in one day.”

I honestly felt like my head was going to explode.

For me, it was definitely a surprise, but I’m glad I got to hear it. There was a lot I didn’t know about my dad’s family, and it wasn’t something I wanted to know willingly, but it was something I needed to know.

“For my husband, I can only assume that he didn’t like the way it turned out, because it destroyed the future he had originally planned for himself. Still, he was more furious at how my father-in-law and mother-in-law treated Kasumi-san and her child.”

“……”

“… We should have apologized earlier. I’m so sorry.”

Certainly, I’ll never forget the expression on my mother’s face at that time, even though I was very young. But it was the fault of those people who said whatever they wanted, not Sumire-san and husband who is apologizing to me now… Of course, there is a possibility that these words are also a lie, but I don’t want to doubt it now.

“About that… I know a lot of things happened, but I’m really fine now. I no longer have my father and mother, but I am very happy to have people who are very important to me by my side now. I’m not going to dwell on the old days anymore.”

I put on the best smile I could muster, because it was the truth.

Sumire-san looked at me with surprise, but she exhaled as if she was relieved, perhaps sensing it from my expression.

“That… that’s good to know.”

“… but I never thought that saving Kanade-chan would lead to this.”

“True. That girl seems to be quite fond of you, Hayato-kun. She hasn’t had much interaction with the opposite s*x and seems to be uncomfortable around men, but… maybe a part of her could sense that you were her brother…”

Well, if that’s true… she’s insanely intuitive.

I was done talking with Sumire-san for now, so I met up with my friends who had been taking care of Kanade.

“Thank you, both of you.”

“It’s alright. Though she only talks about you.”

“I thought it was gonna be the other way around, and she wanted to tell me about you… you frivolous man!”

It hurts, man! Don’t hit my back!

But still… it might be a little difficult to part ways like this. Sumire-san will probably explain things to her, but it will go more smoothly if I stay by her side.

“Sorry, guys, I’ve got a few things I need to talk to them about.”

“All right. We were planning on buying masks now anyway.”

“Oh, yeah. We want to be popular too!”

“… Seriously?”

The two went triumphantly shoulder to shoulder… I mean, masks aren’t particularly appealing guys… I sighed, but since Kanade-chan looked like she wanted to talk to me, I just decided to head over there.

Kanade-chan ran over to me like she couldn’t wait anymore… and stumbled over to me in a hurry.

“Ah…”

“Ohh!”

I’m glad I caught her right in time.

I held Kanade’s body in place to support her… only to have it go a little awry.

“… Ah, your hand.”

Yes, my left hand was on her breast.

It was bearable because there were already three excessively beautiful women beside me. It was a little smaller than Arisa’s, causing my fingers to sink into it drastically.

“Sorry, Kanade-chan!”

I quickly removed my hand, then after, Kanade-chan put her hand on the part I had just touched, while her face turned bright red.

“No, it’s okay. I don’t mind if it’s you, Onii-san.”

“I… I see.”

I’m relieved for now that Kanade said that.

“Onii-san? Why are you looking away? Do you not like me anymore that you can’t even look at me?”

“Ah, no-no. It’s not like that. I think Kanade-chan’s a very pretty girl, and yes, she has her mature side too!”

I think that… is a bit sexually harassing.

I felt pressured with her eyes, but then she looked down with cheeks flushed and put her index fingers together in front of her face in a cross.

Sumire-san who had been tilting her head at our exchange finally seemed to have decided to talk about it.

“Hey Kanade, maybe in a way Hayato-kun really is an older brother to you?”

“Eh? What do you mean?”

After Sumire-san said that, I told Kanade-chan, who rolled her eyes, about me and Sumire-san in order.

I told her the most important thing in a simple way since there was a lot to tell. In other words, I told her that we were cousins, and the rest was just a brief description of my family, etc.

“I’ve never heard about it, but… I see. So Onii-san is actually my brother… ehehe.”

“You look happy?”

“Of course I do! Onii-san… Onii-san♪”

Your brother is going to have a gestalt collapse.

After seeing Sumire-san off to go to the bathroom for a while, Kanade-chan came up with this suggestion.

“Onii-san… you see, remember what I said earlier?”

“Earlier?”

“Yes. It’s about my wish to have an older brother.”

“Ah yeah, you said that.”

I remember we talked about that when we were with Aina.

“So… you can also call me that if you like.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes, I’d like you to say my name♪”

“… Then, Kanade?”

“… Oo♪”

… I still think her reaction is similar to that of Aina’s.

But I still thought she was cute with the way she looked and acted. I didn’t think there was that kind of connection, even though she was my cousin, about dad’s brother and I never actually heard of him until now.

That’s why the moment I found out that this girl was my cousin, I felt somewhat familiar with her.

“Well, we both have a lot to learn about each other today… but from now on we’ll be cousins, Kanade.”

“……ah”

I reached out and patted Kanade on her head.

Kanade narrowed her eyes and accepted my hand, and when I removed my hand, her eyes moistened with sadness. Somehow I get the feeling that not only Aina, but also Arisa and Sakuna-san are going to adore her.

After some conversations I parted ways with Kanade and Sumire-san.

She told me that she would tell her husband about this, and she also asked me to rely on him if I ever needed anything.

“… Well, I guess I’d better be on my way.”

We talked a lot more than I had expected, and it was getting late, so I’d better to go home now.

The lights were on as a matter of course when I headed back to the Shinjo house, and the door was locked as a precaution, so I contacted them with my phone. 

Right after I heard fluttering footsteps, the door suddenly opened, Aina jumped right into the chest.

“Welcome back, Hayato-kun♪”

“I’m back, Aina.”

I headed into the living room and told Arisa and Sakuna-san that I’m home as well.

And at dinner time, when the four of us were sitting around, I decided to tell them about what happened today. I told them about my dad’s brother, Sumire-san, and Kanade.

“So it was that. Kanade-chan is Hayato-kun’s cousin… I thought that might be the case since they have the same last name.”

“I never expected that.”

It was really a series of unexpected events.

Aina said she would like to see her again, but Arisa and Sakuna-san have never met her.  So I would also like to let them meet if there is an opportunity.

“Hayato-kun, are you feeling a little better about your family?”

“… I guess so. I don’t mind it that much, but I’m glad to have met them.”

Oh yeah, and as for my dad’s parents, they still haven’t forgiven me and don’t want to talk about us. I know it’s a bigotry, but it doesn’t matter because I don’t want to see those people ever again.

“… Come to think of it.”

“What is it?”

I asked Arisa who was sitting next to me.

“Did something happen? Your hair’s a little shaggy in places.”

“Ah~ about that. We were trying our Santa costume for a minute—”

“Nee-san—shatappu!” [Shut-up]

“Mukyuu!?”

Aina shoved a fried fish into Arisa’s mouth as she was about to say something.

… Um, I feel like I shouldn’t have asked?

“We’ve been preparing for Christmas in various ways. We will do our best to treat you well so that you can truly enjoy yourself, Hayato-kun, so please look forward to it♪”

“Huh…”

I see. Well, I’m looking forward to it then.

But is it just my imagination… Sakuna-san’s expression looked somewhat naughty?