Life In The Reverse World

“Yakiniku... the movies? Hm?”

After Harutaki left, Fuyuno immediately straightened her back, suddenly brimming with confidence.

So Aya-chan really did go out and do something shady with Harutaki!

What kind of brother and sister would ditch the other two siblings to go watch a movie?

“Fuyuno...”

Chiaki opened her mouth, wanting to rein in her little sister a bit, but Fuyuno was in full swing now. There was no way she was stopping.

“Aya-chan, you’d better confess—”

Thump.

“—Ugh... that hurts...”

Fuyuno clutched her head and squatted down.

“I-I was just helping Harutaki practice how to pursue Chouko-senpai, okay? Stop overthinking everything all day long.”

Ayaka retracted her fist and sat back down.

Unfortunately, right at that moment, the TV cut to a commercial. Hearing the familiar music, Ayaka instinctively turned to look.

【When I think of her or him, I’ll have a Big Mac... a McFlurry, sweeping away hunger, the choice of ‘Tokyo Handsome Guys’】

“Ah! Don’t tell me you went with idiot Harutaki to see this romance movie?!”

Following Ayaka’s gaze, Fuyuno froze for a moment, then immediately pointed at the words in the corner of the screen, “Now Showing: His Name”, launching yet another relentless attack.

Damn it. She’d never even seen a romance movie before. Especially not with a boy...

Guh... sneaking a kiss in the dark theater, fingers interlaced during the climactic scene. As images like that popped into her head, she felt a sudden surge of envy, and even the bento she’d eaten at noon seemed tasteless now.

What a waste of an opportunity, she thought. With Aya-chan’s awkward personality, forget kissing. She probably didn’t even dare to hold hands, right?

“Th-This isn’t a romance movie...”

Ayaka stubbornly argued back as the commercial’s dialogue continued.

【Damn it! I want to become a ‘Tokyo Handsome Guy’ too!】

On the TV, the male and female leads walked into a wedding hall together. The one shouting in the voiceover was the heroine’s childhood friend, who wiped away his tears as he ran out of the church and straight toward a nearby McDonald’s.

Finally, the narrator spoke again.

【McDonald’s Big Mac McFlurry combo, now hot on sale.】

The screen showed the heroine’s childhood friend, sobbing as he bit into a Big Mac.

“Gah...”

Fuyuno stared at the scene, completely stunned.

Didn’t her classmates all say this was a sweet romance movie?

“Well, see...”

Although she felt a bit relieved, seeing this ad and recalling what Harutaki had done with Chouko-senpai in the theater nearly made Ayaka lose her composure too.

“Guh... what even is this mess?!”

Fuyuno kicked off her slippers in frustration, flopped back onto the sofa, and started searching her phone for information about His Name.

Even if it wasn’t a romance movie, she was still going to make Harutaki take her to see a movie at least once.

Why was it always the eldest brother and eldest sister who got all the affection and attention? At the very least, things should be fair.

However, the two of them, each back in their original spots with phones in hand, completely failed to notice that Chiaki, sitting nearby, was still tapping away at her screen. From time to time, a subtle, hard-to-read smile flickered across her face.

……

【...Today, Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Nogami attended the meeting...】

The TV screen flickered on, but no one was watching. No one turned it off either. The television simply stayed on while everyone played with their phones.

Perhaps no one actually wanted to watch TV. They just wanted to add a bit of “life” to the otherwise quiet house.

At least, that was what she, Hoshikawa Chiaki, believed.

Whether it was Fuyuno, who used to fall asleep on the sofa with the TV on, or Ayaka, who liked to keep the TV blaring while cooking...

Even she herself was no exception, often falling asleep to ASMR videos on YouTube.

It wasn’t that she had insomnia, nor that she particularly liked ASMR. She just wanted that feeling of someone being there.

Loneliness was truly terrifying.

Chiaki didn’t know how Harutaki in the past had coped with loneliness, but when she shut herself alone in her room, even though it was no more than ten tatami mats at most, it still felt vast and desolate.

And yet, just as she was preparing to use special measures to completely eliminate the root cause behind this situation, he, Harutaki, suddenly changed.

It was almost as if... no, he was exactly that person. The brother from before had come back.

Because of Harutaki’s unexpected transformation, Chiaki had no choice but to scrap her original plan and begin drafting a new strategy. One that would overturn her seemingly insignificant position, named—

Tokyo Spring Campaign

Hoshikawa Harutaki Capture Plan!

Normally, she had to worry about being discovered at school, and at home she was busy studying IT and keeping up with her coursework. Only during weekends like this, with a bit of free time, could she finally calm down and plan things out properly.

Still, even though this was something that needed to remain secret, she was starting to dislike being alone in her room. Seeing her sister Ayaka and her younger sister Fuyuno squatting or sprawled together in the living room, she couldn’t help feeling drawn in and subconsciously moved closer.

As long as she locked her screen fast enough, Ayaka and Fuyuno shouldn’t notice...

With that thought in mind, Chiaki began tapping on her phone’s virtual keyboard, fully focused on refining her strategy guide.

【Name: Hoshikawa Harutaki】

【Age: 16】

【Favorite foods: Chinese cuisine, French cuisine, meat dishes...】

【Disliked foods: Seems to dislike cilantro and extremely spicy food.】

【Music he has been listening to lately: Akira Kosemura, Maurizio Pollini, BUMP OF CHICKEN...】

【Things he likes: He has been subconsciously glancing at his left wrist a lot these past few days. Likely wants a wristwatch.

May 5 note: Onii-chan returned home already wearing a watch on his left wrist. Possibility that he bought it himself cannot be ruled out. Suspected potential gift-givers: Ayaka, Shihou-senpai.

Mentioned recently that his kitchen knife is hard to use (could buy one on Amazon as a gift).

Seems to want wireless earphones for listening to music (remember to ask Minazuki-chan at school for recommendations).】

【Person he likes: ......】

At this point, Chiaki hesitated slightly before continuing to type.

【Person he likes (possible): Nogami Izumi-senpai, Shihou Chouko-senpai, Ayaka, Fuyuno......】

Then, pressing her soft pink lips together and doing her best to suppress the upward curl of her mouth, she added the two characters:

“Chiaki”.

【Person he dislikes: Unknown.】

【Recent mood: Listened to Chopin’s Barcarolle several times recently. Possibly a bit melancholic and confused. Suspected to be troubled by romantic feelings (?).

May 5 note: Onii-chan seems much more relaxed these past few days. A good opportunity to get closer.】

【Recent physical condition: Every morning, the blanket is pushed up (pass).

Cleaned underwear is always hanging on the balcony to dry (pass).

Only used tissues for wiping his nose in the trash can in his room (currently in an unhealthy state of sexual restraint).

......】

And then... there was also that thing she had seen together with Fuyuno last time...

Recalling that night under the covers, the ten tender toes exposed by her stirrup socks curled tightly into the sofa cushion. Chiaki felt her cheeks burning hot.

They must be completely red by now. She couldn’t help worrying, silently praying that her sister and younger sister wouldn’t notice.

【Thicker than plain rice porridge, taste rather subtle, quantity far greater than what reference materials suggest (pass).

......】

Chiaki shook her head vigorously, wondering why her notes were filling up with nothing but nonsense.

【Morning runs and night runs have had unexpectedly strong results. Onii-chan is suspected to be training with a professional instructor at a gym.

His arms and shoulders are thicker than before.

At first, he used to gasp heavily after running home. Now it’s as if he hasn’t done any strenuous exercise at all.

Conclusion: A (excellent).】

【Personal preferences: Onii-chan’s gaze often focuses on legs and feet (suspected leg and foot fetish).

When Ayaka is present, Onii-chan’s gaze lingers on her chest for a long time (suspected chest preference).

Onii-chan often hugs Fuyuno while watching TV together (suspected no strict body-type requirements).

When wearing stirrup socks or thigh-highs, Onii-chan looks more frequently (consider increasing variables, try tights next time).】

【Preferred activities: Unknown.】

【Preferred positions: Unknown.】

【Next actions:

April 21: Wear thigh-high socks in front of Onii-chan for testing.

April 23: Test tied ponytail versus natural straight hair.

......

May 5: Wait for an opportunity when Onii-chan is alone, then flexibly initiate the first-date strategy depending on circumstances.】