Life In The Reverse World

After dinner, the four siblings headed to the living room together. They sat on the sofa and watched TV for a while. Then, in high spirits, Fuyuno suddenly jumped out of her big brother Harutaki’s arms, shouting, “This is my return gift!” before going off to help Ayaka wash the dishes in his place.

The television flickered with colorful images, and the announcer’s perfectly neutral, standard speech echoed through the room. Though the quiet atmosphere had been broken, Harutaki’s attention wasn’t on the news at all. Instead, he stole glances at his younger sister, Chiaki, who was curled up on a single-seat sofa with her knees hugged close—

At home, she usually let down her side ponytail. Now, her long black hair draped over her shoulders, and her emerald-green eyes resembled a calm, clear lake, reflecting the cool glow of her phone screen.

Today was… May 16th.

Harutaki did a quick calculation in his head and realized that it had already been 47 days since he had started his new life.

Was that a long time… or a short one?

His confrontation with Nogami, his first encounter with Chouko outside the girls’ restroom… everything that had happened over the past month and a half felt more intense and packed than a whole year. Yet when he thought back to that first “date” at Starbucks with Chouko, it all still felt so vivid, like it had happened just yesterday.

As those thoughts crossed his mind, a wave of fatigue washed over him.

A life surrounded by girls was certainly pleasant—but juggling between them, trying to care for each of their feelings and thoughts as best as he could—

That was no ordinary feat.

After temporarily resolving things with Nogami, Harutaki had hoped to take a break and just relax at school. But before Golden Week even began, Chouko’s troubles came one after another, leaving him no time to breathe.

Even in his dreams during those nights, he found himself torn between Nogami and Chouko, unable to choose—until both girls left him behind.

For the past month and a half, most of his energy had been focused on those two. Meanwhile, the three sisters closest to him had received far less of his attention.

Sure, he always remembered to bring back gifts when going out with Nogami or Chouko—but gifts once or twice might show sincerity. Too many, and they started to feel perfunctory.

If anything… when he brought home sweets for them, there might have been a hint of that perfunctory attitude—even if he hadn’t consciously realized it.

He had thought that as long as he helped Ayaka hold up the Hoshikawa household in their parents’ absence, as long as he became a model older brother and an outstanding young man, his sisters’ lives would drastically improve—

Ayaka would gain freedom and rest, and be able to do what she truly wanted.

Chiaki would step out of her closed-off room and interact normally with her siblings and even make friends.

Fuyuno would become a well-behaved child and develop healthier, harmless interests…

But reality always stood worlds apart from fantasy.

Ayaka still spent time and energy on him.

Chiaki did talk to him—but their conversations were… unusual.

And Fuyuno only became more and more eager to do all sorts of things to him—

Clearly, compared to his old self, Harutaki had gone from being someone unpleasant, someone people instinctively avoided, to someone popular—someone others no longer found repulsive.

And… as he thought about it, he felt like he could understand Fuyuno’s feelings, at least a little.

Wanting to be noticed. Wanting to be acknowledged. Wanting to become someone precious in another person’s heart.

But he could also tell that her attitude wasn’t pure affection or love—there was something else mixed in.

If Miyabi-senpai were here… would she be able to dissect Fuyuno’s thoughts?

“…Haa…”

Harutaki let out a quiet breath.

One step at a time.

Maybe taking a longer, winding path was actually the right way forward.

Then—

“Chiaki?”

“……”

That’s strange…

Looking at her faintly flushed cheeks, Harutaki felt a subtle sense of unease.

She was smiling… but something about that smile felt off.

Still, compared to Fuyuno, Chiaki was within the bounds of a normal high school girl. Even if she liked… those kinds of things, the degree was entirely different.

She probably wouldn’t do anything weird.

With that in mind—and out of respect for her privacy—he gave up the idea of sneaking closer to peek at her phone and instead called out again.

“Chiaki.”

“Wah—!?”

Startled, Chiaki jolted, and her phone slipped from her hands.

It bounced once off her soft, pudding-like chest before tumbling down between her legs.

She quickly shifted from hugging her knees to a duck-sitting position, holding down the hem of her lounge shorts as she lowered her head, her voice trembling slightly.

“H-Harutaki-nii… what is it?”

Only now did he notice—her exposed thighs beneath the shorts looked almost dazzlingly pale under the overhead light.

He steadied himself and decided to start with the sister closest to him.

“Do you want to go for a walk? I have something I’d like to talk to you about, just the two of us.”

“Ugh… I—I don’t want to go out.”

Chiaki picked up her phone again, the unease on her face flashing by for just a moment.

“Huh?”

That was completely different from what he expected.

Shouldn’t she be shyly nodding, maybe even a little excited?

“If you like Fuyuno that much, then just take her out instead.”

Chiaki turned her head away, slid off the sofa, and walked out of the living room in her slippers.

“Wait…”

…Was she jealous?

He had noticed the looks from both Ayaka and Chiaki when he fed Fuyuno earlier. But based on Chiaki’s usual personality, she shouldn’t have rejected him so bluntly.

And judging from how happy she looked while using her phone earlier, she didn’t seem bothered by dinner either.

…Girls really are hard to understand.

…

“Haa…”

Back in her room, Chiaki pressed a hand to her chest and let out a long breath.

A walk? A private talk?

…Had he found out about what she’d been secretly investigating?

But she’d been careful…

She replayed everything in her mind, searching for any mistakes.

Sneaking onto the balcony outside his room at night—he hadn’t noticed, right? Otherwise, he would’ve definitely invited her inside.

Using his computer while he was out—probably not exposed either, or he would’ve set a password by now.

Even the clothes and underwear in his closet… she had carefully restored everything based on photos she took.

Then suddenly, another thought crossed her mind—

What if… Harutaki really just wanted to go on a walk with her?

“Ugh…”

She slid down against her bedroom door and sat on the cool floor, feeling utterly frustrated.

She had just turned down an opportunity to spend time with him.

Should she go back and agree now?

She immediately shook her head.

That would only make it obvious she had something to hide.

Besides… even if she had gone, she might not have been able to do what she wanted—or convey what she truly felt.

Opportunities favor those who are prepared.

And she, Hoshikawa Chiaki, wasn’t ready yet.

And more importantly…

There were more and more girls gathering around her brother.

So while preparing herself, she also needed to figure out a way to secure a more important place in Harutaki’s heart.

…

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