Life In The Reverse World

“Fuyuno, want to go for a walk?”

After failing with Chiaki, Harutaki refused to give up. He decided to start with Fuyuno instead, gradually getting closer to his sisters’ hearts so they could all live truly happy lives.

This was his responsibility—and something he genuinely wanted to do.

“Huh? Didn’t expect you to be this proactive today, idiot Harutaki…”

Fuyuno walked into the living room, wiping her hands with a tissue.

Tap, tap.

She wore oversized slippers she had bought last year to prove she wasn’t a child anymore, which made her footsteps noticeably loud—but she stubbornly refused to change them.

“…Is it because you held me while feeding me earlier, and now you’re getting weird ideas?”

Her childish face broke into a mischievous grin.

“Sorry. I’m not into flat, potato-shaped boards.”

“Oh?”

Fuyuno tilted her head, her golden hair framing an intentionally innocent expression.

“I thought you wanted to drag me out to play some interesting games~”

“…Interesting games?”

Hearing that from anyone else would be fine.

But from Fuyuno? That felt dangerous.

She might look small and cute, but he was certain her idea of “games” wasn’t anything like seesaws or slides.

“For example, outdoor exposure play~ Or treating me like a pet and walking me on a leash in the park~ Or sneaking into a public restroom late at night and forcing me to do all sorts of things at the urinals~”

Like a child learning to count, she ticked them off one by one on her fingers, listing her “games.”

When she finished, she looked at him with a teasing smile, waiting for his reaction—hoping to see him crack.

Her brother was just too perfect now.

So perfect it felt unreal.

Even though she had personally “confirmed” things twice, that feeling still lingered.

Why was it that she alone had to be the “bad kid” in this family?

When Harutaki was terrible, being a good girl didn’t earn her attention.

Now that he was perfect, being a “bad girl” still didn’t get her noticed.

So why bother trying anymore?

Wouldn’t it be easier to drag him down into becoming a “bad kid” like her?

“I…”

“Hehe, tempted? If you kneel and beg, I might just play along with you~”

“I’m thinking about calling Ayaka.”

Harutaki stroked his chin, looking at her like she was in urgent need of discipline.

“Guh… n-no fair! You can’t cheat like that!”

Calling Ayaka over was just too cruel!

At the thought of her terrifying fists—and her endless lectures—Fuyuno shivered on the spot.

“I’m saying… Fuyuno—”

Harutaki met his little sister’s cherry-blossom pink eyes head-on, searching them for even a glimpse of what she truly felt. Then he continued:

“Mom and Dad are never around. Ayaka’s been so busy she’s completely worn out… maybe everyone’s been overlooking how you feel, what you think… So this time, I want to sit down and really talk with you.”

“As your big brother.”

He couldn’t deny that, before, he had half-willingly let Fuyuno “pop the champagne” with him twice. But ever since he’d adjusted to and settled into his current life, he had never once treated her as an outlet for desire.

Fuyuno hadn’t started out like this.

No matter who it is, whether they change for the better or the worse, there’s always a reason behind it.

Harutaki thought to himself that, given the situation in the Hoshikawa household, the root of Fuyuno’s current state most likely lay within the family.

Back when he had first regained his clarity, perhaps out of disgust, perhaps unwillingness to face it, or perhaps simple instinctive avoidance… he had subconsciously labeled those “unpleasant” memories as trash and shoved them deep into the inner garbage bin of his mind.

Even if the impressions were blurry, it didn’t take much thought to figure out who bore the greatest responsibility for the problems in the Hoshikawa family.

“Tch, saying all these pretty words again…”

Fuyuno habitually tried to snap back, but suddenly realized something—

“You can go ahead and believe my pretty words, at least for now.”

Sensing the atmosphere had grown too heavy, Harutaki lifted a hand to his forehead and brushed up his slightly short bangs, deliberately switching to a joking tone.

“Keeping your promises in a cool, dashing way, like some kind of hero… isn’t that pretty awesome?”

In truth, he really did believe that. It wasn’t just a joke.

To him, the “cool” in that sentence didn’t just mean handsome or stylish. It carried a broader meaning, something closer to the way “cute” could mean many different things.

Just as Harutaki was about to say more, Ayaka, having put the dishes away, stepped into the living room.

Noticing the strange tension between her brother and Fuyuno, she couldn’t help but ask:

“Fuyuno’s not saying… weird nonsense again to tease you, is she?”

“…”

Harutaki glanced at Fuyuno, who wore a pained expression. She seemed to have already accepted her fate and was bracing herself for a scolding.

“No. I just wanted to ask Fuyuno to go out for a walk with me. A bit of exercise helps with growing, after all.”

“Mm… yeah! Idiot Harutaki insisted I go out with him…”

Fuyuno hurriedly nodded along.

But Ayaka eyed the two of them suspiciously, clearly not convinced.

Normally, if their idiot big brother brought up Fuyuno’s figure or physique, she would’ve exploded immediately… but now? No matter how she looked at it, something felt off.

“If Fuyuno won’t go out walking with you, then… then I’ll go with you instead.”

Suspicion aside, Ayaka was more inclined to trust Harutaki’s character.

Even if it was a lie, it would be a kind lie. Even if it was deception, it would be a gentle one.

Besides, she couldn’t help but feel a small spark of joy. This was another chance to spend time alone with her idiot big brother.

Even if Harutaki was pursuing Chouko-senapi and had started going out with her—even if she herself had helped bring that about, even if it was the outcome she had wanted—the jealousy and envy buried deep in her heart could not be erased.

If there truly existed a “perfect solution” in this world, then who would willingly choose compromise?

Perhaps there were selfless people willing to sacrifice themselves.

But she was not one of them.

“Hehe, perfect! Let Ayaka-chan go on a walk with you! Otherwise, seeing idiot Harutaki with no one wanting him would just be too pitiful~”

Grinning, Fuyuno stuck out her soft pink tongue at Harutaki when Ayaka wasn’t looking, making a quick face before turning on her heel. Slippers flapping noisily, she dashed off like a gust of wind.

“Uh… actually, I just wanted someone to talk to. Considering you’ve got classes during the day and then come home to cook such a big meal at night, I figured you should get more rest…”

Harutaki scratched his cheek with a finger, awkwardly rephrasing things. He didn’t want Ayaka to feel like, “I only asked another sister first, and you’re just my last resort.”

The real reason he hadn’t chosen Ayaka as the first sister he wanted to open up to was because of their recent “date practice.” He genuinely didn’t know what kind of attitude or role he should take when being alone with her.

At home, it was fine. But once they stepped outside, he couldn’t help recalling what they had done during that “practice.”

Just as he had said back then, Ayaka was the kind of girl who made him think she could become a wonderful wife.

“Honestly, if I call you an idiot, you really do turn into an idiot, huh, idiot Aniki.”

Please don’t say “idiot” three times in a row…

“According to psychology, if someone keeps being called an idiot, even if they’re smart, they might unconsciously become one.”

“R-Really?”

Ayaka’s imposing presence instantly crumbled, her disdainful gaze softening into concern.

“Of course not. Don’t worry, I, Hoshikawa Harutaki, am not so fragile that a few careless words from others would subconsciously alter my self-perception.”

It was just a joke, yet his little sister actually believed him.

Seeing the worry on her face, his heart warmed.

Still, what he’d said did reflect a real phenomenon.

Only those with unwavering will can ignore the judgments and voices of others, and press forward toward their own destination without hesitation.

Of course, those who succeed are called great figures of strong will.

Those who fail are called stubborn lunatics.

“Ugh, you’re the worst.”

Ayaka pursed her soft lips and lightly punched his shoulder.

Then, naturally, she began pushing him toward the entrance.

Unlike Chiaki and Fuyuno, Harutaki’s casual home clothes were perfectly fine for going out. As for her, she had already changed into a uniform she planned to wash anyway before cooking, just to avoid getting her usual clothes smelling like oil, so she could head out directly.

Clack.

Not long after Harutaki casually shut the door behind them, Fuyuno’s figure burst out into the hallway, now wearing a navy-blue hoodie.

Even in the slightly warm early summer, she pulled the stifling hood low to hide her dazzling blonde hair and profile, sneaking out like a little thief.

“Hehe… Ayaka-chan and idiot Harutaki totally fell for Fuyuno’s brilliant acting~”

The thought of her unsuspecting sister and brother made her stifle a giggle, though she couldn’t fully suppress her mischievous laughter.

At first, she really had just wanted to escape to avoid Ayaka’s iron-fist punishment. But after thinking it through, she realized she could take this chance to investigate the relationship and secrets between Ayaka and Harutaki—

Ever since that Golden Week outing where Ayaka had gone out with him, something about the atmosphere between them had felt… off. She couldn’t quite put her finger on it.

Hmph. My body might be small, but my mind is razor-sharp. The all-knowing love detective! There is always only one truth!

20:10.

The genius love detective, Hoshikawa Fuyuno, begins her first special tailing operation!

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