Life In The Reverse World

It was mid–early summer. The cool, distant full moon hung in the sky like an LED ceiling light in a bedroom, dimming the surrounding starlight as it sat perfectly round against the pitch-black “ceiling,” silently watching over the quiet world below.

Perhaps because the Hoshikawa residence was located in a high-end residential district comparable to Shirokanedai, the area already felt sparsely populated during the day, almost like the outskirts. At night, it was even rarer to see anyone at all. Occasionally, the faint clatter of a bicycle chain would approach from afar, the neighborhood police officer making his rounds between the streets, bringing a small sense of reassurance to the residents.

Harutaki and his younger sister, Ayaka, walked forward at an unhurried pace.

Harutaki noticed that the people they occasionally passed, those out walking their dogs after dinner or before bed, were almost always in pairs. Some were refined middle-aged couples, others elderly pairs with graying hair. In short… young people like him and Ayaka were quite rare.

Maybe only after reaching that age do people learn to settle down and find the leisure to enjoy a quiet walk at night.

Tap. Tap.

Tap. Tap.

As if the world contained only the two of them, the only sound breaking the silence was the crisp echo of their footsteps against the asphalt.

“I-Idiot Harutaki… didn’t you say you had something to talk about?”

After walking for over a hundred steps, Ayaka could no longer hold back and finally broke the silence hanging between them.

It felt almost like a couple who had just broken up—awkward, uncertain, unable to find the right words.

She couldn’t help recalling the “date practice” from nearly two weeks ago—

Back then, just like now, they had walked side by side, but through bustling streets and crowded park paths. Surrounded by lively noise, she hadn’t thought much of it at the time. But now, being alone with her idiot big brother… even without holding hands, the atmosphere had gradually turned subtle and strange.

Seriously…

She suddenly felt like blaming her past self. How had she just gone with the flow and kissed him like that!?

Even if it had been under the excuse of “date practice,” now that her overheated mind had cooled down, every word she had said and every action she had taken made her feel unbearably awkward and ashamed.

Atmosphere really was a terrifying thing.

Just like how, after Golden Week, she had avoided mentioning the “date practice” entirely, pretending nothing had happened.

Just like how now, neither she nor her brother could manage to speak to each other normally, leaving only silence between them.

She knew very well that the current Harutaki was gentle and upright. If the Harutaki from childhood had grown up smoothly, this was exactly what he would have become.

Making him do that kind of thing with his own sister… was simply too much to ask, wasn’t it?

Even if his romantic rival was that awkward, pathetic loner upperclassman, Harutaki had always pursued Chouko-senpai in a straightforward, honorable way… Could someone like him really accept feelings that went beyond family?

Sure, being surrounded by beautiful girls and dating multiple of them was the dream of countless boys, but—

During the week before Harutaki left for Kyoto, she had personally witnessed just how exhausted he was, caught between Nogami-senpai and Chouko-senpai.

Even during dinner conversations, she could tell from his casual complaints how drained he truly was.

Because of that, she couldn’t help but begin doubting her plan. Was this “scumbag transformation plan” really feasible? Could it truly lead to a life where everyone suffered the least and gained the most happiness?

Then, she suddenly realized—

Harutaki had always respected her choices and opinions, yet she had never truly considered his thoughts or feelings.

Ayaka knew very well that she wasn’t some generous, selfless girl.

On the contrary, the fact that she had come up with such a plan only proved how selfish she was. Selfish enough to do everything in her power to keep her brother by her side for her own happiness.

Maybe, she thought, she should also try approaching Nogami-senpai sometime, gather more information, and refine a better, more effective strategy. But… everything would have to wait until she probed Harutaki’s true intentions.

“Even though I told myself I had something to say back at home… now that we’re here, I don’t even know where to start…”

Catching a glimpse of Harutaki’s helpless expression, she couldn’t help sighing inwardly.

As expected… when it came to her, Harutaki found it hard to speak because of their relationship.

Looks like… today, he just wanted to talk as her older brother. No wonder he had tried asking Fuyuno first, even though they didn’t get along.

That sense of responsibility and reliability really was comforting, but…

Ayaka realized she was incredibly—greedy.

She wanted both a gentle, caring big brother, and a cool, dashing lover.

“In times like this, shouldn’t you ask about school? Like how my grades are, or how I’m getting along with classmates?”

Whoa… that sounds exactly like a dad.

Harutaki nearly blurted out a complaint at how parental it sounded.

To be honest, he had been an only child in the past. He didn’t really understand what sibling relationships were like, nor how to properly interact with them.

Being an only child meant monopolizing your parents’ love and attention… but as you grew up and entered society, you realized that “only” didn’t just mean exclusive—it also meant lonely.

If there was such a thing as unconditional love and trust in this world, its most basic unit would always be family.

Might as well follow her lead.

“Oh? Then how have your studies been lately, Ayaka?”

“… ”

Her clear aqua-blue eyes met his deep violet gaze. After a moment, both Harutaki and Ayaka burst out laughing.

Even though they tried to keep it down, their laughter carried clearly through the quiet night, thinning the lingering loneliness in the air.

Thump.

Ayaka pouted and lightly punched his shoulder.

“I was just giving an example! Why did you repeat it word for word, idiot Harutaki?”

She complained, clearly annoyed.

Still, since he had asked, even jokingly, she answered seriously.

“Reviewing and grinding practice questions is tiring, but I can maintain my current rank in the grade… As long as I prepare properly for midterms, it shouldn’t be a problem.”

“If there’s anything you don’t understand or aren’t good at, I can help tutor you.”

Harutaki added casually before continuing:

“And what about classmates and friends? With how cute you are, you must have plenty.”

“I do, but… most of the girls at St. Lilium Girls’ Academy are daughters of corporations, conglomerates, or prestigious families. It’s kind of stressful being around them, and sometimes I can’t keep up with their conversations…”

“No one’s bullying you, right?”

“No one has that much free time.”

Seems like Nogami really is the rare type.

Harutaki suddenly pictured her in his mind—orange hair tied in a side ponytail, rose-colored eyes slightly upturned at the corners, and that signature, confident, almost mocking smile.

In families or family-run businesses that valued legacy, discipline for the next generation was no lighter than in ordinary households.

“If—I’m just saying if—someone did bully me, what would you do, idiot aniki? They’d all be high-born ladies, you know~”

Ayaka suddenly shifted the topic, throwing him a rather dangerous question.

Hopefully it really is just a hypothetical, he thought.

“Then I’d use my handsome face to play them all and dump them?”

“Scumbag. Gross.”

Pfft—

Ayaka couldn’t help laughing.

“Hey, I’m avenging you here.”

“I think you’re just being a pervert, idiot aniki!”

She lightly shoved his arm in protest.

Using his looks to mess with them… she thought to herself, yeah, there’s absolutely no way she could let him transfer into St. Lilium.

Those sheltered rich girls who had barely interacted with men—let alone handsome ones—would definitely get completely swept away by his sweet talk… and might even show up at her door later with nephews and nieces in tow, demanding answers.

Harutaki gazed ahead.

At the end of the street, the Lawson convenience store and the 7-Eleven across from it were among the few remaining sources of light at night besides the streetlamps.

At times like this, it felt right to keep the lighthearted mood going.

“Come to think of it, walking down the street like this—with one of us in casual clothes and the other in a uniform—feels pretty strange.”

“Well, you’re the one who suddenly suggested going for a walk. I just happened to be wearing a uniform I didn’t need to change out of… and besides—”

Ayaka paused, then smiled mischievously, sneaking a glance at his reaction.

“—weren’t you the one who said you liked high school girls and wanted to date one, idiot aniki?”

“So what? Now that I’m walking out with you in your uniform, you don’t like it anymore?”

“Please don’t make it sound like I’m some degenerate big brother tricking his little sister into cosplay.”

Even though Ayaka really was a proper high school girl, the way she put it made things feel strangely off—like she was wearing her uniform just to satisfy his preferences.

Still, outside of school days, this was the first time he had ever spent time with Ayaka while she was in her uniform.

Usually, he only saw her like that briefly in the morning before she left, or in the evening before she changed.

Now, seeing her walk beside him like this, he couldn’t deny the subtle flutter in his chest.

“Of course, no matter what you wear, I like it… but you really are super cute in your uniform, Ayaka.”

“Hmph. That’s such a textbook scumbag line~”

Ayaka placed her hands on her hips, letting out a small, knowing snort.

That slightly raised chin, that proud little expression—

Was also super, super cute.

…