The person who likes me is a yandere.

"No, is that so? I should say there are many female high school students in the school, and there's only one whose face I can't quite remember?"

...I used some inexplicable way to laugh it off.

The fact that Asuna's matter suddenly came out of Sora's mouth made me inexplicably uneasy. Besides, I didn't know Sora's intentions.

"The boys in our class are all making a fuss about how the transfer student is a beautiful girl... and some boys are even turning into thugs demanding to skip a grade."

"That guy might have to repeat a year if he doesn't do something right. What an admirable idiot."

Qiong's hesitation worsened, and she murmured softly, "...transfer student."

"She's my brother's...ex-girlfriend...right?"

"...It seems so."

"Have you spoken to the transfer student?"

"Hmm, I guess so."

Qiong's gaze fell on the small dish of stewed potatoes and meat. Her slender shoulders trembled uncontrollably.

Chapter Twenty-Two: Heart Soars

After school, the beautiful girl and I walked side by side through the school gate.

For an ordinary male high school student, this was a miracle of leaving school, a blessing from the emperor that filled him with awe and trepidation.

If anyone thinks calling this a miracle is too exaggerated, then that person is probably not an ordinary high school boy.

As Asuna and I were strolling along the road, baseball team members jogging past us.

The familiar shouts of "Hey, yo, hey, yo" have turned into "Heave-ho, heave-ho." Perhaps it was the sight of me walking home with the beautiful transfer student that swayed them.

"...Are all the people on this school's baseball team psychopaths?"

"It's just that they're emotionally fragile. Witnessing a pinch hitter hit a walk-off home run and that made them waver."

"...Um, before we go to Qianyu's house, could you please come with me to the river?"

Judging by this plot development, being able to gaze at a Class I river (author's note: Class I rivers are those designated by the Japanese Rivers Law as being of vital importance to Japan's national security and economy) with a beautiful girl and discuss unanswerable youthful topics would probably become a bittersweet memory. But reality is…

"I hide my tent, sleeping bag, and other items that I use when camping in the wild in bushes of suitable size."

It truly is a genuine, bittersweet memory, filled with the scent of fresh grass.

We retrieved a set of camping gear from the bushes by the river and arrived at my house after 5:30 p.m.

A two-story building that's three years old might be an ideal home for a family of four. But for me and my sister living together... it's definitely still an ideal home. Simply put, it's a good house.

Hinata, who was supposed to cook today, should have already gone home, right?

But I can't step into my house right now.

"...We've arrived."

That's because Asuna is right next to me.

"First, I'll go and tell Sora that she has a new roommate. If I suddenly go in with Asuna, Sora will be quite surprised."

Even if I were to ask Sora to live with me on my own, she would still be startled.

"So, although I'm sorry, could you please wait here for a moment while I discuss this with Qiong? I don't think it will take too long."

"Okay, I understand... Please take care of everything."

To reassure the anxious Asuna, I nodded vigorously and opened my front door.

Perhaps noticing the sound from the entryway, I heard light footsteps approaching me from the kitchen.

"Brother, welcome back."

Qiong ran over with a big smile, like a puppy that had been waiting for its owner to come home.

To avoid gossip, Qiong and I didn't say a word to each other at school.

Perhaps due to the reaction, I talked a lot with Qiong at home.

Although I don't know how good the relationship between siblings in their adolescence is in general, given my family's situation—the fact that there are only the two of us siblings in the family probably has an impact—we should be considered to have a relatively good relationship.

"Yes, I'm back."

"I'd like you to try this."

Qiong handed me a small dish containing meat and potatoes.

I thought to myself how lucky she wasn't to have spilled it on the way to the entrance, and then I took a bite. Moving camping gear had left me starving.

"Potato stew with meat...how is it? Will it taste bad...?"

"Look at how hungry I am! I consider this potato stew to be the best!"

"...index finger? One finger?"

Idioms and proverbs are Qiong's weakness.

"Simply put, it means the potato stew with meat is delicious... Um, is this for three people?"

"Brother, really? You want to eat for two by yourself? Hehe, there's a four-person serving."

Was she originally planning to have potato stew for breakfast tomorrow? Anyway, Asuna's dinner is sorted out.

Okay, let me get to the point.

“Qiong—”

"elder brother--"

Their voices overlapped.

"what happened?"

"No, let Qiong speak first. Also, if you're asking whether potato stew needs shichimi togarashi (seven-spice powder), the answer is yes."

"Okay, leave this to me. I've even prepared the yuzu seven-spice powder."

What a virtuous younger sister.

"Sora should really be awarded the Best Little Sister Award. Her brother is very happy."

Qiong used to be a girl who would giggle like a child when I praised her, but...

Today, Qiong seemed to be holding back from going to the toilet, fidgeting and hesitant, as if she wanted to say something but couldn't.

"Qiong?"

"...A transfer student came to my brother's class today, right?"

"Yes, yes."

"The transfer student...is she a very...beautiful girl?"

"No, is that so? I should say there are many female high school students in the school, and there's only one whose face I can't quite remember?"

...I used some inexplicable way to laugh it off.

The fact that Asuna's matter suddenly came out of Sora's mouth made me inexplicably uneasy. Besides, I didn't know Sora's intentions.

"The boys in our class are all making a fuss about how the transfer student is a beautiful girl... and some boys are even turning into thugs demanding to skip a grade."

"That guy might have to repeat a year if he doesn't do something right. What an admirable idiot."

Qiong's hesitation worsened, and she murmured softly, "...transfer student."

"She's my brother's...ex-girlfriend...right?"

"...It seems so."

"Have you spoken to the transfer student?"

"Hmm, I guess so."

Qiong's gaze fell on the small dish of stewed potatoes and meat. Her slender shoulders trembled uncontrollably.

Chapter Twenty-Three: Speechless

Qiong's gaze fell on the small dish of stewed potatoes and meat. Her slender shoulders trembled uncontrollably.

Did my brother mention Sora or anything like that to the transfer student?

We talked a lot about Qiong's unlucky constitution. But I couldn't tell her the truth.

No, it wasn't mentioned.

Qiong raised her head.

"Really? You really didn't mention Qiong at all? Not at all?"

"Yes. I'm sorry, but not at all."

"Oh, I see. I see."

A look of relief spread across Qiong's face. What could have put her at ease?

I remembered the question I wanted to ask Kyō.

"Oh, right, Sora."

"What's wrong, brother?" Qiong's voice rang out lightly.

"My girlfriend of four years, Asuna... doesn't Sora know her?"

"Ugh." Qiong rubbed her face.

"I think that means..."

Qiong suddenly looked like a seriously ill patient, her face deathly pale.

I continued.

"I have a past that even Qiong doesn't know. Even if siblings have a very good relationship, there will still be things they don't know. I must be a very shy person, which is why I kept our relationship a secret from you."

Qiong was so surprised that her eyes widened as big as copper bells.

"...That's right!"