The person who likes me is a yandere.

The somber atmosphere that had been so intense until now, resembling that of a seriously ill patient, vanished without a trace, and Qiong returned to her original energetic self.

"Brother, you're really tight-lipped! I had no idea you had a girlfriend!"

Although Sora's tone was harsh, almost like she was angry, her face looked as relaxed as if a heavy weight had been lifted from her chest. Was it just my imagination?

"I was shocked to learn that my brother has a beautiful teenage girlfriend... Some boys in my class are saying that my brother might be using some kind of secret aphrodisiac."

"That person was a classmate of Qiong's? I know, a boy I've never met before talked to me and asked me to sell him the medicine."

"Then you must know about this too. It seems someone organized an assassination squad to take the head of the transfer student's crush..."

"This is the first time I've heard of this. Who is the captain?"

"The person who does strength training after school wearing a T-shirt that says 'female superiority over male' is your brother's teacher, right?"

That sports accountant guy really should be reported to the education committee.

"Don't worry, I won't be taken care of by those guys. I won't leave Qiong to die."

"...It's really...worrying."

The sports accountant does indeed possess the danger of being easily consumed by jealousy and readily disregarding ethical principles (is he really a teacher?). Furthermore, he has developed considerable arm strength through daily stamina training. If he were to take one's life, he would certainly be a formidable opponent. However, this is not what Qiong is worried about.

"...Will my brother and that transfer student...date again...?"

"Well, that's right. Should I say I can't say anything right now, or... it happened so suddenly, I'm quite surprised too."

"........."

Every time I'm stared at by the silent Qiong with her big eyes, I get extremely flustered.

"No, no, but I think it's a good thing to interact with transfer students. And even if her memories haven't returned, she seems to tell me about the past that I didn't know."

"...Brother's memories...the past."

Anxiety appeared in Qiong's eyes.

"...Sora will tell her brother. Sora is the little sister, so she knows a lot about her brother. What's it like when he's at home...what kind of friends he has, and so on..."

"Thank you, Qiong, for telling me so much about my past. I'm very grateful to you."

Sora is a very devoted younger sister. Recounting someone's entire past to another person requires patience. I've completely forgotten both the happy memories Sora shared with me and the important ones. Sora, while continuing to confront that empty reality, explains the past to me.

I prayed fervently as I asked her to tell me about my past.

I pray that I can regain my memory.

However, no matter what memories I hear, my memories show no tendency to return.

Perhaps I'll never be able to recall the memories of those close to me before my teenage years. But that's okay. The past is important, but the future is more important, and the most important thing is the present.

This is the answer I've arrived at after facing memory loss for over three years. Perhaps I'm being too optimistic.

But my name is Qianyu.

Life has its good and bad moments.

Everyone has their strengths and weaknesses, no matter what kind of person they are.

Just accept all of this and live life naturally.

This is the message my mother, who has vanished beyond the realm of memory, instilled in my name.

Both parents died in an accident.

Loss of memory.

My younger sister has a special constitution.

Life has its share of bad things, and I also feel it's a bit too exciting... but I'll live in the present. Anyway, even if I wanted to be led by the nose by the past, there isn't such a past.

This is the only way I can live.

That was what I originally thought. But since my ex-lover reappeared, I can no longer ignore the 'past'.

Qiong lowered her head, raised her eyes to look at me, and called out tremblingly, "Brother."

"...There's something I'd like to ask you, brother."

"Okay, go ahead and say it."

"Please, brother, don't rush to talk to that transfer student! Let Qiong judge what kind of person the transfer student is."

"Assessment... what are you planning to do? Ask around for everyone's opinions of the transfer student?"

"No, Sora will see her true character for herself. In short, if I spend a lot of time with her, I'll know what kind of person she is, right? Sora is thinking about whether she should go see her after every get out of class."

"...Um, does Sora want to have some interaction with the transfer student?"

"Hmm. Since she might just put on a show at school, I'd like to spend as much time with her as possible in my private time."

"I have a request, which would be perfect for Sora, who wants to spend time with the transfer student in her private time..."

"what's up?"

"...Can the transfer student live with us?"

After I said it, I realized just how illogical this request really was.

Qiong was speechless.

Chapter Twenty-Four: The Great Abnormality

Qiong was speechless.

—Huh?

I saw tears welling up in Qiong's eyes and I couldn't help but panic.

Where is the antidote?

Did I hear wrong? Is anyone being poisoned?

"Brother has a secret, strange medicine, right? Brother used it on himself, didn't he? That's why he said such terrifying things, isn't it?"

Sister, do you even think your brother is a drug dealer?

"I have never taken any medicine other than Pabron (Author: Pabron is a well-known Japanese cold medicine)."

"Pabron? How is that different from Hiropon?"

"Completely different, okay! Pabron is a cold medicine!"

Is Hiropon a stimulant?

“Sora, listen carefully. Actually, there’s something about that Asuna…”

I told her the story of the high school girl who had been sleeping outdoors for the past two days because the apartment she was supposed to move into was burned to the ground and the landlord ran away with her deposit and key money.

"...It's a truly amazing story...it's so pitiful."

"Yeah, so. I want her to stay here until she decides on her next place to stay."

Qiong started fidgeting again.

"...Brother, if Asuna-san comes here..."

"how?"

"...Are you planning to sleep together?"

"What are you saying out of the blue? How could that be!"

"Because you're ex-lovers... Otherwise, would you be dancing face-to-face?"

"What exactly is Qiong's impression of couples? And when is the right time to do something like this?"

"If my brother, Sora, and Asuna all live together... will this house become a family of four?"

"I won't have children to add to my family!"

Qiong stared straight into my eyes as if trying to see through my true feelings.

"Even if Asuna Yuuki comes, it won't change much."

Adding a roommate would make it impossible to avoid changes, right?

"But... if I live with my beautiful ex-boyfriend Asami-senpai... then brother won't be able to... hug Sora anymore, right?"

Qiong's expression darkened as she asked the question. She probably doesn't like being hugged.

"No, I'm really sorry... Um, I'll probably still hug you. How should I put it, should I say it's become a habit?"

Thinking about it now, it was pretty stupid. I actually told my sister in advance that I was going to hug her.

"Is my brother an idiot? Seriously, he's such a pervert! Generally speaking, brothers shouldn't hug their sisters... You shouldn't hug them, right?!"

Sora's face turned bright red. It seems I've angered her. Oh no, if I don't please her, I won't be able to get her to agree to let Asuna move in.

Speaking of ways to make Sora happy, it has to be pudding, right? I have to buy some pudding right away. As I got up thinking this…

"Asuna-senpai is homeless and it's tough for her. She can stay here until she finds a new place to live!"

As Qiong said this, her face had returned to its usual cheerful smile. Strange, she seemed angry just a moment ago?

"Um, do I need to go buy pudding?"

"Pudding? What does that mean?"

"By the way, why did you suddenly agree to live together?"

"...That's because Sora also wants to get to know Asuna-senpai."

"Anyway, I'm so glad you agreed to live together... Actually, I've already brought Asuna Yuuki to the entrance. I'll invite her in right away."

"Huh? She's already here? Or rather, you've been making her wait?"

Ignoring the flustered and disorganized Qiong, I opened the front door.

Chapter Twenty-Five: Embarrassment

After bringing Asuna home, the first thing they did was decide how to address each other.

Asuna was perhaps too polite by nature, so she addressed Sora as "Sora-sama" in a very serious manner.