Ore ga Suki nano wa Imouto dakedo Imouto ja Nai

Volume 1 Chapter 4

No matter what happens, I am your big brother!

Part 1:

"Morning already, huh?"

Looking at the sky changing it’s colorsoutside my window, I muttered these words in a dark tone. It was acertain morning on a school-free day and I was falling into a feelingof despair after having pulled several all-nighters. The reason forthat was obviously the blank white document on the notebook screen infront of me.

"The deadline for the next Ryuuseinovel contest is in another 4 days huh…."

..Even so, my progress is almost zeropercent as one can clearly see…..No, I get it. If I don’t writeanything, I could already give up now, that’s plain as day. No matterwhat happened, I always managed to finish something for the deadline.This time didn’t work out that easily though. Everything I started towrite on, after a short while Suzuka’s novel came flying into myhead. Always when I decided to keep on writing, before I realized it,the work already went into the [Rejected] folder. In the end, Iwouldn’t go as far as saying that it’d be impossible to catch up withSuzuka’s novel but it still put me in a difficult situation.

"Really….what exactly is the secretto the fun of her novel…."

I don’t even remember how often Imuttered these words. Still, I knew better than anyone that Iwouldn’t get an answer for my quest-

"What secret are you talking about?"

"Waaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhh?!"

After hearing a sudden voice frombehind me, I almost fell of my chair while turning aroundfrantically.

"S-S-S-Suzuka?! You….why!"

Barely holding onto the chair, I sawSuzuka staring at me.

"I came to wake you up becausebreakfast is ready. What’s up with this over-the-top reaction?"

"N-No! It’s nothing! And don’t justenter my room without knocking first!"

"I did. And I called you countlesstimes as well. I had no other choice since you didn’t answer me."

I-Is that so? I didn’t catch that atall.

"Well, it’s great that you’re awakeand all but what are you doing this early on a school-free day? Andwhat exactly did you mean with that secret thing-"

"Now that you say it! I wasspeculating about the reasons why the things called beautiful girlsgo mad at boys all of a sudden and the principle of that world orsomething like that!"

(TLC: probably talking about tsundere Iguess?)

"Why do you have to think about theseperverted things, even in the morning.", she said while her gazechanging into one that you’d use to look at filth but I didn’t havethe time to let it get to me.

That’s because I can’t exactly tell herthe truth about me wanting to find out why her light novel is sointeresting.

"D-Don’t bother thinking about it.Rather than that, you said that breakfast was ready, right?!"

"Yes…."

Deciding that I needed to calm downfirst and foremost, I accepted the facial expression that wasdirected towards me. Still, after letting out such a halfheartedreply, she didn’t seem to have any intention of leaving the room.

"Uhmmm, Suzuka-san? Is there anythingelse…?"

"No….Since Onii-chan is alreadyawake, I thought I might as well ask him for advice."

Unusually, Suzuka’s appearance somehowlooked down, or even depressed. And her expression didn’t really emita lot of happiness. Still, when she said advice, it must be aboutlight novels….but what else might she need an advice on?

"Your deadline is getting prettyclose, remember? And you still need my advice on something?"

"Yes. I know that I don’t have a lotof time left until the deadline but there still is something I feelunsatisfied about."

So you’re trying to hold out until thefinal day? Really, just how much ambition do you have….? I don’teven have any progress I could boast about….

"And, I went to ask Shinozaki-san foradvice again, When I did that…."

"When you did that…?"

For some reason, she stopped her wordsthere. Her whole actions seem weird, really. I couldn’t feel her[I’ll do it] attitude at all today. On the contrary, she reallyprojects a feeling of not wanting to do something.

"What is it? Ah, did she saysomething weird agai-"

"No, that’s not it. She gave me anadvice like this….How about making a new heroine appear…shesaid."

"A new heroine…?"

I couldn’t keep myself from repeatingher words after hearing this outrageous advice.

"….Yes. Apparently, to make a lotof people interested, I would be better off adding a few originalgirls. Like that, she advised me to add another heroine besides thelittle sister."

Truth be told, that really was a goodidea since this is light novel were talking about. Especially inlight novels, having multiple heroines is almost a must-have.

"Well…. I feel like this is thefirst advice that might be really useful."

While I was contemplating, Suzukaseemed like her mood had gotten even worse for some reason.

"Does Onii-chan also think that a newheroine is necessary?"

"Hm? Yeah, I guess so, since we’retalking about light novels, it really might be a good idea to addsome variety.", I answered, having a decent knowledge of lightnovels.

However, in that moment I got anuncomfortable feeling in my chest. Since my brain cells were stillhalf-asleep I couldn’t make out the reason for that.

"….I see…"

Barely squeezing out her words, Suzukalowered her eyebrows. For some reason, her face looks really scaredthough?! Why does it feel like I stepped on a land mine just now?!

"Onii-chan…you idiot. But I stillwant to get praised by Onii-chan…."

"U-Uhm, Suzuka-san?"

Suzuka seemed to be muttering somethingbut I couldn’t quite catch it because of her small voice. The onlything that clearly connected to my ears was the word idiot. Maybebecause I hear that word on a daily-basis. While glaring at me,Suzuka sighed and continued.

"Still, this is a problem. Even ifyou say that, I have no idea on how to go about adding a new heroine.What character I should write and the such."

"I-Is that so? I got it, if it’ssomething like that, I’ll do my best to help you out. I’ve read morethan a dozen light novels until now. I have confidence in characterknowledge.", I said, doing my best to cheer up Suzuka.

I wanted got some favor points afterall this stuff that happened recently. So, the most important thingabout heroines is the balance, right? So, I only have to think aboutmoe stuff that’s cool lately and the answer will come natur—"

(TLC: moe = cute, adorable stuff. "Whenyour heart gets a boner")

"……….."

"…………………"

Thinking about it for a second,literally nothing came flying into my head.

"Don’t tell me you can’t think ofanything?"

She seemed to be saying "After sayingall these ridiculous words?" and I couldn’t help but startsweating, being faced with such criticism.

I couldn’t possibly go "Ahhh, I can’treally think of anything~ Ahahah!" without risking my breakfastgoing to ruin because of her bad mood.

Wondering if I couldn’t come up withanything in the spurt of the moment, I forced my still lacking braincells to work their hardest. Normally, this wouldn’t be a big deal atall….but I couldn’t just turn down my little sister while she wasclearly suffering like that.

"Ah! T-That’s right!"

At that moment, I finally thought of anidea. If I can’t think of anything, then we just have to createsomething! Confidently, I turned around to face Suzuka.

"In times like these, you should justask for someone’s opinion!"

Truth be told, this really isn’t such agreat advice…but it’s the best plan I could come up after forcingmy brain to work.

Part 2:

"You called me to ask for adviceregarding your second volume, you say? What’s up with that?! I’m nothappy at all about that! How can you say that after brutally smashingmy pride to pieces?!"

"Sensei’s ambitious nature reallysurprises me, desu! Still, to think that I would be useful forSensei’s work, I’m really happy, desu!"

"Onii-chan….. what is this allabout?"

While sitting on my bed, Suzuka shootscold gazes at me. At the moment, I had Mai and Double Peace-sensei inmy room as well because I called them a few minutes prior. Since theboth of us couldn’t come up with something, we asked a third partyfor advice. Thinking that calling them would be a good idea, Iimmediately executed my plan but—

"Let’s see….Nagami Yuu is a supersadist…..that looks down on other people just like a demon….yup",said Mai while taking notes in her stalker-book.

"What should I do, desu? Should Ijust draw an ero-picture in your wall, desu?", said DoublePeace-sensei with a beaming smile.

"Maybe I invited the wrong people…"

"You might be right. Both of themhave their own delusions on the advice you originally asked themfor.", said Suzuka to me with a small voice, making me rememberjust what exactly happened with them.

N-No, no, I retract my statement! Wedidn’t make the wrong choice…! I mean, Mai is the superprofessional light novel writer Enryuu Homura after all and DoublePeace-sensei is a pro too……in making eroge…but still! They areexperts in their own class. They are bound to give us some goodadvice, I’m sure of it! My decision is correct!

While I was about to deliver my trainof thought to Suzuka, I noticed her cold gaze. I have to make this asuccess or her mood will never improve it seems.

"Uhm, like I told you before, Ithought of having a new heroine enter the stage in my second volumebut it just won’t click in me on what heroine to construct., you see.That’s why I thought that hearing a lot of different opinions wouldbe useful."

"Yuu, you… Thinking about stufflike that is what makes you a pro. And why ask me of all people inthe first place? Asking your rival for help, do you have no pride atall?"

"Ehm, are we rivals?"

"Ugh…! Was I the only one thatthought of us as rivals?! That sort of attitude really pisses meoff….! B-But, isn’t it kind of cool…?", said Mai with her facegetting gradually redder while taking notes.

I feel like I already know exactly whatshe’s writing without taking a look.

"I see, it’s about a new heroine,desu. I look forward to that! If it’s Sensei we’re talking about, I’msure that the new character will be pretty erotic as well! It willsurely advance my imagination!"

"I’ll say this just in case but I’mnot about to create a heroine for an eroge, okay?!"

"You’re really naive, Sensei! Lightnovel heroines and eroge heroines have no differences, desu! They areequally the playthings of the boys of this world, desu!"

"That statement has way too manyproblems!! Apologize to all the people that generally like thesecharacters!!!"

Ugh….she’s supposed to be apro….supposed to be….

"Well,I got the gist of it. Still,Yuu, you only called me because of that? I’ll say it upfront but Igot my own deadline as well and I’m cutting it pretty close, you see?I have to review the manuscript for the 4^th volume ofSukamaga after all."

"W-Well, I feel sorry about that….I’ll make up for it…but wait…huh? You came rushing the instant Icontacted you, right?"

"T-That’s obvious, isn’t it? Did youthink that I would decline an invitation from Yuu or something?!Researching you has a higher priority after all, so I can’t helpit!", she said, her cheeks getting flushed.

Really….if only she wasn’t astalker……

"I also had some work to do regardingeroge but I abandoned that, desu! Helping my savior, Sensei, is moreimportant after all!"

"Abandoned….is that reallyalright?"

"It’s totally fine, desu! Postponingthe release date of an eroge is something that happens a lot afterall!", she said with a relaxed attitude.

Is that really fine….It’s probablynot fine at all, right?!

"And Yuu, I’ve been wondering for awhile now but who the hell is this blonde beauty here?"

"Ah, that’s right. This is the personthat draws the illustration for my novel, Double Peace-sensei. And,Sensei, this is my classmate and professional light novel writerHimuro Mai."

Completly forgetting to introduce themto each other, I quickly finished the introductions.

"Nice to meet you, desu! And Sensei!My pen name is Ahegao Double Peace-sensei, okay? The ahegao part isreally important after all, so don’t just forget that."

"No that’s pretty much impossible soI wish you’d go easy on me there…."

"Ohh, so you’re that famousillustrator…My pen name is Enryuu Homura but you can call me Mai ifyou prefer. You, too, have it heard huh..being called here sosuddenly."

"No, no, it’s totally alright, sinceI’m the number one partner of Sensei after all. No matter where I am,I’ll come flying here in an instant, desu!"

"Number one partner…you say?"

Somehow I felt like a vain popped inMai’s head.

"Yes! Since I’m his illustrator,we’re basically creating the novel together and just a short whileago, he even asked me for advice, desu!"

"W-What does she mean by that, Yuu?!What’s this advice about?! Why didn’t you tell me about that?!"

"Well, that was a coincidence when wewent to Akiba a while ago…."

I wonder if you can even call that"asking for advice"….

"You mean when you suddenly cut myphone call right?! Immediately after that, I made my way to Akiba andsearched for you for ages!"

"Eh….? Searching…..without a realaim?"

"Of course not!!! Naturally, I markeddown every shop you went too, including the light novel and gameshops, the maid cafe and so on…"

Wait. Why do you mark down somethinglike that?! I don’t remember ever telling you that?! Is it only me ordid she get better at stalking me?!

"And I thought you suddenlydisappeared! Why did you suddenly leave me behind?!"

If she says it like that with tears inher eyes, she really pushes me against a wall here.

"How would I know of that?! I can’thelp it, can I! And I already apologized for the thing with the phonecall! Why are you getting mad like that!"

"I’m still your number one fan,aren’t it?! It should be only natural for you to ask me first if youneed help!"

"I don’t understand that all! Andthat number one fan thing is only self-proclaimed right?!"

"Ohh, so Mai is also a real-lifetsundere, desu? Around Sensei are a lot of tsunderes I see!"

"I am not such a tsundere, though."

After I was declaring my statement toMai, Double Peace-sensei and Suzuka had a weird conversation.

"Hey, I’ll just say this bluntly butbesides me, there’s nobody else in this world that really likes hisnovel! That’s why don’t call yourself his number one partner!"

"That’s pretty confident, desu!Still, I also really like this novel, so I won’t just give up theseat of this number one fan, desu!"

"Well said…Then, the one who’llclear up Yuu’s worries will be the true number one!"

"A competition it is, desu! I likeit! I’m getting excited, desu!"

In that instant, I felt sparks flyingbetween the two, Mai with a serious face and Double Peace-sensei withher radiant smiling face. How did it come to this?

"Ugh….That huuuuuuuuuuuuuurts!Suzuka?!"

All of a sudden, Suzuka pinched myback, forcing me to turn around.

"…..I’m sure Onii-chan feels reallyhappy, having such zealous fans like these."

"Actually, they are your fans, aren’tthey?!"

Whose fault do you think this is?!Damn….this isn’t a flow where we’d get a good advice out of it.

"And, what was it? A new heroine?Before starting, what kind of role should this new girl have?"

"Uhmmm"

As I turned around, trying to ask forhelp, Suzuka just looked at me with a face that said "Please don’tlook over here."

"She doesn’t necessarily havesomething like a role. I have decided on the story outline afterall….is what you told me, right? Onii-chan?"

"What’s that supposed to mean? Sobasically, she’s just a heroine in name but has no clear andimportant role. Is that it?"

"What do you mean by important role?"

"I’m done with this really, you don’teven know that, nevertheless trying to be a professional light novelauthor….Now listen, heroines only have meaning correlated to theprotagonist, right? They are characters that have the potential tofall in love with the protagonist but always hide it. Of course, thereaders always expect that, so the writer has to always keep that inmind or it’s no good."

"Ah, I see."

"Sometimes the ones treated assub-heroines go and win against the main-heroines, or the ones thatkeep on clinging unto the protagonist until the very end, right?Since they had a possibility from the very start, they are popularwith the readers."

I only muttered "I-I see." as acomment to Mai’s explanation. I always had some sort of image beforebut being told in clear words like this really made something clickinside my head. You might say what you want, she still is a pro afterall. Mai also seemed to have understood that.

"Hehe, seems like you understand itquite well. Keeping these words in your head, creating a new heroineshouldn’t pose that much of a problem anymore.", she said, seemingquite proud of herself.

"Well, I get the gist of it but Istill don’t quite understand the crucial parts to making thecharacter."

"That doesn’t matter in theslightest. Besides the fact that you shouldn’t just make a characterannoying, anything goes really. You can create a tsundere, a kuudere,an Ojou-sama, an older girl, a loli, literally anything goes."

(TLC: kuudere = cold, only showemotions for protagonist very seldomly

loli = little girl, that’s whylolicons = pedophiles)

"Well, even if you say anythinggoes…. I still feel a bit lost."

"That’s your job as a writer, right?Still, there are some methods to not make any grave mistakes….And?Want me to tell you? You, the super popular author Towano Chikai,will beg me? Hehehe"

Somehow it feels like Mai just got offreally hard on that one.

"Ahhh I can’t help it then! Since I’myour number one biggest fan, I will do you the favor! Listen, thatmethod is actually that y–"

"Ah, I understand, desu! You justhave to write a character that you think is cute, Sensei!"

"H-Hey?! I was about to say thatthough?!", said Mai after being cut by Double Peace-sensei withslightly watery eyes.

She really hates losing huh.

" Cough W-Well that’sbasically it. You just have to create a character that you’dpersonally think [Wow she’s cute]."

"Is it really something basic likethat?"

"It’s not that simple, I’ll let youknow. You never know what the readers are looking for after all.Well, researching the popular heroines at the moment might be anoption but I think it’s also important to transfer your feelings of acharacter as a writer over to your readers for them to come to likethe heroine for example."

I-I see. I remember reading novelswhere I felt that [Heat] as you might call it.

"Because of that, I will have youtell me all about the heroines you liked so far!"

"So it was all just for yourresearch?!", I retorted as Mai opened her notebook.

"N-No, you’re wrong! This isn’tbecause I thought that this might be a good idea to track down thetypes of girls that you like or anything?!"

"You’re really easy to read, youknow?!"

"I came here to give you advice, soof course I’d answer that!"

Ugh… she’s kind of right aboutthat….

"Sensei’s fetishes?! That’s veryinteresting, desu!", said Double Peace-sensei, jumping onto theconversation.

Still, to change [favorite type ofgirls] to [fetishes] is a bit questionable if you ask me?! Wait, thisisn’t even the time to think about that. I have to fix the flow ofthis conversation! I’m the stand-in after all, so asking me for mytastes is not important right now and—

"Yes, you’re right. I am also quiteinterested."

"You too, Suzuka?!"

Like I asked before, how in the helldoes this help your research?!

"Well theeeen, since this is a goodopportunity, let’s give our best to find out the tastes of Sensei,desu!", Double Peace-sensei said while tightly forming a fist.

Shortly after that Mai and Suzukajoined in with an „Yeah!"

Of course, I tried my best to rejecttheir plans but nobody felt the urge to listen to me…..Hey, hey,this is still my room you know….

"And, what now? What type of girl doyou like, Yuu? I-Is it girls that are the same age and same classafter all like I think they are?"

"W-Well, even if you ask me that sosuddenly…."

…….Truth be told, I am a residentof the otaku world. I’ve read a lot of light novels and encounteredcountless beauty characters so of course I have my likes anddislikes. Being asked so straightforward still puts me in anuncomfortable spot though. After all—

"………" "……… stare""…… excited"

Being stared at from three differentgirls doesn’t make it easier to speak at all. I can feel a completelydifferent pressure from when you’d talk with other boys about thattopic.

"Now, now, Yuu, if you only keepquiet then I can’t collect any data on that."

"So you really don’t have anyintention to hide it after all!", I raised my voice but I gotinterrupted when I wanted to continue.

"Can’t help it I guess, desu. Hemight be trying to deceive us after all."

"Since this is Onii-chan, even ifhe’d try to do it, we would be able to see that instantly."

The other two quickly commented with an"That’s true yeah."

How is this becoming a commonunderstanding so quickly, I wonder?

"Then what should we do? Should wesearch through his room for clues?"

"Your way of thinking really isturning into that of a stalker lately!"

"D-Don’t say stalker! I respect yourprivacy, you know? You won’t even realize when I’m following you andsuch!"

"Why don’t you just stop it alltogether then?!"

"Now, now, you too, please calmyourselves down, desu. I too would like to see the porn magazines ofSensei but I have a better idea at the moment, desu.", she said asshe tapped on a bag in her hand.

"Using this, finding out thisfetishes won’t pose any problems at all, desu!"

"Now that you say it, I was wonderingbefore but what exactly is in that bag?"

Looking at it, the content seemedfairly big. The bag seemed to be fit for long-distance trips.

"Fufufufu, I thought that somethinglike this might happen, so I brought it with me, desu! It seems myprecognition was spot on. Well then, little sister, might I use yourbathroom for a short while?"

"Eh? Ah, yes. Just go down the stairsand you’ll find it on the right side….", Suzuka answered with aperplexed face.

Going "I’ll excuse myself then.",Double Peace-sensei left the room, carrying the aforementioned bag.

"What’s this about, I wonder?", Iwondered and it seemed like Mai and Suzuka thought the same thing.

Part 3:

After a short while, DoublePeace-sensei returned. But, in that moment, we were all at a loss forwords.

"How is it, desu? Does Sensei likecosplay like this, desu?", she said with a smile, wearing a bunnygirl outfit.

The bunny suit elegantly followed herbody outline, her well-proportioned legs were wrapped in black webbedtights and from her golden-colored hair rose the most important itemsof a bunny girl suit, the rabbit ears.

"W-Wha-?"

While I was admiring the sight in frontof me, Double Peace-sensei started posing while asking "Like this,desu?"

Because she was often leaning forwardsdoing her poses, the valley of her chests was clearly visible to mefrom time to time, attacking me with a fiendish appeal and I was—

"What exactly are you so fascinatedby, Onii-chan….?"

All of a sudden I was called back toreality by Suzuka’s words and glare. Hearing her cold words, I felt ashiver down my spine.

"N-No, I wasn’t really….!"

"Ohoho, so Sensei was captivated byme, desu? Please, look even more, desu!"

As Double Peace-sensei said thatwithout reading the atmosphere like always, Suzuka’s stare onlyintensified.

"W-Wait a second there! What clothesare you wearing?!", said Mai while glaring at Double Peace-senseiwith flushed cheeks.

"Eh? It’s a bunny girl suit though?"

"I can see that! I’m asking why youwear them!"

"To research the fetishes of Senseiof course, desu! By wearing them, we can find out his likes anddislikes judging his reaction, desu!"

"Still, just because of that…."

"Of course I’m embarrassed myself butbunny girl suits are pretty much a standard affair in eroge. And Ithought that Sensei might enjoy something like this!"

"Wha-?! F-Fair enough, it’s veryapparent that Yuu likes bunny girl suits but…."

"Wait! Don’t just assume all mytastes like that!"

Well….it’s not like I dislike bunnygirls though….

"Right, desu? I saw Sensei’s naturalreactions at the interview as well, it was very clear that you didyour best! Well then, I think it’s decided that the next heroine willbe a bunny girl, desu!"

"Don’t say any unnecessary things!How would I even introduce a bunny girl as a heroine?!"

(TLC: Nani?! Is this a Seishun ButaYarou wa Bunny Girl no Yume wo Minai reference?! [I highly recommendit btw while we’re at it.])

"That’s not a problem, desu! Justmake her enter the classroom as a transfer student wearing a bunnygirl suit!"

"Not a problem, huh?!"

"Certainly, that might be apossibility."

"Mai?! Why are you of all peopleagreeing?!"

"That sort of development isn’t thatrare in light novels, you know? How about you make the protagonistsee illusions or something like that?"

"Making the protagonist see thetransfer student with a bunny girl suit is a bit over the topthough?!"

"Ohh, so Mai understands it."

"I am a professional light novelwriter after all. You’re not bad yourself, though it’s kind offrustrating.

All of a sudden these two were on thesame wavelength and I didn’t get a single thing at all.

"Onii-chan really is a hopelesspervert after all.", she muttered, looking at me with nonchalanteyes.

Shit…. Since when did I turn intosomething so horrible…?!

"Never mind that! I can’t justintroduce a bunny girl like that!"

"Ehhhh? Why, desu? Oh, might it bethat there is something else that fits your taste even better?"

"That’s not the problem here!!!"

"No, that totally is the problem,desu. We are researching the types of girls you like after all."

Ugh…Why did it turn out like this…

"I understand, desu. Since it’s cometo this, let’s try out other cosplay to find out the attribute helikes the most! I brought a lot of cosplay clothes with me afterall!"

"W-Wait a moment, please! So thecontents of that bag were…."

"Yes, desu! I brought a lot of cutecosplay clothes with me from the company that we bought forreference! We thought that something like this might happen, yousee?"

"Something like this is whatexactly?!"

"I can’t really explain it, desu.It’s the sixth sense of a woman you might say!"

The sixth sense of a woman…..? Howfrightening!

"W-Wait a second. I get your finalgoal of finding out Yuu’s tastes but there isn’t really a reason tocosplay, right? Even if it’s the illustrator that’s doing it—"

"No, no, seeing his reaction livelike this is much more convincing, desu!"

"But still, cosplay…."

"Ahhh, no need to worry, desu! SinceI am his number one fan, I will take up the duty upon myself!Normally, I don’t do cosplay myself but if it’s for Sensei, I will domy best, desu!"

"W-What did you just say…..?!",said Mai while her body was visibly shaking of anger.

"…..Yes. Yes that’s right. Itotally forgot that this was a competition. Hey, you should have moreclothes right? I wonder if I could borrow some…."

"H-Hey! What are you saying?!"

"You be quiet, Yuu! I can’t afford to lose here!”

Why are your eyes so serious all of asudden?!

"Ohh, so Mai is fired up as well,desu! Why of course! I’ll lend you as many as you want! The first onewho’ll make him madly fall in love wins, desu!"

"Yeah, I don’t mind. Since I’m hisnumber one fan, I can’t afford to lose here! Suzuka-san, I’ll borrowyour bathroom too."

"If you want to change, the toilet isa bit…..How about you change in my room, it’s right next to thisone."

Going "Thanks!", both Mai andDouble Peace-sensei left the room.

"H-How did it come to this?"

"Huff…..It’s Onii-chan’s faultbecause he’s a pervert. To basically stare at them like this…."

"No, no, it was an irresistible forceor something…! It’s not like I like the unparalleled bunny girlsuit or anything like that!"

"Onii-chan you idiot….", Suzukasaid while breaking our eye contact.

Ugh, did you give up on me completelythis time..? As I muttered these words in my brain, DoublePeace-sensei entered the room again.

"Now, now, how about this, desu?"

"Ugh…"

The cosplay this time was that of acheerleader. While the level of exposure dropped from before, hershort skirt combo with her rolled up shirt wasn’t any less powerful.Maybe because she was a full-fleshed foreigner with correspondinglooks, I almost screamed "It’s the real deal!" while admiring it.

"A cheerleader outfit is always asafe option as well, desu! Judging from your reaction, my pick iscorrect! Your face really gives away your hot feelings, desu!"

"Can you not just read weird thingsout of my expression.", I forced myself to voice my retort but itdidn’t have any strength in it since I couldn’t keep my eyes away.

"H-Hey, can you finally move out ofthe way please…?"

Suddenly, I heard Mai’s voice. AsDouble Peace-sensei stepped aside, I could see the clothes of Mai aswell.

"Y-You?! T-This….!"

"W-What about it? It’s not like I’membarrassed or anything! L-Look at me for your heart’s content! Atyour number one fan!"

Bushing out her chest while her facewas gradually even more red, she behaved exactly like a devil. Mightone call this bondage? Her underwear was wrapped in black leather,goat horns were coming out from her head, her back was covered bybat-like wings and from her behind emerged a devil’s tail.

"What kind of clothes are youwearing?!"

"I can’t help it, can I?! Youprobably like that as well, don’t you?! I saw a lot of monster girlfantasy light novels lined up on your bookshelf after all!"

"Wha-?! How much did you sniff aroundin my room?!"

"I remembered everything that onetime I was in your room!"

Since she wasn’t conducting any realstalker activities that time, I can’t really retort that. Even thoughI knew that this is really bad, I couldn’t keep my eyes from Mai’sclothes that had a succubus vibe to it. And the view of a red-facedMai visibly shaking from embarrassment didn’t lower the sexiness atall. Additionally, her pose and movement really emphasized her chestin a way that wasn’t good for my heart.

"Y-Yuu? Your eyes are kind off scaryright now….?"

"Ohoo, I didn’t know that yourbreasts were this big Mai! Sensei’s eyes are glued to them, desu!"

"N-No I wasn’t really?!"

"B-Breasts?! W-Where are youlooking?!", she screamed, covering up her chest area with herhands.

Even though she glared at me withupturned eyes, I still thought that she looked cute.

"Now then, please make your choice,desu! Which cosplay is more to your taste, Sensei?"

"E-Even if you ask me to choose…."

"Well, of course it’s me, right? Imean, your eyes were filled with such an intense heat while youlooked at me!"

"No, it will be me, desu! In hismind, Sensei already pushed me down countless times, desu!"

"Can you not say things that make itseem like I’m being looked down upon please?!"

"Since this is a competition, youhave to clearly announce the outcome, desu!"

"Since we’re just waiting on you,hurry up already!"

Being put into a corner like that, Iwas searching for Suzuka, hoping she would help me. In that moment, Inoticed that she wasn’t anywhere to be seen.

"H-Huh? Where is Suzuka–"

In that moment, my line was cut ofbefore I could finish it and,

"……Onii-chan, please look overhere."

Hearing that familiar voice, everyonein the room turned their eyes towards the entrance of my room.Standing there was Suzuka. However, her attire was somethingcompletely unexpected.

"Uhm….but don’t stare toomuch……please…."

Suzuka was wearing gym clothes. Nomatter where one looked, they were just plain white gym clothes. Onthe top part that is…but she was wearing bloomers beneath that.

(TLC: bloomers = gym-like shorts thatthe girls in Japanese schools wear when they got sports classes. Go‘n google it I’d advise ya.)

Her feet were wrapped with blackknee-socks and she was nervously fondling with her hands whilestanding there.

"S-Suzuka-san? Why are you w-wearingthese clothes….?"

"Oho, so the Imouto-san is alsoparticipating in the competition, desu? Imouto-san was already abeauty but it seems to be even more powerful since this is your bigbrother we’re talking about! You are a strong rival, desu!"

"I am, uhm…..since this is aboutcollecting data for Onii-chan after all, I thought that I couldn’tjust put the burden on you two alone….This is also the duty of alittle sister….", she said while sneaking glances over to me fromtime to time.

Looking at this sight I never thoughtI’d see, my power to think was completely taken away from me.

"B-But still, bloomers andknee-socks….?! To think that she would chose the two things thatwouldn’t normally fit together in reality….!?"

"I wouldn’t expect any less, desu!The choice of bloomers that rules over the romanticism of men, howwonderful, desu!"

While I was spacing out, the two ofthem showed admiration.

"Hey, Yuu, what are you spacing outfor…?"

"Ha?! No, I wasn’t really staring ather or anything?!"

"Muu, this is the result, I see. Thegaze on this Imouto-san was the strongest of them all, desu."

"No, I wasn’t really looking at mysister like that—"

"Ugh, yeah alright. Even I can agreeto that after seeing this reaction…"

Hey, Mai! Why are you only honest inthis situation?! Deny it please!

"Never mind that, Imouto-san, why didyou choose these clothes, desu?"

"O-Onii-chan likes these clothesafter all. And he really likes knee-socks."

"I see! So you could clearly pinpointhis likes, desu!"

„Wha–?! Is this the strength of alittle sister?! Did you know this tastes beforehand, Suzuka-san?!"

"Yes. Since Onii-chan likes clothesthat focus on the thighs, it is pretty obvious that he would likeknee-socks. And he likes big brea—–no, it’s nothing. Pretend likeyou didn’t hear that…..Oh, and he likes it when the girls havesmall brea–"

"I-I see! This is some importantinformation!"

"I didn’t expect anything less fromImouto-san! Truly magnificent!"

Why are you two so amazed about all ofthis?! And Suzuka! Why are you looking so happy?! No rather thanthat, why does she know my tastes so clearly!! Ahhhh, forget it,there are so many things I could retort on, I don’t have any energyto do it at all!

"Oh, I almost forgot, desu! This isthe win of Imouto-san. Though it’s frustrating, desu…"

"Muh….B-But, I can’t just acceptthis weird ending! This is just because of the surprise effect! Wedidn’t say that this competition was over with one round, so I demanda second one!"

"I don’t mind. I accept yourchallenge….Ah, of course, this is just for the sake of gatheringdata for Onii-chan as my duty as a little sister, so don’t get anyweird ideas about that."

After that, both of them left the roomagain. Feeling so left out of the current situation, I gave up onstopping this and dropped my shoulders in defeat. A short while afterthat, the contest of cosplays continued.

Goth loli, nurse, china dress, wizard,female knight, cat ears, school swimsuit, idol, office lady, shrinemaiden, nun, etc……

(TLC: Just go and google them, I’msorry but I’m not gonna explain them since most of them are prettyobvious…)

They appeared in a variety of cosplays.Being overpowered by the unreal sight in front of me, my half-asleepbrain cells couldn’t keep up and I ended up being swept along withthe situation. Or it should’ve been until Suzuka appeared before myeyes, wearing maid clothes. At that time, I completely forgot aboutthe other two and basically stared at her. I was thinking "I wonderwhat would happen to me if she’d call me [Goshujin-sama]…"

"O-Onii-chan… Why are you keepingquiet all of a sudden…."

"Muu, I guess that decides it, desu.This is our loss! It wouldn’t be fair to not recognize her victory atthis point!"

"Ugh…this is reallyfrustrating….! I guess information is the utmost principle in thisworld after all! I really have to intensify the research on Yuu, sobe prepared for that!"

Barely listening to her voice, I kepton staring at Suzuka’s maid clothes. Of course, after returning to mysenses, I realized my disgusting acitons in this incident.

Part 4:

"Well then, since we found outSensei’s fetish, the research for the second volume is a hugesuccess, desu!"

After the cosplay contest ended, wewere talking when everyone finished changing into their originalclothes. Double Peace-sensei said that while she was showing awholehearted smile. Since her smiling face was pretty strong initself, I could only answer a weak "T-Thank you very much…."

"Because this is Sensei we’re talkingabout here, the fact that the new heroine will be super duper cute isalready written in stone, desu! Even the imouto character is prettyamazing, I wonder how this will turn out!"

"Yeah, you’re right."

Suddenly, Mai also joined in.

"The imouto heroine already is thispopular, so the new heroine will probably be on the samelevel….Even though it frustrates me."

Was it just my imagination or did shelook a bit happy there?

"It’s not just the imouto that standsout in Yuu’s novel, the big brother is also very cool. When the newheroine appears, that will only strengthen the empathy for him."

"I see! So that was the aim allalong! Just what I would expect, desu!"

"Fufu, it really is a crucial part toadd a new heroine in the second volume of a light novel rabucome!Hey, Yuu? You organized all of this because you thought of that too,right?"

"Eh? A-Ah, yeah."

Being suddenly asked something likethat, I only fumbled some words out in panic. Still, what was thatabout? In that moment again, an uncomfortable feeling was somehowfloating in my chest. I didn’t know why but chest did hurt for aninstant.

"………."

While Suzuka was keeping quiet, Ilooked at her with a complicated expression.

Part 5:

After the two of them returned home,Suzuka and I were discussing about the research of today. Even thoughit was pure chaos, the answer that I received was a clear—-

"….Yes. It was very valuable. Iwill start immediately to put this research into the manuscript."

….Not knowing how exactly this turnedout to be such a good result but as long as the person in question ishappy with it, who am I to disapprove? Though, in that moment,something came to my mind.

"Hey, Suzuka? Are you not feelingwell or something?…"

"What do you mean by that?"

"No, I just got this feeling…."

"That is just your imagination. I amfine. I will excuse myself for now, though."

With these words, Suzuka returned toher room…..What is this? I seriously felt that something withSuzuka was totally out of order.

"Ah, this isn’t the time to worryabout Suzuka though."

Remembering my own situation, I alsoreturned to my own room. Although I was worried, I pushed theseworries away and turned towards my notebook PC, where my manuscriptwas waiting to be continued. I didn’t have any time left either.

Part 6:

Ring ring ring ring, the soundof an incoming call entered my ears.

"…..Mhm? Did I fall asleep…?"

I slowly moved my body. My body wasscreaming for more sleep it seemed.

"Uhm…? What time is it…? No,rather than that, what day is it?"

I checked the date on my notebook PC.Of course, as always there was a white document reflected on thescreen. Ahhh, I remember now, .I fell asleep.

It was a few days after the cosplaycontest. It was a week before the deadline for the contest. Seemslike I didn’t manage to write anything this night either. The feelingof hopelessness slowly crept up to me.

"No, I have to answer the callfirst…."

Checking on my phone, it was a phonecall from Shinozaki-san. I certainly wasn’t in the mood for her usualblabbering but I couldn’t just ignore her either, so I forced myselfto pick up.

"Yaaawn, hello?"

「TowanoChikai-sensei?」

A familiar voice. It sounded kind ofdifferent than usual though.

"What business do you have with metoday…? I’m sorry about this but I’m kind of busy right now, solet’s talk another time, please."

「Whatkind of easygoing words are you saying? Even though we already passedthe deadline, I didn’t receive the manuscript. What is this about? 」

"Eh? Deadline…?"

「Afew days ago, I received an email from you that you took my advice toheart and added a new heroine but after that I didn’t hear anythingfrom you. Don’t tell me…you didn’t finish it yet?」

"Eh?!"

Being shocked by her words, myconsciousness was forcefully woken up completely.

"What exactly do you mean by that?!Saying that you didn’t receive a manuscript?!"

「That’smy line. I was worried that you weren’t feeling well or somethinglike that but it seems that I was wrong. For now, keep theexplanations and just send me the manuscript.」

"I-I’m very sorry! I will check onthat right now! I will contact you later…!"

「Hey,wai—」

Forcefully cutting the call, I left myphone behind and rushed out of my room. My destination was of courseSuzuka’s room.

"Heeeey! Suzuka?! Are you there?!"

I knocked forcefully on the door, onlyto receive no answer. Opening the door nonetheless, I checked insidethe room. Suzuka was….there. She was sitting at the table on frontof her notebook PC. She wasn’t moving an inch, though. Lookingclosely, she was using her arms as a pillow.

"I-Is she still asleep…? Hey,Suzuka—"

As I was about to wake her up, I movedcloser to her. In that moment, I realized a lot of A4 sized paperslaying around on the table in front of her.

"Is this possibly the manuscript ofthe second volume…?"

Looking at the title, my assumptionswere confirmed. If she had it already…why didn’t she just send itto Shinozaki-san…? For a moment, I felt the urge to just read ithere and now but I managed to hold back my greed this time. Instead,I started trying to wake her up. Though, in that moment I managed tohit the table with my leg, scattering the manuscript on the floor byaccident.

"Ah, shit…!"

I was hurrying to pick the pages up.Though, my eyes unfortunately fell onto a page that was lying there.In that moment I forgot myself and I couldn’t stop myself fromreading it. It was the scene where two new heroines appeared in frontof the protagonist. One was his classmate and stalker-like blue-eyed,blonde hair beauty. The other was an exchange student where the onlything that left her mouth were erotic words. The both of them wereapproaching the protagonist. Both of them were doing random panchirasand forcing their chests onto the protagonist, suddenly starting aconversation about otaku culture in the meantime. And the contentswere only about otaku terms. All of a sudden, both of them werechanging to maid clothes with no apparent reason.

"W-What the hell….?"

Reading that far, I couldn’t keep mydoubts inside. The plot was just so bad. The conversation was goingin all sorts of directions, the writing was similar to itemizationand the characters weren’t consistent either.

"Did…Suzuka really write this…?"

This manuscript is just a pure chaos,is what I thought. No, that wasn’t the problem. It was—

"It’s totally boring."

Even though I wanted to doubt my ownwords, it was the undisputed truth. Rather than that, I was wonderingif this was really the continuation of that big hit of a firstvolume. I couldn’t see that at all in here….

"What in the world happened withSuzuka…?"

It was at that moment. Seeminglyrealizing that someone was there, Suzuka muttered a quiet "Ugh…."before completely opening her eyes, looking straight at me afterturning around on her chair.

"…? Huh?….Onii-chan?!"

Being clearly surprised by my presence,she stood up instantly.

"W-What are you doing there?! I-Isn’tthat my manuscript?! What is this about?!", she audibly screamed,her face getting visibly more red by the second, as I was trying tofind an excuse.

"I-I didn’t do it on purpose, Iswear! I was just trying to pick up the manuscript!! I’m sorry forlooking at it! Sorry!!!"

"What are you on about?! And why areyou even in my room, Onii-chan?!"

"Ah, that’s right! I had something totalk about! I just got a call from Shinozaki-san and she told thatthat you didn’t send her a manuscript even though it was already pastyour deadline!"

As I mentioned the deadline, shemust’ve realized something.

"That’s right….I must have fallenasleep while trying to make it in time for the deadline. I wascareless…."

"For you to fall asleep likethat….Huh, wait? You weren’t working all night, were you?"

"N-No, rather than that, I have toapologize to Shinozaki-san for missing my deadline. On top of that, Ihave to finish the manuscript as well."

Listening to Suzuka’s words, I got abad precognition.

"Hey Suzuka…..? Did you perhapsstruggle with the second volume?"

"W-What exactly might you be talkingabout?"

"Don’t beat around the bush. I can’tthink of the possibility that the earnest, hardworking you would bemissing a deadline."

"…………"

Suzuka didn’t say a word to that.

"Don’t tell me….were you troubledbecause of the new heroine?"

"H-How…."

Seems like I hit the mark. Well, it ispretty obvious if you’d look at the manuscript. It felt like she wasforced to write that.

"Yes…that’s right.", sheadmitted."Every time I decided on a character, I just couldn’t fither into the story, being unable to write her accordingly. No….Idon’t want write her is a better phrasing."

"Don’t want to write her, you say….You’re forcing yourself to write something you don’t want to?"

"I can’t help it. I received theadvice to put in another heroine after all…. And Onii-chan was alsoof the same opinion…."

"You’re not technically wrong aboutthat but still…."

"I want to write an even moreinteresting novel. I want my novel to be even more popular. Toachieve that, I will do anything."

Suzuka’s gaze was filled withdetermination.

"Listen, I know how determined youare…. but writing something that you don’t want to write is wrong,okay? I mean, aren’t you frustrated with that?"

"My frustration isn’t a big deal."

"Of course it is! For quite some timenow, you are staggering and your face is devoid of all color. You aresleep-deprived because you kept on writing on the manuscript! Ah,forget it! For now, rest, will you?! We’ll continue after you calmedyourself down!"

"I decline. I don’t have the time todo that. I already missed my deadline, remember? You already receiveda phone call from Shinozaki-san, right?"

"Keeping the deadline is fine andall…but the condition of your body is even more important!!!"

"….! I’m thankful that you areworried about me but writing an even more interesting novel is muchmore important to me!"

Maybe because she was getting more intoit but her tone grew even more aggressive.

"W-Why…? Why are you going thisfar? You already wrote an interesting first volume. You should besatisfied with this…"

"I’m having these hardships exactlybecause I’m not satisfied with this. Besides that, don’t say thingsthat you don’t really mean."

"W-What do you mean by that?"

"The part where you said that thefirst volume was interesting. You don’t really think that."

"W-What?! I really think that yournovel is super duper interesting–"

"That’s a lie. Remember when I askedyou for your opinion that one time, you said that it was just fine!"

Remembering back to that time, it’strue that I said something like that. I was just trying to hide myfrustration, trying to hide my true feelings….They weren’t my truefeelings. Panicking, I almost screamed at Suzuka.

"W-Wait! You’re wrong! That was amisunderstanding!"

"How could I possibly understand yourwords from that time if you use such clear vocabulary like [It’sfine]?"

"That was…. I just blurted outthese words because I was frustrated that you passed me like that!"

"Onii-chan…."

In that instant, Suzuka’s face softeneda little bit. Did she finally decide to trust me after myconfession….?

"To think that you would deceiveyourself to cheer me up now…I don’t need that."

"I told you that you’re wrong! Ireally really mean it!"

"I will ask you then..but what partexactly did Onii-chan find interesting in my novel?"

"Heh? What part…?"

"If you want me to believe yourwords, Onii-chan has to tell me exactly what part was so interestingfor him or else I can’t trust you."

What part of her novel is interesting?That’s the question I’m currently struggling with as well. How can Ianswer her if even I don’t know the answer for myself?

"T-That is…."

"You really can’t answer me.", saidSuzuka while looking at me."Onii-chan is always like this. Notcaring one bit about himself, always worrying about other people…."

Muttering something in a small voice,Suzuka sat down in front of her notebook PC.

"Your worrying is unneeded. I willdefinitely write it. Even if I have to suffer, if it makes youhappy……"

Starting to write on her keyboard,Suzuka facial expression was starting to darken. I don’t want towrite it. I don’t want to write it but I have to write it. That sortof expression. Why…? Why are you making such an expression? I don’twant to read a light novel that you wrote with such an expression….

"Onii-chan. I’m sorry but could youleave me alone for now?"

And like that, I was forced out of herroom. I understood that I had to make her understand. But I couldn’t.I painfully realized that there were no words that I could say to hernow.

Part 7:

"…..Shit."

Having returned to my own room, Iturned the lights off and was lying down on my bed. Even strongerthan my helplessness from before, another heavy feeling was attackingme. Trying my best not to surrender to that feeling, I forced my eyesshut and started to focus on my thoughts.

"……."

But, it would be painfully convenientif an answer would’ve just popped up like that. I could hear thesound of my clock ticking. It truly felt like I would never come upwith any words to lessen the burden of Suzuka and to comforther…..How long was I doing that for? My head felt heavy from allthe thoughts and memories rolling around in it. However, there wasone memory that always came flying in between all of them.

——-I really hate Onii-chan.

It was a scene from a long time ago.The day that formed the relationship between me and Suzuka. I didn’tgrow up the slightest since then. The same unreliable big brotherfrom that time. The big brother that is unable to stop the tears fromhis precious little sister. Laughable….. Will I repeat the samething again this time? Not being able to do anything while my littlesister is suffering? Something like that….Something like that—

"Don’t fuck with me."

As these word vibrated in my room, Irose up from the bad, opening my eyes. What I wasn’t able to do inthe past, now’s the time to make up for it. I’m her stand-in rightnow. We are two people as one light novel author. No rather thanthat, I’ve always been her big brother! Being there for his sufferinglittle sister as a big brother, that’s a fucking given!

"…..Alright."

Putting out the lights in my room, Ilooked at the clock. I thought that I was lost in my thoughts for apretty long time but in reality only one hour had passed. Still, tothink that I left my little sister all alone this whole time makes myincredibly mad….

Calm down, there are other things Ihave to do first.

"There’s only one thing I have tothink about…."

And that’s the point what makesSuzuka’s novel so interesting. I can clearly say that the manuscriptthat Suzuka is forcing herself to write right now is just plainboring. The fun that was a crucial part in the first volume…itseems like it completely vanished. To convince Suzuka of that, I haveto find the answer she is waiting to hear. I began to think oncemore. Rumbling around my brain cells to their utmost, I kept onthinking. What makes Suzuka’s novel so interesting….? I don’t know.No matter how much I think about it, I can’t come up with anyanswers. Still, even if I don’t know, there’s one thing that I canclearly say. The fact that the novel I read never gave of the feelingthat Suzuka was forced to write this with a new heroine she didn’twant to add. Then, what is it that I want to read? What exactly am Ilooking for in Suzuka’s novel—

—-The truth is…that I really reallylove Onii-chan.

"…………?!"

At that moment, a voice filled mychest. It felt like a strong impact. It was a line that the littlesister of Suzuka’s novel, Yuuka, once said. The acts of a littlesister that confidently approaches her big brother because she loveshim so so much. And although he was overwhelmed, the caring,understanding big brother. The relationship between these too, andtheir flirty scenes were floating around in my head.

"Ah-"

At that moment, I finally understood.What exactly I was looking for in Suzuka’s novel. Where the fun ofher novel was coming from. The second my answer came, I was alreadydashing out of my room.

"I got it!!!"

"Wha-?! O-Onii-chan?! What’s wrong?!"

I entered Suzuka’s room withoutknocking or anything, surprising Suzuka, which was sitting in frontof her notebook PC.

"I got it! The thing that makes yournovel so interesting!"

"What’s this about so suddenly?! Calmdown for now, please!"

Even Suzuka’s words couldn’t stop myexcitement right now.

"Listen carefully! You didn’t sendthe manuscript yet, right?! This one is a failure! And, you just haveto write the second volume like you wrote the first one!"

"I don’t understand! What are yousaying, Onii-chan?!"

"You don’t have to suffer anymorebecause of a new heroine!"

"Like I said! I don’t understand whatyou mean, Onii-chan! Please explain yourself!"

Like Suzuka said, I relaxed myself abit. Still, the excitement didn’t exactly vanish either.

"Alright. I understood why I thoughtof your novel as interesting. I realized that you don’t need a newheroine to make it interesting. You don’t have to force yourself towrite one!"

"This isn’t really anexplanation….Before, Onii-chan told me that it would be better tomake a new heroine appear, right?!"

"Yeah, I won’t deny that. Still, thatwas before I understood the crucial interesting part of your novel."

"What exactly is this crucial part?"

"That is……………the flirtingof the siblings!"

"Wha.?! F-Flirting….?!"

"Yes. These flirty scenes between thetwo of them are the origin of the fun! It was already written in afew reviews, remember? That the little sister was incredibly cute andsuch. The cuteness that was generated from these flirty scenes isexactly what makes the reader think that your novel is interesting!"

And I didn’t stop there.

"That’s the reason that thismanuscript of the second volume isn’t interesting at all! Having anew heroine appear cuts away on the flirty scenes! That’s exactly whythere’s no reason at all to add a new heroine!"

I nodded at the explanation I justblurted out. Now she’ll have to understand….is what I thought andas I looked over at Suzuka, her cheeks were slightly blushing and shekept on staring at me.

"Y-You’re just saying thattemporarily to make me feel better…."

"It’s not temporarily! How about wego back and look at some reviews then—"

"I don’t need any opinions from otherpeople. The important one is why Onii-chan also thinks like that.P-Please explain!"

From that question, I felt like theatmosphere changed a little bit. But, I ignored that and insteadfocused on answering here with the truth.

"That’s because—"

In that instant, my excitement changedinto chills. An important aspect came to my mind. I, too, do love theflirty scenes with the little sister. That is a fact. And I canassert that with my own words. Having moe characters is a basicprinciple of light novels after all. I wonder how it never came to mymind……Wait? Since the character we’re talking about is a littlesister in this case, isn’t that a big problem for me…?

"Onii-chan…?", Suzuka muttered,seemingly confused by my sudden silence.

Well, I was suddenly spacing out withcold sweat on my forehead. No, wait a second please. It’s not like Igot a thing for little sister attributes, it’s just that I like thecuteness of Yuuka. The fact that she’s a little sister isn’timportant here but it’s still the rock-solid truth. What would happenif I turned around to face Suzuka and said [I also think that thelove-struck little sister the cutest ever!] ?

I’m pretty sure that the second I saidthat, my life would undoubtedly be over. No matter how I bent aroundthe facts, Yuuka is still a little sister character. I wouldn’t beable to talk myself out of this.

"Haaa….."

Stopping me in my thoughts, Suzukasighed.

"You really can’t answer me afterall.", she laughed, seeming lonely."I know that you are sayingthat just to cheer me up, Onii-chan. But I don’t need your kindnessright now. I certainly will write a new heroine."

"W-Wait, Suzuka!", I called out toher but she already averted her eyes.

No matter what I said, she kept ontyping on her keyboard, suffering. As I saw that expression of her,I felt a sharp pain inside my chest.

Shit…. Why don’t you understandSuzuka?! My opinion shouldn’t matter in the slightest! What do I do?!What can I do to make her understand?! Why can’t I think ofanything?! Can’t I think of anything at all?! Shit!!! Ah, forget it!I give up on thinking! I have to stop my little sister fromsuffering! I came her to save her, right?! …..That’s why, there’sonly thing I should be doing right now!!!

I formed a fist with my hand and madeup my determination.

"Suzuka! Please listen to me!"

"What is it this time? No matter whatyou say, I will—-"

"I want to read the flirty scenesbetween big brother and little sister!"

I firmly closed my eyes and waited forSuzuka’s reply.

"I, you know…I really think of yournovel like a masterpiece! I want to write a novel like yours and winthe first place of the upcoming contest! Until a moment ago, I didn’tunderstand anything!"

Now, it’s different.

"I completely understand it now. Ithought of it as interesting because I loved the flirty scenesbetween the two siblings. I read your novel so many times because Iwanted to see her love struck moments over and over! That’s thesecret to your novel!"

I couldn’t stop myself anymore.

"That’s why you have to write thesecond volume just like the first one! You don’t need something likea new heroine! I’m fine as long as there’s a little sister heroine!I’m completely satisfied with that! That’s why I don’t need amanuscript which you write while suffering like this!"

I will say it. No matter how often.Because it’s never enough.

"I—–love the little sister!!!"

(TLC: He said little sister in a general form, meaning that one can interpret it as a general one, the one in the fictional novel or even Suzuka.)

That’s where I finally stopped mymonologue. The only thing I could hear in the room was my ownbreathing. However, without having to hear it again, I felt my bloodrushing to my head. That was because I realized just what I blurtedout a few moments ago.

"N-No, that was…. you’rewrong….."

I wanted to retract my words….but myembarrassment made it difficult for me. What I said wasn’t reallywrong at all but the way I said it will surely producemisunderstandings. And because I was pulled along because of myexcitement, I could only scream these few words back there.

"You’re wrong, okay?! I don’t likelittle sisters in general, I’m just saying that hypothetically , Ilike the little sister heroine Yuuka, okay?!"

Judging from the way I worded it, itwouldn’t be too off to interpret it as such. Of course, there was noway that that would be the case. I have a real little sister afterall, you know? Still, I went and said these disgusting words?! Itreally was all over for me but still, I wanted to justify myself.

—-To like little sisters even thoughyou have one in real life, there’s no way in hell that’s happening sorelax.

—-Still, your novel is already plentyinteresting, so there’s no need to make yourself suffer, trying tocreate a new heroine. You just have to write your usual flirtysibling scenes.

It happened at that time, as I wastrying to make my words clear and give a clear explanation.

"….Huh?"

Somehow, her appearance looked strange.

"Haaaaa……Nyahaha…..Funyaa….."

Looking at it, Suzuka’s has gottencompletely red and she only mumbled stuff with an unknown voice. Shewas staring at me intensely but she never said the words that Iexpected in this situation, like [That’s disgusting] or [Go die].

"U-Uhm, Suzuka?"

"Hyaa?!"

As I called out to her, Suzukaapparently was called back to her senses. This really didn’t seemlike a proper reaction to my words prior to this.

"Onii-chan does…..? T-Thatis…..is that…..so"

"Well, I said it in a way thatpractically invites misunderstandings but I wasn’t really lyingeither. The fact that I really love your novel is an indisputablefact—"

"L-L-L-L-Love….you…say?!You….love….me?…..Onii-chan…..does?"

"Exactly! I love the little sisterheroine that you wrote—–huh?"

Somehow, it felt like Suzuka and I weremaking a huge misunderstanding….No, it must’ve been myimagination…right?

"T-That’s a lie….! You just…..sayit again….because you are…..so kind to me."

"Y-You should be able to tellimmediately if I was lying, right?! Here, look into my eyes!"

"F-Face is too close!!! It’sembarrassing so don’t come closer so suddenly….!"

As I moved in closer, Suzuka backedaway a little bit. After arriving at the wall with her back, shelooked at me with tears in her eyes.

"T-That’s impossible…..To thinkthat Onii-chan would….someone like me….?"

"W-What’s your problem?! Your novelis unbelievably interesting! I said it before but I also want towrite a similar light novel in the future as well!"

"Onii-chan…also has thesefantasies?!"

"………Eh? I don’t think that I’mhaving fantasies though…."

Somehow I felt like we were bothtalking past each other. Is she really having a misunderstanding? Ihave to make her understand that I really think her novel isinteresting from the bottom of her heart.

"N-Never mind that! For now, you haveto believe me that your novel is already plenty interesting! Youshould be able to tell if I was lying to you!"

Stating that, I looked at Suzuka.Although her face was still red while muttering "Ah…Ah", shereturned my gaze with eyes still indicated that she was afraid. Hereyes that looked like gems were still leaking tears. After a shortwhile, she seemed to have calmed down at least a little bit. That wasclear for me. Although her cheeks were still a bit red. It might havebeen because she was practically staring at me…but somehow shelooked even more cute than ever before which made me excessivelyembarrassed.

"Y-You’re really telling the truth?",she asked for conformation.

"Yeah, really."

"Really really?"

"Really Really. You still don’tbelieve me?"

"No, Onii-chan is not lying."

It seems like she finally decided totrust my words.

"Thanks for trusting me, Suzuka. Withthis, are you finally satisfied? And….I have a favor to ask. Pleasewrite the second volume like you did with the first one. The readers,and I, will prefer that."

"….something like that…"

Like that, her body seemed to havestarted shivering again….Might she be upset? Or is she disgustedabout the things her good-for-nothing big brother just asked?

"Something like that—you’re notallowed to ask for that, Onii-chan!"

"E-Eh?!"

For some reason, Suzuka showed an evenmore unpredictable reaction.

"Onii-chan really is an idiot! Whydidn’t you say so sooner? If you did that, I would not have had toworry so much! Onii-chan is an unchangeable Onii-chan after all!"

"No, uh, eh?!"

"For crying out loud! Please keepyourself together! I always tell you that!"

"I-I’m sorry?!"

I was certain that I would be yelled atfor asking something like that, so I was more than surprised abouther reaction. How the hell did this happen anyway? I totally thoughtthat she would say things like [This is really making me sick. Idon’t want to breathe the same air as you.], so I was mentallyprepared to do my best to solve her misunderstanding….

"Ahh! Why am I so happy about this?!Haaaaa….."

As Suzuka was wiping her tears away,she tightly hugged her own body.

….No really, what the hell is goingon? Is it that? Did she think of me as so disgusting that she wouldpractically force herself to write it anyway?…..I couldn’t think ofany other possibility.

"Haaaa…..To think that Onii-chanwould chose me over a new heroine……Ehe, ehehehehe"

Uhm….. What was it in the end? I justwanted her to understand that I love the little sister heroine….andthat I don’t feel anything towards the little sister attribute atall……did that get through her? Well, Suzuka seemed to be happy,so it’s fine I guess. If Suzuka is happy, then I’m happy as well.

"Ha?! This isn’t the time to be doingthis! I should rather rewrite the manuscript! But before that, I haveto do this!"

As she said that, she took themanuscript she wrote before and threw it full force into the garbagebin.

"Uhm, if you’re going to rewrite it,we should at least ask Shinozaki-san for more time. I’ll try my bestto ask her via phone. Maybe we can do something about the deadlineand—-"

"No, there is no need for that.",Suzuka said as I was about to return to my own room."I will sendher the manuscript shortly, no need to worry about that."

"Eh? You’re going to rewrite it now,right?"

"Yes. I will rewrite it. During thisevening."

"Excuse me?!", I shouted, beingconfronted with such vocabulary like [During] [this] and [Evening].

"What are you saying?! To write themanuscript of a whole volume in one evening is—-"

"There is no problem. I can’t holdmyself back from writing right now."

"B-But still, this evening?!"

Suzuka merely answered [It’s fine] witha smile as I was at a loss for words,

"That’s because, I feel like I havenever been this possessed before!"

Part 8:

The rhythmic sound of Suzuka’s tappingon her keyboard vibrated inside the room. While sitting on the bed, Iwatched the profile of Suzuka. Why? Because she asked for me to staywith her until she was finished. At first I thought that it wasimpossible to finish a manuscript of one volume in one evening but…

Tap tap tap tap tap tap tap tap taptap tap tap tap tap tap tap tap tap tap

Judging from the sounds, she reallymight finish it all today, it really troubles me. Suzuka really hasanother skill up her sleeve. Oh dear, just how much of a super humanis my little sister anyway.

"Hmh~ Hmh~"

Seemingly in high spirits, Suzuka washumming while writing. This sight was a first for me.

"Onii-chan loves the littlesister~~~"

"You’re wrong okay?! The characterthat I thought was cute just happened to be one with the littlesister attribute!"

Shit…. she keeps on teasing me for awhile now. Just what kind of punishment game is this? Still, at leastshe doesn’t think of me as disgusting and such.

"Hmh~"

She seems to really have fun writingthe manuscript. Such a big difference from before.

"Onii-chan? You can go and take a napif you’re tired, okay?", she said without ever stopping her hands.

Maybe it was because of my stress andhard work these past few days but I was suddenly attacked by a fiercedrowsiness.

"You must be pretty sleepy as wellright? There’s no way that I can just go and take a nap alone."

"I’m fine as long as I have Onii-chanby my side."

"Still, I can’t just do something souncool. Is there nothing I could help you with?"

"There is nothing in particular. Howabout you talk with me about something?"

"Talk with you?"

"Yes. I don’t care about what, justsomething different from my BGM."

"Even if you say that…"

"Well then, tell me an old story. Astory from we both were still small."

Ah, from there, huh? Since I didn’thave any better story, I accepted Suzuka’s request. However, becauseI didn’t have a lot of memories from that time, I chose the one thatcame flying the fastest.

—–Talking about that, when did Ifirst encounter light novels? Sometime in grade school in myfirst-grade if I remember correctly? I found them in a library, yeah.

—–At that time, I was so crazy aboutthem, I used all the money I could afford to buy some. At one pointmy grades dropped and my old man went rampaging because of that. Forthe sake of being allowed to read them, I studied again. Ahh, in mylife it’s all about light novels….

—–I can’t really remember the timebefore I encountered light novels… I think I was a normal kid. Youwere always an excellent child though…

As I was wrapped in my memories, I kepton talking about the past. For quite some time now, my consciousnesswas starting to fade away and I was yawning constantly. The sound ofSuzuka’s tapping almost seemed to invite me into the land of dreams,my eyes started to get heavy.

—-No, no, don’t fall asleep now? Whatwas I talking about? A story about our childhood. Yeah, we werealways separated. You were very clever so you went to a private gradeschool and after that to your current prestige Ojou-sama middleschool.

—-To you, I’m probably not a reliablebig brother. There was not a single thing that I was better at. Evenat light novels it ended like this…. Since it was always like this,I’m not really shocked….Maybe just a little bit…

—-Hey, you probably already forgotabout it but…. that one time we were little, I made you cry….Idon’t remember why…from that time, I made you hate me itseems….I’m sorry, Suzuka.

—-The reason that I like light novelsthis much…is probably because I want to be as cool as theprotagonists in them. Because of that, at that time when I becameyour stand-in, I was really….really happy…

My consciousness was being pulled away.Am I still awake? If I still was, I had to keep the story going. ForSuzuka’s sake….and also for my own.

—-Hey, Suzuka. I…..Did I become atleast a little bit more reliable as a big brother….?

I felt like I heard a voice from aplace far away. But I couldn’t make out what it was saying. I didn’tknow…but I was happy. I felt like everything I did was rewarded.

And like that, my consciousness fadedaway completely.

Part 9:

"I finally finished it…."

Sending the finished manuscript toShinozaki-san, I relaxed my body. The morning sun shone through thecurtains and the birds were chipping. As I had declared, I finishedwriting the manuscript in one evening. Normally, that would be apretty big feat. However, thanks to the [Onii-chan notes], I didn’thave that much of a problem. I looked at the notes that were on topof my table. They were the notes that I kept on writing since a longtime ago. This volume is the 32^nd one. To make sure thatno one will ever see them, I locked them away. The contents were, asone would suspect, scenes and settings in which Onii-chan and I wouldspend time together.

The light novel that I wrote was justthe novelized form of these notes…..And Onii-chan said that hethought of it as interesting. And first and foremost, he told me thatI didn’t have to add another heroine, argumenting that he loved thelittle sister heroine. Does this mean that Onii-chan will accept myfeelings…? As I thought about that, my eyes naturally wandered towhere Onii-chan was laying, namely on my bed and only soft breathsescaped his mouth, indicating that he was still asleep.

"Haa…."

Really, your sleeping face is just toocute. Isn’t this almost a crime? I can’t have any other women seeyour defenseless state. Onii-chan is really popular after all.

"I have to be the most careful aboutHimuro-san. Double Peace-sensei is also suspicious after all and evenShinozaki-san started paying attention to him as it seems. Not toforget about his Senpai at work, Esaka-san….and the girls of myschool also know of Onii-chan….."

What a trouble, so many rivals…. Thefirst blunder was that I made Onii-chan my stand-in. For some reason,beautiful women keep on appearing near him. Just when I thought thatI had a good reason to talk to him when I can’t normally behonest….

"Onii-chan is my Onii-chan after all.You can’t forget about that, okay?"

Sitting down next to Onii-chan, Iwhispered that. This is the only time that I can say things likethat. I really hate that dishonest side of me…. But, isn’tOnii-chan a bit thickheaded himself? Even as I wrote such a novel, Ithought that he would finally realize….No, it’s impossible. This isOnii-chan after all. This thickheaded personaliy is somethingextraordinary.

"Onii-chan, you idiot….If youthought it was interesting, you should’ve just said so from thestart. If you had, I would’ve been more honest as well…."

….No, that’s also impossible. I’msure that with this personality of mine, I probably would haveexploded too, just like that time.

That time—-when Onii-chan and I werestill in grade school. One day, when I carelessly shattered a veryvaluable plate that belonged to my father. Not knowing what I shoulddo, I just stood there, shaking. At that point, Onii-chan came to meand took the blame for it. Even though he was screamed at, he stillsmiled to make me feel better. Nevertheless, I started crying on thespot, wondering why Onii-chan did something like that….and why Ilet him do that. As these thoughts were rumbling around in my head, Iwent and said [I really hate Onii-chan] in my confusion. Of course,these were not my real feelings. However, these few words caused acrack. After that, I became unable to tell Onii-chan my truefeelings. Onii-chan seemed to avoid me as well. My personality wasthe cause of everything. I should be the one apologizing to him…..From there on, Onii-chan was immersing himself into light novels. Itried reading them myself to find a chance to make up but I couldnever really come to like them that much. Still, the notes that Itook proved their worth. I somehow won the grand-prize at the contestthat Onii-chan was always writing for. I have no real talent as anauthor anyway. However, I won’t ever lose to anyone if it comes to myfeelings for Onii-chan. That is all.

"I will excuse myself…."

I snug to the arm of Onii-chan. Tothink that I would be this bold, it’s really unbelievable. However,it’s special now. That is because our feelings are mutual. Yes,mutual. Onii-chan likes the little sister wrote. And that characteris practically myself. Meaning that Onii-chan really loves me! Aperfect conclusion! I really like Onii-chan as well, I love him! Onecould call us lovers, no a married couple, no we are partners withthe same soul! That’s why, the things that I will do now will beallowed. These actions are natural for lovers like us after all.

"Onii-chan……"

I slowly started to come closer to hisface. Of course, to k-k-k-k-kiss him……But, to steal the lips ofmy sleeping lover is a bit unfair. It is regrettable but I will holdback on that for now. Instead, it will be fine to k-k-kiss him on thecheek…right?

"H-Here I go…"

Closing my eyes, I went closer with mylips….

Kiss

"————!!"

Feeling the softness on my lips, I goteven hotter. I slowly pulled away after a few secondspassed…..Finally, I finally kissed Onii-chan…. Even though it wason the cheek, this is the same ritual when you marry someone….Nowwe finally became a married couple…

"Ehe, ehehehe"

No good. I can’t have my face tense uplike this. I let my body get loose and flopped onto Onii-chan’s body.Lying head-down on his thighs, I felt an incredible rush ofhappiness.

"Fuwaaaa….."

I couldn’t help but sigh out ofhappiness. At the same time, I was assaulted by a feeling ofexhaustion and I was getting really tired. Still, it was a goodfeeling. After all, it has been such a long time since Onii-chan andI have been sleeping together.

"Goodnight…Onii-chan. And, thankyou very much….."

Saying my thanks to him, I slowly closed my eyes. Thank you….for always saving your little sister that can’t be honest with herself….

"Onii-chan, I really love you…."