TGS – Vol 3 Chapter 4 – The Bold Girl

After choosing outfits and swimsuits, watching a horror movie that started at 4 PM, and enjoying the sunset view from the observation deck, they were now inside a stylish izakaya with a traditional Japanese ambiance.

“Haah~ I really wanted to take a picture of onii-chan’s face back then. If only we could’ve used our phones in the theater.” (Yuno)

“Was my face really that bad…?” (Haruto)

“It was all twisted up like you were a monster or something.” (Yuno)

“Fufufu. That’s a bit much, don’t you think, Yuno-chan?” (Suzuha)

“Really? That is how I see it anyways.” (Yuno)

The topic blooming in their private room was about what happened at the movie theater.

“By the way, onii-chan—when you got scared, didn’t you grab Suzuha-chan’s hand? Did you properly apologize for that?” (Yuno)

“Wait! It’s not like I forced myself on her or anything, okay!? Suzuha-chan even said it was fine…” (Haruto)

Haruto, flailing both hands, hurried to clear up Yuno’s big misunderstanding.

“I-It’s just that I was scared too…” (Suzuha)

“Oh, really?” (Yuno)

“To be honest, thanks to Suzuha-chan, even though I was scared, I didn’t feel embarrassed and could really immerse myself in the movie.” (Haruto)

“What do you mean by that?” (Yuno)

“Well, it’s kind of hard to explain… but Suzuha-chan reacted the same way I did, so most of the time I felt like we were scared together.” (Haruto)

When you’re the only one feeling afraid, you end up trying to act tough out of embarrassment—but if someone else shares that same fear, it doesn’t turn out that way.

In fact, it was Suzuha who reached out to hold his hand far more often than the other way around.

“Hmm. I see. Suzuha-chan was scared, huh…” (Yuno)

“Hm? Did I say something weird?” (Haruto)

“Nope, not at all.” (Yuno)

“…” (Haruto)

It happened in the moment Yuno, still grinning, dodged Haruto’s question and glanced to the side.

Suzuha quickly lowered her face, shoulders shrinking as if to hide while checking the menu.

She barely managed to brush off the meaningful glance that seemed to say, “You’re supposed to be good with horror movies”, and tried to shift the conversation.

“Um, Yuno-chan, Haruto-oniisan… what would you like to drink?” (Suzuha)

“Oh yeah, we haven’t decided yet. I think I’ll go with oolong tea. What about you, Suzuha-chan?” (Haruto)

“I-I’ll have jasmine tea.” (Suzuha)

“Hm, what should I get… Tea? Or maybe juice…” (Yuno)

They hadn’t ordered drinks when they were first shown to their seats because they would always get sidetracked like this.

Haruto, deep in thought, kept scanning the menu back and forth.

“Since we’re out, why not get some alcohol, onii-chan?” (Yuno)

“Alcohol!?” (Haruto)

“Because you don’t usually get the chance to drink, right? Since we’re here, you might as well enjoy it. There’s probably alcohol you can only taste at places like this, too.” (Yuno)

“Well, that might be true, but… no! I’ll pass after all. It wouldn’t feel right to enjoy it alone, and I might not be able to fulfill my role as the guardian.” (Haruto)

Drinking alone in front of two minors, who weren’t allowed to have alcohol, didn’t sit right with him.

Even more than that, the latter reason weighed heavily on him.

It was the role he had taken upon himself.

“Haah… It’s not like we care that much, you know? In situations like this, you’re supposed to stop worrying about all that.” (Yuno)

“I’d be happier if you did, too.” (Suzuha)

“I-I’m grateful that you two said that, but still…” (Haruto)

“If I know you’re holding back, I just won’t be able to enjoy my food, y’know? And the menu’s full of stuff that looks super good too…” (Yuno)

“Ugh…” (Haruto)

“Fufu, I know it’s cheeky of me, but I might lose my appetite too if you keep being like this.” (Suzuha)

“C-Come on… you two are so unfair…” (Haruto)

Suzuha immediately joined in on Yuno’s little strategy.

He was planning to treat them so they could enjoy the food more, but with reasoning like that thrown at him, all he could do was raise the white flag.

When both sides are thinking of each other’s happiness, being outnumbered two to one is ridiculously disadvantageous.

“Then, well… just this once, I’ll take your word for it… and try a drink I’ve never had before.” (Haruto)

“I think that’s a good idea. So, what’ll it be?” (Yuno)

“Hmm… maybe something with a cool-sounding name.” (Haruto)

“That’s such a guy way of picking.” (Yuno)

“I don’t know anything about alcohol, so it can’t be helped… Suzuha-chan, which one do you think sounds cool?” (Haruto)

“Is it really okay if I choose?” (Suzuha)

“Of course! I’ve only ever had beer and lemon sours, so you don’t have to worry about picking something I’ve already tried. After that, Yuu can pick the next one.” (Haruto)

“Yeah yeah.” (Yuno)

“Then… hmm. How about this Gin Lime?” (Suzuha)

“Nice! Okay, I’ll go with that first. It sounds refreshing and tasty.” (Haruto)

Haruto didn’t even know what kind of drink it was, but it definitely sounded like a cool drink.

“Hee~ onii-chan knows what lime is?” (Yuno)

“Wait, is it actually something good? I had a feeling!” (Haruto)

“Nope, no idea.” (Yuno)

“…” (Haruto)

The way Yuno said it made him genuinely think he might’ve been onto something, but reality wasn’t that kind.

Haruto, who had been smiling happily, now had that expression wiped away.

“Hey, Suzuha-chan, don’t you think that was kinda mean, getting my hopes up like that?” (Haruto)

“Fufu, yeah, that was pretty mean.” (Suzuha)

“It wasn’t out of malice, though.” (Yuno)

Making her excuse, Yuno pressed the call button for the server.

After finishing their drink orders and once the staff had left, the conversation resumed.

“Speaking of surprises, onii-chan, I didn’t know you knew such a stylish izakaya. Did you find it just for today?” (Yuno)

“I wish I could say that…” (Haruto)

He was about to mention ‘Rina,’ someone Yuno had met before, but Suzuha was also here.

“Actually, a friend recommended this place to me. I liked it a lot, so I wanted to bring you two here.” (Haruto)

Haruto had intentionally kept it vague with “a friend” so that no one would feel left out of the conversation for too long.

“Is that friend maybe Aya-san? The rich college student who treated Suzuha-chan and me to sushi?” (Yuno)

“No, the one who told me about the place is actually someone who’s Aya-san’s senpai. Though Aya-san was there too, so we ended up going together.” (Haruto)

“You’re pretty close, huh.” (Yuno)

“Haha, well, we’re friends, so of course.” (Haruto)

To add one more thing—she was also one of the few fellow streamers he had exchanged contact info with.

Their connection was purely natural.

“Um… is she Haruto-oniisan’s girlfriend…?” (Suzuha)

“No, no! Not at all, okay!?” (Haruto)

He hadn’t expected that question to come out, especially since he thought the situation was so clear.

Eyes wide with shock, Haruto shook his head furiously, firmly correcting Suzuha.

“If you act that desperate, it just makes you look even more suspicious. Well, knowing onii-chan, it’s probably the truth. No way you wouldn’t be all giddy if you actually got a girlfriend.” (Yuno)

“Are you saying it’s because I’ve never had a girlfriend before?” (Haruto)

“Who knows?” (Yuno)

“Ugh, you totally think that.” (Haruto)

While they exchanged playful banter, Suzuha quietly let out a breath of relief, unconsciously gazing at Haruto’s face with the comfort she felt.

“Then, for jumping to conclusions, I’ll ask you a mean question, onii-chan.” (Yuno)

“Go ahead.” (Haruto)

“Only if you can answer, of course… but, you don’t feel like Aya-san, who’s close to you, might confess or anything like that?” (Yuno)

“Wha!? How did the conversation get there!?” (Haruto)

“Well, you know, Aya-san must have feelings for you, onii-chan, right? Otherwise, she wouldn’t have suggested going to the aquarium together or given you such expensive sushi.” (Yuno)

“…” (Haruto)

Pressed by Yuno, Haruto fell silent, blinking rapidly as if something came to mind.

Seeing that, Suzuha slightly parted her lips in surprise.

“That look means you’ve realized it, huh? That’s pretty sharp for you, onii-chan.” (Yuno)

“Uh, well, that’s because… she told me before that she ‘was interested’ in me…” (Haruto)

“Eh?” (Yuno)

“—!” (Suzuha)

Something neither Yuno nor Suzuha had known slipped from Haruto’s mouth.

“But that’s all there was to it, okay? More than that, Aya-san is even busier than I am, and if she had a boyfriend, it’d probably just make things inconvenient. So, I don’t think she prioritizes that kind of relationship much. We’re still just friends, and she’s really popular, so I’m sure she’ll find someone else if she wants.” (Haruto)

“I-I see. It feels kind of like an adult relationship.” (Yuno)

“The way we hang out doesn’t really change, though.” (Haruto)

“……” (Suzuha)

While trying to hide her fluster at hearing something so new, Suzuha worked to sort out her thoughts—only to be nudged along in a different direction.

“On the flip side, what about you two? Has someone you like appeared recently, someone you’re getting along well with, or maybe even a new boyfriend?” (Haruto)

“No such person for me.” (Yuno)

“I guess it’s the same for me as well…” (Suzuha)

“Oh really?” (Haruto)

Haruto responded with a gentle voice, lightly moving his fingertips and starting to fidget a little.

What could have happened?

Yuno immediately caught on.

“You look like you’re dying to say something. Since I asked a mean question earlier, you can go ahead. Be a little nosy if you want.” (Yuno)

“Ahaha, really? Then… since you two are second-year high school students, people around you might start getting into relationships, but I just wanted to tell you, ‘there’s no need to rush.’ It’s important not to get swept up by the atmosphere too.” (Haruto)

“I don’t think it’s going to be like that, though.” (Yuno)

“Fufu, I’ll be careful.” (Suzuha)

Right after Suzuha once again realized from Haruto’s words that her feelings hadn’t reached him yet, a voice called out from behind the shoji screen of their private room, saying, “Excuse me,” and a server appeared carrying their ordered drinks, temporarily halting their conversation.

“……” (Haruto)

Haruto, aware of the feelings of a certain university student, was lost in his thoughts.

Suzuha, feeling a pang of jealousy toward that, quietly gathered her courage, hoping she could eventually put into words the invitation she still hadn’t been able to make.

∮

[Suzuha’s PoV]

“Ahh, today was really so much fun~” (Haruto)

“I’m glad to hear that. Though I feel like it’s a bit early to be saying that.” (Yuno)

Two hours had passed since they entered the izakaya, and they were eating the desserts they had ordered to finish off the meal.

(Even drunk, Haruto-oniisan is still very much like himself…)

Suzuha thought with a fond smile, while also keeping an eye on something.

“Haruto-oniisan, are you feeling okay…? Your ears are all red, so please drink some water too.” (Suzuha)

“He’s totally drunk, isn’t he? He kept saying ‘it’s good’ and drank quite a lot.” (Haruto)

“Thanks for worrying. But I’m fine. I just feel a little floaty. I’m still pacing myself properly.” (Haruto)

With his eyes glazed over and his voice a little airy, Haruto was acting somewhat different from usual.

Even so, as he had said, he seemed to be maintaining his self-control properly.

There was nothing strange about his responses either.

“Still, isn’t this the drunkest you’ve been this year, onii-chan?” (Yuno)

“That might be true… It’s not just the amount I drank, but the drinks with cool names all seemed to have higher alcohol content.” (Haruto)

(…)

At those sudden words, Suzuha’s heart skipped a beat.

Since she had an idea why, her heart began pounding, but she quickly covered it up.

“T-That’s probably why they have such cool names in the first place.” (Suzuha)

“Ah~! That totally makes sense! You’re right, Suzuha-chan!” (Haruto)

In his current state, he seemed ready to believe just about anything.

Seeing him nod and smile so easily, Suzuha let out a small breath of relief — and before she realized it, found herself staring at this rare, tipsy side of him.

“Looks like you really had fun, onii-chan.. If possible, I wish you’d tighten up that sloppy face of yours.” (Yuno)

“—Okay.” (Haruto)

“You’re already back to normal.” (Yuno)

“Ahaha, it seems like I really become useless when I drink.” (Haruto)

“Not just useless. Really useless.” (Yuno)

“That bad, huh.” (Haruto)

“Yeah, that bad.” (Yuno)

Haruto weakly scratched his cheek.

Meanwhile, though Yuno sounded exasperated as she spoke, it was really just her way of hiding how happy she was that he was having a good time.

(Just like how Yuno-chan felt, I’m sure Aya-san must have been happy too…)

Suzuha thought this as she remembered hearing about how Haruto had gone to the aquarium with a woman named Aya.

At that moment, he must have shown the same kind of smile.

Especially if it had been a smile directed only at her.

…Just thinking about that made Suzuha’s heart grow restless and uneasy.

“Well, still, it’s because of Yuu and Suzuha-chan that I was able to let loose, you know? If you two hadn’t been here, I wouldn’t have been able to have such a fun time.” (Haruto)

“…!” (Suzuha)

“Y-You don’t have to say stuff like that just because you’re drunk.” (Yuno)

“I’m not saying anything wrong though, right? Suzuha-chan?” (Haruto)

“Y-Yes!” (Suzuha)

It had truly come out of nowhere.

It was really unexpected. Hearing Haruto’s true feelings caught Suzuha off guard.

Just realizing how strongly he felt about making sure he wasn’t wrong about that—was enough to clear away the fog that had been weighing on Suzuha’s heart.

“A-Also… because Haruto-oniisan was with us, I was able to have a really fun time too…” (Suzuha)

“I’m glad we feel the same.” (Haruto)

“Onii-chan totally forced that out of her.” (Yuno)

“Eh!? That’s not true, right!?” (Haruto)

“Y-Yeah…” (Suzuha)

Filled with happiness, Suzuha ended up nodding without even trying to hide her crumbling composure.

Haruto, oblivious to that, took another sip of his drink and murmured with a trace of regret,

“Haah~… I really hope we can have another day like this. In about a year, you two will be in your exam season, so we probably won’t be able to hang out as much as we do now…” (Haruto)

“It’s because you’re the one who’s busy that we can’t hang out much, right? I’ve told you before, you should cut back on work… You didn’t even get to have fun back when you were a student.” (Yuno)

“No way.” (Haruto)

“I’ll make up for the reduced work.” (Yuno)

“If it comes to that, it’s better if I just keep working without taking a break.” (Haruto)

“That makes no sense.” (Yuno)

“Fufufu.” (Suzuha)

Haruto, in his slightly tipsy state, still managed to stand firm in his refusal.

Even if it would’ve made things easier for him, he still refused to budge when it came to supporting his family.

And that part of him… only made her fall for him even more.

“Even if you say that, my policy is that ‘for high schoolers, studying and having fun are the most important things’.” (Haruto)

“That’s the first time I’ve ever heard you say that.” (Yuno)

“…Ah! That’s right. I almost forgot to mention something. Speaking of ‘fun,’ there’s something I should’ve told you two.” (Haruto)

“Is it something for me too?” (Yuno)

“Yeah. You bought swimsuits today, right? So, when we go to the pool or the beach, just be careful not to get involved with any guys who might come up to you.” (Haruto)

“Fufufu, you’ve already told us that when we were picking out swimsuits and even while we were heading to the shop.” (Suzuha)

“Eh… Really? I don’t remember saying that.” (Haruto)

“Looks like you’ve had too much to drink, onii-chan. Just like what Suzuha-chan said, you should drink some water.” (Yuno)

“…” (Haruto)

Yuno handed him a glass with ice floating in it.

It was a gesture so natural to the two of them, but it made Suzuha feel a bit envious.

“Also, I’ve been meaning to ask you this for a while, but how exactly are we supposed to avoid getting bothered by people? Honestly, no matter how careful we are, we can’t stop them for showing up, right?” (Yuno)

“Well… maybe you could bring someone reliable, like a guy from the same school.” (Haruto)

“What if I say I don’t want to invite anyone because it might cause weird rumors?” (Yuno)

“If you say that… then… well…” (Haruto)

As a result, his previously calm expression suddenly darkened.

He crossed his arms, his head sinking as if deep in thought.

(…)

On the other hand, a sudden opportunity came to Suzuha.

The topic of the pool, which she hadn’t been able to bring up, was now spoken by his lips.

It was the goal she most wanted to achieve today.

There was no better timing than this to make it happen.

(If I don’t invite him now, I won’t ever be able to… I’m sure Aya-san has been much braver in saying the things she wants to say…)

She took a deep breath, watching for the right moment to speak.

“Hm!?” (Suzuha)

Suddenly, a hand nudged her from the side.

When she quickly glanced to her side, Yuno was standing up, mouthing “Good luck” to her.

“Alright, I’ll go to the bathroom for a bit. You think about it some more, okay, onii-chan?” (Yuno)

“R-Right! I’ll definitely come up with a good solution before you get back!” (Haruto)

“I’ll be expecting that. Suzuha-chan, keep an eye on him so he doesn’t slack off!” (Yuno)

“Y-Yeah!” (Suzuha)

“Thanks!” (Yuno)

(Thank you, Yuno-chan…)

Yuno was always so considerate whenever she was about to have an important conversation.

As Yuno opened the sliding door and put on her shoes, Suzuha watched her leave, leaving her alone in the room with him.

“Hmm… So, you don’t want to invite the boys from school because of rumors, huh… Honestly, I didn’t expect you to say that…” (Haruto)

Even in this situation, he continued to worry, but then suddenly turned his face toward her.

“Hey, Suzuha-chan… I might be bothering you with this, but do you have any ideas? Other than bringing someone reliable, any way to avoid those who might cause trouble…?” (Haruto)

“U-Um, I’m sorry… I also can’t think of anything other than that method…” (Suzuha)

The truth was, the simple idea of “asking people around you for help” popped into her head, but she couldn’t bring herself to say it.

If she did, she would lose the chance to invite him.

“So, I was thinking I should bring someone reliable too…” (Suzuha)

“Huh? Didn’t you already plan to go with some of the boys from school, that’s why you needed the swimsuit?” (Haruto)

“N-No, that’s not it! I only planned to go with Yuno-chan…” (Suzuha)

This was the one thing she absolutely couldn’t afford to let be misunderstood.

She put more strength into her voice and waved her hands widely, making sure it reached him properly even if he was drunk.

“Really!?” (Haruto)

“Yes!” (Suzuha)

She nodded emphatically.

“Then even more reason why you should have someone like that… Both of you looked really good in your swimsuits, and you’re both kind, so I think people would find it easy to approach you.” (Haruto)

“……” (Suzuha)

Even though he had said, ‘It would be nice if a day like today where everyone could hang out together comes again’, even though Yuno had narrowed down the conditions by saying ‘I don’t want to invite any of the boys from school’, he still didn’t even try connecting himself with the solution, not even as a joke.

He never tried to prioritize himself, no matter the situation.

Because he was that clumsy and kind-hearted, she realized even more that she couldn’t stay passive.

She was once again reminded that if she didn’t take the step to invite him, her feelings would never be conveyed.

(I-I’m just saying something that’s obvious… just something obvious…)

Trying to suppress the embarrassment rising within her, Suzuha tightly gripped the glass that still had some ice left, and looked at the space between his eyebrows.

She made it seem like their eyes were meeting, focused on not letting her voice tremble, and opened her mouth.

“U-Um… I couldn’t find the courage to say it before, but… would it be okay if the reliable person… was Haruto-oniisan?” (Suzuha)

“Hm? …Eh, me!?” (Haruto)

“I-I know it’s selfish, but… from the beginning, I had decided that I wanted Haruto-oniisan to choose my swimsuit…” (Suzuha)

“Is that really true!?” (Haruto)

“Y-Yes… There’s no other boy I would rather invite than Haruto-oniisan…” (Suzuha)

Her face had already been burning hot as if she’d gotten a burn for a while now.

She was probably even redder in the face than he was now…

But still, she had managed to say it properly.

Because he was drunk, and they were alone together, it had been easier to express.

“If you say that… I might take it seriously, you know?” (Haruto)

“If you don’t take it seriously, I’ll be the one in trouble…” (Suzuha)

(Seriously… I’ll be in trouble…)

“Then… shall we go together? The three of us can go somewhere where we can wear our swimsuits next time.” (Haruto)

“Y-Yeah! Let’s definitely go, okay?” (Suzuha)

“Got it!” (Haruto)

(Fufu… I did it.)

It was the first time she had invited him. And the fact that he hadn’t turned her down—

Under the sunken kotatsu table, she couldn’t help but kick her feet in delight.

Her face relaxed so much that she couldn’t let anyone see her.

Just having this plan set made her so happy that she felt she wouldn’t mind if it got postponed to next year or even the year after.

“Um, please let me know once the plans are decided… Haruto-oniisan.” (Suzuha)

“Okay!” (Haruto)

A few minutes after this joyful promise was made, the shoji door slid open, and Yuno came back inside.

“Sorry for the wait! So, onii-chan, did you come up with anything?” (Yuno)

“Uh, how about me coming along? Or rather, if anything happens, I’ll protect you, so I would prefer if I could come along.” (Haruto)

“I see. That’s a good idea. I’d want to praise you, but I bet you had Suzuha-chan help you out, didn’t you?” (Yuno)

“Haha… bingo.” (Haruto)

Feeling that she had secured such an important promise, Suzuha thought she could now relax and just enjoy listening to their conversation.

That assumption, however, turned out to be wrong.

“If you got help from her, you should think about it once you sober up, okay? About why Suzuha-chan asked you, and why she wanted to wear the swimsuit you liked.” (Yuno)

“!? ” (Suzuha)

“I will. I’ll properly think about it and repay the favor, Suzuha-chan.” (Haruto)

“…That’s, um, well…” (Suzuha)

Because of the alcohol, he listened obediently without wondering “why?”

If he managed to find the right answer, there was no doubt he would figure it out.

Her feelings of love and her desire for him to love her back would surely be exposed.

But…

“…Y-Yes. I’ll be looking forward to it.” (Suzuha)

She put on a brave face to take a step forward.

To become closer to him.

To not lose to a woman named Aya.

To be able to rely on him even more—

∮

The three of them returned home, enjoying the pleasant night breeze and reflecting on the events of the day.

“Eh, no way.” (Yuno)

“Ah.” (Suzuha)

After finishing setting up Suzuha’s bedding in Yuno’s room and returning to the living room, the two of them found Haruto collapsed on the sofa.

“Onii-chan is seriously asleep.” (Yuno)

“Fufu, I just heard him say ‘Are you okay~?’ a moment ago.” (Suzuha)

“For him to end up like this in just two or three minutes, it’s basically passing out… I mean, it’s impressive he dropped right after fulfilling his duty.” (Yuno)

Yuno, leaning her arm against the back of the sofa, poked Haruto’s stomach.

Given the time, it should have been a light sleep, but without showing any reaction, he simply slept peacefully.

He appeared to be completely fast asleep.

“Just how far past his limit was he?” (Yuno)

“But, as expected of Haruto-oniisan. Even in that state, he still cared about us…” (Suzuha)

“It would’ve been perfect if he hadn’t crashed right here though. He’s too heavy to move.” (Yuno)

“Would it be difficult for the two of us to carry him together…?” (Suzuha)

“I don’t think it’s impossible, but if we dropped him, it’d be dangerous, so let’s just leave him like this.” (Yuno)

Of course, in Yuno’s mind, the option of “waking him up” did cross her thoughts.

However, she chose not to, because she felt it would be “a little too pitiful.”

“Ah, Suzuha-chan. You can at least touch his hand if you want. Onii-chan’s definitely not waking up now, and honestly, it’s his fault for falling asleep here.” (Yuno)

“I wasn’t planning to do that!?” (Suzuha)

“Is that really true?” (Yuno)

“I-It is…” (Suzuha)

Suzuha ended up being misunderstood, as if the reason she suggested carrying Haruto-oniisan was because she wanted to touch him.

Of course, she had no such ulterior motive; it was purely because she thought, “He would be comfortable if he rested in bed,” but she had already built up enough suspicious behavior for it to be misunderstood.

“Because, you know, Suzuha-chan pretended to be scared just to grab onii-chan’s hand back then when we were watching that movie.” (Yuno)

The moment Yuno said that while raising her index finger, Suzuha jolted and started backing away.

And before their eyes, her face turned increasingly red.

It was only natural that Yuno would gain confidence from this reaction, and next, she raised her middle finger too, forming a ‘v’.

“On top of that, Suzuha-chan purposely chose strong alcohol to get onii-chan drunk, it all makes sense, doesn’t it?” (Yuno)

“U-Um… Yuno-chan, that’s really a misunderstanding…” (Suzuha)

“…Eh. Really!?” (Yuno)

“Yes…” (Suzuha)

The reason Yuno was so surprised, even though she believed Suzuha, was because she could sense when Suzuha was telling the truth.

“I’m really sorry! It’s just that onii-chan’s face was so red, I got worried… you know? When I used the restroom, I looked up the drink he had on my phone, and that’s what came up, so I just assumed…” (Yuno)

Suzuha was also seen looking up ‘strong alcohol’ on her phone before Haruto drank so it was understandable that Yuno would end up misunderstanding her.

“I only looked up strong alcohol because I thought if it was weak, Haruto-oniisan wouldn’t feel like he was actually drinking… And since he said he would pay for it, I thought it would be more fitting if he got the most out of it.” (Suzuha)

“Ah, aaah. So that’s what it was!? Seriously, thanks for thinking about that.” (Yuno)

Yuno seemed convinced while Suzuha was nervously fidgeting with her fingertips as she explained.

Though Suzuha was wrapped in a feeling of happiness, it didn’t last long.

“But! As you can clearly see from onii-chan now, that alcohol was way too strong.” (Yuno)

Taking one, two, three steps closer, Yuno pinched Suzuha’s beautiful face between her thumb and index finger and spoke.

“Uu… I’ll research more about alcohol content next time…” (Suzuha)

“――Please do. So, if there’s a next time, make sure to pick something a little gentler, okay, Suzuha-chan?” (Yuno)

“…Y-Yeah!” (Suzuha)

“Thanks, thanks!” (Yuno)

Hearing that response, Yuno nodded with satisfaction, released Suzuha’s cheeks, and started moving again to check off the rest of her mental list.

“Then, I’ll go get a futon from onii-chan’s room and start filling up the bath, so Suzuha-chan, just relax and watch some TV.” (Yuno)

“Y-You don’t have to do it all by yourself! You can leave the bath to me.” (Suzuha)

“If you don’t want me to spill what you did at the movie theater to onii-chan, I think it’d be wise to listen to me.” (Yuno)

“Mouu…” (Suzuha)

“No need to make that face~” (Yuno)

It was only because they both wanted to make things easier for the other that they clashed like this.

“Ah, then Suzuha-chan, could you lock the front door for me? Even just that would really help.” (Yuno)

“Unnn…” (Suzuha)

Even though she finally got permission to help, it was a task that would only take a few seconds to finish.

It was only natural for Suzuha to hesitate, but Yuno couldn’t bring herself to compromise either.

“Please, Suzuha-chan. If we make a guest who’s staying over fill up the bath, onii-chan will get mad at me.” (Yuno)

“You’re saying such unfair things…” (Suzuha)

“I’m really sorry. But in exchange, I’ll keep quiet about the movie theater thing and the alcohol thing.” (Yuno)

“…Okay, I understand. Thank you, Yuno-chan.” (Suzuha)

“Same here.” (Yuno)

Though it wasn’t exactly a fair compromise, by meeting halfway, they managed to settle their feelings.

With that, Suzuha headed toward the entrance and locked the door, while Yuno went into Haruto’s room.

Even though they were family, from this point on, privacy was a matter to consider.

Yuno, trying not to look too much around the room, quietly grabbed the futon from the bed and tiptoed down the hallway, creeping toward the living room.

“…” (Yuno)

Then, peeking out from the door that connected the hallway to the living room, she caught sight of exactly what she had expected.

With the lively sounds of the TV playing behind her, Suzuha was sitting in a girlish posture in front of the sofa, timidly intertwining her fingers with the hand of the sleeping Haruto.

More than that, even though she was the one doing it, Suzuha lowered her gaze shyly, her face clearly flustered.

She probably couldn’t forget the feeling of holding hands back at the movie theater.

“…Looks like Suzuha-chan fell even more for him after today.” (Yuno)

Muttering her honest impression under her breath, Yuno gently placed the futon she was holding down on the spot.

So as not to disturb them, even for just a little while, she quietly made her way to the bathroom to start filling the tub.

Later that night.

Inside the house, not a single sound could be heard.

In the darkness of the living room, where only the soft breathing of one person could be heard, a shadow quietly crept closer.

The figure, moving cautiously as if trying to erase their presence, approached the sofa in a straight line and waved her hand in front of the sleeping face to confirm that he was still deeply asleep.

Once convinced—through a method full of holes—that he was indeed sleeping, the figure sat down in a girlish pose right beside him.

“……” (Guess who)

Listening to his steady, gentle breathing, the figure took a moment to steel her heart…

Then, leaning their upper body forward, she gently embraced his unresisting form and pressed her cheek against his.

“!!” (Guess who)

However, this was only for a brief moment.

As soon as the person sleeping on the sofa showed a slight twitch, the figure felt a sense of danger.

Like a small animal fleeing from a threat, the shadow quickly returned to Yuno’s room, hiding her flushed face and hurriedly settling into bed.

∮

It was just past 7 AM the next morning.

“Oh, looks like he went back to his room to sleep. A bit unexpected.” (Yuno)

“I wonder when he woke up…?” (Suzuha)

“Hmm. The sofa’s not warm anymore, so it doesn’t seem like it was recent.” (Yuno)

“I see…” (Suzuha)

Even on a Sunday, both Yuno and Suzuha woke up at their usual time and entered the living room, only to find that Haruto, who had been sleeping on the sofa, was no longer there.

“Is something on your mind?” (Yuno)

“N-No, nothing at all.” (Suzuha)

“Ah, you don’t have to deny it so strongly.” (Yuno)

Seeing Suzuha shaking her head vigorously in an exaggerated manner, Yuno couldn’t help but laugh.

“Alright! I’ll quickly whip up breakfast. I’d like to tell you to relax and wait, Suzuha-chan, but… you wouldn’t listen, would you?” (Yuno)

It was something only a close friend could understand.

When she tilted her head to confirm, she saw a big nod in response.

“Then, I guess I’ll have to ask you to handle the serving, Suzuha-chan.” (Yuno)

“Okay! Got it!” (Suzuha)

To be honest, Suzuha wanted to help with cooking, even if clumsily, and support her as much as possible, but she could tell that Yuno wanted to put in her all today.

Seeing it as a compromise, she obediently agreed.

By the time the sunlight began to pour into the living room, and the pleasant smell started filling the air…

“By the way, Suzuha-chan, are you okay? Did you not sleep well yesterday?” (Yuno)

“!!” (Suzuha)

After finishing the serving, Suzuha, feeling a bit idle, was suddenly addressed by Yuno with a sharp tone.

“No, that’s not true!” (Suzuha)

“Really…? It just seems like you’re yawning a lot today. You know, they say that when your bed changes, it can be harder to fall asleep, even if you’ve stayed over a few times.” (Yuno)

While Yuno was efficiently handling the housework, she was still aware of her surroundings, especially since she was living with Haruto, whom she couldn’t take her eyes off of for long.

Noticing how often Suzuha had her hand near her mouth, Yuno grinned and decided to drop a word that would wake her up.

“If it’s like that, you could take a quick nap, you know? Onii-chan is still asleep. If you want, you could even crawl into his bed.” (Yuno)

“Eh…?” (Suzuha)

“Since he’s drunk, he probably won’t wake up that easily.” (Yuno)

“…” (Suzuha)

Hearing Yuno’s words, Suzuha blinked rapidly, her face turning red.

“—I-In that case…” (Suzuha)

“—Of course, that was just a joke.” (Yuno)

At this point, their voices accidentally overlapped.

“!?!” (Suzuha)

“Eh!?” (Yuno)

Both of them froze in panic.

“Ah, Yu-Yuno-chan, that’s a misunderstanding!? I was just planning to take a nap in your room…!” (Suzuha)

“Nonono! You totally took what I said seriously! That’s definitely not okay! Onii-chan might end up doing something weird without realizing it!” (Yuno)

“But he’s sleeping?” (Suzuha)

“No, Suzuha-chan, you definitely don’t get it! Onii-chan moves around a lot, even when he’s sleeping!” (Yuno)

Neither of them was willing to back down, and they continued to argue playfully.

In the middle of this, footsteps echoed from the hallway.

The person in question has just arrived.

“Good morning, you two~!” (Haruto)

Haruto, unaware of the whole situation, entered the living room with a blanket draped over his shoulder, in a cheerful mood.

“Good morning, Haruto-oniisan…” (Suzuha)

“Yeah! Good morning, Suzuha-chan.” (Haruto)

Haruto returned the greeting with a smile as he bowed his head slightly to Suzuha, then turned his attention to Yuno’s voice.

“You woke up quite early, especially after drinking last night.” (Yuno)

“Ah, well, that’s probably because… I woke up in the middle of the night and drank a lot of water. My throat was really dry.” (Haruto)

“I see. So that’s why.” (Yuno)

“By the way, thanks for covering me with the blanket. I’m not sure if it was Yuu or Suzuha-chan, but it really helped.” (Haruto)

“Yeah, yeah. You didn’t have to bring it up. Just hurry and put it back.” (Yuno)

“Ahaha, got it.” (Haruto)

“…” (Suzuha)

While this exchange took place, Yuno noticed Suzuha casting a heated glance toward Haruto.

Her face was flushed, as if she was excited, clearly showing how eager she had been to see him.

Realizing that Suzuha had taken the previous joke seriously, Yuno waited for the right moment as Haruto headed out of the living room to return the blanket, and then spoke up.

“Hey, onii-chan, just be careful not to make anyone resent you.” (Yuno)

“Huh? Why all of a sudden?!” (Haruto)

Yuno, now fully understanding how serious Suzuha’s feelings were—especially considering her popularity at school—spoke her mind.