BSS – Vol 2 Chapter 4 Part 3 – The British Stepsister Wants to Get Along with the Yamato Nadeshiko

“—Dad, please help me.” (Kento)

It was right after we had finished dinner together.

I bowed my head to my father.

“H-Hey, what’s going on all of a sudden? You’re not acting like yourself…” (Dad)

Since I rarely bow to my father, he seemed confused.

Jessica-san looked surprised and turned to me, while the only one who knew the reason, Sophia, also bowed her head just like I did.

“Dad, please.” (Sophia)

“Sophia-chan too!? What’s going on with both of you!? First, raise your heads and explain what’s happening!” (Dad)

The moment Sophia, his stepdaughter, bowed too, my father was clearly shaken.

Good, we’ve completely shifted the pace to ours.

“I’m sorry for asking this out of the blue, but I’d like you to be Sophia’s tutor.” (Kento)

Not only does Dad work as a math teacher at the high school where Jessica-san teaches English, but he also graduated from a high-ranking school and university, so his academic background is impressive.

Apparently, my dad had worked part-time as a high school tutor during his university days, so there couldn’t be anyone more qualified than him.

And since he lives in the same house, he can adjust his time accordingly.

The only issue is that I’m asking my dad, who’s probably tired after work, but I’m sure he’ll make an effort for his beloved daughter.

“Sophia-chan’s tutor…? I could understand if it was for you, Kento, with your bad grades, but Sophia-chan doesn’t need that, does she…?” (Dad)

Hey, Dad.

Don’t just casually diss your son like that.

Besides, my bad grades were only up until middle school. My grades are good now in the Sports Course, which has easy tests.

Even back in middle school, I was barely below average, so I don’t think it’s something worth throwing shade at me for.

Feeling slightly disgruntled, I complained silently in my head.

“Could it be that you want to quit the cram school?” (Jessica)

Unlike my dad, Jessica-san seemed to quickly figure out the reason for the request, sensing her own daughter’s feelings.

It would be more natural to ask Jessica, her biological mother, for help. However, she teaches English, which happens to be Sophia’s strongest subject. Therefore, it wasn’t really a priority. Since Sophia can manage English on her own, I decided to ask my dad instead.

“Yeah… I want to join the baseball club and become the manager… To do that, I’ll need to quit cram school due to time constraints…” (Sophia)

Dad, hearing this for the first time, was surprised and looked at me with suspicion. But even if he glared at me, I hadn’t done anything wrong.

Any misunderstandings would likely be cleared up by Jessica-san later.

She had already subtly pinched Dad’s cheek to stop him from glaring.

…It’s hard to tell because he’s so kind, but my dad has somehow been completely dominated by Jessica.

“She’ll be using the study time she had for cram school for the baseball club, and honestly, I’m not sure how well she’ll be able to maintain my grades with a tutor. However, I’d like to try this approach first, and if her grades drop significantly, we can consider other options.” (Kento)

I answered Jessica-san like that.

To be honest, even though Dad has tutoring experience, I’m not sure what the outcome will be. As a teacher, his skills are likely still sharp, but when compared to a cram school instructor, there’s a good chance his expertise outside of his specialized subject could be lacking.

On top of that, since the time Sophia used to spend studying independently at home would now be used for her tutoring sessions, her total study time would be significantly less compared to when she was attending cram school.

How much of her intelligence she can compensate for this reduction in study time is something we won’t know until we try.

“I see… I understand the situation.” (Jessica)

Jessica-san, who had originally wanted Sophia to join the baseball club, likely wouldn’t oppose this idea.

The real issue was how to block off any possible escape routes for Dad… or so I thought…

“I have two conditions. If you agree to them, you can quit the cram school.” (Jessica)

Unexpectedly, Jessica-san asked us to accept her conditions.

This twist was completely unforeseen, so both Sophia and I exchanged looks.

“Don’t worry, I’m not asking for anything unreasonable. For the first condition, I’ll take over teaching all subjects except for math.” (Jessica)

“Jessica-san… is going to teach…?! But, well…” (Kento)

She is fluent in Japanese, but I haven’t heard that she studied in Japan.

Given that she hasn’t been taught subjects like history, geography, or classical literature—subjects that Japanese students learn—wouldn’t that be a bit too much for her?

I’m not too worried about Dad, as he’s already traveled this path, but…

“Don’t worry. She’s far smarter than I am and very diligent, so she has a deep understanding of Japanese history, classical literature, and many other subjects. If she’s teaching Sophia, she’s far more qualified than I am.” (Dad)

Noticing that Sophia and I were both confused, Dad added that explanation.

So, Sophia’s sharp mind comes from Jessica-san, I guess.

As someone who doesn’t know Jessica-san’s background in detail, I do feel a bit uncertain about whether I should take Dad’s word for it. But surprisingly, Dad is a very responsible person.

Given that he made this suggestion after understanding the situation, I’m inclined to believe that Jessica-san is indeed diligent and knowledgeable about history, and it’s likely not a lie.

It might actually be easier for Jessica-san to teach than Dad, who’s not her biological parent. Maybe I should give it a try and leave it to her.

If it doesn’t work, I can always ask again. And since this was a condition put forward, I don’t have much choice but to accept.

“I think it’s fine if we go with Jessica-san, but is that okay with you, Sophia?” (Kento)

Since I had originally told her I’d ask Dad, I needed to confirm things with her now that the plan was changing.

“Y-Yeah…” (Sophia)

Sophia slowly nodded her head.

She seemed shaken, but it was probably because it was now going to be Jessica-san, not Dad, who would be teaching her.

…Wait, no. It looks less like she’s just shaken, and more like… she’s actually scared?

What is she so scared of…?

The answer came to me right away.

“Hehe, you can leave it to me. She’s my daughter, after all. I’ll make sure to teach her well. Oh, I’ll be tough about it, of course.” (Jessica)

With her hand on her cheek, Jessica-san smiled sweetly, her expression so lovely.

Behind her, it almost looked like flames were burning up.

…She’s fired up.

“Eeek!?” (Sophia)

Faced with her switched-on mother, Sophia couldn’t help but flinch and let out a startled noise.

So, Jessica-san might usually be gentle, but it seems she has a scary side after all…

Well, I’m glad it’s not me.

“Looks like it’s definitely better than having Dad teach her.” (Kento)

With that kind of enthusiasm, I’m sure she’ll keep a close eye on Sophia’s studies.

She seems so strict, almost like a demon, so honestly, I wouldn’t be surprised if Sophia’s grades not only stayed the same but actually improved.

“You’re so nonchalant about this…!?” (Sophia)

Well, the person who should be most concerned, Sophia, is on the verge of tears.

There’s nothing I can do to swap places with her, so it can’t be helped.

“Let’s start by trying it tonight. We’ll use the time she normally spends on self-study. Once she quits cram school, we’ll continue like this, so getting used to it is important.” (Jessica)

“Hey, Kento-kun! My mom’s doing something weird?! She talks about ‘getting used to it’ but her eyes are all intense!” (Sophia)

Pointing at her mother, who was setting the plan while giving off an unspoken pressure, Sophia clung to me with teary eyes.

Looking at her expression, it seems there’s no chance of her easing into it. I can already easily picture the scene where she’ll be tough from day one.

“She’s doing this for your sake, so you have to try your best.” (Kento)

“Ugh, traitor…!” (Sophia)

No, I’m not betraying you.

The plan just changed a little.

Besides, once Jessica-san got this motivated, there’s nothing I can do anymore.

“So, what’s the second condition?” (Kento)

I asked, glancing sideways at Sophia, who was looking at me resentfully. We hadn’t discussed the final condition yet.

The first one had been quite impactful, so I was bracing myself for the second one…

“The second one is simple. After the study session with me at night, you’ll stop studying on your own and make sure you get a good night’s sleep. If you follow that, it’ll be fine.” (Jessica)

Surprisingly, the second condition was quite gentle.

However, Jessica’s intention behind it was easy to understand.

In fact, I was relieved to hear this condition, so I felt thankful.

“Eh, is it really okay with such a simple condition…?” (Sophia)

But it seemed that Sophia hadn’t picked up on Jessica-san’s intention, and she asked hesitantly.

This made Jessica-san sigh, seemingly in disbelief.

“I had to say it, otherwise you’d keep cutting into your sleep time to study, right? I don’t want you doing that during your growth period. Not only is it bad for your health, but it’s also bad for your beauty, so you’d better stop. I’ll make sure you study enough during the time I give you, so you won’t have to do that.” (Jessica)

“Ah, haha…” (Sophia)

Jessica-san smiled brilliantly as she spoke, causing Sophia to let out a dry laugh.

If Jessica-san were to drill Sophia’s academic skills within a limited time to ensure she gets enough sleep, it was clear that she’d be put through a tough regimen.

Good luck, Sophia.

“What happens if she breaks the rule?” (Kento)

I asked about the consequences, wanting to make sure Sophia gets her proper sleep.

“If she breaks it, she’ll have to quit the baseball club.” (Jessica)

“That’s strict…” (Kento)

I had expected there to be some punishment, but the reality was far more severe than I imagined.

Being kicked out of the club for one slip-up seemed way too harsh, and it even felt like it contradicted Jessica-san’s wish for Sophia to join the club in the first place.

“She’ll hide and study on her own otherwise.” (Jessica)

“Ah, I see.” (Kento)

As expected of a mother… She really understands Sophia.

“It’s frustrating that you agreed so easily, though…” (Sophia)

Apparently, Sophia wasn’t happy with me agreeing so quickly, as she shot me a sharp look from beside me.

She probably already knows this without me having to say it…

“Well, Jessica-san’s right, isn’t she?” (Kento)

When exams approach, I can easily imagine her sneaking off to study secretly.

“Huh… You really know how to talk back, huh…? You’ve got guts…” (Sophia)

It seemed like she thought I was teasing her, as she gave me a strained smile, her eyebrows twitching in irritation.

We hadn’t been fighting lately since we’d gotten along better, but it seemed like her temper was still quick to flare.

“I’m telling you now, no studying by waking up earlier, got it? If you want to study at school like you usually do, that’s fine, but if you wake up earlier to study, then there’s no point in deciding your bedtime.” (Jessica)

While Sophia glared at me with a forced smile, Jessica-san made sure to lay down the rule.

If she can’t study at night, there’s a chance she’d wake up even earlier to do it. Given that she already wakes up early, allowing her to wake up any earlier would be unreasonable.

“It feels like my life just got a lot tighter…” (Sophia)

Sophia puffed out her lips in frustration, clearly unhappy about having her sleep, wake-up, and study times all decided for her.

I understood what she was trying to say, but since she was trying to maintain her academic performance while being the manager of the baseball club, it couldn’t be helped.

“To do what you want while not neglecting other things, that’s what you need to work on. You should learn from Kento.” (Jessica)

“Eh, me…?” (Kento)

I was suddenly brought up as an example, and I became bewildered.

“Even though you’re still in high school, you manage yourself well, don’t you? Even though you’re exhausted from club activities every day, you make a schedule for yourself and do independent training. You’re a good kid because you can think about what’s necessary for your future and work hard.” (Jessica)

“U-Um, Jessica-san… How?” (Kento)

I wasn’t prepared for this sudden praise, and I was hit with a wave of embarrassment.

I had made sure to keep my independent training a secret, but what she said—about knowing what’s needed for my future—did she somehow find out what I was doing in my room…?

Wait, how did she know…?

“Kento-kun is amazing, I know that better than mom…” (Sophia)

And for some reason, Sophia started competing with her.

Looking at her expression, it seemed like she was sulking, but I couldn’t understand why she suddenly decided to compete.

Was she trying to take out her frustrations about all the new rules being imposed on her in this way…?

“Before saying such things, you should make sure you can properly read the other person. You’re still far from being able to compete with your mother, you know?” (Jessica)

“What’s that supposed to mean…! I definitely know more than you…!” (Sophia)

When Jessica-san tilted her head with a confident smile, it probably got on Sophia’s nerves.

Sophia became stubborn.

She must have a lower tolerance when it comes to her mother than with others.

I understand her well, since I feel the same when it comes to my father.

—Wait, this isn’t the time to be watching this leisurely.

“Jessica-san, thank you for listening to our selfishness. And thank you, Dad. We’ll talk about the details tomorrow, so please bear with us.” (Kento)

I said that, then quickly grabbed Sophia’s hand and led her out of the dining room.

There wouldn’t be anything good coming from letting them continue their argument.

Well, Jessica-san was handling it with ease, so maybe Sophia was just losing the argument anyway.

“Ugh, this is so annoying…!” (Sophia)

As I pulled her hand and we climbed the stairs, Sophia let out an angry voice.

“Are you still angry…?” (Kento)

Even though the person she was angry with was no longer around, Sophia seemed to be fuming.

She was the type to hold onto things, so I figured this was probably inevitable…

“Because there’s no way mom knows more about Kento-kun than I do…! We’ve spent way more time together than she has…!” (Sophia)

It seemed that Sophia was upset about Jessica-san knowing more about me than she did.

To be honest, I didn’t really think it was something to be upset about…

And besides, I didn’t think the amount of time spent together necessarily meant you knew someone better.

It came down to how much attention you paid to the other person, how interested you were in them. That was what truly made the difference.

If you paid enough attention to someone, you could start to understand them, even without spending all that much time with them. On the other hand, even if you’d spent a long time with someone, if you weren’t interested in them, you probably wouldn’t know them very well at all.

In Sophia’s case, she wasn’t the type to show much interest in others. Naturally, she hadn’t been very interested in me either and had actually avoided me for a long time.

On the contrary, Jessica-san had been trying to see me as a son and had made the effort to connect with me, so it wasn’t surprising that Jessica-san knew more about me than Sophia.

Actually, Jessica-san had talk to me much longer than Sophia had.

But if I said that, Sophia would probably get even angrier, so I kept it to myself.

“I think you were just teased, so maybe you shouldn’t worry about it?” (Kento)

I was unsure how to calm her down, so I decided to just laugh it off.

Since Sophia was worked up, she was probably just upset in the heat of the moment, and once she calmed down, she’d stop caring about it.

“Even so, I don’t like it…!” (Sophia)

“Eh…” (Kento)

Is she really this upset?

This is already…

“Sophia knows more about me than anyone.” (Kento)

“Right? I knew it…!” (Sophia)

It seemed like Sophia wasn’t going to calm down unless I agreed with her.

On the contrary, by acknowledging it, Sophia’s face lit up with a smile, as if a little puppy was wagging its tail in excitement.

She was still the same, a bit confusing at times.

But, since she was cute, I thought it was fine as it was.

I almost wanted to pat her head, but since she wasn’t weak at the moment, I held myself back.

“More importantly, you’re lucky. Jessica-san agreed to be your tutor.” (Kento)

And, Dad would help out too.

“That’s…” (Sophia)

However, Sophia looked at me with dissatisfaction.

She muttered something under her breath, but it seemed she wasn’t happy about Jessica-san being her tutor.

“Is Jessica-san really that scary?” (Kento)

When she first came to our house, Sophia showed a fearful expression around Jessica-san.

But from my perspective, having interacted with Jessica-san, she seemed more like a kind mother—or rather, an older sister.

I didn’t think she was scary, and I had no negative feelings toward her.

“Normally, she’s kind… but when she gets angry, she’s scarier than a demon… And when she switches on, she’s really strict…” (Sophia)

Sophia seemed to be recalling the time when she was scolded, clutching her head and shaking with fear.

She was so scared, yet she had dared to bite back earlier… Is she out of her mind?

The “switch” she mentioned was probably the moment earlier when Jessica-san had that fiery aura surrounding her.

She had said something about being strict with Sophia, so it was clear that Sophia was in for a tough time.

“Well, the truth is, we kind of need her to do that, so we’ll have to push through it.” (Kento)

If there was any better plan, we’d consider it, but right now, having Jessica-san as the tutor was the best option available.

“Ugh… I’ll try my best… but…” (Sophia)

“But?” (Kento)

“…I might want a reward for my effort…” (Sophia)

Sophia twirled her hair with her finger, glancing up at me with a shy look.

A reward… It feels like joining the baseball club was supposed to be the reward, but if Jessica-san’s strictness is really that intense, she might need a reward each time just to get through it.

Sophia had been eating her pancakes with a happy look on her face, so I asked her.

“Are you thinking of something like pancakes from a family restaurant or cakes you can buy at a shop as your reward?” (Kento)

“That’d make me gain weight, so no way!” (Sophia)

When I gave a specific example, she immediately denied it.

Despite her slim figure, she seems quite sensitive about gaining weight.

Plus, I’d start worrying about her health, and my allowance definitely wouldn’t cover it.

“Do you have anything in mind?” (Kento)

In situations like this, it’s better to try and fulfill what Sophia wants to keep her motivated.

If she asks for something impossible, I’ll have to decline, but I’ll try to be as accommodating as I can.

“…Lend me your hand…” (Sophia)

“Eh?” (Kento)

“Just, give me your hand…” (Sophia)

For some reason, Sophia suddenly asked for my hand.

…I don’t know why, but this is kind of scary, right?

Because, honestly, I have no idea what she might do.

I hesitated, not understanding why she was asking for my hand.

She said it was a reward, so it shouldn’t be something too bad, but…

“…” (Sophia)

As I stood there conflicted, Sophia silently grabbed my right hand with both of hers.

“Wait!? What are you doing!?” (Kento)

“You wouldn’t lend it to me…” (Sophia)

Sophia pouted, looking dissatisfied.

Wait, is she sulking because I didn’t just give her my hand right away?

While I was trying to figure it out, she kept glancing up at my face.

It seemed like she was trying to gauge my reaction, maybe realizing that being forceful might not be the best approach.

“…What do you want me to do…?” (Kento)

I decided to ask her directly what she wanted, just to clarify.

Then, slowly, she guided my hand toward her head.

“—!?” (Kento)

I was completely taken off guard. I never expected Sophia, who didn’t seem particularly weak, to do something like this.

Could it be that she’s running a fever…?

“Is this good for the reward…?” (Sophia)

She continued to gently rock my hand back and forth, clearly intending for me to pat her head.

It seemed that her idea of a reward was for me to stroke her head.

—Wait, is she really sick…?

“Should I get the thermometer…?” (Kento)

“I’m not sick…! What do you think I am…?” (Sophia)

Sophia’s cheeks were flushed, and she shot me a glare, as if frustrated.

This redness wasn’t from a fever, was it…?

Normally, Sophia wouldn’t ask for something like this on her own. It felt strange.

“Because… this is just head pats—” (Kento)

“—! N-No, it’s because…! Head pats are good for a tired mind, that’s all! It only works if someone else does it, so I’m just borrowing your hand, okay?!” (Sophia)

Before I could finish my sentence, she rapidly interrupted me, as if trying to set up a defense before I pointed it out.

But since she wasn’t speaking in English, it didn’t seem like she was too flustered.

It was clear she anticipated I’d bring it up, though.

Still… her explanation was a bit ridiculous.

Even I couldn’t be fooled by that… right?

Well, given how desperate she was to explain, it was pretty clear she wanted this…

“…I see, well, I guess there’s no helping it.” (Kento)

I suppressed my urge to tease her and pretended to believe Sophia’s words.

In truth, there was no downside to this for me; it was all upside.

Having patted Sophia’s head before, I had already developed a fondness for it. The only reason I hadn’t done it more often was that I feared she’d snap at me unless she was really out of sorts.

If she was the one asking for it, though, of course I’d want to pat her head.

“You really believed me just like that… You have a surprisingly innocent side, huh… But, I’m going to get head pats from now on…” (Sophia)

Sophia muttered something in English, though her face, which had been turned downward, seemed a little softer now.

If only she’d be more honest and just let herself openly depend on me, but as usual, she was so awkward about it…

—And so, it was decided. Every day, I’d reward Sophia’s hard work with a pat on the head.

In the days that followed, she gradually got used to communicating with Kujouin-san during lunchtime, and by night, she would be completely exhausted after intense sessions with Jessica-san.

A pleasant surprise was that studying with Jessica-san, who could teach in English, seemed to be having a tremendous effect on Sophia. At this rate, it seemed like she could maintain her grades even without attending cram school.

One of the reasons she said she was bad at studying was because she had been taught in Japanese, which seemed to be an obstacle for her.

…Well, the main factor in her maintaining her grades was probably due to Jessica-san’s harsh training.

Because of that, when Sophia’s spirits were down, she would come to me for head pats, becoming like a little child. It was endearing, and I felt somewhat privileged.

Seeing that things were progressing smoothly in solving Sophia’s issues, we decided to move forward with getting her to join the club.