CH 11

The Back and Forth of the Bennett Sisters

TL: PuffyPyjamas.

ED: Daemon.

“Well… Please come in.”

“Pardon the intrusion.”

“Pardon the intrusion~”

As I unlocked the door to my apartment, Charlotte, who was wearing a nervous expression, and Emma, who seemed to be extremely excited, entered the apartment along with me.

Charlotte’s nervousness is understandable since she’s coming in a guy’s apartment, but what’s up with Emma’s excitement?

Is she misunderstanding my apartment as a children’s attraction or something?

“So this is a guy’s room…”

Charlotte is observing around with great interest while proceeding further into the apartment.

I understand that entering the apartment of someone from the opposite sex is quite rare, but please spare me from this embarrasement.

“Um, Charlotte-san? If you look around with so much interest, I’ll be a little embarrassed…” 

“I-I’m sorry.”

Charlotte, who was called out by me, blushed and apologized. Is she embarrassed by the things she observed? She was embarrassed about her sweat as well, maybe she is a shy person by nature.

Well, it may seem like I was able to keep my cool, but frankly, my heart was beating so fast that I thought it would burst.

Why does Charlotte have to make such a cute face when I am already so nervous just by letting her into my apartment? That’s just unfair.

It seemed I can no longer look directly at the adorably blushing Charlotte.

“Onii-chan, can you please sit here?”

Emma, ​​who jumped past me and approached the center of the room, tapped on the floor with her palm.

We’re technically inside my house, but this girl is as carefree as ever.

Ignoring unnecessary details, I sit down at the spot designated by Emma.

I didn’t plan for unexpected guests to show up to my house, so I don’t have any extra cushions.

I feel bad for Charlotte and Emma, but they will have to sit on the floor for now.

“Onii-chan, can you remove your hand?”

When I sat cross-legged on the ground, Emma asked me to lift my hand which was resting on my thigh. I am not sure, but I relocated my hand as Emma asked me to do.

Then——

“Hehehe~”

――Emma settled down on my lap.

“Emma!?”

“Emma-chan!?”

Charlotte and my voices overlapped because of Emma’s incomprehensible behaviour. Who could’ve expected her to sit on my lap? Emma, the subject of our disbelief, merrily sways her body while ignoring our excessive reactions.

While I was thinking so, she leaned back on my chest. I just can’t keep up with the situation any longer.

“Emma, you can’t do that. Aoyagi-kun is troubled, you see?”

Charlotte, who managed to recover before me, reached her hand out to pull Emma off my lap.

“No…!” 

However, Emma vigorously shook her head in refusal. On the contrary, she hugs me as if to proclaim that she won’t leave me for all of eternity.

“Geez~ Listen to what I am saying! Please don’t trouble me any further!”

“No~! Onee-chan is a meanie!”

“I am being mean~! I just don’t want to bother Aoyagi-kun!”

“It doesn’t bother him! Right, Onii-chan?”

The Bennett sisters are fighting all over my legs. I was watching over them, not knowing how to react, when all of a sudden, the conversation was directed towards me. Emma was pouting while looking up at me, and on the other hand, Charlotte was mouthing the words, “Say no”. 

Which side should I pick? Emma is a child, so I want to side with her, but I would rather decline if Charlotte really doesn’t like the current situation.

However, if I refuse, I would be betraying Emma.

There is no way I can pick a side… Why am I being placed in such a difficult situation inside my house… 

A third party looking at this situation would probably ask, “What the hell are you talking about?”. However, it is a very serious problem for me. I can’t betray either of them.

“Onii-chan…” 

While I was stuck and could’t give an answer, Emma looked at me with teary-eyes. Looking at her eyes, I could feel the looming question within them, “Is it really not alright…?”

…I am sorry, Charlotte.

“Yeah, it really doesn’t bother me. If Emma wishes to sit, she is free to do so.”

Emma’s eyes were hurting me, so I decided on siding with Emma. Listening to my answer, Emma’s facial expression brightened, on the contrary, Charlotte had a troubled expression. What would happen if Charlotte thinks of me as a lolicon… I am seriously worried.

“Aoyagi-kun is a very kind person…” 

“Umm, I am sorry.”

“No, it’s me who should be asking for forgiveness. I apologize for the inconvenience my sister is causing.”

Charlotte bowed deeply and apologized for Emma’s actions. There wasn’t a need for Charlotte to apologize at all, but she is as serious and sincere as ever.

“No, it’s fine. I really don’t hate it, so don’t worry about it too much.”

“Thank you… May I sit down as well?”

“Eh!? On my lap!?”

“N-no! On the floor!”

I was initially taken aback by what Charlotte was saying, but realized that I was the one being ridiculous. In the spur of the moment, I somehow misunderstood Charlotte’s intentions and said something stupid. 

“S-sorry… You can sit wherever you like.”

“W-well then, here-“

Charlotte sat at a location where we were facing each other. Well, I think it is a good place to sit. If she were to sit next to me, my heart wouldn’t be able to handle it.

“Where did you go, Onii-chan?”

While I was gazing at Charlotte’s countenance, Emma, who was in my arms, spoke up.

“Hm? I went to meet a underclassman of mine.”

“Under… classman?”

Emma didn’t seem to understand the meaning of the word ‘underclassman’, she tilted her head with a wondering look.

“Oh, it means, someone that is younger than me.”

“If so, then Emma is also your ‘underclassman’.”

“Hmm… That’s a little bit off?”

“Muuu…This is difficult…”

“Yes, it’s difficult…” 

She might not be able to understand even if I explain it to her, so I decided to end the topic on a vague note. Charlotte is silently watching us interact. I thought I should try conversing with Charlotte, but I halted after seeing Charlotte’s expression.

At that time, Emma initiated another conversation, so I responded to her in kind.

As for the reason I stopped trying to converse with Charlotte. It was because Charlotte, who was watching Emma sit on my lap, appeared to be a bit jealous.