Volume 1 - CH 5.2

In the end, the teacher assigned us seats on the bus.

For some reason, the seating arrangement that the teacher-in-charge, Suzuki-sensei, made had Shimotsuki and Ryuuzaki beside each other.

(Fate is…really quite unfair huh)

The teacher-in-charge just decided to make the seating arrangement by himself, and somehow ended up putting Ryuuzaki beside the main heroine…how many times has this happened…

“Oh, of course I’d be beside Ryuuzaki-kun again.”

Shimotsuki was already used to this though, and immediately called out to the teacher.

“U-umm…Suzuki-sensei?”

It seems like the age gap helped to reduce her shyness a little, her pronunciation was also really clear.

“I get carsick so…”

I see…she’s using the “gets sick easily” tactic to escape from Ryuuzaki. The teacher would probably think that Shimotsuki really has a weak body after seeing her act. 

“Ah, Shimotsuki-san gets carsick easily huh. Well, would you like to sit near my seat at the front?”

“S-sure!”

Suzuki-sensei was kind and courteous enough to take the hint and not cause any further troubles, seeing that Shimotsuki was acting a little suspicious. It seems like leaving Shimotsuki to him would be fine.

(Now…who am I sitting beside?)

Our group for the camp included me, Ryuuzaki, Shimotsuki, my step-sister Nakayama Azusa, my former friend Asakura Kirari and my childhood friend Hojiyou Yuzuki.

Each group had to be made up of four boys and four girls in total, and so the remaining two boys were my friends Hanagishi Souma and Ikura Tarou. I think sitting beside any of the two guys would be good but…if it was any of the other three girls, it’d be a little awkward.

I wonder what would happen. I cautiously approached the seating arrangement plan…and the words “Nakayama Azusa” were written right beside my name.

Well, I did talk a little with her a while ago, so I don’t think it’ll be that bad.

With that, I promptly got up the bus and took my seat.

My seat was by the windows at the back of the bus. Ryuuzaki and the others had not boarded the bus yet, so I just sat there idly, staring out the window.

After about 10 minutes, just as we were about to depart, Ryuuzaki and the others finally boarded the bus.

“Ah, Onii-cha…I mean, Nakayama-kun is sitting beside me.”

Azusa doesn’t call me “Onii” at school. It seems like she wants Ryuuzaki to think that we’re strangers with the same surname, so as to avoid any weird misunderstandings.

“Azusa, would you like to change seats so you can get the window seat?”

However, her putting her thoughts over mine makes her look just like a younger sister. Her selfish and demanding attitude towards me is the same as when we were at home not too long ago.

While reminiscing about those events, I transferred my seat over to her.

(I wonder how Shimotsuki feels about this?)

When I looked at her, I saw her sitting next to Suzuki-sensei and leaning against the window. She had her straw hat on, maybe to act as an eye mask.

The bus finally started to move.

“Good morning, everyone. Before we start the school camp, is everyone doing okay? We have quite some time before reaching our destination, so let me tell you guys a funny story to pass the time~”

Suzuki-sensei suddenly decided to become our “tour guide”.

That being said, all the students were busy chatting away with each other.

The bus was so noisy, I had difficulty hearing the person beside me.

“…Hey, Onii-chan.”

Azusa decided to speak to me right at this moment. 

I decided to check on Ryuuzaki and glanced diagonally backwards. He was leaning against the window with his eyes closed. Considering the noise, he probably couldn’t hear Azusa and I anyway.

After confirming that, I replied,

“Yeah? Talking to me even though Ryuuzaki is so close…there must be something you really need to tell me.”

“Yeah, kinda.”

Without meeting my eyes, she faced my reflection in the window and continued.

“Ryouma onii-chan’s temper has been pretty bad lately…”

It was about Ryuuzaki Ryouma after all, as expected.

“He’s always cold towards me…it’s like he’s worried or puzzled by something. Because of that, he doesn’t really care about me.”

Her being treated so coldly by the one she longed for, really came as a shock to her.

“And I know the reason for that. You and Shimotsuki have been getting along lately right? Ryouma Onii-chan seems really pissed about that.”

“…Have we really gotten closer together?”

“Do you have any self-awareness? It’s becoming a rumour in the classroom…after all, Shimotsuki-san is always looking at you. There’s something wrong with you if you haven’t noticed that yet.”

My worst fears had come true. We now stood out in class…

“This made me realise again–in the end, the one Ryouma Onii-chan loves the most is Shimotsuki-san…but, I love him too, you know? If this unrequited love continues, I don’t think I’ll be able to last anymore.”

It looks like the emptiness of her unrequited feelings have finally got to her.

“That’s why, I, Azusa, am going to confess to Ryouma Onii-chan.”

Finally, her feelings have exploded.

“I don’t know why I like him so much, but I just adore him. These feelings, I can’t hold them in anymore.”

She continued without waiting for my response, as if she was thinking “I can’t bear these feelings anymore so I’m just going to spit them all out.” It pained my heart a little, seeing her in such a state.

(You’ve really tried your best huh)

Azusa was facing her feelings of love with everything she had.

If that’s the case…I’ll just listen to what you have to say. Even if I’m an unworthy brother, incapable of meeting your expectations, I can do at least this much.

“Actually, there’s a legend that says ‘If you confess during the campfire at the school camp, it will surely come true’, you know.”

“Really?”

“Yeah. I think it’s a legend in our school that has been passed down for generations. On top of that, I prayed at the shrine today and today’s supposed to be my lucky day. I even brought my charm for romantic success and an item in my lucky colour. This should be enough preparation right?

Azusa told me all the things she had done to prepare for this moment.

“So, I’ll…be fine right?”

She was probably hoping for me, as her brother, to give her a little support during this period of anxiety. Of course, I had no reason to refuse.

“Ah, I think you’ll do just fine.”

Hearing my response, Azusa finally turned towards me.

I looked at her, and she laughed like she used to.

“Thanks.”

That friendly smile suddenly reminded me of how she used to be.

That reminds me, Azusa used to always wear twintails in primary school.

Her stature was small back then, and hasn’t really changed much since. Because of that, she seems young compared to the other high schoolers, and it has become a habit for people of the same level to treat her as a junior.

Seeing such a figure…it’s as if time had stopped.

Before we became step-siblings, she lost her parents in an accident.

Maybe time has stopped for her since then.

(May today be the start of her progress…)

This is my wish for her as a step-brother.

Childhood friends aren’t the only romantic partners out there. Ryuuzaki…the one who truly loves you, has always been by your side.

If Azusa can correct Ryuuzaki with her pure love, I’m sure they’ll have a happy life together. I believe in this slight possibility.

The bus continued its journey towards the destination.

I wonder if the surface of the road was uneven, because I was shaking more than usual—