With the two sisters hugging each other over there, I went and sat next to Haruko.
Mina who placed herself behind her veered away from me. That girl... If she will always be around me then I'll take it upon myself to soften her up. Ah. But I need to be alone with her.
"Your smell carried the scent of another girl, Ruki. Did you…?"
Haruko commented when she rested her head on my shoulder. Aya and the other club members were still busy at their corner and since this corner is placed in a blindspot from where they are, they couldn't see us nor the two sisters.
"I was with Kana before picking Itou from her club. Ah. You haven't met Kana yet."
Since we had just finished and all that time Kana's too close to me, her scent was already stuck on me.
"Kana? Do you mean that cute and shy third year?"
So Haruko already heard of her. Well, we're first years so the seniors were still a bit unknown from us. Kana is probably somewhat popular, even with her being shy like that, or that trait of hers made her popular.
Telling Haruko about my other girls, this is already quite normal. She even watched the process of me stealing someone before.
"I see. She's one of your new girls. To think you'll start with her."
We're chatting casually while the two were still locked in their embrace. It's like those two haven't seen each other for many years. Now I'm wondering how they act at their house.
"Err… I chanced upon them during the 1st day so…"
"You don't have to explain, silly. By the way, how was your date with Akane?"
Err... Right. Why am I explaining it to her?
"It went well. She's happy when we went home the next day."
Maybe if there's a chance I'll also take Haruko somewhere. Well, all of them actually. So that they wouldn't feel left out. They have that chat group, what's happening around me was probably being conveyed there and were becoming a topic for their discussion.
"Then good. I'll wait for my turn."
Haruko comfortably snuggled to me while she pulled Mina on her other side. The girl was surprised but she didn't resist her. It's Haruko after all. Her act towards me was in complete contrast compared to how she acted like a girl in love towards Haruko.
"Where do you want to go?"
Knowing their preferences is better than planning blindly.
"Water park. Ever since middle school, I wanna go and see some dolphins with you."
Haruko answered, she even imitated the dolphins' whistle which both Mina and I found cute. For her to have this kind of cute side, even though they kept talking about how attentive I am to them, there's still a lot of things I don't know about them.
"Alright. I'll take you there soon."
I already started thinking about how we could enjoy that date together.
"You don't need to rush, okay? You're kind of overworking yourself these days."
Taking her eyes off from the two sisters, Haruko looked up at me and touched my cheek.
"I'll always have the spare energy for all of you, you know? Seeing your smiles is enough to energize me."
And it's the truth. Whenever I see their satisfied smiles, it also somehow satisfies me.
"Idiot. We'll be worried if you really overworked yourself. I told you to put some restraint, just , relax yourself while you're here."
Err. I'm kind of bad at restraining myself, yesterday with Satsuki and today with Kana.
"Then I'll listen to my Haruko."
I said as I also leaned myself to her. Just like that, while waiting for the sisters to calm down, we relaxed in each other's support. Mina became something like a third wheel but she stayed at her seat even with how aggrieved she was by looking at us.
"Uhm. Haru, Mina, this is my little sister, Maaya. Ruki already knows you so there's no need to introduce you again."
After some time Himeko brought Itou near us and they sat in front of us next to each other.
"Nice to meet you. Thank you for taking care of Nee-sama. And Ruki, thank you for bringing me here."
Itou bowed in front of us like a good little sister.
"Is it fine to ask a question, Hime?"
Not only me, Haruko and Mina were also puzzled by how they acted. Since they're already together for a year, they knew Himeko has a sister but the way the two acted is highly unusual. ʀᴇᴀᴅ ʟᴀᴛᴇsᴛ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs ᴀᴛ novel★fire.net
"You can also ask me, senpai."
Itou also chimed in upon seeing her sister being put to a question like that.
This girl, does she have a sister complex?
"No matter how we looked at it, you two, how are you at home?"
Though they're probably expecting that question, the sisters both put on a complicated expression.
Himeko was clearly having a hard time answering it as she took glances towards her sister.
"Nee-sama, leave it to me."
Itou pushed herself forward and started talking.
Like what we expected, they never interact with each other at home and even during their ride from there to here and vice versa.
Their chauffeur was someone answering to their father, who took over the family after their grandfather retired. Their father was the most disappointed when Himeko became an introvert. Because of that, he wanted Itou to be the perfect heir. Grooming her to become one. But one thing they didn't account for was Itou's devotion towards Himeko. Even if no one will talk to her, she will always go to her side and cheer Himeko up. For her, Himeko is the best sister even if they all don't look favorably upon her.
When their father found out about that, they separated the two during their middle school. With Himeko being sent somewhere far away the two lost contact with each other. Their father was afraid that Himeko might influence Itou to also give in to the pressure of shouldering the responsibility.
It's kind of cruel, yes. Only when Himeko graduated from middle school did she come back to their house and was enrolled here. By that time, their father thought that Itou was already distant towards Himeko but little did he know that Itou learned to restrain herself.
Secretly, she talked to their retired grandfather. His words still carried weight to the family so when she requested to be enrolled at the same high school as Himeko, it was granted despite their father's opposition. The only thing her father could do was to put that chauffeur to monitor them and made sure that the two wouldn't be as close as before.
Himeko might've given up the successor position because of how heavy it is for her but for their own father to even try to break their relationship, that's something.
"So, you're not allowed to be seen interacting with her?"
I asked after Itou finished talking. I directed the question to Himeko who was silently watching her sister talk about their circumstances.
"Un. I'm already used to being shunned by them but I don't want them to scold my little sister because of me."
Himeko looked down as if she's feeling bad that Itou might have a hard time because of her.
"Himeko, is there no way for your father to change his view of you?"
I asked again. If that's what her father thinks of her, then she just has to change his view of her, right?
"I don't know. I don't hate him, actually. He's thinking for the family's sake."
"Huh? What family's sake are you talking about? Separating you two is for your family? I'm sorry but that sounds bull--"
Before I could curse, Haruko put a hand on my mouth to stop me.
"Alright. Stop there Ruki. Hime, you didn't tell me about this, I thought you just couldn't face your sister because of how you gave in to the pressure of being the oldest but seeing the two of you today, you both want to be close again, right?"
Haruko stood up and asked the two, she also has her own take of their situation.
The sisters replied in concert.
"Then why not do it? Your father or whoever it is that's monitoring you two, forget about them. Live your life without regret. Your father was too focused on your business that he already neglected that you're both human beings."
Seeing Haruko already telling them what I wanted to say, I calmed myself down and quietly listened.
"But he will separate us again if…"
Itou was too worried that they'll be separated. Why though? They could just reject it. Are their father's words and commands absolute?
"Then do it secretly for now, and Hime, you're trying to change, right? Tell me, what do you plan to do?"
Haruko continued correcting their thoughts. Himeko also told me before that she wanted to change for her sister.
"Uhm. Ya-chan, I will have Father change his views of me soon. I'm working on a plan to help the family.
Himeko turned to her sister, she had a smile on her face that's conveying how Itou shouldn't worry.
"Stop calling it family, Himeko. Your family is not your family's company."
Hearing family again, I couldn't help but open my mouth again.
"If you're really a family, he wouldn't distance the two of you from each other."
How is that a family? Really. I might not have a perfect family since they're always away from me but to separate two sisters from each other, that's not what a family does.
"Onoda-kun, your words might seem right but it's hard to apply to us. Because they failed to give birth to a son, the responsibility to maintain the company falls to us. You saw me at our hotel. Even at my age, I'm already training to manage our businesses."
Itou rebutted my argument. Pushing out that their family is different.
"Alright, let's say your environment is different, but do you think it's right for him to separate the two of you?"
This is what I'm pointing to. Why does he have to separate them when they're that close.
"Of course not, but he's the current head, his words are hard to refute."
"I know I shouldn't curse but that's kind of bullshit. What's wrong with sisters being close to each other? And Himeko isn't the introverted girl they know anymore."
I couldn't help but be agitated by Itou's counter-argument. Hard to refute, eh?
Feeling the indignance to accept it, I stood up and went to Himeko's side
Pulling her up from her seat, I took her lips and kissed her in front of Itou.
"Eh? W-what? What's happening?"
Confused, Itou couldn't help but raise her voice upon seeing me taking Himeko's lips.
"Himeko has already changed. I don't know what's that plan she mentioned but you two should stop distancing yourselves from each other. You both love each other so show it. Don't restrict yourselves because someone says so. You see, I'm someone who does things because I want to, if I made up my mind, no one can change it anymore."
"A-all that talk didn't explain why you kissed Nee-sama."
Ah. She's hung up on why I suddenly kissed Himeko.
"Ah? That? Isn't it obvious? I made up my mind to have Himeko as mine. So, if I can be of help, tell me."
"That's how it is, Ya-chan, this guy is…"
Himeko, who had just recovered from my sudden action, answered her sister with a red face.
"Alright, what that silly guy is trying to say is, ignore what your father told you and do what you want. Say, will you still accept it if he told you that he'll send Himeko away again?"
Haruko, seeing the situation suddenly evolve to this, had a hand on her forehead as she tried to explain my actions.
Sorry, Haruko. I couldn't explain myself well.
"No, of course not! The three years apart from Nee-sama is already enough."
Hearing that hypothetical question, Itou immediately rejected it.
"Then Maaya-chan, you know what to do."
With a smile, Haruko told her.
"…Alright. I made up my mind, I'll show them how I really love to be with Nee-sama."
She thought for a few seconds before answering with determination in her eyes.
"Uhm, me too. Even if I couldn't be the heir anymore, I'll do my best to help Ya-chan."
Himeko too raised her voice to support Itou.
"If something happened, don't hesitate to tell me. My abilities are limited but if it's for a girl I like, I'll do my best."
Getting taken in by the momentum, I also blurted out what's on my mind.
"But Onoda-kun, can you remove your hand on Nee-sama first?"
Itou's eyebrows were bow twitching as she watched me still holding Himeko in my arms.
"No. If she's supporting you then I'm the one supporting her."
I answered as I pulled Himeko closer to me. Though Himeko is kind of trying to wriggle out her way out of my embrace, her resistance was too low.
"Idiot. Don't take Haru's place."
Mina finally broke her silence as she said her piece.
"Haruko is mine so it's already understood that we're both supporting her."
Right. We'll both support this former introverted girl.
"Huh? What did you just say?"
And because of my words, Itou once again fell into confusion.
Err. I forgot she didn't know our complex relationship. Maybe soon, she will also bring up Akane who she saw with me at their hotel.