E-book Bonus: Newly Written Short Story

■ The Basketball Club “Little Sister” Loves Her Big Brother

I have an older brother.

The day I met my brother for the first time. I will likely never forget that day for the rest of my life.

“You’re Yuka-chan, right? I’m Masato, and I’ve become your big brother. It’s probably scary at first, and you might not be used to it, but I hope we can get along little by little. Nice to meet you.”

It was when I was still in the lower grades of elementary school. Suddenly, I got a brother.

Masato-niisan didn’t have a family originally. My mother, due to various circumstances, ended up taking in Masato-niisan, who had been raised in a facility.

At first, having my family increase suddenly—and with a man, whom I thought was scary at the time—gave me a lot of anxiety. But thanks to Masato-niisan, that impression changed rapidly.

“Yuka, I made dinner today. Will you eat it?”

“You’re working hard at basketball practice. If you don’t mind, can I practice with you?”

“If you’re ever in trouble, you can tell me anything. I’m Yuka’s big brother, after all.”

He treated me, who was bewildered at first, with such kindness.

He played my favorite sport, basketball, with me, and when I looked like I was being bullied, he helped me.

It didn’t take long for us to get along.

Five years have passed since Masato-niisan became my brother. Now, as a first-year middle school student, my number one worry lately is…

“Ah, welcome home, Yuka. I hopped in the bath first. You should get in too, okay?”

When I get home, the sight that jumps into my eyes is Masato-niisan fresh out of the bath.

“O-okay, I get it, so please put some clothes on quickly, Niisan…!?!”

My brother is just too handsome, and frankly, a little too sexy!

When I got out of the bath and went into the living room, Masato-niisan was there reading a book.

This sight of Masato-niisan on the sofa has been my daily life for about five years now.

“Masato-niisan! What are you reading?”

“This is~… Wait, Yuka. Your hair is still wet. You have to dry it properly.”

“Oh, r-right…”

In front of Masato-niisan, I always get distracted. I have to go back to the washroom and dry my hair…

“I guess I have no choice. Your big brother will dry it for you.”

“Eh, really… can you!?”

“Yeah, it’s been a while.”

When I sat on the chair in front of the mirror, Masato-niisan came up behind me. With practiced hands, he turned on the dryer and directed the warm air onto my hair.

“Is it too hot?”

“I’m fine!”

“Good. …Yuka’s hair is really beautiful. You’re definitely going to be a beauty in the future.”

“Ehehe…”

Masato-niisan has dried my hair like this since long ago. It started when I used to think drying my hair after a bath was a hassle, and seeing my mother scold me, he offered to do it. Mom said, “Masato, you’re too sweet to Yuka…” but I was incredibly happy about it.

“Did you work hard at practice today too?”

“Yes! Ah, come to think of it, today──”

Having my hair gently combed by Masato-niisan’s hands while immersing myself in fun conversation with him… I have loved this time unbearably since long ago.

The next morning. The season is already deep winter, with the north wind carrying the cold.

When I returned to the classroom after morning practice, my classmates who had already arrived at school were there.

“Morning, Yuka~Morning practice again today?”

“Morning~Yep~”

“You sure work hard from the morning~”

“Of course she does! Yuka is the ace of the basketball club even though she’s a first year!”

“It’s not that big of a deal.”

I’m not particularly conscious of being the ace… but I do want to play in games and leave good results. If I perform well in official games, Niisan will be happy too.

It was just as I was thinking that.

“Katasato-senpai is here!”

Buzz. The atmosphere in the classroom changed.

Looking toward the door, there was Niisan in his uniform.

“Ahaha… Sorry, is Yuka here?”

“Maeda-san, right! I’ll call her!”

Why is Niisan here?! Without waiting to be called by my classmate, I panicked and rushed over to him.

“Katasato-senpai really is cool.”

“Maeda-san is so lucky to have a brother like that.”

“A gentle, fluffy vibes older brother… that’s the good stuff.”

While trying not to listen to my classmates saying whatever they wanted, I walked forward. Hey, that last girl, don’t use my brother for that kind of fuel, okay?!

“Niisan, wh-what did you need?”

“Sorry, Mom told me to bring this because you forgot your bento, Yuka.”

What Niisan held in his hand was my lunch box. Come to think of it, I forgot he told me he was leaving it on the desk…!

“Ah, thank you very much.”

“No no, sorry for causing a scene.”

Leaving only those words, Niisan handed me the bento and left.

“Haa~ nice~ I want an older brother like that~”

“I want to forget my bento and have him deliver it…”

“H-hey, stop it, really…”

Ignoring my envious classmates, I hurriedly returned to my seat.

“Katasato-senpai really looks like a character out of a story, doesn’t he?”

Suzuka, a close friend sitting next to me, muttered while gazing in the direction Niisan had gone.

“Well, I think so too, but…”

“And, saying this might make you a bit uncomfortable Yuka, but you guys aren’t related by blood, right? That’s something usually only allowed in fiction, you know?”

“That’s… right.”

Niisan and I aren’t connected by blood. In other words, there would be no problem at all if we got married.

I love Niisan, and I understand that this feeling exceeds familial affection. I mean, if someone like that suddenly appeared, stayed with you all the time—it would be impossible not to fall in love. That is how wonderful and attractive Niisan is… as a man.

“But, there’s a rumor the Student Council President is aiming for him, right?”

“Eh…?”

For a moment, my body froze.

“Eh? As in ‘Eh’? It’s a pretty famous story, you know? That the Student Council President, who got accepted into that super elite school, is aiming for Katasato-senpai and might confess at the graduation ceremony. You didn’t know?”

“I… didn’t know.”

I’ve seen the Student Council President. Someone who competed in nationals for track and field, received awards for being a model student with excellent grades…

Niisan has been confessed to by women before. And for reasons I don’t understand, I know he has turned them all down.

But, if the opponent is that perfect superhuman Student Council President…?

“Even for you, Yuka, the odds look bad against that Student Council President~.”

In the middle of that conversation, the teacher entered the classroom along with the chime signaling the start of class.

That Student Council President… is after Niisan…?

In the end, I didn’t absorb much of the lesson content that day.

After finishing classes and club activities, night fell.

It was already past 10 PM. Usually, it’s time to sleep.

And yet, the words spoken this morning spun round and round in my head, and I couldn’t fall asleep.

What if the Student Council President confesses to Masato-niisan at graduation? And what if Masato-niisan accepts?

Masato-niisan gets a girlfriend…?

An indescribable sensation assaults my entire body. Masato-niisan becoming someone else’s…?

No, that can’t be.

“That’s impossible.”

A clear rejection.

I can’t stand it. Masato-niisan is mine, only my──!

Unable to stay still, I grabbed my pillow and ran out of my room.

A short walk down the hallway to the next room.

Light was leaking slightly from under the door, indicating Masato-niisan was still awake.

Knock, knock. Two taps.

“Ye~s… Oh, Yuka? What’s wrong?”

“Um…”

When the door opened, there was Masato-niisan.

Wearing sweats and a winter jacket. Thinking that I am the only one who gets to see this appearance warmed my heart, which had been dark just moments ago, just a little.

Masato-niisan immediately let me into the room and had me sit on the bed.

On the study desk where Masato-niisan had been sitting, textbooks and notebooks were spread out. Being diligent, Masato-niisan was surely studying.

“Um, aren’t you going to sleep yet, Masato-niisan?”

“No, I just reached a stopping point, so I was thinking of sleeping soon… Ah, but if you have something to talk about, I’m all ears. For my cute little sister, anything!”

“Ah, no! Um, it’s not… that…”

I have to convey it properly before he misunderstands. The reason I came to Masato-niisan’s room.

“…Is it okay if I sleep with you… like we haven’t in a long time…?”

When I was in elementary school, Masato-niisan often let me sleep next to him. Around the time I hit

the upper grades of elementary school, I started thinking that maybe it wasn’t really okay anymore, but I couldn’t stop.

When I entered middle school, Mom told me, “Stop it now,” and I was really disappointed. But I thought it might be causing trouble for Masato-niisan too, so I held back.

But today… I just wanted to sleep while feeling Masato-niisan’s presence.

“Ahh~… Well, look, but you’re already a middle schooler, Yuka. Sharing a bed with your older brother of the opposite sex is a bit… Mom told us not to, as well…”

“Is it… no good?”

I knew it. He won’t sleep with me anymore.

If Masato-niisan starts dating another woman… that Student Council President… then from now on, for the rest of my life…?

“W-wait, Yuka…?!”

“Huh…?”

Just thinking about it made tears overflow from my eyes.

I haven’t cried at all lately, so why…

“J-just for today! It’s just for today, okay?!”

“R-really!?”

I can sleep with Masato-niisan…! Just hearing that made my heart feel light, as if the despair from a moment ago was a lie.

“There isn’t a human alive who could refuse this… It’s a request from the cutest little sister in the world… I’m really sorry, Mom…”

It seems Masato-niisan really was told to stop by Mom.

Jeez, Mom is a dummy.

Wrapped in Masato-niisan’s futon for a little while.

“Masato-niisan, are you asleep already…?”

“Nope, still awake.”

Masato-niisan’s slightly sleepy voice is so lovable.

“Masato-niisan… what do you think about the Student Council President?”

“Eh? …I feel like I’ve been asked that a lot by people around me lately.”

Hmm, he thought for a moment.

“No, I think she’s an amazing person. I respect her. We’ve been in the same class before. But apart from that, I don’t really have any special feelings for her.”

“I-is that so…”

Th-thank goodness.

For now, I managed to ask the one thing I absolutely wanted to hear today, so I’m relieved.

But I can’t let my guard down yet. Since she’s that perfect superhuman Student Council President, she might not give up easily…

“You have an early start tomorrow, right? I’m going to sleep now.”

“Yes, goodnight, Masato-niisan.”

Saying that, I snuggled up tightly against Masato-niisan’s back.

Masato-niisan’s scent filled my whole body.

This moment is pure bliss.

“Zzz… zzz…”

After a little while, it seemed Masato-niisan had fallen asleep.

Confirming that—I slipped both hands inside Masato-niisan’s jacket.

“Haa… Haa…!”

Back in elementary school. Ever since I first touched Masato-niisan’s skin like this, even knowing it was wrong, I haven’t been able to stop.

Feeling Masato-niisan directly.

Just that makes my body get this hot. My brain goes numb.

“I love you… love you… I love you so much…!”

I love him. I love Masato-niisan.

I’m confident this feeling is stronger than anyone else’s.

“Masato-niisan is mine…!”

Ah, someday properly.

I want to convey these feelings to Masato-niisan.

But surely, Masato-niisan still only sees me as a little sister.

Then how? How can I get Masato-niisan to see me as a girl—

Then, some months passed.

The day of Masato-niisan’s graduation ceremony arrived.

The ceremony finished without issue, and now various people, including graduates and current students, are spending time in the schoolyard taking photos and doing as they please.

Amidst the many students, these words jumped into my ears.

“Did you hear? Apparently, even the Student Council President couldn’t win over Katasato-senpai.”

“Heard it, heard it. Apparently, quite a few people saw her confessing in the courtyard behind the gym.”

“Really? Maybe Katasato-senpai has no intention of getting a girlfriend?”

“Actually, maybe he just hates women, or something…?”

That’s not it. Masato-niisan isn’t that kind of person.

Running alone, I headed toward the gymnasium.

Carrying the basketball I had left in the shoe locker.

“Masato-niisan!”

“…Oh, Yuka. What’s wrong?”

At the back entrance of the gymnasium, in the passageway to the courtyard, Masato-niisan was sitting down.

Being the good-natured person he is, he probably intended to stay here until the heat from the confession died down.

…For me, that’s just perfect.

Masato-niisan stood up and turned back toward me.

That gentle smile, unchanged as always.

The person who saved me, who has always supported me, the person I love.

On his chest was a corsage, the proof of a graduate.

Masato-niisan graduates today.

Before I become a high schooler. No matter what, I want to convey these feelings to Masato-niisan.

──Inhaling deeply.

“Let’s have a match, Masato-niisan.”

With a full-faced smile, I declared that to Masato-niisan.