

My Secret Love Life

 

A fresh start.

I laid on my bed playing a game on the Steam Deck I got as a present from my dad as Shiori barged into my room.

"Hey, you should learn to knock, seriously." I said, sitting up.

"Are you reading dirty magazines? Well, it's not like you have the balls to do so." She said.

"You dissed me for no reason." I said, turning off the game.

"I'm leaving the house now. Bye.“ She said.

“Leaving the house? What are you all dressed up for?“ I asked, standing from my bed.

"What's it to you?“ She asked.

“Just answer me.“

“I'm going for our last gathering. Not everyone is going to the same high school.“

“When will you get back?“

“By evening.“

“No, you'd better get back before 3.“

“Why? Can't I stay there for a longer time?“ She asked, her voice shaky.

“It'll be dangerous to stay out till evening. Who knows what's gonna happen.“ He said.

“Leave me alone! You're always restricting me from doing what I want to do! You want me to end up like yo…” She stopped mid-sentence before looking away.

“…”

“I'm so…”

“You can leave. Get back anytime you want to.“ I said, lying back on my bed.

“Big bro, I didn't…”

“You'll be late.“ I said as she walked out.

...●●●...

“Shiori-Chan, do you want a parfait?“ Some guy with his hair dyed blonde asked.

“I don't want it. And we aren't that close, don't call me that.“ She said, shutting the guy down completely.

“What's wrong? Shiori?“ A girl sitting beside her asked.

“Nothing.“ Shiori said.

Well… let's just say I happened to be there a few seconds after she arrived.

*Yeah right! Trying to flirt with my little sister?* I thought, smirking.

I ended up coming out since I was worried about her. I planned on leaving after making sure that there was no problem.

"Sir, what should I offer you?" A girl asked as I looked at the menu and then at her.

"Oh, I'll get a…”

*Argh!!! Why the hell do I keep seeing her everywhere?!*

"N-nothing. No, I mean coffee." I said, looking back at the menu.

*Hope she doesn't recognize me.* I thought as she walked out.

The girl from school who I really didn't want to have anything to do with. It looked like she worked part-time in the cafe.

*What cursed luck.*

I stayed for a while till I saw Shiori walking out with her some of her classmates. I paid my bill, stood up, and walked out of the cafe.

...□□□...

“Big bro, it's time for dinner.“ Shiori said, standing by my door.

“Mmn.“

“Big brother Izumi, I'm sorry for how I sounded this afternoon.“

“I'm sorry too. I was being selfish and didn't let you have a good time.“ I said.

“Thank you.“ She said, her face red from embarrassment.

“Yeah.“

“By the way, that shirt.“ She said, pointing at the shirt I took off.

“Eh?“ I asked.

“I feel like I saw it today.“ She said, walking closer to the clothes.

“Ah-haha. Oh, a spider!“ I shouted, pointing at an empty space.

“Spider? Where?!“ She asked, running out of the room.

“Ha… safe.“

The whole break was just normal. Nothing eventful happened after that day, although I saw my 'neighbour ' leaving the house occasionally.

I also went to the arcade with Yusuke most of the break and joined some online multiplayer game events.

"Oh, thank goodness." Yusuke said, smiling as I walked into my new class.

"Oh, hey Yusuke. Looks like we're in the same class again."

"Here's to another year together." He said as we walked to the last row and sat together.

"I really wish we won't be changing seats for a while." I said, bringing out my Steam Deck.

"Ah! I bought one of those too." He said, bringing out his own.

“Whoa, that looks cool.“

"Okay, let's play games to our hearts' content." He said as we began playing games.

The homeroom teacher for Class 2-4 came in to introduce herself a few minutes later. She was a really pretty teacher, and the guys were already fawning over her. She just started working in our school during the last section.

"Hey, do you know Sugawara's in our class?" I heard a guy ask another person.

"Sugawara?" I asked no one in particular.

*Sugawara? I don't know why that name gives me the chills.* I thought.

"Oh yeah, I'm aware." Someone else said.

"Man, I heard she'd go to bed with anyone.“

“That's just a rumour. I heard she's still pure.“

“That's also a rumour. Who knows, till we go for it.“

“Hehehe.“

"Izumi, how about your little sister?" Yusuke asked.

"Oh, Shiori. She's doing great." I answered, still trying to figure out where I've seen the name.

"Oh, I can't wait for the new students to come in."

"Yeah, me neither."

*Sugawara. Hmm, I think I've heard the name before.*

The next day was the entrance ceremony for the new students. Shiori left home earlier than I did.

*Well, that hurts.* I thought, looking into her room.

“Did she leave earlier to avoid others from finding out that we're related?“ I asked as mom laughed.

“That might not be the case.“ Dad said, grabbing a glass cup.

“Seems like it.“

...○○○...

"Oh, I saw Little Shiori when I walked past Class 1-2's hallway." Yusuke said, smiling.

"Heh… is that so? I see.“ I said.

*He totally went looking for her.*

“Does she have anyone she likes, eh? Eh?“

“You're annoying.“ I said, pushing his face away.

"Look, Sugawara came today." Someone said as I looked up.

*Sugawara…?* I thought, looking at her as she glared at me.

“Ek…”

"Hmm? What's wrong?" Yusuke asked as I nodded disapprovingly.

"I'm not feeling well." I said.

"Let's go to the infirmary." He said as I looked up.

I noticed her sitting in the front without speaking to anyone.

*She won't recognize me. And I pray Oh dear lord, I don't want to see her again.* I thought, my hands clasped together.

"Huh?"

No classes that day, I was more than happy as I kept playing games with Yusuke.

"You're really good at this game." Yusuke said, putting down his SD.

"Oh, I guess so." I said, looking at Sugawara.

"You've been looking at her, do you maybe... like her?" He asked.

"N-no!"

"Good, cause she won't give someone like you the time of the day."

"I feel like you are insulting me."

"No, I'm not. She doesn't seem to want to have anything to do with other guys. And it's for your own good, with all the rumours spreading about her.“

*Huh? She... didn't I see her...*

"She's not so intelligent, but she's really beautiful. Even so, they're has some rumors going around that she dates many men at a time.“

*No longer a rumour to me though.* I thought.

"You only love playing games, and you're book smart, but even so..."

"Hm."

*So some people have caught her before.* I thought looking at her as some girls walked to her and started speaking to her.

When school was over, I messaged Shiori and asked if she wanted to go home together. She agreed to join me and asked me to wait in my class for a few minutes before she'd meet me there.

“Ha… that Yusuke. He just left when I said I was one of the two people who were on duty today.“ I said, bringing out my SD and putting on my headphones.

I played some games for some time before someone walked into the classroom. I looked up and saw Sugawara looking at me.

*What's she doing here?*

She walked towards me, and I stood up immediately.

"H-hey I..." I couldn't finish as she walked past me.

She picked up a broom and walked back to the front.

"Are you the one I'm on class duty with today?" She asked with a cold gaze.

"Y-yes." I answered.

"Seems like you're done with it." She said, looking around as I nodded.

“I couldn't wait, so I went and did it.“

*I didn't even check who I was on class duty with today.*

*Seems like she doesn't recognize me.* I thought, my hand on my chest as she left the class without speaking with me.

"Ah, I was scared for a second there." I said, sitting down.