The conference event ended and we returned home. I enjoyed the rest of my summer holiday and even gained the phone numbers of Anastasia and Akane.
It was a few days ago when I invited them to come over to my house.
Today is the 8th of September.
As I scrolled through the programs on TV, someone knocked on the door.
"Who's that?"
Miya-san asked from the kitchen. Yuki-nee looked over at me.
I stood up.
"Friends."
I opened the door.
"--me first!"
"Akane, stop being so--"
"Really?"
That was the first thing I asked as I looked at the two with hands on each other's faces. They straightened their posture.
Akane seemed to be wearing dark academia casual-style clothes while Anastasia was wearing a summer dress and hat.
"'Thank you for welcoming us into your house!'"
They both bowed at the same time.
"Chill out. You haven't even entered my house yet. Relax, come in, take off your shoes and take a seat."
I softly advised, like some sort of grandmother.
They did as I said and sat on the sofa furthest away from the TV.
"Your house is... better than I expected."
Anastasia said.
"What? Did you think that all people who aren't nobles live like those people you see in movies?"
"Yeah, mostly."
What a sheltered child.
"Who are these two pretty ladies?"
Yuki-nee came in with a crafty smirk.
She's usually the soft type but she's devious time from time.
Surprised her boyfriend has stayed with her.
"Uh, nice to meet you, I'm Akane."
"And I'm Anastasia."
They bowed their heads to her.
"Would you two stop being so polite?"
I asked them.
"I'm Yukira. The older stepsister of Shou-kun."
I grabbed the remote and my cheeks began flaming.
God...
"Shou..."
"Shou-kun."
The two mistresses repeated my nickname under their breath as if they had reached an amazing discovery.
"So, Shou-kun, who are these two to you?"
Yuki-nee would push the answer out of me if I lied.
"Potential lovers."
"Both?"
Yuki-nee wasn't surprised by how bold I was.
I didn't reply.
She patted my head and waved at the two as she entered the kitchen.
Akane, who was sitting next to me, nudged my shoulder.
"Can I call you--"
"No."
"But your sister calls you by your nickname."
Anastasia intervened.
"That's because she's my sister."
"So, whoever is your girlfriend will gain nickname privileges?"
"Let's talk about that another time."
There is no way I'm letting anyone else call me, Shou-kun, I feel like I'm back in kindergarten when Maki used to call me that all the time.
Looking back, I cringe just thinking about it.
"Oi! You stupid older brother! Like 20 minutes ago, I asked you to get me a bottle of cold oolong tea!"
Here comes the she-devil...
"And I was going to get it just now but some friends came over."
"Hah?! Friends?! What friends do you..."
When Kei came halfway down the stairs, she stopped when her eyes caught the figures of Anastasia and Akane.
"Hi?"
Akane nervously raised her hand.
"I'll get Arisu down here."
She said calmly, going back up the steps.
"Was that..."
"My younger stepsister. Her name's Kei."
"Who's Arisu?"
The black-haired girl asked.
"A friend she made in school. She's a Streia."
"Wow, you can find Streia in normal schools. Isn't that rare?"
"Tell me about it."
Anastasia said to Akane.
Ah, that reminds me. I should probably tell them about what's happening on the 12th.
"Anastasia, Akane."
"Hm?"
"What?"
"On the 12th, we're holding a birthday party here for Kei."
Anastasia looked at the stairs, probably to check if Kei was still there.
"What type of presents? Dolls? Makeup?"
"No, she's not a kid. Kei likes things like video games.
Anything game related would go."
"Video games? Are they fun?"
Akane asked. Anastasia seemed to have a clueless look on her face.
"Wait? You've never played video games in your life?"
They both shook their heads.
Holy. I've never met anyone who hasn't played a single video game in their life. Everyone has at least once, whether they like them or not.
I simply stared at them.
"Hey, I'm Kei Sasaki, the younger stepsister of that stupid guy there."
She said.
"And this..."
She reached out from behind her and grabbed someone, pushing them forward.
"Kya!"
"Nervous girl here is my friend, Arisu Aoi."
She had blue hair and slightly lighter eyes. Aoi was red and sweating. It was obvious that she was nervous.
"H-hello."
"I'm Anastasia Kou Sabre Reishville."
"And I'm Akane Kabura."
"Eh?"
The one to let out a slight noise was Kei's friend, Aoi.
"Y-y-you mean Reishville as in that super elite noble family from England and Kabura as in that Japanese family that creates successful ice magi?"
Aoi asked, her finger trembling as she pointed.
"Yes, that family."
"I never knew people thought that my family always produces successful ice mages."
Then there was a short period of silence.
"Shoya-nii, you're saying that these two are your friends."
"Y--"
"No."
Akane suddenly interrupted.
Her face flushed red and so did Anastasia's.
"We're his potential lovers."
Anastasia finished off.
God...
Why is it that these two are on the same thin wavelength?
"I can't anymore..."
Aoi collapsed.
"Arisu! Arisu!"
---
"I'm sorry, I tend to overload when there are things I don't believe."
The girl apologised with a bow.
"Well, I don't know what to say since it's true."
I told her.
"Yeah... Sorry..."
"Oh no, there's no reason for you to apologise. It's just what you believe."
Anastasia comforted her with a smile.
I looked over at Kei. She looked troubled.
"What's wrong?"
"Is the whole... potential lovers thing true?"
"What? Are you also in love with me?"
I teased her.
"Ugh! Don't even joke like that! I'm just thinking that it's impossible for my average older brother to get two beauties like them."
She then eyed the two nobles.
"Hey, are sure he didn't bribe you or something?"
They both smiled unpleasantly.
"Shoya? Bribe us? Impossible."
"He doesn't have the guts."
"Oi, oi, I don't like this subject. What'd you mean I don't have the guts?"
"Well, you still haven't responded to any of our confessions."
"I--"
Uh... Well... True...