The next morning, Mizuto worked out as usual, but he moved Yume to her room before he left. It wasn't that he didn't want to wake her up so she could move to her room by herself, but she was sleeping like a pig, so he could only carry her in his arms and quietly move her so their parents wouldn't know that they slept in the same room last night.
Still, he had to say that she was a good student.
Like him, she was also smart, and they often competed for their scores during the exam.
While he got the 1st rank, she got the 2nd rank.
It was also due to this that she was good at learning, and her determination to learn was also worthy of admiration.
Even though she was scared at first, she quickly realized the key and learned the basic knowledge.
Rubbing, squeezing.
Even if she wasn't good at sport, her hands were dexterous and nimble, softly calming him with full affection.
Naturally, he also helped her, as it was unfair if he didn't do anything, right?
Still, if possible, he wished she would train her physical ability better since she was too weak.
Nevertheless, he had to say his every day changed when he got his new family. He didn't talk about his relationship with Yume. Instead, it was how Yuni would mostly take care of the household. Even though Yuni was working, as she had become a mother in this new family, she wished to do something mother-like.
"This time, I will be the one who is cooking, okay? You don't need to buy anything, Mizuto-kun!"
What could he say besides agreeing?
However, he didn't have anything to do, so he decided to help after he washed his body up.
"Say, Mizuto-kun."
"Hmm?"
"If... let's say..."
Yuni stammered and seemed awkward for some reason.
"What's wrong, Yuni-san?"
Yuni took a deep breath, then said calmly, "I mean... if you have a feeling toward Yume, you don't need to mind about us, okay?"
"...you think I am going to date Yume?"
If it was someone else, they would become nervous and even have a mental breakdown, but he was as calm as ever.
"Why not? Isn't she beautiful?" Yuni was dissatisfied with Mizuto's lackluster response.
"Well, she is beautiful."
"Right?"
"Though, do you think it is okay for us to date each other?"
"I don't mind, and I believe I can entrust her to you." Yuni suddenly said something outrageous.
"We are a stepsibling, you know?"
"There is no rule that step-siblings can't marry each other, right?"
When those words fell, he fell in silence, wondering whether what they did last night was found out.
'No, it shouldn't be.'
He didn't think that their relationship would be known, especially when he saw Yuni's current expression since if she knew their relationship, she wouldn't appear calm like this.
So—
He only chuckled. "That's true. If that happens, I will tell you two the truth."
"Really?" Yuni had a hint of expectation.
"Really, but now, we're not dating, right?"
"....."
Yuni pouted and felt that her stepson was quite tricky. She wasn't sure whether she got this feeling, but she knew that Mizuto was definitely popular and had a lot of experience with women.
If she was a high school student, just standing by his side would make her heart skip, and she might be tempted to confess to him.
It was also because of this that when she thought about her daughter, who was as plain as the Osaka Plain two years ago, she felt that Yume wouldn't be immune to Mizuto, especially when Yume didn't seem to have an experience with a guy. As long as Mizuto was slightly gentle and kind toward Yume, she was sure that Yume would fall instantly, and by then, they would date each other.
Nevertheless, she didn't reject the idea of them dating each other, especially when he was a rare catch.
Still, if there was a factor that determined whether they would date or not, it was whether Mizuto would choose Yume or not since Yuni was sure that he didn't seem to have a problem with women.
"Enough about me, how about you, Yuni-san?"
"Huh? What do you mean?"
"I mean, when are you going to give us a little sister or a little brother?"
"Wh-What are you talking about?!" Yume was startled and blushed by the words that came out of Mizuto's mouth.
"You two don't plan to have a child?"
"...well, if it's possible, I want to, but—"
"Oh, right."
The two somehow had a tacit understanding to stop their conversation since they knew that having a child might be something that was worthy of celebration for most of the family, but for Mineaki, who lost his wife when she gave birth to Mizuto, it definitely wasn't a good experience.
"Sorry." Yuni apologized.
"Why did you apologize?" Mizuto asked in doubt.
"I am... just afraid that I might make you remember something that you don't want to."
Mizuto glanced at Yuni and thought that his father hadn't chosen the wrong woman to remarry with.
"Thanks, mom."
"...that's unfair, Mizuto-kun."
Yuni cried as she continued to cook, but her face showed a happy smile.
"But, as expected, it's a bit embarrassing to say that."
"Eh? Why?! Call me mom more!"
As the two talked, Mineaki and Yume woke up and noticed that Yuni was in a good mood.
"You seem to be in a good mood, Yuni-san."
"Hehehe... of course! I am happy, Mineaki-kun!"
"That's great."
As the two somehow started to flirt with each other, Yume glanced at Mizuto, who was in the kitchen.
Noticing her gaze, he said calmly, "Why don't you sit? Aren't you hungry?"
"Um."
Yume nodded obediently, but somehow, she felt curious since she felt like her mother's good mood must be related to Mizuto. Because of this, she felt conflicted when she thought about what she had done with him the previous night.
If their parents knew what they did last night, what would they think or do?
Yet, she couldn't stop.
She didn't want to stop.
What she had done with him was something that she had always dreamed of every night after they separated.
His warmth, presence, and everything.
They were no longer an illusion that could only be seen whenever she slept but a reality.
He was so close to her side.
Yet, at the same time, he was also far away.
However, for now, this was enough.
She was satisfied with this and didn't mind this forbidden relationship.
So, during those days, before their school started, their activity also became routine.
During the day, they just pretended to become like any other siblings, playing together in the living room with the Nintendo Switch or reading a book, but when the night came when their parents had returned to their chamber, she slipped into his room as they sought each other's touch.
Unlike before, when they dated each other in middle school when she came to his room, and he didn't dare to touch her when she was invited to his room, this time, she knew that as long as a chance was seen, he would hold her, turning her into a woman.
"What's wrong, Yume-chan? Your face is red. Are you okay?" Yuni asked worriedly.
"I-I am okay! You don't need to worry, mom! Ah, yes! It's the sun! I feel a little bit too hot!" Yume quickly made a clumsy excuse.
"We're at school. Stop thinking about perverted things, pervy older sister." Mizuto sighed helplessly.
Yume blushed and hit her arm hard with his shoulder, but it didn't even hurt him a little as he was as calm as ever. Moreover, it was she who was hurt as the collision between their arms made her arm slightly numb.
"Your body is too hard!"
"You know that well, right?"
"...don't say something perverted, shitty little brother!" She hissed with blush.
"Yes, yes. But isn't a school an interesting place?"
Watching his gentle smile, Yume wondered what those words meant, yet she wasn't sure why her body became hotter and her thighs squeezed tight when she heard those words.
"...um."
Hearing his chuckle, Yume pouted and wanted to stomp his foot several times since this guy was too perverted!
"You two watch over here! Look at the camera!"
"Yes." 2x
The two quickly showed off their normal appearance as they watched their father take a picture of them at the entrance of their high school.
At this moment, they would officially become high school students as step-siblings, but what everyone didn't know was that their relationship was far deeper than that.
As they stood next to each other, they smiled in front of the camera, appearing like a close sibling in front of their parents, but behind, their hands touched against each other, and she was unable to wait for the school to finish, so they could do something naughty together.