Komachi was helping Shion pack her luggage and move it to the living room while looking at her long, black-haired classmate with reluctant eyes.
Shion was someone she had managed to coax into staying at her home. Why hadn't her brother seized the opportunity?
Even though her brother now had no shortage of pretty girls around him and didn't need her to worry so much, it still felt a little wasteful to let Shion go.
But she knew Shion had come to her house with very little money. Otherwise, Shion, who wasn't even close to her before, wouldn't have agreed to temporarily stay in her house.
Now that Shion could afford to rent a place in the neighboring apartment, it was clearly because her brother had used her little savings account.
Her brother's savings came from working hard at tutoring centers, earning scholarships to cover the tuition fees, and painstakingly saving the rest.
It wasn't that she was being stingy, but the thought of Shion spending her brother's hard-earned money without her brother getting anything in return left her feeling uneasy.
Though she knew this kind of thinking wasn't very nice, she still felt that Shion staying at her house, eating their food, and living rent-free would eventually owe them so much gratitude. It would be ideal if this resulted in her marrying her brother, developing feelings over time, and working hard to support her brother financially.
After all, having many girls around her brother was one thing. But finding someone who could work and take care of the family, allowing her brother to be a worry-free househusband, was another.
Shion, with her inability to communicate well with others, her excellent grades, great figure, and strong sense of responsibility, was the perfect black-haired, straight-haired beauty to marry.
They had helped Shion so much, and if her brother didn't take this opportunity during Shion's toughest moments, it would be a huge loss.
Shion glanced at Komachi, who was holding her hand tightly and refusing to let go. She pursed her lips and gave a helpless smile.
"Why does it sound like the house will be quiet without me, as if I'm usually very noisy? Didn't I already say I'm just moving my things over there to sleep? I'll still come over at mealtimes to help out, so we can still eat together every day."
Having resolved the heavy burden on her mind and grown closer to both Hachiman and Komachi, Shion's smile became more frequent as she no longer felt like an outsider in this family.
But she still wasn't used to some of Komachi's peculiar behaviors from time to time.
Komachi froze. Was she focused on meals? No. What she truly cared about was the chance to create ambiguous situations with her brother in the bathroom.
Shion sleeping elsewhere and not in this house was indeed a significant difference. They wouldn't be able to see each other just by opening the door at night.
"Shion, are you sure nothing happened with Onii-chan last night?"
Komachi hesitated for a moment before persistently whispering in Shion's ear.
Even though Shion repeatedly insisted that nothing special happened the previous night, Komachi still suspected otherwise.
After all, she had stood outside the room last night and hadn't heard a single sound. How could her brother, a fool, be so restrained? It was simply impossible.
"Hachiman onii-chan just… just held me all night…"
Blushing deeply, Shion hesitated but eventually admitted it in a low voice.
Though telling Komachi the truth wasn't a big deal, and Komachi even seemed eager for her and Hachiman to reach that stage, Shion didn't want Komachi to think she was taking advantage of Hachiman's financial support.
She had no intention of making things difficult for Hachiman. Since she didn't require legal certificates or formal status, she was content with being Hachiman's "neighboring little sister."
Hachiman had already assured her that whatever Komachi had, she would also have—even things Komachi didn't have. What more could she ask for?
"Held you? Do you mean in the couple's sense of the word?"
Komachi was relentless this time. Despite her own flushed face, she was determined to get to the bottom of this.
"Shion, tell me the truth. Otherwise, it would be awkward if I caught you two red-handed in the future while you're secretly having fun."
"This isn't something shameful, you know. I wouldn't look down on you for it, Shion."
"Come on, spill it! If you tell me, I promise to lock myself in my room whenever you two need privacy. The living room and kitchen will be yours, and no matter how loud you are, I won't come out."
"Komachi!!!"
Shion's ears turned bright red as Komachi's words became more outrageous.
Why did Komachi keep assuming she and Hachiman were already an item?
Did she really make it that obvious?
At that moment, the doorbell rang.
DING! DONG!
Both girls paused their playful quarrel, patted their flushed cheeks, and headed to the entrance together.
Standing outside was a petite, adorably dressed girl with twin spiral curls and a stylish, simple outfit.
Seeing Komachi and Shion step out, the petite yet slightly mature-looking girl smiled faintly and introduced herself:
"Hello, I'm Asou Miyuri, the manager of the neighboring apartment building. May I speak to Mr. Hikigaya?"
"Miss Manager? Is it four o'clock now? My brother hasn't come back yet."
Seeing the petite and cute girl in front of her, who looked even younger than herself, claim to be the manager of the neighboring apartment, Komachi couldn't help but immediately take out her phone to inform her brother.
Earlier at noon, her brother had sent her a message saying that he had agreed to meet the manager of the neighboring apartment at four to view a room. She hadn't expected her brother to be late.
"It's not four o'clock yet. Don't worry."
Seeing Komachi in her nearby junior high school uniform, standing beside Asougi Shion, Asou Miyuri smiled and shook her head.
"I happened to be handling some business nearby today, so I came over a bit early."
"Then… please come in and have a seat, Miss manager. My brother is on his way back and will be here shortly."
Komachi sneakily sent a message to Hachiman to hurry up, then quickly put away her phone and invited Asou Miyuri into the house to wait.
"Alright. I actually have a few things I'd like to discuss with you all."
Ignoring Komachi's little actions, Asou Miyuri smiled and followed Komachi and Asougi Shion into the Hikigaya residence.
When the three of them entered the living room, Miyuri noticed the packed luggage prepared by Shion and couldn't help but take a second glance.
"By the way, Miss manager, my name is Komachi Hikigaya. I'm Hachiman's sister. You can just call me Komachi."
While preparing tea for the overly young-looking manager, Komachi smiled and made up for the introduction she'd forgotten earlier.
The neighboring apartment had been around for as long as she could remember, but due to its somewhat outdated condition and less-than-ideal location, it hadn't had many tenants.
She had never met the manager of the neighboring apartment before, and now that she did, she hadn't expected the manager to be such a young girl. Could she be the daughter or relative of the landlord?
If it wasn't because of her young age, then Komachi really wanted to know the secret behind the manager's youthful appearance. Was it genetics, or some kind of skincare product?
With her tender, adorable face and petite, delicate figure, if the manager dressed in children's clothes to look younger, there would be no sense of incongruity.
Asou Miyuri nodded slightly and smiled as she looked at Shion, "Komachi, is it? You can call me Sister Miyuri. Hachiman is your brother, and this is your home, so is Hachiman planning to rent a room in the apartment for Miss Shion?"
"Yes. Um… Miss manager, you can also just call me Shion."
Seeing Miyuri address Komachi by her name, Shion immediately hoped to be addressed in a similarly close manner.
After all, she also called Brother Hachiman "Brother." Whatever Komachi had, she should have as well.
At home, Brother Hachiman treated them equally, but outside, she needed to make sure others' attitudes toward her and Komachi were consistent.
"Alright, I'll call you Shion then. You and Komachi can call me Sister Miyuri. But Shion, where are your parents? Why do you need Hachiman to arrange a rental for you?"
Looking at the well-developed girl with long, straight black hair in her junior high uniform, who appeared older than herself, Miyuri nodded slightly and continued to ask.
"Pardon me for asking, but what is your relationship with Hachiman?"
Ordinarily, there was no need for detailed inquiries when renting out rooms; just confirming the rent, lease term, and registering the information would suffice.
However, if the tenant was underage and without a guardian present, extra caution was necessary. If her parents came looking later, it would be troublesome.
"Hachiman isn't just Komachi's brother; he's also my brother. Due to some family issues, I asked him for help."
Shion thought for a moment before briefly and softly explaining her family situation to Miyuri.
She knew that, at her age, doing anything alone might arouse suspicion or even implicate Brother Hachiman and cause misunderstandings about their relationship.
To prevent any misunderstandings, she decided to clarify the situation beforehand.
She had gradually come to terms with her family issues and no longer felt so conflicted about them.
Although her original family was broken, she had now found a new one.
"Your brother too? I see."
Miyuri quietly listened to Shion's explanation, sensing the deep reliance on Hachiman in her words.
She glanced at Komachi, Hachiman's biological sister, then at Shion, his adopted sister. A glint of understanding flashed in her eyes.
'Oh, so that's how it is. This Hachiman guy sure knows how to play.'
Miyuri continued chatting with Komachi and Shion until Hachiman returned home with Gabriel and others in tow.
"Sorry to keep you waiting, Miss Asou."
Hachiman hesitated for a moment upon seeing the cute girl sitting beside Komachi in the living room.
The voice he'd heard on the phone was indeed youthful, but this was a bit too youthful, wasn't it?
[Ding~]
[Character card detected—Asou Miyuri]
Hearing the familiar system notification, Hachiman was slightly surprised.
'Is Miyuri also a character from the 2D world?'
Since the system didn't issue a mission, he couldn't determine which character she was exactly, but she seemed familiar.
An apartment manager…
Typically, this role was either a single man waiting for female tenants unable to pay rent to come knocking or a gentle big sister managing a building full of beautiful women. Neither seemed to match this old apartment.
But if there were a plot involving such a landlady, it wasn't impossible…
Realizing Miyuri's potential identity, Hachiman felt his heart race. A kind landlady—what a treasure.
Wait, no, no! He shouldn't think like this. He wasn't desperate for money and shouldn't stoop so low.
Just a small-time landlady—nothing to get excited about.
Trailing half a step behind Hachiman, Gabriel, who had come along with White and the others, suddenly stared at him in shock.
Why did it seem like… Hachiman had fallen even deeper?
Hadn't he just met the landlady?
But the landlady wasn't even blonde. Though she was small and cute like Nijika Ichijo, she wasn't golden-haired.
'Hmm… so Hachiman wasn't fixated on blondes, but rather on petite and adorable girls.'
As Gabriel silently analyzed Hachiman's preferences, she sighed at how peculiar they were.
Were these preferences something he developed after falling or traits he always had?
Then again, she also found small and cute things irresistible—her younger sister Haniel being a prime example.
"It's my fault for coming early and disturbing you."
Miyuri stood up, her gaze sweeping over Gabriel, White, and the others beside Hachiman. She slightly bowed and smiled.
"Mr. Hachiman, I've roughly understood Miss Shion's situation. Let's head to the apartment to check out the room."
"If you're satisfied with it, we can sign the lease, and Miss Shion can move in."
"Alright, let's go."
Hachiman was a bit surprised at how decisive the young landlady was. Still, considering the time needed to clean the room after viewing it, he promptly accompanied her to the old apartment next door.
Shion, Komachi and Gabriel naturally followed, though Shion's luggage was left behind for now.
The neighboring old apartment had three floors. The first floor was mainly used as storage for various items, including a bike shed. Only the second and third floors were residential.
Though termed "old," the facilities like railings and stairs weren't dirty, suggesting they were well-maintained. However, its exterior couldn't compare to high-end apartments.
The room Vignette rented was on the third floor. Naturally, Hachiman hoped Shion could move into the room next to hers.
While living on the top floor of such an old building might be hot during the summer, Shion would only be sleeping there at night and spending most of her time at his house.
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