My Lovely Neighbour
The mall

After Ayumi nagged for almost half an hour, my legs started to ache. The position of the seiza is not pleasant. I should have known this and learned from my mistakes.

Standing in front of me, Ayumi tapped her legs in annoyance. The long black haired girl crossed her hands with an angry expression. Even so, my sister still looks cute.

"— Hence! Scolding an Oniichan like this was truly exhausting! So I want to eat pudding!" Ayumi's annoyed voice filled the dining room. "Lately, Ayu's favorite pudding has become hard to find, so Ayu is worried they're stopping making it."

Oi, are you intent on scolding me no? After all, a sister scolding her brother was disrespectful.

Training the curse in the mind, I straightened my legs. A tingling feeling was evident in both my legs. That's so sorry, myself.

"Huh!? Who told Oniichan to stop being a seiza!?" Ayumi yelled at me again.

I let out a breath. "You know, Ayumi. You're more cute when you shut your mouth."

"HUH?!"

My heart suddenly thumped, out of fear. I immediately recovered Seiza's position and bowed.

"Pardon me, Ayumi-sama. Ayumi-sama remains cute no matter what."

"Hmph! Good then." I could hear Ayumi snorting happily. "Thanks to your head, Miso soup is cold, huh."

Whose fault is it!?

I decided to keep it in my heart. A lecture of Ayumi once a day is enough for me. I don't need any extra.

I stood up and sat down in the dining chair. Holding the bowl, then "Itadakimasu" I started eating.

I heard the sound of a chair shifting in front of me. Followed by an "Itadakimasu".

I looked at Ayumi. He was eating quietly.

"You haven't eaten yet?" my many.

"Hmm? Not yet," he answered briefly while eating a tofu.

I didn't say anything else. I thank you for having such an understanding sister. At least he didn't bother his brother. Although, it's a little scary, but because he's cute it's even.

"So, why is Oniichan late?"

"I'm picket duty," I replied lying.

In my heart I feel proud. Lying is my skill. Especially to others.

Lying is a fine art. To do so, one needs strong memories and great emotional control. In lying, you have to lie to others and yourself. If you don't believe it yourself, how can anyone else?

In lying, you have to say one thing in harmony. No need to add special details and try to stay consistent. If you're exaggerating or lacking in lying, anyone can figure it out.

Like I said, I'm a master at lying. I am proud of my lies. Until now, only a few people knew I was lying.

"Don't lie. Picket is not possible until this late"

One of those people is Ayumi.

"That's great, Ayumi." I grabbed a glass of water. "Successfully knowing, you are indeed my sister. Actually, I have a little business at the bookstore."

In lying, when you will be found to be calm. Don't look nervous and worried. Keep believing your lies.

"Nozomi-chan sent me a message."

"O-oh, so yeah."

When a third party shows up and provides important facts, it is better to give up.

"Sorry, he called me so I stopped."

When I finished saying that, I closed my eyes. Waiting for the waves of anger Ayumi. However, after a while, there were no signs.

Instead, I just heard a sigh.

"Oniichan is stupid? Why aren't you at home?!" Ayumi hits the table.

"On the contrary, I can't concentrate on you at home." I'm gonna go hit the table. "You're disturbing!"

Ayumi pretended to be surprised. Opened his mouth like a goldfish. "What's? Is Oniichan fascinated by Ayu's body? No, Ayu this is your sister."

"... Exactly it. This is the reason."

"No way! Besides being bound by blood, Ayu is also underage. Oniichan, this is a forbidden relationship!"

"Squeaky. Everyone around me is a freak." I buried my face in the palm of my hand.

"Oh come on, Oniichan. I'm not that bad."

Hearing Ayumi's words, I raised my head slightly. Looked at her smiling face.

"I don't mind sharing Oniichan with Nozomi-chan."

"Kill me!"

❀❀❀❀

Finished eating and washing dishes, I sat on the sofa in front of the TV. Watching nature documentaries.

Apparently there is one type of frog that freezes themselves when winter comes. Stopping his metabolism and saving energy. It's delicious huh.

"And humans can't even hibernate. Sleep for six months! Isn't that great? Pshaw! How strange! Evolution is a plan!"

Speaking out my protest, I threw a pair of nuts into my mouth. Chewing it, I couldn't bear to think that the beans from Chiba were indeed delicious.

Don't call your brother a freak.

Unlike her who was wearing the black sailor uniform earlier, Ayumi now wears a yellow hoodie. Blue bloomers could be seen a little behind that oversized hoodie. Her long hair was bound into a ponytail.

Do Junior High children like to wear such clothes?

Holding a bottle of juice, the girl sat beside me. Leaning his body to my body. I wanted to say "heavy," but Ayumi's hand must have been directly connected to my chin. (That means, I'll get the uppercut.)

Ayumi took the remote on the table and changed the channel. It is more precise to replace the HDMI.

"Hey, I was watching that."

"Oniichan always watches strange programs. I'm so worried."

"Weird what? Nat Geo is quality! Each program is based on official and actual research. A place full of science and technology! A place that stimulates curiosity and exploration! Not an abal-abal history channel featuring weird conspiracies."

Not because my favorite channel was insulted, I defended it. Instead, Ayumi did not care. He turned on the Switch and took out a pair of controllers from under the table.

Now I feel a waste of explaining something to a person who doesn't care. The universe is really interesting. It was like a cosmic dance that seduced explorers into his arms.

"More." Not letting me get submerged in deep thoughts about the secrets of the universe, Ayumi gave me a pro controller.

I can only accept it. Sighing, I stared at the screen.

"What are we going to play? Splatoon's? Smash Bros's? Mario Kart?"

"Ehh~? Let's play Zelda."

I blinked my eyes a few times. Staring at the girl picked Link's Awakening on the screen.

"Bak Ayumi, it's a singleplayer game."

"Know it."

"Then, why did you give me a controller!?"

"Oh, Ayu forgot. Teehee!"

"Don't even Teehee!"

I threw the controller aside. Make it bounce a little over the couch. So annoying.

"Sorry, sorry. Later change yes," said Ayumi apologized. The sound of a button being pressed can be heard.

Choosing to act as an understanding older brother and a common sense person, I relented. "All right." I leaned my body against the sofa.

Ayumi's head fell into my lap. His eyes are still on the screen. Oi, don't steal from the residents.

"Capital, Oniichan. We have a new neighbor, right?" Ayumi asked. Not looking at me.

"Oh, yes. Shidoki Family. I've met their daughter" I replied. Trying to get the nuts. But, futile. "He's my classmate."

"Oh? What a remarkable coincidence." He said in a monotone voice. He grabbed a bowl of beans on the table and put it on his head. "What's the guy?"

"Like a small animal." I took a pair of nuts and ate them. "It's hard and a lot of people love it."

"He~h, Oniichan himself?"

I thought about what Shidoki said today. Not very important indeed, but somehow the name of a good person is still attached to my mind.

"Well, he's not a bad person" I replied in the end.

"Ayu means not so." Ayumi sighed. "Son't like him?"

"What kind of question is that?" I looked at the girl strangely.

Likes are a relative word. Depending on how you use it, the meaning can change drastically. For example, if you say, "i love to sing," then people will think that singing is your hobby. But, if you say "i like him," you can see the direction you're going.

Given that Nozomi and Ayumi have such a close relationship, I don't want to end up resting at both of their feet. One time is enough. That's for stupid reasons.

"Well, I mean Ayu is a popular girl. Must be cute, right?" Ayumi explained the question. "Oniichan is also male, isn't it weird not to be interested?"

Huh! A stupid question that traps!

Trying to question my sexuality to complain? Too naive, my sister. The stigma of society has no effect on me!

"I'm sorry, in my eyes there's only Nozomi."

I smiled proudly. That word is pretty cool. Though quite embarrassing.

"Okay, enough." Ayumi paused the game and woke up. The beans fell over the sofa.

Ayumi smiled happily, she held onto something. A yellow phone. On the screen, I saw a voice recorder app.

"A-Ayumi, are you recording my voice? Ha— please"

"Daaan, send it to Nozomi-chan. She must be happy~"

Before I could finish my sentence, Ayumi sent it to the person.

"...."

I covered my face.

"Want to change play?"

"My ass!"