82 Ligh (1/2)

Why did things become like this?’ Hoshi inwardly wondered.

Why and when did his sisters... stop being his sisters?

Hoshi still remembered his childhood. Back then, he played happily together with Rion and Kotomi.

His sisters definitely weren’t like this back then; they were as simple and innocent as other girls their age, just a little smarter and cuter.

Hoshi had been proud of his sisters back then since they could do anything, and they always did it well while taking care of their weak-willed younger brother.

The memory which left him with the deepest impression was the time where he’d accidentally enraged a wild dog and was desperately scrambling to shake it off his tail. His sisters rushed over to his side, and despite their fear, risked being bitten in order to drive it off.

This memory had turned hazy with the passing of time, but the image of his sisters smiling at him with teary eyes remained clear.

But as for now...

Just where did things go wrong for them to become this way? Hoshi really didn’t know.

He had been angry and even loathed them while they were abusing him, but now that he had calmed down, he discovered that there was no rage within him, only sadness.

Hoshi thought about himself after considering everything.

He’d always been consciously and unconsciously avoiding the truth; that was why he had been unable to see his sisters for what they really were before this.

If he could have found out sooner, perhaps he could have done something about it?

Yes... that was the case.

He was so useless. If only he could have thought more clearly or smartly, he could have done something before his sisters reached their current state!

‘I... I’m so weak.’ Hoshi fell into a state of self-deprecation.

If only he could become stronger, or if he had thought this way much earlier, or met someone like Harano-senpai much sooner...

‘That’s right—Senpai. What’s Harano-senpai doing now? How is he... after discussing things with my sisters!?’

Hoshi finally returned to his senses and realized that it wasn’t time for him to wallow in his thoughts; he should be worrying about his Senpai.

A concerned expression appeared on his face.

”Are you worrying about Seigo?” A gentle voice sounded out next to him.

It was the beautiful upperclassman named Mika Uehara.

Hoshi felt that this friend of Senpai’s had dainty features. An aura of freshness hung about her, and she had a gentle attitude with a friendly personality. She was quite the charismatic girl.

”You don’t need to worry too much about him—Seigo’s really strong… Especially when he needs to protect something important to him.” His female upperclassman seemed to think of something as a tinge of red crept into her cheeks.

”Oh my, are you thinking about your romantic times together with him?” A casual flirtatious voice spoke out from behind them. ”You’re acting like a girl in love in front of your junior, you know~”

This was Chiaki Wakaba, Senpai’s other classmate and good friend.

She enjoyed wearing the boys’ school uniform for some reason, but it was totally suited for her.

She had silver-gray hair with a boyishly handsome face. Chiaki always spoke and behaved in a casual and relaxed manner. She seemed to possess a heroic spirit, yet it was still easy to tell that she was female; she was another charismatic character.

”N... Not at all! Stop making stuff up, Chiaki!” Uehara-san blushed heavily as she denied it.

Although Hoshi didn’t know her all that well, even he was able to detect that she was most likely lying.

What a classic tsundere...

Hoshi mentally chuckled.

Last week, when he met these two upperclassmen of his for the first time, he focused almost entirely on Harano-senpai, so they flew under his radar. Now that Senpai wasn’t by his side, it was only natural that he finally noticed their beauty when being together with them.

It seemed only natural for the ultra-handsome Harano-senpai to have good friends like these two.

And one of Harano-senpai’s good friends felt more than just friendship towards him—that seemed natural as well.

Hoshi truly believed that it wouldn’t be strange even if every girl in the entire grade fell in love with a boy like his Harano-senpai!

Of course, Harano-senpai would have some choice comments for him if he knew what Hoshi was thinking.

Everyone around Seigo Harano definitely knew how cool he was, but Senpai was always so humble.

This was one of the factors which made him so charismatic.

Harano-senpai was indeed handsome on the outside, but his inside was important for Hoshi... Hoshi thought back to when he was at the darkest point in his life. His Senpai had been able to detect that something was wrong simply through a few questions in a phone call.