CH 22

I’m so jealous I’m turning into mochi!



Shimotsuki never stops talking.



“Nakayama-kun, don’t you feel very lonely without your parents at home? If it were me, I wouldn’t be able to bear living without my mom and dad, but you’re so good at putting up with it all by yourself. I admire you even though we are classmates.”



I moved the conversation to the living room and offered her some tea and snacks.



But Shimotsuki, who was sitting on the sofa, didn’t pay attention to the tea and snacks and kept talking to me.



“I think Nakayama-kun is lonely, so it’s okay for me to come over here once in a while. It’s okay, isn’t it? Hey, can I bring a game or something? Please, Nakayama-kun. Let me play here.”



She was saying a lot of things, but it looked like she just wanted to play games with a friend.



“I’m your hobby teacher, Nakayama-kun. It’s nothing personal, you know. It’s just that my gaming time is set at one hour at home, so it’s not too hard to sneak out at night and play games under the covers, you know?”



I was surprised that there was a kid in high school who was still doing such elementary school stuff.



From what I’ve heard, Shimotsuki’s parents really love their daughter, but they are a little …… overprotective. The deadline is 6 p.m., and she’s only allowed to play games for an hour.



But it’s not as bad as the abandonment of my family.



My father and mother both do their job as parents, and I don’t think it’s that they don’t care about their children, but in terms of the level of love they show, I think it’s a little low compared to other parents.



Even now, they travel abroad without their children.



It is still better to be loved than not to be loved. Shimotsuki also seems to love her parents, but even with that ……, I think she needs a little change of pace.



I thought it would not be a bad idea to let her use this house for that purpose.



It would be the least I could do to repay Shimotsuki for her kindness.



“Please feel free to use this house. It’s an ordinary house, though.”



Shimotsuki nodded, and her expression brightened.



I felt embarrassed when she looked at me with such a happy expression.



“There’s nothing here? No, I have Nakayama-kun in this house. I’m very happy with that. You can’t play a console game in the room because you have to connect it to a screen, right? I’ll bring one tomorrow.”



There is something about me, or …… something that makes me feel so special, she’s a strange girl after all.



It was during one of these conversations.



“……? Hmm? Hmmm?”



Suddenly, Shimotsuki’s ears twitched.



Then she suddenly looked unhappy and turned her gaze on me.



“Nakayama-kun is …… the type of person who can attract girls, isn’t he?”



The words, unusually separated by a single line, were nonsensical.



At first, I was confused because I couldn’t understand what she was saying……, and then I heard the sound of the front door opening.



“I’m home.”



A quiet voice echoed through the house.



It seems that my stepsister, Azusa, has come home.



That’s unusual. …… Didn’t she go to Ryuzaki’s house today?



And hearing her voice, Shimotsuki looked like she was going to cry a little.



“That’s terrible. I can’t believe you’re bringing a girl into your home instead of me, your friend. …… This is what you call cheating, right? Nakayama-kun’s naughty! You’re a fool if you have me in your life and you’re messing around with other girls.”



Then, after hearing what she just said, I finally realized why Shimotsuki was in a bad mood.



She has good hearing, so she must have heard Azusa’s footsteps outside. And probably sensed that the girl was coming to the house. Then Shimotsuki, who is a bit possessive, probably means that …… the flame of jealousy was kindled.



In other words, this is ……



“Ya, jealous?”



I ask, fearfully.



She then puffed up her cheeks in an obvious way.



Her cheeks looked like mochi.



“That’s right. I’m jealous. I’m so jealous, I’m turning into a mochi.”



Even if you say so, I’m a little confused…….



Because the one who just came back to this house is my family.



She’s my stepsister, even though we’re not related by blood, so I wanted to give her a pass for counting her as the opposite sex…