Chapter 1: Illicit Thoughts

"Ren, wake up, it's morning already~"

I felt someone gently shaking my body and slowly opened my eyes.

Before me stood Yuri-nee, smiling warmly.

"Good morning, sis."

"Good morning, Ren. Mmm!"

After exchanging greetings, my sister closed her eyes and tilted her chin up slightly.

"...Mmm!"

As I gave her the "good morning kiss" we'd shared since childhood, her face lit up with satisfaction.

Ever since I was little, she'd told me, "Siblings always kiss good morning, before leaving, when coming home, and before bed." So I'd always done it without question.

When had I realized this wasn't something most siblings did?

I didn't feel deceived—I'd kept doing it because I didn't dislike it—but now, it made me a little embarrassed.

"Hey sis... don't you think it's about time we stopped the 'good morning kisses'?"

"Eh... Ehhh?!"

Her expression crumpled as if the world were ending.

"W-why would you say that?"

"Well... what if you meet someone you like—"

"The only one I like is you, Ren."

"B-but when you get a boyfriend, or get married—"

"Hehe, is that what you're worried about? Don't be. I don't plan on dating anyone."

"Really...?"

"Really. After all, didn't you promise, 'When I grow up, I'll marry you, sis'? ♪"

"That was when I was a kid. Brothers and sisters can't get married."

"So... you don't want to kiss me anymore because we can't get married?"

"That's not it. It's just... it was fine when we were little, but now it feels a bit..."

"I'm sorry. I didn't realize you disliked it. I won't kiss you anymore. No matter how much I want to... I'll hold back."

Our parents had passed away early, and my sister was... well, extremely protective of me. Maybe even a little too much.

That said, I was grateful for everything she'd done for me. I didn't dislike her—in fact, I loved her.

"Ah—no, that's not what I meant! I don't hate it. It's just... kind of embarrassing..."

"You don't hate it? Really? So we can keep doing it? Right?"

"Y-yeah."

"Aha, thank you, Ren!"

Overwhelmed by her enthusiasm, I nodded, and she immediately hugged me in delight.

...And so, our "family kisses" would continue.

I had no reason to force myself to stop if it would make her sad. This was fine—I convinced myself.

"Now, let's have breakfast."

She took my hand and led me to the dining room, where the table was already filled with delicious dishes.

Every morning, she prepared meals with balanced nutrition, tailored to my health and appetite. It must have taken her so much effort.

As a child, I hadn't understood, but now I realized just how much work she put into it.

"Thanks, sis. But... isn't it too much to make such elaborate meals every morning? Something simpler would be fine."

"What are you saying? A good breakfast is important! Oh, and lunch too—make sure you eat your bento properly! ♪"

"Yeah, I will. Thank you."

Honestly, after getting used to her cooking, I couldn't even enjoy eating out anymore.

If it were a high-end restaurant, maybe, but as far as I know, it's hard to find any place that serves food better than what my sister makes.

My sister isn't just good at cooking—she's also great at cleaning, doing laundry, and handling all household chores perfectly.

Plus, she's beautiful with a great figure, always turning heads when she walks down the street. She gets approached often, and plenty of men try to get close to me just to get to her…

Even her university is one of the most prestigious national schools in the country… She's practically flawless.

Because she's like this, I can't help but compare myself to her. After all, I'm just an ordinary guy with nothing special about me…

"...I haven't done anything. I'm always relying on you, sis."

"I'm happy that you depend on me! It makes me feel really happy ♪"

She smiled and encouraged me to lean on her.

But I'm a man—I can't keep doing this forever. I need to get my act together.

"I'm done eating. I'll head out now."

"Ah, wait, Ren! You forgot the 'goodbye kiss' before leaving!"

"Uh… Do we really have to?"

"You just said it was fine—"

"Alright, alright."

I can never win against her. Feeling embarrassed, I gave her a quick peck.

"Okay, I'm going now."

"Take care on your way ♪"

With my sister watching me leave, looking completely satisfied, I headed to school.

"Hey, Ren."

"Morning, Ren-kun."

As I walked into the classroom and headed to my seat, two childhood friends from the neighborhood—Baba Takashi and Takana Minato—greeted me.

Baba has a great physique, excels in sports, and has the kind of reliable personality I admire.

Takana, at first glance, looks like a dreamy, beautiful girl and is really popular, but despite being the same gender, she's an obsessive fan of Yuri-nee and barely has eyes for anyone else.

"Hey hey, Ren-kun, today's lunch is made by Yuri-san again, right?"

Takana leaned in eagerly.

"I'll trade up to two side dishes, and I'll properly take some from your portion too."

"You're so considerate! Thank you, Ren-kun. Now I can give it my all today."

"If you like it that much, why not talk to my sister? If you tell her Takana wants her to make it, she'd probably prepare a bento for you—though she'd charge for ingredients."

"I'd be so happy, way too happy! But I can't possibly trouble Yuri-san that much."

It's true that it'd be extra work for her.

But if it's just adjusting from two portions to three for Takana's sake, I don't think my sister would mind.

"Then, how about just inviting me over sometimes? We could cook together, take a bath together, sleep together—that'd be enough!"

"...That might be a bit too much."

"Takana's the same as always. You'd be fine if you just kept your mouth shut."

"What do you mean by 'just fine'—?!"

Hearing Baba's blunt remark, Takana puffed up her cheeks in annoyance.

What he means is exactly what it sounds like.

Maybe because of her admiration for the model student Yuri-nee, her grades are excellent, and while she puts on a polite front, her personality isn't bad at its core.

But the moment my sister comes up, she becomes… like this. So in class—no, in the whole school—she's known as the "wasted beauty."

"Why don't you just date Ren? Wouldn't that get you closer to Yuri-san?"

Upon hearing Baba's words, Takawa stared intently at my face.

"...Indeed, Ren-kun does resemble Yuri-san a bit—"

***

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