I Believe in Myself

"In this day and age, there are so many weird things and weird people…"

After ensuring the beautiful, black-haired, well-figured girl safely left the alley, Yuu sighed, finally emerging from his hiding spot and heading toward his actual home.

Taking out his phone, he replied to Sora's thirteenth message.

{Why aren't you home yet?}

"On the way, I got held up chatting with a beautiful, long-legged girl in black stockings, so I'm a bit late."

{???}

"She wasn't as pretty as my sister, so I rejected her flat-out, making her cry and leave this sad city."

{Huh? Are you a siscon or something?}

"Just being honest. I'll be home soon, five minutes."

{Hurry up.}

If he got home any later, Sora might actually strangle him with her twin-tails, right?

The pizza ordered online had already arrived, but she insisted on not eating first, willing to starve while waiting for him, then venting all her hunger-fueled frustration on him.

"Well, it's my fault anyway."

Yuu scratched his hair, reflecting slightly.

This issue could've been resolved quickly, but because he wanted to teach the female stalker a lesson, he'd delayed until now.

He should've just dodged her right away. Why trouble himself?

"Could it be… I'm actually pretty interested in well-figured women?"

"No way, I'm…"

With a serious expression, examining his own tastes, over four minutes later, Yuu finally reached his doorstep, took out his key, and opened the door.

"So slow!"

That was the first thing greeting him as he stepped into the entrance.

Yuu gave a wry smile, placing his palm on the head of the girl holding a black bunny plushie, gently stroking her smooth, glossy silver hair.

"I'm home."

"…Welcome back."

After a brief silence, the dissatisfaction and anxiety on her face slowly faded. Sora pursed her lips slightly, her gaze fixed on the floor, standing still as she let him pat her head.

Until a faint rumble came from her flat stomach, she blushed, swatted his hand away, and turned, jogging into the living room.

"Hurry up and wash your hands, get ready to eat!"

"Alright~"

Yuu took off his shoes and headed to the bathroom.

Sora stood at the living room door, watching him pass by, then her small nose sniffed suddenly, and she frowned.

"Wait a second!"

"Huh?" Seeing her grab his sleeve, Yuu looked confused. "What's wrong?"

Sora didn't answer, instead pulling his arm closer, sniffing his sleeve, then coldly ordering him to lean down, sniffing his collar and neck.

Then, with her brown eyes narrowing slightly, she scanned his entire body like a bloodhound tracking prey.

"Yuu, you didn't go to work today, right?" Sora asked softly.

"That's right…" Seeing her search for "evidence" like that, Yuu quickly caught on, his lips curling into a speechless smirk.

"My dear sister, are you an expert at catching cheaters now?"

"I just smelled someone else's perfume on you, so I got curious." Sora snorted coldly, stepping back, clutching her black bunny plushie tightly, her serious gaze fixed on his face.

"No work, so you were on a date with another girl? Who? That Yuigahama Yui you mentioned before? Or did that girl who flirted with you actually make a move?"

"What does this have to do with Yuigahama… Don't just guess." Yuu couldn't help rubbing his forehead.

It was just something he'd mentioned in passing before summer break, and he didn't expect his sister to remember it until now.

How to put it? His sister wasn't just knowledgeable; in some ways, she was more sensitive than a bloodhound, making one wonder if she'd read his script beforehand…

Or maybe this was just a special skill of the super-jealous type?

(But, there's actually Haruno's perfume on me?)

Yuu frowned slightly, sniffing the spots Sora had focused on, but he couldn't smell anything.

…Which made sense. He and Haruno had barely any close physical contact, and it had been a while since leaving Shibuya. Even the McDonald's smell was gone, so how could Haruno's perfume linger?

He unconsciously gave Sora a strange look.

"What? You're saying I'm meddling?" Sora seemed to misunderstand, her small face scrunching up, her tone showing dissatisfaction.

"Yuu has no taste in women at all. If you get fooled by a bad woman, I'll end up suffering too!"

Yuu raised an eyebrow.

"How do you know I have no taste in women? I've never even had a girlfriend."

Sora paused, pouting and answering stubbornly, "I just know!"

Yuu shrugged, not wanting to argue with her over something pointless.

After all, Sora saying he had no taste in women was basically insulting herself.

Who made his type someone like Sora?

Petite and cute, spoiled yet stubborn, often showing a lonely and clingy side, pure-hearted yet insightful—truly God's perfect creation.

If his sister hadn't shaped his tastes, in front of beautiful women like Haruno or Miss Stalker, his pants might've stirred once or twice.

…And it needs to be stressed again: he's really not a pedophile, just likes younger women.

Young women—even girls themselves like them, let alone guys.

"Alright, I'm going to wash my hands."

Yuu headed toward the bathroom again.

This time, Sora didn't stop him.

But a faint, mosquito-like voice came from behind:

"Yuu, you won't leave me, right?"

His hand on the bathroom door, Yuu answered without turning:

"Of course not."

"Even if you get a girlfriend… you'll stay with me forever, right?"

After a moment, her trembling voice was overtaken by a firm tone.

"I believe in myself."

"Believe?"

"Yeah, Yuu will never leave Sora, never let her be alone—I believe that."

The sound of running water echoed, and Yuu chuckled, deliberately dragging out his voice:

"What can I do? Sora's a scaredy-cat who gets lonely. To keep her from crying in fear, I have to take responsibility and care for my homebody sister~"

"I'm not crying!" Sora puffed out her cheeks, kicking the doorframe twice as if venting her frustration. "I didn't cry when you came home late today… No, I never cry at all!"

"Alright, alright, let's not talk about that. Come on, let's eat."

Drying his hands and stepping out of the bathroom, Yuu looked at her covering her face with the bunny, unable to hide her reddened ears, and smiled warmly.

Sora stood still for a moment, then hesitantly raised her eyes to meet his. Facing that smile, something in her seemed to soften instantly.

"…Yuu."

Whispering softly, she reached out her fair hand to him.

"I'm right here."

His large hand clasped hers tightly. Yuu pulled her into the living room, letting her lean on his arm, her soft silver hair gently brushing his skin.

"You promised… If you betray me, I'll turn into a yandere."

Yuu could only sigh resignedly.

"Stop watching those weird things, or I'll block your internet."

"And if you get a girlfriend, you have to tell me. You can't bring her home until I approve."

"So strict."

"In return, I won't have a boyfriend either."

"Huh? Why?"

"No reason, idiot. Id-i-ot!"

Under the dim yellow lamplight, the aroma of pizza filled the entire living room.