Compared to the others, the status of a stepsister brought Chihaya Anon a convenience that the others could never imagine.
She could use her identity as a sister to get close to Chihaya Tetsuya without restraint, justifiably occupying the most intimate position by his side. Intimate interactions on the level of a couple, such as the first lap pillow or the first time bathing together, were all achieved first by her, his stepsister.
Because of this, while Nagasaki Soyo and Togawa Sakiko were still figuring out how to close the distance with him, she was already standing in the winner's circle, leisurely waiting for these challengers to catch up.
That is, until these latecomers confessed their feelings to him at a speed that completely exceeded her expectations, catching up to and even surpassing her before she could even react. The reason for this result, besides her own complacency, was precisely that status of "stepsister."
Tetsuya's doting and consideration for her had long become a natural habit, and her admiration for him had been set in stone since her childhood. For this pair of siblings who had spent seven whole years together day and night, their intimacy and trust had long surpassed that of an ordinary couple.
This excessively high starting point meant that Anon could never find any room to make further progress. The emotional reunion he shared with Ai, the sense of security he had with Soyo in entrusting their futures to each other, or the "one heart, one body" trust between him and Sakiko—these were all things she, as a sister, could not achieve.
At the same time, after actually interacting with these girls who shared the same feelings as her, Anon immediately realized that the reason she received such affection from him was only because she had been lucky enough to become his stepsister.
Without that status... she probably would have never earned the right to be in such intimate contact with her brother.
"...I feel like, there's a serious temperature difference."
When Anon took the spot Hoshino Ai had just occupied, her reaction was much calmer compared to the torrent of emotions Ai had felt.
"Going right after Ai is so unfair to me, isn't it? Leaving aside the difference in 'hardware'... there's absolutely no way I could do the kind of moves she was just doing!" she said, looking with an expression of awe at Ai's well-toned, nimble waist. "And, I probably won't be able to lose myself in it like Ai did."
After all, for her, even though she was about to do the most intimate thing possible with the brother she loved, it was merely taking a small step forward from their existing relationship.
"Ah, this angle is so familiar," Anon said, looking down at Tetsuya's face. "I used to wake you up in this position all the time!"
"But the situation is completely different..."
Compared to her nostalgia, Tetsuya, who had just barely caught his breath from Ai's fierce assault, was not nearly as composed.
"Forget the covers, I'm only wearing a single shirt right now... no matter how you look at it, it's not the same thing, is it?"
"Ehh..."
Anon was very surprised by her brother's reaction, which was so different from her own.
She had assumed that her slender figure, lack of skill, and the complete absence of any thrilling tension due to their overly familiar relationship would make it impossible to arouse him. Yet, judging by his body's honest reaction, he was clearly not as calm as she had thought.
"Are you serious? You can actually get this interested in me, big brother?"
Anon was pleasantly surprised. To confirm the situation further, she even reached out and touched it directly.
"Whoa... so weird. So this is what it feels like."
"Anon..."
Faced with her detached, almost clinical reaction, Tetsuya couldn't help but say her name with a sense of helplessness.
"If you're not mentally prepared, you don't have to force yourself to go on."
"Mmm..."
Having been seen through, Anon subconsciously averted her gaze.
"It's less about not being mentally prepared and more that I just don't have any confidence..."
Even after personally confirming his current state, she still didn't dare to take that final step.
But it couldn't be helped. Compared to Ai, who was an idol, and Soyo and Sakiko, who had impressive figures, her body type was just too slender. As for practical experience, she had none, and thus had no confidence she could properly please him.
Maybe... I should just leave it at that? Wait until I've accumulated enough experience from the other three?
Anyway, even if I give up halfway, even if I don't go all the way, the distance between us will still be as close as ever.
So, to avoid disappointing him, maybe I should just—
"Anon."
Just as she was thinking of backing out, Tetsuya suddenly said something completely beyond her imagination.
"If you're really too scared, it's okay if I take the lead."
"...Eh?!"
Not telling her to give up, not comforting her or persuading her... but for him to take the initiative with her!?
Hearing this, Anon was plunged into deep shock.
In her eyes, the fact that he was willing to go along with their nonsense was already the biggest concession he could make. Yet now, not only was he comforting her when she was getting cold feet, but he was even willing to take on the role of the initiator?
"The reason you want to do this with me is to take our relationship a step further and to ease the anxiety in your heart, right?" Tetsuya said, gently twisting his wrists. The "rope" used to bind him was an elastic band with excellent flexibility; with a little force, it could easily be slipped off. "If that's the case, then comparing ourselves to others was meaningless from the start, wasn't it?"
Then, as Anon's face grew redder, Tetsuya freed his hands and held her by the waist.
"W-wait a minute, big brother!"
Suddenly being held so tightly, her face flushed a deep crimson.
"This time, I should be the one saying that! I don't think you need to force yourself to do something you don't want to!" she said. "I know, you know! Even if we don't do this, you'll still dote on me and be responsible for me just like always. So... you can totally do it with them first, and then come to me whenever you feel like it—"
"Anon, listen to me."
The sudden increase in his volume stopped her self-deprecating words.
"In your eyes, maybe you think I only absent-mindedly agreed to be your lover out of the inertia of our 'family' and 'sibling' relationship... but that's not how it is."
As he spoke, he took her hands in his.
"Think back carefully, Anon. If I really only saw you as a sister, I wouldn't have exposed so many of my embarrassing sides to you before, would I?"
"But... aren't those just normal reactions for a boy?" Anon mumbled, turning her head away. "I know that boys can have that kind of physical reaction very easily."
"It's not that simple," Tetsuya said, shaking his head. "You've heard about it, right? I've been in close contact with the bodies of fashion models more than once before, but I had absolutely no reaction then... If I put it like that, you should understand, right? You are also a very attractive woman to me."
"A-wah-wah-wah..."
Does that mean, compared to those slender fashion models, he actually prefers a plain and undeveloped girl like her?!
An indescribable sense of satisfaction and accomplishment instantly brightened her expression.
Tetsuya continued to explain, "Just like how you can't see other boys your age as romantic partners because of me, I also subconsciously compare the girls around me to you... and the result is, until I confirmed my relationship with all of you, I never met anyone else who made my heart stir. So if I had to say, I might have already started seeing you as a member of the opposite sex long before you confessed to me."
Though he said it with an embarrassed tone, he took the initiative to add, "If you really can't believe me, then let me prove it to you."
"..."
Anon had never imagined that he would say such wonderful things to her in a situation like this.
Eh? Is this for real? So it wasn't just me who had a one-sided crush on him? He's seen me as a regular girl all this time?
Unprecedented joy left her completely stunned.
She wanted to keep asking him, to confirm when he had started seeing her that way, and what exactly he liked about her.
But more than that, a stirring voice from deep within her body was telling her that now was not the time to be asking those questions.
"If that's really the case, then... I'll be in your care, big brother."
Anon turned her palms, lacing her fingers with his.
"I want to know if I really have... that kind of appeal you just mentioned."
...
Unlike Ai's turn, at the very beginning, Anon did indeed stop moving due to the sudden pain, lying on top of him for a long time without daring to budge. To soothe her, Tetsuya kissed her cheeks and patiently waited for her to adjust.
It was just like their usual dynamic.
He would always comfort the immature Anon, who was often frustrated and hurt, in the most considerate and appropriate way, encouraging her to keep moving forward.
And so, very soon, under his comforting presence, Anon gradually overcame her pain and anxiety, regaining her hope and fighting spirit.
Then, out of her trust and attachment to him, she finally began to make her own effort, striving to catch up to the brother she admired most.
"...It's become quite heartwarming, hasn't it?" Nagasaki Soyo blinked. "The style is completely different from Ai's just now."
"This gradual, step-by-step feeling is very much in Anon-san's style," Togawa Sakiko commented. "And this way, Anon has become the first one he's taken the initiative with."
"Mhm, yeah..." Soyo nodded, casting a slightly envious glance at the two who had now achieved a perfect harmony. "The feelings cultivated over many years of being siblings really are irreplaceable."
Even if there were still many feelings they had yet to understand about each other, the warmth and harmony radiating from their shared memories still made Soyo, who longed for a place to belong, feel a sense of admiration.
"You say that like it's completely someone else's business..."
Just then, Hoshino Ai walked over to them with unsteady steps.
"You'll be in a relationship like that with him in the future too, won't you? Instead of envying others here, you should be thinking about what you're going to do next."
"...You're okay already."
Seeing that Ai had recovered her ability to move, Soyo and Sakiko immediately grabbed hold of her.
"Speaking of which... did it hurt at the beginning? Anon had such a strong reaction, but you seemed completely fine..."
"I don't know. At least, I didn't feel any pain at all," Ai said, shaking her head. "And even if it did hurt, it's just for a brief moment. Look at Chihaya Anon now."
"..." The two of them looked over at Anon, who had now adjusted to the pain. Sure enough, with Tetsuya taking the lead, her expression had gradually changed from one of pain to one of blissful immersion...
"At first, I thought having four people would be too much for Tetsu, but now it seems that having four people was the wise choice."
Ai's words made the two, who were still observing Anon, instantly focus their attention back on her.
"Why do you say that?" Sakiko asked curiously.
Ai looked at Tetsuya, who remained focused on the task at hand, and said, "Haven't you noticed? Even though he's already been with two of us, he shows absolutely no signs of finishing."
"...Ah."
Logically, for a first-timer like him, he should have, like the girls, quickly surrendered under the unprecedented stimulation and impact.
However, whether it was under Ai's rapid assault or during the tender moments he initiated with Anon, he showed no signs of losing control. In fact, he seemed to be getting more and more tireless...
What on earth is going on?
Just as the two were pondering this, with a short cry, Chihaya Anon's turn came to an end after only about ten minutes.
This long night, which belonged to all of them, seemed to be far from over.
[T/N: Next chapter is missing :broken_heart: thankfully that's the last of it. Only two were missing..]