After Itsuka Kotori reflexively shouted, she suddenly realized there were other people in the house. Turning her head, she saw Toujou Nozomi's smiling eyes and Yoshino's curious gaze from the sofa, and immediately composed herself, giving a fake cough to alleviate her embarrassment.
"Although my memory is blurry, I do remember Brother going to a special place. Although I was lonely, I was more worried about Brother's safety," Takamiya Mana said softly, looking at Itsuka Shido sitting nearby, her eyes filled with tears. Although she had become strong, after seeing her brother whom she hadn't seen for a long time, the emotions in her heart couldn't be suppressed.
"So, being able to see my Brother so energetic like this, I... I just... Beloved Brother!" Takamiya Mana said, looking at Itsuka Shido, unable to control her tears, and rushed to hug Itsuka Shido. Nestled in his embrace, Takamiya Mana gently sobbed.
Itsuka Shido, sitting in his seat, was a little stunned by Takamiya Mana's sudden hug. Looking at Takamiya Mana crying in his arms, his hand, which had been in the air, couldn't help but embrace Takamiya Mana's slender waist, while his other hand gently stroked Takamiya Mana's head. He had rarely experienced this feeling since Itsuka Kotori entered her 'Commander' mode, and he truly missed it now.
Takamiya Mana, in Itsuka Shido's arms, felt his affection for her and cried even harder. But these were tears of joy, as she felt her brother's love for her. This made Takamiya Mana feel that meeting Tokisaki Kurumi today wasn't such a bad thing after all.
'It seems Itsuka Shido is truly a complete sis-con. But with such a cute sister clinging to him, it's understandable that he'd become a sis-con,' Minami Kotori said, looking at the deep sibling affection between the two. Although she didn't have an older or younger sister, she experienced the feeling of being an older sister through Yoshino. Although she was a bit too 'close' with this younger sister.
'Yes, but Itsuka Shido seems to have forgotten that he also has an adopted sister nearby,' Minami Kotori thought, looking at Itsuka Kotori, who was now emitting a dark aura. Her anger must have reached its peak by now.
Although Itsuka Kotori usually spoke harshly to Itsuka Shido, deep down she cared a great deal about him.
Her affection for Itsuka Shido had always been at maximum, and now, his sworn sister was being so intimate with him right in front of her!
Itsuka Kotori felt like she was about to explode!
It was like when she went to buy a lollipop and the boss told her they were sold out!
She felt like retaliating against society.
"Get away from Shido!?"
Itsuka Kotori, feeling very uncomfortable, suddenly burst out, kicking the stool Itsuka Shido was sitting on.
Itsuka Shido, completely unprepared, fell to the ground, while Takamiya Mana, with her astonishing reflexes, let go before he fell, thus avoiding falling on Itsuka Shido.
"What are you doing?" Takamiya Mana looked at the fuming Itsuka Kotori, her delicate brows slightly furrowed.
What was this person doing while she and Big Brother were having a tender moment?
It was supposed to be a touching scene of siblings reuniting, but this person had ruined it!
For a moment, Takamiya Mana looked at Itsuka Kotori with a hint of hostility.
"Why did you kick my stool?" Itsuka Shido said, rubbing his slightly sore bottom, a little aggrieved.
"Shut up! You bug! You three-legged worm! You paramecium!" She glared fiercely at Itsuka Shido, who was still on the ground, making him swallow all the words he wanted to say.
Looking at the now obedient Itsuka Shido, Itsuka Kotori turned to Takamiya Mana, her eyes full of hostility.
"In short! Stay away from Shido! Saying you're Shido's sister based on such a flimsy reason will cause us trouble! And Shido is already our family.
At this point, I won't let you take him away!" Itsuka Kotori said very domineeringly, though this was also a way to hide her reluctance.
"I don't have that intention, though." Takamiya Mana said with a slight smile, not at all angered by her words.
"Huh?" Itsuka Kotori looked at Takamiya Mana in surprise.
Normally, shouldn't the plot be about a sister who hasn't seen her brother in a long time wanting to live with him and arguing with her sworn sister?
Why was this different from what she imagined?
"I'm already very grateful that someone like this treats Big Brother as family.
If Big Brother can live happily here, then Mana will be very satisfied." Takamiya Mana's cheeks showed cute dimples, and she smiled sweetly and contentedly.
"And Big Brother now has such a cute sworn sister." Takamiya Mana reached across the table and held Itsuka Kotori's hand again.
Looking at her genuine smile, Itsuka Kotori felt that her attitude towards her just now had been a bit childish.
She pursed her lips, feeling a little awkward.
'What a good child (meow).' * 5 The people watching from the sofa exclaimed, thinking it was wonderful how much she cared for her brother.
They wondered how many lifetimes of good fortune Itsuka Shido had accumulated to have such a cute sister.
"It seems you still have foresight." It must be said that Takamiya Mana's words very effectively pleased Itsuka Kotori, who was in tsundere mode.
Itsuka Kotori turned her head, saying a bit awkwardly, "Even if you say that..."
"However, of course, she can't compare to a biological sister!" Before Itsuka Kotori could finish speaking, Takamiya Mana interjected!
Her cute smile held no malice.
However, Toujou Nozomi, being an experienced person, knew that Takamiya Mana had deliberately said this when Itsuka Kotori's guard was down.
Instantly, everyone present seemed to hear the sound of cracks appearing in the air.
Even Yatogami Tohka, who was eating kinako bread, looked around cautiously, having just sensed a dangerous aura.
'Ah~ It's starting again.' * 5 So it was just deliberately misleading the enemy?
What a terrifying child, Takamiya Mana.
"Hey, uh, Kotori, calm down." Itsuka Shido, sweating profusely, tried to intervene, but a foot stomping on his leg made him swallow the words he wanted to say.
"Oh... Is that so?" Itsuka Kotori's cheek muscles twitched continuously, and a rather stiff smile appeared on her face.
Any slight goodwill she had felt towards Takamiya Mana completely vanished, and she looked at Takamiya Mana with a gloomy expression, gritting her teeth as she spoke.
"That's natural, after all, blood is thicker than water." Takamiya Mana said as a matter of course.
"But, some also say that the kindness of upbringing is greater than blood ties, isn't it?" Takamiya Mana, who had maintained a smiling face throughout, felt her temple twitch and her mouth begin to convulse after hearing Itsuka Kotori finish that sentence.
After a while, Takamiya Mana released Itsuka Kotori's hand and placed both hands on the table to enhance her presence.
"No! No! No! An sworn sister is ultimately just an outsider.
On this point, a biological sister has a blood relationship!
Naturally! In the very end, Big Brother will still return to his biological sister's side, right!
You should know there's a saying: 'What is decided at three years old lasts a lifetime!' And we have the same blood flowing in us, so our inherent sister-index is vastly different!" Takamiya Mana specifically emphasized this point, but "sister-index"... she had never heard of that term.
"So what? And why do you keep emphasizing that point!" Itsuka Kotori looked at Takamiya Mana unhappily.
She was Itsuka Shido's current sister!
Yatogami Tohka, meanwhile, looked blankly at the argument between the biological sister and the sworn sister.
She went to Yoshino, who she usually got along with best, and asked curiously, "Yoshino, what exactly are an sworn sister and a biological sister?
Are they something to eat?"
Looking at Yatogami Tohka's innocent eyes, Yoshino didn't know how to explain it to her.
So she looked to Shiina in her hand for help.
"Yes! Yes! If you make it into a donburi, you can taste the forbidden fruit!" Shiina said excitedly, already smelling the scent of illicit love.
The argument between these two was truly too exciting!
It was more thrilling than watching a Hollywood blockbuster.
"Really! It sounds delicious.
Then I must try it, Shido, quickly make it for me." Hearing that it was something tasty, Yatogami Tohka immediately said excitedly.
She looked at Itsuka Shido with great anticipation, thinking that since Itsuka Shido was so amazing, he must be able to make this dish.
"Do you want me to become a criminal?" Itsuka Shido said helplessly.
He was innocent!
Why was the fire burning him?
And why did this kind of thing lead to food?
"So what! You should know that even with an sworn sister, feelings that develop over a long time together can become even stronger!
And I've been his sister for over ten years!
You can figure out whose sister-index is higher then!" Although she knew Takamiya Mana had a point, Itsuka Kotori didn't want to admit defeat!
This was a war of sisters, and she didn't want to lose to this person!
"Ridiculous! Isn't it incredibly touching when siblings separated in childhood reunite after a few years?
True bonds are not limited by time." Takamiya Mana covered her mouth and chuckled softly as she looked at Itsuka Kotori, who was now starting to get anxious.
She saw victory within her grasp.
"Nonsense! What's so great about blood relations!
And if it's a biological sister, then you can't get married, can you!" Looking at Takamiya Mana's expression, Itsuka Kotori's anger flared up, and she blurted out her thoughts without thinking.
In her opinion, this was the biggest advantage of an sworn sister over a biological sister!
The most feared thing was when the air grew quiet.
The usually lively living room fell silent because of Itsuka Kotori's words.
Even Tokisaki Kurumi, who had always smiled gracefully, charmingly widened her mouth upon hearing Itsuka Kotori's words.
To be able to say something like that was truly impressive.
Only Toujou Nozomi showed a satisfied smile, having recorded the most important scene.
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