I Won't Be a Loser

"When will brother come back?"

Mitsuha had already heard this question more than ten times. Sitting in front of the television, she glanced sideways at her younger sister, Yotsuha, who was sitting beside her.

In a rural town like Itomori, there was nothing to pass the time. The adults could gather together in the evening or afternoon for drinks and conversation, but for the kids, the only entertainment was television and outdated comics.

The nearest bustling city to Itomori was Nagoya, which was more than 160 kilometers away. It would take at least three hours to get there, and then another three hours to return.

Mitsuha sighed at the thought. She was frustrated with the thought of living in such a rural place.

"I've told you many times already, you were right there when we spoke on the phone. He'll be back when summer vacation comes."

"And the Tokyo souvenirs?"

"...I want to know too."

The last time she had heard from her irresponsible older brother, he said he'd send souvenirs from Tokyo, but she had no idea when they would actually arrive.

"I also forgot to tell him the specific things I wanted. Who knows what strange things he'll send back."

Yotsuha, with her twin pigtails, stared at her sister for a moment before quietly turning her gaze back to the television.

"The Shining Little Witch is starting, I want to watch it!"

"Honestly... You only act like a little kid at times like this. You're not cute at all."

Mitsuha, who had been watching a variety show, had been trying to gather information about Tokyo and big cities to help her fit in better when she moved there for high school. However, she reluctantly handed the remote to Yotsuha.

It wasn't that she didn't want to keep watching, but when her younger sister made such a request, she had no way of refusing. If Yotsuha complained to their mom or grandmother, she would definitely get scolded.

With the remote handed over, Mitsuha turned her body and lay on the tatami mat, staring at the old-fashioned ceiling light. She sighed deeply.

"I really want to go to Tokyo..."

"Geez, sister, you're so noisy!"

.....

"Does Haruto have two younger sisters?"

Haruto, who had completely lost interest in the book in his hands, was sitting with Setsuna in his lap. Realizing that things were heading in a dangerous direction, he tried to maintain some distance to avoid any regretful actions.

Using the excuse of getting tea, Haruto asked Setsuna to temporarily move away from his lap, giving him time to calm down and avoid any physical reactions that might give him away.

"Mitsuha and Yotsuha. They're both studying in our hometown of Itomori."

"What are their personalities like?"

Setsuna wasn't sure if she could consider herself to have sisters. She was aware of her connection to Sekai Saionji, but she didn't know the exact relationship. When she asked her mother, she had received only vague answers.

Born into a single-parent family, Setsuna had often wished for a younger sister. Now that she learned Haruto had two, she couldn't help but feel curious.

Haruto, not sure what to talk about with the girl sitting in front of him, thought about his two younger sisters.

"Mitsuha is lively, but can be a little shy around strangers. She dreams of living in a big city, a pretty normal girl. Yotsuha, though younger, is quite mature for her age and helps with household chores. She's a good kid."

"Yotsuha is the older sister?"

"No, Mitsuha is."

Although he wanted to admit that, in terms of personality, Yotsuha seemed more like the older sister, he had to admit that Mitsuha, the eldest, was eight years older despite her carefree nature.

Setsuna sat down at the desk, setting the tea cup down, while Haruto stood beside her.

"Mitsuha and Yotsuha... So shouldn't Haruto be called Futaba?"

Noticing the connection between the names Mitsuha and Yotsuha, Setsuna curiously looked at Haruto and asked.

"Futaba was my mother's name. As for mine, since I'm a boy, it was chosen by my father, who was adopted into the Miyamizu family. They followed the female lineage tradition of the family... So, I ended up being called Haruto. When my younger sister was born, she inherited the 'ha' part of the name."

Setsuna was intrigued by Haruto's explanation, especially about the Miyamizu family's "female lineage." But she understood that some topics were off-limits, so she shifted the conversation to something else.

Later that afternoon, Setsuna stayed at Haruto's apartment. For Haruto, her presence made him feel less lonely, but he couldn't focus on anything else. He just quietly watched her until evening when Setsuna prepared to leave.

"Haruto."

"Mm?"

Setsuna approached Haruto, her adorable face tilted upwards as she closed her eyes. She lightly brushed her lips against his cheek in a soft kiss.

Chuu—

Before Haruto could react, Setsuna, her face blushing, was already walking toward the door.

"See you tomorrow, Haruto."

When the door clicked shut, Haruto stood in the living room, looking troubled. He gently touched the spot where Setsuna had kissed him, his bitter smile revealing his inner conflict.

Should he accept her feelings?

When he was with Setsuna, his empty heart felt warm and fulfilled—feelings he hadn't experienced in a long time.

He sat down on the edge of the bed, rubbing his temples.

"So, what about Mai-san? Didn't she say she'd try to persuade her daughter?"

Meanwhile, Mai Kiyoura, working in her office, sneezed lightly, a puzzled expression crossing her face.

"Did Setsuna miss me?"

She looked down at the work in her hands, knowing she had to finish it before heading home. On her way, she planned to stop by Haruto's place.

"Maybe it's because I felt my daughter's sincere feelings that I couldn't stop her. Haruto shouldn't mind, right?"