Chapter 39
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 39
Chapter Title: Sudden Shower and Big Sis
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Academy building entrance.
I was waiting for big sis with an umbrella.
The rain that had once poured down like a torrent had lost some of its momentum.
The drizzling, messy downpour was still burdensome enough that big sis wouldn't want to walk through it.
It probably wasn't strange for a little brother to be waiting with an umbrella. Or so I hoped.
And so, as I stared at the rain falling from the sky for a moment.
Big sis finally emerged, having finished her work at the academy.
"Big sis."
"Naibusu?"
She probably hadn't expected me to be waiting.
The moment she spotted me, her expression brightened, and she came running over.
"Were you waiting the whole time? You could've at least called."
"Nah. I just got here."
To get some fresh air and clear my head a bit.
It was just a casual stroll.
"You're impossible. What if I'd already left?"
"Sorry."
Big sis said as much.
『I've got such a great little brother. No one thinks of me like Naibusu does.』
But inwardly, she was absolutely delighted.
"You'll catch a cold. Why are you so soaked?"
"I was out playing when the rain started."
"Oh my gosh."
Big sis pulled out a handkerchief and wiped the water from my hair.
I couldn't exactly tell her I'd gotten drenched fleeing from Sana.
"You should've been resting at home where it's warm."
"How could I relax knowing you were walking home in this rain?"
"...Really. Thank you, Naibusu."
She smiled warmly as she took the umbrella I offered.
But that umbrella was soon handed off to another faculty member.
"Teacher, you didn't bring an umbrella, did you? Here, take this."
The elderly teacher chuckled heartily and accepted it from her.
What the heck. I went out of my way to bring it.
And she just gives it away?
I shot her a dissatisfied glare, and she grinned mischievously.
"Naibusu, shall we share one?"
"Eek. No thanks."
I refused on the spot.
Having just finished exercising hard, my body reeked of sweat.
On top of that, with the rain, the smell would be impossible to miss even from a distance.
Sharing an umbrella would make it waft everywhere.
"What's there to be shy about? We're siblings."
Big sis suddenly grabbed my arm and hugged it tight.
"Ugh."
No chance to dodge—she was plastered right against me.
『He's so cute when he's embarrassed like a little kid.』
...It's not that I'm embarrassed because I'm a kid.
I'm embarrassed because I'm an adult.
I wished big sis would get that through her head.
Her little brother wasn't a kid anymore—he was a man.
"Sniff. Sniff sniff. What's that smell?"
Sure enough.
"Did you sweat?"
Big sis keenly picked up on the sweat scent wafting from my body.
She buried her nose in my clothes and sniffed away.
See? Told you so.
My face heated up for no good reason.
"That's why I said no sharing."
But far from letting go, she pressed even closer.
"Hehe. I like Naibusu's smell, though?"
"I don't!"
No matter how much I protested, big sis clung to my arm and refused to release it.
"Sweat smell~ Sweat smell~ Naibusu sweat smell~♪"
Her good mood had her humming some nonsense tune.
Jeez. Who's the kid here?
"Fine. Let's just hurry up."
I left big sis behind and strode ahead into the rain.
"Naibusu! Wait up!"
Big sis scurried after me and linked arms again.
I slowed my steps a tad to match her pace.
"Hehe."
Big sis stuck to my arm so close it was uncomfortable as we walked.
A soft, yielding sensation transmitted through the arm she hugged.
『This is so nice... Walking together like this with Naibusu.』
...If big sis didn't mind my sweat smell, I had zero complaints.
It was a rare chance to walk alone with her.
No reason to complain at all.
But.
My umbrella was far too small for two adults to share comfortably.
Raindrops still fell on big sis's shoulder.
"Big sis. Get closer. You're getting wet."
"Oh."
I draped my arm around her shoulder and pulled her toward me.
Now it looked like I was the one hugging her.
"Look at you. Now your shoulder's taking all the rain."
"I'm a guy. It's fine."
"Even guys are little brothers."
She didn't shake off the arm around her shoulder, but instead tilted the umbrella my way.
Thanks to that, my shoulder was covered.
But naturally, more rain hit hers.
"I told you I'm fine."
I tilted the umbrella back her way.
Rain fell on my shoulder again.
Big sis tried pushing my hand away once more, but I braced and held firm.
She grunted, straining to push the umbrella back, but gave up when my hand wouldn't budge.
"...Naibusu. Should we just walk and get soaked together?"
"What? No."
I thought she'd behave for a sec, but nope—another weird idea.
She flashed a playful grin and continued.
"Why not? Sounds fun. Race to see who gets home first."
"I'm not a kid."
"True? Guess we're too grown up to run home in the rain, huh?"
『Hehe. Then I'll just bolt ahead on my own.』
Jeez. Talk about a kid.
"...First one home gets their wish granted! Ready, set, go!"
Big sis suddenly dashed out from under the umbrella and started sprinting.
She was shielding her head with her bag, but seriously—in this downpour?
Of course, I didn't just watch.
"Ha!"
-Papapapak!
I folded the umbrella and broke into a run.
I overtook big sis—who'd had a head start—in a flash.
Even without any level buffs, no way a fit guy like me loses to a woman.
"Nai... busu! Wait... for me!"
『Cheater! Who's full-speeding like that?!』
Big sis, lagging behind in seconds, fired resentful thoughts my way.
"The world of competition is ruthless, big sis."
And so, I dashed toward my inevitable victory.
"Kyaa!"
...But big sis slipped on the rainwater.
Not a kid anymore!
"Waaan~!"
"...Seriously. Are you five?"
I turned back to big sis sprawled on the ground.
I popped open the umbrella again and held it over her head.
She'd been wearing high-heeled shoes from the start.
No wonder she slipped, sprinting in those on a slick road.
"Big sis. You okay? Can you stand?"
"...Yeah."
She grabbed my outstretched hand and rose.
She'd crashed into a puddle—her clothes were a muddy mess.
"Eek~!"
She pulled a face at her filthy outfit.
"Told you not to run."
"You're the one who bolted ahead!"
After tripping herself, she blamed me.
Jeez. All grown up in size, but total kid.
"Your legs? Hurt? Can you walk?"
Big sis took my hand, took a limping step, then halted.
"...Can't walk."
"Sprained?"
"...Yeah."
"Jeez."
Big sis looked all sulky, like a kid busted for roughhousing.
I handed her the umbrella and crouched, baring my back.
"Hop on."
The rain, briefly easing, thickened again.
But big sis hesitated to climb aboard.
"...I'll be heavy, Naibusu."
"You're not. Get on."
One person's weight is what it is.
Honestly, sis could weigh ten times more, and it'd be easy.
The issue... wasn't the weight.
"...Fine."
-Plump.
...Exactly this.
The sensation from big sis wrapping around my back.
This was the problem.
"...Am I heavy?"
"Not even a little."
"Liar."
Pouty tone.
I stood up effortlessly, just to prove it.
"See? Told you—not heavy at all."
"Pfft."
Big sis buried her face in my back with a pathetic squeak.
I gripped her thighs and started trudging through the rain.
For real—not heavy in the slightest.
What kind of man can't piggyback one girl?
...And like I said before, weight wasn't the point.
This closeness blew sharing an umbrella out of the water.
Chest, arms, thighs.
Her whole body molded against mine.
『Naibusu's back is so broad. And warm.』
Big sis squeezed my neck tight.
I trudged silently through the drizzling rain.
Big sis rode quietly too, face nestled in my back.
We pushed through the downpour.
Hearing her thumping heartbeat, her thumping thoughts.
A delightful commute home.
...However.
Besides big sis's thoughts, other stray noises filtered in.
"...Big sis. We're drenched anyway, right?"
"Huh? Why?"
"Don't cover my head—cover the back."
"The back?"
"...People behind might get the wrong idea."
Right now, she was in a skirt suit, legs splayed piggyback-style.
From behind, her butt jutted out, skirt hiked.
Any other guy would think dirty thoughts. And they already were.
"What, pervert?"
Big sis bonked my head.
Unfair. Can't exactly share thoughts only I hear.
"Not pervert—it's legit happening."
"You're getting wet too. Okay?"
"Better than creeps ogling you."
"...Yeah."
The umbrella vanished from over my head; rain poured down.
Fumbling, big sis shifted it to cover the rear.
Grumbly thoughts from other guys confirmed it was covered proper.
Hmph. Be thankful.
"...Naibusu."
"Yeah."
"That just now..."
Big sis trailed off, mumbling.
『He hates other guys looking? 'Cause I'm his sis? Or...』
"...Nothing."
She brushed it off.
"..."
I kept walking in silence.
Just like that, heartbeats as backdrop.
Big sis and I said nothing till home.
『Naibusu...』
We'd arrived home.
"Naibusu. Put me down."
"Okay."
I set her down before the locked front door.
She wobbled over, unlocked it, and stepped inside.
And.
"First place! Big sis wins! Yay~!"
She hopped giddily on one leg, celebrating her "victory."
"..."
Good grief.
I gawked at her, utterly dumbfounded.
No hint of this in her thoughts right up to entering.
What kinda cheat rule is that?
"Naibusu. Loser grants the winner's wish, right?"
"Hah... Hold on."
"Big sis's wish! Bath time together!"
"Eek. No way."
What nonsense.
"Hurry and strip! You'll catch cold!"
"This ain't enough to make me sick. I'm sturdy."
"No way! Come on!"
Big sis went straight for my clothes like it was natural.
"Argh, seriously!"
"Ack!"
I shook off big sis, who was yanking at my shirt.
She tumbled butt-first to the floor.
"Ah...!"
She clutched her ankle and curled up.
I checked her in alarm.
"Big sis? You good?"
...But.
She was totally fine.
"Hehe. Gotcha good? Caught you."
"Jeez."
Big sis clutched my clothes tight, like she'd never let go.
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