Several days had passed since Okaya Mitsuhiko went on a date with Ina Akari.
It was a certain day when late August had already begun.
Akari’s older sister, Ina Nana, was having a hard time. “Uuuu…”
During the summer break, she was alone in the Okaya family’s living room, doing nothing but rolling around. She lay sprawled out on the sofa.
Chobi, her beloved dog, came trotting over to the sofa.
As if sensing her owner’s dark mood, Chobi stared intently at her.
Nana sat up and scooped Chobi into her arms.
”…Can you listen to me, Chobi-chan?”
Nana asked in a grumpy voice.
“What’s the matter, Nana-chan?”
Playing the part all on her own, Nana continued.
”…Lately… I’ve been really troubled.”
«Worried? Oh come now, be-be-be, that’s not like you at all.»
Nanako scratched her head, te-terere.
She had always been good at playing pretend with herself.
”…It feels like I’m the only one left out,” Nanako mused.
Thinking about the women orbiting Okaya, the man she loved so much.
“Ichika-senpai is cool and mature. She went to the same university as sensei, so they can share their struggles…”
On top of that, Nue Ichika was incredibly beautiful.
She had a great figure, was sharp-looking, and could stand eye-to-eye with Okaya.
”…Rushia-chan is a light novel writer. She and sensei are chasing their dreams together, looking in the same direction. And she’s from a wealthy family, which is impressive…” Aida Rushia was a light novel writer.
She and editor Okaya worked as a team, apparently striving to surpass someone incredibly formidable. Moreover, she was cute.
Her white hair and red eyes evoked the image of a rabbit.
Fragile in appearance yet dignified in demeanor, she was a beauty that even Nanako, a woman, had to admire.
”…Midoriko is amazing at basketball. And she’s Sensei’s little sister, so they’ve shared a ton of memories together.”
Her stepsister Midori also possessed a charm that Nanako simply didn’t have.
For one thing, Midori was apparently a starter on the roster at Alpico Academy, a powerhouse high school known for its basketball program.
She was currently in her second year, and reportedly set to become team captain next year.
Nanako had memories with Okaya too.
But those were from the brief period while she was attending cram school.
Only Midori knew him during his younger days, back when he was still finding his footing.
Moreover, only she, as his sister, knew the ins and outs of his family dynamics.
”…Akari is incredible. She’s been like that since we were little—single-minded, effortlessly good at everything, so bright… beautiful…”
Nanako’s expression darkened particularly when she mentioned this.
Her sister. Akari. The quintessential superwoman who could do anything.
She had their parents’ signature bright hair and blue eyes. Her beauty was on par with top-tier model face. Big bust, radiantly cheerful personality.
Plus, it handled the rice cooker, laundry, and cleaning without a hitch.
And the food she made? God, it was just incredible.
Not to mention her sheer force, her unshakeable confidence—how she charged at Okaya with such aggressive, unhesitating drive. My little sister is amazing. She’s literally my upgraded version. A high-spec swap-in.
”…I wanted to be a Superman too, someone like Akari… If only my hair were blonde…”
Nanako had black hair and black eyes from her father’s side of the family.
Sure, she had big breasts, glossy hair, and an innocent look that would definitely catch a man’s eye.
But between her innate lack of confidence and her shy, timid personality…
She was falling drastically behind in the race for Okaya’s affection.
To put it plainly, she wasn’t standing out at all.
It was a fact Nanako was fully aware of. ”…I’m just an ordinary person.”
Nanako had always been hiding in the shadow of her talented, dazzling little sister.
My sister is amazing. While praising her for being amazing, she harbored a deep complex about having nothing but mediocrity herself.
“Woof woof, it’s okay! You have the ‘Study Hard’ status, don’t you? Woof!”
Nanako voices Chobi for him.
”…Mm, but. Anyone can do well in their studies if they just put their back into it. Akari is doing pretty poorly right now too, but she can do it if she tries. She’s just dedicating her time to culinary training.”
“Oh my, if even your studying gets taken from you, there’ll be nothing left for you, Nanako-chan…”
”…That’s right. I’m so deflated. Haaah.” She hugs her beloved dog tightly.
Slip, Chobi squeezes out of her arms and trots away. ”…Nothing left, huh.”
Nanako sinks even lower at her own words.
After all, Nanako is academically brilliant, consistently ranking first in her class.
Visually as well, she’s a stunningly beautiful girl; out of ten people passing by, eight would turn around to look. But despite that…
It’s precisely because there’s someone like Ina Akari—someone who can do sports, has a great personality, is cheerful, and is more skilled than me in so many ways…
That I convince myself, even more strongly, that I am ordinary.
”…Mm. Is there anything? Anything at all? A shining talent that only I possess~…”
Flap, flap, flap. Nanae paddled her legs on the sofa.
It looked like a duck flailing about so it wouldn’t drown… Nanae laughed at herself bitterly. ”…Gym, let’s go.”
Nanae popped up and got ready to head out.
”…Chobi, come on here~ Walkies, yay~”
“Yayy yay yaaay, walkies FU~♪” Nanae dubbed her own voice.
It would be way too embarrassing if Koko saw this, so she only did it when no one else was around.
Nanae clipped the leash to Chobi’s collar and stepped outside. ”…It’s really hot” The sun baked her skin, prickling with heat.
Nanae held her parasol firmly overhead and went for a walk with Chobi. …Carrying Chobi in her arms because the ground was scorching hot.
“Nanae-chan, when did you start going to the gym?”
”…Since summer break, Chobi. I’ve been holed up at home, but sensei suggested I get some exercise, so…”
“But Nanae-chan is so clumsy! How can she handle a gym?!”
”…Hmph. I can do it. I’m actually pretty good at swimming, you know. Ehehe.”
Since it was a solo performance, they were given strange looks when a child and their mother passed by.
“Mama— that girl over there was having a conversation with herself!” “Shh, don’t look…”
After the pair had gone past, Nana-chan turned red in the face and crouched down. ”…Grrrrr”
Chobi looked up at her, asking what was wrong.
But Nana-chan shook her head back and forth. ”…Going to the gym.”
The place they arrived at was a sports gym not far from Okaya’s house.
She checked in with the woman at the entrance.
”…Could I have Chobi looked after, please?”
“Sure, sure. We’ll take care of him.”
Because many housewives frequented this gym, they offered a childcare facility. Okaya had asked on a long shot, and they agreed to watch the dog as well.
The children adored Chobi, and he was instantly surrounded by them.
It was reassuring that the adults were keeping a proper eye on things. ”…Goodbye, Chobi.”
Nanako cast a slightly sorrowful glance at Chobi, who had become the children’s favorite. Still, she made her way to the locker room.
She changed into her gym clothes and headed up to the second floor. Before working out, she stepped onto the scale.
”……Aiming for a slim me!” She climbed on. Took a look. And then…….
”……I, I’m aiming for a slim me!” Her weight had increased since last time.
Why? I go to the gym almost every day, and yet…….
”……All I did was lounge around and eat potato chips…… why……”
The sad part was that no one was there to call her on it and say, “That’s exactly why.”
While stretching, Nanako scanned her surroundings. Despite being daytime, the place was fairly crowded.
It was mostly housewives. Grandmas and older ladies. She was the only young person there. So…….
“Oh my, look at you! The black-haired miss!”
The old women noticed Nanako and chatted her up with easy familiarity. (Ugh!)
Nanako flinched, shrinking her body in shock.
Being talked to so suddenly was terrifying.
“You come every day!” “That’s great!” “But you should try playing more, too!” “Yeah! You’re a junior high student, right?” Nanaiko flinched in fear. Talking to people is scary…
After being patted and stroked for a while, she was finally released.
Dazed and unsteady, she headed toward the treadmill.
Why did that lady strike up a conversation with a stranger…? It’s a mystery… Nanaiko was what you might call an introvert.
It’s scary when strangers talk to me.
If possible, I didn’t want to talk to people I didn’t know.
(Treadmills are nice… No one gets in the way, just me alone, lonely, yet rich… ) Nanaiko started the machine. She began at a leisurely pace.
(That’s enough for now… Should I go faster? Maybe.)
Click-click, she was pressing the buttons… That’s when it happened.
Whoosh! Her body was yanked forward.
(Crap! I sped it up too fast all of a sudden!)
Nanako’s momentum sent her flying backward. (I’m gonna hit something!) But just at that moment—
She felt a soft, gentle embrace catching her. “Are you okay?”
“…Yes. Wait, what? You’re…” There was…
A beauty with black hair pulled back into a ponytail.
Hips that were too wide for the frame, a tight, toned body.
Peeking out from her sleeveless top, both arms showed prominent muscles swelling under the skin. “…Ichika-san?”
Yes, the one standing there was Yutsumi Ichika.
The woman who belonged to Okaya. His rival.