We’re in Karuizawa.

It’s the third day. Today, we were heading to the campground inside the hotel complex.

I’m driving the car I rented at the hotel.

“Okaya. Where are we headed now?”

Rushia poked her head up from the backseat with a little tilt.

It was a five-seater. Ichika was in the passenger seat, and the JK twins were in the back.

“It’s the campground. There are mountain huts on the hotel grounds, and that’s where we’ll be staying for the rest of the trip.” “Mountain huts……”

Looking at the map of the property, this KID Hotel also has a ski resort within its boundaries.

Huts are scattered throughout that mountain area, and hotel guests have the option to stay there.

“So it’s basically camping for everyone!” “……Can’t wait!”

The twin JKs were chatting away innocently.

In front of Nanaeko, her sister seemed to revert to her usual behavior.

For the next few days, we’ll be staying at the same mountain hut. It’s a tighter space than a hotel.

Who knows what Akari will do while we’re here.

But…… it’s a place with fewer blind spots than a hotel.

If someone were to see me making moves on Akari in there…… “…………”

“Oka, are you okay? If you’re tired, I can drive.” Ichika says, her tone full of concern.

Ichika is always kind to me.

But…… honestly, if she saw me alone with a high school girl like that…… What would she think?

...No. All I can see is a sad face.

I don’t want to be the cause of that kind of look on Ichika’s face.

“I’m fine, Ichika. I’m okay.” I say it, carrying both meanings in my words.

With a sigh of relief, Ichika smiles.

“If driving gets tough, just let me know anytime. I’m used to it from work, so it’s no problem for me.” ……Guilt washes over me.

I wasn't exactly lying, nor did I have anything shady going on with Akari.

……But despite having Ichika, a gentle woman who accepted every part of me.

The fact that I was being shaken up by Akari, a woman younger than me…… it was something to be sorry for.

Before long, we had made our way up to the mid-slope of the ski area.

"Oh! What a pretty little mountain cabin!"

Akari, who had just gotten out of the car, looked up at the cabin where they would be staying for the night. It was a two-story structure with a log-house style design.

"Whoa! Look, Look-Ari! There's a fireplace! Can we bake pizza?" "Let's do it!" "Yeah!"

Nanako and Tsuria's eyes sparkled brightly.

"Akari! You can actually cook pizza?!"

"Of course I can, dummy. Leave it to Big Sis Akari."

Apparently, there was a nearby lake and an open area with clear views of the stars as well.

Behind the cabin, there were a bonfire stand and a telescope set out.

After spending a while inspecting the area around the cabin, he returned to the entrance.

"This looks like it's got quite a bit of potential, doesn't it? Hey, Akarin♪"

Akari let out an innocent giggle and tried to cling to his arm. "Ah, uh..." He let her attempt pass right through him.

...No good. I can't touch her.

Just recalling the feel of that soft breast made my heart get dragged into Akari's orbit.

If I let my guard down, I felt like I would be pulled in and drown, sinking slowly into that luscious, taut body.

I shouldn't allow myself to make contact so excessively. "..."

Nanako looked up at me with a worried expression. "What's wrong?"

"...Ah, no. It's nothing." But I know better.

When Nanako says it's nothing, it usually means there is something on her mind.

But no matter how hard I tried to pry the truth out of her, this girl wouldn't open up on her own accord.

I had no choice but to wait for her to speak. "Let's move the stuff inside." "Yes sir!"

Akari took the initiative to start carrying the luggage.

"Phew... phew..." Rushia struggled under the weight of her bags, so I snatched them out of her hands. "Let me carry those." "No, but..."

"You're frail, that's why. Just sit down." "..."

Rushia looked up at me, just as Nanaeko had.

"Master... um, okay. So... I..." "? What's wrong?"

After fumbling her words for a moment, her expression hardened into resolute determination.

"Master. After we've unpacked, I'd like to have a word with you. Would that be alright?" I wondered what kind of talk it could be.

Given how seriously she was making this face... it must be work. In other words, the light novel.

If that was the case, it was probably about the title.

Pennamed Kaeda Rushia, a light novel author.

She was scheduled to release her new work under my new label.

But she had been struggling with the matter, still unable to decide on a title.

Something must have come to mind as a title. "Got it, later then." ★

The cabin was surprisingly spacious and fully equipped with electricity, gas, and running water.

The interior was just like an ordinary single-family house.

There were plenty of rooms, with space secured for five people... which gave me a sense of relief.

If it were like at the hotel, sharing a room with Ichika... I had no confidence I could hold back my inner, dark desires.

Moreover, unlike the hotel, we would be living and sleeping under the same roof.

If things got intimate, there was no way the sounds wouldn't carry and be overheard...

With children around, I couldn't do such a thing as an adult. It was something I simply had not to do.

So, part of me was relieved that we had separate rooms. Admitting it later, though.

It was an eight-mat tatami room. While I was unpacking my things... "Um, sensei?" There at the entrance was my sister... Nanao. "What's up, Nanao?"

"Um... there's something I wanted to ask." "Ah, go ahead."

Nanao came in and, looking anxious, spoke to me.

"……Did something happen with Akari?" Something happened, did it?

Could it be that she knows about what happened between me and Akari yesterday? No, that's impossible.

I certainly didn't say anything, after all…

And I can't imagine Akari spreading the word either…

No, did she actually tell someone? If so, why…? Anyway, let me hear her out. "Something happened? What kind of something?"

"……Sensei. It feels like you're…… blatantly avoiding Akari." ...What the hell am I doing.

I'm acting awkward not just in front of Akari herself, but even in front of this girl who's standing there.

I certainly can't confess that I've started viewing her sister as a woman and that's precisely why I'm keeping my distance.

If this girl found out I looked at her sister with that kind of intent, she'd start to be wary of me.

The desire not to cause her any fear… this facade… clashes with the vile wish not to be despised.

…In any case, I want to remain a protector to this girl.

"I'm not avoiding anyone. You're just imagining things."

「……No, that's not true at all… I know the truth…」

Nanako stood up, took my hand in hers, and leaned her face close to mine.

「……I've always been watching you, Sensei… So… I can tell」 「Nanako…」

I had always thought that my younger sister was the complete opposite of me in both personality and appearance.

But seeing her face this close, I could feel Akari's ghost lingering over Nanako as well……

The naked body of Akari, illuminated by the moonlight, overlapped with Nanako's.

…For a split second, Akari's nudity seemed to transform into Nanako's.

「……Does Akari play any tricks or do anything that bothers Sensei?」 …Damn it. What kind of thing was I thinking about?

Nanako was simply asking in pure concern whether her sister had made a mistake or caused any trouble for me.

「It's fine, right? The pranks he plays are always the usual ones anyway」

「……But… but usually, Sensei and I become that close pair again immediately. But today… ever since this morning, Sensei has been keeping your distance. From Akari」

…He certainly had a keen eye for observation.

I shouldn't be conscious of it. I know that.

But right now, having been told by Nako, the moment I thought about trying not to notice Akari...

...My head is filling up with nothing but Akari.

"Anyway, I haven't done anything with Akari, and I'm not angry. Everything is normal." "…………"

As I tried to leave the room, Nako quietly grabbed the hem of my clothes, gripping it tightly...

"...Sensei. Why are you trying to hide it?"

Nako's large black eyes were wet.

"...Please tell me. Something happened, right?"

She looked like she was about to cry at any moment.

"...If I did something that would make my favorite Sensei hate me, I... I... have nowhere... to go..." Ah, I see. This girl is anxious.

Nako and Akari, who left their homes to live on their own.

My home is the last place they can rely on.

She must be worried about causing Akari trouble, angering me, and being cast out… “Please don’t cry. I’m begging you.”

Nanako presses tightly against my body. ……Soft, large breasts.

Anxiety-provoking eyes that look as if they might shatter.

Her small face, her dewy lips… every feature is identical to Akari’s……

Akari’s reserved demeanor makes me delude myself that she’s the one begging through her tears just for me.

No! This girl isn’t Akari. She’s not…

“It’s okay, it’s fine. I wouldn’t abandon you two.” “……Really?”

The way she weakly asks me is exactly the same as ten years ago. And yet…

Like with Akari, I can sense the changes in this girl when looking closely.

A child’s face that doesn’t match a fully matured adult body.

And a face strikingly similar to Akari’s, their twin sister.

No good. If this continues… I’ll start noticing Nanako too, and following that, I’ll… about Akari…

"...Sensei, do you hate us?"

No, I had to be clear about this here. I didn't want them to misunderstand that.

I stroked Nanako's head, just like I always did.

"I don't hate you. Not you, and not Akari. Now or then, forever."

"...Really? Ehehe, glad to hear it."

Nanako smiled like that, possessing the same innocence she had ten years ago.

Looking at her smile, I felt a sense of healing. It had been right after I was with Ichika.

After Akari pinned me down and talked about what was going to happen next.

I was stuck in my own thoughts, struggling to figure out how to act towards her...

Her smile, free of any malice, soothed my heart. Ah, it was good to be back to how it was before...

——In your mind, time has stopped, hasn't it? You think both me and our older sister are still the same as we were ten years ago, when we were elementary schoolers.

Akari's words echoed in my head. ...It wasn't just Akari who felt that way.

This kid too, after ten years, she's gotta have changed. Changed how?

It's not just the physical changes... her inside must be different too. "...Sensei?" She approaches me, completely undefended.

The sweet scent wafting from her hair. A fully developed body.

That timid, quiet girl of hers...

...Come to think of it, there was that one time she comforted herself on my bed...

Damn it, what am I even thinking about right now?

"It's nothing. Let's head back to the group soon. It's lunchtime." "...Y-Yeah..."

What the hell was I trying to do, standing here in front of such an innocent girl? Gaaah... Fuck. No way.

No matter how hard I try... Nana's face is too close to Akari's... so my mind keeps conflating them.

The image of Akari pinning me down overlaps with Nana, whose face is right there in the foreground.

"Oh my, Karin. Otohime-neesan, what's wrong? Coming out of the same room together, huh~"

Akari had just stepped out into the hallway. Looking at us, she smiled with a mischievous nishi nishi laugh.

"No way~ you weren't doing something dirty, were you~?"

"...Shut up with your idiotic talk. Come on, let's cook."

I try to walk past Akari.

"...Did you get all flustered thinking about Big Sis?" I shoot a glance at Akari.

"...We really do look alike, don't we? The structure of our faces." "You... no way..."

Akari gives my shoulder a playful pat.

"Come on, let's go. It's fine for Big Sis too! Look! We're super close buddies, so don't worry about it! Right?"

Akari throws her arms around mine, hugging tight.

Feeling her softness against me, I start to push her away.

But if I rejected her here, it would only make Nanaiko anxious again.

In the end, I just let myself be held by her.

"...Oh good, you're okay. It seemed like a misunderstanding."

Looking at her relieved smile made my chest ache with guilt.

Though I wasn't doing anything improper, I couldn't shake the feeling that I was doing something wrong.

I had the persistent sensation that someone's hand was holding my heart, playing with it like a toy.