“Seba— I mean, Hotaru-kun, it's been a while... Do you still remember me?” - Erina nee-san asked.
“Yeah! Morikawa nee-san, right? How have you been?” - Hotaru said.
Yep, my older sister had really fallen in love with him.
“Excuse me, but may I know your name?” - As expected from a mother, Aunt Kanae was on guard.
“Sorry for suddenly barging in. I'm Morikawa Erina, Tomoki's older sister. We met at the family restaurant.” - Erina nee-san said.
“At the family restaurant?” - Mom, Aunt Kanae, and I looked at each other in confusion.
“Care to explain... Sebastian?” - Aunt Kanae asked with an angry smile.
“Mom! Come on!”
“So?”
“Fine! Right after I finished my shift at the butler café, I stopped by a family restaurant because I wanted to treat myself with my first paycheck. I was hungry, after all. Then I overheard a conversation, and that's where I first met Morikawa nee-san. Sigh... Just remembering it boils my blood.” - Hotaru explained.
“What do you mean?” - Aunt Kanae asked.
“Let me guess... something related to her boyfriend?” - I asked.
“That's right! Though calling him her boyfriend would be inappropriate. He had the audacity to say he was only going out with her because he felt sorry for her. I kept quiet at first because it wasn't my place to interfere, and I was waiting for my order. But when he asked if she could at least pay for his meal, I just couldn't sit there anymore.”
“Haha, I still remember when you stood up for me. If it weren't for you, I wouldn't be able to laugh now.” - Erina nee-san said.
“And... what did you say?” - Aunt Kanae asked, this time looking surprised.
“I simply suggested that if he wanted someone to pay for his meal, he should ask his mom to eat with him instead. Seriously, how shameless can a person be?”
“...Whaaat?” - Aunt Kanae was flabbergasted, and Mom was too.
“Erina nee-san, you didn't pay his bill, right?” - I asked.
“No, because Hotaru-kun wouldn't let me.”
“Well done, bro.” - Of course I praised him.
“And that's how I met her, Mom. After that, I talked with Morikawa nee-san for a while and showed her where I worked... I mean, at that time no one had personally requested my service yet.” - Hotaru said.
“
Sigh... I understand now. So, Erina-san, what do you intend to do from now on?” - Aunt Kanae asked, as if testing her.
“I want to keep talking with him, and I'm serious about my feelings. I know about our age gap, of course. And... if he thinks I'm being too pushy, then I'll understand. Don't worry, ma'am. His decision comes first.” - Erina nee-san answered.
I simply looked at Hotaru and mouthed the words.
[What are you going to do now?] - I asked
[I don't know, bro. What would you do?] - Hotaru replied.
[...]
[Ah... of course.]
Yeah, Hotaru. Maybe in this world you could simply follow society's common sense about how men can treat women. You could date both of them or simply pretend not to notice my sister's feelings and leave things as they are. Probably no one would blame you.
But remember, I'm here, and I won't let you take my sister's or Himari's feelings lightly. And I know you'd do the same if you were in my place.
“Mom, I'd like to keep talking with her too.” - Hotaru said seriously.
“Hotaru-kun~” - Erina nee-san called out sweetly.
“Alright. I know once you've made up your mind, you'll do it no matter what I say.” - Then Aunt Kanae turned to Erina nee-san. - “You'd better not try anything funny.”
“Yes, of course, ma'am! Thank you very much.”
“It's getting late already, so good night. Despite everything, I'm glad I got to meet all of you. It seems we'll be seeing each other quite often from now on.” - Aunt Kanae said.
“You're right, Hirose-san. Good night.” - Mom replied.
Then we said goodbye and went back to our house.
“I can't believe I finally met him again! I'm so happy!”
“I'm glad to hear that, Erina. But you need to hold yourself back. Otherwise, you'll give the wrong impression, especially to his mother. After all, I know what it's like to have a son...” - Mom looked at me.
“...” - I stayed silent.
I got it Mom.
“Yes, Aunt Haruka, I understand. Still, being able to meet him again feels like a dream come true.”
“You really do like him. Well, after the way he stood up for you, I think any woman would fall for him.”
“Right? So, Tomoki-kun, do you think I have a chance with him?”
I think it's better to tell her now.
“Erina nee-san, there's something I need to tell you about him.”
“Why are you being so serious? Wait... don't tell me you found something wrong with him?”
“No. He's a good guy. I can vouch for him. The problem is... there's already someone else in his heart.”
“Eh!? I mean... who could it be...? I see... It's that girl, isn't it? Tachibana-san... You knew she liked him, and you chose to help her!?” - Erina nee-san raised her voice.
Since we were already home, everyone started gathering around us.
“I didn't know Sebastian was the person she liked. We only guessed the guy she was after might have worked at a butler café because it pays well.” - I explained.
“But... wait. Are they dating already?” - Erina nee-san asked.
“No. But he intends to ask her out.”
“
Sob... But if I try harder... maybe he'll reconsider. Who knows? Maybe I could become his second girlfriend. You'd help me, right?”
Should I help her get between them?
No.
I won't.
That's wrong.
They're not officially dating yet.
But I know exactly how they feel about each other.
So I have no excuse.
I should face my sister honestly.
(
Breathe in... breathe out.)
I'm ready.
“I'm sorry. But I don't intend to make him waver.”
“
Sob... I can't believe it... My own brother...
sob... Am I lacking something? Just tell me already, Tomoki!”
“Erina, calm down!” - Aunt Serina interfered.
“It's okay, Aunt Serina.” - I looked at Erina nee-san. - “You're perfect just the way you are. You're one of the hardest-working people I know. You're beautiful, and Hotaru definitely noticed you every time he met you. Erina nee-san, the only reason you probably won't be able to date him is because of timing... and coincidence.”
“
Sob... That's bullshit! How do you know he even looked at me?
Sob... Stop lying... You're a liar!”
“Erina nee-san, believe me. I know him better than anyone else in this world. I can say with one hundred percent certainty that he noticed you.”
“Wait a minute. Tomoki, how can you be so sure?” - Dad asked.
“He's my friend. My childhood friend, to be exact.”
“Wait, I didn't know that.” - Mom said.
This is turning into a mess.
“Anyway, you're not lacking anything. If I had to say, you're just unlucky.” - I said.
“How is that supposed to make me feel better?” - Erina nee-san retorted.
Everyone fell silent, thinking about the situation.
“Tomoki, do you really think it's a bad idea for your friend to have more than one girlfriend?” - Aunt Serina asked.
“Yes. Because he's already made his decision, and I know how much he cares about other people's feelings. Of course he'll do his best for the person he loves. Besides, if he can't even stay loyal to her and starts wavering every time another girl appears, then in the end he won't be any different from a fake boyfriend.”
For some reason, everyone glanced at one another with uncomfortable expressions.
“Tomoki, aren't you being a little too harsh on your friend?” - Aunt Mizuho asked.
“No. Isn't that the normal expectation in a serious relationship?”
Once again...
Everyone looked uncomfortable.
Crap.
I forgot how Mom, Dad, and my aunts ended up together.
“Erina nee-san, in my opinion, you can still talk to Hotaru and get closer to him. There's nothing wrong with that since he's still single, so it's completely fair. But you already know there's someone else in his heart. So don't raise your expectations too high. Otherwise, you'll only end up getting hurt even more.”
“
Sob... sob...” - Erina nee-san couldn't say another word.
I guess I'm the worst brother in the world.
After that, nobody said anything.
Not to mention, no one was in the mood for dinner.
I don't think what I did was wrong.
But I don't know if it was the right answer either.
In a way, if I followed this world's common sense, I could simply convince Hotaru to date my older sister too. And of course, I'd also talk to Himari and ask her to accept it. I remember she once said she wouldn't mind if her boyfriend had more than one girlfriend.
But to me...
Doing that would be no different from convincing my best friend to two-time my older sister while trampling on Himari's heart over and over again.
So, in the end...
I chose not to help my sister.
["That's true. I guess this time we'll be supporting a two-timing relationship."]
I'm kind of ashamed to say that out loud...
I wonder what Ryuichi and Ayame would think about all of this now.
At the end of the day, the one who's wavering is actually me. What a joke.
I should go to sleep.