Chapter 131 – Sister Dearest
<span style="font-weight:400">"You guys were spying on me this whole time?!" Iined to the trio above my head.
<span style="font-weight:400">"Forgive us, my que— Saeko," one of the subus serving Hatsumi said. "It''s just that your sister is queen now, even if temporarily, you were the one who wished for us to abide by her rule for the time being."
<span style="font-weight:400">My sister shook her head disapprovingly. "Now, now, Saeko. They are only following my orders. Like a certain little sister should be, not lying or sneaking off in the middle of the night to have sex."
<span style="font-weight:400">A chill crept up my spine. How much more did Hatsumi know? The look on Koga''s face told me he was utterly charmed. Good chance he spilled everything to her if that was the case.
<span style="font-weight:400">"Well, what do you have to say for yourself?" Hatsuminded on the ground next to me and slipped two index fingers underneath my choker, threatening to pull it off.
<span style="font-weight:400">"I''m sorry." I sighed in resignation. "I shouldn''t have lied and not gone out behind your back when I should be studying. Is that enough? The kendo club is waiting for me."
<span style="font-weight:400">Without me realizing, Hatsumi unstrapped the choker from my neck. I instinctively reached out to try and snatch it back, but she sidestepped me.
<span style="font-weight:400">"That''s mine!"
<span style="font-weight:400">"I won''t allow it. Now everytime I see it, I imagine someone else owning you and that just can''t be. I may be kind enough to let him live, but you''re not wearing this under my roof." Hatsumi folded her arms.
<span style="font-weight:400">Defiantly, I strengthened my aura around Hatsumi in an attempt to control her. She countered just as quickly, and the battle of our wills rendered the nearby subi trembling with fear and arousal.
<span style="font-weight:400">"It''s one thing to tell me what to do, but it''s another to take what''s mine. So what if I had a fling? I liked Koga. He gave me that choker, so you better give it back or we''re going to tear this school apart ying keep away." I red, clenching my fists with every intention to fight.
<span style="font-weight:400">Taken aback by my rebelliousness, Hatsumi shut her eyes and strengthened her own aura. It was beginning to seem like we really were going to fight…
<span style="font-weight:400">"Damn, who woke up on the wrong side of bed with gonorrhea?"
<span style="font-weight:400">Until Mio showed up.
<span style="font-weight:400">Everyone turned in the direction of the school''s back entrance.
<span style="font-weight:400">"If you guys are gonna duke it out, then it better be with a heavy dose fucking." Mio emerged from the school appearing not so impressed by our disy of force. She, out of all of us, understood what happens when two bickering subus siblings fought.
<span style="font-weight:400">I backed down and dissipated my spell, however, my sister wasn''t so easily swayed. She turned a furious gaze to Mio.
<span style="font-weight:400">"I know you two have been keeping secrets from me. I haven''t been able to say anything until now. How could I? You two were subus, and I was just a regr human being. Tell me the truth, Mio. What is your rtionship with Saeko?" Hatsumi asked her.
<span style="font-weight:400">If Hatsumi had known all this time about Mio, then did that also mean she knew about Kana?
<span style="font-weight:400">"Saeko''s my girlfriend," Mio said. "There. You heard it straight from the horse''s mouth. Watcha gonna do about it?"
<span style="font-weight:400">Just like that?!
<span style="font-weight:400">I flipped my gaze between Mio and Hatsumi, wondering if I should step between them in case something happened.
<span style="font-weight:400">My sister smiled. "Oh, nothing."
<span style="font-weight:400">I thought that was going to be the end of it, until Hatsumi fired a spell at Mio. It struck a barrier instead. Yumi and Hana flew out to join us in facing my sister.
<span style="font-weight:400">"Queen or not, we won''t forgive you if you hurt Mio." Yumi opened her eyes, putting the subi behind Hatsumi in a state of terror.
<span style="font-weight:400">"Uwah… It hasn''t even been a week yet, and we''re about to brawl again?" Hana groaned aloud.
<span style="font-weight:400">There was one more subus in this school that hadn''t cast their die in yet, and I sensed their aura nearby. Selene was in the club room right now, just… hiding. Either way, this was getting out of hand. The longer we were out here, the more we risked being seen.
<span style="font-weight:400">I waved the others down to let me handle this. "Hatsumi, you''re going too far. You were the one who told me to be careful about showing my subus self in public, then you decided to confront me in the open and just now tried to hurt Mio. We can at least both agree that this isn''t the ce to talk. How about just waiting until Ie home?."
<span style="font-weight:400">Finding reason in my words, Hatsumi let out a long-drawn sigh and relented atst.
<span style="font-weight:400">"You''re right. Our talk continues when you two return, and don''t think about staying elsewhere. I have eyes in this whole city now," Hatsumi said.
<span style="font-weight:400">As she turned to leave, Mio wanted to get the final word in. "You''re starting to sound a lot like Bea, and we know what happened to her."
<span style="font-weight:400">A sentence that I wished Mio <i><span style="font-weight:400">hadn''t</i><span style="font-weight:400"> said, because it couldn''t sound more like a threat if she tried.
<span style="font-weight:400">Without even humoring it, Hatsumi returned my choker and the trio of subus flew off.
<span style="font-weight:400">Finally able to breathe again with my sister gone. I never expected us to get into a quarrel, but here we were. Giving Hatsumi the sword might have been a mistake. She already proved herself to have qualities of a subus and was epted by the de when Beatrice turned her.
<span style="font-weight:400">Thankfully, I had friends on my side.
<span style="font-weight:400">"The hell was that all about?" Mio asked.
<span style="font-weight:400">"That''s my line! You just threatened Hatsumi," I fired back.
<span style="font-weight:400">She shrugged. "Sassing queens is kinda my gimmick. Besides, I''m not liking the way she''s talking to you."
<span style="font-weight:400">"That makes three of us," Yumi said,nding next to us with Hana. "While I do not appreciate the tone she has taken with you, I still think it''s important you two have a proper talk with her. Your sister isn''t unreasonable, as evidenced by her backing down just now."
<span style="font-weight:400">"I know… I''ll face her when I get home." I frowned.
<span style="font-weight:400">Mio figured out why it happened right away uponying eyes on the choker and on Koga who was still in a daze.
<span style="font-weight:400">"Ohoho~ You and the nerd, huh? Someone to pull into the harem?" Mio nudged me repeatedly.
<span style="font-weight:400">"N-No! We had a thing for a bit, but I already turned him down. It was all a mistake though, because that led to Hatsumi finding out, and then all that happening just now." I threw my arms up in resignation.
<span style="font-weight:400">"Heh. All because you couldn''t keep it in your pants. It will never not be funny that you used to be like, ''sex with other people? B-b-but my chastity!'' Now look who''s a horndog. Kahahaha!" She cackled until I socked her in the arm.
<span style="font-weight:400">With the danger over, Yumi and Hana went back to what they were doing. I put the choker back on and walked over to Koga. He came back to his senses once I broke the charm''s hold on him.
<span style="font-weight:400">"W-What happened? Why do I feel so horny all of a sudden?" Koga nced around for answers only to see me and Mio.
<span style="font-weight:400">I gave him the quick and ugly about what just happened since he deserved as much. "I identally roped you into a quarrel between siblings. I''m sorry, Koga."
<span style="font-weight:400">"Can''t be too bad, right?" Mio smirked, grabbing me from behind and putting her hand above my crotch. "Ya got to fuck some prime poon in return."
<span style="font-weight:400">"I-I had no idea! I''m the one who should be sorry! If I caused you trouble, I can''t help but feel bad. But for it to continue causing trouble even after we stopped? Maybe I should apologize to your sister?" Koga suggested.
<span style="font-weight:400">Both Mio and I immediately shut him down.
<span style="font-weight:400">"That… definitely wouldn''t go well," I warned.
<span style="font-weight:400">After I convinced Koga to leave it at that, we went to kendo practice as I had intended to since school ended. To no surprise of us subus given what transpired a few minutes ago, many of the boys were walking around weird, faces slightly red, and covering their groins with various items like a towel or helmet.
<span style="font-weight:400">"Hey, Saeko!" Gouda greeted me, himself also acting weird. "We were just about to start practice, but, uh… all of us started having a little biology problem…"
<span style="font-weight:400">"You know what that means?" Mio shed a wide grin.
<span style="font-weight:400">I pped a hand over her mouth. "It means, why don''t you guys take a breather outside! Maybe the cold will do some good!"
<span style="font-weight:400">Gouda thought that was a good idea and rallied the practicing members outside.
<span style="font-weight:400">"Killjoy." Mio groaned.
<span style="font-weight:400">"Hatsumi''s already angry. I''m noting home smelling like I bathed in cum!" I yelled.
<span style="font-weight:400">The door to the locker room cracked open and out came Selene, who looked like she was hiding just as I expected.
<span style="font-weight:400">"And why weren''t you outside?" I folded my arms.
<span style="font-weight:400">"My apologies. I can''t bring myself to side against you, but neither can I side against your sister. " Selene lowered her head apologetically.
<span style="font-weight:400">"Chickenshit." Mio taunted with joy.
<span style="font-weight:400">After practice, Mio went home first to give me a forecast of how Hatsumi was feeling before I got back. As I took the long way home through the city, I stopped by a cafe to pick up parfait for us. Highly doubtful that it would curb my sister''s wrath, but at least I''d being home in good faith.
<span style="font-weight:400">Once I walked inside, however, the aura of an unexpected patron alerted me to their presence.
<span style="font-weight:400">"Taleia?" I called out.
<span style="font-weight:400">"Oh, bother. I felt your aura from here and was hoping you''d keep walking." Taleia, Yumi''s little sister, suddenly lost the appetite for her parfait, as though mying here poured a pile of salt on it.
<span style="font-weight:400">"Okay, it''s clear you still don''t appreciate mypany. I''ll just take my leave."
<span style="font-weight:400">As I went for the exit, the subus tapped on the ss container of her parfait to call for the waiter.
<span style="font-weight:400">"May I have the menu, please?" Taleia signaled for the waiter, then returned her attention to me. "I didn''t say anything about not wanting to see your face. Let me treat you as thanks for a while back."
<span style="font-weight:400">Skittishly, I epted Taleia''s invitation and sat down across from her. The waiter brought us a menu, and I ordered their special. Even in the winter, contending against the savory sweetness of a well-put together parfait was hard to beat.
<span style="font-weight:400">"So, if we''re sitting at the same table, does that mean—"
<span style="font-weight:400">"Nope. I''ll never ept you as queen. In fact, I happen to think your sister is a better ruler. Unfortunately, there are some things I have to ept. Like you''re really nice and caring about the people around you," Taleia said.
<span style="font-weight:400">Color me surprised that she could say something like—
<span style="font-weight:400">"It''s too bad you''re naive, easily-swayed, a big cumslut, and too much of a pushover. A hammer has more use than you and can still nail a higher body count," she teased, waving the spoon in my face.
<span style="font-weight:400">"Uu… You really know how to kick a horse while it''s down." I hung my head.
<span style="font-weight:400">The waiter finally came by to deliver my parfait. Drenched in all kinds of topping, just seeing it washed my troubles away. Before I got a chance to get the first bite, Taleia swiped the cherry for herself.
<span style="font-weight:400">"What put you in a downer?" Taleia asked. "Usually you''re always so happy, with a generous helping of aloofness like all that cream in the parfait."
<span style="font-weight:400">"It''s my sister. I think all the power is getting to her head. Being a subus has probably amplified her lust for me, too. It''s been a recipe for disaster because she''s been so overbearingtely." I sighed, putting a spoonful of parfait in my mouth. The sugary bite full of walnuts, cream, and syrup didn''t wash away my stress but sure did ease it.
<span style="font-weight:400">"Hmph. I bet you haven''t tried to think from your sister''s point of view. I doubt she''s doing all this just to hurt you. If Yumi was fawning over me, I''d let her do whatever she wants and call that a blessing." The siscon subus fell into a reverie, fantasizing about her sister.
<span style="font-weight:400">I suddenly became unsure if <i><span style="font-weight:400">Taleia</i><span style="font-weight:400">, another obsessive subus sister, was the right person to be consulting about a big sister problem. If anything, she would side with Hatsumi 100% of the time.
<span style="font-weight:400">"Alright, I''ll humor you because you''re treating me. What part of seeing it from Hatsumi''s perspective is supposed to help me understand where she''sing from? Because as far as I can see, <i><span style="font-weight:400">I''m</i><span style="font-weight:400"> the one being oppressed here!"
<span style="font-weight:400">"Hatsumi''s taken care of you your whole life, hasn''t she? Until recently, you two only really had each other. Don''t forget, certain events as ofte put you in very real mortal danger," Taleia harshly reminded me.
<span style="font-weight:400">When I opened my mouth in an attempt to counter, no words came out.
<span style="font-weight:400">Between Beatrice, Sarena, and going to Elza, it''s likely given Hatsumi a heart attack and a half. Each event had the threat of me noting back alive. Hell, at some points, I almost didn''t think I''d survive. That still wasn''t any excuse for Hatsumi to helicopter mom me.
<span style="font-weight:400">The waiter came back with the receipt already paid in full.
<span style="font-weight:400">"You charmed him to pay for our parfaits?" I whispered angrily across the table.
<span style="font-weight:400">"We''re subus, why wouldn''t I? Don''t worry, he''lle out of itter thinking he splurged on himself," Taleia said.
<span style="font-weight:400">My initial reaction was to scold her for irresponsibly using magic when she didn''t have to. However, dictating too much how she should live would only make me like my sister, and I had already made enough rules to how subus should live in this world.
<span style="font-weight:400">I ordered two more <i><span style="font-weight:400">free</i><span style="font-weight:400"> parfaits to go and thanked Taleia. As we were leaving the cafe, I was about to fly off when she put a hand on my shoulder.
<span style="font-weight:400">"At the end of the day, an older sister only wants what''s best for you. They sometimes get it wrong, and that''s okay. What isn''t okay is when you start butting heads, then neither of you are getting anywhere productive, right?" Taleia asked.
<span style="font-weight:400">Of course, Yumi and Taleia would give the most sound advice about being open. I envied their rtionship. However, they weren''t like me, in a rtionship with two people that I was already in love with, and a sister who wanted me for herself.
<span style="font-weight:400">Navigating this wasn''t easy.
<span style="font-weight:400">When I returned home, Hatsumi and Mio were in the living room. It looked as though they had just finished talking to each other.
<span style="font-weight:400">"I said my peace." Mio hopped off the couch. "It''s your turn now."
<span style="font-weight:400">She grabbed one of the stic containers of parfait and went upstairs, leaving me to face Hatsumi alone.
<span style="font-weight:400">"I bought this for you. I know it''s your favorite." I sat down across from Hatsumi and put the second parfait on the coffee table.
<span style="font-weight:400">"Are you and Mio really together like she told me? With that boy, Kana, too?" Hatsumi didn''t so much as give the parfait a look over.
<span style="font-weight:400">Damn it. Mio gave me the hard part.
<span style="font-weight:400">"Yes, it''s true. I''m in a rtionship with Kana and Mio. I really do love them both, and there''s nothing you can say or do to make me get rid of those feelings." I stood my ground, expecting to be scolded like back at school.
<span style="font-weight:400">However, the cowl of anger fell away and was reced with an infantile sadness. Hatsumi''s wings and tail drooped, and she began to hup and sniffle.
<span style="font-weight:400">"A-Are you crying?" My knee-jerk reaction was to grab her a tissue, but she waved away my help.
<span style="font-weight:400">"I''m just… so… jealous! I love you so much it hurts. It''s not fair that they get to have you! I can''t help that I feel this way. You''re the only one I ever want. No one, not even myst boyfriend makes me feel the way I do around you…" Hatsumi cried, full of tears and snot running down her face.
<span style="font-weight:400">Blown away by my sister''s explosive outburst, it took me a few seconds to snap back to my senses. I''d never seen her like this before. My big sister, the most reliable and affectionate person I''ve known, was reduced to tears. Even back then, when she resolved to throw herself off the school building to end the magical time loop, it didn''tpare to the tears she was shedding now.
<span style="font-weight:400">Her feelings were known to me for quite some time now. Our rtionship as siblings was mostly familial and sexual, but neither of us had pushed the boundaries of that dangerous four letter word.
<span style="font-weight:400">"What am I going to do with you?" I asked, taking a seat next to her and wiping her face with a tissue. "I won''t give up Kana or Mio. There''s no future for me without them. But that''s true of you, too. I''ll always have room for my big sister."
<span style="font-weight:400">I was a selfish person. I knew and understood that. I wanted my sister, but I didn''t want her to be with anyone else. She felt the same for me.
<span style="font-weight:400">"Watching you grow older, I was afraid because I knew this would happen eventually, whether or not you became a subus. Show me, then… that there''s still room for me," Hatsumi said.
<span style="font-weight:400">Upon wiping my sister''s face clean, I leaned in to kiss her. Our fingers interlocked, and soon, she was on top of me. Our bodies pressed together, wrapped in each other''s arms, and gazing into eyes that were full of love.
<span style="font-weight:400">By the time we were done making out, the parfait had lost most of its volume and looked unappetizing.
<span style="font-weight:400">"Maybe I''m not worthy after all. Giving you the sword back might be for the best," Hatsumi suggested.
<span style="font-weight:400">I shook my head. "But I still have college entrance exams. Hang onto it a while longer."
<span style="font-weight:400">"It''s going to be hard for me to ept Kana and Mio, but I''ll do my best for your sake. But for now… I can have you all to myself, right?" Hatsumi whispered seductively into my ears, her hands slipping underneath my school uniform to caress me.