This guilt for "not noticing" is the same as the current mood.
Shinichi finally understood.
Rui sat beside him, supporting her chin with one hand and looking at him.
"What is it? It's strange that you're suddenly quiet."
"Talk politely to big brother." Shinichi met her gaze with a smile, and stroked her soft hair under Rui's confused expression, "I'll tell you beforehand if I don't come back for dinner next time, today I'm really sorry to keep you waiting… Rui Imouto. "
"...Hah?"
Rui noticed that as Shinichi said these words, his attitude towards her, the distance between the two seemed to be getting shorter.
It wasn't just a simple joke like in the morning, but he spoke the word little sister to her seriously.
The other party's sudden change made it difficult for Rui to react for a while.
Shinichi looked at her with a smile on his face, and asked himself.
What is family?
People waiting to return home.
The reason why Shinichi was entangled before was because he had not accepted Rui's identity.
However, he forgot one thing.
Tachibana Rui, a young and beautiful girl who was 16 years old at the time, she is his cousin.
Little sister is waiting for her big brother to return for dinner in the living room, isn't this a heartwarming family story?
Thinking of this, the smile on his face deepened.
Shinichi stood up and walked towards the life contract.
Then he took his pen, and added additional rules at the bottom.
『Article 17: Eat together as much as possible. If you ask for permission, you must say it first. Don't keep family members waiting. 』
After putting down his pen, he felt relaxed.
(It's not a small feeling like Rizu that makes people want to care and love, this is a real sister...)
(Finally, do I have a little sister too?)
(President, Fuutarou, Nariyuki...Even though I never said it, but in fact, I'm really envious that you all have a little sister...)
(Even if Rui would only stay here for a month and a half, they were still new family members... And unlike that unreliable middle-aged couple, she was a great cook with a gentle personality, and would secretly waiting for her brother to come home to the living room... Good sisters.)
As an only child, Shinichi thought that dream was still far away, but now it is realized with perfection beyond imagination.
Turning his head to see Rui staring blankly at this side, Shinichi was a little embarrassed.
"I don't have class tomorrow, so..."
While trying to test his little sister's attitude, Shinichi's tone was not very confident.
"May I invite you to lunch and dinner tomorrow as well, Rui."
To a girl he just met recently, Shinichi would never say such things.
For his little sister he had only met not long ago, yet he could be so proactive.
As the rookie older brother, Shinichi didn't know if that was true, but...
At least as an older brother, he had to be one step ahead of his younger sister to forge a good relationship.
—That was what was written in the book.
"Yes, it is okay. Better to say that I will if you don't tell me... Just..."
Before Rui could finish speaking, Shinichi smiled reassuringly.
"That's all, then I'll trouble you."
He took out his cell phone.
"Let's exchange contact information first, so as not to wait as long as before."
"Oh..."
"Then the breakfast part, whoever wakes up first will do it. It's fine if you can sleep a bit longer, I'll wake you up after I make breakfast."
"Oh..."
"Are his daily needs enough? Otherwise, I'll buy it tomorrow, after all, I happen to have some free time."
"Um..."
Passively giving her ID and LINE number, watching him skillfully add friends, adding the number to the family group without permission, and referring to her as "little sister", Rui couldn't take it anymore.
"So you are… the legendary Siscon?"
Shinichi: "😐"
He froze on the spot, with shock and disbelief in his eyes, he shook his head and defended himself.
"What Siscon… I was just expressing the kindness an older brother should have… An older brother's kindness!… Can this matter be considered a Siscon?"
"Who knows what you say!"
Rui's voice was louder.
"Yesterday, you still had that cold I would hardly stand to be with you until summer break is over expression, even though it was better in the morning… But your range of changes is too great."
"The dishes I make shouldn't have the effect of hypnotizing others. You suddenly treat me very well like your own sister. If you're not Siscon, who knows what you might think!
The volume became smaller and smaller, Rui slowly looked away, lowered her head and muttered.
"I don't understand you more and more, how should I get along with you..."
Shinichi stared at her silently. Then, he clicked his tongue.
"If you have any questions, please send a message. I'll go up and rest first."
Rui's expression lit up instead, and she nodded, "I've always felt that this is the real you."
She relaxed.
Shinichi looked down and saw the back of his hand, the light was a bit hard on the skin.
He smiled helplessly.
"The real me?..."
Rui tilted her head, "What's wrong?"
"No, it's fine." Shinichi took his school bag, turned around and left, "Since I already said that, then don't expect me to pat you on the head and praise you in the future, Rui. "
"I never expected, don't think about it." Rui complained while watching his back slowly walk up, a strange feeling suddenly appeared in her heart.
She covered her chest with her hands, and gripped her shirt skirt tightly.
She didn't know where the uncomfortable feeling was coming from, and how to deal with him.
"...From the conclusion, you should be happy."
Hesitating voices sounded and disappeared, and not long after, the lights in the living room went out.
Tonight Asada's house is still quiet.