Chapter 262: It's All Onii-chan's Fault
"In any case, I first need to arrange a place for them to stay…"
Glancing at the mother and daughter beside him, who were curious about everything in this world, Hikigaya Hachiman made up his mind to settle the three of them down first.
Considering Irisviel and Illya's previous standard of living, he chose a relatively upscale hotel near his house for the two to stay. After settling them, Hikigaya Hachiman returned home with a mixture of anxiety and excitement.
"Ah, Onii-chan, welcome back…"
In the living room of the Hikigaya house, Komachi was sprawled on the sofa, playing on her phone while swinging her legs.
Suddenly, she heard the sound of the door opening at the entrance. Knowing that it couldn't be anyone else but Hikigaya Hachiman returning at this time, she greeted him without looking up.
However, she found it a bit strange. In the past, Hikigaya Hachiman would definitely respond immediately with "I'm home" when he heard her, but today he was unexpectedly silent…
"?"
A question mark popped up in her mind. Komachi put down her phone, lifted her head from the sofa, and looked towards the entrance.
Hikigaya Hachiman had abandoned her early this morning to go out with a female classmate. With this kind of reaction now, could it be that he was rejected after confessing?
The first thing that entered Komachi's sight was that familiar pair of dead fish eyes.
Seeing those eyes, which were as dispirited as ever, Komachi relaxed.
Phew, phew, it seems like he wasn't rejected by a female classmate…
But when she immediately saw the little Sakura whom Hikigaya Hachiman was holding by the hand, Komachi instantly raised her eyebrows.
"Kidnapping a child is against the law, Onii-chan."
"I know that, of course…"
Hearing Komachi's words, Hikigaya Hachiman's face twitched a few times.
He suppressed his agitated feelings and led Sakura into the living room. Then, he immediately hugged Komachi tightly.
"It's been a long time, Komachi…"
?!
Unlike Hikigaya Hachiman's excitement and emotion upon seeing his sister after a year, from Komachi's perspective, her older brother had only been out for one day. Returning home, he suddenly hugged her excitedly, saying it had been a long time.
"Onii-chan, did you hit your head?"
"…"
A few minutes later.
Komachi looked with a complex expression at the two people who were sitting carefully opposite her.
Just now, Hikigaya Hachiman had briefly recounted the situation to her.
Even though she had already known about Hikigaya Hachiman having a system, suddenly bringing back a sister from another world—even if she was as broad-minded as she was—she still couldn't accept it immediately!
"Why did you bring back a sister!"
Clutching her head, Komachi looked displeasedly at the culprit who caused this whole mess.
The family already had one sister, yet he brought another one back from outside, and her background was so tragic that she simply couldn't bear to refuse…
"Well, it's not like I can let her call me Uncle, right?"
Hearing Komachi's question, Hikigaya Hachiman awkwardly scratched his cheek.
He was only in his teens, after all. If he were to be called Uncle like that, even he couldn't accept it.
"Ah! Onii-chan, you idiot!"
Seeing Hikigaya Hachiman, who completely failed to grasp the core of her problem—or perhaps was deliberately playing dumb—Komachi irritably grabbed at her hair.
Looking at the uninvited guest before her, Komachi really wanted to tell her to leave the house immediately.
But Hikigaya Hachiman had said earlier that this girl named Sakura came from another world and had no one else to rely on besides him…
Furthermore, she was so young. If she were to be driven out…
A flash of numerous news reports about children getting into trouble crossed her mind, and Komachi finally gave up.
"So, what are you planning to do about Mom and Dad?"
Even if the Hikigaya couple didn't often pay attention to things at home, the fact that an extra person suddenly appeared in the house surely couldn't go unnoticed, right?
"As for the reason, I've already figured it out. We'll just say she's a distant relative who came to stay with us."
In Japan, relatives coming to stay is a common occurrence. Coupled with Hikigaya Hachiman using magic to assist with hypnosis, the Hikigaya couple would definitely not notice anything unusual!
"It's truly unbelievable that there would come a day when Komachi has to lie to Mom and Dad along with you, Onii-chan…"
Hearing Hikigaya Hachiman's words, Komachi sighed helplessly.
It was evident that she had already agreed to let Sakura join the Hikigaya family.
"Komachi…"
Hikigaya Hachiman looked up at his sister, his face filled with gratitude.
However…
"Onii-chan, shut up! Although Komachi has agreed to let her stay, that doesn't mean Komachi isn't angry! Komachi is hungry now, so hurry up and go out to buy ingredients for dinner!"
Completely unlike her usual well-behaved and sensible image, Komachi, with quite an angry tone, once again chased Hikigaya Hachiman, who had been home for less than ten minutes, out of the house.
She then returned to the sofa and sat down, her eyes fixed on the girl who hadn't spoken a word since entering her house.
"You're called Sakura?"
Unlike the roughness she showed towards Hikigaya Hachiman, Komachi's tone towards Sakura was very gentle, as if afraid of scaring her.
"Mmm…"
Sakura gently nodded, answering Komachi's question.
"Is everything he just told me about you true?"
Although she knew it was unlikely for Hikigaya Hachiman to lie to her, bringing back a whole person made Komachi feel the need to confirm it with the person herself.
"Onii-chan told the truth."
Looking at Komachi, who held the status of Hikigaya Hachiman's biological sister, Sakura felt extremely anxious.
After all, no one is willing to suddenly have a stranger appear in their home.
Moreover, judging from Hikigaya Hachiman and Komachi's previous conversation, the affection between the siblings was clearly very good.
Now she suddenly appeared and wanted to share Hikigaya Hachiman, who originally belonged only to Komachi…
"You're already calling him Onii-chan?"
Hearing Sakura's address for Hikigaya Hachiman, Komachi massaged her forehead, and the annoyance in her heart intensified.
However, seeing Sakura's pitiful and endearing appearance, Komachi really couldn't bear to vent her anger on this already pitiful little girl.
"Onii-chan, you idiot!"
Without the slightest hesitation, Komachi resolutely threw all the blame onto the guy who was currently out buying dinner ingredients.
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