I Want to Fall in Love After Getting Reincarnated as the Heroine on the Verge of a Bad Ending, but My OP Older Brother Won’t Leave Me Alone!? - Chapter 171
Translated by: ShinigamiTori
Chapter 171 ? Older Sister and Younger Brother, Older Brother and Younger Sister 4
“Let’s continue to get along well, okay? Nee-san?”
Luka shows no intention of letting go, and I’m still not sure what might upset him. For now, staying like this is probably the best choice. Honestly, I can’t stop sweating nervously.
As I pondered the complexities of being siblings, Arnold-san let out a subtle laugh.
“Ahaha, you’re really close, huh? Well, see you later!”
With a strangely delighted expression, Arnold-san headed off to the third-year floor.
While a bad feeling lingered in my mind, we started walking back to the cafeteria.
Amid the lively crowd of students in the cafeteria, we took seats facing each other at the farthest table.
The girls at nearby tables all sent fervent gazes toward Luka. Occasionally, some would wave at him with excitement, and Luka would return their gestures with a warm smile.
This must be what it’s like to be at the top of the school’s social ladder… I couldn’t help but gaze at him with something akin to admiration.
“Oh, it’s really delicious.”
“Really? I’m glad.”
Luka drinks his black coffee, and I, on the other hand, load mine with sugar and milk. As I stir it with a spoon, I wonder how to keep my dignity as an older sister intact.
“I’ll make sure to appreciate the coffee you bought for me, Nee-san.”
“Uh…”
For just one cup of coffee…? I was unexpectedly touched.
Luca is so adorable that I just want to let him have as many cups as he likes, and honestly, I want to buy him anything he wants.
“….”
I only know as much about Luka as his name and age. As I struggled to think of a question, the sunlight made his golden brooch gleam brightly.
“That’s amazing, being S-rank! I need to learn from you.”
“I’m a scholarship student, so I can’t afford to let my grades drop.”
Luka smiles and takes a sip from his cup.
??The scholarship system allows the top five students in each grade to have their tuition fully waived. Given that Luka is a commoner, it’s likely that he depends on this to afford attending
Seeing how remarkable Luka is, I can’t help but feel pathetic about myself.
“Ah, that reminds me, how’s Dad doing lately?”
“Yes, he’s doing well. But since I’m living in the dorm, I only get to see him during long vacations.”
I feel relieved knowing Luca isn’t alone. Heartful Academy has dormitories for students from faraway regions, so his home must be quite far away.
“Would it be okay if I joined you to visit him?”
I genuinely wanted to meet my real father. Thoughts like whether he resembled Rene or Luca, or if it would be alright to call him “Dad,” filled me with anticipation.
“… Sure, let’s go together someday.”
Though Luka kept his smile, it was clear he was dodging the question.
Perhaps meeting my father isn’t the best idea. Although I’ve been curious about my mother and our family situation, I feel it’s not the right moment to bring it up.
“When did you lose your memory, Nee-san?”
“I was told I fell down the stairs last May, and I have no memories from before then.”
“I see. It’s amazing how your personality can change like that. I was surprised because you were a completely different person from the Nee-san I knew.”
Apparently, Rene had always been shy, timid, and prone to crying. Since she didn’t have any friends before, he found it surprising that I now have so many around me.
“If that’s how it was, I guess it was thanks to you that I got along with you in the past, Luka.”
Considering Luka’s outgoing personality, he must have been the one to bridge the gap with Rene.
“Ah… yeah, maybe so.”
Luka rested his cheek on his hand, offering a vague reply.
He seemed unwilling to talk about family matters or our past together.
“Your memory still hasn’t returned at all, has it?”
“No, not so far.”
Well, Rene’s memory did return for a brief moment when I switched places with her upon returning to the original world, but there’s no need to reveal that now.
From there, I avoided discussing the past or family matters and instead asked Luka about his interests and how things were going at the academy.
Though it’s only been a few days, I feel reassured knowing he’s made friends and is enjoying himself.
“Oh, I’d better get going.”
Glancing at the clock, I noticed that it had been almost thirty minutes since I’d left the classroom. It really is true that time flies when you’re having fun.
Even if we don’t live under the same roof or share the same surname, we’re still family. I want to continue to get closer to Luka little by little like this, and I hope I can be a good sister to him.
“Thank you for today. I’ll come and see you again soon.”
“Yeah, I’m glad I got to talk with you, Nee-san. Next time, let’s go out somewhere after school!”
“Of course! We can go wherever you want.”
Luka extended his pinky for a promise, and I couldn’t help but smile at how adorable he was.
Finally, I decided to bring up the thing I had been planning to ask since yesterday.
“Um, is it okay if I tell my close friends about you being my little brother? I promise they’ll keep it a secret.”
I can’t help but feel uneasy about keeping it hidden from Julius and my close friends. What I dreaded most was Julius getting the wrong idea.
“… I can’t trust people anymore, not after someone I believed in betrayed me.”
Luka’s long lashes lowered sorrowfully as he softly placed his hand over mine, which rested idly on the table.
His hand, bigger than mine, gripped mine tightly, as if relying on it.
“That’s why I can’t even trust your friends, Nee-san. I’m sorry.”
“Luka…”
His troubled expression hinted at the depth of the pain he had endured. I began to wonder if his earlier comment about “dying” was tied to that experience.
To go through the pain of his parents divorcing, being separated from his sister, and then being betrayed by someone he trusted—it’s just too heartbreaking.
The weight of Luka’s backstory was heavier than I had imagined, leaving me unable to say anything more.
“I’m sorry for being such a burden. If I’m causing you trouble, I—”
“Not at all! If anything, I’m the one who should be sorry!”
As tears welled in Luca’s eyes, I hurriedly grasped his hand in return.
“??What are you doing, Rene-chan?”
Arms wrapped around me from behind, and a low tenor voice whispered in my ear. In that instant, it felt as if all the blood in my body froze.
Good luck with this one, Rene! It’s not gonna be a good situation at all….
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