NOVEL NEXT Chapter 8: You love your sister, don't you, Masachika?
"I wonder how much of me is Kuze Masachika... and how much is Ryan Gosling. And that moment with Yuno trying to attack Alya... Why the hell did I care so much?"
Ryan walked through the dimly lit streets, the faint glow of streetlights barely piercing the darkness. Lost in his thoughts, he hardly noticed the world around him until his phone vibrated in his pocket.
Unlocking the screen, he read the message:
"MASACHIKA, YOU SCOUNDREL! HOW DARE YOU LEAVE SCHOOL WITHOUT SAYING BYE!??????????????"
It was Yuki, his so-called younger sister in this new life. He sighed, staring at the avalanche of question marks, feeling his mental exhaustion grow heavier.
"Ah, right... I have a little sister now. What madness..." he muttered, dismissing the notification and opening the keyboard to reply.
"Hey, sis, I've got some good news for you."
Yuki responded almost instantly with a curious bunny sticker followed by, "What is it, my dear brother?"
Ryan smirked faintly, sending her a random sticker before typing:
"Stay calm and listen..."
As soon as he hit send, he noticed Yuki had already read it. Not only that, but she hadn't left the chat.
"Damn, she's really eager to talk," he thought before typing:
"Legs are absolutely delicious, especially when paired with something frilly and white, if you catch my drift."
There was a two-second pause before her reply:
"Excuse me... WHAT?!"
Yuki sounded indignant and quickly followed up:
"I thought you were a boob guy!"
Ryan rested his chin in his hand, pondering for a moment before replying:
"Those are great too, but hey, you live and learn, right? ^^"
Yuki replied just as quickly as before:
"Legs are the best. You start with soft thighs and end with a delicate ankle!"
Ryan chuckled quietly at her intensity and responded:
"You're amazing, Yuki. You totally get me!"
After a brief pause, Yuki sent:
"...And what kind of nonsense conversation is this?"
Ryan let out a satisfied sigh, still smiling, and put his phone back in his pocket. "Man... why is having a little sister so awesome?" He shook his head and continued walking until he reached his house.
He stopped for a moment, staring blankly ahead before muttering in a comical tone:
"I hate my thoughts."
As Ryan was lost in his musings, something completely out of the ordinary caught his attention. He blinked a few times, thinking he might be seeing things, but there it was.
"What the hell is this...?" Ryan muttered to himself, dragging out the words as he tried to process the scene.
A strange girl was walking toward him, dressed in none other than... a Bunny Girl outfit. The iconic attire, complete with bunny ears, fishnet stockings, and all. She seemed utterly at ease, as if strolling around like that at night was the most natural thing in the world.
Ryan stood frozen, a mix of confusion and disbelief on his face, though his gaze remained cautious.
The girl stopped beside him, placing a hand on her hip. Her tone was casual, but there was a hint of curiosity.
"So... you can see me, huh?"
Ryan tilted his head slightly, replying in a dry, amused tone while his eyes briefly scanned her flashy outfit.
"How could I not?"
The unexpected response made the girl blush faintly, a subtle reaction that contrasted with her confident posture. Quickly averting her gaze, she began walking away.
"Just pretend you didn't see this."
Ryan let out an easy laugh, shaking his head as he called after her:
"Forget seeing a Bunny Girl standing in front of my house? Sure, already forgotten."
She shot him an annoyed look over her shoulder before continuing on, while Ryan stayed put, still chuckling at the absurdity.
"My life just keeps getting weirder," he thought, unlocking the door and stepping inside.
Ryan hesitated upon realizing the lights were on. A quick thought left him alert.
"Yuno? Did that crazy girl come here to start a fight? Well, I wouldn't mind punching her fac-"
He cut himself off when he spotted a pair of shoes at the entrance. He instantly recognized them, thanks to the memories he'd inherited as Kuze Masachika.
"Ah..." he sighed, relaxing his shoulders.
Awkwardly stepping inside, he announced tiredly:
"I'm home."
On the couch, Yuki was sprawled out comfortably, wearing a pink hoodie and casual white shorts. A manga occupied her hands, and she greeted him cheerfully:
"Welcome back!"
Ryan placed his bag on the table and crossed his arms.
"You were texting me, complaining that I left without saying goodbye... but you were already at my house? Seriously?"
Yuki replied with a playful grin:
"I'm staying over tonight."
Ryan tilted his head, slightly annoyed.
"And I wasn't told this because...?"
She shrugged, maintaining her carefree tone.
"Because I didn't say it."
He looked at her, visibly exasperated, while Yuki remained engrossed in the manga she was reading.
"Learning to Love 2," huh? Sounds promising," Ryan remarked, glancing sideways at the cover.
Yuki began gesturing with her free hand, her excitement bubbling over.
"Oh, absolutely! A mysterious and gorgeous guy just showed up alongside the heroine... He's probably her older brother!"
Ryan rolled his eyes, letting out a sigh.
"Manga protagonists are always dumb. Not surprising, coming from the girl pretending to be my childhood friend at school."
The jab hit Yuki squarely, and she turned to him, visibly flustered, her cheeks slightly pink.
"Hey! That's not a lie! Do you even know what a childhood friend is?"
Ryan seized the opportunity to tease her further.
"Of course. They're the ones the protagonist usually ends up with by the end of the story. Basic rule."
Yuki's face turned a deeper shade of red, and she placed a hand on his chest.
"EXACTLY!"
She took a deep breath and continued, gesturing dramatically.
"That includes siblings! Childhood friends and siblings can be the same thing!"
Ryan rested a hand on his chin, pretending to think.
"Huh... is that really how it works?"
Yuki, undeterred, stood on her tiptoes, trying to look serious.
"Of course it is! It's narrative evolution, you ignoramus!"
He chuckled lightly, realizing it was pointless to argue. Before he could respond, Yuki turned a page in her manga and gasped.
"Wait! Hold up!"
"What now?" Ryan asked, bracing himself for more drama.
Yuki's voice grew higher-pitched.
"The guy really is her older brother... and now he's kissing the heroine!"
Ryan smirked smugly.
"And is he wrong?"
She stared at him, momentarily stunned, before gazing back at the manga as if it were a masterpiece.
"Wow, this is genius..."
"Bet they chickened out. Probably only half-siblings," he said sarcastically.
Without hesitation, Yuki grabbed his shirt collar and shouted,
"YOU IDIOT! It's only good because they're full siblings!"
Ryan looked at her with a mix of disbelief and exhaustion.
"Great... I have a sister with a brother complex." He sighed and averted his gaze.
"We've officially won..."
After dinner, Ryan went to bed early, still worn out from his clash with Yuno. However, sleep didn't come easily. Lying there, he found himself lost in thought:
"Ryan Gosling... or Kuze Masachika? Who am I now?"
His musings were interrupted by a sudden pressure on his chest.
The first rays of sunlight began filtering into the room. Opening his eyes slowly, he was greeted by Yuki, dressed in sleepwear, staring at him closely. His eyes quickly noted the details—a glimpse of her midriff from her loose top and the faint curve of her chest. Her playful smile completed the picture.
"Good morning, my brother," Yuki said cheerfully.
Ryan smirked, firmly gripping her waist as he replied,
"Good morning, my sister."
The gesture caught Yuki off guard, making her let out a small squeak, though she kept her teasing tone.
"Wow, look at you, enjoying your little sister waking you up with love and care."
Still smirking, Ryan retorted,
"I bet you were flustered, thinking I'd be flustered."
Yuki didn't miss a beat, placing her hand on his chest and gesturing dramatically with the other.
"You love your sister, don't you, Masachika?"
Ryan, determined to turn the tables, pulled her by the waist, easily laying her down on the bed. Yuki blushed slightly but maintained her mischievous smile.
"And you love your little brother so much you woke him up like this, huh?" he said, leaning dangerously close.
Her eyes began to waver, though her smirk stayed intact.
"W-wait... is he... is he really going to?!" she thought, struggling to keep her cool.
Ryan stopped mere millimeters from her lips, whispering,
"Scared you, huh?" Then he pulled away, laughing, leaving her stunned.
"Aaaagh! See? In the end, you're just another cowardly protagonist!" Yuki yelled, stomping her foot on the floor.
Stretching casually, Ryan murmured,
"You're so dramatic today..."
Yuki crossed her arms, studying him curiously.
"You've been acting weird lately... Wait... DON'T TELL ME THIS IS BECAUSE OF ALYA!"
Ryan paused, placing a hand over his face, replying with a casual grin,
"Oh, it's just that I died and got isekai'd into this world."
Yuki tilted her head, confused.
"What?"
But Ryan was already leaving the room, casually saying,
"I'm going to take a shower."
He left Yuki behind, muttering complaints and trying to make sense of what he'd just said.
Alone in her room, Yuki realized that Masachika had completely ignored her and gone off to take a shower. Still, her heart raced uncontrollably, and her face burned as if it were on fire. She placed her hands on her cheeks, trying to cool the sensation.
"What was that...?" she murmured, her voice barely a whisper. Despite her efforts, she couldn't push the scene from her mind.
Her eyes fell on the manga she had read the night before, but even it couldn't distract her thoughts. "Why did he have to get so close...?! Idiot... PERVERT... SIS-CON!"
Unknowingly, she started tapping her feet on the floor, frustrated with herself. "Why is he so annoying... and yet... so..." The sentence died before she could finish it, and the heat on her face intensified.
Yuki buried her face in the pillow, covering her head with a groan. "Argh! How am I supposed to look at him now, MASACHIKA YOU—"
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