At the time, Towa, Yukihime and I were living together due to an unfortunate situation involving Towa. Usually I’d always walk home with Yukihime, but it seemed like Towa had something she wanted to talk to me about alone. I wondered what it was. Maybe she finally wanted to cross the boundary of brother and sister?
Oh no... If that’s the case, then who can I ask for advice?
“Hey, Yukihime.”
“What? What do you want now?”
“What should a big brother do if he just loves his little sister so much that he finds himself stuck in the rift between brother-sister love and morality?”
“Drop dead?”
I waited for Towa in front of the school gate. Soon, she came trotting toward me.
“Sorry, did I make you wait?” she asked.
“No, I just got here.”
“Yeah, I saw you arrive.”
I really had just arrived. I just felt like saying something date-y.
We started walking side by side.
“So, what’s this shopping thing you want to keep secret from Yukihime?”
“Well, Christmas is coming up, right?”
Oh... Right. It was December 19th, and Christmas was right around the corner.
“Don’t worry, Towa. You’ve been a good girl, so you’ll get presents.”
“You always just put weird stuff under my pillow every year, big brother...”
“Weird stuff?!” How dare she call Santa’s presents weird!
“Why would you put knee socks there? And you hid them inside of another sock...”
“Well, hiding presents inside socks is a Christmas tradition...”
“I thought people just hung those up as decorations.”
“Are you saying you don’t want a present this year?”
“Well, I liked the present itself...”
A mischievous smile slid onto Towa’s face, and she snapped one of the knee socks she was currently wearing. I had just given her those recently, and she knew just how to repay her big brother’s kindness...
“Anyway, that’s not why I’m here, big brother. Christmas should remind you of something else, remember?”
“What could I possibly have to remember besides your Christmas presents?”
“Bzzt! You just lost two love points from me. I’m going to move 20 cm away from you now.”
Towa took a step back from me.
“What? No way! Two whole points, just for that?”
“...Are you playing dumb, big brother? Did you really forget?”
“No, of course not. It’s Yukihime’s birthday, right?”
“Correct. You just gained two love points from me!”
Towa took a step toward me.
“...If I get more points, Miss Towa, will you walk arm in arm with me?”
“Hmm, I dunno... I’m still testing out this new system, after all.”
“I see... So, we’re going to buy Yukihime’s birthday present today?”
“Yeah. I know we do this every year, but let’s make this one special!” Towa grabbed my hands and struck a pose.
“What do you want to get her this year?”
“Hmm... I haven’t decided yet. That’s why I want you to come and help me pick something out.”
“Leave it to me. I know everything about Yukihime. Which sock she puts on first, even her measurements...”
“You’re not supposed to know her measurements...”
We continued to talk until we reached the bus stop. From there, we got on a bus and headed toward the commerce district. Otherworld City was split into different areas that were focused around different purposes, and you could buy pretty much anything in the commerce district.
As the bus drove on, we watched the scenery change. Soon, we turned onto a dazzling street lined with advertisements projected into the air in gorgeous illuminations. The trees along the street were also decorated, and I spotted an idol in a Santa outfit carrying some Christmas-related products. It seemed to be another projected advertisement. Everyone I saw walking along the street looked so radiant.
In other words, I was surrounded by a ton of people with actual lives. This was one of Otherworld City’s most famous date spots, so I guess I should have expected as much. I would have never come here if it wasn’t for Towa, and her being here with me made everything different. It felt like I really was going on a date with her, which was like heaven.
“Oh look, it’s Rabino!” Towa said as she stared at an advertisement.
For some reason, the idol in the Santa outfit was also wearing rabbit ears. I didn’t really understand what it was going for, but it was cute. Rabbit ears are nice. Now, if only she had been a bunny girl... I really like bunny girls. Not that it matters. Despite how cute the idol was, she was no match for Towa.
“Who?” I asked.
“You’re always so out of touch, big brother... Rabino is an idol who’s been gaining a lot of popularity lately. Haven’t you ever heard her catchphrase? ‘Rabino-pyon wants to get eaten by a carnivore like you-pyon!’”
Towa mimicked ears with her hands, tilted her head a little, and said the line in a fake cute voice. I figured it was just some line the idol said a lot.
“Hey, that was pretty cute. Do it again.”
“N-No. It’s embarrassing...” Towa was cute even when she looked embarrassed.
“You’re way cuter than that Rabino girl.”
“...St-stop it... You’d better not say that in front of her fans, or they’ll get mad at you.”
“No, I’ll get mad at them, because I’m your fan!”
“You’re so weird, big brother...”
This went on for a bit longer until we reached the commerce district bus stop. Once we got off, we started strolling through the streets and gazing at the different stores. Then, Towa stopped in front of one and said she was going to go inside. Behind the display glass, I could see various costumes.
“A cosplay shop?”
“Yeah. You know how the middle school students do a costume party for Christmas every year? This’ll be my last year in middle school, so I might do something special with my friends.”
“Really? Can I go and watch?”
“You should go to the high school party.”
“I want to be a middle school student...”
“You already were, up until last year.” Towa casually shot me down as she scanned the costumes within the store.
“I’m going to try a few on, so tell me how they look.”
“Sure, leave it to me. How about this one?” I asked, handing over a costume that was near me.
“Okay, I’ll try this one on too, then.” Towa took it and went into the changing room.
After a bit, she popped her head out from behind the curtain.
“Big brother... There’s this zipper in the back here...”
“...Huh? It’s okay for me to come in?”
“Yeah, just don’t look around too much.”
“I won’t, I won’t.”
Of course I would.
Towa was wearing the same miniskirt Santa outfit that the idol had been wearing in the advertisement. Now it was beginning to look a lot like Christmas.
Towa blushed as she turned around. The zipper was stuck around her hips. I had to admit, it was really sexy how I could see her back and the pink straps of her bra.
“It feels a little tight around my chest...”
I bet she said that about every piece of clothing she wore.
If Yukihime heard that line, she’d go berserk. I did my best to yank the zipper all the way up.
“Mm, thanks... Now, for the final touch,” Towa said, putting on a Santa hat. “Wh-what do you think?”
“Please be my Christmas present.”
“I mean about the clothes...” Towa frowned.
“Looks good to me. Christmasy and cute. Oh, and if you ever want to put it on again, just call your big brother in!”
“I’ll ask a friend.”
“I see...”
“Okay, time for the next one! Get out!”
“Roger that.”
I did as I was told and left the changing room. After a bit, Towa popped her head out again.
“I-I changed...”
For some reason, she was blushing even more than she had been before. What could be more embarrassing than having your big brother zip up your dress?
“Why did you give me this costume, big brother...?”
Oh... She’s wearing the costume I gave her. Suddenly, it all made sense.
“I figured you could surprise everyone. You know... No one would expect you to go to a winter party in that.”
“It’s weird...”
“I like it.”
“It’s perverted...”
“Yet you still put it on.”
“I guess the atmosphere of the store made me a little numb to it... Especially considering the previous costume I wore, it didn’t seem that different at first... But then when I actually put it on, I realized how weird it was...”
“It’s too late now.” I yanked open the dressing room curtain.
“No, big brother! Stop!” By the time she said that, my eyes were already feasting on her.
A school swimsuit. That’s right. I had given Towa a school swimsuit. And now, the navy blue swimsuit enshrouded her body. Her arms and plump thighs were completely bare. Yes, it certainly looked good on her. It was beautiful. I wish I could have written her name on the nametag on her chest. I bet it would have gotten really distorted. You know, because of her boobs. Now that’s what you call artistic.