52 The Rooftop - My Little Sister Is Only Ever Cold to Me, Yet Recently She’s Been Strangely Clingy

Chapter 52: The Rooftop All the results for the end-of-term tests had been returned, and the classroom during lunchtime, just before the summer vacation, was more roudy than usual. Amidst the clamor, I found myself alone in my gloom. As I stared listlessly at the top of my desk, Yuka-chan predictably came over to my seat. "How'd you do on your finals?" "It was kind of a disaster..." I replied, handing over my printout showing the results to Yuka-chan with a lifeless gesture. My exams were disastrous. While I didn’t get any failing grades, my overall performance had declined, and my modern Japanese score, which I usually ranked first in, was only the fifth best in the class. "This isn't like you, Ai. What's wrong?" "I just wasn’t really feeling it..." I muddled my words in response to Yuka-chan’s inquiry. There was no way I could admit it was because I’d been kissing Ren the whole time. Ren and I held study sessions every day during the exam period, and we ended up kissing every time. The feel of those kisses left such a deep impression on my mind that even while studying and even during the tests, I found myself recalling them, which led to this pitiable outcome. "Well, sometimes you have days like that. Just try and switch gears. Besides, summer vacation’s just around the corner!" "Thanks." As I nodded weakly in response to Yuka-chan's comforting words, the classroom door clattered open. "Look, your usual pick-up is here," Yuka-chan said with a smile. Just seeing Ren enter lifted my sunken spirits a little, urging me to rise from my seat. ◇◇◇ "So, how did your exams go, Ren?" "My grades improved." "Really? That’s great to hear." Sitting on the rooftop after we finished our sandwiches, I asked her, surprised by her reply as she leaned against me. Of course, I was delighted that Ren's grades had improved, but it made me painfully aware of the difference in our abilities, and it made me a little depressed. I also wondered if the kissing didn't affect her studies at all, which left me feeling a bit conflicted. "How did you do on your exams, Onee-chan?" "I... my grades dropped a bit." "You studied properly, so what happened?" Ren’s innocent question hit a sore spot. Before I could stop myself, the truth spilled out from my weakened heart. "I was so preoccupied with Ren that I couldn't focus on studying." I told her weakly, mocking myself for being such a pathetic older sister. And honestly, I was too embarrassed to mention kissing directly, so I tried to avoid saying it, which made it all the more awkward, like some overly affectionate girlfriend. Yet somehow, that weight seemed to strike a chord with Ren. She softly murmured, "I'm sorry. But I'm happy." She said, diving into my embrace. Despite her mature appearance, the childlike gesture sent warmth through me. I stroked her short hair, absorbing her warmth, as she murmured with her face snuggled against my chest. "I’ve been thinking about Onee-chan all the time, too. About our kisses, about hearing you say you loved me." Her sweet words, coming from her usual cool voice, made my cheeks heat up. Ren's ears were also red, and even such a tiny detail delighted me. I poured my true feelings into my excited heart and spoke to Ren. "But unlike me, your grades went up, didn’t they?" A playful tease, almost like a grievance. Ren lifted her face from my chest, gazing at me intently. Her eyes, no matter how many times I saw them, were mesmerizing. That beauty cracked open to reveal an endearing sweetness as she spoke, as if sharing a quiet secret. "Because thinking only about Onee-chan isn’t something new for me. Ever since we were little, I've always thought only about Onee-chan, and lately, those thoughts have been filled with happy things. That’s why I can work harder in my club activities and studies than before." Her straightforward words carried more weight than what I had said earlier, yet they were so cute, I couldn’t help but stroke her head. Embarrassed, Ren pressed her cheek against my chest. I repeated those words in my mind while stroking Ren’s head. Ever since we were little... Those words were happy and sweet, but at the same time, a question arose. A question that had come up many times before. Even when she had pushed me away, had she always been thinking about me? If that were the case, why had she distanced herself from me? Ren filled the bitterness that those doubts left with sweetness when she raised her face, looking closely at mine. "Hey, Onee-chan. Let’s kiss." She murmured, closing her eyes. "It’s school, you know. We shouldn't." "But there’s no one here but us." "That's true, but..." Just like before, as I hesitated, Ren opened her eyes. "Please." She pleaded, wrapping her arms around my neck and closing her eyes again. No, it's no good. Once it came to this, I never managed to refuse Ren. And so, today as well... I tightly closed my eyes and kissed Ren. The hustle and bustle from the schoolyard and the sound of our uniforms rustling together. Ren's soft breaths escaping. These sounds mingled together in my ears, intensifying my sense of guilt and pleasure. It wasn't just our lips, but our skin touching, our body temperatures touching, everything felt so good that my "good girl" façade fell away with a resounding crash. To think I would be kissing my little sister at school… The kiss lingered until I sensed Ren's breathing reaching its limit, prompting me to part our lips. Opening my eyes slowly, they were immediately filled with Ren's beautiful face. For a while, we drifted in silence, and then Ren voiced softly, with a dazed expression. "I'm so happy. It feels like being accepted by the world." Her words so genuine, I couldn’t laugh it off as an exaggeration. Before I could ask about what she meant, the bell rang.