It's been a while. I'm Takibi Amamori.
With the release of Vol.2, I've heard some voices saying, "Isn't this just rubbing salt in the wound for the losing heroines?" But thanks to all of you, we're able to meet again.
This volume focuses on Lemon-chan, the only one who wasn't able to express her feelings in the first one.
It's a story about the days that follow, which are usually left untold, those of the losing heroines and the winning heroines. I'm pleased to be able to share this with you.
As for Asagumo-san, who only briefly showed up in the previous volume, thanks to Imigimuru-sensei's work, she's been given an excellent depiction this time around.
Shikiya-san, who's impossible to read, has also begun quietly drawing closer to Nukumizu-kun. Creepy, isn't it?
And finally, I must sincerely apologize to my editor, Iwaasa-shi, for all the trouble I caused in the process of bringing you this volume.
Even up to just before publication, he patiently guided me through multiple rounds of revisions, and due to the resulting delays, I also ended up troubling Imigimuru-sensei with a very tight schedule.
To everyone who was involved under such demanding circumstances, please accept my deepest apologies and my heartfelt gratitude for helping create such a wonderful volume.
And once again, it's all thanks to you readers that Volume 2 could be released.
Of course, I'm grateful to everyone who picked up the book, but a novel only truly comes to life when it's performed inside the mind of the reader.
In other words, you, the reader, are the final member of the Makeine Team and also its director.
It would be an honor if you continued to be part of the team and supported Makeine going forward.
If we're lucky enough to make it to the next volume, it will be the second term. I hope to bring you the next chapter of Nukumizu-kun and the losing heroines' story as they grow a little more mature. Please continue spending their youth with them.
…Some of you with sharp instincts may have already noticed: I was given a little extra space for the afterword this time.
So I thought I would take the opportunity to talk about my recent health checkup results, or maybe how I realized I had been counting my age wrong and ended up being one year younger (not really), but halfway through writing that, I stopped myself because I'm an adult.
Instead, I would like to use the next page to share an interlude that couldn't be included in the main story.
It takes place just after Chapter 3. It's not directly related to the main plot, but it's a little behind-the-scenes moment that happened during that time…
Extra: My Little Sister Might Honestly Be OO
After a sudden overnight trip to Shinshiro, I now stood at the front door of my home.
I had properly contacted my parents yesterday, and they gave me the okay to stay over without issue. And yet, the unease in my chest still hadn't gone away.
…Kaju.
She gets ridiculously lonely whenever I spend the night away. Back when I went on my middle school field trip, she even tried to tag along and had to be intercepted at the station by Mom.
The fact that I haven't heard anything from her since yesterday only makes me more anxious.
I took a deep breath and nervously opened the door.
"I'm home…"
Murmuring quietly, I started to take off my shoes when, from deeper inside the house, apron-clad Kaju came running toward me.
"Onii-sama! Welcome home!"
"Ah, yeah… I'm home, Kaju."
Huh. She seems kind of cheerful.
"Come now, hurry inside! Will it be dinner? A bath? Or perhaps- wait, what are you trying to make Kaju say, onii-sama!?"
With a cheerful look, Kaju reached out and squished both of my cheeks with her hands.
Uh… what's with her mood?
"What's going on, Kaju? Did you eat a mushroom growing in the yard or something?"
"Oh, Onii-sama, always joking. If you have any laundry, Kaju will take it for you."
"Ah, yeah, I'll bring it over later. I'll change in my room first."
"Okay! Kaju will get lunch ready in the meantime!"
Kaju pattered back into the living room.
…What is going on?
Anyway, I should just get changed quickly and then figure out how to navigate this suspiciously cheerful Kaju situation.
When I got back to my room and started to take off my T-shirt, something caught my eye, something lined up on my desk.
"Light novels…?"
Maybe it's the novels I have lent Kaju that are being returned? I casually reached for one, only to freeze when I saw the cover.
It's my secret stash of light novels. The problem comes from the titles.
<Who Said I Can't Be in a Rom-Com Just Because I'm Your Little Sister, Onii-chan?>
<I Joked That Siblings Could Get Married, and Now My Sister Is Acting Weird>
<Would It Be Okay If I Get Spoiled by My Older Little Sister?>
<I'm Starting to Think My Sister and I Aren't Blood-Related, But I've Decided Not to Look Into It>
<My Sister Is Honestly a Bit Dangerous>
…Yeah. These are the little sister-themed light novels I have carefully hidden behind the drawer so Kaju wouldn't see them and get the wrong idea.
If I may offer a defense: I only picked them up because they were featured in the <Up-and-Coming Light Novel Awards> and just happened to be sister-themed. That's all. I swear. Please believe me.
But then, why-
"Why are they lined up on the desk…?"
I was sure the disguise had been perfect. My hand trembled as I picked up one of the books, and that's when I noticed something else. They are covered in sticky tabs. Dozens of them.
Just what kind of scenes had been marked?
I reached out, hesitantly trying to open one, when I felt a presence behind me and turned around in a panic.
"Kaju!?"
Standing in the doorway, which has somehow been opened without me noticing, is Kaju, smiling sweetly.
"…Onii-sama, lunch is ready."
"Ah, yeah, I'll be right there."
I put the book back on the desk and did my best to hide my panic as I followed Kaju into the living room.
…I'll think about this after I eat.
For now, the priority is hiding them somewhere she definitely won't find next time-
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