All Beautiful Girls Want to Stick with Me

On her way home, Kotomi picked up a bag of honey buns.

Both Kotomi and Aimi loved these little buns. The bottom of each bun was baked into a sweet, crisp honey crust. One bite combined the soft, fluffy bread with the crunchy, honey-glazed base—two completely different textures in one, making them instantly addictive.

There were versions filled with sweet red bean paste too, but Kotomi preferred the original flavor.

She had thought about buying a second bag to snack on during tomorrow’s shinkansen ride to Kyoto, but honey buns, once left for too long, lost their appeal. The honey crust on the bottom would go from crispy to soggy.

Not everything gets better when it softens—honey buns were a prime example.

Once the base got soggy, it became greasy and heavy. Instead of highlighting the flavor, the residual baking oil overwhelmed it. Just one bad experience could put someone off them for a while.

So, to avoid turning a delightful memory into a disappointing one, Kotomi always made sure to eat them the same day she bought them.

That’s why she always bought just one bag at a time.

Buy today, eat today—keep that perfect texture intact.

”Once Aimi lets her guard down, I’m going to shut her up with this honey bun—heeheehee!”

Aimi had once used a honey bun to silence her. Now it was payback time, and Kotomi wasn’t about to let the opportunity pass.

Sisterly relations were all about reciprocity!

—Yes, I bought this bun just to stuff it in Aimi’s mouth!

Quickening her pace, Kotomi returned home. After changing her shoes at the entrance, she tiptoed into the living room, ready to spring a surprise attack.

But when she peeked inside—Aimi wasn’t there?

Weird. Her shoes were by the door, so she was definitely home. And Aimi always lazed around in the living room watching TV after school.

Why wasn’t she here today?

Did the sun rise in the west or something?

Did she go straight to her room to study?

”Mom, where’s Aimi?”

After washing her hands, Kotomi stepped into the kitchen and asked her mother, Akina Izumi, who was busy cooking. She casually grabbed a freshly braised meatball from a plate on the table and popped it in her mouth—only to immediately start blowing, cheeks puffed out from the heat.

”She’s in her room reviewing for exams.”

”Oh, right—midterms are coming up,” Kotomi said, finally remembering that Aimi had been grumbling recently about how there’d be exams so soon after the school year started.

She might complain, but when it came time to study, Aimi worked harder than anyone else. Honestly, even if she were thrown into high school midterms, she’d probably hold her own just fine.

If Kotomi hadn’t unlocked her ”academic skill set,” she was sure that her middle-schooler sister would easily outperform her in exams.

Currently, Aimi’s grades were above average—not quite top-tier, but respectable. If she made a real push in these last few months, she might be able to score high enough to get into a school even better than Sobu High School.

Like one of Tokyo’s prestigious private high schools.

Those schools had better teachers and offered a clear edge for getting into elite universities.

But Aimi had her heart set on Sobu High School.

”It’s not just midterms, you know. Did you forget? Aimi and her classmates are taking graduation photos in January. Then, in February, it’s time for the high school entrance exam. The clock’s ticking, and Aimi’s kicking it into high gear.”

”She’s always saying she wants to go to the same high school as you,” Akina said with a chuckle.

That reminded Kotomi—her own third year of middle school had been unusual, with entrance exams scheduled in June and July. But for Aimi’s year, things had returned to normal.

In Japan, February was always the season for high school and university entrance exams.

That meant there were only six months left until Aimi and Iroha would take their exams.

Would the two of them be able to get into Sobu High School...?

As Kotomi wondered, she reached for another meatball and popped it into her mouth—only to have her hand lightly slapped by her mother.

”A young lady should have a little restraint. If you keep acting like this, your future mother-in-law will definitely have some complaints. And dinner’s almost ready—are you trying to fill up on meatballs?”

”I can’t get full without rice anyway… Mom, these meatballs are so good!” Kotomi replied sheepishly, rubbing her wrist. She made sure to praise her mother’s cooking.

In truth, her big appetite was the highest form of silent praise she could offer.

Sure, it was tiring to cook for her, but the sight of someone eating heartily and happily brought joy to any cook. And feeding one’s family—that was one of the most fulfilling things of all.

...

Kotomi headed upstairs and quietly opened Aimi’s bedroom door, catching sight of her little sister sitting at her desk, head down, scribbling away.

As the older sister, Kotomi couldn’t help but smile with pride.

”My little sister takes studying so seriously. Clearly, she takes after me~” she whispered shamelessly.

Aimi liked to wear over-ear Bluetooth headphones while studying. Not to play music—just wearing them helped her focus.

Kotomi never quite figured out how aware Aimi was of her surroundings when she wore them. Sometimes, Kotomi had to shout several times just to get her to come eat, and Aimi wouldn’t respond at all.

But other times, even when Kotomi crept in as quietly as a cat, Aimi would instantly notice her and turn around.

Just like now—

Kotomi had barely set foot in the room when Aimi straightened up and turned around, pulling off her headphones.

”You’re back, Onee-chan. Why are you sneaking into your little sister’s room like that?”

I always enter your room fair and square! So what if you lock the door when you sleep? I just use the spare key!

That’s what Aimi thought, though she would never say it out loud. She’d worked so hard to borrow the spare key to Kotomi’s room and make a copy. She wasn’t about to let one careless remark undo all that effort.

It had taken her an entire month of planning just to get that spare key.

Caught in the act, Kotomi abandoned her sneak attack plan and held up the bag of honey buns with a smile.

”Want one? A little sweetness while studying helps boost efficiency, you know~”

She looked like a doting older sister who’d brought back snacks out of love.

”You were planning to stuff one in my mouth while I wasn’t paying attention, weren’t you?”

”W-what?! Of course not! Do I look like someone who would do something like that?! I’m the one who loves you most in the whole world!”

Funny how the guiltier someone felt, the more forcefully they denied it.

Aimi didn’t say anything, but she felt a little touched. Just moments ago, she’d been wondering—Sobu High School had finished for the day, and Kotomi said she wasn’t going to club activities, so why hadn’t she come home yet?

Could she have gone off to meet that no-good Megumi Kato again?!

But now, Aimi understood. Her sister hadn’t been out on a date—she’d gone to buy her honey buns.

Kotomi cares about me so much... Does that mean she likes me? Wait... maybe we’ve been in love with each other all along! Wahaha!

Megumi, I’ve totally won! Let’s see you try and act smug in front of me now, you villain!

Lost in these wild thoughts, Aimi munched on her bun.

And today, the honey bun tasted sweeter than ever.

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