I Became the Final Subjugation Target of That Era’s Light Novel

My image at the school I attend isn’t that bad.

I generally don’t treat other kids sharply. I worried that teenagers might think very differently from me, but when I actually met them, there weren’t that many major differences.

Well, it’s not surprising since I also spent my teenage years in the 2000s. Although I did feel a bit uncomfortable coming from a time when everything was labeled “smart,” having experienced that era, it didn’t feel all that awkward.

Sure, the country I lived in was another country across the sea, not this one, but perhaps because of the influence of living here since childhood or as a perk of crossing over to another world, I don’t have trouble with Japanese.

Plus, I’ve inherited… cough… the face of Kagami. Sometimes I think that if I had inherited her figure as well, I might have been less popular. Kagami is tall enough to be compared with boys and has a body that stands out in many ways.

It’s fortunate that I managed to escape the ‘jealousy’ part somehow.

The reason for that is—

“Koko is at our school?”

“Yeah. I don’t think grades will be a big issue. As for her personality… well, I think she’ll adapt.”

—It’s because I’m close to Sota. The kids around thought we had feelings for each other. The boys weren’t bold enough to approach me, and as a result, I didn’t monopolize the class’s popularity unnecessarily.

As Sota aged, his face leaned more toward “handsomeness.” While he was closer to “cuteness” in elementary school, he’s grown taller now and has developed a slightly more masculine face.

As a protagonist in a harem story, he would be more inclined towards “prettiness,” and if he dressed in maid attire, he might pull it off somewhat, but he still gives off a definite male vibe.

Sota and I shockingly feel no romantic attraction for each other.

For me, it’s natural since I’m ‘me,’ but Sota’s situation is a bit more complicated.

First of all, Kagami is way too strong. No matter how much I look like a cute girl on the outside, my figure can’t compete with hers. Kagami has been tall and curvaceous since our age, and when she heavily made up her face and dressed like an adult, people could easily be fooled.

Anyway.

Having seen the ideal appearance of someone who is completely different from me all the time, and since my dad would intervene whenever Sota seemed to get too close to me, and above all, our sibling-like relationship has developed so much, Sota has stopped showing any romantic reactions towards me.

…Well, I feel a bit sorry for the other heroines I might meet later regarding Kagami.

“Um, I see.”

“You don’t seem that worried?”

“I’ve seen her several times. She’s not a bad kid. Ah, are you worried about that because of me?”

“…Well, maybe.”

Until now, I’ve had good luck as all the kids around me have been nice, but there’s always a chance that such a kid can show up.

In my view, Koko’s intelligence isn’t below average. Our school isn’t particularly impressive academically, but being able to attend a typically average school makes it hard to believe she has any mental disabilities.

However, that aside, Koko’s common sense is lacking in various aspects. Unfortunately, there’s no one like me dedicating time to care for her.

Normally, such “differences” can be grounds for “bullying.” If you think about it rationally, there shouldn’t be any reason to bully her, but bullies are always good at finding an excuse.

“……”

“What are you looking at?”

Sota stared at me intently, and when I asked him with a frown, he let out a laugh, as if he found it ridiculous.

“No, I just thought you really care about your little sister.”

Strictly speaking, Koko is the elder sister, but let’s just let that slide.

“……”

I see.

Sota also has a younger sister. And I can’t imagine that sister being normal either.

Her unique speech isn’t an issue by itself, but if you trace back to the cause of that speech, it ultimately leads to a troubled past.

The priority is to not be abandoned by Sota.

Because Shii has already been abandoned by her parents once.

If she becomes a perfect and wonderful little sister, then Sota wouldn’t have a reason to abandon Shii—he might be thinking that way.

Even if Sota would surely do his best to care for a younger sister who isn’t that.

“You brought this up to ask for my help, right?”

“…Yeah.”

After some hesitation, I answered honestly like that.

“If someone you know helps, it’d get better.”

“Got it.”

Sota shrugged and responded.

“Shii and I are always getting help, so that’s natural. You don’t even need to say it.”

“……”

I briefly looked down from the rooftop.

I have heard somewhere about the differences between Japanese manga and reality. Just like the rooftop of the school I attended in my previous life was locked, it seems most Japanese school rooftops are also locked. They are management areas, and if students can go up, you can’t know what those sensitive teenage youths might do up there.

But the rooftop we two are on resembles the rooftops from those light novels or manga from back in the day somewhat. There’s a safety fence that’s quite tall, but still, it is accessible for students.

It’s a bit surprising that there’s no one else coming up during lunch break.

I took a bite of the kotsu bread I had in my hand. It’s just a bread with nothing inside, so it doesn’t really have much appeal, but after having lunch, it isn’t bad as a light snack. It would be nice if there was some strawberry jam, though.

“You put up with whatever Shii says, huh?”

“Not exactly putting up with anything.”

Perhaps it felt awkward being silent, so Sota started talking, and I responded like that.

Shii is cute. She works hard and has good grades. She shows slight signs of anxiety, but that’s about it; she rarely burdens me.

Her speaking formally and using “senior” to refer to me while trying to follow me to school. Those things don’t concern me that much. To me, it just seems like a close friend being friendly.

Ah.

I see.

Just like I think that about Shii, does Sota think about Koko that way?

Each has its own story and some unique aspects, but nothing to the extent of being unaccepted.

Thinking about that made my heart feel lighter.

We stayed on the rooftop a bit longer, and after I finished the bread, we finally went downstairs.

*

Time passed, and winter.

Around Christmas, there are kids who want to make various promises. Friends gather to have Christmas parties, and even if it’s not a party, it’s fun to hang out.

But… why is that?

I think of the kids I dated in middle school as friends, but for some reason, when I think of Christmas parties, Harumi and Yuuki come to mind.

Gathering in the same house, watching anime overnight, exchanging gifts, and eating cake during that time.

Maybe that’s why I hesitated a bit to do those things with other kids. I’m not sure of the exact reason. It’s just hanging out, after all.

So, in the end, this year too, I decided to spend Christmas at home without any special promises because of that.

Still, there was a reason this year.

“Koto Ne?”

“Here. How’s this?”

I said while putting a festive hat on Koko’s head.

“Uuu?”

Koko had a face that seemed to question why on earth she had to wear something like that on her head.

“Today is Christmas Eve.”

“Christmas Eve?”

Receiving a look as if asking what that is, I pondered a moment about how to explain.

It’s the night before Jesus’s birthday… but thinking about that, I’d have to explain every related bit of knowledge for her to barely comprehend it. Typically, it’s something learned and understood gradually through life, but Koko didn’t have that process.

Koko still has a lot to learn.

“…It’s a day for eating delicious things.”

“Delicious things!”

Koko eats just about anything well.

But there are definitely foods she likes more than others. Koko enjoys food generally favored by elementary school kids. Especially, she has been fidgeting since earlier, likely having caught a whiff of cake.

“Christmas Eve, yay!”

“Yeah, that’s right. It’s a good day.”

I said that and stood up from my spot.

“Uuu?”

But Koko tilted her head at me while looking up.

“Hmm? What is it?”

“Koto Ne?”

Koko pointed at the hat on her head.

“……”

Hmm.

After a brief consideration, I pulled out another hat from the party supplies set I had casually thrown on the bed.

“I’ll wear one!”

As Koko reached out to me, I smiled and tossed her the hat.

We both went downstairs wearing hats on our heads.

Was it coincidence?

Kagami was also wearing a hat on her head.

Dad looked at me and Kagami and laughed heartily.

…

I thought I should take off the hats when Shii and Sota come later.

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