Arc-1 SS-03

 “Honestly, Kozue, you’re way too cold to Nozomi-chan.”

“…Am I?”

“Yes, you are…”

“…Sorry, Noriko.”

“You’re not apologizing to the right person, you know.”

“…Yeah, you’re right.”

The expression on her beautiful face is irritating. Someone born with such rare beauty probably can’t understand how I feel. I, Kozue Nanazawa, am in a position that most people would envy. I was born into one of the wealthiest families in this country.

Since I have an older brother, I don’t have to worry about inheriting the family business or undergoing the rigorous training that comes with being the heir. That said, I’ve been put through all sorts of lessons as part of my “bridal training.”

Most likely, a suitable marriage proposal will eventually come from outside, and I’ll leave the family as a bride. Given the influence of the Nanazawa Group, I’ll probably be treated well in my future husband’s household. With no concerns about the future, you could say I’m truly one of the “chosen ones.”

If only my little sister didn’t exist. I’m not exactly unattractive myself. In fact, I’m often called a beautiful girl. Let’s say I’m the kind of beauty you might find one or two of in a single class. In a whole school year with multiple classes, there’s bound to be someone like me.

But my sister is on a completely different level. She’s not just a “one-in-a-school” kind of beauty—not even close. She’s probably on the level of one in an entire region, like a prefecture. In other words, the kind of beauty so rare that you’d only find a handful—maybe a dozen—like her in a single prefecture.

Nationwide, there might be only a few hundred, at most two or three hundred, girls as beautiful as her. And that’s my little sister. As she grew up, the love and attention of our parents shifted to her.

No— not just our parents. Everyone, from relatives to the household staff, is completely focused on her. Right now, I’m nothing more than the older sister of the beautiful girl, “Nozomi Nanazawa.”

People say things like, “Her sister is so cute, but the older one…” It’s a humiliating position to be in. In a situation like this, getting along with my sister is absolutely impossible. To be honest, I don’t even want to see her face.

“You’re sisters… You have to get along.”

Noriko is still saying something. I glance at her profile as we walk side by side down the hallway.

Itsuki Noriko. She’s a distant relative of mine and the daughter of a department head at a publicly listed company where my grandfather serves as chairman.

In terms of social standing, she’s beneath me. Her defining trait is her beauty. She’s a top-tier beauty, surpassing even my sister. Even in the entertainment industry, where beautiful people are everywhere, you’d rarely find someone like her. There probably aren’t even a hundred girls like her in the entire country. When she’s with me, it’s not as striking, but normally she’s a refined, Yamato Nadeshiko-type beauty.

[T/N- A Yamato Nadeshiko-type beauty refers to an idealized concept of traditional Japanese femininity, rooted in cultural values and aesthetics. The term "Yamato Nadeshiko" (大和撫子) combines "Yamato," an ancient name for Japan, with "nadeshiko," a delicate pink flower (the fringed pink or Dianthus superbus), symbolizing grace and resilience. It represents a woman who embodies the traditional virtues and beauty standards associated with Japanese culture, often seen as the epitome of elegance, refinement, and inner strength.- by grokai]

Apparently, my grandfather and father see her as a gentle, polite girl. The reason I’m somewhat friends with Noriko is exactly that. The thrill of being able to look down on a girl whose beauty surpasses even my sister’s, thanks to my family’s higher status. It helps me forget my inferiority complex, if only for a little while.

She’s someone close by who can remind my sister that there’s always someone better. Though, it does bother me that she gets along fairly well with my sister. Since we’re distant relatives, I suppose it can’t be helped.

“…By the way, that girl who was with Nozomi-chan was pretty cute, wasn’t she?”

“…”

“Could she be an idol, maybe?”

“No idea…”

I had heard that a friend would be coming over today, but I wasn’t interested, so I didn’t pay attention. I didn’t expect my sister’s friend to be that beautiful. Her beauty rivals even Noriko’s. The one thing I had going for me—having a beautiful friend—is now under threat.

“If she’s an idol, she might become as popular as Rina-chan.”

Noriko loves the new members of the idol group my sister is set to join. She’s even gotten autographs through her.

“Maybe I’ll ask Nozomi-chan to introduce me sometime.”

“…Haa…”

I really don’t like this.It seems my sister will continue to be my enemy from now on.