Arc-3 SS-08

 As we turned at the intersection, Mikuri-chan's figure waving goodbye slipped out of sight.

Then Tanaka-san, from the driver's seat, operated a device and closed the car window.

The cold, clear winter air that had been flowing in until a moment ago was shut out, and the interior of the car once again filled with the warm air from the heater.

The warmth, combined with being alone and no longer talking, brought a wave of sleepiness, but before giving in to it there was something I needed to do.

"…Tanaka-san. About what you said earlier."

"I'm very sorry. I knew it was overstepping, but I felt I had to say it."

"…………. .

 …I see."

Tanaka-san was a live-in driver, so he knew the inner workings of the Nanazawa household very well. Naturally, that also included the ongoing discord between my sister and me. Ever since I debuted as an idol, my relationship with my sister had steadily worsened.

The higher my popularity as an idol rose, the worse her mood became, and her attitude toward me reflected that in direct proportion.

Of course, our parents, older brother, grandparents, and other relatives had all given her warnings and criticisms.

But since none of it ever improved the situation, lately the approach had shifted to keeping my sister and me from coming into contact as much as possible.

During this New Year's season as well, my sister was staying overseas in a warm winter resort with our grandparents to escape the cold. Before my idol debut, I had always been forced to go along, and it had been nothing but painful.

Our parents had stayed in the country due to work obligations, but even though it was New Year's they were busy and spent little time at home.

In other words, during this period the only family member at the house was probably my brother.

Though he'd likely go out to hang out with friends from university or high school, so we probably wouldn't see each other much anyway.

I wondered how it would be if he went out with a woman. From the family's perspective, it would be troublesome if he played around too much and caused problems.

"Excuse me, but the atmosphere inside the mansion has been a little…"

"I'm sorry."

"No! This is not Nozomi-ojousama's fault at all."

Of course I also believed the problem lay with my sister. Even so, the tense atmosphere in the house must have made the staff feel uneasy.

I thought this would resolve itself once either my sister or I left the house, but that would be at least a year or more away at the earliest.

And that was only considering the very slim possibility that my currently second-year high-school sister would become independent when she entered university.

In reality, she'd probably do an internal advancement to university and continue commuting from home.

The chances of me becoming independent were even lower.

Even setting aside the family fortune, my current income as an idol was enough that money wouldn't be an issue, but the rest of the family except my sister would never allow it.

"…For the time being, this situation will probably continue. I'm sorry for the trouble it causes you, Tanaka-san, and everyone else."

"No… The one who suffers the most is surely Nozomi-ojousama."

"…I'm sorry. I'm going to sleep a little now."

"Understood. It's about twenty more minutes, but I'll call out when we arrive."

"Please do."

Talking or thinking about my relationship with my sister never made anything better. It only put me in a bad mood.

Since there was no chance of seeing her face for the next few days anyway, there was no point in letting unnecessary things drag me down.

I closed my eyes and decided to think about Mikuri-chan instead.

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"…No… …mi, Nozo…"

"…Mmm."

"…zomi, Nozomi. Wake up."

"Nn? …B-big brother…"

When I realized someone was shaking my body and calling my name, my consciousness slowly rose from the hazy horizontal line of sleep.

I opened my eyes a little and saw that the person shaking me was my brother.

"We're already home. I know you're sleepy, but go sleep in your bed."

"Y-yes…"

Apparently I'd fallen completely asleep during the short drive home.

I hadn't meant to, but the physical exhaustion from the past few days had built up more than I'd realized.

I peeled my heavy body off the car seat and stepped outside. The biting cold of the winter midnight struck me, sharpening my awareness just a little.

"B-big brother…"

"What is it, Nozomi?"

"…Happy New Year."

"Haha. Happy New Year to you too. More importantly, can you make it to your room?"

"I-I'm fine."

If I could just reach my room and take a shower, I'd probably feel a bit more awake. The real challenge was getting to the room.

"Come on. I'll walk you there."

"Ah, thank you, Big brother."

With my brother accompanying me, I entered through the front door and walked down the long hallway toward my room. At times like this, I truly resented how unnecessarily large the mansion was.

"I watched the song battle."

"R-really? …How was it?"

"Even without brotherly bias, I think it was good. It feels like your popularity is about to rise."

"That's good to hear."

This brother of mine doted on me, but he wasn't the type to spoil me over something like this. Hearing his honest opinion gave me real confidence.

"All right, we're here. …You're a girl, so I'm sure there are all sorts of things, but go to bed quickly, okay?"

"Yes. Thank you very much, big brother."

"Yeah. Good night, Nozomi."

"Good night."

My brother opened the door to my room, let me inside, and quickly left.

He really was thinking about me wanting to get into bed as soon as possible.

"Phew… …Ah?"

Come to think of it, if he'd stayed up this late waiting for me, I'd forgotten to thank him.

Well, it was fine to do it the next time we met.

While thinking such things with a mind fighting off sleep, I began preparing to take a shower.