Natsume Chikage fell silent.
"We... really aren't related by blood."
Natsume Kayo couldn't help asking, "When exactly did you find out you'd been switched at birth?"
Natsume Chikage froze.
Switched at birth?
Was that how they'd misunderstood this?
That worked out, though. He couldn't exactly tell them he'd crossed into this world in his own body.
"My father told me not long ago."
"So your dad... knew about this too." Natsume Kayo looked stunned.
"...More or less."
"But... why didn't you tell us? If you'd told us sooner, none of this would have happened, would it?" Natsume Kayo asked, bewildered.
"Because I didn't want my little sister to know," Natsume Chikage explained earnestly.
"Because... you care too much about Ruri?" Natsume Kayo was deeply empathetic and guessed the truth at once.
"Yes." Natsume Chikage looked pained. "Ruri's parents are both gone now. If I told her I wasn't her brother either, she'd be devastated. We might not be related by blood, but the time we spent together wasn't fake. It really happened. So whether we're related or not, I'm her brother, and I'll take care of her for the rest of my life!"
"No wonder..." In that moment, Natsume Kayo was moved by his words, her expression complicated and full of envy. Her own older brother was related to her by blood, yet he didn't treat her well at all.
By contrast, Natsume Chikage tenderly protected a little sister who wasn't related to him at all, terrified that she might suffer even the slightest hurt.
"Ruri... is really lucky to have a 'brother' like you."
Knowing how serious this was, Natsume Chikage said with utter sincerity, "Kayo, I hope none of you will tell anyone that I'm not Ruri's biological brother. Could you do that?"
"That's no problem on my