Author's note:
This chapter recounts events from Citrus manga, Chapter 01, with Mei as a Narrator.
If you're reading this chapter after March 31st, 2018. This is an edited version. I would like to thank u/astro_phoenix from Reddit for their excellent work.
The edit fixes various grammar mistakes, some tenses, and two facts I got wrong: Ume's profession and Mei's owning a cellphone. I also made a change in formatting to unify it across the chapters
I never thought I'd leave this house.
While being always empty and silent, it was the house my father kept sending letters to. There has been no news about him since he left us, almost five years ago. We knew he was still alive since he kept sending me letters to his house address. This is one of the reasons why I kept living there instead of with my grandfather. Even though I never open his letters, it was the last channel of communication I had with him.
Yet, here I am leaving.
My father has remarried and requested that I go live with his new wife and her daughter. The news has reached me through Grandfather. He said they didn't hold a reception. This complicated things for grandfather, who kept appearances by telling shareholders that father was coping with the divorce and that he was exploring new horizons for expanding the Aihara Academy. The harsh truth is that father ran away. He asked me to go with him. I refused, hoping he would stay, but he went away anyway. Now that he got remarried, I have no choice but to keep appearances as well and go live with his new wife. Grandfather was against it, but I convinced it was the best course of action.
A new student by the name of Aihara Yuzuko was admitted to transferring in the fall. My position as Student Council President doesn't allow me to access her file. I wish I could know father's stepdaughter's face beforehand, but I will meet her soon enough. She was put in the same class as me. According to grandfather, father's wife was a construction engineer at the Obayashi Group. Grandfather run a background check on her. He found out that she failed one semester at the University. This made him fume. He didn't trust academic underachievers. Furthermore, the University went to wasn't one of the most respected. For him, it was a small consolation that the apartment they all moved in was on the wealthy part of town and close to our school. It was probably paid for by father.
On the morning of the first day of the fall semester, I noticed Maruta-senpai was having trouble with a student. The student in question was dressed sloppily and had bleached hair. A delinquent? She seemed to ask to be overlooked.
Delinquent: Besides, it's not like dressing up nicely will affect my studies badly!
Does she call THAT dressing up nicely?
Me: But it will.
Maruta-senpai: Stu... Student Council President?
Knowing Maruta-senpai, she probably wanted to let her off with a warning.
Me: Living by the rules of the school prepares you for society. We are all under the same conditions. So if you want to attend this school, you will abide by the school regulations!
The delinquent advances towards me and leans forward in a daring manner. This is a camouflage for hiding her phone in her back pocket.
Delinquent: Haven't you got things mixed up? You say we're under the same conditions, but I didn't know about the rules 'cause I've just moved here. The conditions aren't the same. Am I right, Miss Student Council President?
She gives me a contemptuous look. Students gathered around us. They were probably curious as to how the First-year Student Council president would handle this situation. She needs to be taught a lesson, otherwise, my authority will be undermined.
Delinquent: Whatcha got? Cat got your...
I lean forward and hug her... I slide my hand along her spine, reach into her back pocket and grab her phone. She trembled in my embrace.
Delinquent: ... tongue? Huh?! Wait...?!
Me: Tomorrow, you will be following the rules. Got it?
I think she learned her lesson. She has collapsed behind me. No mental fortitude, I see... She made me lose precious time. Besides my duties, I had to meet father's stepdaughter. Not to mention Amemiya-sensei always calling me after classes...
Father's stepdaughter is the delinquent I got acquainted with earlier. I abandoned the idea of introducing myself and getting along with her. I have to be harder on her. Whether I want it or not, she is an Aihara now and has to behave as an Aihara.
As per usual Amemiya-sensei called me. These calls became an annoyance I have to deal with every day I am at school. He pinned me against the wall and started kissing me. He pulled away for a second and started kissing me again without letting me catch my breath. In that brief respite, I heard a rustle in the bush. I open my eye. Father's stepdaughter is watching us. I look her in the eye. She looks surprised and flustered more than anything. Is it the first time she has seen people kissing? Upon realizing I saw her, she jumped away, shrieking as if she was the being caught. Her shriek cut this unpleasant session short. I suppose I should be grateful to her. She doesn't seem to know the rules. I doubt she would report us.
After I separated from Amemiya-sensei, I went and grabbed the overnight bag I prepared beforehand. The rest of my luggage will be posted to me at my father's new apartment. It was close to our school. Perhaps he wanted me to walk to school together with his stepdaughter. A shame any hope of getting along was destroyed this morning. She seems weak-willed. I may be able to get her to submit to my will... If she tries to use the fact that she caught me with Amemiya-sensei, I will find a way to deal with her. For my father's wife, I will just tell her he is my fiance.
My idiot step sister arrived before me and left the door open. I knock and enter. She and a woman, who I assume to be my stepmother, were in the middle of a conversation.
Stepmother: .. you'll have a little sister!
Me: I'm home.
Stepsister: Huh?! Whaaaa?! Why are YOU here?
Stepmother: Oh, are you two already acquainted.
Me: Nice to meet you. I am Aihara Shou's daughter, Aihara Mei. I will be in your care, mother.
Stepmother: You don't have to be so formal. We're family now. Yuzu, get along with her.
Stepsister: No! You're MY mom!
And he's MY dad, so shut up, you idiot!
At the dinner table, "Yuzu" was completely speechless. My stepmother's name is Ume. She seemed genuinely pleased to have me. If that is indeed the case, then I am grateful. Apparently, Yuzu didn't know I was coming. I could play this to my advantage... If she decides to play rough, I will put her in her place quickly.
Stepmother: Yuzu's birthday is earlier so she's the Onee-san.
I will NEVER call her that.
I had to share a room with her. It was spacious enough for two people. Two futons were placed side-by-side in the middle of boxes. It seems they just moved in themselves. Yuzu went to take a bath first. I busied myself while waiting for her with a book. The door opened. Obviously, it was her.
Yuzu: The bath is ready.
I pay her no mind. She stands up in front of me blocking the light.
Yuzu: A lot has happened today. It must be hard for you to talk about it...
What is she talking about? Is she pretending to be the bigger person?
Yuzu: Now that we're stepsisters, let's get along... Even if we don't mean to...
She extends her hand to me, asking for a handshake. I don't know what she's plotting but I won't give in. She obviously wants me to lower my guard. I will get her to lay down her cards right here, right now. I ignore her and moved away to prepare my things before going to the bath.
Yuzu: Say, about today... Weren't you kissing the teacher?
That was easy. I pretend to check my briefcase. I want to hear what she's got to say.
Yuzu: Is it really alright for the Student Council President to do that?
Blackmail? Please! It's her word against mine. Who are they gonna believe? The Student Council President, or a girl who broke ten rules on her first day? Doesn't she realize that?
Yuzu: Or is it the thrill of being caught?
Seriously?
Yuzu: Could that have been your first kiss?
... She must never have...
Yuzu: Kissing should be more like... Reassuring each other's feelings, you know. Hm?
She definitely has never been kissed. Feelings? I'll show you, sister darling!
I pushed her down and pinned her with a deep kiss on the mouth. I moved my tongue inside her mouth as she struggled to breath and break away. As I disengaged, a string of saliva formed between our lips.
It was surprisingly pleasant.
Me: That's what kissing is.
No feelings or anything. Hoping for such a thing is setting yourself up for disappointment.
I went to the bath without looking back, slamming the door behind me. I felt so hot. I took a cold shower to calm down, then got into the bath. I relaxed for a minute, then it hit me! I gave her another weapon to strike me with. What if she tells her mother and my father! It's my word against hers still, but I have no credibility advantage in this case...
When I went back to the room, she was coiled up in a fetal position, hugging a pillow and obviously awake. Was she still shocked? She doesn't put up much of a fight, does she?
