It was a long time ago...
Or maybe, it was only recently...
Either way, my whole life got turned upside down...
...when I met those girls.
And ever since then, I've been...
Big brother.
Brother!
Big bro!
Dear brother.
Bro-bro!
Brother mine.
Elder brother.
Bro!
Brother darling.
Beloved brother.
Brother dearest!
Mon frère.
Broseph!
Sister Princess
I love you, big brother!
Sister Princess
Big brother...
You're...
I...
Episode 1: How my Sister and I Became Light Novel Authors
What a dream...
Good morning, big brother.
Good morning, Suzuka.
If you're making breakfast,
that means Mom and Dad are working today, right?
You pulled another all-nighter writing your novel, didn't you?
Yeah. Not long till the deadline now.
Your manners are terrible.
I didn't hear you say grace,
and how many times have I told you not to talk with your mouth full?
Not to mention, your uniform's not on straight.
Furthermore...
You're in high school now, so you need to start getting your act together.
My little sister, Nagami Suzuka, is an excellent student with a capital E.
She's the student council president of a prestigious all-girls middle school,
and naturally, she's at the top of her class.
She excels at sports, she's popular, and she's charismatic.
She handles all the housework, too.
Honestly, it'd be easier to list the things she isn't good at.
This goody two-shoes of a sister holds me to her impossibly high standards,
so, of course, she's super strict with me and nitpicks everything.
Your shirt button is about to fall off, too.
I don't have time to fix it right now, so give it to me when you get home.
I'll resew it for you.
Okay, okay, I hear you.
Have you washed your face?
N-No, not yet...
I'll go do that now.
In a typical relationship between a brother and younger sister
the older brother would say things like:
If you keep thinking your college entrance exams are a long way off,
"Sheesh! What am I going to do with you?" while bending to his little sister's whims.
they'll creep up on you before you know it.
The same goes for finding a job.
At the rate you're going, you'll be a slacker when you leave school.
But we're anything but typical.
Hey! Are you even listening to me?!
Yes.
Thanks for the meal.
I'm heading off to school now.
Oh, big brother...
Hm?
Oh, sorry.
Hold on a sec.
It's finally here.
Big brother...
Huh? What is it?
Never mind. See you later.
I'll get going, then.
But, man, Suzuka sure is talented.
Compared to her, I'm...
No, I have something I can pride myself on, too!
Tech Paradise
This month is a little sister special!!
With cover illustrations by popular illustrator, Ahegao Double Peace
Once I make it as a light novel author, I can puff my chest out a little!
Absolute Sword, Passage 9
Onward to the Next Battlefield
O powerful foe, can you hear me? I shall be participating in the upcoming event!
Mail Magazine Light Novel Tube
Info about this Month's New Issues
Shocking new issues are dropping one after another this month! The new series on everyone's lips is a massive hit...
Screening Results for the Ryuusei Bunko New Writer Awards
Dear applicant, we hope you are doing well in your endeavors.
Still, I've been submitting scripts left and right to these new writer contests,
Screening Results for the Ryuusei Bunko New Writer Awards
Dear applicant, we hope you are doing well in your endeavors.
and I still haven't made it on to a shortlist.
I'll read it when I get to class.
Man, Himuro-san's always so pretty. She's pure eye candy.
She's a real cutie. And I can't get enough of her haughty attitude.
Hold up! That guy's gonna try to talk to her!
G-Good morning, Himuro-san.
I thought we could chat for a bit if you wanted—
Morning.
Himuro Mai, huh?
She's a beauty from a rich family...
We happen to be in the same grade in the same school,
but she's not the kind of girl who'll ever be involved in my life.
O-Okay, h-here goes...
Screening Results for the Ryuusei Bunko New Writer Awards
Dear applicant,
We hope you are doing well in your endeavors.
We would like to thank you for your submission to the Ryuusei Bunko New Writer Awards. You'll find the results of the screening process below.
Failed to Make the Shortlist
"Failed," huh?
Again? I didn't make it through screening again?
"It's an easy enough read, but it's littered with cliches."
Evaluation Sheet
"It's an easy enough read, but it's littered with cliches.
"We can't see anything appealing about your female characters."
Evaluation Sheet
"We can't see anything appealing about your female characters."
Evaluation Sheet
"How about writing little sister characters? They're popularity magnets."
Easy for them to say.
Little sister characters, huh?
What's this? You're looking mighty blue, Nagamin.
My guess is, you failed the new writer contest at the screening stage again. Am I right?
You're right. I failed.
They said my female characters weren't appealing enough.
They even told me to write "little sister characters,"
because they're "popularity magnets."
Huh. Little sister characters, you say?
Oh, but you have a drop-dead gorgeous little sister yourself,
so couldn't you use her as your inspiration to create those characters?
S-Suzuka?
There's no way I could use her as inspiration.
Besides, my little sister hates me.
She hates you, does she? Did you do something unforgivable?
Well...
There was that time when...
I haven't done anything to make her hate me.
That pause was awfully suspicious!
A-Anyway, someone with a little sister telling others
that little sisters are sexy-cute is just too creepy.
But you can't make use of the advice they gave you if you think like that, can you?
I-I realize that, but...
Okay, why don't you try imagining your little sister in a sexy pose?
P-Picture Suzuka?
Big brother...
Big brother, you're so naughty.
Hey, big brother... I want you to be my first...
Wh-Wh-What kind of filth are you filling my head with?!
I can't believe I pictured my little sister like that.
Wow, you actually pictured your little sister looking all sexy?
Nagamin, you're such a pervert.
You told me to do it!
More importantly, take a look at this.
Nagamin, you're such a noob.
You can't even fathom the greatness
of Ahegao Double Peace's brutish erotic illustrations.
"Ahegao Double Peace"?
Hey, Esaka-san, don't forget you look like an elementary schooler,
so be careful what you say.
If you don't watch it, you'll get arrested.
What'd you say?!
I'm over 20, so there's no way they'd arrest me!
You're a pretty common character type in light novels yourself, Esaka-san.
I'm not some damn character type!
Oh, is that the time?
I'm buying these and clocking out.
Thanks for your purchase!
Wow, you really love Enryuu Homura's work, don'tcha?
Yeah! I really admire him!
The battle scenes in Enryuu Homura's "Sky Magic Guardian" AKA "Sky MaGa"
where everyone's fighting in midair are killer!
The protagonist's magic spell in the last volume sent shivers up my spine!
Invincible light, that races across the heavens,
heed my command...
...and cleanse the sky's blackness!
Divine Ray!
Oh, and the pen-name "Enryuu Homura" is just so cool.
I was thinking of using it as a base for my own nom de plume in the future.
W-Well, if you'll excuse me...
Good grief.
Hey, you forgot your books!
I'm home.
Welcome home, big brother.
You're late home tonight.
I told you to call me if you're going to be late, didn't I?
Well, sure, if I'm late...
...but I don't think just past six qualifies.
What's more, you bought so much again...
You should be more careful with your money, you know.
Don't worry, these aren't a waste of money.
I will absorb each and every one
of the novels I bought and they'll nourish my ability to write,
so these are necessary expenses.
I'll lend them to you, too, so feel free to read them.
I'm fine. They'll just interfere with my studies.
Oh, right.
You don't like anything geeky, do you?
Well, I don't dislike those things. I just don't understand them.
Really?
If that's the case,
I'll give you my five-hour speech on how great light novels are—
I'm fine, really.
More importantly, please bring me your shirt, so I can resew that button.
But my speech...
Um, big brother...
Hm? What is it?
N-No, it's nothing.
O-Oh, really?
She was trying to tell me something this morning, too.
That reminds me. Today's the day Sumeragi Fantasy announces their new writer results.
Since I failed at the first hurdle,
some incredible works must have won.
Wow, there was an outright winner this time. That's unusual.
New Author Awards First Place
Entry Title
"This is the Tale of a Little Sister Who Loves Her Brother Too Much to Cope"
Comment from the Author
Nice to meet you. I'm Towano Chikai. I'm truly grateful and extremely honored to have won first prize in Sumeragi Fantasy Bunko's New Light Novel Author Awards this year. The judges involved in the reviewing process have my eternal gratitude. I hope I can continue to produce works that bring excitement and entertainment to my readers.
Towano Chikai?
What a strange name.
"This is the Tale of a Little Sister Who Loves Her Brother Too Much to Cope"?
Another title that gets straight to the point.
It doesn't rely on gimmicks, but that just makes its impact even more incredible.
This work makes all other stories about sisters obsolete!
powerful impact
fresh ideas
the unlimited torrent of lovey-dovey-ness
in this overwhelming volume!
The fetishistic atmosphere is well-
It nails everything it should
Once it goes on sale, it'll take the romcom scene by storm!
Wow. There's nothing but praise on here.
I should make a note to go pick it up.
This one's got me hyped up.
New Author Awards First Place
Entry Title
"This is the Tale of a Little Sister Who Loves Her Brother Too Much to Cope"
Comment from the Author
Nice to meet you. I'm Towano Chikai. I'm truly grateful and extremely honored to have won first prize in Sumeragi Fantasy Bunko's New Light Novel Author Awards this year. The judges involved in the reviewing process have my eternal gratitude. I hope I can continue to produce works that bring excitement and entertainment to my readers.
Now, then.
I need to work hard so I can bag first place, too!
Hm?
What's wrong?
Suzuka?
D-Do you need something?
We need to talk.
T-Talk? To me?
Do you see anyone else in here?
W-Well, there could be a beautiful girl in the other world that's connected to my closet...
I have no idea what you're talking about.
Anyway, we need to talk.
Can I come in?
Huh? Into my room?!
Why is that so shocking?
Have you got something in there you don't want me to see?
N-No... n-not really...
I'm not sure I believe you.
Th-There isn't!
Then, excuse the intrusion.
Oh, you tidied up today.
Is it just my imagination or did you sit on my bed without a second thought?
Well, there's only one chair in your room, isn't there?
That's true, but...
Hey, wait. You just said I'd tidied up today.
But you've never been in my room before...
Maybe you misheard me.
No, I know what you sa—
You misheard me, big brother!
W-Well, whatever.
So what on earth can be so bad that you have to come to me for advice?
You've been submitting manuscripts to those new author contests, right?
Y-Yeah...
I have, but what does that have to do with anything?
I... won...
Huh? You what?
I... well... I won first place!
What?!
My Sister, My Writer
Wh-What do you mean?!
You won?! You won the Sumeragi Fantasy contest?!
What kinda joke is this?!
It's not a joke. It's the truth.
S-Seriously?
You've been writing novels?
I wasn't actively writing. I just submitted a novel I happened to write.
A novel you "happened" to write?
You left one of your paperbacks in the living room a while back.
Sumeragi Fantasy
New Light Novel Author Awards
I caught sight of the last page,
which said they were taking manuscript submissions.
Seeking Submissions!
So you submitted the very first manuscript you ever wrote, and won first prize with it?
Yes.
I'd been getting calls from a number I didn't recognize,
Sender: Sumeragi Fantasy Bunko First Editing Department Shinozaki Reika
[Important] Sumeragi Fantasy New Author Awards Notice
Towano Chikai,
Please forgive the suddenness of this correspondence. I am Shinozaki Reika. I'll be your first port of call as your editor at the Sumeragi Fantasy Bunko Editing Department. The title you submitted to the Sumeragi Fantasy Awards: "This is the Tale of a Little Sister Who Loves Her Brother Too Much to Cope," has won first place in the Sumeragi Fantasy Awards. My apologies for notifying you over email, but I wanted to congratulate you on winning as soon as possible. Also, sorry if this seems sudden, but I'd like to discuss this further with you over the phone, so I would be grateful if you could tell me what times are convenient for you. Thank you very much for your cooperation.
so I just ignored them until I got this e-mail last night.
That call is the one I've been fantasizing about since forever!
Getting a call from an unknown number would be shocking, though!
Hey, wait...
You nearly had me fooled!
Huh? What's gotten into you, big brother?
I just looked at the list of titles that won!
S-So you already saw?
You bet I did.
The first-placed novel was:
"This is the Tale of a Little Sister Who Loves Her Brother Too Much to Cope."
There's no way you'd write a story about loving an older brother that much...
Hm? What's this?
"This is the Tale of a Little Sister Who Loves Her Brother Too Much to Cope."
The manuscript... for that novel.
What?!
I-It looks real.
Do you believe me now?
H-Hold on, I'll read a bit of it.
The main character, Ryou, is a multi-talented, handsome young man,
which is unusual for a protagonist, but I get no bad vibes from him.
The heroine – his little sister, Yuuka – is timid and fragile,
but her proactive approach to their relationship leaves a good impression.
"I love you, you know, big brother?"
"The space next to you is a special spot reserved for me."
"This may be embarrassing, but if you're the one looking at me, then... it's fine."
To be honest, it's a romantic comedy without any twists... but it's still interesting!
It's on a whole other level from the novels I've read so far.
Also, this little sister is too cute for words!
How is it?
Well, it's gre—
It's okay, I guess.
I've only read half of it, so I haven't made up my mind yet.
Is that so? But you believe me now, don't you?
Y-Yeah, I do.
Wait, no, no, no!
If you had, that would mean...
"Teehee! My mind goes all happy and blank when Big Brother pats my head."
"I really wish he'd pat me some more!"
...was written by you?
Wh-Wh-Wh-Wh-Wh-Wh-Why are you reading it out loud?!
You have no tact, big brother!
But this one reads...
"The truth is, I love my big brother"—
Please stop reading it out loud already!
Ahem. Pardon me. I lost my composure there.
For the time being, I'll believe that you wrote this.
But, I mean, why?
Why did you write a flirty sibling romance
when it's a theme so far outside your own frame of reference?
B-Because...
Because?
I...
"I...."?
I was possessed!
Huh? Y-You were possessed?
Y-Yes! That's right!
I was possessed!
L-Listen. The fact I was possessed is important, so please remember that!
Otherwise, there's no way I would've written a story about a little sister
who's secretly been in love with her brother for years!
Th-That may be true, but that's not really an explanation.
Are you trying tell me that you think I...
U-Um, that I l-l-love you like the little sister in my novel does?
Is that what you think?!
No...
I hate you, big brother!
No, I don't think that.
That's okay, then.
So what did you want to discuss?
Oh, yes.
Actually, as it stands, there are obstacles in the way of me becoming an author.
Huh? Wh-What obstacles?
There are two issues.
The first is that my school forbids its students from having part-time jobs.
Article 19: Respect each other's human rights and behave properly as a student of this school.
Article 20: Part-time jobs are prohibited.
As the student body president, I can't afford to break the rules.
The second is our parents.
Mother might be fine with it, but Father will most certainly be against it.
He's very strict, after all.
You're right there.
Dad adores you to death.
Those are the issues.
Okay, but what do you want to do, Suzuka?
I...
I want a lot more people to read my creation.
I see.
Then, we can work together to—
No, there's no need for that.
I've already had an idea.
That's what I wanted to talk to you about.
Big brother... Would you be my stand-in?
Huh? Your stand-in?
I want you to claim to be the author in my stead.
Oh, I see...
That would get around the issues with your school and with Dad...
But why me?
W-Well...
Because you're probably already familiar with the industry,
and because there's no one else I can rely on to do this.
You do realize it's my dream to become a light novel author, don't you?
I can't do that with another person's work...
But... you're the only person I can ask to do this for me, big brother!
I can't forsake Suzuka when she's like this.
Fine! I'll be your stand-in if that's what you want!
Big brother!
On one condition! I'll only do it until I win the award on my own.
Oh... Yes!
I'll gladly accept those terms.
Sorry to throw you in at the deep end,
but there's an awards ceremony in a few days, so please be sure to attend.
The awards ceremony is that soon?!
I finally get to be at an awards ceremony...
Excuse me.
You're Towano Chikai, correct?
Oh, y-yes. I... I-I'm Nagami— No, I mean, Towano Chikai.
I'm your editor, Shinozaki Reika. Nice to meet you.
I-It's a pleasure to be working with you.
Hm...
Huh? I-Is she doubting that I am who I say I am?
This may sound a little rude,
but are you still a virgin?
I-I-I'm sorry! You're right! I didn't mean to deceive you!
Huh? A virgin?
I figured as much.
The fact that you're a virgin helps you dream up all those desire-heavy situations.
And yet, you still possess enough talent to make others read about them.
Hm? Why are you bowing?
My dad was very strict about apologizing to anyone who found out I was a virgin.
Wh-What on earth am I even saying?
Oh? What an interesting concept.
I feel like I've caught a glimpse into how a genius like you came to be.
Huh?! She believed that?!
You're an author who has given birth
to a truly wonderful title, so you couldn't have led a normal life.
You're a man of talent who comes about once in a decade — no, once in a century.
I swear on my career as an editor
that I'll bring your work to people all around the world.
Though, truth be told, you're my first charge.
Oh, this woman is nuts.
Pardon me.
Huh?
This is what a woman's breast feels like.
Remember it well.
Wh-Wh-Wh-Wh-Wh-What are you doing?!
It's for your novel.
Knowing what breasts feel like will have a huge impact on your work, won't it?
If you don't mind using mine, you can grope them whenever you like.
There's no need to get so worked up.
I'm prepared to do whatever it takes to make your work better.
Even if you're doing it for the novel...
Is that the time?
The ceremony's about to start, so let's go.
Hey!
Ah, this woman goes at her own pace.
Now then, ladies and gentlemen, please feel free to mingle for a while.
I feel like I'm dying out here...
There you are, Towano Chikai.
This is the woman we've asked to illustrate your work: Ahegao Double Peace.
Nice to you meet you. I'm Ahegao Double Peace. I'll be your illustrator.
Whoa! I-I didn't realize Ahegao Double Peace was a beautiful young woman!
Hearing you call me beautiful makes me so happy, I could orgasm!
"Orgasm"? Wh-What are you saying?!
Your reactions are so cute!
Oh? You're already familiar with Ahegao's work?
I-I know of her because my coworker's a huge fan.
Oh, really?
Your coworker has excellent taste.
Excellent taste, huh?
Shinozaki-kun! A moment of your time?
Yes! I'll be right there, chief.
I'm sorry, Towano.
I need to introduce Ahegao to a few other people,
so you'll have to excuse us.
S-Sure.
See you later, Towano!
I've seen that guy somewhere before...
Guess I'll read the latest winning novel to see what kind of story it is.
I'm home.
Welcome home, and good work, big brother.
How was the awards ceremony?
I managed to survive it somehow.
For now, here's your certificate and the prize.
I'm pooped, so I'm gonna call it a day.
We can discuss the details tomorrow.
Thank you so much, big brother.
The story of my love for my big brother is going to spread worldwide!
That means the whole world will approve of us getting together, doesn't it?!
Th-This is the best thing ever!
This is the perfect chance to become his girlfriend!
Illustration: Nitta Yasunari
Yes, hello! Esaka-san here!
I'm going to go over everyone here!
What are we doing?
First up is Nagamin!
Answer my question!
You're incredible, putting out a work with that legendary sister!
Next Episode
My Little Sister Aims for the Greatest Heights
"Legendary" sister?
See you next week!
There was no point in me being here, was there?!