Volume 1 Chapter 3 : "One Truth Buried Beneath The Lies"

1st black and white illustration: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1GXd8mBRZppFBueMZ3XE_TzIL9pUQSVDt/view?usp=drivesdk

2nd black and white illustration: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1GYW6NfFFCreASVUqzoBg-6c5pbenj1Di/view?usp=drivesdk

3rd black and white illustration: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1G_FQ4JCIsMDmJUqygKep3LcbMKTVruEY/view?usp=drivesdk

“Sometimes, We Fall for the One We Shouldn't.”

“Well, sometimes in life… we fall in love with the one we never should.”

That’s how it was with my stepsister, Miyo Soda—

A girl who was madly in love with me.

Her stepbrother.

Miyo and I were about the same age—15.

Back when she was just a child, around three or four, she had no idea what love even meant.

But when her mother divorced because of her father's affair, Miyo began to understand the messy things that made up this world—marriage, betrayal, and heartbreak.

That’s when it all started.

The night before our parents' wedding, she looked up at the stars and made a quiet promise to herself.

"I won’t be like them. I won’t fall in love, get married, have a baby… and then throw it all away like trash."

But fate doesn’t care about promises.

A Day Before the Wedding

"Hey Miyo," her mother said gently, "From tomorrow, we’ll be living in your new father’s house, okay? He has a son your age. Don’t do anything rude, alright?"

"Okay, Mom," Miyo answered with a smile. "Your sweet daughter will do whatever you say..."

But behind that smile, Miyo’s thoughts were different.

“I don’t give a damn about them. Ever since I figured out how cruel this world is, I stopped showing anyone my real feelings.”

They arrived at the house. The doorbell rang.

Ding-dong.

"Coming!" a voice called out.

I opened the door.

"Miyo's mother said hi to me."

“Hey… do you remember me?” I asked.

Miyo’s mother smiled. “Yes. And this is my cute Miyo.”

"Well, thank you for stopping by, Dad."

"No, it was nothing. And where is your dad?"

"Ah, I see. Please, come in. Dad's in his room."

I looked at Miyo. She looked at me.

Something sparked.

"Miyo," I said, "do you want to play something?"

"U-uhm… okay."

We went into my room. I showed her my games. As we played, we made a deal.

"If I win," Miyo said, "you have to do whatever I say."

I shrugged. “Sure. You’re kind of cute, you know.”

Her cheeks turned red. “W-What?! C-Cute…?”

After winning, she made a request.

“Can I kiss you… on the cheek?”

I nodded. “Yeah. You won, after all.”

She kissed me on the cheek, and as her lips brushed my skin, her heart stopped for a moment.

This is what love feels like… isn’t it?

Then I won the next game.

“Now it’s my turn,” I said, grinning. “What do you want?”

She leaned in to receive the same kiss I gave her, but just as I aimed for her cheek, she turned—slightly, accidentally—

And our lips touched.

We froze.

"M-Miyo! I-It was an accident—your face moved!" I stuttered.

"I-I… I need to go to the bathroom!" she panicked, running off.

I showed her the way, and as she entered, I stood outside, stunned.

Inside the bathroom, Miyo’s heart was racing.

“He kissed me… on the lips. Was that… fate?

A proposal? What do I do now…?”

The next day, our parents got married. We became a family of four. And from that night on, Miyo changed.

Every night, she locked herself in her room.

She began to imagine that kiss again and again.

Her feelings for me spiraled out of control.

One day, everything changed.

The Day Fate Shifted

That night, I heard noises from Miyo’s room. I thought someone had broken in through the window. I rushed to her door.

"Miyo, are you okay?"

The door opened.

"S-Soda?! W-What are you doing here?!"

"I thought someone was in your room. I heard you whispering my name."

Miyo froze. Her face turned pale.

He heard me… He saw me like this…

What if he tells our parents? What if they separate us?

In that panic, Miyo did something that would change our lives forever.

She ran to Father and cried out,

“He touched me! He tried to harass me!”

“What are you saying?! I never—!” I tried to defend myself.

But the damage was done.

Her father believed her.

And just like that…

I was kicked out of my own home.

Miyo sat silently in her room that night. She whispered to herself:

“It’s better this way. When I grow up, I’ll support him, and he’ll fall in love with me… just like in that manga.”

But years passed.

I was gone.

And someone else stood in her way—Yui Omari.

Miyo had always known Yui’s intentions.

They went to the same school. Yui wanted my money, my property—everything.

One day, Miyo confronted her parents.

“Yui’s lying. She said she’d make you accept Soda, then take everything. She plans to kill him. I’m begging you… don’t let her near him.”

Her parents agreed. Yui was banned from the house.

Miyo waited for her moment—

To get rid of Yui…

And win me back.

But fate had other plans.

One rainy day, Miyo watched from afar as I ran out of Yui’s house, soaked in tears.

She felt a strange mix of pain and hope.

“He’s finally left her… now is my chance.”

But then…

I disappeared.

She didn’t know that I had met a mysterious girl in the park.

She didn’t know that I had brought her home.

And just like that—

Her plan collapsed.

“Huh… so Soda’s moved on. I should be happy, right?”

“But… I’m not.”

“I’m furious.”

“I, Yui Omari, took my revenge. And now… i will broke your heart completely.”

— Chapter 3: End

Author’s Note – Banri Tada:

Thank you so much for reading Volume 1, Chapter 3 of Days With a Gal Who Was Living With Me.

What did you think of Miyo’s twisted love and her irreversible mistake? Let me know your thoughts in the comments!

Chapter 4 releases next Sunday. Stay tuned.