A stepbrother is essentially a stranger.
And that's perfectly normal, because even if we suddenly become siblings one day,
we have no shared experience living together.
MY LITTLE SISTER AND I ARE IN LOVE
A stepsister is essentially a stranger.
Novels and movies like to indulge
in the idea that because they aren't related by blood,
that they can simply fall in love and have a normal male-female relationship.
But things that happen in fiction and things that happen in real life are very different.
People say that all siblings begin as strangers,
but in the case of step-siblings, they start off as strangers
and stay strangers until the very end.
DAYS WITH MY STEPSISTER
EPISODE 1: I'M HOME WITH A STRANGER
Guess what. I've decided to remarry.
Huh?
She's a girl who worked at a bar my boss took me to.
She took care of me when I was dead drunk.
That sounds like a scam.
Don't worry. Akiko-san isn't like that at all.
You'll see that when you meet her tonight, Yuta.
- Tonight? - Yeah. Ouch!
I'll introduce you to her.
We'll meet up after your work.
Another rash decision.
Are you ready for that?
Hmm?
What's that now?
Too hot!
As long as it makes you happy, I'm fine with it.
I'll just keep doing my usual thing.
Your usual thing won't cut it, though.
You're gonna have a new little sister.
A little sister?
Yeah, a little sister.
Akiko-san's daughter.
Pleased to meet you. I'm Ayase Akiko.
Thanks for coming out. I know you're busy at your job.
Huh? Oh, it's all right.
I'm the son, Asamura Yuta.
Go ahead and introduce yourself.
Nice to meet you.
I'm Ayase Saki.
Huh?
Dad...
Yeah. Saki-chan is actually the same age as you.
She's seventeen this year. Second year in high school.
But your birthday is a week before hers.
I do apologize for the confusion.
Now that she's older, Saki just won't let me take any pictures of her.
Maybe it's just the way I look, but I'm not very photogenic.
But I'm actually pretty relieved.
Huh?
Since we're going to start living together,
I was worried you might be a scary guy.
Oh, I wonder about that.
Truly scary people often look very kind.
I hear you work almost every day to save up for college.
And that you get really good grades.
A lot of criminals are actually quite intelligent.
Hey, before my mom and your dad come out,
there's something I want to talk about.
Something you don't want them to hear?
Yeah. Or more specifically, something I can only say to you.
Did I really earn your trust over such a brief time?
I'm impressed with myself.
That sense of humor, the way you talk, the way you act...
none of those things come off as really intense.
So I thought maybe,
you'd be able to truly understand what I'm about to say.
I don't expect anything from you,
so I don't want you to expect anything from me either.
You really do understand what I mean by that, right?
That's a relief.
I'm totally relieved.
For the first time tonight.
Yeah, me too.
For the first time.
Let's maintain this kind of stance going forward, Ayase-san.
Thank you, Asamura-kun.
Yuta?
Have you seen the spray?
JUNE 7 (SUNDAY) - The one for odors?
It's next to the TV.
You left it there after using it on the curtain yesterday.
Oh, I did? Oh.
Thanks.
Why are you acting so nervous at this point?"
Well, I put off cleaning the bedroom, but once I started I began to worry.
It'd be a real downer if she tells me it stinks.
You're so sensitive.
Hey, when you're my age, this sort of thing is a critical issue!
Yuta!
Yeah.
I brought a few things to say thank you for your hospitality!
Oh.
Um...
You don't need to worry about it.
My mom can never say no, so she bought everything that they recommended to her.
Hold on, Saki.
That makes it sound like I'm a failure as an adult.
But it's true, right?
Hmm, what a lovely citrus scent!
You actually keep things pretty clean.
We've spent the last few days cleaning like—
It's just like Taishi-san told me.
You really are very neat and tidy!
They say that to develop a healthy mind,
you must first develop a healthy environment.
Cleaning to eliminate every last speck of dust is an Asamura family tradition.
Sounds like a kind of ominous family tradition to me.
Taishi-san is such an impressive man!
Yeah, I'm okay. I can do this. Here I go!
Hey! Akiko-san! Saki-chan!
Welcome to our humble home!
F-From now on, let's all live happily under the same roof!
Thank you very much!
It's right over here.
We've prepared a bed and curtains for you,
but weren't sure what colors you like, so we can change them if necessary.
We placed the desk near the window for now.
If you'd like to move it, please let us know.
Thanks.
It's a big room.
Oh, I think it's quite average.
My old place was a worn-out apartment.
One six-tatami room.
I didn't even have my own bedroom.
I see.
So did you both put down futons and sleep in the same room... perhaps?
No. My mom worked at night, so we were living on opposite schedules.
When I slept, I had the place to myself.
Huh.
But I'm sure that was comfortable in its own way.
I apologize that you now have to share a home with two men.
I don't care about that,
but there is one thing.
What might that be?
That.
Why are you talking so polite to me?
Why? Well, that's...
We're the same age, so why can't you loosen up a bit?
It might be exactly because we're the same age.
But I mean, if you're talking to classmates and friends,
isn't it weird to talk that formally all the time?
Maybe from a winner's point of view.
You think so?
I'm not in any position to criticize you,
but if you're just trying to be nice to me,
I don't need that at all.
That's not exactly what I'm...
But this seems like something we should be absolutely clear on, so I'll ask,
would you actually prefer that I drop the formal language with you?
Yeah. To be honest, I think casual talk is a lot more relaxing.
I'm not really someone who deserves that much respect anyway.
Okay.
Then I'll drop the formalities.
Just like that, huh.
It might be tough for me to treat you the same as a close friend,
but I appreciate you being real with me and keeping things simple.
It's easier for me too.
Sure.
That's exactly what I expected.
It's kind of a big help if we can smooth things out this easily.
Smooth things out, huh.
That's a good way of putting it.
When I talked to my friends about this at school, they laughed at me.
"What is that, some kind of contract?"
They wouldn't take me seriously at all.
That must've been tough.
Yeah.
So I cut ties with all but one of them.
Sorry to hear that.
It's okay.
I only cut off people who weren't worth keeping around anyway.
I can't read their minds.
And if they never make any effort to try to tell me,
I can't go tiptoeing around their feelings all the time.
It's a waste of time.
Want some help unloading your luggage?
That's really kind of you.
Oh, wait.
Ayase-san, do you go to Suisei?
Yeah, I do.
Are you surprised that a flashy girl like me goes to prep school?
Uh, no...
Actually I go there too.
Oh.
Sorry about that.
You don't have anything to apologize for.
But at school, I'll do my best to pretend I don't know you.
I don't care.
I'm fine either way.
Then again, it might actually be better for you if we do that, Asamura-kun.
Huh? Do you mean...
Sorry. Um...
Just answer it.
It doesn't bother me if you talk on the phone.
Thank you.
Hello?
Ah, yes. Sure.
Oh, today?
Hey there, my junior coworker.
I noticed that you've been smelling of girl all day long.
Huh?
Did you get a girlfriend or something?
Don't be ridiculous.
But do I really smell?
Yeah, it's really strong.
How much snuggling would it take to pick up that much of an odor?
I think I should be leaving early.
Aww, I didn't mean it! Don't leave me here alone!
I was just kidding anyway.
You told me before, right? About your new little sister.
I figured she must have moved in by now.
And... so? Is she cute?
She's actually... quite beautiful.
Whoo-hoo!
Living with a beautiful woman, huh.
It's the springtime of your life.
Not a thing is going to happen.
Something naughty might happen though, right?
You have a habit of blurting out bad dad jokes.
You might want to fix that.
After going to an all-girls middle school, high school, and college, I can't help it.
What an awful way to slander girls' schools.
But to be honest,
it isn't really the time for me to be entertaining thoughts like that.
Hmm?
It stresses me out.
How are we supposed to act as brother and sister?
Well for you, junior, it's probably best if you just act naturally.
Good evening!
Uh...
I'm home.
Ah... Mm-hmm.
Oh, sorry.
Nobody's really said "I'm home" to me before,
so I wasn't sure how to respond.
You've got a serious look on your face.
Don't worry about it.
It's not like I was treated really badly or anything.
My mom would come home when I was at school to sleep and do housework,
and she'd be at work by the time I got home.
That was just our normal routine.
It seemed like you two get along.
Huh? Oh. Well, we are family.
Today we went shopping for the first time in a long while.
It was pretty fun.
Really?
Yeah.
You haven't taken a bath yet, right?
No.
Who should go first?
The bath is now filling with water.
The water temperature has been changed.
Yeah?
I'm done.
The bath is all yours.
Mm-hmm.
Good night, Ayase-san.
Thank you.
Good night, Asamura-kun.
DAYS WITH MY STEPSISTER
Oh.
Huh?
EPISODE 2: A DEAL AND A FRIED EGG