People say everyone will die someday, but Sota didn’t want anyone to die.
Of course, that’s obvious. Especially if the person who dies is someone close to Sota.
Of course, looking at the situation, there’s no reason to assume Yuka would die.
After all, such a thing hasn’t happened yet. And it’s hard to tell if something like that would even actually happen.
But even so, thinking about how Yuka was keeping her composure with such thoughts, Sota couldn’t just let his guard down.
The reason Sota and his friends gathered here in the first place was because of today, unsure of what might happen.
“……”
It was probably natural for him to wake up in the middle of the night and not be able to sleep.
Sota tried to get up from his spot, but he saw Shii sleeping, clutching his arm tightly.
He could have slept in Yuka’s room or Fukuda’s room, but Shii was sleeping in the living room where Sota was.
It was because she didn’t want to be away from Sota.
Thinking about Shii, who had been worrying all day, made Sota feel only sorry.
There were curtains in the living room, but Sota didn’t bother to close them. Shii didn’t like being in overly dark places. Not to mention that seeing Sota’s state and then hearing that they had to come here had definitely scared Shii even more.
Sota slowly got up from his spot.
Should he step outside to get some fresh air?
Just as Sota was thinking that—
“…… Older Brother?”
Someone was holding his sleeve.
It was Shii, still lying under the blanket.
“…… Shii.”
“Where are you going?”
From the way she rubbed her eyes as she woke up, it seemed she hadn’t fallen asleep to begin with. It looked like she woke up sensing Sota was getting up.
With a wry smile at Shii, who was speaking in a sleepy voice as she sat up, Sota replied.
“You’re sleeping, why?”
“……”
Shii puffed up her cheeks silently at Sota’s words, and Sota couldn’t really encourage her to go back to sleep.
Shii had a memory of almost dying once. She almost died while trying to help someone asking for help.
Seeing a person’s form swell up and turn into a yōkai wasn’t a particularly pleasant memory.
For Shii, who had truly almost been ‘eaten’ by a monster at that time, it must have been an unforgettable experience.
“I’m sorry.”
“…… What could Older Brother possibly be sorry for?”
When Sota honestly apologized, Shii’s voice softened a bit. It was as if she thought she was being too much.
As Sota got up from his spot, Shii also stood up. Both of them were wearing pajamas. Despite coming all the way here with Yuka, Shii had meticulously packed all Sota’s clothes, underwear, and necessary items like a toothbrush.
So perfect that it felt a little burdensome for Sota to have such a little sister.
But still, Sota couldn’t refuse Shii’s words.
“Hey, how about we go out for a bit of fresh air together?”
Shii quietly nodded at Sota’s words.
The two stepped outside through the large window in the living room for a moment.
The oppressive heat of summer nights had passed. It wasn’t cold enough to call it chilly, but it wasn’t hot either.
The two sat on the tatami connected to the living room, gazing briefly at the sky.
“…… Today was scary.”
After a while of silence, Shii opened up and brought that topic up.
Sota recalled that since Shii arrived, he hadn’t had any time alone with her. If there was something she wanted to talk about, it was natural that she would want to talk about it now.
“I’m sorry.”
Sota apologized once more.
While Shii likely didn’t want Sota’s apology and didn’t intend to make him feel guilty, it was still wrong to leave her worrying without any contact.
Shii shook her head again.
“Actually, if you hadn’t been with me, Older Brother… If you had called the other seniors, you might have known.”
“Ah.”
It was only after hearing Shii’s words that Sota recalled that fact.
While Shii didn’t have an especially close relationship with Sota’s friends, they weren’t completely out of touch. They at least exchanged phone numbers.
That’s how Yuka was able to pick up Shii.
“But it was scary.”
“What was scary?”
“……”
At Sota’s question, Shii lowered her head.
She clasped her hands together and fidgeted with her fingers, looking as if she was unsure whether it was alright to say something like this.
“Tell me. If there’s something I need to fix, I need to fix it.”
“No, there’s no need for Older Brother to force himself to fix anything…”
However, Shii’s words were cut off mid-sentence.
After some time of contemplation, it seemed Shii finally gathered her thoughts, letting out a small “Mm” and nodding her head, before looking up at Sota.
“I was scared. That Older Brother might be too busy enjoying himself with someone I know.”
“Eh?”
For a moment, Sota tilted his head, not quite understanding Shii’s words.
“I was scared if you were too busy on a date with Yuka, or maybe hanging out with Nanami, that you wouldn’t pick up my call.”
“That is…”
“I know I’m Older Brother’s little sister. I understand that someday we’ll surely be apart. No matter how precious family is, we can’t stay together forever. Especially because we’re family.”
“……”
Sota would eventually start his own family too. The same would go for Shii.
Of course, it was possible they wouldn’t get married. But even so, once they became adults, siblings typically ended up apart. In fact, if they stayed together for life, it would be considered unusual.
“However, still, still…”
Tears welled up in Shii’s eyes.
“Still… It scared me that you might find someone more precious than me. So… I couldn’t even bring myself to confirm.”
I see.
Sota closed his eyes.
During the last summer vacation, Sota built up quite a few memories. Of course, not all of them were pleasant, but he was able to enjoy ‘youth’ much more than last year.
It wasn’t intentional, but he had enjoyed the festival alone with Yuka. He had also grown closer to Nanami.
As for Fukuda and Kurosawa… well, there was still some distance between them, but Sota thought of them as friends.
He didn’t have a girlfriend yet. But to an outside observer, it could definitely be misunderstood.
Some of his classmates were already teasing Sota and Yuka’s relationship, while others genuinely felt jealous.
The same went for his relationship with Nanami, as some friends who would come to see Sota always gossiped about him because of the pretty girl visiting him from another class.
What about Shii? Surely, the kids nearby must have the same thoughts. If she saw him playing around with them, and this time not receiving any contact from him…
“……”
Shii had an unfortunate past. Despite being his real sister, Sota’s mother had cruelly abandoned her.
So it was only natural for her to feel that fear of being abandoned again.
“Shii.”
With his thoughts organized, Sota opened his mouth.
“I’m sorry. I never thought you would feel that way.”
“No, Older Brother…”
“And Shii. You’re my one and only little sister. Plus, right now, you’re also the only family I have.”
Both of their parents were alive, but neither of them played the role of a father or mother.
While the father at least provided for the bare minimum, it wasn’t because he loved his children, but rather because being divorced was already shameful to him, and he didn’t want to pile on the burden of child abuse too.
Maybe someday their relationship might improve a little. But at least for now, both Shii and Sota were each other’s only family.
“Thus, that bond of family will never be severed, no matter how much time passes.”
Sota said with a smile.
“If you ever have something difficult, come find me. We can meet up whenever I have time. It will be easier to get together if we’re living nearby.”
“Older Brother…”
Shii leaned against Sota’s side.
Sota wrapped his arms around Shii’s shoulders.
“So, there’s no need to worry too much. There’s nothing to be afraid of. There’s no way I think of Shii as unimportant.”
“……”
Shii wrapped her arms around Sota’s waist and hugged him tightly.
It seemed she felt somewhat relieved.
And Sota felt the same way.
The two sat there for a while, looking up at the sky—
Thump.
Sota heard the sound of footsteps approaching.
At first, he thought maybe someone else was waking up, but it didn’t seem that way.
Because right after, he heard a shout.
“Hey, Kurosawa!”
It was Yuka’s father’s voice.
And then there was a scream.
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