Going far away. Sachiās words were the start of our date, but I didnāt expect her to mean exactly what she said.
It was a little after 10 oāclock. Sachi and I were riding the train together on a journey with no destination in mind.
āWhere shall we go today?ā
āWhere are we goingā¦ā
It gives a sense of randomness, but Iāve noticed that itās not really that. Her steps are too sure and clear for the purpose of just wandering around. I mean, all my suggestions have been rejected, so I guess Sachi has a definite destination in mind.
āFufu, isnāt this fun?ā
āā¦Fun?ā
Sachi probably knows that sheās been exposed. The fact that she is acting this way means that she is genuinely enjoying this exchange.
Iām going to go with Sachiās idea here. Itās not going to be a bad thing, Iām sure.
Besides, how could I not be excited about an outing like this?
āUwa! A nice inn in a place like this!ā
āā¦ This is impossible.ā
The train ride took two hours. And that was with an express train, which we rarely take, in between. It was obviously a planned trip, and there was no way I was going to be fooled by such an act.
āIāve made up my mind! Letās stay here today!ā
ā We donāt have the money to stay in such a nice place though?ā
It was an expensive inn that I could see. I had never expected to come to a place like this in the first place, so my wallet wasnāt very well-stocked. Besides, this was a tourist spot. Because when you get off the train, you are at the beach. It wasnāt even summer vacation, but the place was full of stalls. It was not the kind of place you come to on a whim.
āItās all right! Iām sure there are good people who will give to the poor folks!ā
āThereās no way there isā¦. Oh, wait, Sachi!?ā
Sachi, oblivious to my worries, pulls me by the hand and enters the ryokan.
āSa-chan! Iāve been waiting for you!ā
āThanks for waiting, Saori! And thank you for today~ā
We were greeted by a girl who looked somewhat familiarā¦
āSaoriā¦ Is that you by any chance, Yamashiro-san?ā
She smiled as she showed a quick salute, and seemed much more mature than I last remembered seeing her.
She, who calls Sachi Sa-chan, has been Sachiās friend since kindergarten. Sachi and her and I had played together several times when we were still in elementary school.
After that, I donāt know what happened. I think she came over to my house a few times, but I never came out of my room.
āWhy are you here, Yamashiro-san?ā
āJust like the old days, Saori! Ask Sa-chan how it happened! Iāll show you your room, not here for now!ā
I notice that her frank words and actions contain a certain amount of concern. Could it be that she isā¦?
āIāve heard a lot about whatās going on from Sa-chan. Iām more of a consultant, or something like that anyway, I guess?ā
āThatās kind ofā¦ Thank you.ā
While walking down the wooden corridor, Saori overheard me and said something like that. It seems that she knows a lot about the situation in our house.
āWell, anyway, Iām glad to hear that Onii-san is doing well.ā
āWhat are you two talking about? In case youāre wondering, I donāt want you to leave me alone either!ā
Sachiās cheeks puffed up and we both laughed. It kind of reminds me of the old days. I really miss the days when the three of us played together like this.
āIāll take you to your room here, okay? Then, take your time~.ā
āSee you later, Saori.ā
Saori showed us to our room, gave us a brief explanation, and then left. I would have liked her to explain more about the situation.
āSo whatās this all about? I mean, you didnāt tell me you were staying overnight.ā
āWell, letās see. Iāll start by telling you where we areā¦ā
According to her, this is an inn that Saoriās uncle is opening this summer. This is what is called a pre-opening.
The truth is, there was someone staying in this room, but that person has been sick since the day before yesterday.
It was only this morning that it was confirmed that this room would be available. Sachi had heard about this last night and had been invited to stay with us if a room became available.
āThey have a kind of accommodation plan for young people, and they want me to tell them what I think of it.ā
I see. Sachi and Saori are still good friends, and I understand that she was chosen for the job. But Iām not sure.
āYou should have told me yesterday. I mean, what are you going to do tomorrowā¦ā
āYou donāt have a part-time, right? I heard from Shion-chan that youāre free this Saturday and Sunday.ā
Who is Shionā¦ Does she mean Sakakibara? When did the two of them make contact? I mean, theyā ve never met beforeā¦?
āBesides, Onii-chan, lately youāve been letting me know in advance when you have something to do. This time it was sudden, forgive me? okay?ā
Iām not mad at you?
Besides, I was quite fascinated by the information on the table about the open-air bath with a view of the sea. It was an opportunity I had to take advantage of. It would be a loss if I did not enjoy it.
Ah, butā¦
āā¦ I didnāt bring any underwear.
āOf course I have it.ā
My sister quickly pulls out my underwear from her backpack.
ā¦ I am impressed.
[Sachi PoV]
I thought that it was too sudden, but I know that Onii-chan would have had a lot of ideas if I hadnāt been so forceful. It is true that Saoriās invitation was sudden, but I thought I would surprise him anyway.
It was indeed a sightseeing spot. At lunchtime, there were many crowds on the main street.
I was walking with Onii-chan, looking at the various souvenir shops lined up along the seaside.
āā¦Eiiā
There are many people. It would be a disaster if we got separated. I was a little embarrassed to hold his handā¦ so I took Onii-chanās arm and held itā¦. I feel like Iām doing something more embarrassing than him, but I donāt care anymore, itās too late.
āUhmā¦Sachi?ā
Onii-chan makes a troubled face and looks into my face as if he is trying to find out my intentions. That kind of look makes me want to be meaner to him.
āWhat is it?ā
I blurted out, pretending not to understand anything. Of course, Onii-chan could hear all that I was saying, but perhaps he gave up on my attitude and accepted my selfishness.
This is selfishness. A monopoly I was allowed.
āItās fun, isnāt it?ā
āYeah, itās something.ā
I havenāt done anything yet, but I can still think itās fun. No doubt there will be more fun times ahead.
We walked slowly, gazing at the sea. We had lunch on the way, and when we were satisfied for the time being, we returned to the inn.
I told Saori, who greeted me, what time dinner would be served, and we decided to relax in the hot spring until then.
I parted from Onii-chan and headed to the bathhouse by myself. I met up with Saori, who was waiting for me on the way, and we took a bath together.
āSa-chan, how was your day?ā
āIt was great fun, thanks to you.ā
I answer Saoriās question while looking out at the ocean in the open-air bath. The pleasant breeze soothes me as we talk about what we did today.
ā-But somewhere inside of me, my heart is rebelling against it.
āSa-chan, is there something you are worried about?ā
I was surprised by Saoriās question.
āā¦ Do I look like I am?ā
āYes, I see it. It feels likeā¦ Impatient?ā
I donāt know what on earth Saori is thinking when she says that. An expression? A gesture? Or a hunch? In any case, Saori, who I have known for a long time, is saying it. I must be somehow different from usual.
And I was aware of it. She was right, I was in a hurry.
I felt that Onii-chan was already an adult.
If I were in his shoes, would I have been able to forgive myself?
Probably not. I would probably not be able to forgive my sister for doing all those things just because she was a relative of mine.
I would never actually be in that position, so this is just a hypothetical. Maybe I could forgive myself with a generous heart, just like Onii-chan.
āI know that Onii-chan is going to leave home someday.ā
That meant an inevitable goodbye in the sense that regardless of the family environment, one day he would become independent.
āI felt lonely when I thought about it, and more importantly, I knew I didnāt have much time left.ā
A family of 4 again. My wish was terribly selfish. [TL: I donāt know why 4]
What if Onii-chan chose to live on his own to attend college? There is nothing strange about that. He has been able to do it before. For Onii-chan, it is a realistic option.
I must not destroy his choice because of my selfishness. It is an inviolable territory that must never be violated.
Until now, living alone was a choice that Onii-chan was forced to make. But from now on, it is different. He must willingly make this choice for the sake of his future.
āSa-chan, you are a very good sisterā
āā¦.Thatās not true. Iām always causing trouble for Onii-chanā
He really is a kind Onii-chan. Thatās why I am allowed to be spoiled by him. Itās not me who is amazing. It is Onii-chan who allows me to do so.
āYou love your brother, right?ā
āā¦Yes. Itās a matter of course.ā
Because heās my Onii-chan Because he was my Onii-chan.
āI donāt get along with my brother at all.ā
āIs that so? Is that so?ā
āThatās right! Heās always in the way when Iām at home, and heās weirdly annoying and kind of creepy, and I always wonder if heāll get a job soon and leave home.ā
But you know, Saori continued.
āBut, you know, weāre siblings. Words canāt describe it, but thereās still something special there.ā
Siblings, even if they are not close. Itās a very nice feeling.
āEven if we donāt get along with each other, we are still a family. Thatās why Sa-chan will be fine. Because heās such a good big brother, right?ā
āYeahā¦ Iām sure youāre rightā¦!ā
āThatās right. So donāt be so uptight. You should try to spoil him as much as you can once in a while. I think itās just right to be selfish and annoy him a little.ā
āā¦Yes. Thank you, Saori.ā
āYouāre welcomeā
Saori then gets out of the hot water. Perhaps it was because she mentioned her own brother, but her ears seemed to be a little tinted with vermilion, but letās just say it was because of this wonderful hot spring.