「Fumu, fumu… I see. So you got embarrassed and ran away from the scene.」
「I-I didn’t exactly run away…」
「Come on, why don’t you stop deceiving your own feelings?」
My sister was smiling as she looked at the orange-tinted windshield.
〇
「Mmm~? Welcome back. What’s up? Why are you running?」
Panting heavily, I ran towards the car, expecting to see Matsuda-san, the driver, but it was Onee-chan who greeted me.
I had originally arranged for a pickup, so I was just killing time until it arrived, talking with that guy I accidentally met at the entrance.
At first, I thought about discussing it another day, but once we started talking, I couldn’t stop, and there were still many things I wanted to say and ask.
However, as the conversation progressed, the truth gradually came out, and eventually, his words made my face feel so hot that I couldn’t stay there any longer, so I ran away.
I thought Matsuda-san would be waiting in the parking lot, but it was Onee-chan who peeked out from the driver’s seat.
It’s rare for her to take the wheel herself.
Although she had a license, she always let Matsuda-san drive because she said it was a hassle, so I was a bit surprised to see her driving.
Apparently, she had to drive herself because Matsuda-san was with my father today, and she really wanted to come see my sports festival.
「It would be sad if no family came to watch you the sports festival, right?」
She said with a smile, but I think that’s only true for middle schoolers… no, elementary schoolers.
But I was unconsciously happy that she cared so much about me, and I smiled without realizing it.
「Well, get in for now.」
「O-Okay…」
I sit in the passenger seat, where I don’t usually sit, as she urges me.
The view from the car window was different from usual, which felt strange, but the car started moving.
「…Did you have fun today??」
As the scenery outside the car window changed slowly, Onee-chan asked.
Perhaps because she knew I had complained about the sports festival before. She glanced at me sideways.
「W-Well… somewhat.」
I hesitate to answer honestly, feeling strangely embarrassed, but this is a clear affirmation.
Maybe she didn’t expect me to answer positively, but I thought I saw her eyes behind the sunglasses waver a bit.
「Hee… surprising. You hated it so much before, is it because Taa-kun was there?」
「N-Not really?? That’s not why!」
Onee-chan gives a devilish smile.
She’s definitely saying this for fun.
I knew this from years of experience.
Before I knew it, I, who would usually handle it calmly, was getting worked up.
Why… this is like totally obvious!
As expected, or perhaps I should say, as she saw right through me, Onee-chan “I see, I see… nihihi” concluded on her own.
「Just stop it already…」
Onee-chan always teases me, but this topic is bad for my heart.
Because, after what happened earlier, I’m even more conscious of it.
「It’s not my fault if you’re so easy to read, Michika-chan. When you react so cutely, I can’t help but want to tease you.」
「There’s really nothing going on…」
「Hee~ Is that so~」
She’s finding it even more amusing.
This is totally counterproductive.
Thinking this couldn’t go on, I tried to subtly change the subject.
「Were you watching from the morning?」
「No? I came in the afternoon. After all, all of Michika-chan’s events were in the afternoon, right?」
「H-How do you know that? I don’t think I told you…」
「I asked Taa-kun.」
「I-I see…」
Seeing Onee-chan answer so nonchalantly, I clenched my fists lightly.
That guy… why is he telling Onee-chan about my events…
I didn’t tell anyone because I was embarrassed to be seen.
「I watched the borrowing race too. You were holding hands with Taa-kun~~」
「That was! Because of the theme, we had no choice!」
「Fuun, what kind of theme was it…?」
「T-That’s… well…」
「Well…?」
「I-I don’t want to say after all.」
「Hee…」
「I-It was a perfectly innocent one! There were no ulterior motives!!」
「I didn’t say anything about it being not innocent or having ulterior motives though…?」
「Uuu…」
What should I do, Onee-chan’s smirk won’t stop.
Geez… I tried so hard to change the subject, but now it seems like this topic will never end.
I-I have to do something…
It was when I was desperately trying to think.
「Ah, by the way, speaking of the borrowing race, Taa-kun was worried about Michika-chan, you know?」
「Eh? That guy?」
Wait? Why would he? About me? Worried?
No way, no way, there’s nothing in the borrowing race to be worried about.
The injury story is from today, so it’s unrelated. That guy… what did he tell Onee-chan?
「Michika-chan, you’re more different at school than I thought.」
「Eh? W-What do you mean?」
「Your behavior at school. At home, you’re lively, a bit cheeky, and cute Michika-chan, but at school, you always use polite language and never lose your smile.」
「T-That’s…」
That guy was talking about such things again without permission…?
「I’m not saying that’s good or bad. My opinion hasn’t changed since I first said it. But you know, Taa-kun doesn’t seem to think well of it.」
「Eh… r-really?」
I thought he was the type who didn’t care much about others.
I thought he was the type who believed that what others did didn’t matter to him and that they could do as they pleased.
He actually said that himself often… so why doesn’t he think well of my behavior at school?
Did I do something that bothered him?
Feeling my chest tighten, I listen to Onee-chan’s words.
「Taa-kun, even though your relationship started as work-related, he said he really respected you at first. He said he wouldn’t have the confidence, ability, or courage to keep pretending in front of so many people like you do…」
「……(He thought of me like that)」
「But as time went on, recently he’s been wondering if it’s not hard for you? He was worried.」
「……He was worried? About me? Really?」
「Why would I lie? He asked me when we talked on the phone before. He said you’ve been busy with the sports festival and other things lately, “Is she okay?” he asked… He probably thought you had a face you only showed to your family…」
He’s never shown such a side before.
But I can’t imagine Onee-chan using his name just to tease me.
Has that guy been thinking about me like that behind the scenes?
I still can’t believe it.
「Is there any meaning in sticking to a character even if it means sacrificing yourself…?」
「Eh…?」
「In the sports festival, during the event selection, she waited for the borrowing race, something the usual her would never do, until the end without choosing her own event… thinking it would be better than making his classmates uncomfortable…. As expected, she complained about the event when she got home, but I couldn’t bring myself to say “You should’ve just quit” …especially because I know how she usually is.」
「……」
「I really respect her self-sacrificing spirit, I could never do it. But I want her to be as natural as she is at home. Even without pretending to be someone else, she’s undoubtedly a capable person, and she’s more than attractive enough.」
──Light Novels──
──Read Here──
「O-Onee-chan?」
「Ah? This is what Taa-kun said on the phone the other day, though.」
Just as I was confused by Onee-chan’s sudden change in tone, the fact that he had said those things hit me.
I see… that guy has been worried about me in his own way all along.
A warm sensation spreads through my heart, as if wrapped in something big and kind.
As I hugged my bag tightly, my smartphone vibrated in the pocket of my gym clothes.
When I took it out to check, it was that guy’s name.
「What? A call?」
「Y-Yeah… seems like it.」
「From who~~?」
When I checked, his name was there.
「I-It’s… doesn’t matter who.」
I hold the smartphone, covering the screen with my hand, and silently tell Onee-chan to be quiet.
After confirming Onee-chan’s “Okay, okay, I got it”, I gently tapped the smartphone.
「H-Hello…?」
「Haah, haah… hello?」
I answer cautiously, and I can hear him slightly out of breath, as if he had been running.
「Why are you out of breath?」
「Why, you ask… it’s because you suddenly ran away. I’ve been searching the area for you. “I’m in a hurry, so I’m leaving!” is all you said, that puts me in a tough spot! We weren’t done talking, you know?」
「T-That’s… I’m sorry…」
My head was so full that I didn’t have the luxury to think about that.
But now that I think about it, I was indeed lacking in words.
「Well, that was all I had to say, so it’s fine, but my sister wants to talk to you, so can I pass the phone to her?」
「Eh? Ah, y-yeah… okay…」
As I said that, I heard a dull sound of him passing the smartphone to Marina-chan, and the next moment, a lovely voice came through.
「Ah, hello? Michika-senpai?」
「Hello, Marina-san? I’m sorry for leaving when you had something to say…」
「No, no! I felt a bit of an ominous atmosphere… so I kept my distance for a bit…」
「Ominous??」
「No, no! It’s nothing! So, Michika-senpai, I forgot to tell you something, if it’s okay with you, would you accept that friendship bracelet?」
「Eh? The friendship bracelet?」
「Yes, I heard the general situation from my brother, if the friendship bracelet I made has been of help to you, I’m happy and since my brother said he would give it to you, I don’t think it’s right to ask for it back.」
「But isn’t this meant for your brother?」
「……No, no, the real one I made for my brother, he’s still wearing it preciously, so I don’t have any particular thoughts about it. And did you know? It’s good to share friendship bracelets with friends and acquaintances.」
「Hee… is that so.」
「I’d be happy if you could continue to use it, including the connection it represents.」
「Okay, I understand… If that’s the case, I’ll take good care of it.」
「Yes, thank you very much! Also, Michika-senpai?」
「Hm? W-What?」
「I like this side of Michika-senpai better, you know?」
With Marina-chan’s words, spoken with a hint of laughter, I finally realized the big mistake I had made.
「U-Um! T-This is…」
「It’s already too late, you know~? Michika-senpai? So this is what it was about when my brother, who never paid attention to the opposite sex, suddenly started talking about Michika-senpai? Ufu! I’m happy to share this secret too.」
Her voice over the phone sounded very satisfied, and it was bouncing with joy.
On my end, I can only sigh at my own carelessness.
「If only my brother goes, it would be tough for Michika-senpai too, so I want to visit next time!」
Marina-chan must be sparkling her eyes as she says this…
Well, I guess it’s okay.
She’s that guy’s sister after all… When I gave my okay, she was very happy.
「Then, I’ll visit when I have some free time!」
Marina-chan said and returned the smartphone to its owner.
「Ahhh, can you hear me?」
「I can hear you.」
「You… finally did it, didn’t you?」
「…S-Shut up, I know that without you telling me!」
「So… how was it?」
「…What do you mean?」
「It’s not so bad being told nothing, right?」
「That’s… because… it’s your sister, right…?」
「Fu… well, maybe so.」
He chuckled over the phone.
「W-What’s so funny!」
「Nothing, really. Thanks for today. Take it easy and rest over the weekend, okay?」
「I-I’ll do that without you telling me.」
「I see, then, see you next week.」
「Y-Yeah… s-see you next week.」
With that response from me, the call ended with a click.
I placed the smartphone, which I had been holding to my ear, gently on my knees and took a deep breath.
「How was it…? You seemed to be having quite a fun time.」
「It wasn’t fun at all… wait, did you hear everything?」
「No? I only heard a very small part, but there aren’t many people who can make Michika-chan react like that, right?」
It seems that no matter what I do, this person will understand everything.
「I-It’s just an ordinary conversation, nothing special happened.」
That’s a lie too. Who talks about friendship bracelets over the phone? It’s not ordinary at all.
「Fumu, fumu… Michika-chan, you ran away because you got embarrassed, didn’t you?」
「I-I didn’t exactly run away…」
It seems she had eavesdropped on a part of the conversation completely.
「Why don’t you stop deceiving yourself already…?」
Onee-chan was smiling as I glanced at her sideways, but her voice also had a tone of admonishment.
「I’m not deceiving myself…」
「I see! Then, is it okay if I go after Taa-kun?」
「W-Why would you!?」
「Well, to be honest, he’s my type. I’ve thought he was cool and cute since the first time I met him~ If Michika-chan doesn’t have any misunderstandings, there’s no problem if I catch him, right??」
「T-That’s…」
I can easily imagine it.
The scene of Onee-chan and that guy getting along well.
They’re probably communicating and getting closer than before, even if it’s just a work relationship, without me knowing.
I knew from the beginning that Onee-chan didn’t dislike that guy, and it’s probably the same for him.
I don’t want that…
「Michika-chan?」
「………W-What?」
「If you really didn’t feel anything for Taa-kun, you wouldn’t make that face, would you…?」
Hearing that, I hurriedly activate the camera on my smartphone.
The face reflected there was one I had never seen before.
「Michika-chan… I’m not saying I’m 100% right, but I think… I’m sure you like him.」
The moment Onee-chan said the word “like”, I felt as if everything I had been desperately trying to deny was crumbling away.
I see… these feelings.
I… after all, I’ve come to like that guy without realizing it.