Prologue
A Night Thinking of Shimizu-san
“Are you still awake, Onii-chan?”
I heard the voice of my younger sister, Teruno, along with a knock at the door.
“I’m still up. What’s wrong?”
“Can I co into your room and talk?”
“Sure, but does it have to be tonight?”
I had co ho late because of stargazing, and even after getting back, there had been a bit of a commotion.
It was already past eleven o’clock.
“There are things I want to tell you and ask you about tonight…”
If Teruno is saying that, I want to hear her out. I decided to let Teruno into my room.
“I can’t talk for long since we have school tomorrow, but if that’s okay, then co in.”
“Thank you, Onii-chan.”
Teruno looked relieved as she entered the room.
“What is it that you want to tell and ask ?”
“Can I start with what I want to tell?”
“Sure.”
“Onii-chan… I’m sorry about today.”
As she said this, Teruno bowed her head.
“Teruno…”
“I’m sorry for saying whatever I wanted and running away after going all the way to the school… I’m sorry for ruining the fun everyone was having…”
Teruno looked downcast as she raised her head.
Maybe she was still feeling the effects of being scolded by mom and dad when she got ho.
“Terune, you’ve already reflected enough. I heard from Yuasa-sensei that you apologized to everyone in the Astronomy Club before Shimizu-san and I returned to the clubroom?”
“That’s true… but still…”
“And I think I’m partly to bla too. Sorry, Teruno.”
“Onii-chan…”
Teruno vanished from my field of vision, and suddenly, I felt a jolt in my stomach. I instinctively looked down and saw Teruno had thrown herself into .
I almost fell backward.
“Thank you, Onii-chan.”
I gently stroked Teruno’s head. For a mont, I was worried about what might happen, but it seed there was no need to worry anymore.
I continued to stroke her head until Teruno cald down.
A few minutes later, Teruno moved away from .
“Have you cald down, Teruno?”
“Yeah… I’m sorry for suddenly hugging you.”
Teruno said with her cheeks flushed with embarrassnt, probably because it was uncharacteristic for her to act like this.
It felt more like a tackle than a hug, but it was all good if Teruno was satisfied.
“It’s okay. Now I know what you wanted to tell , but what did you want to ask?”
“About that…”
Teruno averted her gaze from .
I wonder if it’s sothing difficult to ask.
“Ask anything. I’ll answer any question you have.”
“Really?”
“Yeah.”
“No backing out later, okay?”
“Y-yeah.”
I intended to answer anything, but being told that made a little hesitant.
What did Teruno want to ask ?
“I want to ask about Kei Onee-chan.”
“About Shimizu-san?”
I hadn’t expected Shimizu-san’s na to co up.
Teruno seed to have gotten quite attached to Shimizu-san over the course of the day, so what was she curious about?
“Yeah. Onii-chan, what do you think of Kei Onee-chan?”
“What do I think…?”
I can’t grasp the intention behind Teruno’s question, but I didn’t want to give a vague answer since I said I would answer any questions.
“Can I think about it first?”
“Yeah.”
What do I think of Shimizu-san… If I were to simply describe our relationship, she’s a classmate and a fellow club mber. To add to that, she’s the one who found Teruno.
But I have a feeling that’s not what Teruno wants to know.
As I kept thinking, a certain phrase ca to mind.
“…Soone I can’t leave alone.”
“Soone you can’t leave alone?”
“I’ve said this to soone else before, but Shimizu-san is kind, yet a bit clumsy, so I find myself naturally drawn to her.”
“…What do you an?”
Maybe my explanation isn’t enough. Yet, I’m not sure how to say it.
After so thought, I decided to convey exactly what I was thinking.
“She’s soone important to , or rather, she’s soone I want to cherish.”
“Does that an you lik—”
“Lik?”
“N-nevermind! Forget it!”
“O-okay…?”
What was Teruno about to say?
I was curious, but since she didn’t want to talk about it, I decided to let it go.
“Can I continue asking questions?”
“Sure.”
“Onii-chan, you had a close female friend in junior high school, right? Are your feelings towards her and Kei Onee-chan the sa?”
“…I think it’s different.”
As Teruno ntioned, I had a close female friend back in junior high school.
The feelings I had for her are not the sa as the ones I have for Shimizu-san.
“How are they different?”
“Well, it’s like… sotis I don’t understand my own feelings when I’m with Shimizu-san. It’s definitely fun, but there’s more to it… I can’t really put it into words, but I think that’s the difference.”
Ever since I consulted with Toshiya, I’ve thought about it over and over, but I still can’t find the right words to describe my feelings for Shimizu-san.
My answer was vague, so I wonder what Teruno thought about it.
“Onii-chan, you haven’t realized it yet…”
Teruno muttered this with an unusual expression that I hadn’t seen much before.
“Teruno?”
“N-nevermind. I’m going back to my room!”
“Are you done with your questions?”
“Yeah, I’ve asked everything I wanted to know.”
Teruno stood up, looking satisfied with a smile on her face.
“Well then, goodnight Onii-chan.”
“Goodnight, Teruno.”
With a smile, Teruno left the room.
“Why can’t I put my feelings for Shimizu-san into words…?”
I turned off the lights and lay down in bed.
Sohow, I had a feeling that I wouldn’t fall asleep easily tonight.
***
TL: Hiraeth
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