Sleeping Beauty and the Witch’s Sister. Part 2

The first day ended like that.
I wanted to talk a bit more, but Shizuku left with just a “I’ve got cram school”.
Heartless creature.

After getting home, I looked up Yomi Runa (I just dropped the honorific, somehow it felt natural).
Well, I only searched online and on social media.
Even so, oh boy, the results just kept coming.
　Yomi Runa, she’s famous. Not as much as me, mind.
A twenty-five-year-old artist, illustrator, and book illustrator.
I looked at photos via image search and became certain.
No mistake.
That’s the “Runa-san”. Shigure-san’s former flatmate.
The world’s small, isn’t it? I thought, though perhaps the art world is just tight-knit.
　I stared intently at the photo.
Apparently it was taken during an interview for her solo exhibition.
A stark white room, with just one chair placed in it.
On the wall behind her hung a sketch? A drawing? I couldn’t tell, but it was a picture of a woman’s face drawn with simple lines.
This must be her work.
Honestly, I couldn’t tell if it was good or bad. Well, it was probably good, I suppose.
　In the photograph, Yomi Runa sat perched on the tall chair, facing the camera with a meaningful, expressionless gaze.
How to put it… seeing her again, she really does have an aura about her.
Her hair, the colour drained out, platinum; her features sharply defined.
The casualness of the baggy shirt and jeans actually plays into reinforcing that ‘artist’ impression.
　If you’re putting your face out there, that certain look is important, I reckon. It is a popularity business, after all.
Anyway.
Yomi Runa is definitely a rather cool-looking beauty.
I never imagined she was a senior.
Just picturing Shigure-san and Yomi Runa living together in the past still makes my chest tingle.
　It makes me tingle and feel all fuzzy inside.
Whenever I recall things like the pillow for peaceful sleep tucked away in the closet, or the sketches drawn on canvas, I feel a pain like digging my nails into a scab.
This is jealousy.
It’s not about whether I trust Shigure-san or not; I’m jealous of that inescapable past.
And so, just a gut feeling.
　Could it be that the feelings I harbour for Yomi Runa and whatever Shizuku feels for Shigure-san are the same thing?
Or maybe not.
I recall Shizuku’s profile as she gazed up at Yomi Runa’s painting.
…Hmm, I don’t know.

“Haaah…”

I flopped onto the bed.
A bed all to myself.
It’s been nights alone for about a week now.
Not quite as bad as before, but nights spent utterly alone still drag on.
Perhaps it was because I’d carelessly thought about Shigure-san and Yomi Runa.
　A restless heat settled deep in my heart.
After checking that the door was closed, I slipped my hand under the sheet.
I pulled out the pyjamas I’d hidden away and pressed the fabric to my nose.
And then,

‘Suu~~……’

Taking a deep, full breath in,

‘Haaa~~……’

and slowly letting it out.
One more time.

Suuuu~~

Haaaa~~

A scent like a blend of lavender, musk, and cedarwood seeped all the way into the back of my nasal passages.
　Sweet and stimulating, like pop rock candy.
My frayed, sleep-deprived mind began to smooth out.
The stiffness in my muscles and joints eased, my heart growing light and fluffy.
But.

“…………Haa”

It wasn’t enough.
What could I do? It had been a week already.

“…………It’s too faint…”

After all that time, even the lingering scent was fading.
Hmm, I could do with some new pyjamas soon.
Maybe I’ll sneak them while Shizuku’s at cram school.
That would be creepy, wouldn’t it? Just plain creepy.
It’s fine if I’m the one who’s creepy, but I don’t want Shigure-san to dislike me for it.
　Swaying between maidenly feelings and desire, I ponder how to pass the long night.

†

The next day, lunchtime.
I caught Shizuku as she darted out of the classroom the moment the bell rang.

“Shizuku, let’s have lunch together.”

“…Fine.”

The hesitant pause felt like a cat refusing to be petted.

“I know a nice spot. Come with me.”

Taking her hand, I led Shizuku to the flowerbed behind the school building. The brick border was just the right height.
As we walked down the corridor, Shizuku looked puzzled and said,

“Um, is it alright?”

“What is?”

“I mean, leaving the friends you usually eat with behind?”

“It’s fine, it’s fine. I’m a loner anyway.”

Shizuku blinked, perhaps unsure how to react.

“If I had friends, I’d be chatting with them.”

“Well, that’s true, I suppose.”

Shizuku stared intently at my face.

“Eh? You’re a loner with that face?”

“Whether you have friends or not has nothing to do with your face, does it?”

I couldn’t say it didn’t.
It was just how things were. Appearance was part of it, after all.
Having a good-looking face worked to your advantage in all sorts of situations.
But there were exceptions to everything. Like me, a total loner despite having a face that could kill.

“Hehe. Believe it or not, I’ve got my reasons.”

“Reasons?”

“Interested? If so, I’ll give you the highlights over lunch.”

We moved to the flowerbed, spreading the lunchbox on my lap.
Today’s lunch was made by Aki-chan.
Since Aki-chan’s days and nights are reversed and she sleeps in the mornings, she made this last night and left it in the fridge for me.
Nibbling on the flavourful broccoli and octopus salad, I told Shizuku bits and pieces about myself.
　I left out the part about Shigure-san, but told her pretty much everything else.
That I’d been an idol, that I’d graduated due to illness.
Stuff the whole class knows.
It’d get back to her soon enough anyway. She could just look it up.
After hearing my story, Shizuku furrowed her brow and murmured.

“…Insomnia…”

“Yeah.”

“Still struggling?”

“It’s much better now.”

“I see.”

She exhaled sharply.
She seemed concerned. She’s a good person.
Most people would latch onto ‘former idol’ rather than ‘insomnia’, so I really do think Shizuku’s a good person.

“…Actually, someone helped me.”

So, I felt like sharing a little secret.
Shizuku looked puzzled.

“With the insomnia? A specialist doctor or something?”

“No. Not that sort of thing.”

I lowered my voice slightly.

“Someone who sleeps beside me.”

“Wh-what?”

Shizuku was speechless.
Her eyes widened as she stared intently at my face.
Placing a hand over her mouth, she whispered.

“So, that means, um, a lover?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

I couldn’t say, “It’s your sister.”

“Mmmph. That was a secret, you know.”

“…Right.”

I pressed a finger to my lips, and Shizuku nodded solemnly.

“Thanks. Right then, your turn now, Shizuku.”

“Eh?”

“I told you my secret, so you tell me something, won’t you?”

“I, I don’t get it. You just went and said it on your own, didn’t you?”

“Well, yes, but don’t be like that. Let’s get along, us two loners.”

“What’s that supposed to mean…”

Shizuku looked away, as if confused.
Right, time to press the advantage.

“Come on, come on, you must have something.”

“N-no, I don’t have any secrets.”

“Liar. Fine then, your romantic history will do.”

“I haven’t had any history.”

“Really?”

“Because, I still haven’t—”

Shizuku suddenly fell silent, as if startled.
She stuffed a mouthful of yakisoba bread into her mouth, swallowing it whole, and made a loud gulp.

“You still haven’t-?”

“Nngh… Never mind. Anyway, I don’t have any secrets.”

After that, Shizuku simply put her mouth to the vegetable juice carton and fell silent.
Tough nut to crack.
At least tougher than Shigure-san was when we first met.