Episode One Hundred and Thirty

After grabbing a light meal at the service station, we drove for another hour or so.
Finally, we arrived at our destination: a campsite nestled in the highlands between the mountains.
The moment we stepped out of the car, the stifling scent of summer hit us.
Ridges encircling us on all sides. Lush, verdant greenery.
Mountains! Nature! Summer! That was the feeling.
Everything before our eyes was dazzling.
　As I took the insect repellent spray from my handbag and dabbed it onto my upper arms and neck, Runa approached.

“Ame, I forgot my insect repellent. Please.”

“Hmm, alright.”

A hiss as I sprayed, then dabbed.
Applying the liquid to her bare upper arms.
There was no real need to go to this trouble, but old habits die hard, and I found myself tending to her.
　As I rubbed the lotion into her skin, Runa squinted her eyes, looking ticklish.
Feeling rather embarrassed, I gave her elbow a light pat.

“There, all done.”

“Thanks.”

Immediately afterwards.
Ibara twisted her body between Runa and me.

“Shigure-san! Me too! Me too, insect repellent!”

Today’s Ibara wore a baseball cap, with a long-sleeved linen shirt over her camisole for sun protection.
Below, she wore loose khaki trousers that covered her ankles completely.
Unlike Runa, there was nowhere to apply it.

“There’s nowhere to put it on.”

“There is. my hands, for example.”

“Oh, right, right.”

Because it itches if your fingers get bitten.
Taking Ibara’s hand, I sprayed the lotion onto the back of it.
Then, like applying hand cream, I spread it all the way down to her fingertips.

“There, all done.”

“Hehe.”

Ibara glanced at Runa. Rivalry?
Somehow, I found myself looking towards Shizuku.
When our eyes met, my beloved little sister turned away with a huff.
Oh dear.

“Shizuku, I’ll put some insect repellent spray on you too.”

“I don’t need any.”

Even so, her arms were fully exposed from her black-and-white striped short-sleeved top.
Her lower body was well-protected by jeans, but her pale arms were an open invitation.

“Did you bring insect repellent?”

“…I forgot.”

You forgot?

“Shizuku.”

“I said I don’t need it.”

“Shizuku-chan. Mountain mosquitoes are vicious, you know? Let her put it on for you.”

“Ugh… Alright, fine.”

When Runa urged her, Shizuku reluctantly held out her arm.
As ever, this girl was very obedient towards Runa. Yet she never listened to me.
I sprayed it on, then smeared the lotion on with a pat-pat.
　Come to think of it, I remember applying insect repellent like this for her before.
Was it at the neighbourhood summer festival?
Probably when we were both still primary school pupils.
Compared to that hazy memory, Shizuku’s arms were much longer and slimmer now.
She’s grown up, hasn’t she.
Lost in nostalgia, I continued rubbing her arms.
　After a moment, she waved my hand away. “That’s enough!”
Aww…
Your big sister is a little sad.

“Shall we go now?”

At Runa’s command, we unloaded our luggage from the seats.
It seemed we had a bit of a walk ahead, from this car park to the bungalow.
As I dragged my suitcase along the path, making a clattering sound, Ibara tugged at my sleeve.

“Ibara?”

When I stopped, she looked up from beneath her baseball cap, her eyes unusually moist.

“What’s wrong?”

“………….”

Silently, she opened her mouth, then closed it. She started to say something again, but closed it once more.
Where had the usual lightning-quick, act-on-impulse Ibara-chan gone?
And to top it all off.

“……Actually, it’s nothing”

It was unusual for her to hedge her words like that.

“That’s definitely the line you use when it’s not nothing”

“It really is nothing”

“Nothing, eh”

I sensed she was hiding something.
When I stared intently, she looked away.
Still pouting.
Right then.

“Are you angry, perhaps?”

“I’m not angry.”

“Really?”

Ibara rubbed her lips together softly, murmuring.

“…I’m not angry. Because it’s not Shigure-san’s fault.”

Oh.

“…Yomi-san is Shigure-san’s friend. Shizuku is your little sister… So, it’s nothing…”

I see.
　In other words, while she dislikes me being all cozy with Runa and Shizuku, she’s trying to properly respect my friendship with Runa and my familial love for Shizuku.
Therefore, she’s restraining herself from getting angry.
So that’s how it is.
It was such a typical Ibara reaction.
Passionate, with heavy, troublesome love, yet mature and rational.
　…I’ve become rather familiar with Ibara’s way of thinking, haven’t I?
Out of the corner of my eye, I watch the backs of the two walking ahead.
Runa and Shizuku seemed engrossed in conversation. Runa said something, and Shizuku responded cheerfully.
Between them, a natural rhythm had somehow emerged.
　My voice wouldn’t reach them. Not unless I raised it.
So.

“──Ibara.”

I leaned close to her ear and lowered my voice.

“Could it be… you’re jealous?”

“Nyahh,”

Ibara’s cheeks flushed, for reasons other than the summer sun.
Her expression spoke louder than words.

“Ah ha!”

I couldn’t help but burst out laughing.
It was precisely the reaction I’d hoped for.
How adorable.
My younger lover is simply adorable, no matter what.
When she’s feisty, when she’s sly, when she’s vulnerable.
And then.

　──Even when she’s jealous.

Ibara said, “Shigure-san isn’t at fault.”
But.
Truth be told.
Just a tiny bit, I had been at fault too.

“You should have just said something.”

“Shigure-san!”

How lively and nostalgically enjoyable conversations with Runa were.
　And how deeply, poignantly dear my only sister, Shizuku, was.
Both of those things were absolutely true.
But regardless, I knew that if I got along well with those two, Ibara would get puffed up, and that’s why I did it.
Essentially, I was teasing her.
Even though I’m an adult, older than her.
It’s not good. It’s wrong. It’s bad.
I think I deserve to be scolded.
I feel a bit scared of what might come next.
　Even so, I wanted to see Ibara jealous.

A whirlwind swept down from the mountains, scattering our hair.
Ibara’s hat floated off her head.
With what felt like miraculous reflexes for me, I grabbed the brim.
Placing it back on her head, I said.

“—Enjoying the trip, aren’t you?”

“Well, yes, I suppose—”

Ibara growled in frustration.
I couldn’t help but chuckle again.
Summer or winter, sulking or not.
This princess really is utterly adorable.
That’s what I thought.