Episode Seventy-One

About my younger sister, Amami Shizuku, seven years my junior.
Truth be told, I don’t really know Shizuku that well.
After all, when I moved to Tokyo to attend art college, she was only ten.
Of course, I did return home from time to time…
　Each time I returned home, my sister had grown beyond recognition.
She’d been utterly devoted to me until primary school, but by the time I graduated art college, she’d grown distant, to put it bluntly, she’d entered her rebellious phase.
After I started working, my visits became even less frequent. This New Year, we barely spoke.
We’re not estranged, but we are distant.
That’s the kind of sisters Shizuku and I are.

“The property she was supposed to move into? The estate agent messed up and she can’t get in.”

‘That’s awful, isn’t it?’

Night.
While Ibara was showering off the sweat, I spoke to Mum again.

“Mum. Er, there are a few things I’m missing here.”

‘Oh, yes, yes.’

“Right then. First off, move-in? Shizuku’s in her final year of high school this year, isn’t she?”

‘That girl’s transferring to a school in Tokyo. Starting April.’

“This is news to me.”

‘I did tell you. Shizuku’s moving out on her own come spring.’

“When did you tell me?”

‘New Year. Well, you were just spacing out the whole time, didn’t really listen properly.’

Oh ho ho, Mum laughed.
…Come to think of it, I might have heard something about it?
Over New Year, I was busy relaxing and taking it easy in that environment of meals served to me, plus the kotatsu and mandarins, so it’s possible I tuned out Mum’s talk.
Very possible.

“But she’s still in high school.”

‘That’s why I made it a condition that she lives near you. You can rely on her if anything happens.’

“Even if you say that, I have my own job.”

‘I’m talking about if something happens. Shizuku’s dependable, and you started living alone at eighteen, didn’t you?’

“Well, that’s… true.”

‘Above all, she won’t listen to reason no matter what.’

“Shizuku? Eh, surely not bullying at school or something?”

‘No, it’s not that. She wants to go to a prep school in Tokyo. Not a regular one, but an art college prep school.’

Ah.

“…………So that’s it then……”

Shizuku had always been a child who loved drawing.
Whenever I practised sketching at home, she’d inevitably appear beside me, scribbling something in her sketchbook with a Crayola crayon.
I knew she’d joined the art club at high school too. I also knew she’d won prizes in several student competitions.
But I hadn’t realised she was that serious about it.
　Prep schools for art university entrance exams are concentrated in Tokyo.
If you’re aiming for a prestigious art university, it certainly makes sense to learn the know-how at a prep school.
That said, it’s not essential, and I didn’t go myself.
Partly because I was lucky with my club teacher, but mostly because I didn’t have the guts to change my lifestyle.
But Shizuku made her decision.
To leave behind the friends and environment she’d built up until now and challenge the art university entrance exams.
　Frankly, I think that’s pretty impressive. So then, I have no reason to oppose her anymore.
The only remaining issue is money, is that alright?
My father is somewhat well-known in a certain industry, so there shouldn’t be any worries on that front.

‘The estate agent is looking for another place for us, and it should only take a couple of weeks at most.’

‘When is she coming over here?’

‘The week after next.’

I mentally checked the calendar.
High school spring break starts around the 25th, I believe.
So she’ll be arriving here around that time.
There’s always the option of a weekly flat, but starting a new life in an unfamiliar place must be rather inconvenient.
I understand the parental instinct to have her stay at my place, and above all, it’s for Shizuku’s sake.
Oh well. I am her big sister, after all.

“Alright. Fine.”

‘Really? That’s wonderful, Shizuku will be delighted.’

I wasn’t so sure about that.
Even if it was unavoidable, wouldn’t she mind living with her sister when their relationship was so… complicated?

Shortly after ending the call with Mum, Ibara emerged from the bath.

“How did it go?”

“Well…”

And so, I gave her a brief summary of the situation.
　It wasn’t my fault, but I felt terribly sorry.
While Shizuku was staying in this room, I couldn’t sleep with Ibara.
It wasn’t just a matter of space; I couldn’t let Shizuku find out about my relationship with Ibara.
When I told her this, Ibara looked a bit displeased, or rather, taken aback.

“Would it really matter if she found out?”

“Eh?”

“Is it really not okay? We’re not doing anything wrong, are we?”

Well, that’s true.
But when she asked me outright if it was okay… no.
No, it really isn’t okay.
Even setting aside the fact we’re the same sex, if she thought I was seducing (?) a high school girl seven years younger than me, she might cut ties with me as a sister.
So.

“Sorry!”

　I can’t say it now.
Ibara didn’t seem offended; she just nodded lightly, “Oh, right.”

“By the way, your sister’s the same age as me, right? Which school did she transfer to?”

“Um, what was it again? Kaimei…”

Ibara looked surprised.

“No way. Could it be… Kaimei Girls’?”

“Yes, that’s the one.”

“That’s my school!”

“Eh?”

“That’s the high school I go to.”

What?
What a coincidence, or perhaps not entirely.
According to Ibara, Kaimei Girls’ is the only high school in the area with an arts department. It prides itself on accepting a wide range of budding idols, child actors, and artists like (the former) Ibara, and on a school ethos that’s quite flexible about credit acquisition.
　Many students aspire to music or art colleges, so in a way, it was perhaps inevitable.

“Huh, I see. Well, well.”

Ibara grinned.

“What’s that face for?”

“Nothing? Just looking forward to it. Since the arts programme only has one class, your little sister and me are guaranteed to be classmates.”

“Oh, I see.”

“Your sister, Shizuku-chan, was it? Does she resemble you, Shigure-san?”

“Hmm. The face… maybe?”

Probably.
When I was with Shizuku, many people told me she looked just like me back then.
So I suppose she does bear a resemblance.
Though lately, with her hairstyle and fashion developing more individuality, it doesn’t feel quite the same.
　Weaving through a moment of faint nostalgia, Ibara spoke.

“Shigure-san, could I ask you one thing?”

“Sure, what is it?”

“I won’t be able to come here for a while, will I?”

“I suppose not. Ibara, will you be able to sleep alone?”

Ibara’s insomnia was improving, but that was on the premise that I slept beside her.
　She doesn’t come over every single night, and from what she’s said, she seems to be managing to sleep on her own to some extent.
But a few weeks is quite a long time.

“I’ve been able to sleep fairly well lately. But I’m a bit anxious, you see.”

“Hmm.”

“Lend me your pyjamas, Shigure-san.”

“Hmm… Hmm?”
What?
Ibara repeated, grinning.

“Can I borrow the pyjamas you always wear?”

“Why⁉︎”

“To smell them?”

“No, it’s not about smelling them!”

“To get a taste of what it’s like to sleep next to someone, sort of?”

“Not sort of, no!”

But in the end, I ended up lending Ibara my pyjamas.
What else could I do? She said she couldn’t sleep without them.