Episode Seventy-Two

While tidying up Ibara’s personal belongings, the appointed day arrived in the blink of an eye.
Late afternoon.
Waiting before the station ticket gates, Shizuku appeared shortly afterwards, pulling a small carry-on case.
Her fringe had been cut straight across, leaving only the left side longer in an asymmetrical style.
Her lips were firm and set, her eyes slightly more upturned than mine.
　Seeing her in a smart T-shirt and jeans, few would think, ‘She looks like me.’
How to put it… she looked cool overall.
I thought she’d changed quite a bit in the two years since starting high school.
Shizuku spotted me immediately and approached.

“Sorry about suddenly asking to stay over.”

“No, it’s fine. Ah, have you had lunch? If not, there’s a lovely Italian place near the station with great lunch.”

“No thanks. I just ate.”

She pointed to the convenience store bag in her hand and said it matter-of-factly.

“Just tell me where your place is. I’ll kill time until tonight.”

“Eh? But you’ll need to unpack and stuff, won’t you?”

“I’ll do it tonight. It’d be awkward spending the whole day together, wouldn’t it? For both of us.”

She cut straight to the chase.
　Seeing my flustered expression, Shizuku pressed on.

“I’ll be studying at cram school on weekends, so don’t worry if I’m not around. No need to cook for me either. I’ll just grab something to eat, and I’ll do my own laundry. Is that alright?”

“If that’s what you want, Shizuku, then fine…”

She could be a bit more clingy. She is my little sister, after all.
But saying that would probably just earn me a snort of derision.

“Right then, that’s the plan.”

Shizuku grabbed the handle of her suitcase and added, as if remembering something.

“It’ll only be for a short while, but take care of me. —Big Sis.”

†

“Excuse me.”

Shizuku arrived at my flat just as she’d said she would, after dark.

“Welcome home. Dinner’s ready.”

When I greeted her still wearing my apron, Shizuku made an unmistakably displeased face.

“I told you not to worry about it.”

“But it’s curry.”

Making stewed dishes for just one person is actually more trouble.
Shizuku glanced at my face and said,

“I don’t want any. I’ve already eaten.”

“Oh, I see… Well then—”

“Just so you know, I’m having this for breakfast.”

The plastic bag in her hand was stuffed with sweet bread rolls and protein bars. What kind of diet is that?
Well, until recently, I wasn’t exactly in a position to talk either.
I started to say she should eat properly, but swallowed the words.
Being lectured about her lifestyle by an older sister she barely knows would probably just annoy her.

“Right. Let me know if you get hungry.”

“I will.”

Shizuku lifted her suitcase and began unpacking.
Her carry-on wasn’t particularly bulky. The rest was arranged to arrive later by courier.
Catching her glance flickering towards the bed, I pre-empted her.

“I’ve bought a guest futon.”

“Mm.”

Shizuku gave a small nod.
At her age, she probably wouldn’t want to share a bed with her sister. Even I could figure that much.
Back when she was in kindergarten, she used to crawl into my bed all the time.
The fact that I sleep more soundly when someone’s with me might be because somewhere in my brain, the memory of Shizuku sleeping beside me is ingrained.
　Back then, Shizuku was utterly adorable.
Though sometimes she was more than just adorable.

‘Play with me, play with me, play with me! Big sister, play with Shizuku! If you don’t play with me, I’ll be upset! Why won’t you play with me? Do you hate Shizuku?!’

The four-year-old who used to yell things like that all day long is now almost an adult.
Well, I was a primary school kid too, so I guess I’m getting old. Though I’m only twenty-five. Still. Still.
She’s grown up so much.
As I gazed at Shizuku’s profile, filled with emotion, she glared at me.

“What’s with that look? It’s creepy.”

“Shizuku, wanna sleep with big sis?”

“Huh?”

Scary.

“Of course not. How old do you think I am?”

“I-I was just joking.”

I was actually quite serious.
Oh well, no luck then…
In the end, Shizuku headed for the bath without eating the curry.
Since I’d made it on my own initiative, it couldn’t be helped.
I slurped down the spicy seafood curry. It was rather tasty, if I do say so myself.
　Still, things just aren’t going smoothly.
I thought if we ate together, at least the atmosphere might lighten a bit.
If only there were some opening for conversation.
I’m an art school graduate too, after all. Should I try bringing up a favourite contemporary artist?
But that sort of thing never really takes off. Maybe it’s my inability to articulate things.
Looking for some hint, I peered into the open suitcase.
　Just a change of clothes for now, and one hardcover book.
The binding alone tells me it’s probably a novel.

“…A novel?”

So that girl reads hardcover novels, does she?
The back cover is facing upwards, so I can’t read the title.
Maybe this could be a conversation starter.
Just as I thought that, my fingertips touched the back cover.

“What are you doing?”

“Whoa!”

My whole body jerked.
Looking up, Shizuku stood towering over me, fresh from her bath.
When did she get here?
Her hair, still damp from washing, clung to her cheeks, flushed a rosy pink.

“Don’t touch other people’s belongings without permission.”

She snapped irritably, then slammed the suitcase shut.

“S-sorry.”

“No need to apologise.”

“I was just curious. It looked familiar.”

“Oh.”

She brushed off the topic I’d brought up with a curt response, then said, “Come to think of it…”

“Whose toothbrush is that?”

“Eh?”

“There were two toothbrushes in the bathroom.”

A cold sweat trickled down my spine.
　Oh no. What a classic blunder. How stupid of me.
Both of them mine… well, that would be too obvious. Saying I have a boyfriend would probably fall apart somewhere.
Then.

“It’s… Runa’s.”

“—Runa-san’s?”

Shizuku’s eyebrow twitched.

“Y-yeah. Come on, Shizuku remembers, right? She came to my parents’ place a few times during summer holidays and stuff.”

“…Well…”

Fiddling with the hair on her left side, Shizuku gave an ambiguous nod.
Come to think of it, back when she was in primary school, Shizuku had been quite attached to Runa.

“That girl practically lived at our place when she was a student. She’s just stuck in that habit.”

“…Hmm…”

Having somehow managed to gloss over it, Shizuku said nothing more and began drying her hair with the hairdryer.
Sorry for lying.
Apologising silently to myself, I headed for the bathroom.

　After scrubbing myself vigorously and sinking into the bath, an uncontrollably heavy sigh escaped me.

“Haa…”

It’s not working out.
When did we become like this?
We used to be able to act more like… well, normal sisters, surely.
Is there something about me she dislikes? Or is this just how it is with sisters so far apart in age?
I don’t know.
I don’t know, but…

“Right then!”

Splash! I flicked water onto my face.
Time to think positively.
Whatever happens, we’ll be living together for a while yet.
Might as well try to get along.
I won’t say like we used to, but at least to the point where it doesn’t feel awkward.