Episode 88: Bonus - Worries

There was a flurry of noise coming from the corridor.
Mayo came back looking absolutely flabbergasted and slammed the door shut.

‘Hina-chan, are you actually dating Hoshizora!?’

What on earth is she getting the wrong idea about? If that were actually the case, I’d be skipping around the house by now.

“No, we’re not dating…”
“Eh…”
“Mayo, has something happened?”

　Hikari-san and I looked at Mayo with puzzled expressions.

“There was a hickey on Hoshizora’s collarbone, wasn’t that left by you, Hina-chan?”

　My heart suddenly felt like it was about to burst. She must have happened to see it just now when she went to fetch something she’d forgotten.

“I was just about to ask you that too!　Hina-chan might think she’s hiding it, but she isn’t.”

　Saying that, Hikari-san stroked the nape of my neck.
　They’d found out. No, they’re my seniors in life. There was no way they wouldn’t notice.

“No… um…”

　I didn’t know what to say. The two of them looked at me with excited expressions, but I felt sorry that I couldn’t give them the answer they were hoping for.

“Takizawa’s been acting a bit strange today, and she’s been following me around like crazy. She’s never put them where you could see them before, but today she seemed really angry…”
“Mm-hmm.”

They both listened with such delighted expressions.

“But after doing all that, she suddenly apologised and said ‘sorry’.”
“Why?”
“I don’t know. It’s just that I took advantage of it and told her I wanted to put one on her too, and she let me…”
　I look down.

“Nothing’s changed from before…”

　The two of them were looking down too.

“Your little sister’s more possessive than I thought. You two sisters are a real handful.”
“Hikari-san, you’re being noisy.”

　Mayo-san had her arm firmly wrapped around Hikari-san’s neck, holding her so she couldn’t move.

“Hoshizora, she looked a bit troubled at home. She said she didn’t like Hikari and Hina-chan staying over.”

Mayo replied, looking as delighted as could be.

“Does that mean…”

Is Takizawa jealous…?
No, that can’t be it. I think Takizawa just wanted to see me look annoyed.

“Hina-chan’s having a hard time too, isn’t she? Well, I think they’re both just too clumsy,” Hikari-san said with a chuckle.
“Aren’t you going to the summer festival with Hoshizora this year?”

The summer festival… Not only did I miss the fireworks last year, but I also caused Takizawa a huge amount of trouble. So, I couldn’t possibly be so presumptuous as to ask her out myself.

“I don’t intend to ask her. Since I caused her trouble last year…”
“I see… Well then, I’ll change the question. What do you like about Hoshizora?”

I thought I could answer plenty of those.

“She seems cold but is actually kind, she gives her all to everything, she’s cute, she’s beautiful, she loves animals, she’s clumsy, she puts up with my whims, she supports me…”

The things I love about Takizawa just kept pouring out.

“Above all, Takizawa saved my life.”

　The two of them looked taken aback. I took out the yellow handkerchief I keep under my pillow.

“When my parents passed away and I was going through a really tough time, I used to think about going to see them. But Takizawa, in her own clumsy way, stayed by my side and gave me this handkerchief. she didn’t set out to help me, we just happened to meet, but I really love Takizawa for speaking to me and doing something so kind.”

　I’d talked so much about Takizawa that my face was burning.

“I know what you mean. Even though she’s my own sister, I think she’s a wonderful girl.”

Mayo was making a smug face, so I exchanged a glance with Hikari and we both burst out laughing.

Just as we were having that conversation, Takizawa came back.

“Right then, I’m off to have a bath.”

Saying that, she left the room.
When I soak in the bath, all sorts of thoughts come to mind.

“Takizawa, I wonder if she’ll ever fall for me…”

Lately, I’ve found that a kiss alone isn’t enough for me anymore. I want to touch Takizawa more, and I want her to touch me. That’s something that’s absolutely impossible in our current relationship.

I’m worried that eventually I’ll lose all sense of reason and end up doing something she’ll hate. When I’m alone, I can’t stop thinking about Takizawa, and even without being in the bath, I feel as if I’m about to overheat.

I felt faint, wondering how long this torment would go on.