The Lie and What Follows

It’s 8 PM.

After dinner with Haruka, I got caught on my way to my room, so now I’m sitting on the sofa looking at my vocabulary book.

“By the way.”

“Yeah?”

Haruka, who was watching TV, murmurs as if she just remembered something.

“The president said to bring you next time.”

“Rin-san?”

The Student Council President, Rin-san. She’s not only Haruka’s benefactor but also a really cool person.

“Yeah. She said she wants to teach cooking again.”

Hmm. Rin-san lives alone. Often, when Haruka goes to her place, Rin-san teaches her simple cooking. However, I’ve never been to her house. Going to a girl’s house who lives alone…

“Rin-san’s house…”

“You don’t want to?”

It’s not that I don’t want to. It’s just that I feel a bit hesitant about intruding on the relationship between her and my sister. It’s like observing them from a distance is just right. Their atmosphere when they talk is somewhat relaxed. I’d rather be like Akari from YuruYuri.

“It would be rude to intrude.”

That genre doesn’t really need a guy’s presence. It’s rare for a brotherly figure to be popular. I’m not the silent big brother type who gets pushed around by two sisters from a rural school.

“Okay. I’ll let you know when it’s decided.”

Yeah. That’s a comfortably ignored feeling.

When the ending of a variety show starts playing on TV, a notification sounds on my smartphone.

“Can I call?”

A message from Riko-san.

“Adachi?”

“Yeah. Can I call?”

“Sure. Should I go to my room?”

“Yeah. I’ll just talk for a bit.”

I excuse myself to Haruka and return to my room. After sending a message of acknowledgment to Riko-san, she calls.

“Tooru?”

A slightly anxious voice.

“Yeah. I’m sorry about today.”

I was invited to her house. Maybe she had prepared something.

“Mm. It’s okay. Did something happen?”

It’s natural to be concerned.

“I didn’t want to leave Haruka alone.”

Just hearing this, you might think I have to take care of a young child. But Haruka is in her first year of high school. I may be overprotective.

As I’m pondering how to explain to Riko-san, she says,

“Mm. I understand. It’s okay.”

She might have sensed that I didn’t want to say that Haruka felt uneasy because I was meeting Riko-san.

“…Thank you.”

A silence falls for a moment.

Riko-san’s voice trembles slightly when she speaks again.

“Is it… no good after all?”

“That is…”

I hesitate, knowing she’s referring to the possibility of us getting closer.

“We started again, but you can’t accept it any further, right?”

On the other end of the phone, I wonder what expression she’s making. Her words pierce my heart.

“I’ve always liked you… even though I messed up. I wanted to spend more time with you.”

As if she’s closing off her feelings.

“The date was really fun. The time we spent alone was short, but I messed up. It’s a treasure in my life.”

Reflecting on our past.

“I enjoyed it too.”

My voice comes out strained.

“Mm. Thank you. I’m happy to hear that… I really did something stupid.”

A self-deprecating tone.

“I, uh, like you. I don’t want to give up. But you feel differently, right?”

“You can’t imagine a future with me, can you?”

…I wanted to say no. But that would betray my decision to stay by Haruka’s side.

“…Do you like your sister?”

It’s hard to say, but I wanted to answer her question.

“I don’t know if it’s ‘like’…”

My only family member. Of course, I like her. But Riko-san’s question has a different meaning.

“But I want to be by Haruka’s side. Someday Haruka will find someone she likes. Until then, I’ll be by her side.”

That’s my answer for now. It’s hard to stay with blood-related family forever. Still, I’ll stay by her side until Haruka can move forward on her own.

“And what will you do after that?”

When Haruka decides to live her life with someone else.

“I haven’t thought about it yet.”

A bitter smile escapes me. Just like Haruka, I can’t leave my sister. We really are alike.

“…Then.”

“Then, I won’t give up on you. I’ll keep waiting to spend time with you again.”

Riko-san declares, dispelling the fragile atmosphere.

“But I don’t know when that will be. You’re popular, Riko-san, and you have many other options.”

I want her to move towards a future where she can

be happy, rather than my unstable future.

“My happiness is by your side. No matter how many years, even decades, I’ll wait for you. Don’t underestimate my feelings.”

…Really. This is troubling.

How straightforward she is. There aren’t many people who express their feelings so honestly, except Haruka. Haruka’s… well, violence is also love.

“Thank you. If you change your mind,”

“There won’t be.”

She negates it immediately.

“…I see.”

“Mm.”

I don’t know if I can meet her expectations, but I’ll accept her feelings. I always do.

I can’t say I haven’t thought about a future with Riko-san. But if I convey this feeling, she’ll be even less able to leave me. I don’t want to tie her down with my selfishness.

Suppressing the urge to cry, I speak to Riko-san, who must be suffering more than me.

“Can we stay friends?”

“Mm. Gladly.”

I couldn’t stop the tears from falling.

After ending the call, I return to the living room. I sit next to Haruka, who is watching TV, and take a breath.

“…”

We sit in silence. Haruka seems like she wants to ask, but seeing that I haven’t sorted out my feelings, she says nothing.

“I was confessed to, ‘I like you.'”

“…”

Haruka nods, looking a bit sad.

“…I was happy. But I told her I’m going to be by Haruka’s side.”

“…Is that okay?”

Haruka looks like a child who has done something wrong. I smile.

“I’ve decided. I’ll be by your side until you find someone to be with.”

Haruka embraces me.

“…Maybe there won’t be anyone?”

“There will be. You’re beautiful and demure at school. At home, well…”

“…”

I get pinched.

I stroke Haruka’s head, sulking a bit. Hoping this peaceful atmosphere continues forever.