Aika's POV
After splitting off from Wataru at the intersection, I continued walking home with Kei. We chatted about this and that.
I felt light, as if the anxiety from the previous weeks had been a lie. A single feeling was left behind. Subtle, yet strangely familiar.
Since my time on the cultural festival committee during summer break, I started realizing that there was a lot I needed to work on, and that grades aren't everything when it comes to becoming an adult.
I've always strived to be the best at things I do. Whether it be exams, chores, or taking care of Airi. Which is why, upon realizing my shortcomings, I started feeling restless.
Something has to change.
Those thoughts vaguely rolled around the back of my mind as we walked to the Natsukawa residence.
*
Wataru's POV
"I'm home," I said out of habit, not expecting an answer. But to my surprise, I heard Mom's voice from the kitchen.
"Welcome home"
It was a Tuesday, and she usually had work on Tuesdays.
"How come you're home today, Mom?" I called out, changing into my slippers at the entrance.
"I felt like doing chores, so I took the day off," She laughed heartily. I could tell by her voice alone that she was in a good mood.
"Is that so?" I entered the living area, where the kitchen opened up to the living room. Big Sis was nowhere to be seen, and Mom was chopping some onions on a wooden cutting board.
"Now that your father is bringing more money in, I can afford to reduce my hours a bit"
Ah, so that's what it is.
Mom was already looking a few years younger. I felt happy for her, truly. Even if it meant we'd see Dad less often. He's always been career-oriented anyway.
I headed straight into the bath. I was craving a good hot soak to wash off the exhaustion that had built up over the past few days. First I had to fill the tub with wa-
"Huh?"
The bath had already been drawn. And only a few moments ago, from the looks of it, because the water was still steaming.
"I went ahead and drew the bath for you" said a voice behind me. I didn't need to look back to know who it belonged to. After all, I've been hearing her voice since I was born.
Nevertheless, I couldn't help but turn around to confirm... Because the Big Sis I knew would never do something like this. Not out of the goodness of her heart, at least.
"Why did you do that?" I asked warily. Did she want something? No, that's probably not it. Usually, she'd command me to do things for her, instead of doing it in a roundabout way.
I was befuddled, but she'd already walked off by the time I got my words out, so my question was left unanswered. I closed the bathroom door then turned back around.
Maybe the water was close to boiling point? Was this her new method of torture? Scalding my body?!
I dipped my toes in first, testing the temperature.
Ah, just right.
It was hot enough to sting slightly at first, but soothing once I eased in. I sank slowly into the water, letting it rise up to my shoulders, while taking care to keep my bandaged left hand dry.
"Ah, this is bliss," I couldn't help but exclaim.
*
In my dream I was drowning. Sinking deeper and deeper into the black depths. Something was dragging me down. No... it was someone. Multiple people in fact. They held onto my legs, not letting go. I kept on sinking and sinking, until my brain, unable to process the finality of death, jolted me awake.
"AHHH!"
It didn't help my sense of panic that I woke up in the bathtub, with only my head above water. Even my bandages had gotten wet.
That's right. I had fallen asleep in the bath.
I checked my phone, which I had placed in one of the bathroom drawers within reach. To my relief, only about 30 minutes had passed.
That was still a bit long for a bath though, so I quickly got out, pat dried myself, and changed my bandages.
My wound had pretty much all healed up at that point. All that was left was to visit the hospital again for a check-up. If it was up to me, I wouldn't even do that. But an appointment had already been booked and paid for by the Shinonome family during my first visit. So, I figured I might as well.
Once out of the bath and in my pyjamas, I waited for Big Sis to finish her bath. I spent that time mentally preparing myself for a discussion with her.
Half an hour later, I took a deep breath and resolved myself for what was to come.
In a secluded area of the house, imaginary 'DANGER' signs were put up. It wasn't that going beyond them was prohibited, but you had to do so at your own risk, for there was no telling if you'd make it back alive!
Ignoring those imaginary signs, and the alarm bells that rang in my mind, I started walking towards this danger zone. The lion's den. The gorilla's lair. Also known as... Big Sis' bedroom.
In my head, each step felt like I was walking through a viscous muddy swamp and, by the time I got to my destination, I was panting melodramatically.
Wiping away the non-existent sweat off my brow, I looked up and was about to knock when I realized that the door was already open... Moreover, Big Sis was standing there in her pyjamas, frowning.
"What are you doing?"
I didn't know how long she'd been standing there, but I could tell that she'd witnesses my monodramatic act from her voice, which was laced with... concern?
"Eh, can we talk?" I straightened up and said in as calm a voice as I could manage. I wanted to get to the heart of the matter right away. The quicker I fulfilled my promise to Yuki-senpai the better.
"Of course. Come on in," she motioned me into her room.
What on earth is going on?
She was acting weird. Very weird and overly friendly. She'd never invited me into her bedroom before. Actually, that's not true. But the only times she had were when she needed help cleaning or re-decorating.
Ah, that must be it. She must want some help.
Resigning to my fate as a human forklift, I stepped inside. The room wasn't too different from the last time I'd been there. Big Sis kept it tidy, which was completely at odds with what you'd expect, given her temperament.
"So what do you need help with?" I asked.
She gave me a confused look from where she sat on her bed, "You're the one who wanted to talk."
Did I... jump to an incorrect conclusion? I thought for sure she'd use me as free manual labour.
"Sit," she motioned over to the chair at her desk.
Apprehension grasped at my heart. Despite the apparent safety of the situation I was in, I couldn't help but worry. Humans are wired to fear the unknown, even if it was safer compared to their norm. Big Sis' innocuous behaviour was so unusual that it put me on pins and needles. It almost felt like I was being pranked. I stood still for a while, staring at her.
"What's wrong now?" I could hear a hint of irritation starting to seep into her voice.
I sat down and looked over at her, "Are you well?"
"Yes, why do you ask?" she said flatly.
It was a difficult discussion to start, mostly because we didn't have the sort of relationship most siblings had. Silently cursing Yuki-senpai, I decided to cut right to the chase. There was no use beating around the bush.
"Yuki-senpai said you've been feeling down about something."
"Did he now?" She said, almost absent-mindedly, as she tapped away on her phone.
"Well, you're... acting weird too."
Near-silence filled the room, broken only by the faint echo of my voice, still suspended in the stillness.
"I act how I see fit, it's not something you need to worry about. But I'm okay. Thanks for asking," she said.
There it was again. The Big Sis I know would've bared her fangs at me by now. Her words didn't match her usual temperament.
Something felt... wrong. So very wrong, yet subtle all the same. The same feeling you might get if you woke up one day and the sky was slightly pink, but you wouldn't notice such an abstract change right away, so it'd gnaw at the back of your brain for a while.
In short, it was unnerving.
"Have you made up with that girl... Natsukawa?" She asked.
"Huh?" I started wondering how she knew of our falling out, then remembered she was with me when I avoided Aika on our way to school a few days ago.
"Yes, but stop changing the subject."
"Good," she said, then mumbled "so you're not too incompetent after all..."
"..."
Was that.... mockery? Despite being there to try and help her out, Big Sis took a dig at my supposed incompetence. Was she finally showing hints of hostility? Moreover, she had a calm look on her face, which only added poison to the bite. It wasn't her usual hot-headedness, but a cold cruelty I wasn't used to.
"Oh I'm sorry, did I exceed your expectations?" my words dripped with sarcasm.
With Big Sis' last remark, the conversation was finally taking a shape I was familiar with. One of condescension and hostility. It was honestly a relief that she was back to her normal self. So much so that I was no longer on pins and needles.
But, for some reason, I reacted in a way opposite to how I usually would. The nervousness I'd felt moments ago was replaced with... anger. I was getting heated, my pulse quickening.
I'm used to her being like this... so why?
Right after I asked myself that question, the answer came to mind, unbidden.
Moments ago, Big Sis gave me a glimpse of what a normal sibling interaction might look like, before suddenly exuding cold hostility. Her contrasting attitudes tore a hole through me. That must've been the reason for the anger that rose in my heart.
But I didn't want to accept this answer as the truth. Never. Because doing so was akin to admitting that I wanted a caring, supportive big sister. I didn't want that. Not after the years of cold indifference and scorn.
My mind flashed back to when Aika had visited my house a long time ago. What did Big Sis say back then?
'She feels wasted on Wataru'
"..."
With all of those thoughts going through my mind, I stood up and walked out of the room. I heard Big Sis say something, but I didn't stop or look back. Insults or not, nothing she said mattered to me. That was the way it's always been.
...and always will be.
*
Kaede's POV
"I didn't mean it... like... that..." I trailed off, as Wataru stormed out of the room. He'd somehow taken what I said the wrong way.
This is going to be difficult, I thought to myself as I lay back in bed, staring blankly at the ceiling.
And with that, I found myself reliving the past and the pain it brought.