After Being Betrayed by My Girlfriend, I Kiss Her Little Sister

Hikikomori (3)

Hina’s POV

It’s 11.30PM, and I can’t sleep.

I gently stroke Kanata’s head in secret.

I can’t help but chuckle at Kanata who is talking in his sleep. When we were little, we used to have fun spending time with each other. I like to poke his cheek or just casually lie on top of him. But now…Kanata has changed.

The Kanata in front of me is still the kind and gentle Kanata I know from back then, but at the same time, he feels a little different.

It’s like he’s lost his confidence. Also, this distance between us…as his childhood friend, I find it really hard to accept.

Why did you date someone like Umi?

Why do you keep avoiding me all this time?

Why did you leave for the city?

Why, why, why—

There are so many things I want to ask, but they have turned into a kind of trauma for me…and I can’t bring myself to ask Kanata about it.

Even though Kanata has broken up with my older sister…I still can’t help but worry about him. I have no idea what she’s planning behind the scenes. That arrogant way of speaking, the way she always looks down on others…I can’t believe that we are twins. My older sister’s personality is just incredibly awful.

Even though my older sister and I have spent so much time together, I just realized her true personality right before she moved away…that day I happened to run into her in the city.

I still can’t forget what happened that day.

My older sister is no longer my older sister I once knew.

“……”

I can’t sleep at all. On the other hand, Kanata is sleeping soundly.

Even though he’s a high school student now, that silly sleeping face hasn’t changed one bit. When I causally poke his cheek, Kanata lets out a cute small voice saying ‘Hmm…stop it…’ in his sleep.

Yeah…coming to the city is the right choice after all.

I had been unsure about it for a long time, but no matter how much I think about it, I know this is where I belong…

As I’m thinking about such things, I got a call from Mom.

“Hello…? Mom?”

“Ah, you’re still awake?”

“Yeah…”

“Sorry I’ve been so busy with work. Have you gotten used to life in the city, Hina?”

“Not really…I just moved here, so I’m still not used to it yet. There are so many people, and the buildings are so tall—”

As I speak to Mom on the phone, I quietly hold Kanata’s hand.

He’s a heavy sleeper, so even if I do something like this, he won’t wake up. I continue talking to Mom on the phone while holding his hand.

Then, I gaze at the night sky with the beautiful moon in view.

“Do you think you’ll be able to manage on your own?”

“Yeah…I’ll do my best.”

“You still haven’t finished unpacking your things yet, have you?”

“W-Well…”

“It’s better to get that done sooner rather than later. If I had time, I’d come to help you right away, but work has been keeping me busy lately.”

“It’s fine. Besides, I’m not alone right now, so I’ll be fine!”

“Hina, are you with a friend?”

“Yeah…I’m at Kanata’s house right now…”

“I see…but you’ve always been a very clingy since you were little, so don’t be too much of a burden to Kanata, okay?”

“I-I’m in high school now…I’m not clingy anymore.”

“Even though you’re already in high school, you’ll always be the same little girl as back then to your mom. When you were in kindergarten, Kanata used to cling onto you, but once the two of you got into grade school, it was the other way around. You’re really clingy to Kanata. It’s really funny. I still remember it very well.”

“I don’t remember that…”

I’ve never been that clingy…I just got a little close to Kanata, but Mom always says things like that. However, it reminds me of those fun times. I was always by Kanata’s side like this—

It feels really nostalgic.

“Fufufu. Sorry for calling so late. This is the only time I have…”

“It’s okay…you’ve always been really busy since I was little, so I’m used to it.”

“I’m sorry…”

“It’s fine…I’m always rooting for you, Mom, so don’t say that. Thanks to you, I’m able to meet Kanata again, so thank you very much…”

“Hina, you’re the best! Mommy will do my best again tomorrow! I’ll call you again soon, okay?”

“Yeah!”

I hang up the phone and silently look at Kanata.

‘—you’re really clingy.’

……

I’ve never been that clingy, right? Besides, Kanata always said, ‘It’s fine’ and I only got a little close to him. His house was just next door, so it couldn’t be helped, right? Mom doesn’t know anything, yet she always teases me about stuff like this.

I’m a high school student now…I won’t do something childish like that anymore.

……

Muttering to myself, I slowly snuggle into Kanata’s arms.

It’s winter…I might catch a cold in this cold weather, so I need to keep my body warm.

That’s right, I should be careful! Kanata is the one who told me that.

……

Then, as I close my eyes…memories from that time comes to mind.

‘Kanata! You’re so slow!’

‘Ugh…! Stop suddenly jumping on me…’

‘Let’s watch anime together again today, Kanata!’

‘Oh! Sounds good!’

When we were kids, I spent most of my time with Kanata.

Unlike Umi who was always outside playing with her friends, I would always stay home, waiting for Kanata to come over. Kanata knew this, so he would come over right away.

Before I knew it, it became a habit.

‘Hey, Kanata.’

‘Yeah?’

‘Who do you like more, Kei-chan or me…?’

‘W-Where did that come from?’

‘Hurry up and answer~’

I would always ask him silly questions.

Maybe…I asked Kanata that question because I didn’t want to lose to an anime character back then.

‘The one I like more is…’

‘The one you like is…?’

‘…is Hina, of course.’

‘Kanata, I love you!!!’