I Fell in Love with Someone I Shouldn't Have Fallen in Love with

The Right to be Happy

Emi’s POV

It has been three months since Onee-chan moved away with Mama.

I’m now in my third year of middle school, and currently focussing on my high school entrance exam.

For me, this high school entrance exam is a promise I made to Onee-chan.

Every weekend, I ride my bicycle to Souji-senpai’s apartment to help with the cooking and laundry.

Souji-senpai on the other hand, has taken less part-time job shifts to make more time for studying as he is preparing for his university entrance exam, and in our free time, Souji-senpai helps me with my studies.

For Souji-senpai, going to college is a promise which he made just before his mother passed away. He said that it’s also Onee-chan’s wish for him to go to college, that’s why, he is studying even harder than before.

Papa is still pretty much the same as before. He doesn’t spend much time at home, but he does make sure to provide for our living expenses and tuition.

With that money, although not much, I also help Souji-kun to cover his living expenses.

Ever since Onee-chan moved away, we lost all contact with her.

I tried calling her many times, not only from Souji-senpai’s phone but also from mine, but she never picks up our calls. By February, I started to get messages saying her number is no longer being used.

I also tried calling Mama’s side of family, but when I told them that my name is ‘Mamiya’ they just hung up my call without saying anything. Therefore, I have no way to contact Onee-chan.

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About six months later, we received news from Mama’s family that Mama has passed away.

They said she was driving under the influence late at night, had a single-car accident and passed away at the scene.

Hearing Mama’s death was shocking, but at the same time, I finally understood what Onee-chan had been trying to do.

At that moment, a great sense of regret overwhelmed me, more than when I parted with Onee-chan.

Onee-chan must have been seeking revenge on Mama on the behalf of Souji-senpai.

She had made up her mind to do this from the winter break, and she has endured all of it by going with Mama.

I don’t tell Souji-senpai about Mama’s death or what my sister had planned.

However, I desperately want to see Onee-chan, even just for a moment, so I head straight to Mama’s family home for Mama’s funeral.

I attend the funeral under the name ‘Ando Emi’.

When I enter the funeral hall, I notice Onee-chan sitting in the relatives’ section.

She cut her long hair short.

I keep looking at Onee-chan throughout the funeral. She’s just sitting there expressionless, staring straight ahead the whole time.

During the incense offering, when I bow toward the relatives’ section, Onee-chan noticed me for the first time.

She briefly widened her eyes in surprise when she sees me, but then she immediately returns to her expressionless face.

After the funeral ceremony ends, we move to the crematorium, and while waiting there, I finally have some time alone to talk to Onee-chan.

“Emi, thank you for coming all this way. I’m glad to see you’re doing well.”

“Onee-chan, I’m glad to see you’re doing well too…I see that you cut your hair.”

“Yeah, I cut it right after I got here. It’s so much easier to take care of, so I’ve kept it short since then.”

“Is that so…I always liked your long hair, Onee-chan…”

“I see. I’m sorry. Does it look weird now?”

“No, not at all…whether you have long hair or short hair, you’re always beautiful, Onee-chan.”

“Fufufu, thank you. It makes me happy to be called beautiful by you, Emi. It’s flattering.”

“What are you saying, Onee-chan? You’ve always been very beautiful and popular.”

“Not really. I’ve never been good around boys, and I’m not popular or anything like that. More importantly, Emi, how’s your high school entrance exam preparation going? Are you studying well?”

“Yeah, I’m studying diligently. After all, I promised Onee-chan that I’ll get into a good high school. That’s why, I’ll definitely get into a prestigious high school.”

“I see, you remembered your promise. I’m so happy. I’ll be rooting for you.”

“Onee-chan, don’t you think it’s already time for you to come back? Isn’t everything you have to do already finished?”

“…yeah, you’re right…it’s all over now.”

“Then let’s go back together. Let’s live together again. Souji-senpai is waiting for you too, you know?”

“That’s impossible…I can’t see Souji-kun again.”

“Why not!? Both Souji-senpai and I have been so worried about you, we both love you so much, you are our precious family—”

“Emi, I’m really sorry. But you already understand by now, right? Onee-chan doesn’t have the right to be happy. Regardless of what Mama and Papa did 17 years ago, Onee-chan has lost the right to be happy myself… That’s why, Onee-chan is going to stay here quietly with Mama who passed away.”

Onee-chan’s determination is even stronger than I’ve ever imagined.

It’s impossible for me to talk her way out of this.

After the cremation, Onee-chan sees me off to the local train station.

At the very least, I managed to make her promise to stay in touch from now on and exchanged our contact information.

In the end, we hug each other on the platform before I return back home.