Vol 1 Chapter 25 – Change, Part 3【Vol 1 — A Happy Childhood】

“Ah…”

Whose voice spilled out like that? The brats frozen in their mockery? My sister Elena? Or maybe my own?

Elena suddenly turned her dry eyes toward me. Her cheeks were soaked with tears.

Anxiety flickered in those eyes. She looked frightened.

Her face contorted. She looked away.

That triggered a small pain in my chest. Definitely not from running too hard.

I let out a small sigh. I turned my gaze back to the brats.

Their stiff shoulders jerked. They looked at me fearfully.

“…Sigh.”

What to do about this mess?

No way I know the optimal solution.

Unable to understand my sister, I’d been avoided and chased after her. Barely caught up, let alone talked.

No idea she used illusion magic on me.

Completely missed it.

If I hadn’t met Aria, I’d have chased the illusion forever.

Gave Aria a suitable excuse. Searched and found the real Elena.

Felt like she’d be here, for some reason.

“…Ah, well, you know.”

No way I know the optimal solution.

If I could pick the optimal one here, I wouldn’t be in this spot.

But I know what I have to do.

“I have one thing I want to say to you guys.”

I fixed my gaze on them. They stepped back, faces stained with fear.

My voice shook. Can’t be helped.

This violent emotion swirling in my chest—call it anger?

Finally understood what Elena worried about. What she wanted.

The cause? Me.

Forced unreasonable things on her. Made her suffer, worry, cry.

Just realized now.

My fault. Frustrating. What had I even been looking at with my sister?

Anger at these guys for hurting her ignores all that. Won’t stop.

They hurt Elena. Fact.

Strength gathered in my arms naturally.

“Listen up, you guys…”

Our gazes met.

“Get lost from in front of my sister. Vanish from in front of Elena. Never show yourselves in front of us again.”

My voice came out low. Crawling from the earth’s depths. Shaking with anger. Even surprised me.

They let out silent screams. Turned and fled at full speed.

I saw them off. Let out a deep breath. Lowered my tensed arms.

That was close. Almost used hands or magic.

Another big breath. Elena stepped away from my side. Looked at me terrified, like she didn’t know what to do.

My chest hurt again.

Anxiety, anger, shame, exhaustion, sorrow. Other unidentified emotions mixed and surged.

“E-Elena…”

What I have to do now…

“I want you to hear this one thing. It’s because I like you, Elena.”

○

“…Huh?”

“It’s because I like you, Elena.”

She gazed blankly for a moment. Like she didn’t understand. Eventually noticed something.

“You’re lying. You’re lying. You’re lying. Onii-chan, stop lying…”

“I’m not lying.”

“You’re lying! Onii-chan is kind, so that’s why…”

“That’s not it.”

“It’s not not it!”

Elena shouted. Looked at me sharply. Her eyes, unlike before, brimmed with tears about to overflow.

“I like you, Elena. Believe this. It’s unchangeable fact.”

“You’re lying! Because, because, because onii-chan…”

“But I can’t marry you the way you’re talking about. I don’t want to marry you, Elena.”

“————”

Emotion drained from her face. She looked away.

She tried to run. This time I caught her.

Hands on her shoulders. Pulled her close.

My fault, definitely.

“Elena, getting married isn’t everything.”

“…”

“You’re still young, Elena.”

“…Elena isn’t young anymore. Elena can already get married…”

But she is young. That’s part of it.

“I like you, Elena, but I don’t want to marry you. You’re misunderstanding because you’re young. Because you’re a child.”

“…I don’t understand.”

She mumbled softly. Looked up with eyes about to cry.

“I don’t understand what onii-chan is saying. Why can’t we get married? Doesn’t onii-chan like Elena? Elena likes onii-chan. Really like you, love you. Elena can do anything for onii-chan. Does everything onii-chan says. Elena just needs onii-chan. Needed onii-chan, so everything, everything. But why? I don’t understand…”

That’s everything she’s thinking.

What was wrong until now. What was mistaken.

Make it clear here.

“Elena, it’s wrong to think that because we like each other, we should get married.”

“…Huh?”

Her eyes widened.

“Just because we like each other doesn’t mean immediate marriage. Plenty of people marry without liking each other.”

“…”

“Many kinds of ‘like.’ Doesn’t have to lead to marriage.”

“…Is that so. Then, does onii-chan really like Elena? Don’t hate me? Haven’t started hating me?”

“Of course not.”

I said it. Pulled her close.

“Wrong to say you’ll do anything they say just because you like them. People who like each other fight and misunderstand all the time.”

“…Onii… chan.”

“I’m sorry, Elena. Didn’t notice anything. But onii-chan is on your side no matter what.”

“…!”

She shook her shoulders. Hung her head.

Small murmur.

“…Really?”

“I mean it. If something unpleasant happens, run away. Don’t force yourself. Even for my sake, don’t suffer. If you suffer, I’m sad too. Run away. Don’t endure if it hurts. Even if something happens because of it, I’ll be there.”

“————”

“Do what you want, Elena. Don’t force things for me to avoid being hated. It’s okay.”

She raised her face, startled. Tears overflowed from those differently colored eyes.

“…Sorry, onii-chan. Elena is, sorry…”

“No, I was wrong too. Sorry. Won’t start hating Elena.”

“Yeah, yeah, onii-chan… onii-chan…”

Holding her as she cried into my chest, I thought.

Simple misunderstanding.

Intense young Elena convinced of something. Me misunderstanding that.

That’s all.

One day she’ll grow up. Understand things.

Realize true nature of her feelings for me.

Laugh and talk about this day someday.

Misunderstanding between siblings ended.

Ordinary life continues.

Maybe more outrageous incidents and worries like before.

They’ll settle somehow. Ordinary days return.

As I envisioned that everyday life——————