Me who was the Older Brother, and the Girl who was my little sister.

Chapter 5 Pretending to be Something

The last winter of junior high school life.

It is an important time for those around to make the final push for high school entrance exams. The atmosphere in the classrooms had changed dramatically, and it was not uncommon for people to be studying even during recess.

In the midst of all this, a couple of people were observing them in a daze at the edge of the classroom.

Me and my friend from elementary school, Tanaka.

“Haa~ I don’t wanna… Is it just me, or does it feel a little bleak? I feel like I’ll get yelled at if I keep complaining.”

“I agree. People can’t afford it.”

“It’s someone else’s problem, Yanagawa. Where are you going for high school again?”

“Huh? …Oh yeah, I didn’t tell you. I’m not going to high school.”

“Oh, seriously? What are you going to do?”

“Well, I’m going to help my little sister.”

“Eeh. I see……that’s good.”

Surprisingly, this was the first time I confided in him that I wasn’t going to high school. He wrote the name of a high school he had no intention of going to on the school’s career questionnaire and somehow managed to talk his way out of it with his other friends.

I didn’t know why I had confided in Tanaka. But I could tell by Tanaka’s indifferent response.

I just wanted someone to affirm this decision. Parents, let alone teachers or other friends, would not react this way. In a good way, this guy’s individualistic distance was comfortable now.

“Haha, that was a quick reaction. You’re going to high school, right?”

“Oh, of course. It’s a private university-affiliated high school. Well, it’s fine.”

Despite his aloof attitude, this guy had the ability to back it up. In elementary school, he was not so different from me, but now he was a brilliant student with a deviation score of over 70.

Tanaka was not the only one.

All of them, whom I have known for a long time, have developed individual characteristics in terms of athletics, appearance, talents, and even personalities, giving me the feeling that they are all going their own ways from now on.

The only thing that hadn’t changed was me.

It was probably just an illusion, and the others might be a little worried that they were the only ones left behind. But I had no way of knowing for sure. It’s the same as not being able to see anything.

That’s why I envied them. Of what I could not hope for.

“That’s nice. I wanted to go to high school too.”

“Oh yeah? I kinda hate it, to be honest.”

“Why not? When you’re in high school, you’ll have a part-time job, you’ll stay out all night, and you’ll have more freedom than before.”

“I know… …… but, freedom is a little scary, isn’t it?”

“Scared? Of what?”

“Listen to your parents, study, do club activities ……, and play with your friends in between. Perhaps that’s about right. If I were suddenly told 『Do what you love all the time』I’m sure I’d immediately ask someone else『What can I do?』. Surprisingly, it’s easier when someone is telling you to do something.”

“…….well, I kind of get it.”

“In that sense, I envy Yanagawa more. It’s clear what needs to be done. Besides, at least it means your little sister needs you, right?”

“Yeah, that may be right.”

Tanaka must have been very thoughtful. It was much better than the baseless encouragement of you’ll be okay and hang in there. He seemed to have nothing to worry about, but the fact that he was so anxious about something like this made me think that my anxiety was no big deal.

Besides……

──My little sister needs me.

Ever since that night when my sister forced me to make a choice, I’d lost a little of my understanding of her.

Despite everything that had happened, her sister had returned to her daily life as if nothing had happened. That was what I’d hoped for, of course, and I believe my sister understood that I had no intention of doing so.

However, I suddenly felt uneasy.

….I wondered if my little sister had really given up on me.

Still, it was true that Tanaka might be right, she just needed me.

My sister has had a different life from the norm since she was a little girl, so she must have a lot of concerns. Maybe she genuinely just wanted her trusted Ani/brother by her side to support her.

Kin Kon kan Kon

“Chime……. well, let’s meet up again after graduation and have dinner.”

“Sure. Thanks Tanaka.”

△

That evening.

My sister had finished her work early, and for the first time in a long time, the whole family was together for a leisurely dinner. On TV, there was a drama playing in which my sister was in the cast.

However, this story revealed a shocking fact. The heroine and her best friend were actually played by one person!

『Oh!!! I never thought it would turn out this way!!』

『I’m sure, now that I think back on it, there were no scenes of the two of them together!』

“Heeh, I had no idea. That’s a surprising twist”

“……”

My sister seemed to have no interest in her own drama, as she ate in silence as usual.

But this time, not only my parents but also I was glued to the TV. After all, I had checked out everything that my sister appeared in.

Then, the drama drew to a close, and the credits began to play.

That’s when I was even more surprised.

The drama had not revealed the name of the actress playing the heroine until now. When I first saw the heroine, I had no idea who she was and thought that an unknown newcomer had been selected for the big show.

To our surprise, the actress playing the heroine is revealed in this episode.

　──was Saki Yanagawa.

““”EHH”””

That meant not only the setting of the drama, but even the actors playing it were the same person. The heroine and her best friend had completely different personalities and appearances, so it couldn’t be helped that our family was in an uproar.

“EEh! Is that true?!! Saki-chan!!”

“Y-You’re kidding! I didn’t know she was my daughter!?”

“….it’s true.”

My little sister nodded nonchalantly.

“Wh-Why didn’t you say anything until now?! Dad’s so sad now!!” (TL: he talking in 3rd person)

“No, I wouldn’t say that, Dad. But it’s really amazing…”

In the past, I’d thought that my sister’s behavior on TV was unnatural, and that it was fake. Even now, there was something off about the smile on her face as she watched TV.

But this time, I realized that if my sister really tried to deceive me, even I wouldn’t be able to notice.

“Thank you…….──not that it matters. Nii-san.”

“Huh, what?”

My sister’s loud voice passed through the dining table, which was filled with excitement for her. Our parents stopped talking and waited for her to say something.

“Isn’t it about time that you should tell Mom and Dad? About your future.”

“Ye-Yea, that’s right.”

“What’s wrong, all of a sudden? What do you mean about the future?”

The mother looked back and forth between my sister and me with a blank expression as she asked. My dad just watched silently. The little sister seemed to be somewhat sneering.

“I’m not going to high school. I am going to help Saki.”

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TL: SHINIGAMI-san