Me who was the Older Brother, and the Girl who was my little sister. - Chapter 7
Found You
I became my sister’s manager and a year has passed.
Most working people would probably say that their first year went by in a blink of an eye as they struggled to learn the job, but for me, it was a long year.
This was because there was nothing to do.
Either my sister’s original manager, Sasaki-san, was too good, or I was just too stupid……, or maybe both.
Most of what I had done in the past year was talk to my sister.
Not about work, but just small talk. How was the breakfast she made today, what I was going to do on my day off, that kind of thing.
I tried to find some kind of work, but it all came to nothing and only added to Sasaki-san’s time and effort.
When I asked if there was anything I could do, Sasaki-san told me to stay close to my little sister; stay away from my little sister.
To put it bluntly, I was bored.
I never knew having nothing to do could be so painful. The busier my little sister and Sasaki-san seemed to be, the more I felt that way.
Come to think of it, Tanaka said something similar before. Too much freedom is also a problem.
“Haaa…..”
I let out a sigh as I stood in line at the coffee shop.
My little sister was recording right now, but we were about to take a break. Before that, I went to buy my little sister’s favorite café au lait. In a way, this was the only job-like task I had been given.
It made me feel ashamed that I could only catch my breath at times like this.
“I’d rather they fire me. …… hmm? Hot springs, huh?”
I saw an advertising flyer next to the cash register.
It was an advertisement for a hot spring resort. I was not tired because I did not work nearly enough, nor did I want a vacation, but for some reason, seeing that made me want to go.
“And anyway, my presence or absence won’t affect Saki’s work.”
Once I decided to do so, I was quick to act. After shopping from the coffee shop, I hurried back to the TV station and used the spare time to look for a place to stay.
After a while, I found an inn that looked good. Then the next step was the schedule. On holidays, it would be too crowded to relax. Let’s plan for weekdays, two nights and three days.
Then I checked my little sister’s schedule. I didn’t intend to go with my little sister, but I did not want to be the only one going out to play when she was the busiest.
However, to my surprise, my little sister’s schedule given to me by Sasaki-san was filled up for most of the month.
“I guess …… on the other hand, it could be anytime.”
It was too irresponsible of a thought, but as I said before, my little sister would be busy with or without me.
However, when I will go on a vacation, I will report it to Sasaki-san, not to my little sister.
Somehow, I felt guilty asking my busy little sister to give me a day off.
****
A week later, I was at a hot spring resort.
When I asked for time off, Sasaki-san asked me if I had gotten permission from Saki-san, and I ended up lying.
I sent an apology and an after-action report to my sister on the bullet train this morning from my phone, but it hadn’t been read yet. I woke up much earlier to catch the first train, so my sister was probably still sleeping at that time.
Anyway, I was dedicated to forgetting my daily routine and enjoying the trip to the fullest.
Hot springs, food, scenery, shopping – an elegant day from day one.
The only thing that made me happy about being a working adult was that I now had money at my disposal.
My sister and I both still live at home, so we don’t have to pay rent or food.
Even if we were charged for the occasional game we play to pass the time, our savings will only grow because we received so much more salary than we could spend it.
This trip was a great way to spend money I had no intention of spending.
“Whew, the food was good. It’s late, let’s go to bed.”
I enjoyed the day. ……Thanks to overdoing it, I hadn’t looked at my smartphone since I arrived at the inn, which I usually use to pass time.
I noticed this when I woke up the next morning and looked at my phone to check the time.
“Fuaa~, I slept well. I wonder what time it is now. …… Uwaa”
I woke up and checked my phone, as it was my usual habit.
There was a history of incoming calls from my sister there. A hundred of them.
Actually, it might be more than that, but that’s all I knew because the limit of entries in history was 100.
And only one message.
“Tomorrow, I’m coming.”
Where. There was no mention of …… destination. I didn’t tell anyone where I was going for this trip. Besides, my little sister must be busy with school and work today.
That’s why my little sister will never come to this place.
“No way…..”
I felt a stirring in my chest and immediately called my little sister. If by any chance they are looking for my whereabouts, I’ll tell them “don’t worry” and to give up.
Ring Ring Ring Ring
Ringing continued. My little sister did not answer the call.
“…I guess I’m overthinking it.”
The moment I was about to hang up the phone────
Knock Knock Knock Knock
“Dear Guest, sorry for being early in the morning.”
It was the innkeeper. I wonder what’s going on.
“Yes, how can I help you?”
“Your companion has arrived. May I send her through?”
Your companion── what in the world are you talking about?
I was traveling alone.
Suddenly, I looked at my phone, which I failed to disconnect from the call. It was still ringing and there was still no answer.
……it’s a coincidence.
From behind the door, there was an electronic beeping sound ── it just so happened to be the same one as my little sister’s ringtone.
“Sorry. Maybe you have the wrong person.”
I denied to the innkeeper that he had the wrong person.
Then the electronic beeping behind the door stopped.
At the same time my phone stopped ringing.
Did it end, huh?
I looked at the screen and saw that the call was connected.
I answered with a shaky voice.
“Sa-Saki, right now, where are you”
『……』
No reply.
sfx: call disconnected
The call was disconnected.
Knock Knock Knock
Then there was a knock on the door again.
“Innkeeper! As I said before, you have the wrong person. I’m alone!”
I yelled at him. I downed out my fears and anxiety.
And it wasn’t the innkeeper I mentioned earlier who answered that yell──
“Found you”
It was my little sister’s voice.
“Sa-SAKI! How, Why”
“Hurry, open this…..open it.”
The little sister’s voice was clearly filled with anger.
I fearfully opened the door to find my little sister standing there, wearing a deep hat and hiding her face with a mask and date glasses.
My little sister then silently walked past me and proceeded to the back of the room. I closed the door and followed her back into the room.
My sister sat on the bed where I had just slept and stared at me with her legs crossed.
I was sitting on the floor in front of her.
It was like father and mother in a fight.
“Nice inn.”
“….un.”
“It’s spacious and beautiful, but not too crowded.”
“…..un.”
“Is it because it is a weekday? Everyone is working, right?”
“……”
“I had school and work too. Of course, I can’t be here to go to either.”
“I’m, sorry”
“About what? What is Nii-san apologizing about?”
“School and work, taking off….I’m sor─fugo”
My little sister suddenly grasped my chin.
I was pinched between the cheeks, my mouth was like a fugu (blowfish) and I couldn’t speak.
“School? Work? It’s not that, it doesn’t matter.”
“Huh?”
“Who has been making and feeding Nii-san breakfast without fail all this time?”
“Itsu Shaki-shan”
“I understand that Nii-san asked Sasaki-san for a break. Answer me. What is Nii-san’s job? Is it helping Sasaki-san? Or me?”
“That’s tuu, Saki-shan”
“You know exactly what I mean. I am the one who feeds Nii-san. I am the one who gives Nii-san work. I am the most important person to Nii-san, right?”
“……..thaat’s correct.”
“Then why, why why why why why why why why why, why did you leave without telling me?”
“Sorry….”
My little sister removed her hand from holding my chin and covered her face with both hands.
“Haa… Nii-san, don’t trouble me too much.”
“……un”
“If you understand, swear to me. You’ll never leave me again.”
“I understand.”
My little sister brought the back of one hand in front of my face. I looked at her face, unable to grasp her intention.
“What are you doing? Kiss.”
“Ehh”
“You’ll swear to me, won’t you? Then kiss my hand.”
“su-such…..”
“Is Nii-san just all talk? Are you that frivolous?”
“I-I get it. I got it.”
I gently placed my lips on the back of my little sister’s hand.
It was a ceremony like in the movies, like a pledge of loyalty to one’s master.
I kissed my little sister’s hand as if swearing my loyalty.
“…… there won’t be a next time. Nii-san.”