Translator: Lilo
Editor: Ryuubii

Chapter 4: Ideals, Reality, and Rumors

Act 4

The next morning.

I got up as usual, got changed, and headed to the bathroom. But when I got there, it was occupied.

It was Hasumi-senpai.

She was washing her face at the sink.

“Good morning.”

When I greeted her, she raised her hand as if to gesture, “Wait a second.”

Eventually, Hasumi-senpai finishes washing her face, reaches for her towel, and wipes her face.

“Hm. Morning.”

Although it was delayed, she replied.

Hasumi-senpai looks really refreshed. I hope I don’t look too bad considering I just woke up.

“It’s easier today since Dad is present.”

“I think so too.”

She’s right, Uncle is here this morning. More precisely, he was not on duty yesterday and came home at a decent hour, so Uncle is making breakfast. That meant Hasumi-senpai was able to get a lot of sleep.

Perhaps reflecting this situation, this morning, she’s wearing wide pants and a T-shirt. Without Uncle around, her outfit would be a lot more revealing, like wearing only shorts and a tank top.

I washed my face after Hasumi-senpai was done. Once I finished washing my face and reached for the towel, the towel came to my hand. Naturally, Hasumi-senpai was the one who gave it to me.

“Thank you.”

I thanked her and wiped my face. I had assumed that Hasumi-senpai had gone downstairs first.

“Oh right, Hasumi-senpai. Can I get my lunch earlier today?”

Uncle may be making the breakfast, but Hasumi-senpai is still responsible for lunch boxes.

“I don’t mind. What, are you leaving early?”

“Yes. I’ve got some business to attend to.”

“Hm, alright.”

Hasumi-senpai agreed.

Then we went down the stairs together. In the living room on the first floor, Hasumi-san is reading a newspaper. Neither of them probably noticed, but they looked very much alike when they bend forward to read the newspaper, which was spread out so that it covered the low table.

“Morning, Dad.”

“Good morning.”

When Hasumi-senpai and I called out to him, Uncle looked up.

“Oh, you came down together, huh? Morning.”

It seems like he was happy that the siblings came down together.

Hasumi-senpai was probably waiting for me for this moment.

*** 

After finishing breakfast and getting ready for school, I left the house as soon as my lunch was ready.

I left about fifteen minutes earlier than usual.

I took the train at Myodani Station and got off at Gakuen Toshi.

High school students that are commuting tend to peak at the very last minute of the morning, so there were hardly any students wearing the same uniform.

That’s why she stands out so much.

“Takinami-senpai.”

It would be fine to silently walk behind her, but if she were to accidentally find me at the entrance, I don’t know what kind of complaints she would make.

“Oh, Makabe-kun. Good morning.”

“Good morning.”

I lined up alongside her.

“You’re quite early.”

“It’s just a coincidence. I left earlier than usual and got on another train that was earlier than I thought.”

I see. She was two steps ahead.

“Also, Takinami Ruika cannot be late.”

She whispered, adding those words.

I guess It’s hard work to meet the expectations of those around you.

“Is this your usual time, Makabe-kun? If that’s the case, maybe I’ll start going to school around this time every day from tomorrow onwards.”

“Unfortunately, I’m early today.”

“And yet, we met. It must be fate, don’t you think?”

Takinami-senpai giggles.

Please don’t bring up fate from this small thing. There are stories in the world about fifteen people who were late to church for different reasons and escaped an explosion. Well, it might have been a miracle at that point, considering the destination they were headed to. 

(E/N: https://medium.com/the-mystery-box/how-15-mundane-miracles-saved-15-lives-from-an-explosion-4e111669f3a6)

“Perhaps you always go with Hasumi-san?”

Takinami-senpai asks again, keeping her voice down.

“No way. I can’t do something that frightening. Oh right. There’s something I want you to hear.”

“My, what is it? A confession?”

“No. It’s a serious topic.”

After saying that in advance, I cut to the chase.

“Hasumi-senpai told someone that we’re siblings. The person is her junior from the same middle school.”

“Okay.”

“Okay… you say?”

Takinami’s response was so simple that I was at a loss for words.

“What’s the problem?”

“I’ve told you before. It’s laughable that I’m the younger brother of Hasumi-senpai. I’m just an ordinary guy.”

As I said this, Takinami-senpai let out a sigh.

“Shizuru, your evaluation of yourself is too low.”

Then she says in dismay.

“First, it’s not uncommon for the older to be excellent and the younger to be average. And of course, vice versa. Rather, It’s a lot rarer to find siblings who are both beautiful or handsome and outstanding.”

“…”

“Second, you’re not as average as you think you are, Shizuru.”

“How?”

“We’re kindred spirits.”

Takinami-senpai stated it clearly and without hesitation.

“No one will ever know what those values are based on.”

“I agree. Then, let’s look at the obvious―you’re the sole member of the library committee.”

“I just sit there.”

“But many students can’t do just that. Some of them have part-time jobs, some go to prep school for exams, and some of them don’t see the value in service work that doesn’t compete with anyone or set records. It’s not something anybody can just do. Have a little more confidence in yourself.”

Takinami-senpai spun her words.

“And most importantly, you’ve been acknowledged by none other than me.”

“Okay, that’s big.”

I replied with a wry smile.

§§§

Shortly after I entered the classroom, Naoi entered the room.

If I had arrived at the school with less time to spare as I did the other day, it would have been meaningless for me to come early, but as expected, I did not repeat the same blunder.

When Naoi saw me, he quickly averted his gaze. It was not as if he turned away because he did not want to see me, but rather as if he was unable to look at me due to guilt.

Because of that little incident, Naoi, who usually always appear with a brisk good morning – he now missed the timing and entered the classroom in silence. His attitude caused several classmates to tilt their heads.

Members of his group who had already arrived at school came up to him.

I also approached Naoi.

“Naoi, I need to talk to you.”

I cut to the chase, but he didn’t answer right away. He’s probably confused. He doesn’t know how to face me. So he silently prepares for first-period class.

“Kyouhei-kun doesn’t want to talk to you.”

It was Izumikawa who answered instead. He was angry from the start, not smiling like the other day. He was like his guardian.

Aside from that―I feel sorry for him, but that language is not well-mannered and a bad move.

“Let’s go outside.”

Naoi finally spoke up.

Because of Izumikawa, he couldn’t say, “There’s nothing to talk about.” and so he had so choice but to accompany me.

We went out into the hallway.

There, in the midst of the sparse students, Naoi and I confronted each other.

At any rate, I managed to get to this situation, but now I wonder how I should cut to the subject. Surprisingly, there were many forbidden words.

“I think I know what you’re trying to say, Makabe.”

While I was searching for the right words, Naoi spoke up first.

“You’re calling out my bad attitude, right?”

I guess, for the most part, that’s the issue. It would be so if it were stripped down to its simplest form.

“But whose fault is it?”

“Are you trying to say it’s me?”

“Yeah! You lied to me, Makabe. You said you just lived close to that person! But that’s not the case!”

Naoi raised his voice.

It was the first time I had seen him like this. A first coming from the fresh, calm, yet charismatic guy.

I looked around quickly with just my eyes. Several students passed by while paying attention to us. Some were from my class, some from the next class, and some from the class on the other side. Even inside our classroom, there were some who were looking at us, wondering what was going on outside.

“When we were talking about that person, were you laughing inwardly, Makabe? Or were you feeling superior?”

“No. I couldn’t say it. It involves our parents after all.”

As Hasumi-senpai had decided, maybe she was fine telling Naoi. Of course, I would have had to choose my words carefully so as not to disturb him.

“On the day, you came back to school. You jokingly told us that you and that person were siblings. That was you looking for a reaction from your surroundings, right? You wanted to see how I would react?!”

“I never thought that.”

I wanted Naoi to understand, so I also unknowingly put a lot of strength into my voice.

Naoi and I exchanged glances.

“…So you’re mad at me, Naoi? Because I lied.”

After a silence, I open my mouth first. I ask with a clear voice, checking for confirmation.

Naoi bit his lip once.

“That’s right!”

Then, after stating his answer, he, in a rough manner, got back into the classroom.

I couldn’t help but murmur to his back.

“That’s just self-deception, Naoi…”

The emotion that Naoi feels towards me is definitely jealousy. Jealousy that I can be unconditionally by the side of the woman he admires so much. If he thought about it calmly, there was no way that we could be anything more than siblings, since Hasumi-senpai and I are still related, albeit half-siblings. But Naoi couldn’t think rationally. The fact that I’m with her 24/7 in a place he doesn’t know is enough for him to be jealous.

And yet, he replaced his reason for his anger to being lied to.

In a way, he’s just like me.

If you don’t face your feelings, nothing will begin.

But on the other hand, I envy him. The way he admires someone and loses control of himself because of it is something I don’t have at the moment.

In any case―negotiations broke down.

I found this troubling.

Naoi is smart, so he must be aware that he’s taking his anger out on me. But I couldn’t point that out. To do so, I would have to mention that Naoi has feelings for Hasumi-senpai, and I don’t think anyone would want to hear such realization from someone else.

This is an emotional issue.

There are more shackles than one can imagine.

***

At lunchtime that day, a rumor quietly began to circulate.

I quote, “Makabe Shizuru is stalking Takinami Ruika.”