In my memory, the small room of my childhood was filled with constant tears.
I cried in the morning, at noon, and at night.
I cried at home and at school.
Then I didn't want to go anywhere anymore.
I just wanted to stay home, just wanted to be in my own room, where traces of my mother's presence lingered.
I threw down my backpack and tossed the ribbon on the floor. My father stood beside me, anxiously trying to dissuade me, while the pale violet-eyed boy watched quietly.
"No! I don't want to go to school!"
I shouted stubbornly, as if this declaration alone could express my resolve, as if this alone could make my mother come home.
The boy picked up the ribbon from the floor and stepped forward to gently offer it to me.
I pushed him away.
He maintained his gentle expression and continued to approach.
I pushed him away again. His expression seemed to freeze momentarily before he spoke.
'I know... Auntie is gone. Nijika held on for so long, she just wants to rest for a while. Tomorrow... let's go to school together tomorrow.'
He hadn't finished speaking when I cut him off.
'You little brat! You don't know anything! It wasn't your mother who died! You don't know anything at all!!!'
"Anything at all!!!"
Nijika jolted upright in bed, cold sweat soaking her innerwear. Her crimson eyes focused on the dark wall before her, an unremarkable sight that nonetheless pulled her thoughts back to reality.
"...It was just a dream..."
Grumble...
Her stomach growled. Come to think of it, she hadn't eaten dinner... she'd just rushed back and fallen asleep.
Nijika climbed out of bed, then suddenly realized something.
"...Could Seika be hungry too?"
She checked her phone. It was already 11 PM.
"..."
Cold sweat trickled down her forehead.
"Ah... ah..."
Lying on the sofa, Ichiichi Hoshika's red eyes were beginning to lose focus.
"I'm... I'm starving..."
"Then go find something to eat! Were you just going to keep starving if I hadn't woken up?!"
The voice of Nijika beside her pulled Seika back from the brink of starvation, and she sat up abruptly.
"Because I wanted to wait for you to eat together..."
"...That sounds so weird coming from you... Wait a bit, I'll make something now. But let's just have something quick for now."
Nijika headed toward the kitchen, but Seika suddenly called out to her from behind.
"Wait."
"What is it?"
Nijika turned to look at Seika, puzzled.
"Haru will be working at STARRY from now on. He'll still live in the same place."
"...What do you mean 'working at STARRY'? Isn't it just a part-time job?"
"He's dropped out of school."
"..."
Nijika pressed her lips together.
"I see."
Seika continued, "He acted like it didn't matter today, mostly because he didn't want you to worry."
"I know, it's just..."
Nijika turned back and sat down on the sofa.
"I kept thinking about when he'd come back. But when he finally did, he was already gone. Hearing this all of a sudden... it's hard to take in."
"...Uh... life is full of surprises..."
"Ni-chan, you don't need to give me those big speeches."
"That's good, I'm not very good at them anyway."
Nijika smiled.
"Then tomorrow, I'll apologize properly for running off like that."
Nijika said, staring at the ceiling.
"...Okay..."
Seika's voice beside her was so soft it was barely audible. Nijika turned to look at her, only to find her sister slumped on the sofa, as limp as a sheet of paper.
"Ah! What's wrong, Sister?!"
"I'm... I'm starving to death..."
"You can't be starving to death after just a few hours! Why are you suddenly morphing like Bocchi?!"
"I'm the type who dies if I don't eat regularly..."
"Are you a hunger shark?! I've been your sister for seventeen years and never heard of this!"
Nijika leaped off the sofa and dashed to the kitchen.
"Hang in there! Don't starve to death!"
She plunged into the kitchen and began clattering around, starting to cook.
———
"Good morning~"
Haru, leaning on his white cane, turned to Seika with a smile.
"Good morning."
Seika turned to face him, setting down her juice.
"What do you need me to do this morning?"
"Nothing at all. It's not opening hours yet. Just sit here and keep me company."
"Oh, so my real job is to entertain the manager?"
Haru chuckled and settled down beside her.
"You could think of it that way."
Seika playfully nudged his arm.
"Did Nijika go to school?"
"What else would she be doing?"
"Haha... just asking."
Haru lowered his head.
Seika watched him for a moment, then pulled out her phone.
"She started a band."
"Oh? That's great! What's it called?"
"Kessoku Band."
Seika replied.
"What an ominous name..." Haru grimaced.
"Well, they were aiming for 'Cable Tie,' but somehow it ended up as this lame joke of a band name."
"Really? How many members? Have they performed before?"
"Three—bass, guitar, and drums. They haven't found a vocalist yet. As for the performance... just listen for yourself."
Haru opened the recording on his phone and listened intently.
"...Ugh... They're all playing their own thing."
"It was their first performance, after all. The guitarist was even a last-minute addition."
"Bocchi?"
"You're already using her nickname? Yeah, it's her."
"Hmm, so what exactly are you trying to say, Seika-neesan?" Haru asked with a smile.
"I'm over here. Turn your face a little to the right."
"Ah, sorry, sorry."
Haru adjusted his position and then asked again with a smile, "Hmm, so what exactly are you trying to say, Seika-neesan?"
"...Do you really need me to repeat it? Fine... You don't have a fixed band yet, right? Why not consider her?"
"Hmm? They don't need me, do they?"
"Where wouldn't they need you? Your skills are solid, and you're practically a jack-of-all-trades."
"Calling me a jack-of-all-trades is a bit of a stretch. I can only play instruments I'm familiar with. It takes me several times longer than an average person to learn new ones."
"That shouldn't be a problem... Keyboard? They're probably desperate for a keyboardist."
"Then let's wait until Nijika comes looking for me."
Haru shook his head, then flashed a mischievous grin.
"Speaking of which, Seika-neesan... you're turning 29 this year, right?"
"...Your face is tilted to the left."
"Ah, sorry, sorry... Ahem, anyway, Seika-neesan... you're turning 29 this year~"
"If you repeat that one more time, I'm going to punch you... Yes, what is it?"
Seika took a sip of her juice and looked at Haru, waiting for him to continue.
"Do you have a boyfriend?"
"Pfft!"
Seika spat out her juice, then stared at Haru in horror.
"W-why are you asking that?"
Why is he asking that?
Seika nervously watched Haru.
"Ah... it doesn't seem so. No, I was just curious, since you're quite... well-endowed."
Seika wiped the corner of her mouth, her voice suddenly turning sharp.
"What's wrong with being a C-cup?!"
She continued, "I'm a staunch advocate of remaining single."
"When did you decide on that?"
"Just now. Got a problem with it?"
"Haha, not at all."