My conversation with Hanako-san had finally come to an end. Since I had originally intended to clear out before I became a nuisance for dinner, I told her I was about ready to head home.
"I see... It's a shame, but I suppose it can't be helped. Your Wife is probably waiting for you with dinner... Besides, I'm your Big Sister now, so I can't go around making things difficult for my Younger Brother."
A clear change had definitely come over Hanako-san. For the first time, I could actually see her emotions. Even her voice, though only slightly, wasn't nearly as blunt as it had been before.
I felt certain this was a positive shift.
It was a heartening development that made me feel my decision hadn't been a mistake after all.
When we stepped out of Hanako-san's room, we found Tadao-san and Kayo-san waiting restlessly in the living room. Even if we weren't actually Lovers, it was only natural for Parents to feel on edge when their precious daughter was alone in her room with a boy.
"O-Oh, uh, has the discussion been concluded... already, perhaps?"
As usual, Tadao-san's way of speaking was still incredibly strange. I wondered what on earth had possessed him to talk like that.
"Yes. I'm sorry for intruding for so long. I should be getting home now."
"I was the one who invited you, so please don't call it an intrusion. You're welcome here anytime."
" "—!?" "
I had meant my words as a common social pleasantry, but Hanako-san had responded with unexpected firmness. However, rather than being struck by how rare such a comment was from her, I was more focused on her parents, who looked utterly shell-shocked.
"...Riko, you..."
"? Is something wrong, Mother?"
" "—!?" "
I see; it was the change in Hanako-san's way of speaking that had surprised them.
While she was still a bit awkward, the difference was distinct enough that anyone who knew her well would have noticed immediately. For her Parents, it must have been even more striking.
However, I decided not to point it out myself. Ideally, I wanted the three of them to sit down and have a proper talk as a family.
"...Anyway, I apologize for staying so long. I'll be taking my leave."
"N-No, not at all. We're the ones who should apologize for failing to offer you any proper hospitality..."
In the end, Tadao-san's strange honorifics never did return to normal. If he was comfortable with it, then perhaps it wasn't my place to say anything, but...
Right, I needed to mention the Student Council before I left.
"I'm sorry for the late notice, but at my request, Riko-san has agreed to help us out with the Student Council. Her return trips might be later than usual moving forward, but the rest of the Student Council will do our best to ensure she isn't kept too late. Also, whenever we finish after dark, I'll make sure to walk Riko-san all the way to your door."
"T-Thank you for being so thoughtful. Again, please look after our daughter."
The two of them bowed repeatedly. From an outside perspective, we probably looked like we were performing a comedy routine. Hanako-san and Kayo-san both watched us with wry, matching smiles.
I managed to persuade Hanako-san, who had tried to see me off all the way outside, to say our goodbyes at the Entrance. There was no need to be so dramatic about it; we would be seeing each other again at School on Monday.
"Well then, I'm going."
"Yeah. Thanks for coming today. It made me happy."
When Hanako-san smiled naturally as she said that, I found myself momentarily captivated. I hadn't expected her to transform this much just from being accepted as a sister. At this rate, she might actually be able to make plenty of friends this time around.
"See you at School, then."
"Mm. ...Wait a second, there's something on your shoulder."
Hanako-san's gaze fixed on my Left Shoulder. Was there a piece of lint or something? Before I could move to brush it off, she quickly leaned in close. Placing her hand on my shoulder to steady herself, she stood on her tiptoes and—
Mwah.
I felt a soft, warm sensation on my left cheek.
Then, she whispered into my ear, "Big Sister is going to do her best, okay?" before sending me off with a cheerful wave of her hand.
I left the Apartment Building and started on my way home.
As I walked, reflecting on the day's events, the sound of rhythmic footsteps—like someone jogging—began to approach from behind. I didn't think much of it until a voice called out, "E-Excuse me, Takanashi-san!" and I came to an immediate halt.
When I turned around, I saw Kayo-san standing there, slightly out of breath. What was going on? If I had forgotten something, it would have made more sense for Hanako-san to be the one to bring it.
"Kayo-san... what's wrong?"
"I-I'm sorry, but could we talk for just a moment?"
It seemed she had chased after me.
A talk... it was undoubtedly about Hanako-san. I didn't mind talking, of course, but standing in the middle of a busy street wasn't exactly ideal.
"Understood. Let's move somewhere else. Um... would that Park over there work for you?"
"Ah, yes. I'm sorry for the trouble."
The Park, located between the Shopping Street and the Station, was a quiet place with minimal playground equipment and few children. It was the perfect spot for a conversation.
After relocating, we sat down side-by-side on a Bench. It was a bizarre situation—being alone with Hanako-san's Mother, whom I had only met for the first time today. Since Kayo-san seemed to be struggling to find her words, I decided to ask something harmless to break the ice.
"So, um... where is Riko-san?"
"Eh? Oh, my daughter is at home. I told her I was going to the Convenience Store and slipped out."
I see; that explained her light attire.
But if that was her excuse for leaving, she probably didn't have much time. Since she clearly had something on her mind, it was better to get straight to the point.
"You wanted to talk to me, right?"
"...Yes. I'm sorry, since time is limited, please let me get straight to the heart of the matter. Ever since the two of you came out of that room, Riko's demeanor has clearly changed. May I ask what sort of conversation you had?"
If she had noticed Hanako-san's sudden shift, it was only natural for her to conclude that our conversation was the cause. However, this topic was extremely sensitive for Hanako-san. Even if Kayo-san was her mother, it wasn't something I felt comfortable sharing on my own.
"I'm sorry, but I'm not in a position to explain that myself..."
"It's about her Younger Brother, isn't it?"
"........."
If I remained silent, she would take it as an affirmation. However, the fact that Kayo-san had pinpointed the issue so accurately meant she was speaking with a certain level of conviction. And since she wasn't wrong, I couldn't exactly deny it, either.
"I see. Since I don't have time for a long explanation, I'll just give you the gist of it. I knew that Riko held an obsessive attachment to her late brother. I am also to blame for simply thinking... that if Riko, who had always struggled to make friends, was finally acting happy, then it was fine. Around that time, she recently started going out more, saying she was meeting up with a Friend."
So Kayo-san had known all along.
To learn about the Younger Brother, Hanako-san would have had to ask her Mother. She must have questioned Kayo-san extensively. And if she had seen the books in the room, it was only logical that she would arrive at the truth herself.
"I held out hope that things were improving. When she said she wanted a School Transfer because her current Friends were at that school, I wanted to grant her wish no matter what. But while we were talking, just once... that child let something slip. She said she wanted to go to the same school as Kazunari..."
Knowing what I knew now, she had clearly been talking about me. Just like her messages about her old school being boring, or the surprise of keeping her School Transfer a secret from me—it all suggested she had been particularly conscious of me from the start.
"Hearing that, I panicked, thinking her fixation on her brother had resurfaced. And then, right at that moment, my husband's job transfer was suddenly finalized..."
Something felt a bit off about that. The timing of the transfer seemed far too convenient. Plus, the fact that they had moved right into our neighborhood... for it to be a pure coincidence was a bit of a stretch.
Wait... did Sara-san have a hand in this?
W-Well, even if she did, it wasn't as if it caused any problems, so I decided not to dwell on it.
"Ultimately, Riko would have had to transfer regardless of her wishes. But after the move, she changed for the better. Even if her outward appearance remained the same, I could tell she was looking forward to every day. The shadow of her brother hadn't disappeared, but I assumed time would eventually heal that wound."
"........."
"And then today, Riko brought a Friend home. Since it was a boy, I was quite surprised, but when I heard your name, I wondered if it could be true. The reason for her transfer, the fact that she'd settled down about her brother... I had my suspicions. And just now, Riko began showing her emotions so clearly that anyone could see them. I can't even put my surprise into words."
If she had deduced this much, perhaps it was okay to share a little. Even if the detailed discussion should be between her and Hanako-san. Or rather, if she had already realized this much, what was it she wanted to ask me?
"I only learned about her brother a little while ago myself. She told me that she had been projecting him onto me."
"Everything makes sense now. I came here because I wanted to thank you, Takanashi-san."
"Thank me?"
"Yes. Riko's wonderful change... it's because you accepted her as an older sister, isn't it?"
"........."
Kayo-san turned toward me, her eyes brimming with tears.
Then, she bowed deeply and offered her heartfelt gratitude.
"So that was it. Thank you, truly. For meeting Riko, for being her Friend, and for accepting Riko's Wish... I am so deeply grateful... thank you. It may still take some time, but with this as a starting point, I believe she can finally recover for real this time."
Wiping her eyes with a Handkerchief, Kayo-san bowed again and again. Seeing her like that, I was at a loss for words.
I felt that I didn't deserve thanks for Hanako-san's sake, but after hearing Kayo-san's side of the story, I realized how much it meant to her.
"I understand. But please, no more thanks. I only accepted Riko-san because I wanted to. Besides, the reason she was able to change was because of the strength of her own heart. If I acted as the catalyst for that, then as her Best Friend, I'm just glad I could help."
Even if my acceptance had saved her, when it came to matters of the heart, the one who actually put in the work to change was Hanako-san herself.
I was just the trigger; from here on, my role was simply to provide the support she needed to keep moving forward.
Kayo-san looked at me with a touch of surprise, but she eventually offered a gentle smile and bowed one last time.
".........It's a shame. For that child, someone like you..."
"Eh?"
"No, nothing. Anyway, I should get back before they get suspicious. I just wanted to make sure I thanked you properly. Thank you so much. Please continue to look after Riko."
With that, Kayo-san headed home, looking back over her shoulder at me several times as she went.
It wasn't just Hanako-san; her Parents, who had spent so long worrying about her, had probably been saved today too...
Click...
"I'm home."
The moment I opened the door, Sara-san lunged forward and hugged me as if she had been lying in wait. I didn't ask her why; I knew she must have been feeling anxious in her own way.
"Welcome home, Kazunari-san. And... thank you for your hard work today."
Huh, she seems more composed than I expected.
I felt a slight sense of dissonance between Sara-san's surprisingly bright demeanor and her thanking me for my "hard work." For the record, I hadn't done anything particularly exhausting.
"Fufu... I actually received a message from Hanako-san, so I've already gotten a rough report of the situation."
Noticing my confusion, Sara-san added an explanation. Apparently, Hanako-san had contacted her immediately. That explained her current mood.
"I see... Did she say much?"
"Only the broad strokes. I heard the conclusion of how things settled, of course. However..."
She trailed off, looking up and gazing intently into my eyes.
"I want to hear the story from you, Kazunari-san. We can talk all about it together later, okay?"
"...I understand. I'll give you a full report."
Either way, there were things I had to confess... or rather, tell Sara-san. Including all of that, I decided to give her the whole story from the very beginning.