The western sky was pale, with the last faint glimmers of daylight still clinging to the horizon.
Directly overhead, the stars were beginning to scatter across a deep navy sky. I didn't even have the energy to pull out my phone and check what time it was.
The convex mirror at the T-junction reflected a distorted, rounded version of me. My expression was too warped to read, but I didn't care what kind of face I was making anyway.
“……Wait, what?”
Reality was struggling to catch up. It was only after I’d been standing there like a statue for several minutes that I finally managed to voice my confusion. The warmth that had covered my body just moments ago was gone, snatched away by the cold air—air that felt more like winter than autumn—as it whistled through the gaps in my uniform.
───She tripped… right?
I recalled that soft, enveloping sensation. It wasn't just my back; Natsukawa's fingertips had brushed against my side, sliding through the gap where my arms hung limp. The sensation of her moving as if to confirm I was really there was seared into my mind. I wondered if I’d just been dreaming.
A muffled voice whispered "Good work" over and over in my head. I could feel the heat in every syllable, the warmth of the breath that had risen gently against my back. Perhaps she really had been startled by her own stumble, but even after she spoke, I could still feel that same hot breath against my skin.
───Did she really trip, though?
There hadn't been any real impact. I was certain I’d lost myself in an illusion, but it felt as if the arms wrapped around me had been there for hours. It was a heated, sweet, and utterly enchanting moment. Knowing that all that warmth had been stolen by the north wind made me want to glare at the arrival of a season I usually enjoyed.
I didn't know what to think. Having lost all sense of time, I could no longer grasp Natsukawa's true intentions. It was possible that my own world had simply frozen while she had hurriedly pulled away. Those words, "Good work," might have been a hallucination—the product of my own wishful thinking as I tried to act the part of the exhausted worker.
After all, I couldn't feel that warmth on my back anymore.
There was no way to be sure. If Natsukawa said she "tripped," then that was that. If I had the power to confirm whether she was lying or telling the truth, I’d be walking home hand-in-hand with her every single day by now. There was no point in obsessing over it.
“…………Lucky me.”
I decided to leave it at that and simply rejoice in my good fortune.
Though our house didn't have a strict curfew, this was actually the first time I’d ever come home after the sun was completely down. I didn't think a delinquent son who started a part-time job without asking would get scolded for something like this at this point, but still. Our household wasn't so virtuous that they’d wait dinner for me just because I was late. Nee-chan was probably sprawled on the sofa by now, her only companions being her smartphone and the TV remote. That said, I expected Mom would probably nag me for an explanation…
Steeling myself, I stepped through the front door───
“Well?! How was it?!”
Gah, way too loud.
Despite my quiet entrance, the living room door was flung open with a bang, and the Wild Big Sis came charging out. Honestly, if she had a little mud on her, she’d look perfectly feral… though it was actually getting quite cold out. Aren't girls’ hands and feet supposed to get cold easily? Is Nee-chan the exception? Is she living some sort of extreme lifestyle under expert supervision?
“Why are you so hyped up? You’re the queen of the downers. The last time I saw you this excited was when Amuro-chan performed her final retirement show on the Kohaku.”
“Natsukawa-san.”
“...!”
My heart nearly leaped out of my chest at the mention of her name. Why was Natsukawa's name coming out of Nee-chan's mouth? It shouldn't even be in her vocabulary. Wait—did she see us?
Warning sirens started blaring in my head, followed by a rhythmic thumping in my ears. I seriously considered dancing like a lunatic just to distract her and hopefully erase the memory from her brain. I decided against it because I didn't want Mom to see me and start crying.
“I-I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“Don't play dumb. That girl was waiting for you so devotedly outside the Student Council Room.”
“Wait, what?”
I didn't know about that… hold on. Natsukawa did say she "was waiting," but how did she know I was in the Cultural Festival Executive Committee room? When I went there, the place was empty…
‘───Make sure you do it right.’
…………Ah.
Now that I thought about it, Nee-chan had sent me that one cryptic message. I’d just finished up my work and didn't understand what she meant at the time. I’d wondered what I was supposed to be doing "right," but was she actually talking about Natsukawa…?
“The stairs leading outside from the side of the Student Council Room. She was sitting there the whole time waiting for you. Though you just walked right past without even noticing her.”
“No way...”
Are you serious? Just imagining that was adorable. So Nee-chan found Natsukawa and told her where I was. That was a close one…! I almost caused a heart-wrenching near-miss without even knowing it! I would’ve died of shame if I’d made Natsukawa wait all that time only to leave her there and go home. Thank you, Onee-sama…!
I felt like I finally understood why Natsukawa had been so persistent. Of course she wouldn't be satisfied after waiting that long just to be brushed off. I could understand why she was so desperate for the truth. In the end, I could only give her words that barely scratched the surface, though.
“So, what happened? I let it slide the other day, but are you two actually on good terms? Since when did things turn out like that? I thought you guys were in a really bad spot.”
“What do you mean, 'bad spot'…?”
“You know, what happened before you collapsed with that cold. When you were saying all that weird stuff at home.”
“Forget about that.”
She was really prying today, which was unusual. Normally, Nee-chan would only poke fun at me with shallow questions. Why was she so intensely interested in my love life? If I brought up her gal phase from two years ago, she’d get grumpy in a heartbeat, and if I ever mentioned her relationship with the handsome guys on the Student Council, she’d blatantly change the subject.
“A lot has happened. Just like it has for you, Nee-chan.”
“Wh-...”
“Anyway, thanks. For telling Natsukawa where I was.”
As I kicked off my shoes, I delivered a verbal counter-punch that clearly landed right on Nee-chan's cheek. I was able to say thanks because I understood exactly how she felt about having her past dug up. Is this a sibling thing? Not long ago, I thought I’d never be like her in a million years.
I brushed past the stunned Nee-chan and entered the living room. The scent of soy sauce filled the air; looks like dinner was Japanese tonight. It was exactly what my chilled body needed. In fact, I felt like I was specifically craving something with a gentle, home-cooked flavor.
“Welcome home.”
“Yeah, I'm back.”
Mom stood up from the sofa when she saw me. It looked like she was getting ready to serve my dinner. Feeling awkward about the bad timing, I gave her a strangely formal greeting. Dad was sitting at the dining table, staring at some documents.
“……?”
Something felt off.
The atmosphere in the living room was bizarre. There was a strange tension in the air. Dad wouldn't take his after-dinner coffee cup away from his face. Looking closer, his eyes seemed fixed on a single spot. Mom didn't ask "How was school today?"—a phrase that usually tops the list of things high school boys find annoying. I almost found myself reporting that "school was normal" just to break the silence. Except it wasn't normal at all.
Wait a second…
“...gh............”
I looked at Nee-chan as she slunk back into the living room. She immediately averted her eyes. She had been heading toward the sofa where I was, but she suddenly pivoted toward the kitchen.
………You damn Onee-sama…!! You blabbed to Mom and Dad, didn't you?! You definitely told Mom every single detail with a gleam in your eye! And then Dad eavesdropped on the whole thing! What is wrong with you people…!
Mom! Put the adzuki beans and sesame salt away! Nothing celebratory has happened! I just want some meat and potatoes or maybe some simmered tofu!
Dad! That’s not a work document! That’s the short quiz Nee-chan stole from my bag the other day! Be engulfed by the flames of darkness and vanish!
Nee-chan! That’s not a fancy 551 pork bun! That’s just a meat bun from FamilyMart!
It really is the season for meat buns, isn't it?