Several banners hung from the building, which appeared to be a cram school. Apparently, the school had a track record of sending multiple students to prestigious middle schools last year.
"She should be coming out any minute now."
Listening to Yamamoto’s words from beside him, I waited for his younger sister to emerge.
After a short while, children began filing out of the building. Looking closely, I saw several parents—presumably the students' guardians—waiting around the perimeter, chatting with their children as they appeared.
"Ahaha, see you later!"
Yamamoto spotted a girl coming out and started toward her without a word. I followed close behind him. The girl he approached noticed him shortly after parting ways with her friends.
"Oh, hey, Big Brother."
"Hey. Long time no see."
"It really has been. What brings you here today?"
"You’re the one who told me to come home, aren’t you?"
"Wait, did I really say that?"
There was the exasperated Yamamoto and his teasing younger sister. Just listening to this brief exchange, I felt like I already understood the dynamic between the two of them.
"Big Brother, who is this?"
Yamamoto's younger sister had noticed me. Even though she was just his little sister, I felt a wave of nervousness wash over me.
"Oh, this is Hayashi. She’s my friend."
"Heh. And why did you bring a 'friend' like that here?"
"...I thought I’d introduce her to everyone."
The girl looked at him skeptically. Because Yamamoto hadn't introduced his sister to me yet, I felt completely left out of the loop. He looked somewhat satisfied, seemingly under the impression that he had finished the introductions for the time being.
I mean, really... was that all I got?
"I'm Megumi Hayashi. It’s nice to meet you. Could you tell me your name?"
I spoke to her in the gentlest voice I could muster. I couldn't afford to leave a bad impression here. While I tried to look composed, I was internally desperate.
"Yamamoto Shiho."
"Shiho-chan, then. It's nice to meet you," I said with a smile.
Shiho-chan’s attitude toward me showed no signs of softening.
"Megumi-san, what exactly is your relationship with my brother?"
"Eh?"
She was asking... me?
When I glanced at Yamamoto, he had a relaxed expression, likely because he wasn't the one being interrogated. Apparently, I had no choice but to answer.
"Actually, I’m living with him right now."
Shiho-chan's eyes went wide. She probably had a much deeper history with Yamamoto than I did, so she was likely thinking something like, I can't believe my brother actually has a roommate.
"Are you two dating?"
"W-Well, it's not exactly like that...?"
"Wait, you’re living together even though you aren’t dating?"
"That’s right... That’s just how it is."
"...Ehh."
Shiho-chan made a troubled face. Well, that was a natural reaction. However, I couldn't exactly explain to a girl her age that I was a victim of Domestic Violence from my previous lover.
"Are you perhaps using my brother?"
I was at a loss for words at her sudden, sharp question. Shiho-chan seemed to be very clever for her age. A fifth-grader... What on earth was I doing when I was her age? I was probably still at the stage where I wanted to be a Magical Girl.
Never mind that for now—how was I supposed to answer her? I knew I shouldn't say anything strange. From Shiho-chan's perspective, her doubt was perfectly justified. It was only natural for her to be indignant that her precious brother was living with some woman from who-knows-where, especially when they weren't even in a relationship.
"I’m not being used. She was going through some difficult personal matters recently, so I decided to take her in for a while. That’s all there is to it."
The one who threw me a lifeline was Yamamoto. It was a sophisticated explanation that took many factors into account while subtly implying the gravity of the situation.
"...Big Brother is sheltering a girl?"
"Is it that weird?"
"Of course it is."
"...I see."
Yamamoto looked dejected. Based on his reaction, he clearly hadn't thought it was weird at all.
Sorry, Yamamoto. To be honest, I think it's weird too. Especially since I know what you were like back in our High School Days.
"...Well, I'm the one who's constantly in her debt. She handles basically all of the housework."
"In other words, you're the one using Megumi-san, Big Brother?"
"I guess that's how it turns out."
"Big Brother, you're a terrible man. Whatever happened to Akari-chan?"
"...I told you about that before, didn't I?"
"So you just left her all alone? You think that's okay?"
Apparently, Akari held a much higher priority in Shiho-chan's mind than I did. That fact stung a little. But it was obvious who she would side with: a stranger she just met, or Akari, whom she had already grown close to.
In the first place, the reason Akari and Yamamoto broke up was my fault. It was all my fault...
Between the excitement of meeting Yamamoto's parents and Yamamoto acting like a spoiled child, it had completely slipped my mind, but I really did need to make amends to both of them.
Even so, Shiho-chan was quite harsh. I was no match for her. My heart felt like it was already starting to break.
"Anyway, shall we go home?" Shiho-chan suggested.
"Yeah."
"...Megumi-san."
"Yes?"
"Can I hold your hand on the way back?"
"Eh?"
I was flustered by the sudden request.
"You don't want to? Just hold her hand," Yamamoto chimed in.
"Shut up, Big Brother."
The emotional whiplash was staggering.
I took Shiho-chan’s hand, and we walked home together. It was a blissful moment. There was no other way to describe it.