Knock, knock. There was a soft rapping at the door to Yamamoto's room. It was a hesitant sound.
"Big brother? Are you okay?"
"Huh? Yeah."
Yamamoto answered, sounding a bit caught off guard by Shiho's timid voice.
Shiho stepped tentatively into the room. Her eyes remained downcast as she looked at us sitting together on the bed.
"Sorry. Was I interrupting?"
"Not at all. Don't worry about it," Yamamoto said.
"Are you sure? I'm not in the way?"
"In the way of what?" I asked before I could stop myself.
We had already finished the conversation I’d wanted to have, and there was absolutely no reason for Shiho to feel like an intruder. There was no need for her to look so hesitant, yet she kept that guilt-ridden expression on her face.
"What's up, Shiho?"
"Mom should be home soon."
"Oh, right."
"Yeah... I told her you were back, and she just said, 'Oh, okay.'"
"I see..."
Wait, that was it?
That was her only reaction to her dear son returning home?
Come to think of it, Yamamoto had mentioned many times that his parents were incredibly hands-off. Did they really care that little about him leaving the house in the first place?
Yamamoto looked a bit conflicted.
"But," Shiho added, "when I told her you brought a girl with you, she seemed really happy."
"That's unnecessary information."
"And I'm not his girlfriend anyway," I added.
Shiho probably thought she was being helpful, but her words only made things awkward for us. While I’d been imagining a future with Yamamoto lately, in this moment, the lovestruck maiden was gone, replaced by the embodiment of realism.
Meeting a male friend's parents was inherently awkward; I would have avoided it if I could. It couldn't be helped. Looking at it that way, I felt a new sense of admiration for Yamamoto. He’d actually done a good job accompanying me to my own parents' place.
"Take your time and relax," Shiho said. "Just the two of you in here."
"Shiho."
"What is it, Big brother?"
"Uh..."
He blurted it out suddenly. This was it—he was taking the advice I’d given him earlier and trying to clear the air immediately.
The timing, however, was terrible. He’d managed to start the conversation, but now he seemed to be choking on his words. It was rare for Yamamoto to act so impulsively without a plan.
"...I love you."
"Huh?"
Yamamoto was panicked and fumbling. Shiho looked utterly repulsed.
"No, wait. I mean as a brother. You know, siblings."
"Huh?"
Yamamoto clutched his head. Shiho looked even more disgusted than before.
"...I've never said it properly before. I felt like I needed to tell you."
"Huh?"
Yamamoto finally confessed his true intention, sounding defeated. Shiho looked like she wanted to be anywhere else.
Wait. Just a moment ago, she’d looked so miserable, worried about her relationship with her brother. Why was she acting like this now? Had she been lying? Was all that talk about being worried just flattery because she saw we were getting along?
Or... maybe...
"I don't need to hear that kind of stuff," Shiho said.
"Right. Sorry."
"...At least, not right now."
With that, Shiho left the room.
Not now.
Meaning she didn't want to hear it while I was there.
Good grief. He’d talked all that talk about blood relations, but Yamamoto and Shiho were cut from the same cloth. They were exactly alike.
"You're both so stubborn and terrible with words," I said with a wry smile.
"My bad," Yamamoto grumbled, clearly thinking I was only talking about him.
Well, I suppose half of it was directed at him. But really, that comment was meant for both of them.
The two of them... neither of them were honest about their feelings, they were both socially awkward, and yet they both put others before themselves.
"You really are two of a kind."
Yamamoto simply tilted his head in confusion.